The Proximity Process

This is episode two of a two-part conversation with Shrounda Selivanoff. We are continuing our ongoing series on Termination of Parental Rights. If you haven't already, please listen to the first episode where Shrounda and I talk about her family's experience of TPR and how they had to fight to maintain custody of her grandson and protect her son's rights from being terminated. In this episode, we talk mostly about House Bill 1747, which was passed in Washington state in 2022. Most fundamentally, the law requires the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to rule out guardianship before considering Termination of Parental Rights and adoption. While this is largely a policy conversation, we gourd it in what matters the most, which is family, and belonging, and our right to be connected.Here is the link to HB 1747 if you would like to learn more.Washington State LegislatureAs we move into our production pause, I'd like to say Thank You! I'm beyond grateful for everyone who has listened, joined the podcast club, and been part of the incredible community we've built. You are why we make this show. Let's stay connected. Please follow Imagination Factory on LinkedIn, Instagram (@imgnfactory), or email me directly at create@imgnfactory.org. See you soon...Please connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

In this journal episode I talk about the impact that decision overload can have on us, particularly for those of us who are introverts, and how I keep my energy for the most important things. When you take a minute to think about the quantity of decisions we make every day, week, month, and year it can be staggering. And considering the weight of some of these decisions, it becomes clear that there is real value in auditing where we spend our mental and emotional energy. I share four ways that I've found helpful to minimize the number of decisions I make and their impact on my energy. These include self-awareness, delegation, simplification, and letting go. I'll leave you with a journal prompt to consider the practice of letting go. What decisions can I let go of to create more space for my future to emerge?You are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We have two options to make this community accessible. We meet every Monday at 9am ET and 9am PT (12pm ET). You can join the club by filling out this form and we'll send you the meeting invite. Proximity Podcast Club - Google FormsPlease connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

In this episode we return to our ongoing series on Termination of Parental Rights. This is part one of a two-part conversation with Shrounda Selivanoff. Shrounda is the Chief of Parent Representation Initiatives with the Washington State Office of Public Defense. She has a long history as an effective policy director and respected advocate for parental rights. She also brings her own personal experience of CPS, child welfare, and TPR as a mother and a grandmother. In part on of our conversation, Shrounda shares her story of fighting for her son's rights as a parent and for her grandson's right to know and be connected to his family. In part two of our conversation we'll dive into the policy she worked in WA and the implications it has in the ongoing conversation about a world without TPR.  Here are links to the article that Shrounda referenced about safety, permanency, and well-being as well as HB 1747. Oregon Child Welfare Review Assessment Findings Report, 2023Washington State LegislatureYou are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We have two options to make this community accessible. We meet every Monday at 9am ET and 9am PT (12pm ET). You can join the club by filling out this form and we'll send you the meeting invite. Proximity Podcast Club - Google FormsPlease connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

This week's journal picks up on the main theme of last week's episode with Jalaycia Lewis. So many of us have great ideas for things we want to do or create but we tend to get stuck in the idea phase. In order to have the impact we want, we have to get out of ideation and into action, but this is difficult, and we need some simple tools. I talk about the importance of acknowledging that we are stuck, why we are stuck, and three simple steps we can take to get us moving towards action. I also talk about the benefits of using speech acts and generative communication to help us continue to take action so we can bring our ideas into reality. If you want to learn more about generative language, there are some great resources at Bhavana Learning Group. There e-book is particularly valuable.  Generative Communication pt.1 | Bhavana Learning GroupYou are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We have two options to make this community accessible. We meet every Monday at 9am ET and 9am PT (12pm ET). You can join the club by filling out this form and we'll send you the meeting invite. Proximity Podcast Club - Google FormsPlease connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

This is a particularly exciting episode because we are doing something a little bit different. Today's guest is Jalaycia Lewis who is part of the Imagination Factory community and someone I've been coaching for the past 6 months or so. Like so many of us, Jalaycia has ideas and dreams for what she wants to do in the world. She wants her work to align with her values, what she loves, what she's good at, and how she wants to create a more just world. For her, that is an idea she calls The Social Recipe, which is an organization she's wanted to start for years. In this episode you are going to drop into a live coaching session with me and Jalaycia. You'll her about what The Social Recipe is, what she's been working on, and a key question she's focused on right now. I hope you enjoy this one and find it valuable. I would love to hear your feedback, please hit me up on LinkedIn or email.You are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We have two options to make this community accessible. We meet every Monday at 9am ET and 9am PT (12pm ET). You can join the club by filling out this form and we'll send you the meeting invite. Proximity Podcast Club - Google FormsPlease connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

In this week's journal episode, I share a simple exercise that my coach, Brendalyn King shared with me. Since then, I have shared this with a number of people I work with, and they typically resonate with it and find it valuable. This came to me at a time in my process where I was questioning the impact of my work and if I was doing enough and doing "the right" things. I think this is an experience that most of us have felt throughout our lives and careers. The exercise helps us to identify where those feelings are coming from and how we can remind ourselves that we are always enough, and we can trust our future to emerge. If you haven't listened to the episode with Brendalyn, I would highly recommend doing so. She is an incredibly skillful coach and absolutely amazing person. You can listen here.  Should I Leave My Job with Brendalyn KingHere is this week's journal prompt. - Am I Enough? - Am I Doing Enough? - Can I Measure My Impact? - Can I Trust My Future to Emerge? You are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We have two options to make this community accessible. We meet every Monday at 9am ET and 9am PT (12pm ET). You can join the club by filling out this form and we'll send you the meeting invite. Proximity Podcast Club - Google FormsPlease connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

