Greetings, friends!!

Y’all, I can’t think of a better conversation partner with whom to close out this season of People Watching than Christian Shockley, poet, teacher, explorer, and friend. I think the second half of our conversation got even better than the first, if that’s possible!

I first met Christian a few years ago, when I was interviewing vendors for learning management systems. In that process, I discovered Pathwright, where Christian serves as the Head of EdLabs and Learning Experience Design. I immediately appreciated Christian’s learning-first mindset, his obvious creativity, and his curiosity about the world and how we talk about our experiences.

In addition to his work at Pathwright, Christian also works as the Head of Training at Readyy AI, and the Director of Sales Enablement for ASAPP, where he designs curricula, playbooks, and competency-based onboarding for teams. Busy guy! Christian is a graduate of King’s College London, and when he’s not working, he can be found at his leather-working bench, or writing on pedagogy, poetry, and digital learning.

Our conversation explored how we learn to listen to the stories that role models tell us. We also sung poetry to each other, sharing our favorite Christian Wiman and Lucille Clifton poems. It was delightful.

Make sure to like, share, comment, subscribe, and I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

Watch on YouTube!

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Links Mentioned

• Ben Quash

• Kenneth Burke

• John Milton, Paradise Lost

• Lucille Clifton, “the calling of the disciples”

• Lucille Clifton, “Here Yet Be Dragons”

• Christian Wiman, “Every Riven Thing”

• Christian Wiman, “2047 Grace Street”

• Osip Mandelstam, Christian Wiman, Stolen Air

• Austin Church, Pt. 1

• Austin Church, Pt. 2

Other Places to Find Christian

• Website: crs.work

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christianrobertshockley/

Let’s be hopeful, creative, and wise—together.

Shalom,

Subscribe now

What else?

• You can learn more about this newsletter and my work on the About page.

• Have a question? Ask me anything.

Greetings, friends!!

Y’all, I can’t think of a better conversation partner with whom to close out this season of People Watching than Christian Shockley, poet, teacher, explorer, and friend.

I first met Christian a few years ago, when I was interviewing vendors for learning management systems. In that process, I discovered Pathwright, where Christian serves as the Head of EdLabs and Learning Experience Design. I immediately appreciated Christian’s learning-first mindset, his obvious creativity, and his curiosity about the world and how we talk about our experiences.

In addition to his work at Pathwright, Christian also works as the Head of Training at Readyy AI, and the Director of Sales Enablement for ASAPP, where he designs curricula, playbooks, and competency-based onboarding for teams. Busy guy! Christian is a graduate of King’s College London, and when he’s not working, he can be found at his leather-working bench, or writing on pedagogy, poetry, and digital learning.

Our conversation explored our literary heroes, the difficult loss of loved ones due to trauma and aging, and the real work of “small talk.” Make sure to like, share, comment, subscribe, and I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

Watch on YouTube!

Want to help me continue sharing free stuff? Buy me a book!

book it here

Links Mentioned

• Ben Quash

• Kenneth Burke

• John Milton, Paradise Lost

• Lucille Clifton, “the calling of the disciples”

• Lucille Clifton, “Here Yet Be Dragons”

• Christian Wiman, “Every Riven Thing”

• Christian Wiman, “2047 Grace Street”

• Osip Mandelstam, Christian Wiman, Stolen Air

• Austin Church, Pt. 1

• Austin Church, Pt. 2

Other Places to Find Christian

• Website: crs.work

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christianrobertshockley/

Let’s be hopeful, creative, and wise—together.

Shalom,

Subscribe now

What else?

• You can learn more about this newsletter and my work on the About page.

• Have a question? Ask me anything.

Greetings, friends!

In this episode of People Watching, I sit down with my dear friend, educator, writer, and strategist Garland Dunlap.

Our conversation explores the intersections of spirituality, education, and cultural imagination, and y’all. Editing this conversation felt like herding kittens. We went everywhere!!

