Writers Rotation

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Sharon Murphy is a native of Lexington, Kentucky. She received a bachelor's degree in Political Science and a minor in Philosophy from the University of Kentucky. Sharon earned her Master of Public Policy, with a concentration in Social Policy, from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University. After returning to Lexington in August 2014, she became a Voter Empowerment Organizer for Kentuckians for the Commonwealth. She stayed with the organization, where she became a very active member.  Sharon has completed two statewide programs: Emerge Kentucky and New Leaders Kentucky.

With over 5 years of experience in public policy and community organizing, she has demonstrated pursuing and executing solutions for her community. Sharon believes in a society where everybody succeeds regardless of what obstacles may lie ahead of them; we must attack obstacles and injustices head-on.

In 2022 she started a website and public speaking platform called Real Life Civics.

www.reallifecivics.com

Kathie’s note: I met Sharon through a friend of a friend. I’m in a Positive Energy Circle (highly recommend forming a women’s group!) and someone knew someone who invited Sharon to speak at her house in the fall of 2024. And by fall I mean in October, when my hopes and dreams were riding hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh, prior to a certain date in November. It was a lovely evening, maybe 15 people, outside on the back deck. I immediately took to Sharon, what with her delightful personality and sharp mind. She’s a keeper, y’all. And I really hope she runs for office one day soon.

Writers Rotation intro/outro recorded at Dynamix Productions in Lexington, Kentucky.

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Ed Commons is the cofounder, producer, director of Red Barn Radio, now in its 23rd season. As of early 2025, Red Barn has had 831 radio episodes and 190 TV episodes.

Ed previously owned Chetwyd Records and House of Commons Films/House of Commons Communications, the first film production company in Kentucky. He was researcher-producer for the University of Kentucky Basketball Museum Project and for the Kentucky Music Museum and Hall of Fame.

In 2018, Ed was awarded the first Legacy Award by AAF Lexington, the American Advertising Federation.

Follow Red Barn Radio on YouTube, Facebook, and/or Twitch:
 
Red Barn Radio
https://redbarnradio.com/

https://www.youtube.com/c/redbarnradiotv/featured

https://www.facebook.com/redbarnradio

https://www.twitch.tv/redbarnradio

Kathie’s note: Ed Commons has been a legend in Lexington forever. He has a fabulous reputation in the advertising-media-film-arts community, and not just in central Kentucky but all over the country and then some. I don’t remember when we met, but it’s been several decades. I’m sure I knew his name before he knew mine. I’ve been fortunate to call him a friend and call him over for Thanksgiving for at least 10 years now? Here’s to 10 or 20 more, Edward!

Writers Rotation intro/outro recorded at Dynamix Productions in Lexington, Kentucky.

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Originally from Chicago, Sam Bennett is an author, keynote speaker, consultant, and creativity/productivity specialist. She is the author of the perennial bestseller "Get It Done: From Procrastination to Creative Genius in 15 Minutes a Day," which Seth Godin called, “An instant classic, essential reading for anyone who wants to make a ruckus.”

Her second international hit book is "Start Right Where You Are: How Little Changes Can Make a Big Difference for Overwhelmed Procrastinators, Frustrated Overachievers and Recovering Perfectionists."

Her latest book is the award-winning "The 15 Minute Method: The Surprisingly Simple Art of Getting It Done."

Sam also wrote the script for the hit musical “In a Booth at Chasen’s.” She is an award-winning marketing expert, having spent 15 years as a Personal Branding Specialist for Sam Christensen Studios, and she has been honored as an Ultimate Marketer Finalist at Infusioncon. She is also a Keap Certified Consultant and Reseller. Recently, Sam became a top instructor on LinkedIn Learning with over 1.2 million students worldwide.

Samantha Bennett
TheRealSamBennett.com

Kathie's note: I met Sam in 2014 when she hosted a conference in San Diego called The Big Yes." My late friend Beverly and I went and had a blast. My first trip west of Texas! I decided that a collective noun of sea lions should be called a slather. I mean, that fits, doesn't it?

In this episode, Sam mentions that the arts contribute more to the gross national product than trucking does. Research challenge accepted, Samantha!

In a 2024 press release from the National Endowment for the Arts (arts.gov), the arts contributed 4.3% of the GDP in 2022, pouring $1.1 trillion into the United States economy.

A 2024 press release from the Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (bts.gov) noted a 3.5% contribution to the GDP in 2022 from “for-hire transportation.”

Jump in your own rabbit-hole research for GNP vs. GDP. But yeah, the arts and trucking. We need both.

Writers Rotation intro/outro recorded at Dynamix Productions in Lexington, Kentucky.

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Oli is a NeuroLanguage igniter, guiding you to language learning and elevation through the brain, the heart and the body. As a result, you will learn French and any other language with efficiency, joy and autonomy.

Connect with Oli!