I've been under the weather, so I decided to rerelease a gem from season one. I'm excited to share my conversation with Dr Jessica Pryce. Dr Pryce's book, Broken: Transforming Child Protective Services, gave us a great backdrop to a wide-ranging conversation. At the beginning of the book, she lays out a framework or process of moving from being an agent of the child protection system to becoming an advocate and then activist. We talk about what these terms mean, the process of moving from one to the other, and how this has played out in Jessica's career. The conversation then turns to the subtitle of the book, transforming child protective services, Dr Pryce's Ted Talk, and her perspective on Termination of Parental Rights.Please visit Dr Pryce's website to learn more about her work, listen to her Ted Talk, or to purchase her new book. Reimagine Child Protection (jessicaprycephd.com)You are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We have two options to make this community accessible. We meet every Monday at 9am ET and 9am PT (12pm ET). You can join the club by filling out this form and we'll send you the meeting invite. Proximity Podcast Club - Google FormsPlease connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

Text us is you have a question for Matt or a guest. We want to hear from you. In this week's journal episode, I wanted to return to the conversation about Termination of Parent Rights. I've been surprised by the number of conversations that are happening around TPR in recent months, more than any time in my career, including national working groups. While we have a long way to go in terms of making significant strides, it seems as though we are normalizing the conversation about a world without TPR. So, I wanted to come back to the thought experiment of, "what if TPR no longer existed?"  I also reference a future episode that we are developing that will likely touch on a particular policy in Washginton state that was passed in 2022, which requires the state to rule out guardianship before proceeding with adoption and TPR. Can you read the bill language here. 1747-S HBR FBR 22 (wa.gov) The journal prompt this week is...in ten years, TPR will no longer exist, what will need to change between now and then to be prepared for a world without TPR? This is a creative constraint to help us imagine the future we want to see rather than how we want to change the current structures of the system. You are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We have two options to make this community accessible. We meet every Monday at 9am ET and 9am PT (12pm ET). You can join the club by filling out this form and we'll send you the meeting invite. Proximity Podcast Club - Google FormsPlease connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

Text us is you have a question for Matt or a guest. We want to hear from you. We're excited to bring you an update on what is happening with Together with Families (TwF) since our last episode with Sarah Winograd. TwF is, in my opinion, one of the more innovative organizations working with families impacted by the child welfare system. I had the pleasure of catching up with Sarah and her partner and co-founder Andel Jones-Foster.TwF is an interesting organization for us all to learn from but not because of what they do but rather how they do it. I think what makes them unique is their ability to build relationships, to share power, and to co-design with the families they serve. Their approach leads to an organizational culture and programming that is far more relevant, responsive, and impactful. TwF is about to launch The Hub, which is their new office location and family resource center. They'll also be launching a new website, a short film about their work, and a playbook that anyone can use to learn about and apply their unique approach. We will update these notes with links as soon as the website is live. You are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We have two options to make this community accessible. We meet every Monday at 9am ET and 9am PT (12pm ET). You can join the club by filling out this form and we'll send you the meeting invite. Proximity Podcast Club - Google FormsPlease connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

Text us is you have a question for Matt or a guest. We want to hear from you. One of the biggest lessons I've learned over the past few years is that the practice of letting go is critical to my process. I've see how letting go has helped me and many others I've had the opportunity to work with. In this episode I talk about letting go as the practice of creating space for our future to emerge. And one of the key elements of this practice is discerning between things that we think are comforts but are actually constraints. This is a practice of letting go what feels like security but is actually holding us back from the future we really want to create. The journal prompt is, what parts of my life have I come to see as comforts, but are actually constraints? Another way to reflect on this is, what I do I believe is giving me security but is actually holding me back? Lastly, what can I let go so that I am free to create my future? You are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We have two options to make this community accessible. We meet every Monday at 9am ET and 9am PT (12pm ET). You can join the club by filling out this form and we'll send you the meeting invite. Proximity Podcast Club - Google FormsPlease connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

Text us is you have a question for Matt or a guest. We want to hear from you. This is the next in a series of conversations about the intersection of child welfare and affordable housing. Nationally, 10% of children come into foster care simply because their families cannot access affordable housing. Dustin Koury describes how Wisconsin came to a decision that rather than removing children, causing undue stress and harm, they would instead invest in stable housing and related support. Dustin and I start the conversation with a question we often come back to on the show, should I stay, or should I go? In other words, can I have the kind of impact that is aligned with my values while working within the system, or do I need to work from the outside. Dustin talks about some of the conflicts that exist within this work and how he has come to his decision. We will update these notes as soon as the Family Keys films are available. In the meantime, you can find more information about the project here. Family Keys Pilot Puts Families FirstYou are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We have two options to make this community accessible. We meet every Monday at 9am ET and 9am PT (12pm ET). You can join the club by filling out this form and we'll send you the meeting invite. Proximity Podcast Club - Google FormsPlease connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

Text us is you have a question for Matt or a guest. We want to hear from you. In this week's episode I return to one of the core questions that not only led to the development of the show but also my decision to leave my job. Am I in right relationship? I share a few thoughts on being in integrity with my values as one way to answer the question. Then I dive more deeply into what has emerged for me over the past year or so, which is that I want to work and live at the intersection of purpose, joy, and justice. I talk about what these words mean to me and offer an example of how my work shows up right now at that intersection. The journal prompts for this week are, 1) am I in right relationship with myself and the people I serve, 2) what are the conditions for how I work that would put me in right relationship (I reference two examples in the episode purpose, joy, and justice and freedom, joy, and sanctuary)?Please use this short survey to share your feedback. This will help us make the show better as we move into year two. Thank you. The Proximity Process - Google FormsYou are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We have two options to make this community accessible. We meet every Monday at 9am ET and 9am PT (12pm ET). You can join the club by filling out this form and we'll send you the meeting invite. Proximity Podcast Club - Google FormsPlease connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