In this second episode, Garland shares his thoughts on Afrofuturism, the aesthetics of learning, and navigating the world as a neurodivergent individual. I loved discovering how education can be reimagined as a space for growth and creativity, and explore the implications of Afrofuturism in fostering understanding and unity.

I had so much fun in this conversation - I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Watch on YouTube!

Links Mentioned

• John Green Interview

• Culture Care, Makoto Fumimura

• Wisdom of Holy Fools in Postmodernity, Peter Phan

• The Cult of Smart, Freddie de Boer

• Black Panther

• Parliament Funkadelic

• Octavia Butler

• N.K. Jemisin

• Breaking Bread with the Dead, Alan Jacobs

• Ideology in Curriculum, Michael Apple

• Michael Polyani

Other Places to Find Garland

• Newsletter

• LinkedIn

• Consulting

Other Places to Find Megan

Bluesky

Let’s be hopeful, creative, and wise—together.

Shalom,

Subscribe now

Greetings, friends!

In this episode of People Watching, I sit down with my dear friend, educator, writer, and strategist Garland Dunlap.

Our conversation explores the intersections of spirituality, education, and cultural imagination, and y’all. Editing this conversation felt like herding kittens. We went everywhere!!

In our first episode, Garland shares his unique journey of faith, neurodivergence, and the reshaping of education through a theological lens. We dig into the transformative power of learning, the role of creativity in education, and the importance of finding and becoming authentic role models.

I had so much fun in this conversation - I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Watch on YouTube!

Links Mentioned

• John Green Interview

• Culture Care, Makoto Fumimura

• Wisdom of Holy Fools in Postmodernity, Peter Phan

• The Cult of Smart, Freddie de Boer

• Black Panther

• Parliament Funkadelic

• Octavia Butler

• N.K. Jemisin

• Breaking Bread with the Dead, Alan Jacobs

• Ideology in Curriculum, Michael Apple

• Michael Polyani

Other Places to Find Garland

• Newsletter

• LinkedIn

• Consulting

Other Places to Find Megan

Bluesky

Let’s be hopeful, creative, and wise—together.

Shalom,

Subscribe now

So there was something about realizing there was an opportunity in the course to get people to discover more about their needs and give them permission because again, I've gotten so much value from role models that have they've shown and given me permission to show up in whatever way I want to. So I'm trying to model that in a way for even people with ADHD on the spectrum. -Marie Poulin

Hello, hello!

My guest today is Marie Poulin, and y’all, I am so excited. I’ve been following Marie online for four or five years now, ever since I discovered Notion as a tool for my personal productivity. I’ve learned so much from Marie, not just about how to build and work in Notion, but also about how to explore and understand how my brain, energy, and creativity work.

Marie is the co-founder of Oki Doki and creator of Notion Mastery, an online program and community that helps creators, entrepreneurs and small teams tame their work + life chaos by building life and business management systems with Notion and supporting technologies.

Diagnosed with ADHD at age 37, Marie is especially passionate about helping folks customize their workflows and workspaces to meet their unique needs and preferences. When she's not tinkering in Notion or doing live trainings, you can find her in the garden, playing softball, or cooking up some delicious vegetarian tacos. Which, y’all know, we will be talking about.

Marie and I talked about how entrepreneurship is the ultimate self-development journey, how her ADHD diagnosis put so much about her personal history into perspective, and about how role models give us the space and freedom to fully express ourselves.

 You're like, What does the garden need? What does this plant need? Different plants need different things. So there is… it's like a form of mindfulness, I think, in a way that you're constantly in a state of noticing what is happening, what's needed, what's not needed.

Of course, we also nerded out a bit about Notion. One of the beautiful strengths of Marie’s presence in the Notion, productivity, and personal development space is that she truly demonstrates how Notion can become your personal conversation partner.

Marie shares insights from her own life experiences, including the role of creativity in cooking and gardening, and building effective systems using Notion. Join us for an inspiring conversation about authenticity, creativity, and navigating the complexities of life and business.

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

If there’s anything that resonated for you, brought up questions, or just made you want to chat with someone about it, I’d love to meet with you!

