Sharing the Heart of the Matter

In this episode, Wynne talks with healer, meditation teacher, artist, all-around delightful and amazing human, Deirdre Wilcox. We talk about Deirdre’s journey to become a healer, how she used her time undergoing treatment for breast cancer to integrate all that she’d been taught about the mind-body-spirit. We also delve into the power of our intuition and why we mistrust it, why we need to place meditation up there on the list of daily habits like flossing, the danger of going shopping after meditation class, and how transformation might be exactly what we need to live our deepest and best lives. At the very end of our conversation, we left in an outtake where Wynne offer herself up as an example of how mulishly resistant humans can be when it comes to tackling things that could make our lives better. Show notes can be found at the HoTM website: Episode 10: The Power of Intuition Deirdre Wilcox can be found at: Deirdre Therapeutics (deirdrewilcox.com)

In this episode of the Sharing the Heart of the Matter podcast, Vicki Atkinson and Wynne Leon talk with Mitch Teemley - a storyteller (writer, filmmaker, composer, public speaker) with the audacity to believe others might actually want to read, watch or hear the things he comes up with. And that audacity has led him in a life of great courage, conviction, and productivity. In addition to his very active blog, he’s written, directed, and produced two feature films, The Healing River and Notzilla. He also a sought after public speaker. Do you need to have read or seen his work to enjoy this podcast? We know you will love it if you have – and believe you will love it even if you haven’t. Mitch’s wit and wisdom with a message comes through loud and clear. Links: Show notes: Podcast Episode 9: The Audacity to Believe with Mitch Teemley Mitch’s Blog: https://mitchteemley.com Healing River and Notzilla on Amazon Prime Mitch Teemley on Wikipedia and IMDb

In this episode, Vicki Atkinson, Brian Hannon and Wynne Leon talk about how writing helps us think and more than once and maybe even get us out of a jam or two.  We, the overly-absorbed, over-thinkers who swirl and retread in our own infinity loops of what-ifs and quandaries, and then can hopefully write our way out of those loops. We talk about being part of the writing community in general and the team that makes up the Heart of the Matter.  Folks who enjoy telling stories…swapping giggles and epiphanies…all with an eye toward inspiration and greater good.  It's podcast time to shoot the breeze about the compulsion to create and to tell stories. Show notes can be found at the Heart of the Matter site at Episode 8: I Write...Because I Wonder

In this episode, Wynne is with author, Cheryl Oreglia, and they’re talking about Cheryl's newly released book Grow Damn It! Also, they talk about treasuring the life we have, asking our loved ones the most important questions before they go, and what makes the ride worthwhile. From car accidents, car dealership negotiation, caring for family, grief, and being a good sport, Cheryl writes such an evocative account of life that brings out the best while being totally real – and very funny. She weaves the magic of an author that knows herself, has the guts to tackle feelings, and can wrap things in words to bring it all together. Show notes can be found on the HoTM site: https://sharingtheheartofthematter.com/2023/03/03/episode-7-grow-damn-it/ Amazon link to Grow Damn It!: The Feeding and Nurturing of Life  (if you love the book, please leave a review - it really helps authors) Cheryl's blog Living in the Gap can be found at https://cheryloreglia.blog and she can be found on Instagram and Twitter @cheryloreglia

In this conversation with between Wynne Leon and Libby Saylor (aka The Goddess Attainable), they talk about Libby's post, Really Listen to the Way We Talk To Ourselves, self-compassion, dating and the mirror of love, and healing wounds from our families of origin. Here are some of Wynne's take-aways from this episode: What I learned - Libby’s beautiful perspective about listening to ourselves, “I just want to listen [to myself] with LOVE.” My favorite phrase from Libby  – “I’d already journaled til my hand was about to fall off” How I felt after our conversation – hopeful. Libby’s beautiful way of leaning into the mess of ourselves and life is courageous and contagious. Show notes: https://sharingtheheartofthematter.com/2023/02/24/episode-6-really-listen-to-the-way-we-talk-to-ourselves/ Check out Libby’s bio on Our Team page. And follow her on Instagram @thegoddessattainable