Text us is you have a question for Matt or a guest. We want to hear from you. This is the one-year anniversary of The Proximity Process podcast. Thank you for listening and being part of the community that we are building. To mark this milestone, we thought we'd go back into the archives and pull clips of our guests answering the question that ends every episode. What does proximity mean to you? I also talk about what the proximity process means to me. I hope you enjoy. I'm going to send 5 people a small gift as a gesture of gratitude. All you have to do is share this episode on social media and tag me in your post (so I see it). The first 5 people will get a little something to say thank you for helping us get to the one-year mark. You are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We have two options to make this community accessible. We meet every Monday at 9am ET and 9am PT (12pm ET). You can join the club by filling out this form and we'll send you the meeting invite. Proximity Podcast Club - Google FormsPlease connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

Text us is you have a question for Matt or a guest. We want to hear from you. Why do we remove kids from their family and pay for foster care when stable housing is a better solution? 10% of children in foster care are removed due to unstable or unsuitable housing. Investing in affordable housing programs to prevent foster care is better for kids, families, communities, and its less expensive.When we start to look at the child welfare system through an economic justice lens, we can gain a better understanding of the root cause issues and solutions. In this episode I share some of my own process of beginning to see myself and my work from this perspective, and why I'm particularly interested in affordable housing solutions.  To learn about the data being released by Chapin Hall you can look follow this link: Family and Child Well-being System: Economic & Concrete Supports as a Core Component to Address Race EquityTo learn more about the Family Keys program in Wisconsin you can follow this link: Family Keys Pilot Puts Families First | Wisconsin Department of Children and FamiliesYou are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We have two options to make this community accessible. We meet every Monday at 9am ET and 9am PT (12pm ET). You can join the club by filling out this form and we'll send you the meeting invite. Proximity Podcast Club - Google FormsPlease connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

Text us is you have a question for Matt or a guest. We want to hear from you. In this week's episode my friend Carol King joins me for a conversation about why she made the pivot from technology to affordable housing. The story actually starts during her childhood. Carol grew up with her father as the primary caregiver and in an environment that wasn't always safe. She eventually made the difficult decision to remove herself from the home and ultimately go into foster care. In spite of the ups and downs Carol always knew she had the respite and stability of a home to go to at the end of the day. As Carol become more established in her career, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing, that she wasn't solving the right problem. She never let go of the idea that stable housing is an important factor in the well-being of families, and it's a significant problem facing many families caught up in the child welfare system. So, with great consideration she took the leap to pursue her dream of launching an affordable housing venture in her hometown of Kansas City. You are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We have two options to make this community accessible. We meet every Monday at 9am ET and 9am PT (12pm ET). You can join the club by filling out this form and we'll send you the meeting invite. Proximity Podcast Club - Google FormsPlease connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

Text us is you have a question for Matt or a guest. We want to hear from you. For this week's journal episode, I scrolled back into my photos to see where I was one year ago. I was on production of Standing with Mom's, a short film we produced for Mother's Outreach Network about their guaranteed income pilot. One of the lessons I learned from MON's founder, Melody Webb, is that we should believe in people, invest in people, and our investments should meet the need as defined by the people we serve. I talk about how this lesson can be turned into a simple framework for assessing our organizations, programs, and ourselves. And by creating the space to go through a process of answering a series of questions, I think we can see if we are in right relationship with ourselves and the people we serve. If you want to watch Standing with Mom's and learn more about Melody and Mother's Outreach Network, you can visit their website. Standing with Moms Film - Mother's Outreach NetworkYou are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We have two options to make this community accessible. We meet every Monday at 9am ET and 9am PT (12pm ET). You can join the club by filling out this form and we'll send you the meeting invite. Proximity Podcast Club - Google FormsPlease connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

Text us is you have a question for Matt or a guest. We want to hear from you. This week's episode is the next in a series of conversations with a variety of guests on the topic of Termination of Parental Rights. The question we've been asking is, what if TPR didn't exist? In past episodes with Vivek, we've talked about two TPR cases he's been appealing and the opportunity he had this summer to present oral arguments to the Michigan Supreme Court. A few weeks ago, the Michigan Supreme Court released their decision in both cases. Vivek shares their decision, his reaction, and what's next in the fight for a world without TPR. If you want to learn more about Vivek and the work of his law clinic at The University of Michigan, you can visit their website. Vivek S. Sankaran | University of Michigan Law SchoolYou are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We have two options to make this community accessible. We meet every Monday at 9am ET and 9am PT (12pm ET). You can join the club by filling out this form and we'll send you the meeting invite. Proximity Podcast Club - Google FormsPlease connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

Text us is you have a question for Matt or a guest. We want to hear from you. In this week's episode I talk about why I'm cofounding the Imagination Factory and what I'm learning about myself and the work to advance justice. Systems change, changing the structures of what currently exists, is not enough to advance justice. We need to imagine and create a future where families and communities have what they need to thrive. While many of us have dreams and ideas for the future we want to create we don't always have the community, support, or resources we need. The Imagination Factory is building a community and offering programs to help individuals and organizations unlock their creative capacity so they can move from dreaming to taking action and ultimately having an impact. Our cornerstone program is our 8-week Accelerator where cohort members clarify their dream and intention, learn principles and practices, develop action plans, and build community. Please check out the website to learn more about the organization, programs, and cofounders. Imagination FactoryYou can also follow us on Instagram at Imagination Factory (@imgnfactory).You are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We have two options to make this community accessible. We meet every Monday at 9am ET and 9am PT (12pm ET). You can join the club by filling out this form and we'll send you the meeting invite. Proximity Podcast Club - Google FormsPlease connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