Book a Free Chat!

Watch on YouTube!

Links Mentioned

• Ben Borowski

• Tara McMullin

• Tanya Geisler

• Elizabeth Lawrence House & Garden at Wing Haven

Other Places to Find Marie

• Personal Site

• Notion Mastery

• Oki Doki

• Bluesky

Other Places to Find Megan

• Bluesky

Want to help me continue sharing free stuff? Support the work!

book it here

Let’s be hopeful, creative, and wise—together.

Shalom,

Subscribe now

 We all have different role models. We all gravitate toward different people, whether we like the way they express their ideas or something. And so I think the reason we get drawn to those people, I do think they're reflecting something about ourselves. -Marie Poulin

Hello, hello!

My guest today is Marie Poulin, and y’all, I am so excited. I’ve been following Marie online for four or five years now, ever since I discovered Notion as a tool for my personal productivity. I’ve learned so much from Marie, not just about how to build and work in Notion, but also about how to explore and understand how my brain, energy, and creativity work.

Marie is the co-founder of Oki Doki and creator of Notion Mastery, an online program and community that helps creators, entrepreneurs and small teams tame their work + life chaos by building life and business management systems with Notion and supporting technologies.

Diagnosed with ADHD at age 37, Marie is especially passionate about helping folks customize their workflows and workspaces to meet their unique needs and preferences. When she's not tinkering in Notion or doing live trainings, you can find her in the garden, playing softball, or cooking up some delicious vegetarian tacos. Which, y’all know, we will be talking about.

Marie and I talked about how entrepreneurship is the ultimate self-development journey, how her ADHD diagnosis put so much about her personal history into perspective, and about how role models give us the space and freedom to fully express ourselves.

 Running a business on the internet and being an entrepreneur is the ultimate self development journey. Like you're working through all your shadow stuff because you're like, is this ego? Is this a desire to help people? Like, where is this coming from?

Of course, we also nerded out a bit about Notion. One of the beautiful strengths of Marie’s presence in the Notion, productivity, and personal development space is that she truly demonstrates how Notion can become your personal conversation partner.

Marie shares insights from her own life experiences, including growing up in a blended family, pursuing a career in design, and finding fulfillment through Notion. Join us for an inspiring conversation about authenticity, creativity, and navigating the complexities of life and business.

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

Watch on YouTube!

Links Mentioned

• Ben Borowski

• Tara McMullin

• Tanya Geisler

• Elizabeth Lawrence House & Garden at Wing Haven

Other Places to Find Marie

• Personal Site

• Notion Mastery

• Oki Doki

• Bluesky

Other Places to Find Megan

• Bluesky

Want to help me continue sharing free stuff? Support the work!

book it here

Let’s be hopeful, creative, and wise—together.

Shalom,

Subscribe now

Greetings!

My guest today is Charon Henning, illustrator, fine artist, and dear friend.

I first met Charon almost twenty years ago, on what turned out to be our first day at George Mason University as adult learners. Charon has been a performer, a tattoo artist, a bartender, and now has a working illustration studio in rural Vermont, where she lives with her wife and two cats (who make appearances during our conversation).

Charon graduated from George Mason University's New Century College with a BIS degree in Multimedia Storytelling and she is currently the Art Director for Katie Hinde's March Mammal Madness tournament, while also working as a freelance scientific illustrator and visual science communicator. She is building 18Hz Arts Collective, a nonprofit that fosters creative exploration in liminal and legendary spaces.

Charon and I wandered freely, from discussing our religious and spiritual journeys, to the deep well of myth, ritual, and identity that shapes creative work. We also talked about the intersection of science and art, and about how paying attention with all the senses helps us train our intuition, creativity, and work in the world.

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

Also!! Enjoy a sample of Charon’s artwork, cuz, WOW.

Favorite Quote

A gift will come in the form of beautiful synchronicities. It will come in the form of that chance meeting. It will come in the form of your favorite song hitting on your music rotation when you need that boost. It doesn't have to be huge or spectacular. It just has to be that moment of meaning and connection.

