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CTW S2E10 - Radio Daze   Jordan Rich is a veteran radio host and commentator who, over his 40-year career in broadcasting, has hosted everything from news and talk shows to sports shows. In addition to being the host of WBZ New England Weekend and the daily feature, Connoisseurs Corner, Jordan is also the co-founder of Charts Productions, a company that provides audio production and marketing services, as well as voice-over coaching and training. Jordan also hosts the podcast, On Mic with Jordan Rich, an on-going series of conversations with voice-over artists, singers, broadcasters, and more. A native of Boston himself, he is a familiar, if not a household, voice on the east coast.   Jordan joins me in this week’s episode to share his life and times as a broadcaster. He describes how the radio and broadcast industry changed over the decades, affected by both political climate and market changes. He explains the role of radio in a local community as well as its role as a driver of culture through the years. He also shares how radio and broadcast are adapting to the rise of podcasting and illustrates how the human element continues to drive storytelling through radio, broadcast, and podcasts.       “The one thing that has never changed—and will never change—about radio is the human element.” - Jordan Rich        This week on Coffee Table Wisdom:   Why Jordan chose broadcasting as a career How broadcasting and radio influenced culture in times of political uncertainties Radio and broadcasting throughout the decades The radio’s role in a local community before they were bought by media conglomerates The rise and fall of Napster How the spirit of radio persists through podcasting How the broadcasting industry is responding to the rise of the podcast     Connect with Jordan Rich   Chart Productions Jordan Rich Jordan Rich on Facebook Email: jordan@chartproductions.com       Join the Revolution!   Thanks for tuning into the Coffee Table Wisdom podcast - the show that enlightens your body, mind, and spirit through ideas and musings from the worlds of health, psychology, spirituality, and art. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review.   Join the Revolution in Positive Aging by sharing your favorite episodes on social media. Don’t forget to visit my website and follow my Facebook Page for even more inspiring ideas and musings on positive aging.     Coffee Table Wisdom is produced by Auxbus. You can create your own great podcast - faster and easier - at Auxbus.com        

CTW S2E09 - Release the Wild Woman   Throughout her life, Marilyn Hagar has believed that expressing ourselves through the arts can allow us to get in touch with our creative, wild essence. She is a Registered Expressive Art Therapist who, for over 40 years, has led groups and workshops at her forest retreat, For the Joy of It! An artist herself, Marilyn is inspired by inner-life imagery and her dreams and incorporates them into her artwork and art quilts. Through her book, Finding the Wild Inside: Exploring Our Inner Landscape Through the Arts, Dreams, and Intuition, Marilyn encourages readers to do the same and discover their creative self by exploring what she calls the “wild inside.”   Marilyn joins me today to discuss expressive art therapy and the value of exploring our inner world. She illustrates how nature can help us reconnect with ourselves and our creative parts and explains how she has accepted aging as well as share her ideas on what makes a great elder. She also shares her experience of taking care of her aging parents and how the death of her mother changed her positively.       “The circle of life is so present in the forest. Our deepest sense of belonging comes when we can hold that, as humans, we are part of that circle of life.” - Marilyn Hagar       This week on Coffee Table Wisdom:   The importance of living a contemplative, examined life How expressive art therapy gets you in touch with your inner world How being with nature can help reconnect us with our creative self Why the middle age is one of the most creative phases of life How Marilyn utilizes nature for expressive art therapy How Marilyn’s views on life changed over the years and how she accepted aging The factors that make a great elder and how elders should impart their wisdom How the death of Marilyn’ mother made her more optimistic The value of finding the balance between the rational and creative mind     Connect with Marilyn Hagar:   Marilyn Hagar Marilyn Hagar on Instagram Marilyn Hagar on Facebook Marilyn Hagar on LinkedIn         Join the Revolution!   Thanks for tuning into the Coffee Table Wisdom podcast - the show that enlightens your body, mind, and spirit through ideas and musings from the worlds of health, psychology, spirituality, and art. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review.   Join the Revolution in Positive Aging by sharing your favorite episodes on social media. Don’t forget to visit my website and follow my Facebook Page for even more inspiring ideas and musings on positive aging.     Coffee Table Wisdom is produced by Auxbus. You can create your own great podcast - faster and easier - at Auxbus.com    