Text us is you have a question for Matt or a guest. We want to hear from you. In this episode I talk to leading trauma expert, Dr. Bruce Perry. I wanted to continue an ongoing conversation Bruce and I have been having about why systems don't change and the important role of storytelling in personal transformation. Dr. Perry is working on a new book about why systems don't change, and we thought it would be great to talk about what he's learning. We covered a number of topics that could be considered the right kinds of conditions for personal transformation. We started the conversation with Bruce sharing his perspective on the overall thesis of this show, that systems change starts with personal transformation. If you want to learn more about Dr. Perry's work you can visit his website. The Neurosequential NetworkYou are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We have two options to make this community accessible. We meet every Monday at 9am ET and 9am PT (12pm ET). You can join the club by filling out this form and we'll send you the meeting invite. Proximity Podcast Club - Google FormsPlease connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

Text us is you have a question for Matt or a guest. We want to hear from you. In this week's journal episode, I talk about the practice of Right Relationship and how it has been a significant part of my process. I share a few different definitions that can be helpful in how we think about what this principle and practice actually means. I also walk through the Japanese concept of Ikigai as a tool that we can use to assess whether or not we are living in Right Relationship with purpose, joy, and justice. The episode ends with a journal prompt that we all can use to help us grow in our understanding of this principle and its application in our own lives and process. This is a good resource from Calm about what Ikigai is and how you can use it. Ikigai: what it is and how to use ikigai to find your purposeYou are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We have two options to make this community accessible. We meet every Monday at 9am ET and 9am PT (12pm ET). You can join the club by filling out this form and we'll send you the meeting invite.  Proximity Podcast Club - Google FormsPlease connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

Text us is you have a question for Matt or a guest. We want to hear from you. I'm excited to bring you the third installment of an ongoing conversation with Ryan O'Donnell. Ryan embodies the idea of systems change starting with personal transformation. In previous episodes we hear about how Ryan went from being a tech entrepreneur, to foster parent, to former foster parent, to advocate for one parent, and ultimately advocate and activist for parents. In this episode, we get an update on what is happening with Garnell and his son (who was placed with Ryan) and what Ryan is up to now. Since our last episode, Ryan has launched a new company called Sunlight and its first product, Your Case Plan (YCP). YCP is being designed for parent defense attorneys to equip them with software that can help them better represent their clients and ultimately win in the courtroom. The first version of YCP is being launched and tested through the Oklahoma Office of Family Representation. To learn more about Sunlight and Your Case Plan you can visit their website. Introducing Sunlight Read Ryan's blog about founding Sunlight. Our Founding StoryTo learn more about the Oklahoma Office of Family Representation you can visit their website. Oklahoma Office of Family RepresentationYou are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We have two options to make this community accessible. We meet every Monday at 9am ET and 9am PT (12pm ET). You can join the club by filling out this contact form.  Proximity Podcast Club - Google FormsPlease connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

Text us is you have a question for Matt or a guest. We want to hear from you. This week's episode was prompted by a quote I read in the book, Buddhism Without Beliefs, by Stephen Batchelor. The chapter on imagination began with this quote, "A talent for speaking differently, rather than arguing well, is the chief instrument of cultural change." In other words, we create change by first seeing a different future in our mind's eye and then speaking that vision out loud. This is very different from arguing about what is or has been, it's about declaring what can and will be in the future. I talk about how this approach of speaking differently applies to our ongoing conversation about Termination of Parental Rights, and how it can apply to anything that we may be working on. I lay out five steps that I've seen work for me and others that moves us from imagining and describing the future, to taking action, and then learning and iterating. I also reference a great resource, which is linked below, that can help us develop the skills of generative communication and declarations. I end the episode with a few journal prompts. Journal PromptsWhat do I want to declare? Who am I without the work? Who am I? Generative Communication e-book: Generative-Language-2021You are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a growing community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We now have two options to make this community accessible to more people. We meet every Monday at 9am ET and starting on July 26th we'll add a 9am PT/12pm ET group. You can join the club by filling out this contact form.  Proximity Podcast Club - West - Google FormsPlease connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

This week's episode is a conversation with my coach, Brendalyn King. Brendalyn is a talented ontological leadership coach, an experienced entrepreneur, and one of the more influential people in my process. I wanted to talk to Brendalyn about the recurring question that comes up for so many of us, should I stay, or should I go? This isn't just a question about whether or not we should leave a job, or if we can make more of an impact within the system or outside of it. This is a much deeper question about our purpose and how we want to make an impact during our lives. We talk about this question from the spiritual, emotional, and practical perspectives. We pull from our own experiences throughout the conversation and offer tools, practices, and insights that Brendalyn uses in her work as a coach.  If you would like to learn more about Brendalyn's work you can visit the Bhavana Learning Group website. Bhavana Learning GroupBrendalyn also shared the following resources. Your Future is a Declaration AwayGenerative Communication pt.1 Generative Communication pt.2 ebook-Generative-Language-2021You are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a growing community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We now have two options to make this community accessible to more people. We meet every Monday at 9am ET and starting on July 26th we'll add a 12pm ET group. Message me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn for the meeting link.Please connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