Here's what I love. Would I ever choose to go back to Discovery Place without you? No. Did I love and have a blast going with you? Hell yes. Here's why: because I love seeing people who operate at the intersection of knowledge, passion, and skill. And that's what you bring.

Other Places to Find Charon

• Website: http://charonhenning.com/

• Social Media: http://instagram.com/the_oddangel

Other Places to Find Megan

• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/emjayarre.bsky.social

Want to know my favorite resources for your personal formation? Get your guide!

Get the free guide!

Watch on YouTube!

• Links Mentioned

  • 18hz Arts Collective

  • March Mammal Madness

  • Discovery Place

  • La Parrilla Suiza

  • The Bobcat Cafe

  • Gettysburg National Park

  • An Environmental History of the Civil War, by Judkin Browning and Timothy Silver

Want to help me continue sharing free stuff? Support the work!

book it here

Let’s be hopeful, creative, and wise—together.

Shalom,

Subscribe now

What else?

• Looking for more resources to help with your personal formation journey? Get your free guide!

• You can learn more about this newsletter and my work on the About page.

Greetings!

My guest today is Charon Henning, illustrator, fine artist, and dear friend.

I first met Charon almost twenty years ago, on what turned out to be our first day at George Mason University as adult learners. Charon has been a performer, a tattoo artist, a bartender, and now has a working illustration studio in rural Vermont, where she lives with her wife and two cats (who make appearances during our conversation).

Charon graduated from George Mason University's New Century College with a BIS degree in Multimedia Storytelling and she is currently the Art Director for Katie Hinde's March Mammal Madness tournament, while also working as a freelance scientific illustrator and visual science communicator. She is building 18Hz Arts Collective, a nonprofit that fosters creative exploration in liminal and legendary spaces.

Charon and I wandered freely, from discussing our religious and spiritual journeys, to the deep well of myth, ritual, and identity that shapes creative work. We also talked about the intersection of science and art, and about how paying attention with all the senses helps us train our intuition, creativity, and work in the world.

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

Also!! Enjoy a sample of Charon’s artwork, cuz, WOW.

Other Places to Find Charon

• Website: http://charonhenning.com/

• Social Media: http://instagram.com/the_oddangel

Other Places to Find Megan

• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/emjayarre.bsky.social

Favorite Quotes

And it's important stuff—that is making connections, giving information—and it really helps me to remember that there isn't one model for success. There isn't one role model that's going to be, “I'm going to do it like this and within five years. This is where I should be.” It's never linear. It never works that way.

 And the thing that I kept coming back to was consistency. Rush was consistently put out material that was true to who they were: without the expectation of it doing anything other than being out in the world.

If you have feedback, a comment, or a suggestion for someone you think I should talk with, let me know!

Ask Me Anything!

Watch on YouTube!

• Links Mentioned

  • 18hz Arts Collective

  • March Mammal Madness

  • Discovery Place

  • La Parrilla Suiza

  • The Bobcat Cafe

  • Gettysburg National Park

  • An Environmental History of the Civil War, by Judkin Browning and Timothy Silver

Want to help me continue sharing free stuff? Support the work!

book it here

Let’s be hopeful, creative, and wise—together.

Shalom,

Subscribe now

What else?

• Looking for more resources to help with your personal formation journey? Get your free guide!

• You can learn more about this newsletter and my work on the About page.

Welcome!

In this episode of People Watching, I continue talking with Austin Church—an entrepreneur, marketing consultant, freelance coach, and author. We discuss Austin’s unexpected journey to successful entrepreneurship and the importance of finding good mentors.

I loved hearing Austin share personal stories about influential mentors, his personal values, and the tension between creativity and business.

Join us for a thoughtful conversation about love, creativity, spirituality, and the dynamic tension that shapes our lives.

Watch on YouTube!

Other Places to Find Austin

• Freelance Cake

• LinkedIn

• Check out Austin’s book Free Money!