CTW S2E08 – Don’t Go Back to Sleep   Patricia Taub is an author and life-long feminist. Her advocacy for women dates back to feminism’s second wave; about 40 years ago, while pregnant with her oldest son, Pat went to her first protest march. After writing the advice column, Coping, for almost eight years, she founded and hosted the award-winning program, Women’s Voices, for the NPR affiliate station, WAER. In 1995, Pat had the chance to learn about the difficulties of women in developing countries when she attended the UN Women’s Conference in Beijing. The experience ignited her devotion to helping women, and in 2001 her work on community activism for women was honored by the National Organization for Women.   Frustrated about the lack of resources on helping manage life as an older woman, Pat created the blog Women’s Older Wisdom. Through the blog, along with the WOW Facebook community, Pat creates spaces for older women to connect and exchange personal experiences. In addition to writing on her blog, Pat has also authored the memoir, The Mother of My Invention.   Pat joins me today to discuss women’s mental health and empowerment. She shares some of the biggest concerns women have about getting older, such as Alzheimer’s and being isolated. She explains why it’s important for women to find and build a community with other women and reveals what the older women in her community are doing to dispel some of the toxic myths that revolve around women and aging. She also encourages women to reclaim the ‘crone’ phase in a positive way and illustrates how ancient cultures and societies saw the phases of womanhood.       ‘We have a responsibility to show younger women that we can hold our heads high in old age.’ - Pat Taub       This week on Coffee Table Wisdom:   The biggest concerns women have about getting older Why older women fear isolation The importance and impact of women building a community How Pat’s community of older women inspired a group of young women to learn from them How women are destroying the toxic myths about women and aging Why older women should support younger women The three phases of a woman’s life and how to reclaim ‘old age’     Resources mentioned:   The Gift of Years by Joan Chittister Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells       Connect with Pat Taub:   Women’s Older Wisdom Pat Taub on Twitter Email: hello@wowblog.me         Join the Revolution!   Thanks for tuning into the Coffee Table Wisdom podcast - the show that enlightens your body, mind, and spirit through ideas and musings from the worlds of health, psychology, spirituality, and art. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review.   Join the Revolution in Positive Aging by sharing your favorite episodes on social media. Don’t forget to visit my website and follow my Facebook Page for even more inspiring ideas and musings on positive aging.     Coffee Table Wisdom is produced by Auxbus. You can create your own great podcast - faster and easier - at Auxbus.com    

CTW S2E07 - Own Yourself, with Dr. Kelly Brogan   Dr. Kelly Brogan is a holistic psychiatrist for women’s health. Despite her many years as a medical practitioner, Kelly knew she wasn’t prepared for a life dependent on pharmaceuticals, so, when she was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease, she opted to pursue an alternative to drugs and found the world of natural self-repair. After two and a half years and a pregnancy, she was finally able to remove the shackles of her symptoms.   Kelly is now on a quest to help women live healthier and happier lives independent of pharmaceutical drugs. Her books, A Mind of Your Own and Own Yourself, reveal truths about depression and the ways women can reclaim their lives. Through her work, Dr. Brogan breaks down the myths and misconceptions about health and wellbeing that keep women sick, confused, and drug dependent.   Kelly joins me in today’s episode to discuss how women can own themselves - their minds and their bodies. She defines the meaning of grief and explains why society avoids experiencing it. She explains how women can reclaim a sense of power over their health and lives. She also describes the different phases of life that women go through and personal experiences of self-victimization and reclamation.       “The most powerful form of activism today is an informed woman taking care of herself.” - Dr. Kelly Brogan        This week on Coffee Table Wisdom:   Kelly’s definition of grief and why society avoids it How to continue growing psychologically and spiritually throughout the ages The best way women can reclaim and own their lives How self-victimization prevents us from owning our lives Kelly’s personal story of self-victimization and reclamation Creating a life between motherhood and old age     Connect with Dr. Kelly Brogan:   Kelly Brogan Kelly Brogan on Twitter Kelly Brogan on Facebook Kelly Brogan on Instagram Kelly Brogan on YouTube     Join the Revolution!   Thanks for tuning into the Coffee Table Wisdom podcast - the show that enlightens your body, mind, and spirit through ideas and musings from the worlds of health, psychology, spirituality, and art. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review.   Join the Revolution in Positive Aging by sharing your favorite episodes on social media. Don’t forget to visit my website and follow my Facebook Page for even more inspiring ideas and musings on positive aging.     Coffee Table Wisdom is produced by Auxbus. You can create your own great podcast - faster and easier - at Auxbus.com  

CTW S2E06 - The Writing Life, with Jennie Nash   Jennie Nash is the daughter of a writer whose books she knew were read by the world. She wanted to be a writer herself, so when her 4th-grade class published a book of poetry, Jennie wrote poem after poem. When she saw her first by-line, she was hooked and continued to take on a writing career years later. Today, Jennie has published a total of eight books. Her works include three novels, such as The Threadbare Heart, and three memoirs, including The Victoria’s Secret Catalog Never Stops Coming And Other Lessons I Learned From Breast Cancer, which has sold more than 100,000 copies in print.     Jennie combined her love for storytelling with helping people achieve their goals and founded Author Accelerator, a strategic book coaching service for writers. For over 12 years, Jennie has helped clients earn national book awards and land deals with publishers such as Schribner, Simon & Schuster, and Hachette. She also taught in UCLA’s Extension Writer’s Program for 13 years and is currently an instructor at CreativeLive, an online platform that hosts thousands of classes and courses by professional creatives.   Jennie joins me today to discuss writing, getting published, and the power of storytelling. She reveals the things publishers and literary agents look for in a book. She explains why writers write and the unique ways they live in the world. She explains how play is an essential aspect of creativity. She also shares how art helped her during a time of sickness and why she decided to become a writing coach.       “Writing gets better at as you age. The longer you live, the more stories and perspectives you have. Those things make you a better writer.” - Jennie Nash       This week on Coffee Table Wisdom:   Jennie’s advice to new writers The kinds of books publishers and literary agents look for Why writing and storytelling are powerful forces in our culture Why dystopian novels are currently selling a lot The writer’s unique way of living in the world How art and literature could be a healing experience Why Jennie chose to be a writing coach       Resources mentioned:   Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens Wired for Story by Lisa Cron Story Genius by Lisa Cron The Storytelling Animal by Jonathan Gottschall       Connect with Jennie Nash:   Jennie Nash Author Accelerator Author Accelerator on Twitter Author Accelerator on Facebook Jennie Nash on Instagram Jennie Nash on LinkedIn Jennie Nash on Twitter Jennie Nash on Facebook       Join the Revolution!   Thanks for tuning into the Coffee Table Wisdom podcast - the show that enlightens your body, mind, and spirit through ideas and musings from the worlds of health, psychology, spirituality, and art. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review.   Join the Revolution in Positive Aging by sharing your favorite episodes on social media. Don’t forget to visit my website and follow my Facebook Page for even more inspiring ideas and musings on positive aging.     Coffee Table Wisdom is produced by Auxbus. You can create your own great podcast - faster and easier - at Auxbus.com    