In this week's journal episode, I share the origin story of my search for the world's best chocolate chip cookie. This is not the first time I've been on this search. Sometime around 2007 I found the best cookie in the world and the search was over. When I left my job in 2022, I began to reflect on how I was living my life and decided to map the different dimensions of who I am to see where I was compromising myself. I talk about my process, what I realized, and why it led me to return to the search for the world's best chocolate chip cookie. Spoiler alert, the best cookie from 2007 has yet to be dethroned. Tune in to find out where you can find that cookie. And, if you have a contender, please let me know. This time, the search continues....I end the episode with a few journal prompts that you might find helpful, which I'll include here. Am I living a life that is a full expression of all of who I am? Am I compromising parts of who I am? Is this how I want to be? Are there parts of who I am that I want to invest in and express more? You are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a growing community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We meet every Monday morning at 9am est. Message me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn for the meeting link.Please connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

In this episode I talk with Dave Newell who is the CEO of Akin in Seattle, WA. Akin is a new organization (kind of) that formed as the result of a merger of two 100+ year old organizations, Children's Home Society of Washington and Childhaven. I wanted to talk with Dave about his vision for the future of Akin and how he hopes to seize the opportunity to not simply merge two organizations into a larger one but to create a new organization all together. We talk about how they aspire to lead with a start-up mentality, let go of programs that don't align with their vision, and move beyond impact through programs. This is a great conversation for any organizational leader who aspires to use their position of power to not simply steward organizational legacy but to re-imagine how the organization can advance healing and justice. For more information about Akin you can visit their website. Home - akinYou are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a growing community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We meet every Monday morning at 9am est. Message me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn for the meeting link.Please connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

Today's episode is much more personal and emotional that most. I recorded this on the four-year anniversary of losing my cousin and friend, Patrick. I wanted to honor him and our relationship. I also tell the story of how Patrick's death led to me and "Tex" (this show's producer) reconnecting after 10-12 years. In that one phone call, we sparked a creative partnership that has led to three podcasts and developed a meaningful friendship that extends well beyond these shows. The reflections I share remind me of why it's so important to develop the skill of self-awareness and the emotional ingredients of humility, curiosity, and adaptability. Our future is constantly emerging and if we recognize it and act on it, we can live a life that is aligned with who we truly are. You are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a growing community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We meet every Monday morning at 9am est. Message me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn for the meeting link.Please connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

Today's conversation with Maleeka Jihad (MJ) dives into the difference between whiteness (white ideology), white identity, and humanity. MJ is the Executive Director of the MJCF: Coalition and runs a consulting business. She's also earning her PhD in Leadership and Development and Social Change. When we first met, she was co-facilitating a training I attended and in one of the breakout sessions she said, "your whiteness is not connected to your humanity." It was one of those comments that stays with you and has a real impact. I wanted to have this conversation to better understand the difference between my whiteness as an ideology that contributes to the harms of racism and my white identity. We also talked about how we can begin to move out of our whiteness, into our humanity, and begin to express ourselves through empathy, kindness and love for one another. If this episode sparked your curiosity and you want to learn more, here are a few resources that MJ shared. Unfortunately, I was not able to provide links. The Social Construction of Whiteness: Racism by Intent, Racism by Consequence, Teresa J GuessWhite Identities: Historical and International Perspectives, Alastair BonnettThe Primacy of Anit-Blackness, Adam Bledsoe You are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a growing community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We meet every Monday morning at 9am est. Message me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn for the meeting link.Please connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

I recorded this week's journal episode about 15 minutes after the weekly Proximity Podcast Club ended. I had a plan for this week's episode but the conversation that played out in the Podcast Club changed my plan. One of our goals for this show is to use it as a platform to build community and then have conversations with that community that help people progress in their own process. The Podcast Club is a big part of how we do this. And one of our new members, Zabrina, prompted a new idea of using the Podcast Club as a community workshopping space. In other words, members bring a specific topic to the Club and engage the group in a conversation that raises critical questions, offers new perspectives, reality tests ideas, provides a mirror, etc. We did this for the first time with Zabrina and it was incredibly valuable, it is something we will continue to do. Zabrina was workshopping a keynote she is preparing and I end the episode with four things to consider when communicating a message to 1,000 people in a keynote or the 5 people who work on your team. Having one key message that you want to leave people with is one of the key elements. You are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a growing community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We meet every Monday morning at 9am est. Message me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn for the meeting link.Please connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

In our first conversation with Vivek Sankaran, we talked about the morality, necessity, and constitutionality of Terminating Parental Rights. At the end of the conversation, he mentioned that he would be presenting two TPR cases to the Michigan Supreme Court in May. That has happened and, in this episode, we hear from Vivek about how it went, what he learned about where we are in the conversation to eliminate or dramatically reduce the use of TPR, and where we need to go next. Vivek directs the Child Advocacy Law Clinic and the Child Welfare Appellate Clinic at the University of Michigan Law School. You can watch the livestream of Vivek presenting his case to the Michigan Supreme Court.  https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tgF3NdQXUU0You can learn more about Vivek and his work here.  Vivek S. Sankaran | University of Michigan Law SchoolYou are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a growing community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We meet every Monday morning at 9am est. Message me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn for the meeting link.Please connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

