Episode #50 on The Growth and Resilience Network® podcast channel examines core issues associated with adoption. Our guest, John Longbottom, shares his experiences as an adopted child, his ups and downs, and his takeaways regarding adoption. He helps us examine the triad of adoption: The Adoptee, The Adopted Parents, and the Birth Parents.

While the conversation here represents the views and lessons of one man, it reminds us that adoption is more than what happens to or for the adopted child. It affects many for years—if not life. John discusses core issues associated with adoption: Loss, rejection, guilt/shame, grief, identify, intimacy, mastery/control.

He shares the range of emotions he experienced. And his journey led to his realization that each person of the “triad” (adoptee, adopted parents, and birth parents) confronts the same core issues.

Note: During the episode, John’s visit and performance in a college classroom is mentioned. Here is the link: https://youtu.be/eP5AXknH1kg.

Podcast music ("Walk with Me") by ©John Longbottom. Used with permission. All rights reserved. Podcast ©Steve Piscitelli. 2020. The Growth and Resilience Network®

Episode #49 on The Growth and Resilience Network® podcast channel, dives into the emotional, wrenching, jolting, transformative subject of how a parent deals with the death of a child. Does one ever "deal" with it? If so, how? If not, why not? Abby and Michael Steele will help the listening audience understand how they navigated these uncharted waters. In addition to how they chose to move forward, they will share what worked for them and what did not. If you ever found yourself face-to-face with a parent who lost a child, perhaps you did not know what to say or do--and what not to say or do. While their might not be a "How-To Guide" for such circumstances, Abby and Michael share what helped them move forward following the death of their daughter, Liz.

How does a parent deal with such a loss? Is it ever dealt with? Does one ever move on? Is there a so-called new normal?

Ten years later, you will hear the story of two parents and life after the death of their child.

For information about the Liz Rosenfeld Legacy Fund go to https://www.jaxcf.org/donate Search Key Word : Liz Rosenfeld.

Music ©Billy Bowers. Used with permission. All rights reserved. www.billybowersjax.com

©2019. Steve Piscitelli The Growth and Resilience Network® www.stevepiscitelli.com

This episode on The Growth and Resilience Network® podcast channel explores the connection between a community’s vitality and access to sustainable homeownership. Beaches Habitat for Humanity President and CEO Curtis Ford and Mary Anne Christensen, Development Director, help us examine how Beaches Habitat helps build communities within a community, the importance and financial realities of sustainable home ownership, and how the greater community can come together to help strengthen the entire community one home at a time.

Music ("T2D") by Billy Bowers©. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

©Steve Piscitelli. 2019 The Growth and Resilience Network® www.stevepiscitelli.com

This episode on The Growth and Resilience Network® podcast channel explores the DNA of bands—from the perspective of the women in the band. Beyond the musical talent, what is the "x" factor that keeps the bands together, making music, and connecting with their audiences. In short, what is the "It" of successful bands. And, are there gender dynamics that bands need to content with during formation, rehearsal, and performance.

Seasoned musicians and band members/leaders Lauren Fincham, Tamara Colonna, and Sarah “Mama Blue” Sanders break it down for us.

Topics covered include musical collaboration, respect, gender dynamics, intentionality of purpose, self-care, respect for home-town talent, and potential stumbling blocks for cohesiveness.

Music ("T2D") by Billy Bowers©. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

©Steve Piscitelli. 2019 The Growth and Resilience Network® www.stevepiscitelli.com

This episode on The Growth and Resilience Network® podcast channel explores the DNA of bands. Beyond the musical talent, what is the "x" factor that keeps the bands together, making music, and connecting with their audiences. In short, what is the "It" of successful bands.

Seasoned musicians and band members/leaders Brother John Mortensen, The Legendary Roy Peak, and Crucial Eddy Cotton break it down for us in this riveting conversation. Topics covered include basic business principles all bands need to address, dressing for the gig, band names, recording and technology, the importance of respect for people working the club in which the band is playing, laying of "the sauce," and when to pay the band members. If you think a band is just about the stage time, listen to these three talented and veteran band members share lessons learned along the way to becoming The Leaders of the Bands.