CTW S2E05 - Letting Go, with Jill Sherer Murray   Whether it’s in her career or relationships, Jill Sherer Murray traces her successes in life to letting go. In her 40s, Jill ended a 12-year dead-end relationship after having an epiphany about getting stuck in life. She shares this epiphany in her TEDx talk The Unstoppable Power of Letting Go. In response to the millions of people who viewed her TEDx talk, Jill founded Let Go For It, a lifestyle brand designed to help people and organizations realize success in both business and personal life. Her book, Big Wild Love: the Unstoppable Power of Letting Go, embodies her desire to help people let go of what’s holding them back and achieve the life they truly want.   Jill joins me today to discuss the unstoppable power of letting go. She shares the 12-year relationship that gave her an epiphany on how letting go can change our lives for the better. She reveals the number one reason we get stuck in life and the steps to letting go. We also discuss the benefits of writing down your life goals and confronting your fears as well as how letting go of the things that no longer serve us prepares us for life’s ultimate surrender.       “It’s time for people to understand we’re not here forever. If we’re wasting life holding on to things that aren’t serving us, then we have to let go.” - Jill Sherer Murray       This week on Coffee Table Wisdom:   Jill ’s 12-year-long relationship that inspired the Unstoppable Power of Letting Go How a lack of self-love prevents us from achieving the life we want Jill’s steps for letting go of the things that no longer serve us The limiting belief that stopped Jill from leaving a dead-end relationship The benefits of understanding our limiting beliefs The importance of writing down a life plan How the practice of letting go prepares us for life’s ultimate surrender How letting go is an act of reclaiming your true self     Connect with Jill Sherer Murray:   Let Go For It Jill Sherer Murray on Twitter Jill Sherer Murray on Facebook Jill Sherer Murray on Instagram Jill Sherer Murray on YouTube Jill Sherer Murray on LinkedIn Email: jill@letgoforit.com     Resources Mentioned:   TEDxWilmingtonWomen: The Unstoppable Power of Letting Go | Jill Sherer Murray       Join the Revolution!   Thanks for tuning into the Coffee Table Wisdom podcast - the show that enlightens your body, mind, and spirit through ideas and musings from the worlds of health, psychology, spirituality, and art. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review.   Join the Revolution in Positive Aging by sharing your favorite episodes on social media. Don’t forget to visit my website and follow my Facebook Page for even more inspiring ideas and musings on positive aging.     Coffee Table Wisdom is produced by Auxbus. You can create your own great podcast - faster and easier - at Auxbus.com    

CTW S2E04 - In Fitness and In Health   Over the last 25 years, Dr. Jade Teta immersed himself in the study of strength, conditioning, hormonal metabolism, and the psychology of success. He integrated his knowledge on physical fitness with his wisdom on self-development to found Next Level Human, a company that helps people live their best lives. He is also the founder and creator of the Metabolic Effect, an international health and fitness company.   In addition to starting these organizations, Dr. Teta also shares his expertise by writing several books on physical fitness and health, including Metabolic Effect Diet and Metabolic Aftershock. He also contributed chapters on exercise and sports nutrition in the Textbook of Natural Medicine and shares his thoughts on self-development in his latest books, Next Level Tribe and Human 365.   Jade joins me today to discuss the psychology of aging and how keeping the body moving by doing simple exercises like walking can impact your health and wellbeing. He shares tips on modifying physical exercises to prevent injury and tissue damage and elaborates on how a person can use pain, fear, and grief for personal growth. He also explains how to bring back a sense of engagement in our lives and why we must all face our fears.     “The best thing that we can do for our mind and body is to challenge ourselves.” - Dr. Jade Teta       This week on Coffee Table Wisdom:   Why exercise becomes more important as we age How to modify exercises to prevent injury and tissue damage The benefits of eccentric-focused movement in exercise The psychology of aging and how to maintain mental health as we age How facing our fears can lead to personal growth The importance and impact of walking daily Using grief and suffering to transform our lives     Connect with Dr. Jade Teta:   Jade Teta The Next Level Human Podcast Jade Teta on Facebook Jade Teta on Twitter Jade Teta on Instagram Jade Teta on YouTube Email: jade@jadeteta.com       Join the Revolution!   Thanks for tuning into the Coffee Table Wisdom podcast - the show that enlightens your body, mind, and spirit through ideas and musings from the worlds of health, psychology, spirituality, and art. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review.    Join the Revolution in Positive Aging by sharing your favorite episodes on social media. Don’t forget to visit my website and follow my Facebook Page for even more inspiring ideas and musings on positive aging.  