We're doing something new! We decided to bring back episode one, which goes into a bit of my origin story! We've added a lot of new listeners over the past couple of months and I thought it would be a good idea to reintroduce myself and the inspiration for the show. And, quite honestly, it's helpful to take a pause from producing new episodes every week. We'll be back with a new episode next week. Episode one gets into some of my process and how I came to realize that I had a proximity problem and wasn't in right relationship with myself and the people I serve. The episode starts with a story from July 2022 that was the tipping point when I decided to leave my job of 11 years. This decision took me even deeper into my own process of seeing the system as harmful and myself as a perpetrator of harm. This episode was recorded in the summer of 2023 and the work is unfinished, my process continues. My longtime friend, and producer of the show, Michael (Tex) interviews me in this episode.  You are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a growing community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We meet every Monday morning at 9am est. Message me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn for the meeting link.Please connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

I'm excited to bring you this week's conversation with Dr Jessica Pryce. Dr Pryce's new book, Broken: Transforming Child Protective Services, gave us a great backdrop to a wide-ranging conversation. At the beginning of the book, she lays out a framework or process of moving from being an agent of the child protection system to becoming an advocate and then activist. We talk about what these terms mean, the process of moving from one to the other, and how this has played out in Jessica's career. The conversation then turns to the subtitle of the book, transforming child protective services, Dr Pryce's Ted Talk, and her perspective on Termination of Parental Rights.Please visit Dr Pryce's website to learn more about her work, listen to her Ted Talk, or to purchase her new book.   Reimagine Child Protection (jessicaprycephd.com)Please message me on LinkedIn ii you would like to join the Proximity Podcast Club. We meet everyone Monday at 9am ET to discuss the most recent episode. Please connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

This episode is a follow up to the previous journal episode, Am I Biased? One of our ambitions with this show is to build community and engage the community in a conversation. So, the series of episodes about termination of parental rights led to some feedback that prompted the episode about my biases. And that episode prompted past guest Corey Best to send me a journal prompt that I used for this episode. I do have fears about addressing racism publicly, and I believe that I need to have conversations about racism in public. My hope with all of these episodes is that by sharing a little bit of my own vulnerability it can normalize conversations that often feel difficult.  You are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a growing community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We meet every Monday morning at 9am est. Message me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn for the meeting link.Please connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

I'm super excited to bring you the first ever (but not the last) Ask Me Anything episode. We put out a call for questions and you all came through. We received more questions than we could get to in one episode. We also asked the Proximity Podcast Club if someone wanted to guest host. Again, lots of interest but there could only be one host. Kathleen Creamer is a parent defense attorney but has a real talent for hosting. Maybe she'll have her own show soon. Kathleen curated your questions, and we covered ground from why I started the show, what I hope to accomplish, who inspires me, and what gives me hope. Of course, we ended with our two questions, what does proximity mean to me and what advice do I have for the listeners. I hope you enjoy this episode! For more information about Kathleen and her work please visit Community Legal Services of Philadelphia. Community Legal Services You are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a growing community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We meet every Monday morning at 9am est. Message me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn for the meeting link.Please connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

In this week's episode I start with the journal prompt, am I biased?  This was prompted by some of the feedback to our most recent episodes on Termination of Parental Rights. I thought I would let you all into my process of how I try to approach feedback that is critical or raises questions about my intentions. Rather than defending anything that is being said on the show my hope is to ask myself some questions about what I can learn from the feedback. You'll have to listen to the episode to hear my answer to the prompt. You are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a growing community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We meet every Monday morning at 9am est. Message me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn for the meeting link.Please connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

This week's episode continues our series of conversations about Termination of Parent Rights. I wanted to talk to Vivek Sankaran because he has a unique depth of knowledge to bring to the thought experiment that we've been bringing to these episodes, which is to imagine what if TPR was no longer an option. Vivek directs the Child Advocacy Law Clinic and the Child Welfare Appellate Clinic at the University of Michigan Law School. We talked about TPR from the perspective of its morality, necessity, and constitutionality. We started the conversation with Vivek's earliest experiences as an attorney representing children and how he came to see the need to represent parents. We end the conversation with Vivek talking about a case that he is taking to the Michigan Supreme Court and the implications it could have if successful. You are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a growing community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We meet every Monday morning at 9am est. Message me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn for the meeting link.Please connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

Today's guest, Mollie Warren, is the Director of Family and Children's Services in Boulder County, Colorado. I wanted to return to the conversation about Termination of Parental Rights with someone who is in a "practitioner" role and a position to make decisions about to the use of TPR on a regular basis. One of my goals in these conversations is to normalize a conversation about "what if TPR was no longer an option?" I think it's helpful if we can examine TPR from the perspective of what opportunities are created if we were to take it off the table as an option.  I started the conversation with Mollie about her recently evolving perspective on TPR. You are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a growing community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We meet every Monday morning at 9am est. Message me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn for the meeting link.Please connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

In today's journal episode I share some of the questions and ideas that came up on this week's Proximity Podcast Club conversation. The jumping off question this week was what shifts are happening for each of us as we think more deeply about prevention. In other words, what are we trying to prevent, how, and for whom? This led to a really dynamic conversation. We talked about why it is so important that we remain curios and flexible, particularly as leaders. We also talked about the role of the child welfare system in prevention and the risks of prevention becoming another mechanism for surveillance. The Podcast Club conversation ended with an agency leader saying that they had a meeting the next day to talk about prevention and was able to use the group to think about how to shape that meeting. You are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a growing community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We meet every Monday morning at 9am est. Message me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn for the meeting link.Please connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month. This is a perfect time to step back and ask ourselves, what is prevention? What values and narratives underpin our ideas of who and what we are preventing? In my conversation with Dr Melissa Merrick, President and CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America, I wanted to understand prevention from the perspective of social justice. Dr Merrick and I talked about the shift that has been happening in both child welfare and the prevention field over the past five years. We also talked about Prevent Child Abuse America's relatively new theory of change and some of the principles that include race equity and changing the narrative of how we see and value parents. For more information about Prevent Child Abuse America and their Theory of Change you van visit their website. Theory of Change (preventchildabuse.org)You are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a growing community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We meet every Monday morning at 9am est. Message me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn for the meeting link.Please connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

