Stories Lived. Stories Told. – Details, episodes & analysis

How are we generating possibilities in every moment?

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Rana Kökçinar is a Systemic Psychotherapist and Family Therapist working on unceded Kaurna Land, South Australia.

Anokh Goodman is a Systemic Psychotherapist, Clinical Lead and Training Consultant with Sikh heritage and a working-class background, living in Leeds, North England. Passionate about relationships, narratives, social justice, poetry, and spoken word, he brings an intersectional lens to his work, exploring ideas of radical love to foster inclusive, culturally responsive change. Through deep listening and dialogue, he believes untold stories can transform how we heal, connect, and reimagine our world.

Today, Abbie, Rana, and Anokh explore the ideas of super-coherence and incoherence; the beautiful emergence of transient interactions; changes in moving from a loop of ’doing’ and ‘having’ to a state of ‘being;’ and ongoing de/re-construction of the scenery  of our social worlds.
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Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created, produced & hosted by Abbie VanMeter.
Stories Lived. Stories Told. is an initiative of the CMM Institute for Personal and Social Evolution.
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Music for Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created by Rik Spann.
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Explore all things CMM Institute here.

Is your communication relationship-enhancing or relationship-destroying?
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Dr. Whitney is a global social entrepreneur. She is the founder of Corporation for Positive Change, a global consulting cooperative; co-founder of the Taos Institute, an international think tank dedicated to relational processes in business, education, families and communities; and a founding advisor to the United Religions Initiative, a global network of interfaith cooperation circles working for peace and social justice.

Diana is a prolific, provocative, and practical author. Her award-winning books on Appreciative Leadership and Appreciative Inquiry, the revolutionary process she helped to develop, have been translated into over a dozen languages and are used as textbooks in business schools, universities, and corporate learning centers around the world.

As a master consultant, Dr. Whitney’s work spans the globe. Diana consults with executives and their teams in support of strategic planning and organization development, organization culture creation and transformation, and leadership capacity building.

Diana serves as Distinguished Consulting Faculty with Saybrook University, and a Ph.D. advisor with the Taos Institute. She is Expert Faculty for the NCR Picker Patient Centered Care Institute and a Fellow of the World Business Academy.

Today, Abbie and Diana explore Appreciative Inquiry as focusing on what we do when we are at our best; Positive Change as a process for shifting narratives, not people; and Appreciative Leadership as an implicitly relational process.
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Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created, produced & hosted by Abbie VanMeter.
Stories Lived. Stories Told. is an initiative of the CMM Institute for Personal and Social Evolution.
...
Music for Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created by Rik Spann.
...
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore all things Stories Lived. Stories Told. here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Explore all things CMM Institute here.

How can we leave ourselves open to more spontaneity by letting go of some of our expectations?
How do we suffer when we try to fit ourselves into the mold of "should"? Why do we need personal AND social evolution to create a more welcoming and curious culture?
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Rik Spann is an organizational consultant, applied musicologist, artist, and jazz musician. In his work, he is interested in exploring what happens at the crossroads of various disciplinary fields, including science, art, design, music, theatre, dance, film, and beyond. He also loves to play with weird combinations, humor, paradox, everyday life, blue notes, and stuff that can’t be defined. Rik is the author (with Simon Martin) of Resounding: Introducing an Alternative Metaphor for Organizational Change. You can support Rik and his work by donating here.

In this conversation, originally published in May 2022, Rik shares his journey into musicology. Abbie and Rik discuss bricolage, expectations, and ultra-stability. Rik and Abbie explore saying 'no' from a deeper 'yes' and how 'and' lets us build something richer. Rik talks about conversational jazz, curiosity, and perspective in his work as an organization consultant. Finally, Rik shares how he is working to create better social worlds through helpful noise.
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Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created, produced & hosted by Abbie VanMeter.
Stories Lived. Stories Told. is an initiative of the CMM Institute for Personal and Social Evolution.
...
Music for Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created by Rik Spann.
...
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore all things Stories Lived. Stories Told. here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Explore all things CMM Institute here.

How do we find peace when there is no sense to be made of our pain? 

What can we do to lean into a more complex understanding of loss and grief? 

How can we trade platitudes like "everything happens for a reason" for a deeper understanding of the way pain and joy can coexist in our lives?

