P.S. We Expire with Morgan Motsinger

companionship in the face of death, the social nature of dying, and the importance of everyday acts in caregiving.  I hope this conversation impacts your perspectives on the need for humility and presence in these challenging moments as we reframe illness as a communal journey rather than a solitary medical event. Grief is not a problem to be solved, but an experience to feel and be transformed by. 

This body scan is wonderful for a short break during your day or getting your body and mind ready for sleep. This guided head to toe exercise is a great way to notice areas where you hold tension. 

Enjoy!

https://www.morganmotsinger.com/shop/idea-action-30-day-challenge

This episode will lead you through how I think about turning ideas into action. This isn't just about goal setting (yes, I'm familiar with the SMART framework). It's really about becoming a person who doesn't sit on the sidelines of her own life. 

There is a framework I use that I'll walk you through in this episode. Whether or not you join me for this 30-day challenge, I hope you start tackling some of those things you've been thinking about for a long time. 

On a scale from 1-5, how often do you feel like this?

I also know I'm part of the problem.

Sometimes, I feel like we're all zombies. We're here, but we're not....here. We live in our own realities even as we are physically present with others. 

In this episode, I explore the profound impact of technology on human connection, particularly focusing on how smartphones and social media contribute to feelings of loneliness and disconnection. There's an interesting/terrifying parallel between the experiences of caregivers for those with neurodegenerative conditions and the feelings of isolation that arise from being physically present but emotionally absent in social interactions. 

I'm not going to leave you hanging. I share some practical strategies for reconnecting with others and how to manage unhealthy dynamics of distracted presence. 

--

Get on my email list, where I periodically share helpful tools for better habits, mindfulness, and general well being: https://morganmotsinger.myflodesk.com/subscribe

Talking about death isn't really everyone's favorite. 

One of the big problems with actively avoiding or maybe just never considering how things are going to go at the end is we miss out on some really important conversations that have a big impact. 

This conversation not only explores some of the practical medical implications of certain types of life saving interventions, it also boldly investigates some of the common misconceptions about death, the healthcare system, and what a good death means. 

---

Amy Hensley Master of Science in Nursing, Registered Nurse How I define myself: mama bear, supportive friend, oldest daughter and sister, compassionate hospice nurse, movie lover, former graphic designer, passionate human, social introvert Bio: I was a graphic designer for nearly twenty years before I went to nursing school. While I worked at a critical access hospital doing everything from birth to death, I got my MSN and then started teaching. During my teaching career, I found my voice and encouraged students to find their voice. Realizing that my passions include end-of-life guided me to become a hospice nurse and end-of-life educator. We all bring to the table our experiences, viewpoints, concerns, biases, and expectations. Giving grace to myself and those around me has helped me have uncomfortable conversations with humor, awareness and understanding. I'm becoming more comfortable with asking for what I want.

Erin Putney Master of Science in Nursing, Registered Nurse How I define myself: energetic creative, passionate educator, honest conversationalist, proud mom, chill paddleboarder, artistic thinker, former ICU nurse, loving daughter Bio: I love the science behind nursing and even wanted to be a science teacher at one point. I’ve worked in different areas as a nurse, but realize the common thread is having the curiosity to solve problems with data and creativity. My master’s research focused on effective end-of-life education for nursing students, which has been adapted into a workshop for various audiences. My passion is giving everyone the tools needed to cope and be successful. Check out my website: www.teachingcourage.com

You can find their work at:

https://beforethecasket.com/en-us/

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085625110676

---

You can find Morgan on her website https://www.morganmotsinger.com/

Get on her email list here: https://morganmotsinger.myflodesk.com/subscribe

I remember cobbling notes together on my phone, writing things on paper scattered here or there, until I finally gathered all the notes about Anni's care into one document. 

This simple act made it possible to relax a bit. I recorded her medications, daily and weekly schedule, seizure protocols, and more. It was immensely helpful not to have that information rolling around in my head loosey goosey. 

Putting all the info together can feel very overwhelming, especially for a caregiver who is already running on fumes, so when I heard about Mike's "Pink Book" and his company Soaring Families, I knew I needed to have him on the podcast. His work isn't just about creating an amazing tool, but his company teaches families how to find, train, and retain a robust support system when in a caregiving role, whether that's for a child with extra needs or an adult with aging considerations. 

Mike shares his journey of caring for his son Ben, who has special needs. He emphasizes the importance of building a caregiving team, personalizing care, and the emotional challenges faced by caregivers. He also highlights the joy and fulfillment that can come from caregiving despite its challenges and shares Ben's remarkable journey towards communication and education.

Mike helps families rewrite their caregiving story — from one of sacrifice and exhaustion to one of joy, strength, and resilience. A family caregiver himself for 3 decades, Mike brings an intimate understanding of the burdens faced by those supporting the primary care of a family member. This lived experience led him to create The Soaring Families WayTM — a 5-step method that blends empathy, empowerment, and practical solutions to equip families with the tools and skills they need to regain control, reduce stress, and find fulfillment on their caregiving journey. Mike coaches and guides families in this method to help them stabilize the chaos, gain the confidence to manage their home care effectively, and focus on long-term sustainability. He also developed The Pink Book for families that acts as their personal caregiving companion. It becomes a family’s caregiving guide that they create themselves, for the way they care.