Today's episode is a conversation I had with my friend and colleague, Mike Shaver, who is the CEO of Brightpoint in Illinois. Brightpoint began as Children Home & Aid in 1883 and is going through a significant shift in how they see their role in advancing justice for families. Mike and I talked about the leadership challenges and successes he's experienced throughout his career as he worked on major organizational change efforts. What we got into is valuable for anyone who is working within an organization or system and wondering if they should stay and work on change from the inside or take the leap to working outside of the system. Mike and I have been on very similar paths throughout our careers, but we talked about why we made different decisions about whether to stay or go. We also talked about Brightpoint's vision and plans to impact the narratives, mindsets, and policies that drive the root cause issues facing families.  We started the conversation with something Mike said that caught my attention. He said, "when the number of children in foster care goes up, we should take it personally and as a failure." This was a jumping off point to a conversation about accountability and personal responsibility.For more information about Brightpoint and their blueprint for impact you can visit their website at Brightpoint.You are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a growing community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We meet every Monday morning at 9am est. Message me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn for the meeting link.Please connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedInPlease connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

In this week's journal episode, I talk about a simple practice that I have used throughout my career to remain curious, adaptable, and in service of people. This is something that you can start doing today. This practice has helped me avoid falling into status quo and one I've observed it do the same for other leaders. The practice is to listen to people's experiences, learn from and trust their expertise, and take action together. I share some of my own experiences of how this practice has helped guide my work. I also mention a number of leaders who I really respect and continue to learn from about how they practice deep listening, learning, and action. I'll include their names and LinkedIn pages below as they are great people to have in your network.  Cherie Craft, Smart from the Start - Cherie Craft | LinkedInKatie Albright, Safe and Sound - Katie Albright | LinkedInJoyce McMillan, JMacforFamilies - Joyce McMillan | LinkedInMelody Webb, Mother's Outreach Network - Melody Webb | LinkedInSarah Winograd, Together With Families - Sarah Winograd-Babayeuski | LinkedInYou are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a growing community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We meet every Monday morning at 9am est. Message me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn for the meeting link.Please connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

I remember learning about the 2020 Vision in 2007 when I started working in child welfare. It was a new national initiative with the goal of reducing the number of kids in foster care by 50% by the year 2020. I was working with kids aging out and watching the impact of growing up in foster care play out in front of my eyes. I remember being inspired by this initiative and hopeful about its impact. Today's guest is Susan Smith who led the data team at Casey Family Programs for 16 years and was responsible for tracking and reporting on the initiative's progress. As we know, the initiative did not ultimately succeed. Susan and I use the 2020 Vision as a jumping off point to a conversation about what we can learn from the successes and failures of past initiatives. There are a number of national initiatives right now with bold ambitions. What can history teach us about solving and measuring the right problems. You are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a growing community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We meet every Monday morning at 9am est. Message me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn for the meeting link.Please connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

This week's episode is a journal entry that was prompted by the Proximity Podcast Club conversation. We were talking about a question posed to the group by Corey Best, who am I without the family policing system? This immediately got me thinking about a few fundamental questions that I talk about in this episode. What did the system provide me? What did the system cost me? Where does my security actually come from?  Is there wisdom gained from sitting in the ambiguity that we wrestle with in this work? What would we imagine and create if we were unconstrained from trying to reform or improve the system? These are big questions that we can't answer on one podcast episode (or many) but they are good prompts for us to work with over time. I hope you find them helpful in your own journaling practice. You are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a growing community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We meet every Monday morning at 9am est. Message me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn for the meeting link.Please connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

Today's episode is a conversation with Kathleen Creamer that you don't want to miss. Kathleen is the Managing Attorney at Community Legal Services of Philadelphia where she and her team use a holistic family defense model to help parents maintain custody of or reunite with their children. We center the conversation on the necessity of Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) as well as the constitutionality and morality of TPR. We also weave in some of the history of how these policies came to be and the mindsets that underpin them.  One of the questions we leave on the table is what if TPR no longer existed, what opportunities would that create to pursue justice? If you want to learn more about Kathleen and her work, you can visit Community Legal Services. Kathleen references the work and writing of professor, author, and activist Dorothy Roberts. You can learn more about her work at Dorothy Roberts.You are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a growing community of people supporting one another through their process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We meet every Monday morning at 9am est. Message me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn for the meeting link.Please connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

This is part two of my conversation with Corey Best. You may want to go back and listen to episode one where Corey talks about growing up in DC, his son being born, and his experience of termination of parental rights (TPR). We end that conversation as Corey was hours away from reuniting with his son after 19 years. We pick up Today's episode with the first embrace that Corey shares with son and the experience of being together for a couple of days.  From there the conversation moves to explore the Adoption and Safe Families Act and TPR. We get into some of Corey's position on TPR , his process for why he wants to share this part of his story, and his approach to freedom seeking as it relates to TPR. We end the conversation with where we began episode one, what does freedom mean? Corey shares that he has fears about facing ASFA but he glimpses freedom when he faces his fears. To learn more about Corey and Mining for Gold you can visit the website.MINING FOR GOLD COMMUNITYYou are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a growing community of people who are supporting one another through their own process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We meet every Monday morning at 9am est. Message me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn for the meeting link.Please connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