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/odierickx/

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@OliFrencHoly

BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/olifrencholy.bsky.social

Oli contributed written pieces to two anthologies in 2024:

Rebel With a Cause: Voices of Transformation and Empowerment

Beyond Boundaries: Thriving in Life’s Grey Zones

Kathie's note: Did I meet Oli through Caveday or at a CreativeMornings FieldTrip? Or both around the same time? It was probably 2021 or '22. He has the brightest smile and personality, and makes good use of the chat feature. We all love him. He was Olivier then, pronounced with four syllables, o-liv-ee-ay. It's easy to gloss over that second i unless you really look for it. An online session with Oli in attendance is a happy Zoom, lemme tell ya!

Writers Rotation intro/outro recorded at Dynamix Productions in Lexington, Kentucky.

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Kimmye Bohannon is an Integrative Health Practitioner and Board Certified Holistic Health Coach. She helps people change the trajectory of their health to live better, longer. In 2012, she started drinking organic green vegetable juice and decided to start a business called The Weekly Juicery.  Twelve years, and over a million bottles of juice made later, she’s helped thousands of people change the trajectory of their health. In 2024, she decided to close The Weekly Juicery to expand her mission to teach as many people as possible how they can take charge of their health journey to live better, longer.  It's called Chasing Good Health. As Kimmye says, “Chasing good health is a lot more fun than waiting on disease!”

Follow Kimmye and chase good health!

https://www.instagram.com/kimmyebohannon/
https://www.facebook.com/kimmyebohannonwellness
https://www.tiktok.com/@chasegoodhealth
The Official Recipe Book of The Weekly Juicery


Kathie’s note: I met Kimmye at Commerce Lexington (chamber) when we were in a BOAB group, business owners advisory board. She was always chipper and had such a magnetic personality. I had the opportunity to help her with some PR and writing and such in the early days of The Weekly Juicery. One of the phrases she has always used to describe juicing is "Flooding your body with nutrients." I mean, think about how cool that sounds. And is.

Writers Rotation intro/outro recorded at Dynamix Productions in Lexington, Kentucky.

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Helen Ye Plehn is the founder of Helen Creates Beauty and the creator of The Aura Color Wheel: A System to Identify Your Soul’s Purpose through Your Soul Aura Color. 

Her book with Hay House Publishing, The Aura Color Wheel: What Your Soul Aura Reveals Your Inner Gifts, Wounds, and Lessons, will be published in July 2025.

Helen is the author of Flowing with My Rainbow Chakra Affirmation Deck.  Her signature Flowing with Your Rainbow Course, based on the system, has named her a Visionary Educator on MSN.com.
 
Helen is an aura intuitive, certified crystal healer, angel channeler, third-generation feng shui master, certified yoga and meditation instructor, intuitive painter, and spiritual teacher. She is also an Ayurveda practitioner, Vedic astrologer, Theta healer, and passionate Flamenco dancer.
 
She resides in Southern California with her husband and daughter. She has an undergraduate degree in psychology and social work, a master’s degree in interior architecture and design, and has published three academic peer-reviewed articles and four conference papers during her Ph.D. studies in tourism and hospitality management at Temple University in Philadelphia. Her doctoral area of research was human sensory experience design.

What is your soul aura color? Take the quiz.
https://helencreatesbeauty.typeform.com/soulauracolor

Connect with Helen:
www.helencreatesbeauty.com
www.auracolorwheel.com
https://www.youtube.com/@auracolorwheel
Instagram @helencreatesbeauty
Facebook @helencreatesbeauty
TikTok @helencreatesbeauty
Pinterest @helencreatesbeauty

Kathie’s note: I came across Helen in a Zoom chat, summer of 2023 when we were in a Hay House writing program. She had such a radiance, a fabulous vibe, I immediately jumped on her email list. She is a peach. Speaking of, I took her Soul Aura Color quiz after our interview and found out mine is peach! Do I have any article of clothing or item in my house in that color? No. Not yet, that is.

Writers Rotation intro/outro recorded at Dynamix Productions in Lexington, Kentucky.

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Dierdre Barnes is the proud owner of F.L.Y. Girl Candles, based in Louisville, Kentucky.

F.L.Y. stands for “First Love Yourself.” This mantra is deeply woven into the fabric of the brand. It reflects Dierdre’s own journey and the ethos of F.L.Y. Girl Candles. Each candle is named to inspire self-care and self-love. The candles are thoughtfully created with eco-friendly, sustainable soy wax, which ensures that they burn clean and slow, enriching your environment without harming it

Dierdre is a mom of two wonderful kiddos and a native of Mt. Sterling, Kentucky. She has a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Louisville. She always dreamed of being a business owner, not just for the independence it offers, but also for the opportunity to create and design a schedule that fits her life and allows her to be present for my family.


https://www.flygirlcandles.com/
https://www.facebook.com/flygirlcandles
https://www.instagram.com/flygirlcandles/
https://www.tiktok.com/@flygirlcandles

Dierdre is offering a generous discount for listeners of the Writers Rotation podcast! Use discount code WR20 for 20% off F.L.Y. Girl Candles.


