In this episode, Wynne Leon is with meditation and yoga teacher, and massage therapist, Deirdre Wilcox and they are talking about the power of the pause.

Deirdre introduces us to the idea of interosception – the way

In this episode, we hear about the breath practices that help us

At the end of our time together, Deirdre describes a few small

This is a great episode about using an extra beat to access better information, respond with more care, and pay closer attention. We know you’ll love it.

Episode 27 show notes

In this episode, Wynne Leon is with co-host, Dr. Vicki, and writer and

Do you have a personal anthem? That song that runs through your

Mark reads his post, Eye of the tiger, thrill of the fight for us, the story of his divorce, then dating, and finally his career switch to becoming a full-time writer. We uncover how Mark used both an 80’s pop song,

We find out from Mark how blogging helped him find his voice, be

Hard times sometimes last for years as we work through major life changes like divorce, so Mark tells us what kept him laughing during the

And finally we end talking about optimism and resiliency. Mark ties it all together with the 3 P’s of positive psychology from Martin Seligman.

Wynne has a mantra that she talks about in this episode and Vicki reveals her personal anthem. Spoiler alert it’s “I Won’t Back Down” by Tom Petty. If you haven’t thought of one, we have a link to a great resource of personal anthem suggestions in the show notes.

 This is a great episode about using personal anthems through difficult circumstances to keep us motivated and energized to get back up again. We know you’ll love it.

Episode 26 show notes

Mark's blog: Mark My Words

In this episode of the podcast, I'm with Vicki Atkinson and we're discussing the book publishing process. We talk about the trepidation that publication can bring, the feeling that comes with opening what you’ve worked on privately for so long to a wider audience. Vicki helps to counter that by grounding us in knowing our purpose and inspiration for writing.

We talk about the difference between writing to spill secrets and writing to provide insight into how to be resilient through tough situations. Often, the difference lies in doing the work to center ourselves so that we are ready to write. Then one can operate from a foundation of curiosity and healing instead of just recounting the stories that wound.

Vicki walks us through some of the marketing activities she is currently wrangling with, regardless of how you publish a work, all the effort that goes in to promote it. We discuss what a different animal marketing is

We discuss the differences between self-publishing and signing with

And then we circle back to having a clear purpose for writing the memoirs that are so personal and mean so much to us, and how that pushes us through all these uncomfortable aspects of not only writing, but the marketing and beyond.

Episode 25 show notes

In this episode of the Sharing the Heart of the Matter podcast, Wynne Leon is with co-host, Dr. Vicki Atkinson and our colleague, writer, and artist, Libby Saylor, and we talk about Libby’s essay, Old Doors are Closing but New Ones Have Not Yet Opened. We dig into that uncomfortable in-between place that we occasionally find ourselves in – experiencing the discomfort of change without the relief of knowing yet what the next thing will be. In her delightful, honest, and open way, Libby takes us into the disruptions in her life that are making her feel unsettled. And she shares what fuels her optimism for things to come.

Libby tells us a wonderful story about a similar period in her life that she had to feel her way through – and how it led to rich and rewarding experiences as she opened herself to as the doors the opened.

We talk about what to say to ourselves in the period of in-between, admitting this is hard and praying in whatever way we are inclined to be open.

Finally, Libby lets us peak into her artist ways of getting the gunk out as we tease a course that she is building for our community so that we can benefit from her depth and experience as an artist to express ourselves, even when life is uncomfortable.

This is a great episode filled with inspiration and depth as Vicki, Libby, and I talk about waiting through the periods of life that are uncomfortable and in-between. I know you’ll love it.

Episode 24 show notes on HoTM

Libby on Instagram as @libbysaylor and @thegoddessattainable

In this episode, Wynne Leon and Dr. Vicki Atkinson sit down with Lois Roelofs to talk about her incredibly beautiful book, Marv Taking Charge. We talk with Lois about her husband’s decision not to seek treatment for small cell lung cancer and how that choice set up a very intentional life for them as they spent quality time saying good-bye to people that were closest to them. Lois, who has a PhD in nursing and is a former nurse educator, talks about the Patient’s Bill of Rights and the importance of going into decisions about treatment knowing what the priorities are.

Lois brings us along on the road trips she and Marv took after his diagnosis to visit family and friends, to give cherished last hugs. Marv lived well beyond the doctor’s estimate of just a few weeks giving them six wonderful months together.

We talk with Lois about the rapid decline at the end and take in her advice for anyone going through a similar end of life process to lean on the beliefs that give them strength, gather their support system and to sign up for hospice from day one for the care and support they provide. Lois tells us how Marv gave her a gift from the beginning by saying, “You’ll be fine. I’m the one who is dying” and how she worked to honor him as the person who was dying.