CTW S2E03 - Physical Pain, Emotional Pain with Dr. David Brady Dr. David Brady, one of the foremost authorities on the treatment and diagnosis of fibromyalgia, is the author of The Fibro Fix. He has written about fibromyalgia in medical textbooks, including Advancing Medicine with Food and Nutrients and Integrative Gastroenterology and has been published in the Open Journal of Rheumatology and Autoimmune Disease and Integrative Medicine. Dr. Brady has also presented at medical conferences and was featured by ELLE and NPR. In addition to his work as an author and speaker, Dr. Brady also serves as Vice President of Health Sciences, the Director of Human Nutrition Institute at the University of Bridgeport, and the Chief Medical Officer at Designs for Health, Inc. and Diagnostics Solutions Laboratory, LLC. He also practices privately at Whole Body Medicine in Fairfield, CT. Dr. Brady joins me today to discuss the diagnosis and treatment of fibromyalgia. He defines what fibromyalgia is and why it often goes undiagnosed. Dr. Brady differentiates chronic pain and fibromyalgia and the reason patients and health practitioners alike confuse the two. We discuss the causes of fibromyalgia and its connection to childhood abuse and trauma. He also shares the steps he takes to manage and heal fibromyalgia.     “There’s a class of disorders that create a pattern where the nervous system never lets down its guard; you’re always waiting for the next threat, the next trauma.” – Dr. David Brady       This week on Coffee Table Wisdom: What is fibromyalgia? Why there are misconceptions and misunderstanding about fibromyalgia The difference between chronic pain and fibromyalgia How fibromyalgia occurs in a patient’s brain Fibromyalgia diagnosis and why it goes misdiagnosed Who’s at risk of fibromyalgia? The relationship between childhood abuse, trauma, and fibromyalgia Where does fibromyalgia pain occur? Dealing with fibromyalgia through meditation and yoga Are there new drugs to treat fibromyalgia? The importance of living a healthy lifestyle to treat fibromyalgia     Connect with Dr. David Brady: Fibro Fix David Brady David Brady on Twitter David Brady on Facebook David Brady on Instagram         Join the Revolution!   Thanks for tuning into the Coffee Table Wisdom podcast - the show that enlightens your body, mind, and spirit through ideas and musings from the worlds of health, psychology, spirituality, and art. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review.    Join the Revolution in Positive Aging by sharing your favorite episodes on social media. Don’t forget to visit my website and follow my Facebook Page for even more inspiring ideas and musings on positive aging.  

CTW S2E2 Eat, Darling, Eat with Aimee Lee Ball   Aimee Lee Ball is the Co-Founder of Eat, Darling, Eat - a website that celebrates the mother-daughter relationship through a collection of original stories and recipes. She is the author of multiple books, including No Time to Die, Cybill Disobedience, and Changing the Rules. Aimee has penned countless articles for several national publications, including The New York Times, Travel & Leisure, GQ, Vogue, and Oprah Magazine.   Aimee joins me today to discuss the relationship between mothers and daughters and why this relationship is often one of the most significant in a young woman’s life. We discuss how mothers and daughters create lasting memories and develop strong bonds while preparing meals for the family. We discuss the inspiration behind the Eat, Darling, Eat website and how her own mother influenced her inspiration. We also discuss how daughters often become the ‘light’ for our aging mothers and how it impacts our own aging process.       “Food really is such an interesting parable for the mother-daughter relationship.” - Aimee Lee Ball       This week on Coffee Table Wisdom:   How mothers continue to influence and inform their daughter’s lives - even after death Using food and cooking as a vehicle to create memories and bonds How Aimee learned about the similarities and differences between herself and her mother while watching her mother prepare meals The inspiration behind the Eat, Darling, Eat website The connection between food and our own personal stories, history, and culture Becoming a ‘light’ for our aging mothers as well as for our own aging process     Connect with Aimee Lee Ball:   Eat, Darling, Eat         Join the Revolution!   Thanks for tuning into the Coffee Table Wisdom podcast - the show that enlightens your body, mind, and spirit through ideas and musings from the worlds of health, psychology, spirituality, and art. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review.   Join the Revolution in Positive Aging by sharing your favorite episodes on social media. Don’t forget to visit my website and follow my Facebook Page for even more inspiring ideas and musings on positive aging.     Coffee Table Wisdom is produced by Auxbus. You can create your own great podcast - faster and easier - at Auxbus.com

CTW011 Mystery and Musings on the Natural World with Stevie Fischer   Originally from New York City and currently residing in Connecticut, Stevie Fischer is a college writing teacher with a diverse professional background in international banking and wine sales. After moving to the beautiful countryside of Connecticut and experiencing the wonders that nature holds, Stevie wrote the novel River Rules, a suspense novel set in a small Connecticut town. Her focus on friendship bonds, the love of nature, and her refusal to be marginalized are all brilliantly weaved throughout her book.   Stevie joins me today to share the mystery and musings of the natural world. We discuss the balance of people, nature, and power and what we believe society is doing right - and what we could be doing better. She explains why she believes the older generations should follow the younger generation’s example regarding pollution and environmental impact. We also discuss how her book poses the question of whether nature can have a second chance, the difference between living abundantly versus entitlement, and the concept of positive aging and how older generations can have a significant impact by simply mentoring young people.       “Everyone can do something, no matter how small.” - Stevie Fischer       This week on Coffee Table Wisdom:   The balance of people, nature, and power and what Stevie believes we are getting right - and what we’re getting wrong Small, simple steps that can greatly impact climate change and global warming Why Stevie believes we should follow the younger generation’s lead regarding pollution and climate change What younger generations throughout Europe are doing to send a message to government officials about their global warming concerns How Stevie’s dog lent inspiration for her book The biggest threat currently impacting the Connecticut River How her book poses the question of whether nature gets a second chance The difference between living in abundance and entitlement The concept of positive aging and how older generations can mentor young adults     Connect with Stevie Z. Fischer:   Website River Rules Facebook Twitter Instagram         Join the Revolution!   Thanks for tuning into the Coffee Table Wisdom podcast - the show that enlightens your body, mind, and spirit through ideas and musings from the worlds of health, psychology, spirituality, and art. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review.   Join the Revolution in Positive Aging by sharing your favorite episodes on social media. Don’t forget to visit my website and follow my Facebook Page for even more inspiring ideas and musings on positive aging.

