ForLife on Purpose Episode #99, my guestis author, writing, and leadership coach Dave Ursillo. Daveplayed a major role in my podcasting journey as not only have we talked multiple times on thisshow, but 10 years ago, he was guest #1 on my first podcast Radio Enso. So I invited him back totalk about where we were then, where we are now, and our respective journeys through the years. “The key to living a full and whole life comes down to how well you know your True Self — and howyou express that inner truth in your little corner of our planet.” About Dave Ursillo: "I’m a writer, an 11-time author, and a writing coach and leadership coach. I’m on a mission to help creatives,business owners and professionals share their voices, stories, and messages in our world. I also love to travel, I’man avid home cook and baker, and I treat my morning coffee like some do fine wines. Beyondmy writingandpublishing occasional books, I’m a fully self-employed creative professional and have beenworking for myself in a small business-of-one calledLead Without Followers, LLC.,since 2009. Once upon a time, I quit my job in politics and left a young career path in public service behind so that I could followmy dream to share my words with others — and to share some good in the world. Today, I spend my days immersed in clarifying conversations as a writing and creativity coach, a leadershipcoach to small business owners and creative entrepreneurs, and occasionally as a communicationsstrategist and story consultant. In between my client work, I write an every-other-weekly newsletter calledChronicles of the Self-Storied Life,which is read by a few thousand readers worldwide, and publish occasional free resources like writing andjournaling prompts. I am always creating new and thoughtful educational content like e-courses, hosting occasional in-personworkshops, and putting on digital experiences like webinars to help the creatively-curious, conscientiousjourneyers, everyday-yogis, self-employed entrepreneurs, bloggers, self-starters, and personal developmentpractitioners express themselves more fully." To learn more aboutDave and his work, visit:https://daveursillo.com.
For Life on Purpose Episode #98, my guestis international speaker and positive psychology "play coach”Jeff Harry. Jeff shows individuals andcompanies how to tap into their true selves, to feel their happiest and most fulfilled —all by PLAYING. He's worked with Google, Microsoft, Southwest Airlines, Adobe, theNFL, Amazon, and Facebook, helping their staff to infuse more play into the day-to-day. Jeff joins me to talk about the crucial importance of play in our lives and how we can begin to rediscover that! "I believe that play is as important as breathing, sleeping, and love. It's where somuch of our happiness, fulfillment, and creativity comes from.” About Jeff Harry: Jeff Harry shows individuals and companies how to tap into their true selves, to feeltheir happiest and most fulfilled — all by playing. Jeff has worked with Google,Microsoft, Southwest Airlines, Adobe, the NFL, Amazon, and Facebook, helping theirstaff to infuse more play into the day-to-day. Jeff is an international speaker who has presented at conferences such as INBOUND,SXSW, and Australia’s Pausefest, showing audiences how major issues in theworkplace can be solved using play. Jeff was selected by BambooHR & Engagedly asone of the Top 100 HR Influencers of 2020 for his organizational development workaround dealing with toxic people in the workplace. His play work has most recentlybeen featured in the Upworthy, Mashable, Shondaland, and the NY Times. He has alsobeen featured on AJ+, SoulPancake, the SF Chronicle, and CNN. While we spend most of our time pretending to be important, serious grownups, it'swhen we let go of that facade and just play, that the real magic happens. Fullyembracing your own nerdy genius — whatever that is — gives you the power to make adifference and change lives. Jeff believes that we already have many of the answerswe seek, and by simply unleashing our inner child, we can find our purpose and, in turn,help to create a better world. To learn more aboutJeff and his work, visit:https://www.rediscoveryourplay.com
Life on Purpose returns for a Spring 2021 Season with Episode #97. My guestis writer, therapist, coach, and founder of the New York VoiceDialogue InstituteBridgit Dengel Gaspard, whojoins me to talk about her new book,The Final 8th: Enlist YourInner Selves to Accomplish Your Goals(New World Library) andpowerful techniques she’s developed to helpreaders/listenersrecognize and free themselves from hidden internal conflicts that are blocking their ability to achieve theirgoals. Bridgitcoined the term “the final 8th” to describe the phenomenon when talented, energetic, motivatedindividuals have accomplished many steps toward a goal(7/8 of it)but stall in front of their finish line, for noapparent reason. In our inspirational conversation,Bridgitand I discussed: • The origin story of the term The Final 8th via working with various clients who were getting stuck; • Has she struggled with Final 8ths in her own life, including writing the book? • “Is the reason you’re stuck because you’re not meant to go any further? It’s served it’s purpose.”; • The idea that our healthy personality consists of many aspects, which she calls inner selves; • Voice dialogue, a technique developed by her mentors Dr. Hall and Sidra Stone; • “They each have wisdom and they have concerns. But they don’t have the whole picture.”; • The fact that this is NOT multiple personality disorder or