I hope you enjoyed this conversation cuz I’d love to continue it with YOU!

If there’s anything that resonated for you, brought up questions, or just made you want to chat with someone about it, I’d love to meet with you! Book a free 20-minute conversation with me.

Let’s be hopeful, creative, and wise—together.

Shalom,

Subscribe now

What else?

• Looking for more resources to help with your personal formation journey? Get your free guide!

• My practice-based workshops help you practice commitment care or map your role models so you can become the person you were created to be. Great for small teams and student groups!

• Are you a non-fiction writer seeking help with a project? I offer structural editing on your manuscript’s structure, theme or purpose, point of view, perspective, and tone.

• You can learn more about this newsletter and my work on the About page.

• Have a question? Ask me anything.

Greetings!

Join me in the new season of People Watching, and our first episode, featuring entrepreneur and marketing consultant Austin Church.

We dive into Austin's journey from aspiring English professor to successful freelance coach and discover how his faith, creativity, and love for humor have shaped his career.

Our wide-ranging conversation explores themes of family, mentorship, and navigating the dynamic tension between creativity and business.

I especially appreciated Austin's insights into rightly ordered priorities, spiritual formation, and the importance of being sensitive yet resilient. Tune in for an episode filled with laughter, introspection, and inspiring stories.

Watch on YouTube!

Other Places to Find Austin

• Freelance Cake

• LinkedIn

• Check out Austin’s book Free Money!

Other Places to Find Megan

• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/emjayarre.bsky.social

Want to help me continue sharing free stuff? Support the work!

book it here

I hope you’re enjoying this conversation so far. I’d love to continue it with YOU!

If there’s anything that resonated for you, brought up questions, or just made you want to chat with someone about it, I’d love to meet with you! Book a free 20-minute conversation with me.

Let’s be hopeful, creative, and wise—together.

Shalom,

Subscribe now

What else?

• Looking for more resources to help with your personal formation journey? Get your free guide!

• My practice-based workshops help you practice commitment care or map your role models so you can become the person you were created to be. Great for small teams and student groups!

• Are you a non-fiction writer seeking help with a project? I offer structural editing on your manuscript’s structure, theme or purpose, point of view, perspective, and tone.

• You can learn more about this newsletter and my work on the About page.

• Have a question? Ask me anything.

Welcome to Talk It Tuesdays!

Here, you’ll find conversations from the People Watching podcast, book discussions (and maybe spoilers) from The Chaos Club, and who knows who else will show up here? Maybe you!

I had so many good conversations in Season 01 of People Watching, and couldn’t help but share some snippets that didn’t make it in the full episode. Hope you enjoy!

Let’s be hopeful, creative, and wise—together.

Shalom,

Subscribe now

Welcome to Talk It Tuesdays!

Here, you’ll find conversations from the People Watching podcast, book discussions (and maybe spoilers) from The Chaos Club, and who knows who else will show up here? Maybe you!

I had so many good conversations in Season 01 of People Watching, and couldn’t help but share some snippets that didn’t make it in the full episode. Hope you enjoy!

Let’s be hopeful, creative, and wise—together.

Shalom,

Subscribe now

Welcome to Talk It Tuesdays!

Here, you’ll find conversations from the People Watching podcast, book discussions (and maybe spoilers) from The Chaos Club, and who knows who else will show up here? Maybe you!

I had so many good conversations in Season 01 of People Watching, and couldn’t help but share some snippets that didn’t make it in the full episode. Hope you enjoy!

Let’s be hopeful, creative, and wise—together.

Shalom,

Subscribe now

Welcome to Talk It Tuesdays!

Here, you’ll find conversations from the People Watching podcast, book discussions (and maybe spoilers) from The Chaos Club, and who knows who else will show up here? Maybe you!

I had so many good conversations in Season 01 of People Watching, and couldn’t help but share some snippets that didn’t make it in the full episode. Hope you enjoy!

Let’s be hopeful, creative, and wise—together.

