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Sharing the Heart of the Matter

Sharing the Heart of the Matter

By SharingHoTM

A place where we talk about heart stories, inspirations, and our journey to discover what matters most.
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Episode 11: How to Journal the Right Way with Libby Saylor

Sharing the Heart of the MatterMar 31, 2023

00:00
33:56
Episode 59: Creative Balance with Todd Fulginiti

Episode 59: Creative Balance with Todd Fulginiti

Mar 22, 202433:06
Episode 58: Creative Heart with Brian Hannon

Episode 58: Creative Heart with Brian Hannon

In this episode, Vicki Atkinson and Wynne Leon are talking with our colleague, writer and corporate communication leader, Brian Hannon.

Brian shares with us what sparks his creativity and impetus to write.

We talk about paradoxes and George Carlin.

Brian tells us the secret about his productivity to write both personally and professionally.

And because it’s always informative to find out how others do it all, we talk about balance. This is a great episode with a fantastic writer and friend. Brian always brings such warmth and inspiration to our conversations and truly has a creative heart. We know you’ll love it!

Links for this Episode: Episode 58 show notes

Brian's blog: Writing from the Heart with Brian

Brian's post on paradoxes: A life full of paradoxes

From the hosts:

Vicki’s personal blog: Victoria Ponders

Wynne’s personal blog: Surprised by Joy

Vicki’s recently released book: Surviving Sue

Wynne’s book about her beloved father: Finding My Father’s Faith



Mar 15, 202436:54
Episode 57: Becoming an Author with Chris G. Thelen
Mar 08, 202427:56
Episode 56: Master Class in Creativity with Jack Canfora Part II

Episode 56: Master Class in Creativity with Jack Canfora Part II

In this episode, Vicki Atkinson and Wynne Leon are talking with Edgerton award winning playwright, musician, and writer Jack Canfora.  

Talking with Jack is like attending a master class on creativity. In fact, our conversation with Jack is so rich with both writing practices and nuggets about authors and artists that we split it into two episodes.

In the first episode of this series that aired last week, we talked about writing practices Jack uses when in a lull and about creative attention.

In this second episode, we delve into the balance of sentences. Jack, trained as a Shakespearean actor, even recites a few lines of Hamlet for us (see this video snippet).

We talk about the responsibility of writers to their audience, whomever that may be, when they hit the publish button. And the confidence required to keep doing our best and putting things out there.

Jack holds that there are no writing rules – but there are some guidelines. He shares some of his, along with ideas for training as a writer.

Links for this Episode:

Episode 56 show notes

Jack's website: Jack Canfora | Playwright | Podcaster | Writing Coach

Jack's Online Theater Company: New Normal Rep

Jericho by Jack Canfora on Amazon

Jack Canfora on Instagram and Twitter: @jackcanfora

Other podcast episodes featuring Jack:

Episode 4: Why Theater Matters

Episode 55: Master Class in Creativity with Jack Canfora - Part I

From the hosts:

Vicki’s personal blog: Victoria Ponders

Mar 01, 202427:53
Episode 55: Master Class in Creativity with Jack Canfora Part I

Episode 55: Master Class in Creativity with Jack Canfora Part I

In this episode, Wynne Leon and Vicki Atkinson are talking with Edgerton award winning playwright, musician, and writer Jack Canfora.  

Talking with Jack is like attending a master class on creativity. In fact, our conversation with Jack is so rich with both writing practices and nuggets about authors and artists that we’ve split it into two episodes.

In this first episode, we talk with Jack about depression and creative expression. He adds some fantastic and funny insight from comedian, Gary Gulman (HBO special: The Great Depresh).

Jack also reveals a couple of his brilliant ways to experiment when he’s hit a creative lull. His answer about whether he writes long-hand will have you giggling right along with Vicki and me.

He tells us what is hard to teach and important to learn about creative attention. And he shares with us a delightful story about the Beatles song Eleanor Rigby that exposes an intimate insight into the creative process. (Here's a video clip of Jack telling this story)

With all the food for thought and inspiration, we know you will have plenty of chew on until the conclusion of our incredible conversation airs next week.

We love talking with the brilliant and funny Jack Canfora and leave each conversation a little bit smarter, much more inspired to hone the craft of writing, and in awe of a master creator. We know you’ll love this episode!

