The Perfectly Imperfect Journey

Serendipity

Serendipity is the unexpected, and often delightful, intersection of luck, coincidence, and opportunity.  Chance events are happening all around us, we are often just too busy to notice.  In this episode, Sherry and Anne talk about their own experiences with serendipity and how it is not enough to just wait for good things to happen; it is about mindset, a willingness to move beyond the analytical / thinking mind and to create action around serendipitous moments.  Along the way, we encourage you to embrace curiosity, openness, and adaptability to meet serendipity when it arises.

No Expectations with Josh Izenberg

Josh Izenberg started his college career with many interests and no solid idea of what he wanted to do after graduation.  Along the way he fell in love with filmmaking and headed to LA to make his dreams of being a wildly successful filmmaker come true.  Unfortunately, that did not turn out as planned, so Josh ditched his expectations of what “being a success” looks like and made a small film with some friends in Eastern Tennessee.  And there he had a revelation: with no expectations comes total freedom.  Josh has had several twists and turns on his way to winning multiple awards for his documentary films and his latest release, Eco-Hack!.  Please listen in to hear Josh’s perfectly imperfect journey.  

 

Bio

Josh Izenberg is a documentary filmmaker based in the California Bay Area. His film, SLOMO (2013), won over a dozen awards, including best short documentary at SXSW, premiered as a New York Times Op-Doc, and was shortlisted for an Academy Award. His subsequent film, the Netflix Original, Resurface, won the Jury Prize at Tribeca and was nominated for an Emmy. He’s since co-directed the short documentaries Game Hawker (2022) for Patagonia Films and Eco-Hack!, which won an audience award at Hot Docs and premieres with The New Yorker today, July 19, 2023

 

Website: http://joshizenberg.com/
Films: http://joshizenberg.com/films 

Yes, And with Dr. Maureen Aarons

For the majority of her life,  Dr. Maureen Aarons was a people pleaser, raised in a strict Catholic family where many decisions were presented as binary.  Even her decision to go to medical school seemed like a choice: be a doctor, or become a mom.  When she married the love of her life, who happened to be Jewish, Maureen describes it as “breaking their family’s hearts.” When she was diagnosed with cancer 3.5 years ago, Maureen began to more fully embrace the power of Yes, And.  Yes, she can still serve her patients, be present for her family, give back to her community AND she has to attend to her own needs to keep doing all the things she wants to.  Maureen believes “Yes, And” is the way to live a more fulfilled life.  Please listen in to hear Maureen’s beautiful life story.  

Bio:
I have been a daughter/sister for nearly 61 years, physician for 35 years, wife for 33 years, mother for 31 years and cancer patient for 3 and a half years. As long as I can remember I was drawn to asking questions, solving problems, and connecting with people of diverse ages and backgrounds. My diagnosis of invasive breast cancer opened a crash course in self-care, self-awareness and openness to change. "Shut up and listen” has long been my professional habit and has become (imperfectly;) my mothering mantra, as our three children grew.  Receiving a life-threatening diagnosis caused me to really stop and listen to myself.

While self-care is the ONLY work that ONLY we can do, healing cannot happen in isolation. My husband, our children, our friends, our extended family, and even my patients and acquaintances, were my scaffolding while my body and spirit underwent an intense period of renovation. The work of healing was both internal and communal. I received gifts and accepted help without hesitation and without anxiety. I said “yes” to everything that felt supportive and limited anything that didn’t serve my overriding purpose of wellness. My life before chemotherapy (followed immediately by Covid) was extremely productive but sometimes at the price of adequate sleep and any time for play. Though I had emphasized the great value of rest and personal boundaries to my children and to my patients, I did not prioritize either in my own life. 

Now, back to full time work in a brand new practice, I stay more consistently connected to myself and my own needs throughout each day, no matter how busy. Inside and outside of my office, I laugh more, spend more time with friends, stress less and stay much more curious about possibilities, present and future. The reciprocity of healing relationships allows us to both give and receive, in equal or unequal measure, without keeping score and and even with wild abandon.

Website: https://www.visiondermatology.com/ 

Be Anything You Want with Ava LaShay

Ava LaShay grew up never quite knowing where he fit in. He was a mixed kid in a suburban, predominantly white town when he figured out he was gay. Surrounded by negative perceptions of gay people, he suppressed that part of his identity and dedicated himself to caring for his young niece and nephew. Finally, during college, while being part of a queer support group on campus, Ava first encountered the world of drag.

 

“I have never felt more connected to life itself than I have since I started drag.“

 

Drag has opened up new avenues for Ava to engage in meaningful conversations with others, to support the queer community and to bring joy to people’s lives. And when she dons her wig and high heels, Ava TRANSFORMS. Through drag, Ava can embody any persona she desires, and her stage presence is magnificent. Join us as we delve into Ava's perfectly imperfect journey.