Shalom,

Subscribe now

Welcome to Talk It Tuesdays!

Here, you’ll find conversations from the People Watching podcast, book discussions (and maybe spoilers) from The Chaos Club, and who knows who else will show up here? Maybe you!

I had so many good conversations in Season 01 of People Watching, and couldn’t help but share some snippets that didn’t make it in the full episode. Hope you enjoy!

Let’s be hopeful, creative, and wise—together.

Shalom,

Subscribe now

Hey, hey, hey!

Well, that’s a wrap on season one of People Watching!

I hope you've enjoyed this first season as much as I have. When I first conceived of this podcast, I thought about how episodes would hang together. Would I lurch from one person to another, based on their availability and interest? Would I change my questions and approach for each person? Gradually I settled on the idea of thematic seasons—not necessarily telling a story over several weeks, but rather, seeing how different guests illuminate one central idea. As you can tell, this season was all about women: wives, mothers, activists, small business owners: people.

"I'm determined that this is going to be part of my legacy: that I'm going to be the kind of person that gives away power." -Dr. Sandra Glahn

Exploring their lives together was fascinating. I knew that I would have good conversations because I've known most of these women for several years. I expected that I would learn a lot about and from them, and I did. But what really stands out most is how reflective and thoughtful these women are with their lives, especially their willingness to engage the self-awareness necessary to show up for their families and communities.

In some cases, they've made a commitment to a specific work and community. Here, I'm thinking of Dr. Glahn in academia, and her support of women; also Cayce Utley showing up for racial justice and marginalized communities.

In other instances, they've made a commitment to their lives and families in everyday circumstances. Here, it's Rachel Hastings and her stewardship of authors and new books, as well as her family; Dr. Kandyce Thomas as a small business owner and single parent; Mollie Miller in caring for creation, her children, and others' health.

And some, like Ashleigh Hill, have shaped different paths that don't include a traditional family, but have made commitments to friends and a community that are just as strong and influential.

What also stands out to me in all of these varied lives and choices is the commitment that each woman made to herself (whether consciously or not). What each woman has done is to discover and cultivate her unique gifts, skills, and identities by the very fact of making those larger commitments, by showing up for others in specific, embodied ways.

"The greatest gift I can give my children, and therefore others, is the gift of self-awareness." -Mollie Miller

I also noticed how each of these women that I spoke with felt themselves as connected to others beyond their immediate circumstances—to people who lived two thousand years ago, fifty years ago, right now. It's as though, in connecting to those figures, my guests found themselves, or found new ways to be themselves.

If role models are those who show us what to love and how to love it, then I think each of my guests in this first season of People Watching demonstrated so beautifully how they found people—in history and in their lives—who could help them connect with who they wanted to be.

But more than direct imitation or copying, it's about adaptation: taking some resonant idea communicated by someone else's life and applying it to the here-and-now in a way that makes sense for the life we're living.

We often think of communication as an unbroken chain of sender → message → receiver. But what really happens in communication is transformation: messages don't retain their original sense, and even the very act of passing on meaning involves a re-negotiation of that meaning. When we communicate across time and cultures, we interpret and transform meanings even further. It’s a miracle we learn from our past at all.

And yet.

We are still able to communicate across time and space because we are still persons alive and figuring things out. Thinking and feeling and doing in the only way we know how: one day, one minute, one step, one word after another. Just as women two thousand years ago had to navigate a world that saw them as valuable only for their wombs, we also have to navigate equally limited, and limiting, perspectives today. Each of the women who shared their lives with us in this season show us how they have, and continue to, move beyond those limits.

While we can always make new friends within our communities, what I've realized in these conversations is that we can also start by renewing the relationships we already have.

A lesson for me was that it's not always about meeting someone new. We can also re-meet people we're already connected to, discovering who they've become since you last met. When's the last time you sat down and brought your full self to another?