Links for this Episode:

Episode 55 show notes

Jack's website: Jack Canfora | Playwright | Podcaster | Writing Coach

Jack's Online Theater Company: New Normal Rep

Jericho by Jack Canfora on Amazon

Jack Canfora on Instagram and Twitter: @jackcanfora

From the hosts:

Vicki’s personal blog: Victoria Ponders

Wynne’s personal blog: Surprised by Joy

Vicki’s recently released book: Surviving Sue

Wynne’s book about her beloved father: Finding My Father’s Faith



Feb 23, 202426:28
Episode 54: Style & Creativity with Lindsey Bauer

Episode 54: Style & Creativity with Lindsey Bauer

In this episode, Vicki Atkinson and I are with stylist, and my sister-in-law, Lindsey Bauer.

We are so delighted to air this conversation with Lindsey as she shares nuggets from her long career in the fashion industry involving design, manufacturing, and retail.

She tells us about the geometry of looking long and lean instead of fruit shaped.

Lindsey tells us why we shouldn’t buy clothes at Costco.

We talk through Lindsey's top three priorities when buying new clothes.

Vicki and I ask her about her process of styling a client and why she starts at the closet, not at the store.

Lindsey shares what she has learned along the way about color and enhancing that sense.

And we bring this episode full circle to creativity when we talk about my brother, Jay, who is also incredibly creative. She tells us about how living on a boat with no square corners constantly challenges their ingenuity. Lindsey tells us how they tackle it together.

This is a great episode about another facet of creativity – style. Lindsey gives us some great encouragement about how to be comfortable in our own skin.

We know you’ll love it!

Links for this Episode:

Episode 54 show notes

Lindsey's website: Style Lindsey

Lindsey Bauer on LinkedIn

Lindsey Bauer on Instagram: StyleLindsey1

From the hosts:

Vicki’s personal blog: Victoria Ponders

Wynne’s personal blog: Surprised by Joy

Vicki’s recently released book: Surviving Sue

Wynne’s book about her beloved father: Finding My Father’s Faith

Feb 16, 202436:02
Episode 53: Practicing Creativity with David

Episode 53: Practicing Creativity with David

In this episode, Vicki and Wynne talk with David from the Pinwheel in a Hurricane and Unwanted blogs.

David has so much to offer when it comes to the goodness of the creative process – for solidifying clarity, integration, and healing.

The tagline for David’s Pinwheel in a Hurricane blog is “an attempt at adding to the fray without just making noise.”

David tells us about his experience blogging for 10 years and how the first hurdle was just to believe that he had a voice.

We talk about sharing and telling stories – and how that allows all of our internal perspectives to come forward with their viewpoints.

And that “writing helps the swirly stuff in my brain have a soft place to land” to borrow a great phrase from David. A way to integrate ourselves and connect the dots.

David’s current focus is on practice and we love hearing how he’s reclaimed that word. Instead of the rigor and disciplinarian focus on practice as something that must be done to master anything, like a musical instrument, David is reimagining it as a word that holds space for kindness. As a gentle word that allows repetition to learn things he’s messed up before and to do it with self-compassion.

This is a great episode about the incredibly healing nature of what happens when we sit down to write. We love David’s viewpoint and experience as he brings forward all the goodness. We know you’ll love it!

Links for this episode:

Episode 53 show notes

Transcript for Episode 53 of the podcast

David's Pinwheel in a Hurricane blog

David's Unwanted Blog

David's recent post soft place that explains how writing helps the swirly stuff in the brain have a soft place to land

From the hosts:

Vicki’s personal blog: Victoria Ponders

Wynne’s personal blog: Surprised by Joy

Vicki’s recently released book: Surviving Sue

Wynne’s book about her beloved father: Finding My Father’s Faith


Feb 09, 202433:03
Episode 52: Unlocking Secrets with Vicki and Wynne

Episode 52: Unlocking Secrets with Vicki and Wynne

In this episode, Wynne Leon is with co-host Dr. Vicki Atkinson and they’re talking about unlocking secrets. Both Vicki and I have published books about family. Vicki about her mom, Sue, and me about my dad, Dick. As we’ve discussed in other podcasts, writing about family is hard.

