River's Fog

Holy cow its been a year since we dropped our last episode after dropping an episode almost weekly for a year after our hosted nonprofit organization, What Matters Most Evansville was founded in early 2020. Founder, Andrea, took what was thought to be a few week hiatus from the nonprofit and this podcast which turned into months and felt it in her bones she couldn't go a year, for many reasons. We need help with editing because we are still sitting on 6 interviews to be dropped and we've got some additional content to share including some awesome ripples in the water some of our former guests have been making since interviewed! Editing is one of the many things we hope to fundraise for because we hope to continue dropping an episode at least monthly with the goal of them becoming more interactive where people can call/write in. Our Share Your Grief Story Anonymously project has continued to receive letters and we want to share them. Lets connect and collaborate so Evansville can be a place more people can live well and die well because we can grieve well, all the losses. WMME has been approached by a few organizations to consider partnering to best meet individual needs.

Jaimie speaks to reaching across, not down to support people in the community and across the globe. She shares her journey quitting her high paying physical therapist job in California to becoming the founder and CEO of a nonprofit, The JD Sheth Foundation. After visiting her mother's homeland in India she was inspired to help allocate resources and build infrastructure to support more people living healthier lives. Her foundation is dedicated to focusing on the education, health, and well being of others, specifically children and the elderly, here in the United States and across the globe. She speaks to moving back to Evansville to be with her family just before the pandemic to help care for her terminally ill mother and how her parents' compassion and kindness fueled this amazing organization. Be sure to like, follow and support her work as she strives to create hope and security for people in the midst of grief and loss. www.jdshethfoundation.org facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jdshethfoundation IG @ https://www.instagram.com/jdshethf/ Golf Scramble- Swinging FORE Sheth! August 24th at Cambridge Golf Course in Evansville, IN. Lunch at 12pm & Tee off at 1pm. Funds will go to support their projects! Stay tuned for several upcoming local projects including but not limited to supporting local female veterans, ECHO housing, Methodist Youth Home and also supporting other local nonprofit organizations too! They partner with International Development Enterprises (iDE) to help them fund a water hauling truck to continue their work in bringing clean water to the residents of northern Ghana. The Water Master truck will deliver water to iDE's multiple hand washing stations located throughout several cities and will also begin delivering water to homes. iDE established their social enterprise, Sama Sama, in 2016, which has become the leading supplier of high quality water, sanitation, and hygiene products and services in Ghana. The expected completion date for this project is late 2021 and we are currently accepting donations to help support it.

John Byers was sentenced to prison in his 20s for essentially the rest of his life for drug conspiracy after dropping out of college to sell cocaine. He had never drank or done drugs, yet was the first federal trail in Indiana in 1998. He speaks to his journey that "your desire to grow must be larger than your obstacles" and “keep working and never give up.” He shares his journey before, during, and after his time in prison which surprisingly ended early. This includes spiritual and cultural experiences being Muslim, love for money, angered grief to transformative knowledge and patience. After being released early he went to hair school to pass time, but now loves being a hair stylist! To learn more and follow his art and inspiration: https://www.facebook.com/wisdom.byers.5 https://www.instagram.com/johndouglasbyers/

Fei Wu joins us from the Boston area and shares her own grief journey (and inspiration) from being an immigrant from Beijing, China at 17 years old, the death of her father, racism, and starting her own business. She is now the creator of Feisworld Media with a mission to help small businesses and creative entrepreneurs as a YouTuber, Podcaster, content creator, maker of Docuseries, and leads an international mastermind group! She is a big advocate for palliative care she wish her father had. In addition to this, she encourages people to think about their death, the kind of impact they want to have while alive, and speaks to “don't waste this pain”… If interested in connecting with her and getting guidance to build your own creative career and live your creative and financial freedom: Website: https://www.feisworld.com/ Get her YouTuber Kit: https://www.youtuberkit.com/ Podcast: https://www.feisworld.com/podcast Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/feiwu/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/feisworld Twitter: https://twitter.com/feisworld Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/feisworld/ Be sure to check out her mom's website to see her beautiful watercolor art! https://www.xiangliart.com/

Chuck and Ashley Elliott speak to “I’m grieving because I loved”. They are a married couple who get raw about their journey coping with several miscarriages. We laugh, tear and acknowledge heartaches, anger and their own unique frustrations yet also get to hear amazing growth and great relationship and communication skills while coping with their grief! This all inspired creating what they themselves needed while grieving. Chuck and Ashley are now the owners of: Elliot Life Coaching, specializing in grief and relationships. They offer online courses: Do Hard Things; Why People Leave; and Love and Loss. They also offer coaching and speaking at events. Website: https://www.elliottlifecoaching.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chuckandashley/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chuckandashleycoaching/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK9vzRS0OA3Kim5wYxhn5KQ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AshleyChuckand