dissociative identity disorder; • The effects of the pandemic on certain selves and what we can do about that; • The fact that for most people, working harder isn’t the problem or the solution; • The power of the questions,“What are the gifts? And what are the stings?”; • A simple technique that allows you to start to identify these inner selves; • How do these selves start? And where do they come from?; • Her chapter on Practice Safe Success: a concept that is silly but real!; • What is the Double Bind and why is it psychologically painful?; • Her Final Takeaway:“Be curious to see what’s there; if in doubt, get rid of the agenda.” • Her upcoming Final 8th 4-Week Masterclass, which runs in May; • Marianne Williamson: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we arepowerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.”; • Much more! “My clients were baffled about why they were stuck. They reported feeling frustrated, stressed, sad, and scared.They’d swear to me they yearned for the desired outcome with every fiber of their being,”saysBridgit.“I’d tellthem, ‘Believe it or not, some of those fibers just aren’t with the program.’ The truth is, not every part of you wantswhat you think you want! Some of your inner selves are opposed to your goal.” About Bridgit Dengel Gaspard: Bridgit Dengel Gaspardis a writer, therapist, coach, and master facilitator and trainer of voicedialogue who has led professional workshops for the Omega Institute, the New York Open Center, theInternational Coach Federation, the Expressive Therapies Summit, Conscious Life Expo, New YorkUniversity, Columbia University School of Social Work, the National Association of Social Work, theActors Fund, and other organizations. During her career in acting, improvisation, and comedy, she discovered voice dialogue, a powerfultechnique of communicating and embodying our inner selves developed by Drs. Hal and Sidra Stone,who would become her mentors. Bridgitearned a master’s degree in social work from Columbia University, acquiring clinical experiencein dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT.) She was an inpatientsocial worker at Bellevue Hospital Center and Creedmoor Psychiatric Center. She also worked as apsychotherapist at the New York University Counseling Center. She founded the New York Voice Dialogue Institute and has been certified by multiple organizations forcontin...
My guest for Life on Purpose Episode #96 is accomplished coach, speaker, podcaster, and authorAngie Swartz,who joins me to talk all about life purpose and why it's so important, even in these uncertain times. In her workwith a wide variety of personal and professional clients, Angieuses a unique combination of coaching methods, business experience, mindfulness practices, and energy tools to help clients realize and awaken their full potential. As the owner of Life Purpose Advisor, she coaches both in one-on-one and group settings. Her mission is to empower people and companies around the globe to create happy lives and meaningful careers that allow them to contribute to the greater good of the world. *PERSONAL NOTE: I've worked with Angie for several years and utilize her practices every day, so I can testify as to how impactful her work truly is! In our inspirational conversation, Angie and I discussed: Should we even be thinking about Life Purpose in the middle of everything happening around us right now? "We’re here to live joyful lives! And there are lots of ways to find joy right now." Tips for people who are struggling to see the bigger picture/wider perspective; The importance of tools/practices/rituals to lessen the swing of life’s pendulum and bring us back to our center; The crucial importance of answering, “What really brings me joy?” More practices that she believes contribute to living a happier life in higher consciousness; Her belief that life is designed to be getting better, expanding, and improving; Returning to your strengths and what to do if you don’t know them; “I don’t have to do everything that I’m good at.” Three key tips to help us Master Happy and navigate these times; "Our purpose is always unveiling itself as our life progresses along!” Her journey from CPA and working with Fortune 500 companies to Life Purpose Advisor; Her work as a coach combining business experience, esoteric practices, and science-based tools; The concept of “spiritual number cars”; Her belief that there is something bigger than us that is supporting us all; The importance of healing old wounds and uncovering our wholeness by removing “emotional mud”; Her Life Purpose Advisor podcast, public speaking, classes, and other projects she offers; Various ways that she works with people who are ready to do the work; Her “Goal Planning and Intention Setting for a Great 2021" Virtual Retreat; Much more! "Suffering is part of transformation, but we get to choose!" saysAngie. About Angie Swartz: Angie A. Swartz is a professional coach who uses targeted coaching methods, business experience, and mindfulness practices to help clients grow into their full potential. With over 25 years of business leadership and coaching experience to call on, she assists clients in one-on-one and group settings. Angie's background includes a successful career with five different Fortune 500 companies as well as owning a boutique marketing agency. She is an accomplished speaker and host of the Life Purpose Advisor Podcast. Angie lives in Carlsbad, CA, and sees clients in person and via zoom. To learn more about Angie and her work, visit: http://www.lifepurposeadvisor.com.
