Connection Project 360

In this podcast episode Tara, Mare and Peter J Hughes have a Conscious Conversation inspired by Peter J. Hughes’ At-One-Ment: Reclaiming Our Humanity card “Action Point Six: Clean Your Nos,” emphasizing clear, respectful “no thank you” instead of wishy-washy refusals. Tara shares struggling with boundaries, guilt, FOMO, and overcommitting to family needs (games, dinner decisions, meal prep), noting how repeated yeses train others’ expectations; she describes a recent “healthy no” when she refused to handle a broken car issue while her husband was away. Mare reframes Tara’s example as discerning what she’s actually saying no to, highlights adapting decisions as new data arrives, and discusses shifting expectations. Peter joins to distinguish practicing no externally versus mastering no to internal mind-filter “rabbit holes,” exploring the payoffs of always saying yes (control, being needed, martyrdom), and reframing no/yes as creating access; he illustrates non-projection with art in Florence. Tara adds a Trevi Fountain story about forced versus authentic appreciation and reflects on quickly interrupting guilt-based filters. They close by restating “clean your nos” and inviting listeners to join them at Connection Project 360.

1.  What is a Conscious Conversation?: Learn more here:https://www.connectionproject360.com/

2. Learn more about  Reclaiming Our Humanity with Author Peter J.Hughes: https://peterjhughes.com/books/

In this podcast episode Tara and Mare have a Conscious Conversation discussing action point four from Peter J. Hughes’ At-One-Ment: Reclaiming Our Humanity deck: when something or someone inspires you, say so, because authentic acknowledgment can shift interactions and help break repetitive patterns. They explore inherited beliefs and whether their families encouraged questioning, with Tara describing a childhood shaped by unexamined political and religious traditions, later upended by college, moving to California, and exposure to diversity that fueled her curiosity and evolving worldview. Mare contrasts this with her upbringing of dinner-table discussions about current events and voting as a nonnegotiable responsibility. Tara reflects on filtering her critical inner voice into curiosity and considers using acknowledgment to connect even amid fundamental disagreements. They also share updates about Tara’s daughter making varsity softball and their Czech exchange student’s experiences and cultural traditions. You are invited to explore Connection Project 360 to learn how you can have Conscious Conversations and move your dreams forward along with Tara and Mare.
1.  What is a Conscious Conversation?: Learn more here:https://www.connectionproject360.com/

2. Learn more about  Reclaiming Our Humanity with Author Peter J.Hughes: https://peterjhughes.com/books/

In this podcast episode Tara and Mare have a Conscious Conversation by drawing card “Action Point 8: develop your vibe scanning skills” from Peter J. Hughes’ At-One-Ment deck, discussing how perception is filtered by past emotions and how practicing gut-level “vibe checks” strengthens intuition. Mare shares remembering that Tara hosting a foreign exchange student began with an intuitive phone scroll; the student has been delighted by suburban America, their large house, and a frozen yogurt shop, and is navigating school and softball tryouts with nerves and cultural differences in play style. Tara then recounts a frightening incident where a dog’s leash was accidentally caught outside the car door and pulled under the tire, choking the dog until an urgent inner command to “stop the car” led her to brake and free the dog, leaving Tara shaken and injuring her knee. They connect this to how ego “judgment dragons” and an “everything’s wrong” filter can override intuition, and emphasize practicing discernment and giving intuition more airtime, inviting listeners to join Dream Lifting office hours.

