Is it really over?! Yes… kind of... maybe not really. In this episode Lisa shares her initial vision for the Pat Poems, how it became this series, and her vision for Giving Words all together. That isn’t without some tangents, some storytelling and of course, a poem!

Join us as we discuss the project, the challenges of creativity, what it means to get started, learning and some lessons I’ve learned along the way from podcasting basics to the power of impacting others lives through sharing your own. In our final episode, here are 5 key takeaways:

1. Just start. Do the thing and plan to do it messily.

2. Failure is an amazing teacher.

3. Connect with those you love. Often.

4. There’s power in sharing your story.

5. Everything is just right.

It has been a beautiful journey these last four months and I thank you for listening and being here. 

Stay connected! Stay tuned and like the show so you can join us at the end of this summer with Giving Words next limited series!

Don’t forget to visit and leave comments on our⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠ page!

Episode Links

Lisa’s non-fiction works, Camp Wadsworth and Down the Dirt Road with John Jamison

Sanctuary: A meditation on Home, Homelessness and Belonging, by Zenju Earthlyn Manuel

Simply T Events, “Mask Removal” with Tonya Miller

Training in Compassion: Zen Teachings on the Practice of Lojong

Join two generations of Pat’s family and hear about his impact and legacy through their reflections on life with him, poetry and the podcast. Above all, this episode glimmers with the call to action for unconditional love, each family story, and especially Pat’s legacy, demonstrates how important it is to accept, honor and laugh about life.

In this episode my brother, cousin, mother and I share stories about funerals, family parties, what the last few years without Pat have been like and how he still lives with us today. You can expect the same sense of humor, depth of thought, and random side stories from them as you get from me as we explore football, football and family connections, differences and similarities–how understanding those things enhances wellness, the importance of structure and values, how genealogy and historical context shapes family, as well as cultural heritage and family connection.

Don’t forget to visit and leave comments on our⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠ page!

In this episode we explore the power of openly discussing the taboo. We discover that humor not only dissipates shame, but also breaks taboos and we can bond and heal over those moments of disclosure. When thoughts live in our head and are never challenged, they are free to cause havoc and suffering, but with the support of people we trust who care about us, we can share those thoughts and reframe them.

Other topics we touch on include the placebo affect, hypervigilance, stigma reduction, the power of listening and connecting, learning how to process failures and mistakes with compassion, and acceptance.

Don’t forget to visit and leave comments on our⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠ page!

Episode Links:

Mel gibbons, podcast about sex (types of arousal)

Khalil Gibran’s poem “On Children”

James Pennebaker, Expressive Writing as a healing modality

In this episode we explore heritage and legacy, and how it impacts our lived experience in myriad ways starting with the question, “Where do we come from?” Through discussion, we find that family history has impact and the definition of success through generational shifts is part of how life is lived in the present.

We also explore the interplay of free will and legacy, finances, choice, and the essence of love. In this episode there are two pieces of prose, one of Pat’s and one of Lisa’s, echoing back and forth... plus the usually smattering of random topics: epigenetics, philosophy, writing, poverty, motocross… Enjoy!

Don’t forget to visit and leave comments on our ⁠Instagram⁠ page!

Episode Links:

My Grandmother’s Hands, Resmaa Menakem

In this episode we explore leadership through family dynamics and the power of feminine and masculine energies. In that exploration we also discuss cultural narratives around gender roles and I share my experience as part of a matriarchal family.

Other topics we get into include the impact of shame, sexuality, pathologization of emotions, servant leadership, the complexity of female alliances, and the need for both feminine and masculine energies for ultimate success.

We also recite multiple Pat poems and dive into the influence of poetry on identity . By the end of this episode we hope you can identify your leadership style and find ways to imbue softness and strength side by side, ways to share your power with those around you to create opportunities for mutual growth.

Check out our instagram page and leave a comment!

Episode Links

Cassandra Speaks, by Elizabeth Lesser

Harvard Business Review: https://hbr.org/2016/04/research-we-are-way-harder-on-female-leaders-who-make-bad-calls

Stillness Speaks, by Eckhart Tolle

In this episode we celebrate “good gossip” and the effect it can have when wielded as a tool for positive communal growth. This conversation explores family dynamics, sociology, identity and creating a shared experience. (There’s also a cameo a la kitty cat with the Zoomies).

Join us to explore what we can learn about the power of gossip and ridicule through shame busting, literature (hellooooo Pride and Prejudice) and setting social norms. Although we highlight positive uses of gossip, we also acknowledge its dual nature and dark side. There are multiple poems of Pat’s included that shine a light on some sad interactions he experienced. It all ends with a call to celebrate someone you know, spreading gossip for good.

“Gossiping may actually be beneficial to society”

Tribe: On homecoming and belonging by Sebastian Junger

In this episode we take a medium deep dive into religion and spirituality by exploring Catholicism and Atheism as two approaches that can lead to the same outcome: a life of purpose, value driven action and love.

It is also the premiere of poetry by our host, Lisa Nichols. She shares a reflective piece written in response to her uncle Pat's writing. Exploring personal beliefs and their relationship to our values and actions is the catalyst for this week's call to action.

Identify what you are deeply rooted and anchored in and use that to guide you like a north star.

Links:

Just Poets poetry group

Non-violent communication

Shifting the story we tell ourselves can lead to positive action. In this episode we explore the alchemy of pain and struggle into healing and service by diving into the role anger plays in advocacy and how service to others compounds our own healing. Other topics include: open-mindedness, social justice, transformation, substance use, and recovery.

We end the episode with a call to action, asking how can you use your healing as a guide and map for taking action to heal your families, communities, and the earth itself? What little things can you do to be a catalyst for change?

Don’t forget to visit and leave comments on our Instagram page!

Episode Links:

• Alliance for Rights and Recovery
• Dorothy Day
• Healing Centered Engagements, Dr. Sean Ginwright’s work
• My Grandmother's Hands, Resmaa Menakem
• Nonviolent communication (Lisa's favorite workshop)
• Recovery Coach University
• ROCovery Fitness

This episode hinges on the power of gratitude in the face of adversity and gets to that point by way of stories ranging from segregated schools in the mid 1900’s to present day struggles and triumphs. The focus is on how we can take the reins of our life and happiness through tending our basic psychological needs. Yet this episode also includes tragedy, poverty and hardship.

We read another one of Pat’s poems, paint the picture of his decline in health and learn from him how to stay present–how to stay in a moment allowing our emotional range its full expression while not attaching to it, but learning to let it go. Other antidotes for stress and struggle include: service, gratitude and advocacy. Listen in to learn more

Don’t forget to visit and leave comments on our Instagram page!

Episode Links

• Alliance for Rights and Recovery advocacy group
• Research on the Basic Psychological Needs
• Compeer peer to peer organization serving folks in the community
• 5 minute daily gratitude journal
• Pema Chödrön, a Buddhist teacher and author, said, "You are the sky. Everything else is just the weather".

In this episode we ponder bravery and its relationship to risk taking and personal growth, offering the question: What would you do if you weren’t afraid? Join us for stories of just that! Times we approached risks with unearned confidence including two adventures to Europe–one solo and without notice, elite level weightlifting, Greenlandic sailing trips, camel riding in Egypt, medical miracles, brothel arrests, lego building habits, South American riptides, homelessness and so much more.

While exploring adventure we come to the realization that our routines and day to day are just as nice as the unknown. Listen in to discover how you might spice up your life and stay rooted in your wants, needs and desires to cultivate what works for you and how to classify it all in levels of fun! And as always, there's a lens of vulnerability and scrutiny of social contracts mixed in.