Donna Cimarelli, founder and CEO of the Maren Sanchez Home Foundation, is our guest for this episode. Donna started the Foundation after she lost her daughter to school violence. Our topics range from how to identify and handle ‘emotional manipulation’ to how to find resilience through and after a tragedy. The Foundation offers two types of workshops (Herself Defense Course and Herself Awareness Program) and its website is: http://marensanchezhomefoundation.org.

Glori Norwitt, Women’s Center of Danbury Chairperson, is our guest for this episode. The Center helps both women and men in sexual assault and domestic violence situations. Listening to Glori, you’ll understand why the #MeToo movement is about “us”...it’s about the structure and meaning of our relationships at home, school, work and really everywhere. Glori provides us with not only “compassionate tools” that we can use to help others address sexual and domestic abuse crises but also the telephone numbers for her Center’s hotlines:

Sexual Assault—203-731-5204

Domestic Violence—203-731-5206

Headquarters/Office—203-731-5200.

The web address for the Women’s Center of Danbury is: http://wcogd.org.

Maya Soetoro-Ng, Ceeds of Peace cofounder and director of the Matsunaga Institute for Peace & Conflict Resolution at the University of Hawaii, is our guest for this episode. Our Hawaiian inspired discussion included subjects such as the problem of loneliness, the importance of teaching values in education, and even her famous brother, President Barack Obama. This podcast with Maya is about not only compassion, courage, and conflict resolution but also purpose, power, and people. Mahalo nui loa (many thanks) for listening.

https://www.ceedsofpeace.org

http://www.peaceinstitute.hawaii.edu/index.html

Andrea Gartner, the founder and CEO of “Pour Me,” is our guest for this episode about how to find ‘balance’ in life while building a startup company. Andrea leads us through a wide range of topics that include insights into how we can live a fulfilling life while making a rewarding living. Andrea is a living testament to how helping others can fuel your own success and her discussion with us about how she built a business while building a community provides practical advice on how to do exactly that. Just as town libraries are considered the “living rooms” of their communities, this episode shows how local businesses such as restaurants and cafes can succeed by becoming their community's ‘kitchen tables’ where we all take time to talk over our favorite food and drinks. Cheers!

Tom Matt, the host of Boomers Rock radio talk show, is our guest for this episode. From discussing inter-generational collaboration in the workplace to overcoming drug and alchohol abuse, our conversation with Tom is about how to not only live life large but live a largely compassionate life (especially through “BEisms”).

“Black Mirror” and compassion. In this episode, which was inspired by the television show “Black Mirror," Tracy and Chris discuss the connections (or non-connections) between technology and compassion. From using social media to being governed by algorithms, technology is in almost every part of our daily lives. This episode is about taking the time to look into our own “black mirrors” for the purpose of reflecting upon how technology can be used for constructive and destructive purposes. If breaking a regular mirror leads to seven years of bad luck, do you know what breaking a black mirror leads to? A new smartphone (listen to the episode to understand why).

We start the new year with “understanding” (the “U” in LUCA). Tracy and Chris talk about the effects of intuitive versus deliberative thinking when it comes to understanding and solving problems. The discussion ranges from understanding what “The Human Advantage” is to understanding what the perfect cup of coffee includes. Enjoy your ‘perfect’ cup while you listen to this episode.

Handling the Holidays" podcast. Tracy, Pete, and Chris talk about the “craziness” of Christmas and how to compassionately make it through the holiday season: building a "gratitude attitude," unlocking your "multiple identities," and finding your “Silver and Gold.” We wish you all an enjoyable holiday season and a compassionate new year!

@compachieverpod

Dr. Joan Palladino, Chair of WCSU’s Nursing Department, is this week’s guest. We discuss how the compassion of colleagues and leaders can strengthen a work environment where trauma and tragedy are constants. If you’re interested in learning more about the power of self-compassion, a “good cry,” and empathy fatigue (as opposed to compassion fatigue), Dr. Palladino has you covered better than any health care plan!

Imam Usman Akhtar, the Imam/Director of Religious Affairs at the Danbury Masjid, is our guest for this episode. We explore the connections between Islam, compassion, and success as well as some misconceptions about living life as a Muslim. Usman shows us how the Quran offers one path to walking life as a compassionate achiever.