Precarious

As a psychotherapist, I've drawn on the healing power of animals with my clients. I've always had Therapy Dogs as part of my work and witness first hand the comfort they provide beyond what I do. In this episode, I sit down with Prairie Conlon, a Licensed Professional Counselor, who is an expert in the field of Animal-Assisted Therapy. She shares amazing stories of animals transforming people's lives. She is also the host of the podcast, "The Animal Effect".

The stories we tell shape how we see ourselves in the world. The scars left by my numerous surgeries through cancer treatment tell my story. I could easily tell the story of loss and pain. But, I choose to tell a different version. We are the authors of our stories. Do you see yourself as the hero or the victim? Which story do you want to tell. It makes a difference.

Numerous times through cancer treatment, I have found myself isolated at home or enduring a long hospital stay. Not being able to connect with nature has been one of the hardest parts of being sick. And, then, I found that I could get a front-row view watching birds through the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Bird Cams Project. Research shows that bird watching boosts mental health. It is my secret weapon to fight off sadness, anxiety and loneliness. Listen to my fascinating conversation with Ben Walters of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology about the healing power of nature.

On this Thanksgiving in the midst of a pandemic, Leah shares her guest appearance on "Faith in Progress", a show on our local Colorado Public Radio station. She and Rev. Joseph Moore explore the definition of gratitude, how it's practiced and how to reclaim its true power. In a world that is suffering and searching for solace, a meaningful gratitude practice is a path to comfort.

What makes life truly worth living? What brings richness to our worlds? According to Emily Esfahani Smith, it's not the traditional pursuit of happiness which often includes striving for success and measuring our worth in accomplishments. In her New York Times Best-Selling book, "The Power of Meaning: Finding Fulfillment in a World Obsessed with Happiness", Emily lays out the four pillars that make up a meaningful life. Listen to this fascinating and informative conversation that will leave you feeling like you have a road map to creating a more meaningful life.

Emily Esfahani Smith is the author of The Power of Meaning, an international bestseller that has been translated into 16 different languages. Her articles and essays about psychology, culture, and relationships have appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, and other publications. She is currently a doctoral student in clinical psychology at Catholic University.

This is a love story. Two years after Leslie was married, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She told her husband she wouldn't blame him for leaving. He not only stayed, he assured her that his love was bigger than cancer. Shortly after her recovery, he was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer. Listen to Leslie's beautiful telling of her story of "love conquering all".

Dr. Wendy Harpham was launching her career as a physician, happily married and loving her life with her three young children, when she was diagnosed with an incurable cancer. The life that she had worked so hard to create was suddenly gone. She knew as a physician that Hope was an important part of healing for her patients. It was only when she found herself being the patient, struggling with feelings of hopelessness, did she come to really understand the power of Healing Hope.

Wendy Harpham is a doctor of internal medicine, 30-year cancer survivor and nationally recognized leader in survivorship. Her children were 1, 3, and 5 years old when she was first diagnosed with a type of cancer with no cure. Over the next 17 years, she underwent many courses of treatments – including three clinical trials—that led to her current, lasting remission. When ongoing illness forced Dr. Harpham to retire from patient care, she turned to writing and speaking to continue to educate, comfort and inspire patients. She has received numerous national awards for her 8 books and her regular column in Oncology Times.

When things fall apart, we look for reasons and we seek solutions. What if there are no reasons and no acceptable solutions to our pain? How do we prevent slipping into despair? In this episode, Leah explores the concept of "God" as a way give us perspective in times when nothing makes sense.

At one of my lowest points in cancer treatment, I thought that this must be what is meant by "Karma". It drove me to reach out to someone I hurt deeply. This is a story of love, regret, shame and healing.

When things fall apart, when we lose our sense of security, when we can't find our way, nothing feels okay. Leah knows this first hand as she lives with a terminal illness. In this episode, she shares how she reconnects to knowing that Everything Will Be Okay.