CTW010 True Love and a Harley with Mary Black   Mary Jane Black is a literacy specialist for the State of Texas, a former high school writing and literature teacher, and the author of She Rode a Harley: A Memoir of Love and Motorcycles. Her book shares her story of escaping an abusive marriage, working as a schoolteacher while raising a child as a single mother, and finding true love on a blind date with a motorcycle enthusiast. Excerpts of her book have been published in a variety of publications including the Shark Reef Journal and Oxford American Magazine.   Mary Jane joins me today to share her story of finding true love and learning to ride a Harley. We discuss how true love surprised her later in life and the heartbreaking story of loss and grief after losing her husband to cancer.  She shares how her husband encouraged her to ride a motorcycle and why she no longer rides after losing her husband. We discuss how our lives take place against a backdrop of loss, despite our best intentions. We also discuss why grief and love are two of the most transformative forces in our lives and Mary shares her advice for those seeking love as well as those currently surviving the loss of their true love.       “You have to remain open to love.” - Mary Jane Black       This week on Coffee Table Wisdom:   How true love surprised Mary Jane late in life The heartbreaking story of loss and grief after losing her true love The routines she developed to help her cope with losing her husband The best way to support a friend or loved one who has experienced great loss Why anger is a natural part of the grieving process How her husband finally encouraged her to ride a Harley How the students reacted to seeing their principal ride a Harley Why she feels riding alone seems to ‘foreign’ to do after losing her husband Her experience with feeling her husband’s presence after his death Her own near-death experience and how it awakened her to continue living her life after losing her husband Her advice for those seeking love and those currently surviving the loss of their true love     Connect with Mary Jane Black:   Website She Rode a Harley: A Memoir of Love and Motorcycles Facebook         Join the Revolution!   Thanks for tuning into the Coffee Table Wisdom podcast - the show that enlightens your body, mind, and spirit through ideas and musings from the worlds of health, psychology, spirituality, and art. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review.   Join the Revolution in Positive Aging by sharing your favorite episodes on social media. Don’t forget to visit my website and follow my Facebook Page for even more inspiring ideas and musings on positive aging.

CTW009 We Are All Immigrants with Marlena Baraf   Born and raised in Panama, Marlena Baraf immigrated to the United States as a teenager in high school and became an American citizen during her 30s. After pledging her allegiance to the country she adopted as her own, she became a published author, book editor, interior designer, and a loving mother. Her work has been seen in several publications including the HuffPost and Read 650. She is the author of several essays about immigration, including the Soy/Somos (I am/ We are) series, as well as a recently published memoir, At the Narrow Waist of the World.   Marlena joins me today to share her experience as an American immigrant and the message she hopes to convey through her writing. We discuss the different cultures that compose our country and society and how, at the end of the day, we are all immigrants in America. We discuss the common threads between American nationals and American immigrants. We also discuss the challenges that many American immigrants face in today’s political environment and how embracing the differences in our culture not only enriches our lives but also makes us better people.       “We live very narrowly if we are not exposed to people who are different. So there is no question that we are enriched.” - Marlena Baraf       This week on Coffee Table Wisdom:   Marlena’s journey to America and why she decided to move to America on her own The common thread between American nationals and American immigrants The message she wants to convey through her book and essays The challenges many immigrant communities currently face in today’s political environment Why fear is the root cause of many people’s behaviors and beliefs about immigrants How embracing differences in our culture and society enriches our world How our immigration policies have evolved and how today’s policies could be improved to give new immigrants better opportunities to fulfill their dreams     Connect with Marlena Baraf:   Marlena Baraf’s website At the Narrow Waist of the World Soy/Somos (I am/We are) Facebook Twitter Instagram         Join the Revolution!   Thanks for tuning into the Coffee Table Wisdom podcast - the show that enlightens your body, mind, and spirit through ideas and musings from the worlds of health, psychology, spirituality, and art. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review.   Join the Revolution in Positive Aging by sharing your favorite episodes on social media. Don’t forget to visit my website and follow my Facebook Page for even more inspiring ideas and musings on positive aging.