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Dr. Michelle Colpean is a communication professor at the University of Cincinnati. She received her Bachelor's in Psychology and Master's in Communication Studies from Ball State University and her Ph.D. in Communication Studies (Rhetoric) from the University of Iowa. She is the mother of Sami, who passed away suddenly on January 12, 2021, at 8 months old, and Salma, who is about to turn 1 year old. Michelle uses her background in communication to help her survive the grief of losing her son and continues to write and present on the topic of grief, among other things. Michelle also makes Personalized Car Charms which she sells on Etsy, to support others in remembering the people they love that they have lost.

In this conversation, Michelle talks about the many roles and relationships in her life that define her and how she doesn't try to compartmentalize them. Michelle shares about her son Sami, who passed away when he was 8 months old. Abbie and Michelle discuss how Michelle experiences grief, how her memory was affected during that time, and how she finds meaning in her life now. Importantly, Abbie and Michelle explore the perspective and beauty that Michelle has found after Sami's passing, while questioning the helpfulness of any comment that starts with "at least" and the idea of finding a "silver lining." Finally, Michelle shares her experience of both joy and pain and how she has come to understand their relationship in her life. 

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Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created, produced & hosted by Abbie VanMeter.

Stories Lived. Stories Told. is an initiative of the CMM Institute for Personal and Social Evolution.

...

Music for Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created by Rik Spann. Find Rik on ⁠YouTube⁠.

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Follow Michelle on Instagram

Check out Michelle's Etsy Shop

Read more about Sami

Email me! storieslived.storiestold@gmail.com

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Learn more about the CMM Institute.

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Why does a fear of the unknown keep us from leaning into the hard conversations and experiences around death and dying? How can we hold onto the things we can control so that we can feel steady enough to keep leaning into this big thing that we can't?

How can we let go of unhelpful stories and write new ones for ourselves by learning better ways to recognize the deeply human pain we feel around death and better ways to support and show up for those in our life who are dying?

Why do we wait until people are gone to celebrate their lives? How can we find beauty and connection, even in the painful last moments of life?

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Madison Gonzalez is a poet and the author of Dear Mirror; the Executive Director of Morning Light Inc., a non-profit located in Indianapolis, Indiana that provides end-of-life care to those in hospice; a mother to two (very lucky) kids; and Abbie's former babysitter (among many other things). Madison has used her passion for storytelling and her aptitude for event planning to organize fundraising efforts for Morning Light Inc., including the highest-grossing fundraising events in Morning Light history. She also teaches her non-profit communication methods nationally to help other organizations advance their missions as well.

Today, Madison shares about the work that she does with Morning Light Inc., as they provide a home, comfort, and community to those in hospice care with nowhere else to go. Abbie and Madison consider why we tend to "look the other way" when it comes to death and dying and how our culture has contributed to the current systems we have now (and why we might need something new). Madison shares the words from a former resident that guide her ("Too many of us leave this world with our stories untold.") and other stories from the Abbie Hunt Bryce Home. Abbie and Madison talk about the importance of the work of giving people a new story when the one they have been always been told made them believe that no one cared about them. Finally, Abbie and Madison explore some Next Turns to keep this conversation going in our social worlds. 

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Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created, produced & hosted by Abbie VanMeter.

Stories Lived. Stories Told. is an initiative of the CMM Institute for Personal and Social Evolution.

...

Music for Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created by Rik Spann. Find Rik on ⁠YouTube⁠.

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Follow Madison on Instagram!

Buy Dear Mirror!

Learn more about Morning Light Inc.

Email me! storieslived.storiestold@gmail.com

Follow me on Instagram!

Subscribe on YouTube!

Check out my website!

Learn more about the CMM Institute.

Learn more about CMM.

Learn more about Cosmopolis 2045.

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How can we embrace celebrating every part of ourselves (even the parts we don't feel like celebrating) as a way to recognize our full humanity?

What connection happens when we share our most vulnerable parts with others, especially when we are still in the middle of figuring them out? 

How can we make time to pursue creation (in any of its many forms) as a way to "check-in" with ourselves and reflect?

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Madison Gonzalez is a poet and the author of Dear Mirror; the Executive Director of Morning Light Inc., a non-profit located in Indianapolis, Indiana that provides end-of-life care to those in hospice; a mother to two (very lucky) kids; and Abbie's former babysitter (among many other things). Madison has used her passion for storytelling and her aptitude for event planning to organize fundraising efforts for Morning Light Inc., including the highest-grossing fundraising events in Morning Light history. She also teaches her non-profit communication methods nationally to help other organizations advance their missions as well.