Bio

Ava LaShay is a Bay Area, CA based drag entertainer and event emcee. Often referred to as the Queen of the East Bay, Ava has spent the past 8 years building a name for herself in the community through hosting, producing and performing in countless shows and events. She loves to bring laughter and joy to people through the art of drag but also uses her artform to raise awareness of everyday issues the LGBTQIA+ community faces. 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avalashay/

International Connector with Marti Grimminck

Marti Grimminck’s love of travel was cemented in her childhood growing up in New York and traveling with her parents. Her desire to connect was born out of this same love of travel; never missing an opportunity to meet someone new, Marti created relationships all over the world and founded a business focused on bringing a global perspective to companies in the US and abroad. Join us to hear Marti’s unique perspective and the serendipity that has formed her life. 

 

Bio

 

Marti Grimminck is a global business executive, social entrepreneur, keynote speaker and futurist designer. Working with corporations and governments, she designs the future of work, future of education, future of communities. She speaks globally on the future of work, hybrid workplace, virtual engagement and consumer trends of GenZs and Millennials.

 

As the Founder and CEO of International Connector, Marti has deep knowledge of emerging trends through the cultivation of an unparalleled global network of GenZs and Millennials across 190 countries. With 20+ years experience working on developing promotional campaigns, brands, products and platforms, Marti’s work is remarkably diverse and globally spread. She is the Executive Director of a portfolio of social impact programs developed through her innovation work including: Your Big Year youth empowerment, Innovative Resilience building connected resilient communities, and Future of Women in Tech elevating women leaders in business. 

 

Linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/martigrimminck/

 

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/martigrimminck_global/

Don’t Should on Yourself

Beyond being fun to say, “don’t should on yourself” can be an important mantra to live by.  Every time you say I should…(fill in the blank) you are creating a scenario where you are already behind the 8 ball. 

There is judgment in I should.  

There is abdication in I should. 

There is disempowerment in I should.

Check out this week’s episode for some strategies to get rid of the “shoulds” and walk more fully into your “I choose.”

Warrior with Natalie Grumet

TRIGGER WARNING: The conversation includes the 2017 Las Vegas mass gun shooting.

After spending a great day with her husband, celebrating their lives, and 10 years cancer free, Natalie Grumet walked through the gates at the Route 91 Music Festival in Las Vegas to join her friends. With her favorite musician on stage, Natalie initially thought she heard fireworks, but didn’t see anything in the sky. Seconds later she felt a searing pain in her face. She had been shot. For the next 11 minutes, Natalie crawled, hid, and ran trying to escape the gunfire, while holding a stranger's shirt to her jaw to stem the bleeding. 

This is an amazing story of a true warrior, surviving both aggressive breast cancer and the deadliest mass shooting in the US. And it is also a story of hope, resilience and love. Please listen in to hear Natalie’s perfectly imperfect journey.  

 

Bio
On the evening of October 1, 2017, while attending the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival on the Las Vegas Strip with a group of friends, a gunman opened fire shooting Natalie in the face nearly killing her. The Las Vegas shooting massacre quickly became known as the deadliest mass shooting in United States history. For Natalie, this event began an agonizing and painful journey toward recovery while uncovering her endless strength, bravery, and resilience along the way.  After making her way to safety at a nearby hotel, she was taken via ambulance to Sunrise Hospital where her jaw was noted to be completely obliterated – her chin fractured in half, facial nerves destroyed, leading the left side of her face partially paralyzed.  She spent 20 days in the Intensive Care Unit and underwent nine surgeries during the first year.

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Surprisingly, this was not Natalie’s first attempt at fighting for her life.  At the mere age of 27, Natalie was diagnosed with a devastating and highly aggressive form of breast cancer. After undergoing six rounds of intensive chemotherapy and numerous surgeries, Natalie beat the odds and eventually recovered.  Soon after going into remission, she dedicated herself to patient care and rebuilding her life.

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After 10 years in remission from breast cancer, Natalie found herself fighting for her life once again on the fateful night of the shooting in 2017.  During her recovery, Natalie began sharing the coping mechanisms she has developed over the last decade to help others break down the walls to realize their full potential and overcome adversity.  This true story of a life being shattered and rebuilt in a mere decade has given strength and hope to thousands of people across the United States and world.  Natalie is a survivor and a true warrior, and her message is one of perseverance to help others find their inner warrior to keep fighting and moving forward.

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This story of determination, dedication, and tenacity for survival despite the odds has reached middle-school aged children to young adults and established professionals across the world.  Since surviving the Las Vegas shooting with dignity and grace, Natalie has been interviewed by Dateline, ABC, FOX, Inside Edition, and CBS.  With her soft smile and riveting life experiences, she is able to captivate diverse audiences. She uses touching moments of her own survival mixed with humor to keep her listeners engaged. Her story is unique in that while she has undergone horrific traumatic events, she maintains a compelling positivity that empowers those around her while engaging her listeners and providing strength and motivation for them to believe in themselves.

