Stories Lived. Stories Told.

Where can you be looking back in order to look forward?
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Vernon Cronen is a co-creator of the Coordinated Management of Meaning theory of communication. In 1963, Vernon graduated from Ripon College and served for two years as Lieutenant in the US Army, Intelligence branch. After acquiring his Master and PhD from University of Illinois, Urbana, he went on to teach at University of Massachusetts, Amherst from 1970 to 2011. In 1979, Vernon began working with Barnett Pearce to create CMM and has been evolving the theory ever since. He is now part-time faculty at University of North Carolina at wilmington, teaching courses in History, Communication Theory, and CMM.

Claire Craddock graduated from University of North Carolina Wilmington in December 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies. She is passionate about creative arts, especially photography, and enjoys taking part in community service projects. Claire deeply values the art of storytelling and our ability to make connections. Claire was introduced to CMM theory by Dr. Cronen in the last year of her undergraduate studies. Since 2023, she has worked with Dr. Cronen to improve the dynamism in CMM theory by extending and further accounting for the aesthetic dimension, as well as the position of the observer.

Today, Abbie, Vernon, and Claire discuss the aesthetic dimension of communication, context and reflexivity, and dynamism and disorientation.
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Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created, produced & hosted by Abbie VanMeter.
Stories Lived. Stories Told. is an initiative of the CMM Institute for Personal and Social Evolution.
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Music for Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created by Rik Spann.
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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore all things Stories Lived. Stories Told. here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
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What are you constructing in your relationships?
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Sheila McNamee is Professor Emerita of Communication at the University of New Hampshire and co-founder and Vice President of the Taos Institute.  Her work is focused on dialogic transformation within a variety of social and institutional contexts including psychotherapy, education, healthcare, organizations, and communities.  She is author of several books and articles, including – most recently – Design Thinking and Social Construction (with C. Camargo-Borges, BIS, 2022) and Practicing Therapy as Social Construction (with E. Rasera & P. Martins, Sage Publications, 2022). Other books include Research and Social Change: A Relational Constructionist Approach (with D. M. Hosking, Routledge, 2012), Relational Responsibility:  Resources for Sustainable Dialogue (with K. Gergen, Sage, 1999), The Sage Handbook of Social Constructionist Practice (co-edited with M. Gergen, C. Camargo-Borges, & E. Rasera, Sage, 2020), and Education as Social Construction:  Contributions to Theory, Research, and Practice, (co-edited with T. Dragonas, K. Gergen, E. Tseliou, Taos WorldShare, 2015). 

Today, Abbie and Sheila explore relational construction as a way of being in the world. Sheila shares stories of transformation through dialogue.
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Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created, produced & hosted by Abbie VanMeter.
Stories Lived. Stories Told. is an initiative of the CMM Institute for Personal and Social Evolution.
...
Music for Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created by Rik Spann.
...
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore all things Stories Lived. Stories Told. here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
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How can we leave ourselves open to more spontaneity by letting go of some of our expectations?
How do we suffer when we try to fit ourselves into the mold of "should"? Why do we need personal AND social evolution to create a more welcoming and curious culture?
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Rik Spann is an organizational consultant, applied musicologist, artist, and jazz musician. In his work, he is interested in exploring what happens at the crossroads of various disciplinary fields, including science, art, design, music, theatre, dance, film, and beyond. He also loves to play with weird combinations, humor, paradox, everyday life, blue notes, and stuff that can’t be defined. Rik is the author (with Simon Martin) of Resounding: Introducing an Alternative Metaphor for Organizational Change. You can support Rik and his work by donating here.

In this conversation, originally published in May 2022, Rik shares his journey into musicology. Abbie and Rik discuss bricolage, expectations, and ultra-stability. Rik and Abbie explore saying 'no' from a deeper 'yes' and how 'and' lets us build something richer. Rik talks about conversational jazz, curiosity, and perspective in his work as an organization consultant. Finally, Rik shares how he is working to create better social worlds through helpful noise.
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Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created, produced & hosted by Abbie VanMeter.
Stories Lived. Stories Told. is an initiative of the CMM Institute for Personal and Social Evolution.
...
Music for Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created by Rik Spann.
...
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore all things Stories Lived. Stories Told. here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Explore all things CMM Institute here.

How can you embody democratic values?
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Hossein is a clinical psychologist, with a PhD awarded by King’s College London, Institute of Psychiatry Psychotherapist. He is also a researcher and a writer of both Novels and Psychology Books.