In this episode, Vicki Atkinson talks with writer Brian Hannon about memories of his father, inspired by his father's favorite apparel, flannel shirts. As Vicki aply summarizes - Writing about family is fraught with snares and trepidation as many of us walk the line between speaking our truth and avoiding disrespect.  My friend Brian of the ‘Writing from the Heart with Brian’ blog and Heart of the Matter recently wrote about his father…sharing a series of scenes from his life with his dad, told from the perspective of his father’s most beloved piece of apparel:  a flannel shirt.  Find the show notes plus more writing from Vicki and Brian on The Heart of the Matter: https://sharingtheheartofthematter.com  Brian's personal blog is Writing from the Heart with Brian

I’ve heard Jack Canfora joke that being a playwright in America in this day and age is a little like choosing to be a figure skater in Kenya. Meaning no disrespect to Kenyan figure skaters, of course. Which makes me respect Jack and his path even more. He started with writing comedy sketches in his 20’s and then became a playwright in his 30’s. He’s won awards, had his plays performed off-Broadway, and taken a lot of other jobs (teacher, copy writer, writing coach) to make it work. That is to say, Jack knows more about the business of writing than most of us put together – and still he writes! I could gush endlessly about Jack. And I often do. I’ve had a writer’s crush on him for forever because he speaks to my heart. Every time I talk with him, read him, or listen/watch one of his plays, I come away smarter and more human. Along with his brilliance, he has a gentle kindness, empathy, and humor that make what he says sorta hang in the air with soft wonder. Please listen to this great conversation as we wind our way through collective effervescence, Abraham Lincoln, what the theater sounds like to a playwright and actor, and the “concentrated dose of emotion” we get from theater. Here are links for this episode: Show notes: https://sharingtheheartofthematter.com/2023/02/10/podcast-episode-4-why-theater-matters/  Step 9 - Jack's play released as a radio drama in podcast form https://tinyurl.com/Step-9-NNR or search New Normal Rep Step 9 wherever you podcast Jack's theater company: New Normal Rep Jack's blog writing: The Writing on the Padded Wall and on Wise & Shine For info on Jack as a writing coach and his plays: https://jackcanforawriter.com To follow Jack on Twitter and Instagram: @jackcanfora

In this episode, Wynne talks with Betsy Kerekes, blogger, published author, wife, mom, and martial arts practitioner about how to tackle hard things with humor and grace. Which seems to be a specialty for Betsy - she does it with parenting and now for martial arts too. In the great stories Betsy tells about learning, getting injured, and keeping up the practice, there are so many ways to be inspired by her grit all wrapped up in a lovely package.  The show notes can be found on the HoTM site: Podcast Episode 3: On Mountaineering, Martial Arts, Overcoming Challenges and Parenting Here are links to Betsy's blog and books: Blog: Motherhood and Martial Arts (formerly Parenting is Funny) Book on Amazon: Be a Happier Parent or Laughing Trying Book on Amazon: 101 Tips for a Happier Marriage Book on Amazon: 101 Tips for Marrying the Right Person

Vicki and Wynne talking about Wynne's book Finding My Father's Faith and all the obstacles we encounter on the way to writing about family. Wynne talks about when it feels daunting to break with the status quo and broach subjects where we do things differently. But most of all, we talk about listening to that inner voice that tells us to get started and the incredible gifts that come with it.  The book can be found on Amazon: Finding My Father's Faith: Leon, Wynne: 9781516803347: Amazon.com: Books The Sharing the Heart of the Matter blog and website is The Heart of the Matter – A place where we write and talk about inspirations…our journey to discover what matters most. (sharingtheheartofthematter.com)

Vicki and Wynne launch the Sharing the Heart of the Matter podcast and talk about why connection is so important. Delving into blogging, sharing stories that are close to the heart, and revealing what community means to them, they start this journey into listening to ourselves and each other with full hearts.