1.  What is a Conscious Conversation?: Learn more here:https://www.connectionproject360.com/

2. Learn more about  Reclaiming Our Humanity with Author Peter J.Hughes: https://peterjhughes.com/books/

In this podcast episode Tara and Mare have a Conscious Conversation reviewing July intentions and choosing their August intentions. Tara’s July was disrupted by two softball trips, including 10 days in California, and a new hormone medication for perimenopause that improved sleep but coincided with worsening joint pain, hot flashes, and emotional distress; after researching side effects she contacted her doctor and stopped the medication, with partial improvement but ongoing severe knee inflammation and fear of seeking orthopedic care. Despite stress from her daughter’s difficult travel experience and a seriously ill older dog, Tara avoided emotional eating and maintained her weight, worked on stretching and grip-strength exercises, saw a 14% investment increase toward a 20% goal, finished a guest room for an incoming exchange student, reset her kitchen and meal planning, and restarted her hydroponic garden “Betty.” Mare’s July intention centered on beginner mindset and messiness while turning in a multi-author book chapter, participating in the evolving “Do The Thing” charity-auction community, joining a wellness coaching group during a lettuce contamination scare, and starting a Dream Connection Accelerator. For August, Tara plans to create a habit tracker from her “150 things” list and add playful rewards with hearts for grace days, while Mare’s August intention focuses on enjoying fresh fruits, vegetables, and healthy proteins, supported by local farm access and her own tomato plant; they invite viewers to Connection Project 360 complimentary weekly Dream-Lifting office hours.

1.  What is a Conscious Conversation?: Learn more here:https://www.connectionproject360.com/

2. Learn more about  Reclaiming Our Humanity with Author Peter J.Hughes: https://peterjhughes.com/books/

In this podcast episode, Tara and Mare have a Conscious Conversation with International best selling author Peter J Hughes. They discuss one of Hughes' concepts in his work At-One-Ment: Reclaiming Our Humanity. Their conversation centers around “String Training,” comparing inherited beliefs to a tether that limits potential. Tara shares recent examples of mind filters: inheriting a “life is heavy” outlook from her mother, beliefs about needing “stuff,” and doubts about being capable of health after a hamstring injury, alongside efforts like tracking daily joy and using a weight-loss group focused on mindset. Mare notes most behavior is unconscious, shaped by family, society, and habits. Peter explains the elephant-string training metaphor and argues beliefs can be unlearned through conscious practice, denying old beliefs power, and replacing them intentionally; he also shares how repeated family deaths led him to equate money with death. The discussion extends to politics, reframing disappointment in government as citizens surrendering power, and advocating personal accountability and action to “take power back.” This Conscious Conversation invites the audience to SHIFT their limiting beliefs.

1.  What is a Conscious Conversation?: Learn more here:https://www.connectionproject360.com/

2. Learn more about  Reclaiming Our Humanity with Author Peter J.Hughes: https://peterjhughes.com/books/

In this podcast episode Mare opens the Conscious Conversation without Tara who is at a softball event with her daughter. And she welcomes guests Kathy Hyland, a midlife reinvention coach, author, and speaker, and returning guest Kathryn Severns Avery, founder of Restoration Ranch Colorado. Kathy shares leaving a 30-year corporate career after becoming an empty nester and later losing her job, then moving sight unseen to Virginia Beach and rebuilding her identity through new habits, entrepreneurial community, and studies in coaching, NLP, astrology, and human design. She describes releasing unsupportive relationships, developing four journals and a workbook, and creating the JUST reinvention method: Jump before you’re ready, Uncover what lights you up, Start small/stay consistent, and Trust yourself. They discuss Do the Thing and Dream Nudge communities, Kathy’s moon ceremonies and vision-board events, money mindset shifts, visualization, health challenges and invites the audience to try her new confidence quiz with four categories to their reinvention journey. They talk about the Dream Nudge Challenge and how this experience helped Kathy realize more of her life dreams. What is your dream?

1.  What is a Conscious Conversation?: Learn more here:https://www.connectionproject360.com/

2. Learn more about  Reclaiming Our Humanity with Author Peter J.Hughes: https://peterjhughes.com/books/

3. Kathy Hyland: https://www.kathyhylandco.com/

In this podcast episode, , hosts Tara and Mare have a Conscious Conversation with Janine Durso, a former New York City advertising creative director who spent decades in high-stress agency life, rarely seeing her daughter and developing dangerously high blood pressure until a doctor warned she risked a stroke and needed to change her life. Janine took leave, trained as a life coach, and realized her main obstacle was limiting beliefs about what was possible; she later left her job in 2022, coaches full time, and calls herself “the Believist,” helping others dismantle beliefs. In 2024 she survived a ruptured brain aneurysm, spent five weeks in ICU, relearned basic skills, and credits curiosity and belief shifts for her recovery. They discuss “reaction to creation” (moving the “C”), future-self letter visioning, relationship changes as beliefs shift, and Janine’s current focus on launching the “Believe New Things” movement, a podcast, membership coaching, and becoming more visible despite lingering beliefs about being on camera. Save the date for Janines' "The Believist" event at Madison Square Garden. Wonder what else is possible? You are invited to dream with us at Connection Project 360.

