The Dignity Lab

Join the dialogue - text your questions, insights, and feedback to The Dignity Lab podcast.

In this episode of The Dignity Lab, Dr. Jennifer Griggs interviews Sejal Shah, author of This is One Way to Dance and How to Make Your Mother Cry.

Sejal and Jennifer discuss the concept of dignity and its importance in storytelling and personal healing. Sejal shares her experiences of reclaiming dignity after professional setbacks and how writing has been a pivotal tool in her journey. They also explore themes of invisibility, hypervisibility, and the healing power of dance.

Sejal reads passages from her new book, providing insight into her writing process and the personal experiences that shape her work. The conversation touches on the impact of community support, the challenges of navigating identity, and the power of personal expression.

 Guest Contact

• Website

 Episode Resources

• How to Make Your Mother Cry: Fictions by Sejal Shah
• This Is One Way to Dance: Essays by Sejal Shah
• Even If You Can't See It: Invisible Disability and Neurodiversity (The Kenyon Review) by Sejal Shah
• Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity by Devon Price

 Key Takeaways

• Sejal Shah shares her journey of reclaiming dignity after a professional setback.
• Sejal's essay on invisible disability resonated widely and allowed her to move from an “object” position to a “subject” position.
• Invisibility and hypervisibility, common experiences for minoritized people, further violate dignity. 
• Dance serves as a powerful means of reclaiming body dignity for Sejal.
• Sejal reads passages from her book, How to Make Your Mother Cry.
• Storytelling is crucial for reclaiming dignity and becoming the subject of one's narrative.
• Sejal shares her wish that our listeners dance and live boldly.

Exploring what it means to live and lead with dignity at work, in our families, in our communities, and in the world. What is dignity? How can we honor the dignity of others? And how can we repair and reclaim our dignity after harm? Tune in to hear stories about violations of dignity and ways in which we heal, forgive, and make choices about how we show up in a chaotic and fractured world. Hosted by physician and coach Jennifer Griggs.

For more information on the podcast, please visit www.thedignitylab.com.
For more information on podcast host Dr. Jennifer Griggs, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/.
For additional free resources, including the periodic table of dignity elements, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/resources/.

The Dignity Lab is an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will receive 10% of the purchase price when you click through and make a purchase. This supports our production and hosting costs. Bookshop.org doesn’t earn money off bookstore sales, all profits go to independent bookstores. We encourage our listeners to purchase books through Bookshop.org for this reason.

Join the dialogue - text your questions, insights, and feedback to The Dignity Lab podcast.

The world is in a crisis of storytelling, with myths and narratives shaping our perception of reality.

The Dignity Lab explores the impact of stories on dignity, kindness, and community. The conversation with Gareth Higgins delves into the power of storytelling, the scarcity narrative, and the practice of kindness and dignity in a competitive world. It also discusses nonviolent communication, the purpose of suffering, and the crisis of storytelling in today's world.

This episode also delves into the concept of the seventh story and the transformative potential of storytelling. The conversation emphasizes the importance of imagination, selflessness, and the pursuit of collective liberation. It touches on the challenges of leadership, the need for rest, and the cultivation of a culture of generosity.

Guest Contact

• Gareth Higgins Website
• Ireland Retreats Website

Episode Resources

• How Not to Be Afraid by Gareth Higgins
• Cory and the Seventh Story by Gareth Higgins and Brian D. McLaren

Takeaways

• The crisis of storytelling in today's world has significant implications for our perception of reality and our ability to foster kindness and community.
• The scarcity narrative and the competitive nature of society often overshadow the practice of kindness and dignity.
• Nonviolent communication and the purpose of suffering offer insights into how we can navigate challenges and conflicts more compassionately.
• The power of storytelling lies in its ability to shape our beliefs, values, and behaviors, influencing our individual and collective experiences. The power of storytelling lies in its ability to expand the circle of belonging and bring more love into the world.
• Living in fear leads to a diminished life and can wreak havoc in the lives of others.
• Vulnerability and honest conversations are essential for fostering connection and support.
• The seventh story offers a lens of liberation and reconciliation, transforming dominant narratives into stories of servant leadership, care for the oppressed, and shared abundance.
• Leadership requires rest, balance, and a commitment to resourcing oneself to live vibrantly and creatively.
• Cultivating a culture of generosity is essential for fostering a more hopeful and reconciled world.