Michele Gates is a courageous woman and now author of an interactive children's book for kids coping with a difficult change or loss in their life. She shares with us her story of loosing her mother to suicide at the age of 5 and how her healing and growth transformation didn't happen until she did the grief work in her 40s which has created not only her healing, more inspiration for others, but also her book! Stay tuned for more to come as she develops Mae's Way Foundation and writing another book. Email: michelelgatesinfo@gmail.com Instagram: @michelelgates Facebook: Michele Gates Book: Mae The Courageous Caterpillar Purchase at: https://www.amazon.com/Mae-Courageous-Caterpillar-Michele-Gates/dp/0578653079/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=mae+the+courageous+caterpillar&qid=1618361940&sprefix=mae+the+c&sr=8-1 or buy locally at: Bluestocking Social Bookstore on Weinbach Ave Purchase the adorable Mae caterpillars by directly contacting her Contact us at What Matters Most? Evansville, Inc if you have any questions, feedback or if you or someone you know should be a guest on our show! WhatMattersMostEvv@gmail.com To learn more about our projects and find ways to support and donate: https://instabio.cc/LantzDreams

Former respiratory therapist and Mary Kay saleswoman turned life coach. She speaks to her journey, ambiguous grief, the importance of acknowledging your grief and taking actionable steps to become your true self. To learn more about her work be sure to check out: https://amilloyd.com/wordpress/about-ami/ Contact info if you or someone you know should be a guest on our podcast: WhatMattersMostEvv@gmail.com OR contact us on facebook @WMMEVV Don't forget about our Share Your Grief Story, Anonymously project. You can mail in to WMME, PO Box 112, Elberfeld, IN 47613 Contact us or see our facebook page for further details.

Adam Hayden is a philosopher, writer, advocate, and organizer for the brain tumor community. We met through LinkedIn when I reached out after listened to him speaking at the End Well Project Conference. He shares being diagnosed with a glioblastoma in 2016 in his early 30s while just becoming a new father. He has outlived over 90% of people with this diagnosis. He has a beautiful sense of humor you will hear t which includes celebrating every year he has survived after his brain surgery known as a craniotomy- they eat a cake that looks like a brain! He speaks with us about and writes wonderful articles about “I’m not dead, and that’s weird." We are honored to hear parts of his grief journey and the importance of having difficult conversations while roles change, coping with medical providers trying their best, friends not knowing what to say and talking to your children about terminal illness. Whatever your personal beliefs are- please send prayers and positive energy northbound to this wonderful man who is preparing for another scan in April. Also- help us hook him up with a publisher for his book he wants to publish before he dies! If you know how to help contact us at WhatMattersMostEvv@gmail.com or call 812-389-0182 Adam's website: https://glioblastology.com Social Media: #AandWTumorTakedown Wife’s website: http://www.faithhopeandwine.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haydenadam/ EndWell Conference: https://endwellproject.org/living-while-dying-a-contingency-plan/ Author & Physician he speaks about: That Good Night, by Sunita Puri, https://sunitapuri.com/ Netflix series mentioned: Lenox Hill: https://www.netflix.com/title/80201728 The Surgeon’s Cut: https://www.netflix.com/title/81004466and After Life: https://www.netflix.com/title/80998491

Casey McCoy is a man who values relationships, with everything he encounters from people, knowledge, food and his environment. Casey has continued making ripples in the water after various types of grief losses, striving for personal growth and development as he himself continues to shrink, yet grow at the same time, literally and figuratively. His curiosity and desire to strengthen his ability to embrace changes and reframe how he is choosing to spend his time, energy and resources. This includes but is not limited to how he went from escaping foreclosure by floating down the river on a flat boat dressed up like Abraham Lincoln to now buying a house in Belize, going from military boot camp to becoming almost 400 lb, and from taking a job driving an icecream van to now running Team McCoy with Keller Williams Reality! HOW TO GET IN CONTACT WITH CASEY- INCLUDING BUYING AND SELLING HOMES!: Keller Williams- Team McCoy, 812-760-6576, caseysellshomes@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/caseysellshomes https://twitter.com/caseysellshomes https://www.linkedin.com/in/evansvillehomes/ https://www.pinterest.com/evansvillehomes/_saved/ https://kw.com/download/KW2NLFDZJ?_branch_match_id=812064499580594343 BOOKS REFERENCED: The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results; Blackbelt of the Mind by Fred Grosse PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT TOOLS: Personality: https://www.themyersbriggs.com/en-US/Products-and-Services/Myers-Briggs Enneagram: https://assessment.yourenneagramcoach.com/ Love language: https://www.5lovelanguages.com/5-love-languages/ Disc: https://www.discprofile.com/what-is-disc/ Attachment style: https://www.attachmentproject.com/attachment-style-quiz/