My guest forLife on Purpose Episode #95 is award-winning author, speaker, teacher, and researcherDawson Church. He joined me to discuss his new bookBliss Brain, the Neuroscience of Remodeling Your Brain for Resilience, Creativity, and Joy(HayHouse), in which he digs deep into leading-edge science, and finds stunning evidence that rapid and radical brain change is possible. In just eight weeks ofpractice, 12 minutes a day, using the right techniques, we can produce measurable changes in our brains that make us calmer, happier, and more resilient. About Bliss Brain: How Quickly Can You Remodel Your Brain For Joy? Stunning new research shows that “flow” states begin changing your brain within hours. With practice, they remodel key brain regions completely. Stress circuitsshrink while happiness circuits grow. This leads to “Bliss Brain.” It’s a state in which joy is natural. It nurtures the personality traits of patience, compassion, creativity, and love. In this remarkable new book, legendary researcher Dawson Church explains the neuroscience behind these discoveries. He teaches the 7 simple steps that lead toelevated emotional states, and shows how science can take you to Bliss Brain daily. To learn more aboutBliss Brain, visit:blissbrain.com. About Dawson Church: Dawson Churchis an award-winning author whose best-selling book The Genie in Your Genes (www.YourGeniusGene.com) has been hailed by reviewers asa breakthrough in our understanding of the link between emotions and genetics. His follow-up title,Mind to Matter (www.MindToMatter. com), reviews thescience of peak mental states. He founded theNational Institute for Integrative Healthcare (www. NIIH.org) to study and implement promising evidence-based psycholog- ical and medicaltechniques. In his undergraduate and graduate work at Baylor University, he became the first student to successfully graduate from the academically rigorousUniversity Scholars program in 1979. He earned a doctorate at Holos University under the mentorship of neurosurgeon Norman Shealy, MD, PhD, founder of theAmerican Holistic Medical Association. After an early career in book publishing as editor and then president of Aslan Publishing, Church went on to receive a postgraduatePhD in Natural Medicine as well as clinical certification in Energy Psychology. Church’s groundbreaking research has been published in prestigious scientificjournals. He is the editor ofEnergy Psychology: Theory, Research & Treatment, a peer-reviewed professional journal. He shares how to apply the breakthroughs of energy psychology to health and athletic performance throughEFT Universe (www.EFTUniverse.com). EFTUniverse was the first organization to have its courses accred- ited for CME (continuing medical education) for all the major professions, including doctors(AMA), psychologists (APA), and nurses (ANCC). He has trained thousands of practitioners in energy psychology techniques and offers the premier certificationprogram in the field (EnergyPsychologyCertification.com). ###
Can ONE question change your life? My guest for Life on Purpose Episode #94 is award-winning author, yoga therapist, and spiritual coach Jennie Lee, who believes the answer is yes. Jennie is passionate about helping people to create lives filled with purpose and joy. She joined me to discuss her brand new book Spark Change: 108 Provocative Questions for Spiritual Evolution(just published by Sounds True), in which she brings her practice home to readers everywhere by providing the tools to strengthen our psychological resilience through the process of conscious, introspective questioning. "The question is, 'How do I keep the flame of personal evolution toward LOVE alive in my heart?' And 'how do I ignite the spark of spiritual awakening in others?'" says Jennie. About Spark Change: 108 Provocative Questions for Spiritual Evolution Change is on everyone’s mind, but the first step toward any change begins within your own consciousness. In SPARK CHANGE: 108 Provocative Questions for Spiritual Evolution, Jennie Lee provides a 12-phase personal inquiry process to strengthen your vision of what change is needed and how you can accomplish it pro-actively with clarity and courage. Through 108 introspective questions, you will learn to listen to your soul and determine what life is calling you to learn or express. Whether examining attitudes that hold you back, or investigating your true purpose, these guided inquiries will help build the psychological resilience necessary