Exploring what it means to live and lead with dignity at work, in our families, in our communities, and in the world. What is dignity? How can we honor the dignity of others? And how can we repair and reclaim our dignity after harm? Tune in to hear stories about violations of dignity and ways in which we heal, forgive, and make choices about how we show up in a chaotic and fractured world. Hosted by physician and coach Jennifer Griggs.

For more information on the podcast, please visit www.thedignitylab.com.
For more information on podcast host Dr. Jennifer Griggs, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/.
For additional free resources, including the periodic table of dignity elements, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/resources/.

The Dignity Lab is an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will receive 10% of the purchase price when you click through and make a purchase. This supports our production and hosting costs. Bookshop.org doesn’t earn money off bookstore sales, all profits go to independent bookstores. We encourage our listeners to purchase books through Bookshop.org for this reason.

Join the dialogue - text your questions, insights, and feedback to The Dignity Lab podcast.

In this episode, Dr. Jennifer Griggs and producer Vanessa Aron explore the ways we respond when our dignity is violated and how we can reclaim it. They discuss the physical, emotional, and behavioral reactions to dignity violations, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and naming these responses. Jennifer introduces the concepts of Mouse, Monster, and Island to describe different coping mechanisms.

Vanessa and Jennifer reflect on their own experiences and stress the significance of compassionate companionship in overcoming shame and isolation. They also highlight the role of resistance in both small daily actions and larger acts of standing up for oneself and others.

The conversation touches on restorative practices and the importance of transforming grievance stories into empowering narratives. Jennifer and Vanessa discuss the power of joy, wonder, and gratitude in the healing process, setting the stage for deeper explorations into advocacy, accountability, and reclamation of dignity in the upcoming season.

Episode Resources

• Forgive for Good by Dr. Fred Luskin
• Yearning: Race, Gender and Cultural Politics by Bell Hooks
• Dignity by Donna Hicks

Takeaways:

• Understanding the physical and emotional responses to dignity violations.
• Recognizing and naming emotions to facilitate healing.
• The role of compassionate companionship in overcoming shame.
• The importance of resisting negative reactions and fostering positive change.
• Transforming grievance stories into empowering narratives.
• The significance of joy, wonder, and gratitude in reclaiming dignity.

Exploring what it means to live and lead with dignity at work, in our families, in our communities, and in the world. What is dignity? How can we honor the dignity of others? And how can we repair and reclaim our dignity after harm? Tune in to hear stories about violations of dignity and ways in which we heal, forgive, and make choices about how we show up in a chaotic and fractured world. Hosted by physician and coach Jennifer Griggs.

For more information on the podcast, please visit www.thedignitylab.com.
For more information on podcast host Dr. Jennifer Griggs, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/.
For additional free resources, including the periodic table of dignity elements, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/resources/.

The Dignity Lab is an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will receive 10% of the purchase price when you click through and make a purchase. This supports our production and hosting costs. Bookshop.org doesn’t earn money off bookstore sales, all profits go to independent bookstores. We encourage our listeners to purchase books through Bookshop.org for this reason.

Join the dialogue - text your questions, insights, and feedback to The Dignity Lab podcast.

In this bonus episode of The Dignity Lab, we get a behind-the-scenes look at the team that makes the podcast possible. The episode features introductions from the key members: Jennifer Griggs, podcast host; Vanessa Aron, podcast producer; Kaci Frenette, executive assistant; and Pete Carty, sound designer and editor. Each team member shares what excites them currently, their strategies for handling challenging days, and their current reads or listens.

Vanessa talks about her role in guiding the podcast's direction and her love for the changing seasons. Pete shares his enthusiasm for field recording and how nature sounds play a part in his life and work. Kaci discusses her new business venture.

The conversation covers various personal interests, from music preferences on road trips to stress-relief strategies like listening to music, taking nature walks, and practicing mindfulness. The team also reflects on the positive impact of their work on the podcast and their excitement for upcoming projects.

Episode Resources

• The Virtuous Organization by Charles Manz, Kim Cameron, et al.
• How Not to Be Afraid by Gareth Higgins
• The Stand by Stephen King
• Tennessee Landscape with Blighted Pine by Jesse Graves
• Essentialism by Greg McKeown

Exploring what it means to live and lead with dignity at work, in our families, in our communities, and in the world. What is dignity? How can we honor the dignity of others? And how can we repair and reclaim our dignity after harm? Tune in to hear stories about violations of dignity and ways in which we heal, forgive, and make choices about how we show up in a chaotic and fractured world. Hosted by physician and coach Jennifer Griggs.