Lynn Miller Pease has a passion for diversity, servant leadership, and the collaborative process. She shares with us how various life transitions, times of grief and accidental leadership lead her to the current position as the Chief Executive Officer of Leadership Everyone, Inc., based out of Evansville, Indiana. She develops servant leaders to transform communities with the support of her board of directors, staff, alumni, and volunteers. She has more than 20 years of experience in facilitation, leadership development, civic engagement, and visioning for strategic action. Be sure to check out more info on their website: https://leadershipeveryone.org/ Email: lynn@leadershipeveryone.org Office: (812) 425-3828 x1 26th Annual Celebration of Leadership (COL) will be on March 18th at 7pm CST on television station WNIN 9.1, or live stream on Facebook & YouTube; *re-airs on WNIN 3/21 at 5:30pm. COL is a remarkably diverse and inclusive annual event whereby Leadership Everyone publicly seeks out and honors individuals, projects or organizations who make significant, collaborative contributions that improve and transform our community. Celebration of Leadership recognizes examples of outstanding community and public service in the following categories: Arts; Community & Neighborhood; Education; Government, Public Service, & Environment; and Health & Social Services. Donate: https://leadershipeveryone.org/donations/

Aaron is a native to the Evansville, IN area who originally thought he wanted to be a pharmacist. Little did he know he was going to be mixing up other chemicals on a regular basis in the form of clients grief journeys as their now realtor! Aaron has accepted this being part of the role to do a good job and continues to learning something every day because he wants them to grieve well no matter where they live. He is known for his honesty, humor and down right entertainment at times. For real estate and market updates and links to his all social media as well as his informative and entertaining TikTock and podcast- TheArraonAdvantage, be sure to check out https://linktr.ee/TheAaronAdvantage aaron@theaaronadvantage.com 812-779-6273

Thomas Bernardin is an Evansville native and the Owner of Thomas Bernardin Films. He shares his story of how skateboarding in high school evolved into his growing passion for film and starting his own business- capturing other people’s passions and stories on film. He shares how leaning into his talent helped him cope with and heal through the grief of an unanticipated job loss and his marriage. Ironically this was recorded late summer 2020 and since then he has actually created a documentary film to Help Fund Evansville’s Sunset Skate Park so it was the perfect timing to include this and help promo it too! Every dollar counts, especially right because they got a match grant and every dollar is matched! If you want to get the real story on how skating helps strengthen people’s character, drive and ability to face challenges in grief in their lives- then you need to watch his recent film: https://gofund.me/b0c8b333 and donate to the cause at https://gofund.me/b0c8b333 right now! To learn more and see some of his work, be sure to visit his website www.thomasbernardinfilm.com or visit one of his social media platforms, IG @thomasbernardin ------- We are so pumped to start dropping episodes soon recorded at Speak and Tell Studios- they are Evansville’s first and only podcast and voice over studio. check them out if you want to start a podcast, book your own recordings, make commercials, do some visual work- they can help with every step of the way: www.speakandtellstudios.com This podcast and information was brought to you by What Matters Most? Evansville, Inc. We plan dropping new episodes every Wednesday. Transcripts available upon request. -Like and follow our page on Facebook @ WMMEVV and consider joining our private group for weekly engaging questions and greater opportunities to connect and share stories, ideas and passions related to grief. -Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wmmevv or https://www.gofundme.com/f/WMMERipplesintheWater -Contact us at WhatMattersMostEvv@gmail.com with questions, feedback or if you or someone you know should be a guest on our show! Don’t forget about our Share Your Grief Story Project- where you can write in and share your story, anonymously, because grief heals more wholly when witnessed in some context. Mail to: What Matters Most Evansville, Inc, PO Box 112, Evansville, IN 47613