Music by Billy Bowers©. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

©Steve Piscitelli. 2019 The Growth and Resilience Network® www.stevepiscitelli.com

Community transformation does not just appear. It requires vision, thought, communication, respect, difficult questioning, and attentive listening. Transformational leaders help orchestrate that communal dance. They recognize that establishing a “shared vision” requires tough conversations. Everyone around the table typically sees his or her agenda item as the most important. They struggle to understand what “community” means beyond their narrow framework. Intentions may be good, but attention may not stray far from an individual agenda. The bigger picture can get lost in collective monologues.

Two long-time community activists and leaders, Linda and Michael Lanier, sat down with me and shared a few leadership skills and strategies. You can read more in my book "Community as a Safe Place to Land."

Music ©Billy Bowers. Used with permission. www.billybowersjax.com

©Steve Piscitelli. 2019 The Growth and Resilience Network® www.stevepiscitelli.com

This episode explores how a beach community (Atlantic Beach, Florida) came together to create a venue for musical dreams that in turn helps create pathways for other rainbows.

And when that happens, hope lives. When people take time to listen to and give gratitude for the gifts of others, community strengthens. As Izzy sings in one of her original compositions (at the end of the podcast), “You’re my friend, and I love you.”

For more on this event and community building and sustainability see the book "Community as a Safe Place to Land" by Steve Piscitelli (Atlantic Beach, FL: The Growth and Resilience Network®

Music by BIlly Bowers©. Used with permission. All rights reserved. www.billybowersjax.com

Music ("It Rained Today") by Izzy Moon Mayforth. Used with permission.

©Steve Piscitelli. 2019 The Growth and Resilience Network® All rights reserved. www.stevepiscitelli.com

Episode #43: Trust as a Core Value takes us inside The Clara White Mission (www.theclarawhitemission.org) in Jacksonville, Florida.

Today the Clara White Mission feeds, houses, educates, and ministers to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the homeless and low-income. Regardless of the service provided, the goal is to provide relevant training and support for long-term self-sufficiency.

CEO and President of the Clara White Mission, Ms. Ju’ Coby Pittman, understands that each client arrives at the front door “broken, with a laundry bag of challenges,” and in need of someone to believe in and assist them. They require a community of resources.

But how does an agency ministering to the needs of a transient population develop a sense of community? Is that even possible? Pittman told me it is possible, and it comes down to one core value. Trust.

Music by Billy Bowers©. Used with permission. All rights reserved. www.billybowersjax.com

©Steve Piscitelli. 2019 The Growth and Resilience Network® All rights reserved. www.stevepiscitelli.com

This SPECIAL podcast episode complements my latest book "Community as a Safe Place to Land." The book builds on 7 core values for purpose and growth—7 core values that can help communities grow: relationships, relevance, resources, rainbows, responsibility, reflection, and resilience. They all inter-connect and support one another. As followers of this podcast channel know from previous episodes, each of the book’s 7 sections opens with a transformational story about community. During the writing of the book I had the opportunity and honor to visit with the amazing people who make up those stories. That resulted in 7 podcast episodes. You can access each live episode through my website @ https://stevepiscitelli.com/media-written/community-as-a-safe-place-to-land.  This episode features one short clip from each of those stories. The order represents the order you will find their stories in the book. So, let’s get started!

To order the book, visit www.stevepiscitelli.com. '

Music by Billy Bowers©. All rights reserved. Used with permission. www.billybowersjax.com

'©Steve Piscitelli. 2019 The Growth and Resilience Network®

Episode #42 looks at one community's challenges and hope. When people move toward their collective rainbows—their dreams—the community can see all manner of hope and possibility. Whether they seem impossibly distant or close at hand, they need to marshal strength, energy, and resources to move forward. The community members step up and take responsibility for vision and actions. We have heard that the village raises up a child. But what can be done if the village itself needs to be raised up? What do we do, for instance, if the village has inadequate infrastructure, health disparities, high crime and poverty, lack of accessible pharmacies and fresh foods, and educational and financial literacy challenges? Threatened on many levels, the village nears the breaking point. If you’re Executive Director George Maxey, you listen and help the villagers create a movement--the New Town Success Zone movement.

More can be found in my newest book Community as a Safe Place to Land.

Music by ©Billy Bowers. Used with permission. www.billybowersjax.com

©Steve Piscitelli. 2019 The Growth and Resilience Network www.stevepiscitelli.com