For more information on the podcast, please visit www.thedignitylab.com.
For more information on podcast host Dr. Jennifer Griggs, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/.
For additional free resources, including the periodic table of dignity elements, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/resources/.

The Dignity Lab is an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will receive 10% of the purchase price when you click through and make a purchase. This supports our production and hosting costs. Bookshop.org doesn’t earn money off bookstore sales, all profits go to independent bookstores. We encourage our listeners to purchase books through Bookshop.org for this reason.

Join the dialogue - text your questions, insights, and feedback to The Dignity Lab podcast.

Exploring what it means to live and lead with dignity at work, in our families, in our communities, and in the world. What is dignity? How can we honor the dignity of others? And how can we repair and reclaim our dignity after harm? Tune in to hear stories about violations of dignity and ways in which we heal, forgive, and make choices about how we show up in a chaotic and fractured world. Hosted by physician and coach Jennifer Griggs.

For more information on the podcast, please visit www.thedignitylab.com.
For more information on podcast host Dr. Jennifer Griggs, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/.
For additional free resources, including the periodic table of dignity elements, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/resources/.

The Dignity Lab is an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will receive 10% of the purchase price when you click through and make a purchase. This supports our production and hosting costs. Bookshop.org doesn’t earn money off bookstore sales, all profits go to independent bookstores. We encourage our listeners to purchase books through Bookshop.org for this reason.

Join the dialogue - text your questions, insights, and feedback to The Dignity Lab podcast.

In this episode, Dr. Jennifer Griggs and Vanessa Aron discuss the key takeaways from the first season of the Dignity Lab podcast. They explore the complexity of dignity and how it is inherent in each of us. They also discuss the importance of naming and feeling dignity, and the relationship between leadership and honoring dignity. The conversation delves into the vulnerability of dignity, the role of emotions in recognizing violations of dignity, and the connection between love and dignity. The hosts share wishes for the listeners and invite them to share their favorite episodes and key takeaways.

Takeaways

• Dignity is inherent in each of us and is both essential and vulnerable to harm.
• The concept of dignity is complex and involves not only our own dignity but also the dignity of others and the interactions between them.
• Naming and feeling dignity are important in recognizing violations and honoring dignity.
• Leadership and honoring dignity are closely linked, and leaders have a responsibility to treat others with dignity and respect.
• Recognizing violations of dignity is easier than recognizing when dignity is honored.
• Dignity is amplified in power imbalances and can be preserved through boundaries and love.
• Love is at the core of everything we do and can sustain us in difficult situations.
• Changing the story we tell ourselves about ourselves is important in reclaiming our dignity.
• Listeners are invited to share their favorite episodes and key takeaways and to share their own dignity dilemmas or stories of reclaiming dignity.

Chapters
00:00 The Complexity of Dignity
02:23 Revolution and Dignity
03:22 Naming and Feeling Dignity
05:42 Leadership and Honoring Dignity
08:05 Recognizing Violations vs. Honoring Dignity
10:24 Dignity in Power Imbalances
20:38 Changing the Story of Dignity
23:38 Inviting Listener Engagement

Exploring what it means to live and lead with dignity at work, in our families, in our communities, and in the world. What is dignity? How can we honor the dignity of others? And how can we repair and reclaim our dignity after harm? Tune in to hear stories about violations of dignity and ways in which we heal, forgive, and make choices about how we show up in a chaotic and fractured world. Hosted by physician and coach Jennifer Griggs.

For more information on the podcast, please visit www.thedignitylab.com.
For more information on podcast host Dr. Jennifer Griggs, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/.
For additional free resources, including the periodic table of dignity elements, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/resources/.

The Dignity Lab is an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will receive 10% of the purchase price when you click through and make a purchase. This supports our production and hosting costs. Bookshop.org doesn’t earn money off bookstore sales, all profits go to independent bookstores. We encourage our listeners to purchase books through Bookshop.org for this reason.

Join the dialogue - text your questions, insights, and feedback to The Dignity Lab podcast.

In this episode, Dr. Jennifer Griggs interviews Anese Cavanaugh, CEO of Active Choices, about the importance of presence, the feminine and masculine energies in leadership, and the role of grief in healing. Anese shares her personal journey of choosing happiness and the power of being intentional and present in creating one's own happiness. They discuss the misconceptions around presence and the importance of self-care in leadership. They also explore the impact of busyness on dignity and the contagious nature of presence.