Layne Miller is a local to the Evansville, IN area although he was adopted from Mexico as an infant. He shares how leaning into his passion for music got him through various parts of his life. He continues to play the piano, write songs and cover some of his favorites - from Frank Sinatra to Elvis and the great big bands, swing and easy listening. He speaks to how he has never looked at life and music the same since his older sister died unexpectedly in a tragic car accident. Although he remains open to recording more and performing live- he simply plays for his self care, growth and at times it helps him when people don't understand him or even his music. Over the past 18years he's been quietly embarking on a little music journey of his own as an aspiring lyricist and composer. Every now and then he'll even share his music with an audience. We feature some of his songs this episode. He is single and hopeful to find love one of these days with a classy gal who appreciates kindness, and ideally his music too. YouTube: Layne Miller Instagram: @lvmill6 Facebook: Layne Miller To support and learn more about What Matters Most? Evansville- striving to be a catalyst to create community-wide mindfulness of grief in your community- https://instabio.cc/lantzdreams to access our facebook, Patreon, & Gofundme to donate and stay up to date on projects , or simply to share your ideas, passions and stories. Do you or someone you know have a story you want to share? Contact us directly at WhatMattersMostEvv@gmail.com and 812-389-0182 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Tara and Sabrina share their story from sharing a burger to now having started a business together, Professional Grief Solutions, LLC. It focuses on such a big need during the pandemic- supporting healthcare workers in high-loss environments.  Tara shares openly her raw experience struggling with grief and not wanting to live after her 5 month old son died in a traumatic car accident and how her own grief journey lead her into supporting others coping with grief and death.   She is determined to providing care for the professional caregiver.  PROFESSIONAL GRIEF SOLUTIONS, LLC: support for individuals, groups and healthcare organizations. Be sure to check out their website for more details including listed resources and their own grief journal and workbook. Contact them to explore ways to do your job which includes grief!  www.professionalgriefsolutions.com 812-573-7516             LinkedIn @ professional-grief-solutions-llc/          Facebook@ professionalgriefsolutions The closing song on this episode is written/sang/played by Sabrina herself: Linger. Copyright 2017, Sabrina Newton Abe and Sarah Music (BMI). http://www.griefnet.org Click here to support and learn more about What Matters Most? Evansville- striving to be a catalyst to create community-wide mindfulness of grief in your community- click:  https://instabio.cc/lantzdreams  to access our facebook, Patreon, & Gofundme to support and stay up to date on projects and podcast links- including ways to share your passions, ideas or story!  Contact us directly at WhatMattersMostEvv@gmail.com and 812-389-0182 

Amy Lutzel, BA, CHWC, ACSM-CPT is the Wellness Director at Ivy Tech in Evansville, IN. She shares with us her transformational growth journey going from bottling up years of trauma and mental health challenges to becoming a certified health and wellness coach. She continues on her healing and grief journey as she encourages others to reach out, connect and take small steps in being the best version of themselves. Amy experienced a major job loss, family with mental illness, parents with terminal diagnosis, is a survivor of suicide, and own medical health problems. She speaks to the importance of allowing yourself to feel the discomfort of grief, taking baby steps and exploring ways to better heal and grow. She is a huge supporter and advocate for self-care, mental illness, and suicide prevent- especially during this pandemic. Check out her routine encouragement and self-care tips! Facebook & Instagram @ivytechwellandfit Twitter - @ivytechwellness YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl4W7ikOCPC9034iAxGJ5HA?view_as=subscriber Take Good Care of YOU! Facebook : https://facebook.com/abl3773 Letters to the Courier & Press: https://www.courierpress.com/story/opinion/2018/12/29/letter-suicide-not-answer/2442259002/ and Grief and Self-Care: https://www.courierpress.com/story/opinion/2020/12/30/viewpoint-take-care-yourself-and-others-through-struggles/4082713001/ Kindness campaign: https://www.courierpress.com/story/opinion/readers/2018/01/04/letter-focus-love-kindness-year/1004091001/ Resources: https://ivyassist.auntbertha.com/ -COVID-19 info, Resources, Mental Health, Support - https://bewellindiana.com/ Click here to support and learn more about What Matters Most? Evansville- striving to be a catalyst to create community-wide mindfulness of grief in your community- click: https://instabio.cc/lantzdreams to access our facebook, Patreon, & Gofundme to support and stay up to date on projects and podcast links- including ways to share your passions, ideas or story! Contact us directly at WhatMattersMostEvv@gmail.com and 812-389-0182 Share Your Grief Story? As Amy mentioned, keeping your grief bottled in will only make things worse. Our most recent project knows many grief stories go unshared for many reasons, yet we also know grief needs to be witnessed in order to heal wholly. That's why we've created this opportunity for you to mail in your grief story anonymously. By doing so it gives WMM?E permission to share its entirety/parts on social media, this podcast and for possible research purposes. Mail in to: WMM?E, PO Box 112, Elberfeld, IN 47613