"Even if I can't understand your experience, I'm not going to tell you it's not worth understanding." -Ashleigh F. Hill

As an introvert, I felt a bit nervous about conducting so many sessions: what kind of energy will I, can I bring to the conversation? What I discovered was a deep delight, a sense of aliveness after each session. Far from being drained, I felt renewed. I felt myself as part of the web of human beings spread across history and space, connected to what matters most: real persons in rich, significant conversation with each other.

This sense of connection is what Hartmut Rosa calls "resonance." He describes resonance as a "mode of relation" in which we are "inwardly reached, touched, or moved" by the other, and are able to reach out in response. This delight, this connection, this "being-in-relationship" cannot help but leave us somehow transformed.

I'm inspired by Sandra Glahn's ability to connect the lives of women from two thousand years ago with the lives of women right now. Mollie Miller reminds me of the importance of cultivating self-awareness, and of listening to, and living within, the seasons of creation. I love how Cayce Utley shows up for justice, for speaking with and for those whose voices are not heard. Rachel Hastings challenges me to question the status quo, to build differently, and to create spaces where power can't be hoarded but is constantly shared.

And dude, listening to Kandyce Thomas talk about how her grandfather's example encourages her to persevere, no matter what...whew. That's some righteous stuff right there. And it's Ashleigh Hill's commitment to solidarity, to companioning others in their journey, that encourages me to look with compassion at the world around me.

Catch up on all the episodes from Season One!

Want to help me continue sharing free stuff? Buy me a book!

book it here

I'm so glad that my guests and I were able to share time together, to inhabit a moment in which we brought our full selves to the conversation. I hope you found something in these conversations that resonated for you, that sparks a little bit of hope, encourages you to explore your own creativity, and helps you cultivate wisdom in your daily life.

Thanks for being here. I hope you'll stick around for more amazing conversations in season two of People Watching, coming in May 2025.

Let’s be hopeful, creative, and wise—together.

Shalom,

Subscribe now

What else?

• Looking for more resources to help with your personal formation journey? Get your free guide!

• My practice-based workshops help you practice commitment care or map your role models so you can become the person you were created to be. Great for small teams and student groups!

• Are you a non-fiction writer seeking help with a project? I offer structural editing on your manuscript’s structure, theme or purpose, point of view, perspective, and tone.

• You can learn more about this newsletter and my work on the About page.

• Have a question? Ask me anything.

Hola!

This week, I'm continuing my conversation with Ashleigh Hill.

I met Ashleigh almost twenty years ago at a writers' group, and the first thing I learned about her is that she is an amazing poet. She was also managing a band at the time, so y'know, instant cool factor.

Ashleigh's background is in public relations, women's and gender studies, and direct service in women's shelters, volunteer service programs, and women-centric research and programming. She currently oversees conference programming and online education for a nonprofit association.

She loves volunteering with animal rescues - that's how she met her beloved dog Nellie - and she's always a good source for book and documentary recommendations.

This week, we dig into topics such as growing up in evangelical and cult-like environments, grappling with complex PTSD, and exploring the nuances of spirituality and identity. Ashleigh shares her experiences with failed mentor relationships, the significance of solidarity, and her thoughts on the disappointments and manipulations tied to MLMs and commercial cults.

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

Want to help me continue sharing free stuff? Support the work!

book it here

Watch on YouTube!

Links Mentioned

• LuLa Rich Documentary (Amazon Prime)

• Stephanie Foo, What My Bones Know

• Cayce Utley, Pt. 1 | Pt. 2

• Rosemary Radford Ruether

• Ivone Gebara

• Patrick Cheng

• Emilie Townes

Other Places to Find Ashleigh

https://instagram.com/ashleighfhill

Let’s be hopeful, creative, and wise—together.

Shalom,

Subscribe now

What else?

• Looking for more resources to help with your personal formation journey? Get your free guide!

• My practice-based workshops help you practice commitment care or map your role models so you can become the person you were created to be. Great for small teams and student groups!

• Are you a non-fiction writer seeking help with a project? I offer structural editing on your manuscript’s structure, theme or purpose, point of view, perspective, and tone.

