What happens to the #brain when we use #empathetic listening while sharing stories of #trauma? The research tells us that stories can help us heal and gain peace. On this episode, Belinda Bauman, the catalyst behind #silenceisnotspiritual and #shesurvives, joins Rebecca Davis, an author who advocates for victims of spiritual abuse. Together, these women offer tremendous hope for anyone who desires to process #abuse, #victimization or #conflict.

How can stories give access into a person who has dementia or Alzheimer's?

Dr. Jennifer Bute, an accomplished physician living with dementia, joins Louise Morse of the Pilgrim's Friend Society and Jordan Gross. Together, these three teach co-hosts Amy and Holland about communicating with people with #dementia.

Jennifer talks about her Japanese memory groups, Jordan shares how #improv can be a great tool and Louise sets the record straight on why we freeze up when chatting with folks with dementia.

Dr. Jennifer Bute, Louise Morse and Jordan Gross join Amy and Holland for an encouraging conversation about how stories and thoughtful words can bring hope to people living with dementia.

Our population is growing older each day, and senior adults are not an important part of the future of words. How can we better support those who are experiencing effects of growing old?

Join us for a rousing conversation at the table.

We are living in a "continuous ongoing tide of information & technology" according to our guest Noah Schumerth. Our other guest this week, George Fletcher shares that we carry enormous amounts of data in our pockets. Can our libraries help democratize the wave of technology embedded into our world? We talk about the benefits & negatives of Smart Cities as well as consider how libraries could be the plumb line to help citizens balance and bridge the inequalities in our communities.

Can our neighborhood libraries help bridge digital divides and ease the entry into Smart Cities for 21st century citizens? As trusted 3rd spaces for many communities, libraries offer a unique avenue into learning about technology. Our guests, George Fletcher and Noah Schumerth share details through their conversation that help us get a better understanding about the impact Smart Cities will make on the future of words.

Teaching and learning are component parts of education. As we teach, we learn and vice versa. How one becomes educated depends on several mindsets. Are we willing to gain perspective and understand the viewpoints of others?

Our guests Tyson Wright and Glenis Redmond explore how we can use diverse literature to grow a more inclusive and empathetic mindset. They explain how vital it is to have access to diverse books and share stories that may be difficult to tell and hear.

Join the conversation.

In a time of divisive discourse, empathy appears to be a missing element in the fabric of our conversations. Join us for a timely chat about stepping into the shoes of others as we welcome Glenis Redmond and Tyson Wright to our table.

Glenis is a traveling poet who teaches the creative process of writing and presenting poetry. Her books include: What My Hand Say, Monumental, & Under The Sun. 

Tyson has been a police officer and a classroom teacher and is currently a behavior interventionist.

When our perspectives & beliefs are challenged by new information, how do we handle it? Are we holding social media platforms accountable for the information? Finding original sources & utilizing primary documents to fact check is one way to insure authentic understanding. Chris Worthy & Thomas Riddle continue to give relevant insight and information about resources to assist us in balancing bias & belief. The message of fear can't override logic. Learn how to be a responsible consumers of words.

Chris Worthy & educator Thomas Riddle discuss how words become part of the fabric in our culture through the news we read, ads we see, or sound bites we hear. How are these ideas presented? What is the motive? Who is paying for their production? Propaganda is subjective, how do we perceive images, pictures, dialogue? We need to do more than swipe, skim and digest sound bites in order to have information literacy. Thomas and Chris provide keys & resources to help us navigate information.

Our memories and experiences are often impacted by the music we are singing, listening to or interacting with through movies or dancing. Many songs offer launching pads that propel us past barriers of race, gender and language. 

Nick Riddle, a talented song writer and musician, and Jen St. Charles, a gifted music teacher, join Amy and Holland to talk about the future of words in music.