Grounded on Purpose

Psychologist and Vanderbilt University Associate Professor Lisa Fazio's ground-breaking research on how our brains work when we encounter misinformation and disinformation is vital for us all to hear. As a social media researcher, what draws me most to Lisa’s work is the data she uncovers and the fairly simple solutions we can all practice to combat misinformation and disinformation online. In our latest episode, Lisa breaks down the truth behind "fake news," why we fall for fallacies, and how we can find common ground to stop the spread of misinformation online.

Dr. Darren Linvill is a professor at Clemson University and is also an author, researcher, and expert on social media disinformation and political discourse. He explains the latest Russian disinformation campaigns and how they have grown since he began hunting online Russian trolls in 2017. Dr. Linvill also gives tips on how we all can stop the spread of misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda online.

This episode is also available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/P41aoHY-NDc

We are just over a month into the new year, and this means you may be one of the 80% who have already broken New Year’s resolutions. I’m here to tell you, it’s all going to be okay. And you don’t just have to take it from me – I have an amazing health and wellness expert who is going to break it all down and tell us why it’s okay if you abandon those lofty New Year’s goals.

I first met today’s guest when I started teaching as a full-time professor. I was at an orientation, and a woman named Marnie Vanden Noven started talking to a room full of new professors about why it’s important to incorporate wellness into our everyday routines. I found myself nodding while she talked, and I thought, I hope I get to work with this amazing woman even though we are on the opposite sides of campus.

Well, if you’ve listened to this podcast at all, you know I’m one of those weird introverts who somehow musters the courage to speak out when someone way cooler than me crosses my path. I’ve served on several committees with Marnie, but when I was researching her background, I realized there was so much more I didn’t know about her.

Marnie received her doctorate degree in integrative neuromuscular physiology, exercise physiology and exercise science and has worked professionally as a physical therapist and athletic trainer. She also travels the globe as a professor, and has some incredible stories to share with us today about health and wellness from around the world. Marnie joins this special episode from across the pond in Belfast, Ireland, and she also tackles listener's health and wellness questions.

As always, thank you for being part of the Grounded on Purpose listening community. If you enjoy the podcast, please take a moment to subscribe and rate us, so our small team knows to keep creating more content. Connect with us on Instagram @groundedonpurpose

I'm so excited for today’s episode with award-winning journalist and author, Marissa R. Moss. Marissa’s new book “Her Country: How the Women of Country Music Became the Success They Were Never Supposed to Be” will be released in May.

In her book, Marissa tells the “inside story of the last twenty years of country music through the lens of Maren Morris, Mickey Guyton, and Kacey Musgraves―their peers and inspirations, their paths to stardom, and their battles against a deeply embedded boys’ club, as well as their efforts to transform the genre into a more inclusive place for all.” 

You can pre-order the book through the link below:https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250793591/hercountry

In addition to her book, I also talk to Marissa about her breakthrough story in Rolling Stone Country on the culture of sexual harassment in the world of country radio, which opened people’s eyes to the problems plaguing country music and added a new dimension to the #TimesUp and #MeToo movements. We also discuss Taylor Swift and her similar battles with the industry.

This conversation with Marissa also inspired me to reflect on my own experiences of being a woman in the media and entertainment business. To put it lightly, it hasn’t been easy. As I explain in this episode, I’ve had to battle many good ol’ boys clubs the past two decades, and I’m thankful my dad and big brother raised a strong-willed woman and told me I could be anything I wanted to be. I also married a man who believes the same.

I feel it’s important to note I had some pretty amazing good guys who were anti-good ol’ boys club and served as my mentors in the beginning of my career and where I currently work today. But that hasn’t always been the case.As I raise two girls and look at my mom, sister and niece, I can’t help but think about those who tried – and still try – to tear me down. And how as women, we still have a ways to go.

Country music has a famous motto: “Three chords and the truth.”

It’s important to speak our truths and listen to these conversations with an open mind. By doing so, I believe we all can be the change our future generations need (sisters, daughters, nieces and friends all included).I hope you enjoy this eye-opening and honest conversation with Marissa Moss.

As always, thank you for listening! If you enjoy the Grounded on Purpose podcast, please take a moment to subscribe and rate us, so our small team knows to keep creating more content. Connect with us on Instagram @groundedonpurpose 

Marissa Moss sits down for an exclusive preview of her new book “Her Country: How the Women of Country Music Became the Success They Were Never Supposed to Be."

In her book, Marissa tells the “inside story of the last twenty years of country music through the lens of Maren Morris, Mickey Guyton, and Kacey Musgraves―their peers and inspirations, their paths to stardom, and their battles against a deeply embedded boys’ club, as well as their efforts to transform the genre into a more inclusive place for all.”