In this conversation, Jennifer Griggs and Anese Cavanaugh discuss the importance of grieving and being witnessed to heal from trauma. They explore the balance between energies in leadership and the need for organizations to address toxic behavior. They also touch on the ongoing nature of personal growth and the importance of self-care. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the importance of creating space for oneself and others to thrive.

Guest Contact

• Website

Episode Resources

• Contagious Culture by Anese Cavanaugh
• Contagious You by Anese Cavanaugh

Takeaways

• Happiness is a choice that can be made by being present and intentional about what you want to create in your life.
• Presence and intentionality are key leadership skills that require being authentic, real, and grounded.
• Self-care is a crucial leadership skill that allows for better relationships and the ability to honor the dignity of others.
• Busyness can be a threat to presence and dignity, and it is important to create space for thoughtful and conscious conversations.
• Grief is a necessary part of healing, and it is important to honor and process the pain before moving forward. Grieving and being witnessed are essential for healing from trauma.
• Balance between masculine and feminine energy is important in leadership.
• Toxic behavior in organizations needs to be addressed.
• Personal growth is an ongoing process.
• Self-care is crucial for well-being and success.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
14:51 Misconceptions about Presence and Authenticity in Leadership
33:43 Grieving and Being Witnessed in Healing
40:21 Balancing Masculine and Feminine Energy in Leadership
47:36 Addressing Toxic Behavior in Organizations
55:21 The Ongoing Journey of Personal Growth
01:04:28 The Importance of Self-Care for Well-Being and Success

Exploring what it means to live and lead with dignity at work, in our families, in our communities, and in the world. What is dignity? How can we honor the dignity of others? And how can we repair and reclaim our dignity after harm? Tune in to hear stories about violations of dignity and ways in which we heal, forgive, and make choices about how we show up in a chaotic and fractured world. Hosted by physician and coach Jennifer Griggs.

For more information on the podcast, please visit www.thedignitylab.com.
For more information on podcast host Dr. Jennifer Griggs, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/.
For additional free resources, including the periodic table of dignity elements, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/resources/.

The Dignity Lab is an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will receive 10% of the purchase price when you click through and make a purchase. This supports our production and hosting costs. Bookshop.org doesn’t earn money off bookstore sales, all profits go to independent bookstores. We encourage our listeners to purchase books through Bookshop.org for this reason.

Join the dialogue - text your questions, insights, and feedback to The Dignity Lab podcast.

In this episode of The Dignity Lab, Dr. Jennifer Griggs interviews Dr. Fred Coulter, an ordained minister and professor emeritus. They discuss the concept of dignity and its importance in their lives. Fred shares his journey of self-discovery and the role of dignity in his recovery from addiction.

They also explore the power of vulnerability, belonging, and contentment. The conversation touches on the need for rituals to honor grief and the commodification of purpose in society.

Overall, the episode emphasizes the importance of recognizing and reclaiming our inherent dignity.

Takeaways

• Reclaiming dignity involves recognizing our right to feel safe, be free, and express ourselves without shame or guilt.
• Honoring the dignity of others also honors our own dignity.
• Vulnerability, belonging, and freedom are interconnected with dignity.
• Contentment is about having enough and being enough.
• Society often lacks rituals to honor grief and struggles with dealing with pain.
• Recovery involves recognizing and claiming our dignity, as well as being honest with ourselves.
• Self-forgiveness and healing require vulnerability and acknowledging our brokenness.
• Purpose can become commodified, and society often pressures us to constantly strive for more.
• Finding dignity involves embracing all our feelings and living with them.
• Honesty, vulnerability, and finding supportive people are essential in the journey of self-discovery and reclaiming dignity.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Dignity and its Importance
08:17 The Power of Vulnerability, Belonging, and Contentment
25:03 Living with All Our Feelings: Embracing Brokenness and Finding Dignity

Exploring what it means to live and lead with dignity at work, in our families, in our communities, and in the world. What is dignity? How can we honor the dignity of others? And how can we repair and reclaim our dignity after harm? Tune in to hear stories about violations of dignity and ways in which we heal, forgive, and make choices about how we show up in a chaotic and fractured world. Hosted by physician and coach Jennifer Griggs.

