What if one simple word had the power to change the way we see ourselves and each other?
What better way to launch a podcast about claiming your voice than with a conversation about using it to celebrate someone else's? In this inaugural episode of Claim Your Voice, I sit down with my dear friend, award-winning athlete, sports psychologist, author, and nonprofit founder Barbara Edelston Peterson to explore the powerful concept behind her newest book, Kvell: A Word You Should Know.
Barbara is a pioneer in mountain biking, a multiple-time world champion XTERRA athlete, grandmother, speaker, and lifelong advocate for helping people live with purpose, resilience, and joy. But perhaps her greatest legacy is introducing the world to the Yiddish word kvell, a word that means to beam with pride, joy, and delight in someone else's accomplishments. Barbara believes it's far more than a word...it's a movement.
As the audiobook narrator of Kvell, I watched this message transform not only listeners but my own life. Since recording the book, I've found myself intentionally encouraging strangers, celebrating friends more openly, and even remembering to kvell over myself. The response has been incredible, proving that a few heartfelt words can create connection in a world experiencing an epidemic of loneliness.
Together, we explore why encouragement is one of the greatest gifts we can give, how shifting from judgment to celebration changes our relationships, and why using your voice to uplift someone else may be one of the most powerful ways to claim your own.
If you've ever wondered how a single compliment, a moment of recognition, or a simple "well done" can change someone's day or even their life, this episode is for you.
In this episode, we explore:
- What "kvell" really means and why the world needs this word now more than ever
• How encouragement creates confidence, connection, and community
• Why celebrating others doesn't diminish your own success, it expands it
• Practical ways to make kvelling a daily habit
• The connection between claiming your voice and using it to uplift others
• How Kvell has grown from a book into a worldwide movement through Kvell Dinners, Kvell Circles, and community gatherings
Connect with Barbara Edelston Peterson:
Website: https://barbaraedelstonpeterson.com/kvell/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livekvell/
https://www.instagram.com/bedelpete/
LinkedIn: Barbara Edelston Peterson
Get Kvell: A word you should know in paperback, eBook, or audiobook beautifully narrated by Justine Reiss and discover how one simple word can transform the way you encourage yourself and everyone around you.
Connect with Justine:
Website: https://empoweredvoicecoach.com
Instagram: @justinereiss
Email: justine@empoweredvoicecoach.com
If you're ready to find your authentic voice, speak with confidence, tell your story, or explore voiceover, I'd love to work with you through my Claim Your Voice workshops, coaching programs, and speaking events.
I hope you enjoy this heartfelt conversation as much as we enjoyed sharing it with you.
If this episode inspired you, please subscribe, leave a review, and most importantly...go kvell over someone today.
Claim Your Voice. Visualize it. Vocalize it. Monetize it.
00:00 Welcome to Claim Your Voice
00:45 Meet Barbara Edelston Peterson
02:45 The Journey to Liv Kvell
06:24 What Does "Kvell" Mean?
08:02 Why This Word Became a Movement
11:00 Making Kvelling a Daily Habit
12:30 Claiming Your Voice Through Encouragement
14:00 Use Your Voice to Lift Others
15:52 Judgment vs. Celebration
17:53 A Simple Compliment Can Change Someone's Day
19:40 The Liv Kvell Journal, Dinners & Circles
20:37 Start Your Own Kvell Movement
22:45 Final Thoughts & How to Connect
23:50 Closing
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