But it’s also instructive - we learn so much about ourselves and where we come from. It’s a path that we’ve found to be so illuminating because we get to build on the secrets from those who went before.

Vicki talks about one of the secrets she learned which was not to keep secrets. Is it possible that underlying all or most of Sue’s issues was the toxicity of keeping secrets?

And what secrets did I learn from my dad? My dad had a formula for doing the next right thing, staying focused on what he was called to do, and then turning over the results to a Higher Power. The luxury I got was being able to talk to him about that as well as see him live it day in and day out.

Like Vicki was able to do with her dad, Sonny. Sonny had the 10-5 rule. Acknowledge people within 10 feet and greet them within 5 feet. It’s the kind of secret that carries itself forward in generational goodness.

Vicki and I have a great conversation about these secrets and more. We talk about all the benefits that come from writing about life. The secrets that we are able to pick up by diving down deep to find pearls of wisdom. It’s hard work – but the payoff is huge! Please join us in this episode as we share what we learned. We know you’ll love it!

Links for this Episode: Episode 52 show notes

Wynne's post about her dad's formula for success: Fatherly Wisdom

Vicki's post about the 10-5 rule: Sunny Sonny

Vicki’s personal blog: Victoria Ponders

Wynne’s personal blog: Surprised by Joy

Vicki’s recently released book: Surviving Sue

Wynne’s book about her beloved father: Finding My Father’s Faith

Feb 02, 202436:10
Episode 51: The Magic of Stories with Dave Williams

Episode 51: The Magic of Stories with Dave Williams

In this episode, Wynne Leon is with my co-host Dr. Vicki Atkinson and we’re talking with author and illustrator, Dave Williams.

I love bookstores and have a soft spot for any book written in them. Novels like The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield and The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin are two of my favorites.

But I’ve never met anyone that was raised in a bookstore – until now. Dave Williams grew up working in his grandparents bookstore – a converted Victorian house in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

Dave shares about that experience and how it instilled the magic of stories. And then how it carried forward to passing on that magic to his twin daughters.

Vicki and I ask him how he developed his talent. He tells us how he set his writing and creativity aside for a time. That is, until he saw what fun his daughters were having at craft time when they were young girls.

We talk about working our way from writing what we think we should write to writing what lights our own creative fire. And how being curious and interested in lots of things helps spark ideas.

Dave shares his tips and tricks like asking “what if” questions and being inspired by the playfulness of kids. This is such a fun episode with the incredibly delightful and prolific, Dave Williams. We know you’ll love it!

Links for this episode:

Episode 51 show notes

Transcript for Episode 51 of the podcast

Dave's blog: Dave Williams

Dave's author page on Amazon: Dave Williams

Jan 26, 202452:56
Episode 50: The Art of Practice

Episode 50: The Art of Practice

We are celebrating our 50th podcast in this episode. We talk about my favorite quote as it relates to pulling ourselves together to start something – and then sticking with it.

Your first podcast will be awful.
Your first video will be awful.
Your first article will be awful.
Your first art will be awful.
Your first photo will be awful.
But you can't make your 50th without making your first.
So get it over with, and make it.

Vicki calls it the pancake quote - the first one out of the pan is never the best. For me, it is all about celebrating the art of practice. An ode to the process of becoming.

I wouldn’t say that every part has been awful. But there have been many things that have felt awkward. Working up the courage to ask strangers to be guests. Listening to our own voices. Finding our way to the heart of the matter.

So Vicki and I talk about the discoveries. Like the realization that at this age we aren’t coming at this from nothing – we get a boost by bringing our professional and personal knowledge to a new practice.

And the three things we learned:

  1. Be prepared and organized – approaching a topic with a discussion points and a list of linked resources helps create a solid foundation for a good conversation.
  2. People say “yes” – we have been so lucky that our esteemed guests have said “yes” to us. And as a bonus, they have also seemed to have fun doing podcasts with us.
  3. Authenticity and respect will make up for lack of experience in many ways

One of the most wonderful parts of this journey has been our generous listeners. Thank you so much for coming along with us on this exploration. We are so grateful for your time and comments.