1. Janine Durso  website: www.janinedurso.com

Podcast name: Believe New Things with Janine Durso

Rss: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2629407.rss

Podcast website (Buzzsprout) but it will also be on my own website. And on Apple, Spotify and Amazon:https://believenewthings.buzzsprout.com

2.  What is Dream Lifting?: Learn more here:https://www.connectionproject360.com/

3. Learn more about  Reclaiming Our Humanity with Author Peter J.Hughes: https://peterjhughes.com/books/

In this podcast episode Tara and Mare have a Conscious Conversation discussing a card from At-One-Ment: Reclaiming Our Humanity by international best selling author Peter J Hughes. Action point three: “fine-tune your attitude of gratitude,” emphasizing that appreciation changes how we experience life, attracts more to appreciate, and begins with simple, present-moment basics like running water. They explore gratitude as an “abundance magnet,” the energy of thoughts/words/actions, and how gratitude deepens when applied to difficult moments. One shares finding gratitude in frustration when an anxious dog repeatedly chews remote controls, reframing it as a reminder to improve training and provide a safe crate space. They discuss anchoring gratitude in safety, nature, and random acts of kindness, and how gratitude shows up in parenting through reframing a daughter’s exhausting, high-heat softball camp and practice as growth and privilege. They also reflect on societal and political stress, contrast, heat waves, infrastructure, and end by expressing gratitude for their weekly Zoom friendship and inviting listeners to Connection Project 360.

1.  What is a Conscious Conversation?: Learn more here:https://www.connectionproject360.com/

2. Learn more about  Reclaiming Our Humanity with Author Peter J.Hughes: https://peterjhughes.com/books/

In this podcast episode Tara and Mare have a Conscious Conversation reviewing June “living intentions” and set up July plans. Tara, approaching 50, focuses on health, wealth, and home: she successfully cleared an upstairs guest room for a fall exchange student and passed a required home visit, but her office refilled with piles as the family funnels undecided items there, highlighting decision fatigue, lack of assigned “homes” for things, and long-standing attachment to stuff tied to childhood experiences and generational beliefs about value and saving. She increased daily steps through house projects but avoids going for walks because it feels like exercise, is navigating remodeling bids by balancing desires with ROI and budget, and notes modest health progress with a new doctor and weight loss; July travel for major softball tournaments will disrupt routines but may allow walks. Mare shares her successful June intention through a weeklong “My People Party Palooza” in the Do The Thing community that raised over $30,000 for charity, her dream-boosting session, selling five one-on-ones, and writing a book chapter after pivoting to a more story-based format. Her July intention is embracing a beginner mindset while submitting the chapter, running a July 7 Dream Nudge Challenge, and expanding networks in Do The Thing, inviting listeners to free Dream Lifting Office Hours and community participation.

1.  What is a Dream Nudge?: Learn more here:https://www.connectionproject360.com/

2. Learn more about  Reclaiming Our Humanity with Author Peter J.Hughes: https://peterjhughes.com/books/

In this podcast episode Tara and Mare have a Conscious Conversation with best selling author Peter J. Hughes. They discuss a card from Hughes's work "At-One-Ment: Reclaiming Our Humanity". The card “And the Oscar goes to…,” about change, discomfort, and learning by stumbling forward. Tara shares feeling overwhelmed while progressing toward hosting a foreign exchange student, and reflects on watching her daughter join a higher-level softball team, struggle, observe, and improve, prompting thoughts about fear, “baby steps,” and how parenting patterns affect two daughters differently. Peter reframes “comfort zone” as “cop-out zone,” emphasizes leveling up as a way of life, and describes facilitation as holding space without hand-holding, using an “earn your pillows” retreat story. Tara also examines her own projections and assumptions about religion, politics, and sexuality after observing team dynamics, connecting this to broader themes of projection, love vs. not-love, and “reflection pool” metaphors. Mare shares her insights throughout the discussion and invites listeners to join in a Conscious Conversation or Dream Nudge Challenge at Connection Project 360.

1.  What is a Dream Nudge?: Learn more here:https://www.connectionproject360.com/

2. Learn more about  Reclaiming Our Humanity with Author Peter J.Hughes: https://peterjhughes.com/books/