Andrea interviewed Jill in the summer of 2020 and finally has converted the file to a useable audio to share her great works in creating Death and Donuts! We thought it would be a great way to kick off the new year to share their new virtual meeting times and encourage donuts with new year resolutions. So grab a cup of coffee and able a donut as you enjoy:  Jill Brinkley knew after her mother died she wanted to help families plan their funerals after being impressed by the funeral home staff.  She has worked at Alexander Funeral Home ever since who has supported her passion for planned funerals and a good death. Who doesn't enjoy a good coffee and donut!?? This is what inspired creating a community conversation, Death and Donuts, in August of 2018. It provides routine candid, open discussions about all end-of-life issues in a comfortable, cheerful atmosphere.  Little did she  know the pandemic would transform it into a virtual opportunity to invite nationally recognized speakers and authors in addition to attendees from across the country.   Death & Donuts (based out of Evansville, IN). Virtual monthly Zoom meetings held on the second Thursday from 6-7:30pm CST. To obtain Zoom link or be added to the email list you can email jillian.brinkley@dignitymemorial.com or call 812-423-4477. Be sure to like on facebook @ AlexandersDandD or visit www.AlexanderWestChapel.com  If interested in learning more about Dr BJ Miller BJ Miller: What really matters at the end of life https://www.ted.com/talks/bj_miller_what_really_matters_at_the_end_of_life. you can find Jill’s Death & Donuts zoom meeting from this summer on their facebook page; his new company at https://www.mettlehealth.com/, his book A Beginners Guide to the End at https://www.abgtte.com/ or check out our first River’s Fog podcast with our interview with him. http://every1dies.org/ is a website you can find some great podcasts by some great folks who will be join us as guest in months to come Recommended books to help you become friends with death so you can live a more meaningful life: Talking About Death Won’t Kill You by Virginia Morris A Beginners Guide to the End by BJ Miller and Shoshana Berger Being Mortal by Atul Gawande The Five Invitations By Frank Ostaseski The Art of Dying Well by Katy Butler With The End In Mind by Kathryn Mannix When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi What Matters Most? Evansville, Inc To learn more about us and to support us- be sure to like and follow us on facebook & Patreon at WMMEVV or www.gofundme.com/f/WMMERipplesintheWater  -Contact us at WhatMattersMostEvv@gmail.com with questions, feedback or if you or someone you know should be a guest on our show!  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Reba Riley is a spreader of hope, healing, courage, random acts of kindness & laughter. She is the author of best seller: Post-Traumatic Church Syndrome. This book is filled with humor as she decides to experience 30 religions before she turned 30. She is also a blogger, speaker, artist, healer, wine lover and loves to dance despite being terrible at it. She coined the term “Godiverse” during her grief recovery. She shares with us her grief journey into writing her book, advocating for and managing her own chronic health conditions and tips for clinging to intense love and self-compassion while dealing with layered grief without breaks over the years. This includes getting real about her hidden unhealthy numbing and running. She shares the goal of trying not to focus on desired outcomes, but rather how to use the power in which grief contains to become a more beautiful, wise, and compassionate soul. She believes in intense love and self-compassion. May we feel Reba’s ripple in the water to be strong enough and brave enough to sit with our grief, and those in our community. Check out her inspiring yet entertaining book : Post-Traumatic Church Syndrome, A Memoire of Humor and Healing; https://www.amazon.com/Post-Traumatic-Church-Syndrome-Desperate-Religions/dp/1501125672 or follow her on IG or fb at: RebaRileyAuthor -Basics of Dr T's protocol-- Well worth the 48 minutes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGJiLwH1bKg -Dr T's Website https://secure.endfatigue.com/ -His book: https://www.amazon.com/Fatigue-Fibromyalgia-Solution-Essential-Overcoming/dp/1583335145/ref=pd_lpo_14_t_0/134-0938661-0795622?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1583335145&pd_rd_r=6d5ce225-5e0d-4db4-941d-6cda5f83b437&pd_rd_w=JgYQW&pd_rd_wg=kFnUh&pf_rd_p=7b36d496-f366-4631-94d3-61b87b52511b&pf_rd_r=ZNEPNSH3RW64DDYSWW6M&psc=1&refRID=ZNEPNSH3RW64DDYSWW6M To support and learn more about What Matters Most? Evansville's projects and work- be sure like, join, share and donate through Patreon & Facebook @WMMEVV or find access to all the links at https://instabio.cc//lantzdreams

We don't have a guest today, but rather Andrea is sharing more about a project and letters we have already received! ***Disclaimer: This episode is for adults only.  People have provided a gift by sharing their grief journeys around the holidays including life after having an affair, being a nurse during the pandemic and living with a functional alcoholic.  Share Your Grief Story Project (anonymously) Brought to you by What Matters Most? Evansville, Inc.  Project Goal: Create more opportunities for people to share their grief stories to promote greater healing, benefiting both individuals and the community.    Who: Everyone is invited because everyone has a story to share (regardless of where you live)           When: This project will remain active with no plans to stop           Why: Research shows grief heals more wholly when it is witnessed and shared in some context, even anonymously. This is particularly important to our organization to offer our community. We know there are some grief stories this may be the only way it is heard.         How to Participate: Mail in your grief story anonymously to:   What Matters Most? Evansville, IN, Po Box 112, Elberfeld, IN 47613             ***Disclaimer: By sharing your story you are giving WMM?E permission to share the entirety/parts of your story with others, anonymously- for example on it’s River’s Fog podcast, social media, and research purposes.        Grief is a complex emotion, encompassing all forms and types of loss, not just a death. This includes, but is not limited to a loss in relationships, loss of needed support, losing parts of your health, future hopes, and so so so much more. Happy Holidays yall! To support and learn more about our projects and works, be sure to check us out on Patreon and Facebook at WMMEVV  Transcripts available upon request. Resources: https://grief.com/grief-the-holidays/