This is a great episode for anyone who is surfing the waves of learning something new. Come along with us and celebrate that practice might not make perfect (speaking for ourselves), but it can be so rewarding as we keep growing. I know you’ll love it.

Episode 50 show notes

Vicki’s personal blog: Victoria Ponders

Wynne’s personal blog: Surprised by Joy

Vicki’s recently released book: Surviving Sue

Wynne’s book about her beloved father: Finding My Father’s Faith


Jan 19, 202432:11
Episode 49: Six-Word Stories with Dr. Victoria Atkinson

Episode 49: Six-Word Stories with Dr. Victoria Atkinson

The Sharing the Heart of the Matter podcast is back with its first episode of 2024! This year we are putting special emphasis on the why and how of creativity. We start the season with a special episode with Dr. Vicki Atkinson. We know and love our writing, blogging friend, and podcasting friend Vicki. But of course, dear Vicki has worn a lot of other hats – therapist, professor, college dean, and author.

And one of the places where her incredible experience wearing all these hats comes together? Six-word stories. On this podcast we get to learn about the history, benefits and examples of six-word stories from Dr. Victoria Atkinson.

We start with Vicki reading a post she wrote about six-word stories as it related to finding forgiveness process for her mom. She gives us the history of these powerful short stories as made popular by writer and publisher, Larry Smith.

Vicki tells us about the therapeutic value of forcing this brevity to check in and crystallize thoughts. She gives us a powerful reminder of how we can often feel more in control and on top of things when we package things in ways that feel like we can hold them in our hands.

Vicki gives us some wonderful examples of these potent and portable missives from her own life, and those shared by clients and students. She even circles back to one from our recent conversation with Dr. Gerald Stein: “I like to make new mistakes.”

Another one of my favorites comes from Vicki’s book, Surviving Sue and is about her mom, “She wore her regret like armor.” That carries the power of Vicki’s example of how crystallizing her thoughts helped her to build empathy and to find her way to forgiveness.

This is a great episode that celebrates the clarity that comes when we get quiet, the power that is unlocked when we write it out, and the gateway to growth that is opened when we use tools like six-word stories. We know you’ll love it.

Episode 49 show notes

Vicki's post: Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Six-Word Style – Victoria Ponders

Larry Smith's site: Six-Word Memoirs – One Life, Six Words. What's Yours? (sixwordmemoirs.com)

Writing Our Lives in 6 Words | Psychology Today

How to Use 6-Word Memoirs in the Classroom | Edutopia

Vicki’s personal blog: Victoria Ponders

Wynne’s personal blog: Surprised by Joy

Vicki’s recently released book: Surviving Sue

Wynne’s book about her beloved father: Finding My Father’s Faith

Jan 12, 202434:29
Episode 48: Staying Steady with Stuart Perkins

Episode 48: Staying Steady with Stuart Perkins

In this episode, Wynne Leon and Dr. Vicki Atkinson are back with the amazing blogger and author, Stuart Perkins.

We revisit a couple of Stuart’s recent pieces that highlight the kind of people who help us and inspire us to stay steady. Stuart writes so beautifully. Period. He hooks us and we get to come along for the ride. In this case, about the moments of doubt, and characters that help us to hold on. The people that make us want to be there for others when life feels unsteady.

In his essay, Hand on the Plow, his co-worker, Ms Wade was that influence. The grounded older woman who counseled Stuart as a new employee to exhibit determination in the wake of a mistake. Stuart tells us why she was so credible, and stuck with him for decades after they worked together.

We also chat about Stuart’s recent piece that was published in The Local Scoop magazine – Because Granddaddy Liked to Fish. His family roots are so strong, whether with Nanny on the farm or with Granddaddy on Chesapeake Bay. No wonder that Stuart can capture the feeling of family so well in his writing.

Because Stuart knows how to capture the hilarity of family and being together so well. He tells us the secret of family traditions and togetherness are how they are borne of balance, the long view, and a lot of laughter.

Please join us for this great episode of staying steady – in moments of doubt and also in the long view of family and tradition. We know you’ll love it!

On a programming note, we last episode in 2023. We’ll see you in 2024. Happy holidays.