to accomplish change from the deepest reaches of spiritual consciousness. Inspired by the source teachings of classical yoga, the principles of spiritual psychology, and her own inner journey, SPARK CHANGE delves into some of the most enduring questions of psychology, self-improvement, and the spiritual path. In the book, readers will find: • Self-reflection questions on 12 essential themes for personal transformation • Strategies to move beyond limitation into potential • Help identifying authentic purpose and how to put it into action • Inspiration for implementing conscious change pro-actively • Prompts to greater clarity, courage, and conviction • Ideas for meaningful conversations and creative solutions About Jennie Lee: Jennie Lee is the author of three award-winning books on spiritual living, meditation, and yoga: Spark Change: 108 Provocative Questions for Spiritual Evolution, Breathing Love: Meditation in Action, and True Yoga: Practicing with the Yoga Sutras for Happiness & Spiritual Fulfillment. Her writing has also been featured internationally in magazines such as Mantra Wellness, Light of Consciousness, Yoga Therapy Today and many more. Her essay on the meaning of life was featured in the book Love by Nicolae Tanase. Jennie is a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT) who is passionate about helping people to create lives filled with purpose and joy. She has been in private practice for over twenty years. In her counseling, she blends the universal ideals and practices of Eastern philosophy with the needs and challenges of modern Western living. Her coaching is based on studies in spiritual psychology, yoga philosophy, and body-centered psychotherapy. The diversity of professionals who have entrusted Jennie with their personal growth speaks to her ability to effectively touch a wide range of individuals. Doctors, lawyers, psychologists, celebrity actors, internationally acclaimed authors, military officers, and more have experienced positive change through working with her. In addition to individual coaching, she has worked with management groups at corporations such as the World Surf League, National Association for Professional Women, Draper Laboratory, Prudential Locations Realty, and the Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center and made presentations on yoga, meditation, and mindfulness at studios, schools, and festivals nationwide. When she is not writing or coaching, you will find Jennie surfing in Hawai’i or doing headstands on the tops of mountains, makin
My guest forLife on Purpose Episode #93is Sky Nelson-Isaacs. Sky is aphysics educator, speaker, author, and musicianwhohas dedicated his life to finding his own senseof purpose,bringing togetherthe connection between synchronicity, physics, andreal life using research andhis original ideas. We had a great chat about: -His bookLiving in Flow: The Science of Synchronicity and How Your Choices Shape Your World; -The responsiveness of the Universe; -How he believes synchronicities give us the opportunity to heal; -The question: how is my life reflecting my choices and collectively, how are our lives reflecting our choices? -Connecting the dots looking backwards AND forward and how desire plays a part in that; -Authentic power; -Tools he’s created like the LORRAX process that helps uscultivate flow; -His upcoming bookLeap to Wholeness; -Grief and connection; -His new album “Stand For Me” featuring 13-original songs; and -Much more! "When we live in ‘flow,' a state of activity in which we align with ourpurpose and values, balancing our personal good with the greater good,we make choices that invite synchronicity.”saysNelson-Isaacs. About Sky Nelson-Isaacs: Sky Nelson-Isaacs is a physics educator, speaker, author, andmusician. He has a masters degree in physicsfrom San Francisco StateUniversity, with a thesis in String Theory, and a BS in physics from UCBerkeley. Nelson-Isaacs has dedicated his life to finding his own senseof purpose, beginning as a student of the Yogic master Sri SwamiSatchidananda when hewas less than five years old. His writing ontopics like flow comes from integrating thisexperience into his life. Hebrings together the connection between synchronicity, physics,andreal life using research and original ideas. As an active researcher inquantum foundations,his research is supported through grant fundingfrom a private foundation. An educator with nine years of classroomexperience, withexperience in industry as a software