• You can learn more about this newsletter and my work on the About page.

• Have a question? Ask me anything.

Welcome!

This week, I'm talking with Ashleigh Hill, and I have been so excited for this conversation, I can't even tell you.

I met Ashleigh almost twenty years ago at a writers' group, and the first thing I learned about her is that she is an amazing poet. She was also managing a band at the time, so y'know, instant cool factor.

Ashleigh's background is in public relations, women's and gender studies, and direct service in women's shelters, volunteer service programs, and women-centric research and programming. She currently oversees conference programming and online education for a nonprofit association.

She loves volunteering with animal rescues - that's how she met her beloved dog Nellie - and she's always a good source for book and documentary recommendations.

This week, we talk about our personal experiences with spirituality, the disappointment in traditional role models, and the importance of solidarity. We explore the concept of role models and mentors, share stories from our twenty-year history(!), and reflect on how individual relationships and understanding people's lives shape who we are.

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

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Watch on YouTube!

Links Mentioned

• LuLa Rich Documentary (Amazon Prime)

• Stephanie Foo, What My Bones Know

• Cayce Utley, Pt. 1 | Pt. 2

• Rosemary Radford Ruether

• Ivone Gebara

• Patrick Cheng

• Emilie Townes

Other Places to Find Ashleigh

https://instagram.com/ashleighfhill

Let’s be hopeful, creative, and wise—together.

Shalom,

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What else?

• Looking for more resources to help with your personal formation journey? Get your free guide!

• My practice-based workshops help you practice commitment care or map your role models so you can become the person you were created to be. Great for small teams and student groups!

• Are you a non-fiction writer seeking help with a project? I offer structural editing on your manuscript’s structure, theme or purpose, point of view, perspective, and tone.

• You can learn more about this newsletter and my work on the About page.

• Have a question? Ask me anything.

Welcome!

I’m so excited to share this episode of People Watching, because today I’m talking with Dr. Kandyce Thomas, a chiropractor and small business owner in the Charlotte metro area. I’ve known her for almost ten years now (eek!), and I couldn’t wait to have this conversation with her.

I loved listening to Dr. Thomas' journey of balancing her professional life with her role as a single mother of two teenage daughters. I especially loved hearing about her deep-rooted connections with her ancestors, including invaluable lessons in perseverance and resilience she learned from her grandfather.

As she reflects on the power of intergenerational relationships, Dr. Thomas shares how her family's Gullah Geechee heritage has shaped her life and career. Our conversation navigates topics of faith, cultural influence, and the importance of visibility and healthy role models.

It's a heartwarming and insightful discussion that I think will encourage you to reflect on the blessings and motivations in your own life.

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

Watch on YouTube!

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to People Watching

00:53 Meet Dr. Kandyce Thomas

02:51 Welcome & Touchstones

04:36 Dr. Thomas' Journey to Serving Others Through Chiropractic

08:36 Family and Community Influence

11:50 Faith and Education

15:13 Gullah Geechee Heritage and Food

16:47 The Gullah Geechee Legacy

19:16 Family Legacy, Role Models, and Influence

21:28 The Influence of Her Mother

22:40 Generational Conversations

25:37 Passing Down Cultural Heritage

31:16 Entrepreneurial Journey and Challenges

36:06 The Most Helpful Thing

36:43 The Taco Story

38:58 Outro

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Where to Find Dr. Thomas

• Owner of Beyond Chiropractic PLLC, Certified Medical Examiner, and CPR Instructor - https://drkandyce.com/

Let’s be hopeful, creative, and wise—together.

Shalom,

Subscribe now

What else?

• Looking for more resources to help with your personal formation journey? Get your free guide!

• My practice-based workshops help you practice commitment care or map your role models so you can become the person you were created to be. Great for small teams and student groups!

• Are you a non-fiction writer seeking help with a project? I offer structural editing on your manuscript’s structure, theme or purpose, point of view, perspective, and tone.

• You can learn more about this newsletter and my work on the About page.

• Have a question? Ask me anything.