This is part one of a two-part conversation with Corey Best. We cover a lot of ground in these conversations, but we center around Corey's relationship with his son who, until very recently, he hadn't seen or talked to in 19 years. We get into Corey's early years of growing up in DC, some of the pivotal people and experiences in his life, and the early part of his career. But the heart of the conversation is about Corey's relationship with his son (Corey aka Deuce) and the reunion they are about to have just hours after we recorded this episode. We also talk about Corey's relationship with the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 and Termination of Parental Rights, specifically Corey's experience of a judge terminating his rights in 2004.To learn more about Corey and Mining for Gold you can visit the website.MINING FOR GOLD COMMUNITYYou are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a growing community of people who are supporting one another through their own process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We meet every Monday morning at 9am est. Message me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn for the meeting link.Please connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

This week is a journal episode. This episode was inspired by the recent Hill Briefing that was organized by the Repeal CAPTA Coalition. What came across so clearly in the briefing is that we don't have to wait for justice, we can act now to advance justice. Part of the proposal of the Repeal CAPTA Coalition is to shift funds from Title I of CAPTA to Title II and increase that amount to $500 million annually. This would put more money into community-based programs that are meeting the economic and concrete support needs of families. When so much of the federal funding requires families to be separated this proposal to invest in the well-being and integrity of families is a practical way to advance justice. To learn more about the Repeal CAPTA Coalition you can visit their website.  Repeal CAPTAYou are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a growing community of people who are supporting one another through their own process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We meet every Monday morning at 9am est. Message me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn for the meeting link.Please connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

This week's episode is a recently released conversation I had as a guest on the Leaving Well with Naomi Hattaway podcast. Naomi is a skilled interviewer, and it was a joy to talk to her about my experience of leaving well, including the one regret that I had in the process.  I think Naomi's work has a lot to offer the community we are building around The Proximity Process. I hope this is an opportunity to discover a new show that brings you value. Leaving Well is the art and practice of leaving a job, role, project, or title, with intention and purpose, and when possible … joy. Naomi's podcast brings experiences and lessons learned about necessary endings in the workplace, through conversations on topics such as grief, confidence, leadership, career development, and the Leaving Well Framework. For more information about Naomi's work, you can visit her website where you all also find the episodes with Yanique Redwood and Nkem Ndefo. Leaving Well Podcast — Naomi HattawayYou are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a growing community of people who are supporting one another through their own process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We meet every Monday morning at 9am est. Message me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn for the meeting link.Please connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

On this episode I share some of my reflections on Shawn A Ginwright's book The Four Pivots: Reimagining Justice, Reimagining Ourselves. I talk about the first pivot, which is from lens to mirror. The way Shawn talks about this pivot speaks directly to how I have come to understand the proximity process. My reflections are related to how I understand this pivot, how I have seen this pivot play out in my own work, and how it is now informing my work at Proximity Design Studio. I also share some of my current work with past guest Keith Howard and how we have been applying the lens to mirror pivot in his role as the CEO of Circle of Care in Oklahoma. I end the episode with ideas of how we can all work on making our own lens to mirror pivot. To learn more about Shawn's work you can visit his website at Shawn Ginwright.You are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a growing community of people who are supporting one another through their own process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We meet every Monday morning at 9am est. Message me, Matt Anderon, on LinkedIn for the meeting link.Please connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

Today's episode is a conversation with my friend, colleague, and Podcast Club collaborator and co-host, Dr. Kimberly Offutt. We tell the origin story of how we decided to create the weekly Proximity Podcast Club. The story starts with Kim listening to episode one and calling me to say, "I feel like I was punched in the gut". Our conversation moves into why community building is part of the process and the value that it brings us. Of course, we also had to dive into Kim's process of how she is making visible what has been invisible to her in her career. As a 25-year veteran of child welfare, Kim talks about how she is still learning and unlearning things about herself, her values, and who she wants to become in this work. You are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a growing community of people who are supporting one another through their own process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We meet every Monday morning at 9am est. Message me, Matt Anderon, on LinkedIn for the meeting link.Please connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

We are at the beginning of 2024 and many of us are thinking about resolutions, intentions, and goals. In this episode I talk about the early days of 2023 and how I set intention to handle some of the challenges and uncertainties of leaving my job. A conversation with a friend prompted an intention that shaped 2023. The intention is to be whole in who I am in all aspects of my life. My intention for 2024 is to build on 2023 and remain free to be me. At the end of the episode, I share four journal prompt questions that you may find valuable as you set intentions for 2024. 1.  Who was I in January of 2023? 2. What is one area of interest for 2024? 3. Who will I be? 4. What will I give up? You are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a growing community of people who are supporting one another through their own process of becoming who they want to be in this work. We meet every Monday morning at 9am est. Message Matt Anderon on LinkedIn for the meeting link.Please connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn

Tex is back as the guest host of today's episode. We decided that he would interview me again so we can dive a little deeper into my own process. We start the conversation with how we met 25 years ago and then reconnected a few years ago. When Tex found out I was going through a difficult time in my life he decided to pick up the phone and call me after 12 years of not being in contact. His decision to make that call changed both of our lives in a very real way and has led to a deeply meaningful relationship.  We cover a lot of ground in this episode including some of my personal story of why I do the work that I do, what the proximity process means to me, and what I'm learning about working for myself.  You are invited to join the Proximity Podcast Club, a growing community of people who are supporting one another through their own process. We meet every Monday morning at 9am est. Message Matt Anderon on LinkedIn for the meeting link. Please connect with me, Matt Anderson, on LinkedIn - Matt Anderson | LinkedIn