The New Dimensions Café

 Michelle Segar, PhD, is an award-winning researcher at the University of Michigan and a health coach. For nearly three decades she has pioneered methods to create sustainable, healthy behavior changes that boost patient health, employee well-being, and gym-membership retention. She advises global organizations on these issues and delivers keynotes and trainings. Her books include No Sweat: How the Simple Science of Motivation Can Bring You a Lifetime of Fitness (Harper Collins Leadership 2015) and The Joy Choice: How to Finally Achieve Lasting Changes in Eating and Exercise (Hachette Go, 2022). 

Interview Date: 6/16/2023.      Tags: Michelle Segar, sustainability, behavior change, habits, motivation, mindfulness, exercise, eating, self-compassion, flexibility, Health & Healing

Diana McLain Smith, PhD has worked with families, organizations, communities, and in some of America’s most iconic businesses and entrepreneurial nonprofits. She has developed an approach that converts debilitating intergroup conflict into constructive outcomes. This work is known as Leading through Relationships (LTR™). She’s a former partner at the Monitor Group and former chief executive partner at New Profit. Her approach is to educate practitioners to develop the skill for engaging and fact-based dialogues, learning from different perspectives, and partnering across boundaries. Her books include Divide or Conquer: How Great Teams Turn Conflict Into Strength (Portfolio 2008), The Elephant in the Room: How Relationships Make or Break the Success of Leaders and Organizations (Jossey-Bass 2011) and Remaking The Space Between Us: How Citizens Can Work Together To Build A Better Future For All (Ballast Books 2024) 

Interview Date: 7/5/2024  Tags: Diana McLain Smith, friendship, George Washington crossing the Delaware, secret dialogues about abortion, dialogue, broadening our perspectives, Braver Angels, Media, Social Change/Politics

Guy Finley, founder and Director of the Life of Learning Foundation, is the author of more than 45 books and audio programs on self-realization. He also hosts online courses through Life of Learning’s Wisdom School. He is the author of many books including The Secret of Letting Go (Llewellyn Publications 2008), The Secret of Your Immortal Self: Key Lessons for Realizing the Divinity Within (Llewellyn Publications 2015), The Essential Laws of Fearless Living (Red Wheel/Weiser 2008), Forever Free CD set (Llewellyn Publications 2009), Life is Real Only When You Are (Audible Audio Edition 2014), Relationship Magic: Waking Up Together (Llewellyn Publications 2018)

Tags: Guy Finley, broken heart, love, loving, fear, resisting, blame, regret, awakening, Spirituality, Relationship, Philosophy, Personal Transformation

Sarah Anne Shockley is an award-winning filmmaker and a Neurolinguistic Programming Practitioner. She has studied with shamans from various cultures around the world and has lived with the debilitating Thoracic Outlet Syndrome for more than 10 years. She has been a columnist for Pain News Network and is a regular contributor to The Mighty, a 1.5 million-member online community for those living with chronic illness. Because her condition was unresponsive to existing traditional or alternative therapies, she developed a unique method of pain management and pain reduction not reliant on pharmaceuticals or medical intervention. She is the author of: The Pain Companion: Everyday Wisdom for Living with and Moving Beyond Chronic Pain (New World Library 2018)

Tags: Sarah Anne Shockley, TOS, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, chronic pain, acute pain, acute debilitation, grief, emotional pain, telling the story of your pain, the timetable of pain, treating pain as enemy, writing letter to pain, Health & Healing, writing, psychology 

Jonathan Robinson is a psychotherapist, workshop leader, and keynote speaker. His work has been translated into 47 languages. He has made numerous appearances on the Oprah show, CNN, and many other national TV shows and speaks regularly to Fortune 500 companies. He has spent more than forty years studying the most practical and powerful methods for personal and professional development, and is known for providing powerful and immediately-effective tools and techniques that lead to more love and less conflict. He is the author of many books including Life’s Big Questions: 200 Ways to Explore Your Spiritual Life (Conari 2011), Communication Miracles for Couples (Conari 2012), Shortcuts to Success: The Absolute Best Ways to Master Your Money, Time, Health, and Relationships (Red Wheel/Weiser 2000), Shortcuts to Bliss: The 50 Best Ways to Improve Relationships, Connect with Spirit, and Make Your Dreams Come True (Conari 2011), Find Happiness Now: 50 Shortcuts to Bring More Joy, Balance and Love into Your Life (Conari 2014), The Technology of Joy: The 101 Best Apps, Gadgets, Tools and Supplements for Feeling More Delight in Your Life (Self Published 2016) 

Tags: Jonathan Robinson, blame, intimacy, understanding, attitude, communicating, communication, making assumptions, social media , Relationship, Self Help, Philosophy, Personal Transformation