engineer, Nelson-Isaacs is also a multi-instrumentalistand professional performer of award-winning original musical compositions. To learn more about his work, visit:https://skynelson.com About Living in Flow: NEW BOOK LOOKS TO PHYSICS TO EXPLAIN SYNCHRONICTY AND SHOWS HOWOUR CHOICES MAY SHAPE OUR WORLD Synchronicity or meaningful coincidence has been something philosophers and scientistshave wondered about for decades. Most of us have experienced it at least once. You are ona much anticipated road trip and your vehicle breaks down. As you’re waiting by the side ofthe road a mechanic who specializes in just that type of car drives up and lends a hand. Is this just chance? Can two events be related in a meaningful way without one causing theother? If so, what does this tell us about the cosmos? Can we live in such a way and makechoices that encourage synchronicity? Is that something we should strive for? In LIVING IN FLOW: THE SCIENCE OF SYNCHRONICITY AND HOW YOUR CHOICESSHAPE YOUR WORLD (North Atlantic Books, March2019, paperback) physicist Sky Nelson-Isaacs turns to quantum mechanics to seek answers.Adhering to what we know from science, while offering a provocative new hypothesis,Nelson-Isaacs proposes that the cosmos may be designed to bring us meaningful,synchronistic experiences in response to the choices we make. When we live in “flow,” a state of activity in which we align with our purpose and values,balancing our personal good with the greater good, we make choices that invitesynchronicity. In addition to a layperson’s explanation of the possible physics behindsynchronicity,Nelson-Isaacs shows how cultivating flow can empower us individually andhelp make our world a better place. ###
My guest forLife on Purpose Episode #92is Briana MacWilliam,aLove and Relationship Coach with a passion forserving insecurely attached adults whowant to experience soul-deep intimacy in their romantic relationships. She has more than 14 years of clinical experience as a creative arts therapist and is theFounder ofCreativeArtsTherapiesOnline.coman online school for continuing education forcreative arts therapists and other mental health practitioners. “Using a psycho-spiritual approach to attachment styles (which are four unique blueprintsfor how you give and receive love), I help insecure lovers go from self-doubting toself-sovereign, and calling in those soul-shaking, passionate partnerships they want,without having to talk in circles around their feelings for hours or even years on end,with no tangible result. And I do this, using my unique service, The MacWilliamMethod.”says Briana. About Briana’s Work: Are you looking for a soul-shaking, passionate partnership, but find yourself trappedin roller-coaster relationships with unhealthy partners that you hate to love? Perhaps you have acquired a lot of skills, tips, techniques or "red flags," to help youmake better decisions in love, but no matter what you do, no amount of insight seemsto help you break free from unhealthy patterns, or stop feeling attracted to the"wrong" kind of partner. If this sounds familiar, you are in the right place. Hi, my name is Briana MacWilliam, and I am a licensed and board certified creative artstherapist, with more than 14 years in the field, working with individuals, just like you. About Briana MacWilliam: Briana MacWilliam has over 14 years of clinical experience as a creative arts therapist, andis the Founder and Director of Briana MacWilliam Inc., which offers continuing education tomental health practitioners, through CreativeArtsTherapiesOnline.com. She has held two directorial positions in community-based and day-treatment settings, andwas a research outcomes coordinator for four years, at the Amen Clinics, Inc.—a brainresearch and diagnostic facility. She edited and co-authored two books on the subjects ofattachment and complicated grief, and working with LGBTQ populations. She is also theDirector for Continuing Education for Pratt Institute’s Creative Arts Therapies Department. More About Briana: Hi, my name is Briana, and I love romance novels and campy science fiction shows (anyoneelse a die-hard Supernatural fan?). I also like being my own boss. Doing what I want to do,when I want to do it. And treating work like play.Through my education, professionalexperience, and personal life experiences, I have come to passionately serve insecurelyattached adults, who want to experience soul-deep intimacy, in their romantic relationships. Why Attachment? My passion