Kathie’s note: I learned about F.L.Y. Girl Candles in early February 2023 from one of my Realtor friends, Rachel Crabtree, on Facebook. She said she had been talking with a couple at a restaurant and learned all about their daughter’s candle company. It was Dierdre's company! Rachel bought “Just Breathe” and “Let That Shit Go.” I ran to Fly Girl Candles and got “Goddess Vibes” and “Naughty Whispers.” So happy to call myself a repeat customer, and meeting Dierdre in audio-person has been absolutely delightful. I’m just in awe.


Writers Rotation intro/outro recorded at Dynamix Productions in Lexington, Kentucky.

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Suzanne L'Heureux, Diving Deep Coaching, is a certified Master Jungian Life Coach with specialized training in Mindfulness Coaching and Positive Intelligence. For the last two decades, Suzanne has been on a psychospiritual path of awakening, rooted in Buddhism and mindfulness practices, while studying with several spiritual teachers, most notably, Jennifer Welwood. This path continues to inspire her personal growth and self-realization. 

Suzanne’s coaching approach merges Jungian psychology with Eastern spirituality, offering a unique blend of psychological insight and spiritual wisdom. She is also a lead mentor in the CreativeMind University Jungian Life Coach training program.

Suzanne is the author of Letting Your Shadow In: A Mindfulness Deck for Exploring Big Emotions (in collaboration with People I've Loved), and the forthcoming Letting Your Shadow In journal.

Diving Deep Coaching
www.divingdeepcoaching.com

Mindfulness deck
www.peopleiveloved.com/products/letting-your-shadow-in
 

Kathie's note: I came across Suzanne through CreativeMornings. She has led at least two of their FieldTrips on shadow work. Fascinating. One of her lines I wrote in my notes was this gem:

“When we deny our shadow qualities we give them more power.” 

(cough-choke-sputter-cough) Do what? 

Oh yeah, and that the goal of shadow work is integration. Whew, boy. 
 
I loved everything Suzanne says in her workshops and in this podcast episode. She’s super smart and down to earth. Pretty impressive combination, that. And her last name means "the happy"!

Writers Rotation intro/outro recorded at Dynamix Productions in Lexington, Kentucky.

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Mackenzie Wilmoth is a songwriter, singer, and musician. Her musical journey began at just 12 years old when she received a guitar for Christmas, sparking a passion that led to her self-taught prowess in both playing and songwriting. 

Her debut single "know your name" in May 2016 set the stage for an impressive trajectory. In 2021, she released her first album "nonfiction," showcasing her talent for crafting songs that delve into a spectrum of human experiences, from toxic relationships to the euphoria of first love. 

In the face of adversity, Mackenzie's indomitable spirit shone through as she battled and triumphed over a rare form of sarcoma, emerging cancer-free in September 2022. 

Her music, marked by intricate storytelling and a captivating authenticity, invites listeners into a world of relatable emotions. Mackenzie continues to create music that resonates deeply with her audience, offering glimpses of her latest work through her social channels. Her journey is an inspiring testament to resilience, and her music is a mesmerizing window into the depths of the human experience.

 In September 2024, Mackenzie headlined a benefit concert, “Elevate the State: Amplifying Pediatric Cancer Research,” at Manchester Music Hall in Lexington, with proceeds going to the nonprofit organization Elevate Childhood Cancer Research and Advocacy. Donations are always gratefully accepted (elevatechildhoodcancer.org) to fund pediatric cancer research. 

https://mackenziewilmoth.com/

https://www.instagram.com/mackenziewilmoth_hq/

https://www.tiktok.com/@mackenziewilmoth

Kathie’s note: I met Mackenzie through her publicist, Debra Locker, whom I’ve known for years. Debra said she had a singer/songwriter for my podcast and I said yay and we got connected and Mackenzie and I instantly clicked. I love Gen Z.

Writers Rotation intro/outro recorded at Dynamix Productions in Lexington, Kentucky.

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Abby Laub serves as director of strategic communications for Asbury University. She holds a B.A. in journalism from Palm Beach Atlantic University. Prior to working at Asbury, she owned a photography and media business, and wrote prolifically for magazines, newspapers, and nonprofits. 

She published a photography book with Jon Carloftis, titled Jon Carloftis Fine Gardens.

Abby is the host of “This Is Asbury” podcast, where she talks with faculty and students of Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky. 

Kathie’s note: Abby is so chill. She’s busy, busy, busy and yet never complains. I’ve been so impressed to see her prioritize things in her life, like getting exercise outdoors. She walks and plays with her kids outside all year long. I mean, there are so many excuses to stay inside! But fresh air is a pillar of health, y’all.

Abby and I are both post-Hosties, a fun thing to say for having worked at Host Communications. She was in the print side of college sports, with magazines and media guides, and I was a board op for the radio network of University of Texas football and basketball games, and fill-in for several other college sports programs. 

Writers Rotation intro/outro recorded at Dynamix Productions in Lexington, Kentucky.

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