Meanderings with Trudy

Angie and I talk “we” – what is conjured up with the notion of us? Who are we in community and why does this matter so much? Martha Beck, in “The Joy Diet: 10 Daily Practices for a Happier Life” tells us that 1+1=3… that when you and me talk, we create a third entity, we become “we.” 

This is a true meander folks, and I hope you’ll sit down with us with a cup of your favourite beverage and join us for the ride.

Please drop me a line if anything piqued your interest at [email protected]. And share this episode around, and if you’re of a mind, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Episode links:

You can find "The Joy Diet: 10 Daily Practices for a Happier Life" by Martha Beck at Indigo in Canada, and at local bookstores near you, like Books on Beechwood.

Learn more about Martha Beck

The except that I read is from Richard Wagamese’s book “Embers: One Ojibway’s Meditations”

You can learn more about Angie and her work at Big Stone House. And Angie quoted from poet Mary Oliver's poem "Summer Day"

As always, this podcast is sponsored by the guests who give of their time, and by my company, Chapman Coaching Inc.

Royalty free music is gratefully received and is called Sunday Stroll – by Huma-Huma

Live life joyfully, and always let kindness guide you.

Back after my two-month winter break, I’m coming in with new energy and verve!

This week I share with you what I did on my Christmas vacation, but also what I have in store for you in the coming winter and spring episodes on the podcast. 

I’m also trying to show not only joy, but how I put into practice the learnings we’ve had from books that I’ve reviewed as we go along. Perceptive listeners will pick up in today’s episode some of Martha Beck’s learnings from “The Joy Diet.” Feel free to drop me a line if you discern which practice I'm using.

One quick note: you’ll hear a little new music here in the intro. This is from the Prime Rib Big Band; band leader Ed Lister has given me permission to us this song, called “Stampede.”

All comments welcome. Please drop me a line at [email protected]. And share this episode around, and if you’re of a mind, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Episode links:

Prime Rib Big Band

As always, this podcast is sponsored by the guests who give of their time, and by my company, Chapman Coaching Inc.

Royalty free music is gratefully received and is called Sunday Stroll – by Huma-Huma

Live life joyfully, and always let kindness guide you.

A favourite family tradition for me and many is to attend Christmas concerts as the holiday season approaches. This year was no different. Today, I share with you two clips from concerts I attended, and I hope you’ll enjoy them both! 

The first is a clip from Choir Choir Choir taped in Southam Hall at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa - I've included a bit of the background as to how they do what they do, as well as what was for us, the final product. The second clip I use with permission from band leader Ed Lister... a clever band member reworked the iconic theme song from Dr. Seuss' classic story, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! called "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch." It's a wild rendition, and I offer you a fair chunk of it. Enjoy!

As always, all comments are welcome. Please drop me a line at [email protected]. And share this episode around, and if you’re of a mind, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

And join me again in March, 2026 after my winter break for more meanders on joy in the every day. Happy New Year!

Episode links:

Choir Choir Choir

Prime Rib Big Band 

As always, this podcast is sponsored by the guests who give of their time, and by my company, Chapman Coaching Inc.

Royalty free music is gratefully received and is called Sunday Stroll – by Huma-Huma

Live life joyfully, and always let kindness guide you.

We’re now covering the third and fourth guideposts to wholehearted living – cultivating resilience, and cultivating gratitude and joy. 

I hope you enjoy this episode. Please subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts, and share this episode widely. If you have questions or comments, please send them to me at [email protected]. I will address them in the next episode.

Episode links:

The 2010 TedTalk that started Brené’s rise to international helper

Biography

Brené Brown podcast “Dare To Lead” with Adam Grant on her new book

As always, this podcast is sponsored by the guests who give of their time, and by my company, Chapman Coaching Inc.

Royalty free music is gratefully received and is called Sunday Stroll – by Huma-Huma

Live life joyfully, and always let kindness guide you.

With ten books under his belt, it's safe to say he's got a good grip on this writing thing. I've read every one and laughed out loud at many. 

This is a very generous conversation with Terry about his writing career, how it came about and where he’s going next. It was a true joy for me to chat with him about his wide-ranging novels - his first book featured Canadian politics (a comedy, really it is) and his latest is a rollicking Canadian spy story. He’s covered a lot of topics writing about what he knows in each. 

We too cover a lot of ground, as we talk storytelling and the ins and outs of how he tales a tale. I learned a lot and had a lot of fun in this meander. I hope you will too!

All comments welcome. Please drop me a line at [email protected]. And share this episode around, and if you’re of a mind, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Episode links:

Learn more about Terry here

Learn about the great author, Robertson Davies, who is part muse to the character Angus McLintock

The Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour

My substack

As always, this podcast is sponsored by the guests who give of their time, and by my company, Chapman Coaching Inc.

Royalty free music is gratefully received and is called Sunday Stroll – by Huma-Huma

Live life joyfully, and always let kindness guide you.

Once again, Angie and I wrestle over something we both love and come at from different places. 