In today's conversation, Madison shares how she learned to stop running from herself and listen to what her Postpartum Depression had to teach her.  Abbie and Madison discuss "the creative power of communication" and how we can think of our work and its impact using the metaphor of a dandelion. Madison talks about her book of poetry, Dear Mirror, and what it means to her. Finally, Abbie and Madison discuss the stories the world tells us, how those often become the stories we tell ourselves, and the new kind of story that Madison is hoping to tell herself (and her kids). 

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Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created, produced & hosted by Abbie VanMeter.

Stories Lived. Stories Told. is an initiative of the CMM Institute for Personal and Social Evolution.

...

Music for Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created by Rik Spann. Find Rik on ⁠YouTube⁠.

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Follow Madison on Instagram!

Buy Dear Mirror! 

Learn more about Morning Light Inc.

Get Involved with Morning Light Inc.

Email me! storieslived.storiestold@gmail.com

Follow me on Instagram!

Subscribe on YouTube!

Check out my website!

Learn more about the CMM Institute.

Learn more about CMM.

Learn more about Cosmopolis 2045.

Learn more about CosmoKidz.

Follow the CosmoTeenz Fellows' work on Instagram.

How do we create meaning through shared language in every space?

Why is it helpful to ask ourselves if what we know is being "Confirmed," "Challenged," or "Changed"?

What does it look like to set boundaries that allow us to say our "Best Yes"?

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Stephanie Higgs is, above all else, a passionate educator. Since graduating with her Master's Degree in Education she has taught pre-K, second grade, and fourth grade; she now works as a gifted educator and differentiation coach, where she supports both students and her fellow teachers in accommodating individual learning needs. In 2021, Stephanie was named the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) Teacher of the Year. After 13 years in education, Stephanie is expanding her reach by sharing resources, ideas, and advice for educators around the world on her Instagram page and YouTube channel.

Today, Stephanie shares how learning about self-regulation has helped her heal and find more empathy for herself and others. Abbie and Stephanie talk about the classroom through the lens of social worlds. Stephanie explains Morning Meetings, Themed Walks, and Sunshine Phone Calls, and the ways that these allow her to intentionally create the kind of social world she wants. Finally, Abbie and Stephanie discuss what it means to really believe that "clarity is kindness," how we miss out on connection when we let technology control us, and why it feels so important to start learning to "stop glorifying busy."

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Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created, produced & hosted by Abbie VanMeter.

Stories Lived. Stories Told. is an initiative of the CMM Institute for Personal and Social Evolution.

...

Music for Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created by Rik Spann. Find Rik on ⁠YouTube⁠.

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Email me! storieslived.storiestold@gmail.com

Follow me on Instagram! @storieslivedstoriestoldpod

Subscribe on YouTube! Stories Lived. Stories Told.

Check out my website! www.storieslivedstoriestold.com

Learn more about the CMM Institute.

Learn more about CMM.

Learn more about Cosmopolis 2045.

Learn more about CosmoKidz.

Follow the CosmoTeenz Fellows' work on Instagram.

How can we celebrate our own individuality (and the individuality of others) by being honest about our needs, finding unique ways to meet them, and saying out loud the things we appreciate about each other? How can we celebrate children's individuality in school settings and beyond?

What happens when we learn, not only how to tell our own story, but to hear the stories of others as well?

Why does it matter for us to be honest about the things we are struggling with, uncertain of, or just don't know? 

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Stephanie Higgs is, above all else, a passionate educator. Since graduating with her Master's Degree in Education she has taught pre-K, second grade, and fourth grade; she now works as a gifted educator and differentiation coach, where she supports both students and her fellow teachers in accommodating individual learning needs. In 2021, Stephanie was named the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) Teacher of the Year. After 13 years in education, Stephanie is expanding her reach by sharing resources, ideas, and advice for educators around the world on her Instagram page and YouTube channel.