Episode 48 show notes

Stuart's blog: Storyshucker

Hand on the Plow by Stuart Perkins

Because Granddaddy Liked To Fish in The Local Scoop magazine

Dec 15, 202322:13
Episode 47: Being Your Own Best Friend with Dr. Gerald Stein Part II

Episode 47: Being Your Own Best Friend with Dr. Gerald Stein Part II

In this podcast, which is episode two of a two-part series, Dr. Stein walks us through his list, How to Become Your Own Best Friend. This is one of our favorite essays from Dr. Stein which is saying a great deal given the depth and breadth of his wisdom.

In last week’s episode, we covered items focused on expanding our horizons to become both interesting and interested, making mistakes, self-compassion and advocating for ourselves and not overthinking things.

We continue in the vein of standing up for ourselves with do not explain, excuse or apologize because you believe someone else expects this. Dr. Stein walks us through this difficult but essential practice of being secure enough to stand our ground and also to say “no.”

One of my favorite phrases is from Roshi Joan Halifix – strong back, soft front. In that vein, we move to talk about Dr. Stein’s instruction that we allow love and kindness to emanate from our beings. This one is my personal favorite because I spent years surfing in my father’s wake of goodness. When we do the work to see others around us like the grocery clerks and people we pass by, and greet them warmly, we not only change the tenor in the air, but in ourselves as well.

And friends are always a benefit when we face disappointing and hard times. But Dr. Stein also explains that another way through is understanding that we’ll likely return to our set point after experiencing misfortune and unhappiness.

Dr. Stein says, “overcoming hardship will require a great deal of strength and willpower but it’s known we will return to our set point.”

This is a great episode full of the warm and wise advice of Dr. Stein. He proves an excellent guide past the pitfalls and into the fullness of a wonderful life. We know you’ll love it!

And if you haven’t already, read Dr. Stein’s complete list including my personal favorite, #29 “Empty your being of all your power, imagination, and grit. Use it up.” Also go back and listen to the first episode of Being Your Own Best Friend.

On a programming note, we will only be producing one more episode in 2023 after this one so that we can take a break for the holidays.

Episode 47 show notes

Dr. Gerald Stein's Blog: Dr. Gerald Stein

How to Become Your Own Best Friend by Dr. Gerald Stein

Other podcast episodes with Dr. Stein:

Episode 46: Being Your Own Best Friend With Dr. Gerald Stein - Part I

Episode 37: The Waiting Game with Dr. Gerald Stein

Episode 29: Accidental Philanthropists with Dr. Gerald Stein

Episode 20: The Art of the Interview with Dr. Gerald Stein

Vicki’s recently released book: Surviving Sue

Wynne’s book about her beloved father: Finding My Father’s Faith


Dec 08, 202331:27
Episode 46: Being Your Own Best Friend with Dr. Gerald Stein Part I

Episode 46: Being Your Own Best Friend with Dr. Gerald Stein Part I

Wynne Leon is with co-host, Dr. Vicki Atkinson and psychologist and blogger, Dr. Gerald Stein. In this podcast, which is episode two of a two-part series, Dr. Stein walks us through his list, How to Become Your Own Best Friend. This is one of our favorite essays from Dr. Stein which is saying a great deal given the depth and breadth of his wisdom.

He opens the list with the question, “Who is the person closest to you?” If we are going to be our own best friend, how do we start?

Dr. Stein suggests that we start from by being good company. If we expand our interests, push our boundaries, and investigate new ideas, we can fill up from the inside out.

And when we grow, we will sometimes makes mistakes. Dr. Stein beautifully expands on his instruction that “Mistakes are inevitable. Master them. Please take steps to skip over their repetition.”

The next few instructions that Dr. Stein offers center around knowing our own place and value in relationship to others. His beautifully communicated points about having limits, becoming independent and pursuing advice speak the balance of knowing how to advocate for ourselves. If we are truly our own best friend, would we stick up for ourselves more?

I know one thing that my friends consistently help me with is with the timing of life. Dr. Stein exhorts us to be in the game of life and not to overthink. This gem of an instruction, especially paired with the others, speaks of being active participants in the events of life.

This is a great episode full of the warm and wise advice of Dr. Stein. He proves an excellent guide past the pitfalls and into the fullness of a wonderful life. We know you’ll love it!