Nicole Casteel is a Sound Healer, Vocal Alchemist, and Intuitive Coach.  She taps into, creates, and grows space for healing. She shares with us how she came into the sound healing world after being super classically trained in vocalist performance and Opera. This includes discussing the death of her own identity as she searched to find her truth when healing from layered grief and the actual death of her father.  Nicole gifts us with her story of how she decided to radically change how she chooses to experience her grief and emotions by practicing energetic hygiene and now teaching breath work, facilitating drum circles, well-ness retreats, virtual sound healing, coaching and much more. We discuss the impacts of trapped grief and trauma in our DNA from our ancestors. This includes briefing relationships with social injustice and racism- that it’s never too late to heal parts of our ancestors and impacts on future generations. She brings inspiration, new insight, and encouragement to better KNOW THY SELF. WMM?E values this and believes in order for us to better support and cope with grief as a community, we must first tend to ourselves.  Nicole wrote:  " riding the waves of intensity, longing, knowing and then unknowing... the one thing I come back to that is constant -My breath. It is the bridge between my conscious and subconscious mind (where all the healing happens), it is the very first thing I did when I entered this world and the very last thing I will do when I leave (all the layers around death and birth which basically sums up everything). It is the thing I can control and also not control. It opens my heart, where the TRUTH about everything is always hiding, and it connects me. Because we are all in lots of uncertain spaces right now and the breath is the place where we can lean into that and make space for the new things to emerge. It can be as simple as breathing instead of reacting. Right here, right now." Clients have posted "She is channeling medicine that bridges heaven & earth. I was transported to places I didn’t even know I needed to go. Pure magic.”  To learn more about her work, how to sign up for your own virtual breath work, sound healing and 1:1 coaching- be sure to check out: https://www.nicolecasteel.com/    or on IG & FB @wildheartresonance Remember, don't hold your grief in- it must be processed or shared in some context, even if alone while spending time grounding on the earth, mindful breathing- and even writing it down and mailing in as part of our "Share Your Grief Story" project. To support our ripples in the water, keep updated on projects, share your story, passion and ideas- please visit our facebook or Patreon @ WMMEVV  or contact us directly at: WhatMattersMostEvv@gmail.com  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Dr Errin Wiseman is not your average physician, however she is supporting more female medical providers to tap into something that should be the norm. Her sassy style is the perfect natural medicine of Physician meets Life Coach, Podcaster, in addition to Burnout Expert & Badass Mother. Join us as she shares her grief story of being a high achiever in essentially anything she ever does to feeling down, empty, trapped and desperate for change. It wasn't until she worked with a life coach and got real with herself and why she went to medical school in the first place- to help people feel well. Little did she know her career would transform her healing superpowers to inspire and encourage more medical providers to live their best life by embracing the- yes I freaking matter mantra!. Simply put, she believes the system is broken. This "system" doesn't only pertain to doctors and can be applied to lots of people and professions. She discusses how if we are not proactive, it will break us. Many people still don't fully grasp that a big part of the system still runs on the outdated design for men with a full-time wife at home. She believes female doctors and doctors of color face microaggressions from patients and colleagues in addition to having very little control over their jobs and how they wish to provide care for their patients, including workload, hours and other critical measures of workplace satisfaction. She is determined to share there is hope- you can heal your grief and burnout and come back even stronger. To get her awesome workbook, access ways to receive her work with her, check out her encouraging podcasts, or sign up for her stellar Burnout to Badass course go to: https://www.doctormefirst.com IG: https://www.instagram.com/errinweisman/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/errinweisman Podcast/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/26OtaRna1hqGCQl2gssWdj?si=PC0xf9KaThix_-cvcOwIHg

Diving into a quick educational guide on practicing mindfulness with our technology and devices. It’s normal to keep ourselves distracted to avoid thinking and feeling uncomfortable things, especially related to grief. However, this only causes more damage down the road and prevents us from connecting with the here and now, others, and ourselves. The direct link below gets you to the awesome ‘How to Manage Tech Use & Find Balance with Mindfulness’ Guide shared today! https://technologyformindfulness.com/mindfulness-exercises/ Great free apps: https://www.mindful.org/free-mindfulness-apps-worthy-of-your-attention/ "Mindfulness exercises can help you manage the effects of daily tech use on your mental well-being and allow you to find balance in daily life, easing stress, developing self-compassion, and providing perspective."    Mindful meditation for beginners:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtW92lKLzTQ  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Xdwr4cRTVA. Tips- turn off notifications, unsubscribe if you continue not opening them, use the technology to put limits to your screen or app usage, and set that alarm to summon you smoothly for a pomodoro break. What Matters Most? Evansville believes in the power mindfulness plays in our ability to process, cope with, support others, and grow through grief. Click here  https://instabio.cc/lantzdreams  to support and learn more about our organization striving to be a catalyst to create community-wide mindfulness of grief in your community:  facebook, Patreon, Gofundme, Project and podcast links Share Your Grief Story Project- Friendly reminder we plan to continue this project forever, however don't delay your growth through grief potential. We know there are many stories that go unshared for many reasons, yet we also know grief needs to be witnessed in order to heal wholly. That's why we've created this opportunity for you to mail in your grief story anonymously. By doing so it gives WMM?E permission to share its entirety/parts on social media, this podcast and for possible research purposes.  Mail in to: WMM?E, PO Box 112, Elberfeld, IN 47613