You can get your own copy of the Pink Book at newpinkbook.com and learn more about Soaring Families on their website https://soaringfamilies.com

You can also connect with Mike here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeg-bmg/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soaringfamilynation

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SoaringFamilies

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikesf6363/

In this relatively short, solo episode, I'm sharing one of the metaphors for the inner life that has really impacted me over the past several years, The Inner House. 

Let me know if this resonates with you by sending me an email at [email protected], or sending me a DM on Instagram @morgan_motsinger

If you find this podcast helpful, please make a moment to leave a rating and review.

In this conversation, Dr. Gina Anderson and I discuss the intricacies of memory, learning, and the mind-body connection. She explains the differences between working, short-term, and long-term memory, emphasizing the importance of reinforcement and visualization in the learning process. We also touch on the role of belief in learning and how to unlearn habits by creating new neural maps. Practical techniques for enhancing memory retention and the significance of sleep are highlighted, along with the impact of negative and positive reinforcement on behavior change. We explore the intricate relationship between mental health, learning, and neuroplasticity. The conversation also delves into the impact of technology on mental health, particularly the addictive nature of scrolling on devices. Dr. Anderson emphasizes the need for authentic learning experiences tailored to individual preferences and the importance of rekindling passion for learning as a lifelong journey.

---

Dr. Gina Anderson is the CEO of Luma Brighter Learning, an award-winning learning company and a 2024 and 2023 recipient of the prestigious Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies award. Dr. Anderson routinely publishes new, measurable, science-based techniques specifically focused on learning in logistics and transportation to help companies improve their safety scores and uphold compliance. Dr. Anderson is the author of Thrive: How Learning Can Ignite a New Way Forward and a contributing author to the best-selling book Perspectives on Invisible Illnesses. Recognized as a thought leader in learning and an Inc. contributing author, she is also the creator and host of the I Love Learning podcast, where leaders from around the world share what motivates them to learn. Dr. Anderson holds a Doctor of Education in instructional systems technology from Indiana University, where she also minored in learning science. She has a passion for helping people learn.

You can find Gina at:

If you're asked to think of someone emotional, whether in your friend group or family, someone immediately comes to mind. I would bet that your thoughts about being "emotional" conjure negative feelings. 

Why is that? 

In 1990, the term "emotional intelligence" was developed to bridge the gap between what is considered uncontrolled and irrational about emotions into the realm of thoughtful and measured. While people can certainly take this idea too far by intellectualizing emotion and feeling, the new term enabled people to talk about emotions in a new way. 

Yosi Amram, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist, a CEO leadership coach, a pioneering researcher in the field of spiritual intelligence, and a best-selling award-winning author. Previously the founder and CEO of two companies that he has led through successful IPOs, Yosi has coached over 100 CEOs many of whom have built companies with thousands of employees and revenues in the billions.

In this conversation, Yosi shares his thoughts on spiritual intelligence, its relationship with emotional intelligence, and the importance of finding purpose in life. He emphasizes the need for both individual autonomy and community connection, exploring how cultural values shape our understanding of these concepts. The dialogue also touches on the significance of recognizing our contributions to the greater whole and the cyclical nature of connection and disconnection in our spiritual journeys. In this conversation, Yosi discusses the importance of embracing both joy and pain as essential components of a meaningful life. He emphasizes the concept of spiritual intelligence, particularly in leadership, and how it can enhance organizational culture and financial performance. The discussion also delves into the challenges of embodying qualities like humility and presence, and how contemplating mortality can clarify one's values. Ultimately, Amram highlights the interconnectedness of life and the self-renewing nature of love and joy.

--

Yosi has engineering degrees from MIT, an MBA from Harvard, and a Ph.D. in Psychology from Sofia University, he is a pioneering researcher in the field of spiritual intelligence, whose research has received over 1000 citations. As the author of the Amazon Best-Seller and Nautilus Book Award Gold Medal-winning Spiritually Intelligent Leadership: How to Inspire by Being Inspired, Yosi is committed to awakening greater spiritual intelligence in himself and the world.

Spiritual Intelligence (SI) is not a belief in a higher power or God, nor is it an experience of awakening, or a momentary realization of Oneness. Rather, SI is deepest and highest expression of our life force energy and sacred spark of life involving to the ability to draw on, embody, and express qualities and virtues hailed by all the world's spiritual traditions, such as purpose, service, trust, gratitude, compassion, presence, humility, integrity, and higher-self, to name just a few. These are the qualities that naturally arise when connecting to and rooting ourselves in our spirit essence, whereby we feel inner-, inter-, and ultra-connected, connected to ourselves, connected to others, and connected to the sacred and transcendent dimension of life.

Yosi began his leadership journey in the Israeli military, where he received numerous awards and garnered the fastest promotion record in his regiment’s history. Despite these accomplishments, the military chafed at his soul, eventually inspiring Yosi’s lifelong quest for more humane approaches to leadership, which led him to start and build his own companies. Yosi is also the founder of several non-profits, including trueMASCULINITY.org, Engendering-Love.org, and AwakeningSI.org. For further information about Yosi and his work, please see www.yosiamram.net and/or subscribe to his YouTube channel @AwakeningSpirituaIntelligence.