for working with attachment wounds and personal development stems from arocky childhood. As a child of divorce, I bounced back and forth between my parents, acrossstate lines.We lived below the poverty line for much of my young life. In my parents, I had anexample of hard work but constant struggle.I became a high achiever to compensate. Itserved me well professionally, until my struggles with relationships in adulthood tore downeverything I had accomplished. I’ve Been There: In adulthood, I experienced roller coaster relationships, and ultimately wound up a divorced,single mom. Then, after losing my job due to budget cuts, within a six-month time frame, one afteranother, both my parents and my brother were diagnosed with serious, chronic illnesses.Andthe new partner I had fallen madly in love with– the one all the raw parts of myself wanted sodesperately to please and keep – couldn’t prioritize me. When he left, my heart broke anew. Ifelt my soul was split wide open. Finding Grace: As I came face-to-face with my greatest fears. I knew I had to find the grace on theother side, or collapse into a victimized identity.I decided that meant stepping into myown authority, on a spi
My guest for Life on Purpose Episode #91 is author, intuitive, and energy medicine practitioner Ellen Meredith. She's served on the faculty of energy medicine pioneer Donna Eden since 2010 and teaches energy healing techniques all over the world. In her brand new book The Language Your Body Speaks: Self-Healing with Energy Medicine (published on May 5 by New World Library), she helps readers become active participants in the energetic conversations that are constantly happening between their body, mind, and spirit. The book offers a comprehensive guide for using movement, gesture, light, sound, vibration, imagery, actions, and more to dialogue with the body, mind, and spirit. “If you learn the LANGUAGE of energy, learn to let your body, mind, and spirit communicate to you in THEIR wisdom about what your instrument needs, and then provide that moment by moment, you will heal,” says Ellen. About Ellen Meredith: “You have asked to know us, and so we are here.” With these words, in 1978, Ellen's world cracked open. Her beloved – but dead – grandmother appeared in her mind's eye with an invitation to open to inner guidance and training, offered by seven groups of inner teachers that Ellen came to call her Councils. Though this was definitely an unexpected twist in her plot, Ellen embraced the opportunity to dive deeper and learn. Dialogues with her Councils led her into a rich experiential curriculum, exploring a wide range of topics, including sensing subtle energies, what it means to embody spirit, healing, and the language of energy. It is a training that continues to this day. And along the way, Ellen has worked with over 10,000 clients and students worldwide, helping them to hear their own inner truth, activate healing, and cultivate awareness and well-being. Ellen's down to earth, yet inspiring work centers on helping you: • Tap into your inner guidance • Recognize your unique gifts and nature • Learn self-healing • Cultivate well-being In addition to her adventures in the inner realms, Ellen holds a Doctor of Arts in Writing, worked internationally in advocacy work on behalf of children and families living in poverty, and served on the Certification Program faculty of energy medicine pioneer Donna Eden. Ellen lives in San Rafael, California. ###
My guest for Life on Purpose Episode #90 is speaker, mindfulness and performance coach, and author George Mumford, a.k.a. The Mindfulness Performance Whisperer. George is a highly acclaimed expert in sports psychology and performance and NBA Hall of Fame coach Phil Jackson’s ‘Secret Weapon’ to winning eight NBA Championships. George’s passion is teaching mindfulness to high profile sports, business and academic teams alike; from the Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks (he taught Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and many other pro athletes), to senior global executives and systems. He is the author of The Mindful Athlete: Secrets to Pure Performance In our Life on Purposechat, we discussed mindfulness itself and what that means; how we can all deal with all the uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic; holding hurt and hope simultaneously; his own inspirational life journey from being one of 13 kids growing up in the rough parts of Boston to heroine addiction to rec...