This is a great episode filled love and meaning as we talk about intentionally walking towards the end of life. We know you’ll love it.

Show Notes: Episode 23: Marv Taking Charge with Lois Roelofs

Marv Taking Charge: A Story of Bold Love and Courage on Amazon

Lois' blog: Write Along with Me

In this episode, Wynne Leon is with co-host, Dr. Vicki Atkinson and they talk about Vicki's newly released book, Surviving Sue.

In this episode that is near and dear to our hearts, we dig in to what it takes to write a memoir about such a complex character as Vicki’s mom, Sue

We laugh about all the funny parts of Sue as well as a character with infectious positivity and gravitational pull. Because there is always a lighter side to go with the shadow, so we highlight all the fun that Vicki included into the book that makes it such a complete and satisfying story and picture of a woman.

Vicki tells us about uncovering the secrets that Sue carried her whole life, many of them filed away in an ugly gray-green filing cabinet, and the unspoken relationship Sue and Vicki had because as her daughter, she often saw more than Sue wanted her too.

As part of the sandwich generation, taking care of her mom at the same time as raising her daughter, Vicki talks about the tough spots trying to balance it all.

Show Notes: Episode 22: Themes from Surviving Sue with Vicki Atkinson on HoTM

Surviving Sue | Eckhart Press

Vicki's blog: Victoria Ponders

In this episode, Wynne Leon and Dr. Vicki Atkinson talk about living a creative life with Elizabeth Wickham. She tells us about growing up with a mom who allowed messes and was a creative spirit herself. After graduating with a degree in editorial journalism, Elizabeth regales us with stories from the PR firm where she learned to have great writing productivity and also met celebrities like Frank Sinatra, Paul Newman, Bob Hope and Rick Dees.

Vicki and I ooh-and-aah over Elizabeth’s long list of interesting writing projects including her weekly column for the most viewed swim website and feature pieces like one about young swimmers who were on deck when the 1973 Chilean coup took place.

We benefit from Elizabeth’s great wisdom about switching projects when stuck creatively – from writing, blogging, playing the flute, and back again. She also shared the book that inspired her blogging journey – The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron.

This is a great episode filled with wonderful stories from the delightful, inspirated and creative Elizabeth Wickham. We know you’ll love it.

Show notes: Episode 21 show notes on HoTM

In this episode, Wynne Leon and co-host, Dr. Vicki Atkinson are with psychologist, historian, teacher and blogger, Dr. Gerald Stein.

We talk about the art of the interview. Dr. Stein draws on his extensive experience as a therapist but also as an expert witness to explain how you need to be aware of what’s been said, present to listen and help guide the conversation when asking and answering questions. He tells us how he’s prepared for interviews and what he’s done to make people comfortable. Dr. Stein wisely coaches us to save the hardest questions for last in the case they end the session.

We talk about interviewing family members and what a powerful experience that can be to provide answers and connection. And in the end of our

This is a great episode filled with wonderful stories from the wise, experienced, funny, and insightful, Dr. Stein. We know you’ll love it.

Episode 20 Show Notes: The Art of the Interview

Dr. Stein's Blog: Dr. Gerald Stein | Blogging About Psychotherapy from Chicago (wordpress.com)

In this episode, Wynne Leon and Dr. Vicki Atkinson talk about the most long distance of letters – the ones we write for our dearly departed.

We also talk about being vulnerable to ask questions of our family members before they pass and honor that can be a difficult road depending on their receptivity. But by daring to be seen, we can also possibly benefit by the wonderful gift of exchanging great last lines to our beloveds before they pass.

As a note, we recorded this conversation while some work was being done on Vicki’s house. Please excuse the errant bang here and there. Despite the occasional knock, we know you’ll love this deep and meaningful conversation about writing to and about those we love the most.

Show notes: Episode 19 Long Distance Letters

In this episode, Wynne Leon is with co-host, Dr. Vicki Atkinson and writter, blogger, optimist and master manifester, Mark Petruska.

Manifester might not technically be a word but it’s great shorthand for how Mark wills things into reality. He explains how manifesting works hand-in-hand with optimism to fuel the adventurous changes he and his wife, Tara, have pursued in life.

We talk about his eco-thriller, No Time For Kings, and the one line he read in a newspaper that sparked the plot line. And even though Wynne questioned how Mark, with his humor and optimism, could write a dark and ruthless character like Drake in his novel, Mark tells us how fun it is to write the shadow side.

Mark reveals Jack London as his writing inspiration and since Mark has successfully manifested his writing career, we talk about how he went about

This is a great optimism filled with the optimism and fun that comes when you write your own script. We know you’ll love it.

Guest post from Mark Petruska and show notes: Episode 18 show notes