Precarious

Forrest Gump famously said "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you are gonna get." True. And, I've been thinking about how life is like a tube of toothpaste. That full tube of toothpaste feels endless and abundant. It's only when you come to the end of the tube do you treat those few remaining drops as if they are a precious commodity - not to be wasted. In this episode of the precarious podcast I encourage us to reflect on our relationship with time. How do we measure it? How much time makes a long life? Is that even the question to be asking? To quote Seneca, the Roman Philosopher, "Life is not short...it is long if we know how to use it." Kind of like how we use a tube of toothpaste.

I did something irrational and some may say a bit reckless. It wasn't planned. I adopted a feral kitty! My original plan was to sign up as a foster volunteer for one of our local animal shelters. I should have known better. My first attempt at fostering failed. And, I'm happy to report that I'm in love! Connecting with animals is one of my greatest joys and top on my list of how I take care of myself which got me thinking about the concept of self-care. I talk about this all of the time with my clients, so much so, I feel like it has lost its sense of meaning. In this episode, I share some thoughts about "Self-Care" - What is it? Why do we resist doing it? And, I give some tips to make self-care less complicated and more accessible.

Danielle Glick is a survivor of multiple traumas: domestic violence, emotional abuse, and a suicide attempt (just to name a few), and now cancer. She describes cancer as the hardest thing she has ever endured, which came as a surprise to her. We share a common profession: mental health. We talk about how hard stuff can break us, break us open. It teaches us to prioritize the important things and people. And, mostly, it clarifies our reason for staying alive.

Danielle Glick is a licensed therapist (LPCA, CADC) specializing in dual diagnosis and medical trauma. She is also a doctoral student, recently having completed her first year toward her PsyD (Doctorate in Clinical Psychology).

Early in 2020 she started not feeling well and shortly after the COVID-19 shut down would find that she had cervical cancer that was spreading to her uterus.

Danielle is a natural advocate having volunteered with "This Is My Brave" & NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Health). So it was no surprise when she decided to use her experience of living with cancer to help others in a similar position.

Strangely, I recorded this episode right before I experienced a bit of a medical emergency and ended up in the hospital. So, it seems a be prophetic. Allowing others to take care of me is one of my greatest challenges. It feels like I'm jumping off a cliff hoping that the net will appear while having little confidence that it will actually show up. It's a struggle for many of us. In this episode, I explore what it would be like if we believed that we are "here" to help each other, to support each other and in essence "walk each other home".

It was a treat to sit down with my brother, Jason Barrett. I was curious about how his time serving in the Marine Corps affected him. Believe it or not, we had not ever really talked about it. He shares stories of facing his fears, witnessing death, informing loved ones of their son or daughter's untimely death and how all of this has shaped his perspective on life. What shines through is Jason's commitment to making this precious and precarious life count.

Jason joined the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo team in December 2020, moving from Colorado in the United States of America to take on the role. Jason joined the Tattoo with over 10 years’ experience in the hospitality industry and has held various Chief Executive and Management roles in the US.

Prior to this, Jason had a distinguished career in the United States Marine Corps. He served 20 years as an infantry officer where he held leadership positions, teaching leadership as well as being involved in high-level strategic planning. Jason retired from the Marine Corps as Lieutenant Colonel in 2010 having led over 1,000 marines with $150 million in assets.

Notably, during his time with the military, Jason served in both Iraq and Afghanistan and has written procedures for managing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) for the Marine Corps.

This is a very special episode of the Precarious Podcast. I feel like I met my soulmate in all things uncertain and precarious. Her name is Kimberly Warner. She is a filmmaker. In 2015 she developed cervicogenic vertigo and Mal de Débarquement Syndrome or MdDS that manifests as a constant perception of rocking, bobbing and swaying. After searching for treatments/cures and coming up empty, she had to accept her reality. She turned to her craft of filmmaking as a way to connect with others who are in the community of the "Unfixed".

These are the stories of humans who are saying “yes” - the ones who believe their worth lives in the nexus of pain, uncertainty, gratitude and purpose. Through exploring these stories I hope to uncover insights and universal truths that can encourage us all to live more fully and radically Unfixed.

Lately, I've been thinking about the concept of "our potential". It's not uncommon to hear someone remark about living up to "one's potential" or the opposite - not living up to "one's potential". This notion of fulfilling our potential feels like one of the rules of life, an expectation that we are burdened with at birth. Cancer and facing my mortality have forced me to look at this through a very different lens and for that I am grateful.

After watching his mom succumb to Huntington's Disease, a rare genetic neurological disorder with no treatment and no cure, Seth, at age 20, decided to see if he carried the gene. The test results came back positive. He shares what it's like to live with this knowledge and how he tries to balance holding onto hope for a different future with accepting the brutal reality of his situation. In the meantime, he is not waiting around for treatment of a cure for HD. He is pushing the needle forward and advocating for others like himself. He is a gift to humans.

There is so much I appreciate about Dr. Moyez Jiwa. What stands out the most is that he cares deeply about the "patient" experience. I was recently a guest for the second time on the "Health Design" podcast which he hosts. He is also the author of "The Art of Doctoring" and editor and chief of the "Journal Health Design". Moyez believes that we can change outcomes in healthcare today by focusing on how we communicate which is why he gave me a platform to talk about what it's like to live with a terminal illness. I am grateful to him for shining a light on the healing power of doctor-patient relationships and encouraging all of us to lean in, listen and learn.

Moyez Jiwa graduated in medicine from Trinity College Dublin (complete with an Irish accent), he trained as a family physician in Scotland, with postgraduate qualifications from Nottingham and Sheffield Universities , UK. He now works as the Associate Dean at the Melbourne Clinical School, University of Notre Dame Australia.

Arthur C. Brooks. If you looked at his accomplishments you would assume he knows the secret to success: best-selling author (12 books), Harvard Business School Professor, acclaimed public speaker and creator of How to Build a Life column for The Atlantic. In his latest book, From Strength to Strength, he challenges us to rethink the definition of success. Through his research and personal exploration, he encourages us focus on what really matters in the end. Listen in on this deeply personal conversation.