Today, Abbie and Hossein explore the relationships between ignorance and knowledge; culture and behavior; and psycho-social factors and democratic values. Hossein talks about his work translating the CosmoKidz activities to Farsi and Pashto, as well as his most recent book, The Valley of Loneliness.
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Subscribe to the CosmoParenting Substack!
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Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created, produced & hosted by Abbie VanMeter.
Stories Lived. Stories Told. is an initiative of the CMM Institute for Personal and Social Evolution.
...
Music for Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created by Rik Spann.
...
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore all things Stories Lived. Stories Told. here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Explore all things CMM Institute here.

What are the real ways that we can embrace the complexity of our experiences?
How can we let go of a scarcity mindset in favor of a mindset of abundance? How can we see the stories of others as adding something important rather than taking something away from us?
What does it actually look like to make more space for people and their stories? How can we start to “build a bigger table”?
Instead of dismissing our vision as unrealistic or unattainable, how can we learn to use imagination and hope as tools to make our dreams a reality?
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Dr. Paul Porter is the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA). Like Abbie, Paul graduated from Ball State University and was a member of the Ball State Speech Team. Paul went on to earn his Master’s in Communication and Rhetorical Studies at Eastern Michigan University and his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Indiana State University. Paul has worked on the development of programs and initiatives designed to help create inclusive environments for diverse student populations, as well as diversity strategic plans and program assessments. Paul has presented on topics such as multicultural competence and unconscious bias across the state of Indiana and nationwide.

In this conversation, originally published in April 2023, Abbie and Paul reflect on meaningful experiences in their lives. Paul and Abbie discuss multicultural competence, cognitive schemas, and puzzles. Paul shares his journey into the world of communication, from 3rd grade tests, to junior high morning announcements, to high school and college speech, and beyond. Paul talks about when he first learned what ADHD and depression are, when he was diagnosed, and how this language changed how he saw himself. Abbie and Paul consider what it looks like to live out values around diversity, equity, and inclusion on a personal and organizational level.
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"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other” -Mother Teresa

“We are only but one conversation from the relationship that changes the rest of our lives” -Lee Mun Wah
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Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created, produced & hosted by Abbie VanMeter.
Stories Lived. Stories Told. is an initiative of the CMM Institute for Personal and Social Evolution.
...
Music for Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created by Rik Spann.
...
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore all things Stories Lived. Stories Told. here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Explore all things CMM Institute here.

What power do you have in your community?
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Sue Wells is a New Zealander. Now living in the North Island's beautiful Kapiti Coast, she is originally from Christchurch in the South Island. There, she grew up, studied at Canterbury University, and had a highly successful broadcasting career in radio and television, including starring in her own show, "Susan Sells", on CTV. She moved from there into local government as an elected city councillor in Christchurch from 1998-2013. She chaired the Council's important planning and regulatory committees including during the terms of the terrible Canterbury Earthquake sequence which took at least 185 lives, many of whom were colleagues of hers from CTV. Sue has a passionate interest in how urban planning and community development work together, and continues that interest in her work today.

Today, Sue and Abbie talk about Sue’s time as a city councillor in Christchurch and what she learned from her experience of the Canterbury Earthquake Sequence. 
...
Take the Survey here!
Subscribe to the CosmoParenting Substack!
Register for the 2024 CMMi Fellows Presentation here!
...
Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created, produced & hosted by Abbie VanMeter.
Stories Lived. Stories Told. is an initiative of the CMM Institute for Personal and Social Evolution.
...
Music for Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created by Rik Spann.
...
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore all things Stories Lived. Stories Told. here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Explore all things CMM Institute here.

How do we, as a community of individuals with individual experiences, thoughts, and feelings, come together to create shared meaning?
How has our understanding of communication evolved to more accurately encompass the complexities and nuances of human relationships?
Whether or not we consider ourselves "creative" or "leaders," how can we still find ways to create and lead?
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Mike is the Director of Leadership Development for the Clinton Foundation and co-directs the Presidential Leadership Scholars program. He is also a Professor of Practice at the Clinton School of Public Service where he teaches courses on communication and the leadership of social change.

In this conversation, originally published in July 2023, Mike introduces himself and shares about the experiences that have shaped him. Mike and Abbie discuss how they define communication, consider how meaning is made, and explore what it means to be both a scholar and a practitioner of communication. Mike and Abbie talk about illusions within communication; mindfulness and reflection, and leadership and creativity.  Finally, Mike and Abbie explore ways to define better social worlds.

Please note that this conversation was recorded prior to the United States Supreme Court's June 29, 2023 decision on affirmative action, which makes it unlawful for colleges to take race into consideration as a specific factor in admissions.
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Take the Survey here!
Subscribe to the CosmoParenting Substack!
Register for the 2024 CMMi Fellows Presentation here!
...
Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created, produced & hosted by Abbie VanMeter.
Stories Lived. Stories Told. is an initiative of the CMM Institute for Personal and Social Evolution.
...
Music for Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created by Rik Spann.
...
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore all things Stories Lived. Stories Told. here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Explore all things CMM Institute here.