Jacob Israel Liberman is a pioneer in the fields of light, vision, and consciousness. He has developed numerous light and vision therapy instruments, including the first FDA-cleared medical device to significantly improve visual performance. He earned a doctorate in the field of optometry and a Ph.D. in Vision Science. He is the Past President of the College of Syntonic Optometry and the International Society for the Study of Subtle Energies and Energy Medicine (ISSSEEM). He is the author of Light: Medicine of The Future: How We Can Use It to Heal Ourselves NOW (Bear & Company 1990). Take Off Your Glasses and See: A Mind/Body Approach to Expanding Your Eyesight and Insight (Harmony Books 1995). Luminous Life: How the Science of Light Unlocks the Art of Living (New World Library 2018)

Tags: Jacob Liberman, Bible, information, wisdom, NDE, spiritual guidance, tsunami, Talmud, light, Science, Spirituality 

Ellen Tadd is an internationally known clairvoyant counselor and educator who has been teaching for more than forty years. She is widely respected for the integrity of her work, the accuracy of her perceptions and guidance, and the clarity and usefulness of her teaching. Her work has been supported by the Edgar Cayce Foundation, the Marion Institute, Deepak Chopra, and the Institute of Noetic Sciences. She’s lectured and taught at colleges, universities, hospitals, and community groups. She is author of: The Infinite View: A Guidebook for Life on Earth (TarcherPerigee 2017).

Tags: Ellen Tadd, consciousness, clairvoyance, staring, afirmations, inspiration, Personal Transformation, meditation, Intuition, Psychic, 

Cynthia Jurs is a Dharmacharya in the Order of Interbeing of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. In 2018, she was made an Honorary Lama in recognition of her dedication in the practice of Earth Treasure Vases and her commitment in relationship with elders, activists, and diverse communities to ceremonially bury the clay vases all around the planet in service to Gaia. Jurs offers monthly full moon meditations, retreats, and pilgrimages through the Gaia Mandala Global Healing Community. She is the author of: Summoned by the Earth: Becoming a Holy Vessel for Healing Our World (Prospecta Press 2024)

Interview Date: 5/24/2024     Tags: Cynthia Jurs, Earth Treasure Vases, Evon Peter, Charles Eisenstein, Avebury England, crop circles, feminine and masculine, Gaia, Mother Earth, global mandala, full moon meditations, ancestors, Kogi people, Mother Earth, Tewa people, elders, Tibetan clay vases, Personal Transformation, Ecology/Nature/Environment, Community, Indigenous Wisdom, Buddhism. Global Culture

Benjamin Mertz is a bi-racial man who is the Director of Diversity & Inclusion for the Berkeley Executive Coaching Institute (BECI). He serves on the board of directors of the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity and is the founder and director of the Joyful Noise! Gospel Singers. He’s a composer, performer, and song leader who specializes in the music of the Black Spiritual tradition and is a human rights and racial justice activist. When not performing music he writes and speaks on issues of racial justice, economic justice and Black History, and he works on creating interfaith and interracial alliances. He can often be found leading songs at benefit concerts, vigils, protest actions, sacred services, and workshops. His albums include: Climbing Up the Mountain (Benjamin Mertz 2019) and I Dream: Joyful Noise! Gospel Singers (Joyful Noise! Gospel Singers 2020)

Interview Date: 5/13/2024   Tags: Benjamin Mertz, Civil Rights music, oral tradition, protest events, San Quentin prison, musical benefits, Alabama freedom singers, Sister Mamie Brown, Pete Seeger, Malvina Reynolds, Music, Social Change/Politics

Mark Nepo is a poet, philosopher, and a most eloquent spiritual teacher. In 2015, he was given a Life-Achievement Award by AgeNation and in 2016 was named by Watkins: Mind Body Spirit as one of the Most Spiritually Influential Living People. He was part of Oprah Winfrey’s The Life You Want Tour in 2014 and has appeared several times with Oprah on her Super Soul Sunday program on OWN TV. As a cancer survivor, Mark devotes his writing and teaching to the journey of inner transformation and the life of relationship. He is the author of many audio learning projects and over 20 books including: Reduced To Joy (Cleis Press 2013), Seven Thousand Ways to Listen: Staying Close To What Is Sacred (Free Press 2012), The One Life We’re Given: Finding the Wisdom That Waits in Your heart (Atria Books 2016), More Together Than Alone: Discovering the Power and Spirit of Community in Our Lives and in the World (Atria Books 2018), Falling Down and Getting Up: Discovering Your Inner Resilience and Strength (St. Martin’s Essentials 2023), You Don't Have To Do It Alone: The Power Of Friendship (St. Martin’s Essentials 2024)

Interview Date: 4/19/2024   Tags: Mark Nepo, Thomas Merton, apprenticeship into compassion, grace, isolation, friendship of dogs, Personal Transformation, Psychology, Philosophy, Relationship