The Enneagram as I come to it is more a lens that helps me see myself. And yes, maybe help me be a better version of myself. This is what it is for me, at this point in my life and development. And it's how I introduce it to my clients.

For Angie, the Enneagram provides a means for personal transformation that enables us to be in better relationship with people we love, and with the world. It’s a spiritual thing for her, a sacred teaching that life is a gift. The Enneagram enables presence, and in this way, serves us in our relationships, both 1:1 and in larger communities. No wonder this is her approach, given she is “Reverend.” 

You’ll hear this difference as we meander. 

No matter how we approach it, the Enneagram gives us an opening, the beginning of a deep conversation about who we are, and that is just what we offer today.

We also dig into Hope. December is the season for hope, as dark turns to light and the year begins again. And, I do think we need to remember hope as our world changes in ways I, we, may not like so much.

Please drop me a line if anything piqued your interest at [email protected]. And share this episode around, it matters. If you’re of a mind, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Episode links:

Angie’s newly renovated website: Big Stone House

For background about the, visit the Enneagram Institute

As always, this podcast is sponsored by the guests who give of their time, and by my company, Chapman Coaching Inc.

Royalty free music is gratefully received and is called Sunday Stroll – by Huma-Huma

Live life joyfully, and always let kindness guide you.

What if there were a place, once a week, where you could slow down and feel into your heart? To explore the highs and lows of you right now. To sit with others who can truly see you, without judgement but with buckets of kindness and big hearts. How might that change your day?

That’s what “Sitting on Sundays” is. It is a practice that Angie and her husband Peter offer through their coaching company, have done so for a decade or so. Once a week, people gather on line to contemplate life. Share highs and lows. Hold space for each other without judgment or the need to fix. To slow down and just feel into who we are in that moment. 

While this is not something everyone will come for, the idea of slowing down, sinking into contemplation about who we are, exploring the role of grace, of hope, of peace and so many other things… it is something anyone can create with another person, and offer space to each other to be curious about life, right, now. That's the invitation... slow down and contemplate life. Your life. Find the awe in the moments. Name the highs, and the lows, and find a friend to do it with.

Please drop me a line if anything piqued your interest at [email protected]. And share this episode around, and if you’re of a mind, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Episode links:

Angie’s newly renovated website: Big Stone House

As always, this podcast is sponsored by the guests who give of their time, and by my company, Chapman Coaching Inc.

Royalty free music is gratefully received and is called Sunday Stroll – by Huma-Huma

Live life joyfully, and always let kindness guide you.

As usual, I’m running down what’s to come this month, and this time, talking about birds in my backyard. It’s a colourful foray!

Please drop me a line if anything piqued your interest at [email protected]. And share this episode around, and if you’re of a mind, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Episode links:

The Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour

My substack

As always, this podcast is sponsored by the guests who give of their time, and by my company, Chapman Coaching Inc.

Royalty free music is gratefully received and is called Sunday Stroll – by Huma-Huma

Live life joyfully, and always let kindness guide you.

Hot on the heels of last month’s introduction to this book, today we’ll dive into the first two guideposts – cultivating authenticity, and cultivating self-compassion. 

I hope you enjoy this episode. Please subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts, and share this episode widely. If you have questions or comments, please send them to me at [email protected]. I read everything you write.

Episode links:

The 2010 TedTalk that started Brené’s rise to international helper

Biography

Brené Brown podcast “Dare To Lead” with Adam Grant on her new book

Here’s Dan Harris leading us into a metta meditation, which is also called a “loving kindness” meditation 

And here’s my episode on risk that I mentioned in this episode

As always, this podcast is sponsored by the guests who give of their time, and by my company, Chapman Coaching Inc.

Royalty free music is gratefully received and is called Sunday Stroll – by Huma-Huma

Live life joyfully, and always let kindness guide you.

“Women of a certain age have a lot of beauty inside them to share,” Sylvie tells us in the opening few minutes of today’s meander. Her lovely blog, “Little Old Lady… In Waiting” is a joy to read and she is offering a window into the world of middle-aged women that is often left shuttered. In our society that values youth and beauty, women over 50 are often overlooked and left out. In her blog, Sylvie is sitting with and listening to these women, many of whom are facing a renaissance as their life opens up after child-rearing and careers end, and they spend more time learning to be who they find themselves as now, in this body.

Recently, Sylvie retired from a second career nursing, working in palliative care and sitting with people as they die. insights gleaned from this has enriched her life, and we explore some of that too. Meditation features highly in this conversation.

I loved my time meandering with Sylvie, I’m sure you will too. Please drop me a line if anything piqued your interest at [email protected]. And share this episode around, and if you’re of a mind, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Episode links:

You can read Sylvie’s excellent blog here at Little Old Lady… In Waiting

Sylvie mentioned the book “Awareness” by Anthony De Mello and she recommends you listen to it first, which you can find on Audible (this is just her recommendation, not a product advertisement)

As always, this podcast is sponsored by the guests who give of their time, and by my company, Chapman Coaching Inc.

Royalty free music is gratefully received and is called Sunday Stroll – by Huma-Huma

Live life joyfully, and always let kindness guide you.