You can pre-order the book through the link below:

https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250793591/hercountry

This conversation with Marissa also inspired me to reflect on my own experiences of being a woman in the media business. To put it lightly, it hasn’t been easy. I explain more at the top of the pod.

Country music has a famous motto: “Three chords and the truth.” It’s important to speak our truths and listen to these conversations with an open mind. By doing so, I believe we all can be the change our future generations need.

Thank you as always for listening.

*If you enjoy Grounded on Purpose, please take a moment to subscribe and connect with us on Instagram @groundedonpurpose and/or on our Grounded on Purpose Facebook page.

In this special bonus episode of Grounded on Purpose, you'll hear from 13-year-old Grace Hamilton who battled cancer as a toddler and has so much purpose at such a young age. 

You may remember Belmont University Professor Amy Hodges Hamilton from our previous episode sharing about her work with writing through loss and trauma, and her unforgettable experiences with Dr. Maya Angelou. Amy explained how Dr. Angelou helped her get through one of the most difficult periods of her life, when then-two-year-old Grace was diagnosed with cancer. After the interview ended, Amy said to me, “You should talk to Grace on the podcast.” And I was absolutely thrilled to be given the opportunity. She is truly "Amazing Grace."

Thank you for listening to Grounded on Purpose! If you enjoy the podcast, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a rating, which helps others find us. Connect with us on Instagram @groundedonpurpose

Amy Hodges Hamilton and I share a mutual love for Dr. Maya Angelou. I came to know Dr. Angelou’s work best while working with Oprah, and later, I interviewed Dr. Angelou while working with Anderson Cooper. I was so inspired by Dr. Angelou that I named my daughter Maya.

This quote sits proudly in my daughter’s room over a bright and beautiful rainbow. It makes me smile every day.

I hope this special episode exploring the wit and wisdom of Dr. Maya Angelou makes you smile, brings hope, and inspires you to find the rainbows through the clouds.

Thank you for listening to Grounded on Purpose. If you enjoy the podcast, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a rating, which helps others find us. Connect with us on Instagram @groundedonpurpose

What makes a good life? Some think it’s wisdom. Others put more value on wealth. Somewhere on the list is also happiness and health. So how can we achieve this quest for “a good life” if we all define it so differently? Professor Mary Ellen Pethel teaches a class called “A Good Life” at Belmont University in Nashville, TN and sits down with us for a mini-master class to help answer this age-old question.

Mary Ellen is an author, historian, digital humanist, academic entrepreneur, and creator of the historical walking tour app Nashville Sites. She is also one of the smartest, kindest, and most purposeful people I have ever met.

Join us as we tackle the $64,000 question of what makes “A Good Life."

For more information on Mary Ellen's book, Athens of the New South: College Life and the Making of Modern Nashville, visit https://www.amazon.com/dp/1621903427/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_857M9S2DA9ZHXCRAFRCY

Thank you for listening to Grounded on Purpose. If you enjoy the podcast, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a rating, which helps others find us. Connect with us on Instagram @groundedonpurpose

*New episodes coming in November 2021!

Show notes:

I’m Jennifer Duck, a two-time Emmy award winning producer, a college professor, doctoral student, DIY designer, dog mom of three, and a mom of two little humans who are the greatest gifts of my life. Oh, and new addition to the list -- podcast host!

When I was 36 years old juggling a newborn and a 3-year-old, taking night classes for my advanced degree, and somehow managing a 60-hour-a-week job in news, I discovered a new kind of “grounded” in the form of a freak illness that knocked me to the ground and landed me in the hospital multiple times that year. A good grounding can make us better, even when it comes unexpected and in scary forms. It’s how we learn, how we reconnect, and how we grow. More than ever before, this last season surviving a global pandemic has shown me the necessity of finding solid ground in the shifting uncertainness of life. And this sent me on a search of wanting to truly dig deeper and help others look deeper too.

My biggest intention with this project is to get grounded on purpose together with experts I’ve met in my personal, academic, and professional life as a TV producer for some of the biggest names including Oprah, Katie Couric, Anderson Cooper and many others. These people I’ve had the honor of working with, all have profound purpose and gave me access to the world’s most incredible thought leaders and experts who can help bring us all back down to earth. These friends, thought-leaders, and household names will join me every other Monday as we focus on different areas of grounding and tackle topics near and dear to my heart — and helpful to YOU and the world at large. Philosophers have debated this word “purpose” for thousands of years dating back to Socrates famously saying “the unexamined life is not worth living.” More recently, scientists at the University of Michigan have found that having a sense of purpose and diving into this crazy world head-first actually makes us live longer. 

So let’s dig in! I’m truly so excited to have you join me on this journey as we get grounded together on purpose.