CTW008 The Romance of Our Nostalgia with Lauren Speeth   Lauren Speeth is an award-winning filmmaker, writer, and owner of Elfenworks Productions LLC. She is the author of Thread for Pearls, a historical fiction novel based in the early 1960s and 70s which shares what she understands as the fundamental human experience of hope and resiliency. Lauren is a master storyteller with wide-ranging interests in everything from the American experience to Irish spirituality as well as music about love and life.   Lauren joins me today to discuss her new novel and what motivated her to write her book. We discuss how her book inspires others to embrace hope in the face of adversity. We discuss the importance of creating a vision for each decade of your life and why she considers the kind of person she wants to be when creating her vision. We also discuss the role of idealism while creating your vision, how holding onto hope keeps you feeling young, and the role that fear and hope play when creating a vision for your life.       “We can all learn resiliency of hope.” - Lauren Speeth       This week on Coffee Table Wisdom:   Why she chose to set the book in the early 60s and 70s Why she decided to write a book on the resiliency of hope How her book inspires young readers to embrace hope in the face of challenging obstacles The importance of creating a vision for each decade of your life How parenting techniques have evolved over the years and how it has impacted our children’s resiliency and hopefulness Considering the kind of person you want to be while creating your vision The role of idealism in creating your 10-year vision How holding onto hopefulness keeps you feeling young Why she believes some people are blinded from issues due to fear How fear cripples your ability to create a vision of hope and possibility Turning mistakes and failures into opportunities to learn, grow and improve The role that hope plays in your greater vision     Connect with Lauren Speeth:   Elfenworks Productions LLC Thread for Pearls website Thread for Pearls: A Story of Resilient Hope Facebook         Join the Revolution!   Thanks for tuning into the Coffee Table Wisdom podcast - the show that enlightens your body, mind, and spirit through ideas and musings from the worlds of health, psychology, spirituality, and art. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review.   Join the Revolution in Positive Aging by sharing your favorite episodes on social media. Don’t forget to visit my website and follow my Facebook Page for even more inspiring ideas and musings on positive aging.

CTW007 Dreams and Leder Musings with Kaycee Stevens Hughlett   Kaycee Stevens Hughlett is the author of SoulStroller: experiencing the weight, whispers, & wings of the world, an award-winning memoir that is described as seductive, sincere, and - at times - heartbreaking and hilarious. She is the co-author of SoulStrolling: A Movement in Mindfulness in Motion and an advocate of the concept that sometimes the answer to life’s complex questions resides in simple practices. Kaycee is a tender, healer, and artist currently living in Seattle, Washington. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the State of Washington and holds a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology as well as a Memoir Writing Certificate from the University of Washington.   Kaycee joins me today to share the inspiration behind her book: SoulStroller and discusses what it means to be a wise elder in today’s culture. We discuss why it’s important for elders to share their mistakes and failures with the younger generations and the importance of allowing yourself time to grieve through challenging circumstances. We also discuss how curiosity helps you develop the wisdom to mentor others and the role that listening and asking questions can play when we mentor the younger generation.       “As wise elders, offering the questions is one of the best things that we can do.” - Kaycee Stevens Hughlett       This week on Coffee Table Wisdom:   The story that her memoir unfolds and the inspiration behind her book’s title What it means to be a ‘wise elder’ The purpose of being an elder in today’s culture Why it’s important for elders to share their mistakes and failures with the younger generations Why we need to step into grief and how it acts as a healing balm for our soul How curiosity helps you develop wisdom The role that listening and asking questions plays when mentoring the younger generation How Kaycee gained inspiration for the characters in her book that represent the various mentors she’s had throughout her life     Connect with Kaycee Stevens Hughlett:   Kaycee Stevens Hughlett’s website SoulStroller: experiencing the weight, whispers & wings of the world SoulStrolling Inspiration Deck Twitter Instagram         Join the Revolution!   Thanks for tuning into the Coffee Table Wisdom podcast - the show that enlightens your body, mind, and spirit through ideas and musings from the worlds of health, psychology, spirituality, and art. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review.   Join the Revolution in Positive Aging by sharing your favorite episodes on social media. Don’t forget to visit my website and follow my Facebook Page for even more inspiring ideas and musings on positive aging.

CTW006 Childfree, Childless, with Kate Kaufmann   Kate Kaufmann is the author of Do You Have Kids?: Life When the Answer Is No, a savvy and interesting guide on what life might look like for the growing number of childless women around the world. Her quest to find her identity as a childless woman began after she and her husband decided to stop infertility treatments, leave their corporate jobs, and move to a rural community that highly valued family and children. Throughout her journey, she has met hundreds of women without children and discovered a vast amount of data on how living without children can impact the way a woman’s life may unfold.   Kate holds a Master’s degree in Creative Writing, a Masters in Management, and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She regularly speaks on panels and with organizations, universities, and professional groups on topics related to living childless and childfree and has been featured in media publications like the Washington Post, NBC’s Know Your Value and Conscious Connection.   Kate joins me today to discuss how not having children impacts various aspects of our lives and our relationships. She explains how not having children allows you the opportunity to think broadly about the legacy you will leave and the alternative routes to joy, meaning, and connection that living childfree allows. She shares how her quest to find her identity as a childfree woman led her to find unique fulfillment from mentoring others. She also explains how your reasons for deciding not to have children can evolve as you age and shares stories of others who have chosen to live a childfree, childless life.       “We have the invitation, the challenge, and the opportunity to create lives of meaning in ways that work for us.” - Kate Kaufmann       This week on Coffee Table Wisdom:   Comparing the life cycle impact of women with children vs. women without children How not having children impacts your work life, your relationships, and the decisions you make throughout your life Alternative routes to meaning, connection, and joy Finding fulfillment in a childfree life The difference between aging and ‘eldering’ The challenge of connecting and relating to other people who have children Stories that others have shared about why they chose not to have children How your reasons for choosing not to have children can change and evolve as you age     Connect with Kate Kaufmann:   Kate Kaufmann’s website Do You Have Kids? Life When the Answer Is No Facebook Twitter         Join the Revolution!   Thanks for tuning into the Coffee Table Wisdom podcast - the show that enlightens your body, mind, and spirit through ideas and musings from the worlds of health, psychology, spirituality, and art. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review.   Join the Revolution in Positive Aging by sharing your favorite episodes on social media. Don’t forget to visit my website and follow my Facebook Page for even more inspiring ideas and musings on positive aging.