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In her down time, Natalie enjoys spending time by the ocean near her home in Southern California with her husband of 16 years and their 5-year-old miniature Pinscher.  She also enjoys gardening, getting lost in a good book, volunteering, and she jokingly calls herself a dessert connoisseur. 

 

Please visit Natalie’s Facebook Group she created called “I am a Warrior” where she journals frequently and shares life experiences.

Other links:
Website: https://www.nataliegrumet.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natalie_grumet/

“11 Minutes” documentary: https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/11-minutes/: “Through emotional first-hand accounts, 11 Minutes immerses viewers in the largest mass shooting in U.S. history, telling stories of courage and survival.

Superwoman No More with Dr. Nicole Swiner

From the outside it looked like Nicole Swiner had it all. She was a co-owner of a successful family medicine practice and a popular doctor with a happy marriage and a growing family. Then one day Doc Swiner found herself collapsed on the floor at work, wondering what had happened. It took some of the most important people in her life to gently point out that she was suffering from Superwoman Complex. That was the first time she had ever heard the term and she dove into understanding its meanings and repercussions. Nicole’s journey has had its share of twists and turns, but she is now claiming more of her own time and setting boundaries that keep her physically, mentally and spiritually happy. This is a great story of transforming a health scare into a new way of living.

Bio:

Voted 1 of 10 Best Doctors in NC, Doc Swiner is a family physician, 6-time best-selling author, speaker, wife and mother in Durham. She is also affectionately known as the Superwoman Complex expert and has written 2 best-selling books on the topic, which has now evolved into the #nosuperwoman lifestyle brand. She also owns and runs Swiner Publishing Company, she helps writers become best-selling authors and entrepreneurs, and Serenity Hydration and Wellness, providing IV hydration and self-care consults to clients. Her loves are Minority Health, Women’s Health, Self-Care, DEI and Female Entrepreneurship. She attended Duke University and went to medical school at the Medical University of South Carolina. She speaks nationally and has appeared on news, media and as a main stage speaker at Essence Fest and Radio One’s Women’s Empowerment. She has become one of the nation’s experts on self-publishing, self-care, imposter syndrome, physician burnout and work-life balance.

 

Website: www.docswiner.com
How to Avoid the Superwoman Complex: 12 Ways to Balance Mind, Body & Spirit: https://www.amazon.com/How-Avoid-Superwoman-Complex-Balance-ebook/dp/B00UJTYBZ2/

Contact her at @docswiner (@realdocswiner on IG) on social media or email: docswiner@gmail.com for further info.

Fulfillment: An Inside Job

Many moons ago, when we were trying to choose the name for our podcast, we thought about the essence of what we wanted to share with the world. Yes, we wanted to talk to people about their lives and their journeys and to  share some of the learnings we had acquired through a western and eastern lens. But we also wanted there to be a “so what.”  

 

Why do we care about the things we talk about on the podcast?  

 

Because it is our hope that it leads to a more fulfilling experience in all of our lives. The challenge though is that it is an inside job. No amount of watching or listening to others will actually  create more fulfillment.  It is the work we do internally: how we learn from our experiences, and what we do with that learning.  

 

Listen in as we discuss what fulfillment is, and some steps to get there. 

Original Blueprint with Rebecca Ward

Rebecca Ward is no stranger to difficult life situations. She lost her father after just having reestablished a relationship with him, she lost her twin boys four hours after delivering them, and she was diagnosed with 4 primary cancers at the same time. 
Luckily for the world, her story does not end there.  

Through some incredibly hard work, Rebecca not only beat her cancer, she dug deep within herself, listened to her inner wisdom, and identified what she was meant to do in this world: her original blueprint. 

 

Bio

Rebecca A. Ward, LMFT, SEP, PCC, is an American therapist, healer, author, speaker, and executive coach. As a trauma survivor herself, she has triumphed over extraordinary suffering and come out on the other side to her joy again. In her new book, The Paper Tiger Syndrome: How to Liberate Yourself from the Illusion of Fear, Rebecca shares her personal tragedy-to-triumph story and wisdom from her own clients. She helps readers transform their own trauma wounds into personal growth and resilience and reconnect back to the truest version of themselves. 

 

Rebecca describes herself as a secular mystic who believes in the marriage between science and spirituality and that souls on the planet are an integrated One, connected to the Infinite Source, and separated only by the body. She is an advocate for human rights and climate change and has one mission in life: to help heal the world.

 

In addition to a bachelor's degree in journalism, Rebecca holds two master's degrees in business and clinical mental health from George Washington University and Marymount University, respectively. As a licensed therapist in California and an ICF-Certified Professional Coach, Rebecca has a multitude of trauma-informed certifications, including Somatic Experiencing. She is also a member of the International Coaching Federation and the CA Marriage and Family Therapists Association.

 

Website: https://irisinstitute.com/

The Paper Tiger Syndrome: How to Liberate Yourself from the Illusion of Fear: https://www.amazon.com/Paper-Tiger-Syndrome-Liberate-Yourself/dp/0578359863/