Andrea Grace Phillips encourages us to experience Grateful, Grace-filled Grieving.  Thanksgiving has different meanings to people, especially if you or a loved one have ever struggled with addiction.  She is a Certified Coach, Speaker, Writer, and an Advocate for those with a child battling the disease of addiction.  The grief of loosing a child to addiction is not only complex, but especially because others often don't know how to respond and support it.  She shares with us the heartache of her own son's death and the journey it ignited to invite others to choose to fully live after losing a child to a substance abuse disorder. She wants you to know you are not alone and is a true champion to this cause by dedicating her own grief healing, passion and skills to do just that through her coaching, gatherings, advocacy, and individual and group retreats. Listen to the full episode to gain insights to her journey, tips, and ways to connect and just maybe, share your story.  Her website: http://www.andreagracephillips.com/ To watch her TEDxEvansville: https://vimeo.com/480890408  Grief heals more wholly when it is witnessed in some context, even if done anonymously.  If you or someone you know for some reason has not felt comfortable sharing your grief story yet, for whatever reason and whatever your grief and loss are, please don't wait any longer.  We encourage you to connect, or at least share your story anonymously. This is particularly important to our organization to offer our community, and beyond. Therefore,  we have created and invite you to do just that:  SHARE YOUR GRIEF STORY.  You can mail your grief story to: What Matters Most? Evansville, Inc, PO Box 112, Elberfeld, IN 47613.   Disclaimer: by sharing your story you are giving WMM?E permission to share the entirety/parts of your story with others, anonymously- on our podcast, social media and possibly used for research.  Grief is a complex emotion, encompassing all forms of loss, not just a death. This includes, but is not limited to loss in relationships, unmet needed support, unexpected changes in your life, your health, future hopes and plans, and so so much more.   We are starting this project with no plans to stop and have every intention on doing more work with Andrea Grace Phillips to make more ripples in the water!   --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Zac Parsons is part entrepreneur, teacher and "Chaos Pilot" all rolled into one beautiful flow of energy making ripples in the water as helps navigate change and articulate meaning. His training and experience includes a Masters in organizational psychology, teaching as a college professor, involvement with numerous groups and trainings, and lead organizer of TedXEvansville. He recently started a new job he plans staying at- United Way of Southwestern Indiana and is their 2025 Talent project manager. Without trying, today he brings his well known positive energy and fresh perspectives. He reflects upon awareness of the importance of avoiding "death bed regrets" and the importance of using our talents, gifts and resources wisely. He loves being a dad and helping run his coffee shop. He thrives by not only fanning other's flames, but also challenging one to optimize and recognize their own strengths, even during challenging times and grief- individuals, organizations and the community! Check out and support his 3 coffee shop locations in Evansville, IN, otherwise known as Honey Moon Coffee Company: https://www.honeymooncoffee.co/ TEDxEvansville: https://tedxevansville.com/ United Way of Southwestern Indiana: https://unitedwayswi.org/ To support and learn more about What Matters Most? Evansville, Inc: https://www.patreon.com/wmmevv --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Barbara Stahura shares going from the corporate world to becoming a published author and freelance writer. However, her writing and work took on a new role after her husband suffered from a traumatic brain injury. Barbara recalls the roller coaster of grief and emotions and shines a light on how journaling not only kept her sane, during this challenging time, but also how she wrote a book and helped others by becoming a certified journal facilitator. She has guided countless people with brain injuries and family caregivers in harnessing the power of journaling for healing and well-being, and also created numerous other programs for various audiences across the country. She recommends a great place for beginners to start is: Kathleen Adams's book, Journal to The Self; https://www.amazon.com/Journal-Self-Twenty-Two-Personal-Self-Understanding/dp/0446390380 Barbara's book, After Brain Injury: Telling Your Story, the first journaling book for people with brain injuries is available at: lapublishing.com Now that she is retired her website is coming down, however I had to capture just a portion of one of her articles: 8/2018: BE THAT BUTTERFLY: We all know the story of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. But do you know what actually happens to the caterpillar inside the chrysalis? If you were to cut open a cocoon or chrysalis at just the right time, caterpillar soup would ooze out.” Ick, right? Maybe so, but housed within the body of the dissolving caterpillar are certain dormant cells called imaginal discs. They contain all the caterpillar’s potential for future growth, and they become active during this transition period, using the goop to fuel the process that creates the wings, antennae, and all other parts of the butterfly. Eventually, an entirely new, beautiful creature emerges. It’s no surprise that the metaphor of caterpillar-into-butterfly is so often used to represent transition, with its three stages of letting go of the Old Way, the In-Between, and the New Way. Look closely at any life transition you have successfully navigated, and you will see yourself in this metaphor, although, I hope, not so goopily. When your Old Way ends, you have to go through the In-Between to truly and fully arrive at your New Way. While the In-Between is usually the most confusing, messy, or even painful, stage, it’s also the time that holds the most opportunity for creativity, imagination, and vision—if you allow it. I love that those transformative cells in the caterpillar are called “imaginal.” The definition of that word is “of or relating to imagination, images, or imagery.” And what better time to use your imagination to create your New Way than when your Old Way is dissolving? That’s the cool part of this process. While you’re navigating the In-Between, you can “try on” various ideas of what you want your New Way to be. If you’ll forgive a switch in metaphors, it’s like trying on a bunch of clothes in a dressing room, peering at yourself in the three-way mirrors, turning this way and that, and deciding which one fits and looks best. You don’t have to buy any you don’t like, and you can keep searching until you find the perfect one. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