CTW005 Supporting Your Writing Habit with A Writing Habit with Jason Brick   Jason Brick is a professional writer with over 10 years of experience. He has published over 4,000 articles and short stories for online and print magazines and contributed to over 40 books. He is the author of Random Encounters, an Amazon bestselling series on role-playing games packed with ideas for game enthusiasts. Jason is also an accomplished speaker, frequently hosting international workshops at writing conferences and festivals about business as well as lectures to business owners on topics related to writing.   Jason joins me today to discuss how you can support your writing habit by developing a writing habit. We discuss what crowdfunding is and how it can help writers fund their book ideas. We discuss some of the basic business models and concepts every author should implement when writing and promoting their book. We also discuss the online and offline marketing strategies you can use to promote your book and the common mistakes many writers make when promoting themselves on social media.       “You don’t have to be a sharp marketer to succeed… but it certainly helps to have a basic grounding in how to sell your work.” - Jason Brick       This week on Coffee Table Wisdom:   What crowdfunding is and how it helps writers fund their book ideas How crowdfunding can benefit anthology literature and writers Developing a writer’s business model How being passionate about your work converts into sales Identifying your ‘author’s platform’ Using social media to build your network and brand The biggest mistake many authors make online The importance of focusing your energy and efforts on only two social platforms - and how to choose the best one for your genre Using print and online publications to share your message Why he believes non-fiction writing is easier to ‘break into’ than fiction writing     Resources Mentioned:   Kickstarter Indigogo GoFundMe Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur by Derek Sivers We Are All Weird by Seth Godin     Connect with Jason Brick:   Comma. Jason website Iron Writer’s Challenge Facebook Community         Join the Revolution!   Thanks for tuning into the Coffee Table Wisdom podcast - the show that enlightens your body, mind, and spirit through ideas and musings from the worlds of health, psychology, spirituality, and art. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review.   Join the Revolution in Positive Aging by sharing your favorite episodes on social media. Don’t forget to visit my website and follow my Facebook Page for even more inspiring ideas and musings on positive aging.     Coffee Table Wisdom is produced by Auxbus. You can create your own great podcast - faster and easier - at Auxbus.com  

CTW004 Living Kindly with Donna Cameron   Donna Cameron is an author, speaker, and philanthropist with an incredibly big heart. She has spent her professional career working with nonprofit organizations and noble causes as an executive, trainer, consultant, and volunteer and has witnessed first-hand the transformative power that kindness can offer. After spending a year committed to living kindly, she published A Year of Living Kindly, an award-winning book that provides insight into the power of kindness and what living a kind life entails.   Donna joins me today to share her journey into living kindly. She explains the difference between being nice and being kind and how she measures kindness. She explains the health benefits associated with living kindly and why kindness is a journey, not a destination. She also explains how to start your journey toward living kindly, why she believes society is in the midst of instability, and how a collective grassroots effort of being more kind to each other can be a catalyst to resolve this epidemic.     “‘Kind’ asks me to make a connection with people. It asks me to suspend judgment about them and go beyond mere tolerance to really caring.” - Donna Cameron       This week on Coffee Table Wisdom:   The difference between being nice and being kind How she measures kindness How kindness impacts your health and well-being Why she views kindness as an ongoing journey How to assess your thoughts and feelings when experiencing unkind moments Balancing kindness with activism in the face of injustice How kindness begets kindness The impact that micro-kindness actions can have on yourself and others as well as society How she starts and ends her day with kindness as a priority     Connect with Donna Cameron:   A Year of Living Kindly Facebook Twitter       Join the Revolution!   Thanks for tuning into the Coffee Table Wisdom podcast - the show that enlightens your body, mind, and spirit through ideas and musings from the worlds of health, psychology, spirituality, and art. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review.   Join the Revolution in Positive Aging by sharing your favorite episodes on social media. Don’t forget to visit my website and follow my Facebook Page for even more inspiring ideas and musings on positive aging.     Coffee Table Wisdom is produced by Auxbus. You can create your own great podcast - faster and easier - at Auxbus.com  