How can you create a sense of “Mattering” for yourself and others in your communities?
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Ottar works as a Professor of Counselling at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and also as Head of NTNU WellFare: Nordic Research Center for Well-being and Social Sustainability. Ottar is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Agder (Norway) and an Honorary Professor at Aalborg University (Denmark). He has worked as a systemic family therapist for many years and his research interests concerns Recovery processes in mental health and substance abuse, Mattering, Well-being and Social Justice. Ottar did his PhD in the Taos Institute PhD program. Ottar is the co-author of How People Thrive: Promoting the Synergy of Wellness, Fairness, and Worthiness.

Today, Ottar and Abbie explore definitions and examples of “mattering,” wellness, and social sustainability. Ottar shares how his upcoming co-authored book, “How People Thrive,” emerged out of his work. Abbie and Ottar discuss dignity in the context of poverty; conditions, experiences, and outcomes as a framework; and embodying mattering in our lives.
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Take the Survey here!
Subscribe to the CosmoParenting Substack!
Register for the 2024 CMMi Fellows Presentation here!
...
Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created, produced & hosted by Abbie VanMeter.
Stories Lived. Stories Told. is an initiative of the CMM Institute for Personal and Social Evolution.
...
Music for Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created by Rik Spann.
...
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore all things Stories Lived. Stories Told. here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Explore all things CMM Institute here.

What does it look like for you to celebrate?
Where in your life can you pursue creation (in any of its many forms) as a way to check in with yourself and reflect?
What stories do you have around death and dying?
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Madison Wood-Gonzalez is a National Public Speaker, Storyteller of the Year Award-Winner, Best-Selling Author, and Published Poet. She is also the Executive Director for an Indianapolis-based nonprofit, Morning Light, that fosters community programs in Indiana for the terminally ill, seniors, and families. Madison speaks on topics related to storytelling, mental health, wellness, leadership, and more. It is her mission to empower others to harness the power of community and self-expression to make a positive difference. Madison is a wife, mother to two, daughter, sister, and friend. Her strongest belief is that life should be celebrated and that each day counts.

In this conversation, originally published in February 2023, Madison shares how she learned to stop running from herself and listen to what her Postpartum Depression had to teach her. Abbie and Madison discuss "the creative power of communication;” Madison’s book of poetry, Dear Mirror, and what it means to her; and the stories we are told and the ones Abbie and Madison hope to tell. Madison shares about the work that she does with Morning Light Inc., as they provide a home, comfort, and community to those in hospice care with nowhere else to go. Madison shares stories from the Abbie Hunt Bryce Home. Finally, Abbie and Madison explore some Next Turns to keep this conversation going in our social worlds.
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Take the Survey here!
Subscribe to the CosmoParenting Substack!
Register for the 2024 CMMi Fellows Presentation here!
...
Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created, produced & hosted by Abbie VanMeter.
Stories Lived. Stories Told. is an initiative of the CMM Institute for Personal and Social Evolution.
...
Music for Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created by Rik Spann.
...
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore all things Stories Lived. Stories Told. here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
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What are your “Undigested Stories”?
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Tracey currently lives and works in Aberdeen, Scotland within an independent therapy service at Possibilities Counselling and Psychotherapy. Her professional training was initially in Social Work and she worked with children and families, before retraining in Systemic Psychotherapy. Tracey currently works with children, adults, couples and families. She has also been involved in running parenting groups and bereavement groups. Tracey uses CMM ideas and tools in her day to day therapy practice; she is interested in how we tell our stories and re-edit our stories. Tracey considers herself a story holder, story teller and story co-creator. She is a white Scottish woman, a wife, mother of 3 children, and lover of her Golden Retriever Grace and her puppy Flora.

Today, Tracey and Abbie share about the people they are bringing with them into this conversation. Tracy describes her experience as a CMM Institute Fellow developing the latest addition to the LUUUUUTT Model- “Undigested Stories.”
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LUUUUUTT Model Podcast
LUUUUUTT Model Video
LUUUUUTT Model Infographic
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Take the Survey here!
Subscribe to the CosmoParenting Substack!
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Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created, produced & hosted by Abbie VanMeter.
Stories Lived. Stories Told. is an initiative of the CMM Institute for Personal and Social Evolution.
...
Music for Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created by Rik Spann.
...
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore all things Stories Lived. Stories Told. here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Explore all things CMM Institute here.