WMM?E co-founder, Andrea, was moved and motivated when meeting Kimberly C Paul last year! She now has the pleasure of sharing KCP's story of going from the set of Saturday Night Live and CBS daytime to telling a very different kind of story. She encourages the country to come together regardless of who we voted for and to start conversations of how we can reclaim our death. During this episode, she shares a glimpse of what ignited her writing her book- Bridging the Gap, Life Lessons of the Dying as well as driving across the country to almost 50 states in her RV decked out with stickers and advertisement alongside her German Shepard, Haven with the goal of marching in Washington, DC to advocate for needed Medicare/Hospice reform as part of her "Live Well to Die Well Tour". She has a well- known TedTalk now taking global steps working with Partner Plus Media providing free educational resources to communities free of charge to hospice agencies- she wants us to stop blaming others, but rather work together and start earlier conversations. Learn more about her work, subscribing to her podcast series, blog, events and buying her book at: https://www.deathbydesign.com/ Also, be sure to check out https://www.partnerplusmedia.com/ for more information on how to connect with a company who specializes in the supply of innovative, no-cost marketing solutions. One of her sponsors is the Death Deck card game we have used for our WMM?E's facebook group weekly questions. You can order your own deck at: https://thedeathdeck.com/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Chelsea England describes herself as a color junky. She is a local artist who shares her journey of how she re-engaged with her talent and joy for painting by making a radical change in her life to follow her passion and start her own business. Painting served as a catalyst for healing during challenging times exploring new paths and disappointments,  yet with desired growth and maintaining happiness for her and her family.   She thrives on bringing inner joy to the surface through splashes of color in unexpected nooks and crannies- What Matters Most? Evansville wants to keep spreading her ripples in the water doing just that!  If you want to feel some extra joy today- check out her beautiful abstract paintings of landscapes and floral with vibrant patterns and color palettes- on canvas, paper , notecards and fabric coming at ya! Her Afterglow or Joyful and Whimsical collections are just a few examples of how she speaks story and spirt into color, sometimes even with just a "pop of pink!" Subscribe to her newsletter and enjoy her time warp speed paintings that will have your inner Bob Ross glowing!  https://www.chelseaenglandart.com/                                IG www.instagram.com/chels.e.art https://www.facebook.com/chelsea.lant englandchelsea@yahoo.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Our first RIVER'S FOG podcast ever and we couldn't be more excited to interview Dr BJ Miller! He is a nationally recognized speaker and author of “A Beginner’s Guide to the End.” He has recently started Mettle Health- focused on supporting a person’s ability to cope well with difficulties or to face a demanding situation in a spirited and resilient way.  -To learn more about his new company: https://www.mettlehealth.com/   -Be sure to check out his famous TedTalk: https://www.ted.com/talks/bj_miller_what_really_matters_at_the_end_of_life?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare -Get his book: A Beginner's Guide to the End: Practical Advice for Living Life and Facing Death. Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1501157213/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_568JFbBE1EK0P Subscribe to our podcast, River's Fog- we plan to drop new episodes every Wednesday.  This podcast is brought to you by What Matters Most? Evansville, Inc.  Like us on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/WMMEVV  or email us at: WhatMattersMostEvv@gmail.com