CTW003 Love, Grief, and Home with Diane Dewey   Diane Dewey’s story began in a German orphanage. After being adopted at the tender age of one and moving to America, she connected with her Swiss biological father at the age of 47. She set out on a journey to find her German mother and learn more about her roots. Following her quest, she wrote Fixing the Fates: An Adoptee’s Story of Truth and Lies, an award-winning memoir based on her personal history to discover the truth about her biological parents. Diane holds a Bachelor’s degree with honors from Villanova University in Liberal Arts, a Masters in Mental Health Counseling from Capella University, and is the founder of the Realization of Art, an art appraisal business. She has published multiple art reviews in Artes Magazine and participated in several writing workshops around the world.   Diane joins me today to share her story of love, grief, and home. She shares what it was like to grow up knowing she was adopted and why she was surprised to learn that her father was actively searching for her. She explains how she developed her sense of identity as an adoptee and why your identity is more dependent on your personal perspective and narrative rather than those of others. She also shares how her journey to find her roots motivated her to study mental health counseling and liberal arts and what inspired her to share her story through her memoir.       “In the end, your identity is your own construct. It’s the narrative that you’re telling yourself.” - Diane Dewey       This week on Coffee Table Wisdom:   What it was like to grow up knowing she was adopted Why Diane was shocked to learn that her father was actively searching for her How she answers the universal question: “Who am I and where do I belong?” as an adoptee How reuniting with her father helped her finally answer unanswered questions Diane’s unique perspective on what destiny really is and how we co-create it How her journey to find her roots influenced her decision to become a mental health counselor and artist Her quest to find her biological mother and how she stays connected with her maternal and paternal biological family Why she decided to write her memoir     Connect with Diane Dewey:   Diane Dewey website Facebook Twitter Instagram       Join the Revolution!   Thanks for tuning into the Coffee Table Wisdom podcast - the show that enlightens your body, mind, and spirit through ideas and musings from the worlds of health, psychology, spirituality, and art. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review.   Join the Revolution in Positive Aging by sharing your favorite episodes on social media. Don’t forget to visit my website and follow my Facebook Page for even more inspiring ideas and musings on positive aging.     Coffee Table Wisdom is produced by Auxbus. You can create your own great podcast - faster and easier - at Auxbus.com  

CTW002 The Healing Journey with Deb Brandon   Originally from England and currently living in the U.S, Deb Brandon is a loving mother of two, a writer, a respected textile artist, and a math professor at Carnegie Mellon University. She is the author of But My Brain Had Other Ideas, a memoir about her healing journey after suffering a brain injury. Deb’s writing has appeared in several publications, including Hand/Eye Magazine and the Weave a Real Peace newsletter. Additionally, she regularly presents speeches and programs on topics related to brain injury.   Deb joins me today to share her healing journey after being diagnosed with a rare blood vessel abnormality of the brain. She explains what cavernous angioma is and how this diagnosis changed her life. She shares the challenges and struggles she faced throughout her recovery journey and why she believes healing and acceptance is an ongoing process, despite your circumstances. She also shares how a positive mindset and attitude helped her overcome bouts of depression to continue her healing journey.       “Recovery is ongoing.” - Deb Brandon       This week on Coffee Table Wisdom:   How Deb learned she had cavernous angioma, a rare blood vessel abnormality How her brain injury impacted her life and the multiple brain surgeries she endured Her biggest fear after being diagnosed and trying to cope with living with cavernous angioma Her bout with depression and the journey toward recovery Why Deb believes healing is an ongoing process, regardless of the situation you’re in The mindset she had to help her continue her healing journey The biggest loss and the biggest gift she’s had from this experience How she learned to turn her weaknesses into strengths How allowing yourself to show your vulnerabilities to others help you build a connection with the people around you     Connect with Deb Brandon:   Deb Brandon website But My Brain Had Other Ideas book Deb Brandon on Facebook Deb Brandon on Twitter         Join the Revolution!   Thanks for tuning into the Coffee Table Wisdom podcast - the show that enlightens your body, mind, and spirit through ideas and musings from the worlds of health, psychology, spirituality, and art. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review.   Join the Revolution in Positive Aging by sharing your favorite episodes on social media. Don’t forget to visit my website and follow my Facebook Page for even more inspiring ideas and musings on positive aging.     Coffee Table Wisdom is produced by Auxbus. You can create your own great podcast - faster and easier - at Auxbus.com  

CTW001 The Why and How of Coffee Table Wisdom   Welcome to the Coffee Table Wisdom podcast! I’m your host, Stephanie Raffelock, the author of A Delightful Little Book on Aging. Published by She Writes Press and set to be released in April 2020, this story takes readers on the journey of aging gracefully and beautifully weaves storytelling with the philosophy of gratitude. I’ve also written several articles for various publications including Quilters Magazine, Omaha Lifestyles, The Aspen Times, and SixtyandMe.com.   In today’s episode, my husband, Dean, joins me to discuss why I decided to launch the Coffee Table Wisdom podcast as well as my upcoming book series. We discuss what aging better means to me and the connection between today’s cultural society and people’s desire to recede as we age. We discuss why I believe your vision for life becomes more important as you age and why laughter is ‘the delight of life.’ We also discuss the interesting stories and unique perspectives you can expect from each episode of Coffee Table Wisdom.       “When we allow ourselves to continue to love this miracle of life - we age better.” - Stephanie Raffelock       This week on Coffee Table Wisdom:   How Dean inspired the name for the podcast and what inspired me to launch the show What aging better means to me The unique stories, insight, and perspectives you can expect in each episode Balancing cultural work with inner work as we age Why my upcoming book starts with a story on grief and loss Reclaiming various aspects of ourselves that were once ‘lost’ in our youth Why your vision becomes more important as you age Why I believe grief is ‘sacred work’ The guests and conversations you can expect from each episode A sneak peek at the next two books in the Delightful Little Book series         Join the Revolution!   Thanks for tuning into the Coffee Table Wisdom podcast - the show that enlightens your body, mind, and spirit through ideas and musings from the worlds of health, psychology, spirituality, and art. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review.   Join the Revolution in Positive Aging by sharing your favorite episodes on social media. Don’t forget to visit my website and follow my Facebook Page for even more inspiring ideas and musings on positive aging.