Becoming Who You Truly Are, with Marlena Fiol, PhD

I’m pleased to introduce our last guest of the season, Dr. Barbara Dossey. Barbie, as she is known, is internationally recognized as a pioneer in the holistic nursing and nurse coaching movements – and she’s been at it since the 1960s. She’s a Florence Nightingale scholar, nurse theorist, a national and international speaker and teacher on the role of integrative nursing, and author or co-author of 25 books.

I am thrilled and privileged to introduce today’s guest, Dr. Ira Byock. Ira is a leading palliative care physician, author, and public advocate for improving care through the end of life. He’s been involved in hospice and palliative care since 1978, and over the years has received too many awards and honors for me to name here. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed academic articles on the ethics and practice of care, and he’s the author of three award-winning books.

I’m pleased to introduce today’s guest, Jennifer O’Brien, author of The Hospice Doctor’s Widow: A Journal. Jennifer’s physician husband Bob had for years been part of an interdisciplinary healthcare team that provided end of life care to their patients. And then it was his turn. He was diagnosed with a stage IV, metastatic cancer. Jennifer traces their journey together during the 22 months following his diagnosis until he died, as well as her early widowhood.

I feel honored to introduce today’s guest Dr. LaVera Crawley. In the field of medicine and ethics, LaVera is internationally known for her work on healthcare disparities in palliative and end-of-life care. After a 16+ year career at Stanford as an empirical bioethicist, LaVera Crawley began a new career in spiritual companionship, bringing together her work in medicine, ethics, social justice, teaching, research, and public health with her longstanding interest in spirituality.

I am pleased to introduce Apricot Irving, award winning author of The Gospel of Trees, and one of her teachers Suzette Goff-Geffrard. Apricot grew up as a missionary’s daughter in Haiti – where Suzette was her teacher – during a time of social and political upheaval. Suzette has worked for many years in educational, organizational and development-related programs here in the US as well as in two African countries, Haiti and France.

I’m pleased to introduce today’s guest, Gopar Tapkida, from the Mennonite Central Committee, MCC. But while Ann Graber Hershberger, our last guest, was at HQ in the US, Gopar is MCC’s Representative in Zimbabwe, Africa. Gopar has led interfaith dialogues between Muslims and Christians in Nigeria, Chad and Ethiopia.

I am privileged and honored to introduce the Executive Director of the Mennonite Central Committee, Dr. Ann Graber Hershberger. The Mennonite Central Committee, referred to as MCC, is a global nonprofit organization, focused on providing relief, development and peace in over 50 countries worldwide. And this year – 2020 – MCC celebrates its 100th anniversary. You’ll love how honestly and vulnerably Ann talks about MCC’s brilliant achievements, but also some of the costly blunders along the way.

Today, I'm honored to introduce Shawn Askinosie, coauthor with his daughter, Lawren, of the book, Meaningful Work: A Quest to Do Great Business, Find Your Calling, and Feed Your Soul. Shawn is the founder of Askinosie Chocolate, which was named by Forbes as one of the 25 best small companies in America, and he was named by Oprah as one of 15 guys who are saving the world. Shawn is all about chocolate.

I’m pleased to introduce today’s guest, Kim Colegrove. Kim has been a meditator for over 40 years. But meditation became the focus of her service path when, in 2014, she lost her husband David to suicide, less than three months after he retired from a 30-year law enforcement career. She created The PauseFirst Project, which we’ll talk about, to honor David’s memory, and to help other first responders cope with stress and trauma.

I’m pleased to introduce Dr. Dawna Markova. Dawna is an internationally renowned thought leader and personal growth expert. She has lived many incarnations in the past seven decades as an author, teacher, psychotherapist, researcher and executive advisor.