For more information on the podcast, please visit www.thedignitylab.com.
For more information on podcast host Dr. Jennifer Griggs, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/.
For additional free resources, including the periodic table of dignity elements, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/resources/.

The Dignity Lab is an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will receive 10% of the purchase price when you click through and make a purchase. This supports our production and hosting costs. Bookshop.org doesn’t earn money off bookstore sales, all profits go to independent bookstores. We encourage our listeners to purchase books through Bookshop.org for this reason.

Join the dialogue - text your questions, insights, and feedback to The Dignity Lab podcast.

In this episode, Dr. Jennifer Griggs interviews Jon-Paul deLange, a high performance and radical forgiveness coach who works with veterans who have experienced trauma. They discuss trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), multi-generational trauma, failures in leadership, and forgiveness. Jon-Paul shares his personal experiences with trauma and the importance of recognizing and healing from it. They also explore the different types of forgiveness and the role of somatic experiencing in the healing process.

Guest Contact

• Website

Episode Resources

• More information about Somatic Experiencing and Peter Levine.

Takeaways

• Trauma is not only about the incident itself, but about what's happening in the body right now because of what was experienced.
• Multi-generational trauma occurs when the pain and trauma of one generation is passed on to the next, often unknowingly.
• In this conversation, Jon-Paul describes three types of forgiveness: traditional forgiveness, extraordinary forgiveness, and radical forgiveness. Radical forgiveness focuses on becoming whole in the present moment.
• Somatic experiencing is a body-based trauma treatment that helps individuals become more present in the present moment and heal from trauma.
• There is a need for better public policy and awareness around trauma, especially in the military, to support the mental well-being of individuals and prevent further harm.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
06:44 Understanding Trauma and Its Categories
31:52 The Need for Better Public Policy and Awareness
38:09 The Three Types of Forgiveness
45:12 Conclusion

Exploring what it means to live and lead with dignity at work, in our families, in our communities, and in the world. What is dignity? How can we honor the dignity of others? And how can we repair and reclaim our dignity after harm? Tune in to hear stories about violations of dignity and ways in which we heal, forgive, and make choices about how we show up in a chaotic and fractured world. Hosted by physician and coach Jennifer Griggs.

For more information on the podcast, please visit www.thedignitylab.com.
For more information on podcast host Dr. Jennifer Griggs, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/.
For additional free resources, including the periodic table of dignity elements, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/resources/.

The Dignity Lab is an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will receive 10% of the purchase price when you click through and make a purchase. This supports our production and hosting costs. Bookshop.org doesn’t earn money off bookstore sales, all profits go to independent bookstores. We encourage our listeners to purchase books through Bookshop.org for this reason.

Join the dialogue - text your questions, insights, and feedback to The Dignity Lab podcast.

In this episode of the Dignity Lab, Dr. Jennifer Griggs interviews Madelyn Yucht, the founder and CEO of the Summit Executive Advisory Group. They discuss the privilege of leadership, the impact of leaders' behavior on their teams, and how leaders can improve and evolve. They emphasize the importance of treating people with dignity and respect, the need for self-awareness and mindfulness in leadership, and the role of self-care. They also explore the challenges of changing leadership styles and repairing relationships with team members.

Guest Contact

• LinkedIn

Episode Resources

• Positive Intelligence by Shirzad Chamine

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
00:34 The Definition of Dignity and the Privilege of Leadership
09:49 Creating a Safe Environment for Expression
15:38 The Need for Change in Leadership Styles
26:43 Being Real and Authentic as a Leader
31:29 Repairing Relationships and Making Positive Changes
38:44 Speaking Up and Addressing Dysfunction
41:36 Conclusion

Exploring what it means to live and lead with dignity at work, in our families, in our communities, and in the world. What is dignity? How can we honor the dignity of others? And how can we repair and reclaim our dignity after harm? Tune in to hear stories about violations of dignity and ways in which we heal, forgive, and make choices about how we show up in a chaotic and fractured world. Hosted by physician and coach Jennifer Griggs.

For more information on the podcast, please visit www.thedignitylab.com.
For more information on podcast host Dr. Jennifer Griggs, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/.
For additional free resources, including the periodic table of dignity elements, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/resources/.

The Dignity Lab is an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will receive 10% of the purchase price when you click through and make a purchase. This supports our production and hosting costs. Bookshop.org doesn’t earn money off bookstore sales, all profits go to independent bookstores. We encourage our listeners to purchase books through Bookshop.org for this reason.