In this conversation, Stephanie shares her passion for her role as a gifted educator and how it wasn't always the path she saw for herself. Abbie and Stephanie discuss differentiation, what it looks like for her to balance educational standards with individual needs, and the value of the support system of teachers that Stephanie collaborates with. Stephanie shares her teacher's perspective on stories. Stephanie and Abbie talk about their shared love of quotes, how "there are years in life that ask questions, and there are years in life that answer questions," and how Stephanie is handling the question-asking kind of year she is in right now. Finally, Stephanie reflects back on the main theme that emerged during this conversation-- feeling known. 

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Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created, produced & hosted by Abbie VanMeter.

Stories Lived. Stories Told. is an initiative of the CMM Institute for Personal and Social Evolution.

...

Music for Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created by Rik Spann. Find Rik on ⁠YouTube⁠.

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Email me! storieslived.storiestold@gmail.com

Follow me on Instagram! @storieslivedstoriestoldpod

Subscribe on YouTube! Stories Lived. Stories Told.

Check out my website! www.storieslivedstoriestold.com 

Learn more about the CMM Institute.

Learn more about CMM.

Learn more about Cosmopolis 2045.

Learn more about CosmoKidz.

Follow the CosmoTeenz Fellows' work on Instagram.

Hi. My name is Abbie, this is Stories Lived. Stories Told. and here’s what I know... Everything in our social world is created through communication—communication being the stories we live, the stories we tell, and all the other stories in between; it's the patterns we find ourselves in, the contexts that affect us, the meaning we make, the questions we ask, and how we listen; it’s the choices we make about how we show up to each other, and the spaces we create in ourselves, our relationships, and our communities.

It makes sense then, that the better we are communicating, the better social worlds we can create—social worlds that have more justice, more human dignity, more inclusion and understanding, more creativity, more imagination, and more authenticity and mindfulness.

I have a degree in Interpersonal Communication. And I loved studying it in school. And I don’t think you should have to be a communication scholar to get to know everything I got to learn. After all, all of us are in relationship with each other, communicating in one way or another every moment of every day, building the social worlds we live in through our stories and choices. So, I believe all of us deserve to have access to the tools, skills, and language that comes from taking a communication perspective in your life.

Each week I invite you to join me in conversation with a guest who is working toward a better social world in their own way. My hope is that through these conversations, we can be educated, empowered, and energized as we find our own paths to a better social world.

That you for showing up. Thank you for being curious. Thank you for being a part of this story. And thank you for helping me to welcome in Season 2.

I can’t wait to see what emerges!

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Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created, produced & hosted by Abbie VanMeter.

Stories Lived. Stories Told. is an initiative of the CMM Institute for Personal and Social Evolution.

...

Email me! storieslived.storiestold@gmail.com

Follow me on Instagram! @storieslivedstoriestoldpod

Subscribe on YouTube! Stories Lived. Stories Told.

Check out the Complete Collection of Season 1 Episodes here!

Learn more about the CMM Institute.

Learn more about CMM.

Learn more about Cosmopolis 2045.

Learn more about CosmoKidz.

Follow the CosmoTeenz Fellows' work on Instagram.

How do we balance looking back, looking forward, and staying present in our stories?

How do the stories we tell shape us? But more importantly, how do the stories that we DO NOT tell also shape us?

How can we have more empathy and compassion for others by reminding ourselves that we all have Untold Stories?

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In this final Minisode of Season 1, Abbie talks about the complex place that she (and many of us) are in of reflecting on our pasts, asking ourselves "what is next?", and still trying to stay present for the moment we are in all at the same time.  

Abbie explores stories as the "smallest common denominator" of our lives--the best way to break down our lives into smaller pieces so we can better examine and understand them. Also, Abbie shares some examples from her own life of how she is learning to navigate her own Untold Stories, and at the same time, remember that others have their own Untold Stories, too. She acknowledges that some Untold Stories will never be told, and what it looks like to be at peace with that; she also talks about the flip side of that, which is "How do we create a safe space for ourselves and others to tell those Untold Stories?" Finally, Abbie discusses our creative relationship with meaning and the "Intent vs. Impact" conversation. 

Today, our Next Turn is to keep our eyes peeled for the Untold Stories in our social worlds, to remember our own agency in writing our story, and to find ways to meet people where they are at. Also, Share, Rate, and Review the show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

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Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created, produced & hosted by Abbie VanMeter.

Stories Lived. Stories Told. is an initiative of the CMM Institute for Personal and Social Evolution.

Music for Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created by Liv Hukkleberg. 

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