And then come back next week for the second episode of Being Your Own Best Friend.

On a programming note, we will only be producing two more episodes in 2023 after this one so that we can take a break for the holidays.

Links for this episode:

Episode 46 show notes

Dr. Gerald Stein's Blog: Dr. Gerald Stein

How to Become Your Own Best Friend by Dr. Gerald Stein

Other podcast episodes with Dr. Stein:

Episode 37: The Waiting Game with Dr. Gerald Stein

Episode 29: Accidental Philanthropists with Dr. Gerald Stein

Episode 20: The Art of the Interview with Dr. Gerald Stein

Vicki’s recently released book: Surviving Sue

Wynne’s book about her beloved father: Finding My Father’s Faith

Dec 01, 202334:12
Episode 42: The Courage To Keep Trying with Vicki and Wynne

Episode 42: The Courage To Keep Trying with Vicki and Wynne

In this episode, Wynne Leon is with co-host, Dr. Vicki Atkinson, and we are talking about the courage to keep trying.

We open the podcast with some laughter about some silly stories with my kids where I’ve made mistakes. And it paves the way for a deep conversation about risk-taking, trying new things, and the journey to be vulnerable to others.

I share with Vicki some of the disappointment that I felt on her behalf when reading her book, “Surviving Sue” because Sue never saw her. We talked about how she armored up from an early age with Sue because of the mismatch between words and deeds coming from her mom.

But even through the low expectations, Vicki kept on showing up in order to care for Lisa and for Sue. So what did she learn about armor, vulnerability, and control? Vicki shares with us the wisdom of her toolkit for surviving disappointment, regardless of the source, by following her body cues and knowing that she can take back control.

We talk about all the lessons we’ve learned the hard way – and that the take-away is while it feels natural to try avoid being hurt, we opt for continuing to take risks. We dig in to the question of “what if I don’t?” that can be a great motivator.

And Vicki turns the tables on me for taking on the risk to talk with my dad about spirituality and faith. I open up about how my fear that if we talked about those things, knowing I didn’t see them the same way he did, that I risked feeling like my dear dad was disappointed in me. But Vicki gives me the gift of a great a-ha that positive regard that is based on assumptions, vagaries, or pretense isn’t really regard at all.

In this episode, we talk about how to switch out of disappointment by focusing on compassion for others. Risk – disappointment – vulnerability – big topics but we have a feel good conversation full of compassion for ourselves when we are disappointed, or for when we don’t want to take the chance, and appreciation for the opening that happens when we do take risks.

Disappointment isn’t easy but when you know that others have gone through it and see you, it makes the trip so much easier. Please risk a half hour of your time – you won’t be disappointed! In fact, we know you’ll love it.

P.S. The mention of Cooper in this episode refers to Wynne's new puppy.

Episode 42 show notes

Vicki’s personal blog: Victoria Ponders

Wynne’s personal blog: Surprised by Joy

Vicki’s recently released book: Surviving Sue

Wynne’s book about her beloved father: Finding My Father’s Faith



Nov 25, 202338:12
Episode 45: Third Grade Writing Wisdom with Miss "O"

Episode 45: Third Grade Writing Wisdom with Miss "O"

In this episode, Wynne Leon is with co-host, Dr. Vicki Atkinson, and her delightful daughter, Miss O.

Miss O shares a personal narrative that she's written as an assignment in 3rd grade. And then she tells us what a hook is and what she’s learned about drawing in an audience by using one. She fills us in on lessons that she’s been taught about adding details to her writing.

Another assignment she is working on in class is a piece of short fiction. Miss O tells us how she envisioned her main character, a piece of cute food, and teases us with a short summary about her story. Boy, do I have a lot to learn from her about how to deliver an elevator pitch for my writing.

So far, third grade has been full of interesting writing assignments including one to interview a family member. Miss O tells us about interviewing her cousin for that assignment and what she learned about how to get someone to open up and to listen when they do.

Miss O gently takes Vicki and I to task for some side giggles we get while talking with her, and somehow shows that she sees us, by noticing that we sometimes get carried away with delight. I think you’ll all understand when I say sometimes I can’t tell whether she’s eight or twenty-eight years old.

Finally we wrap up by talking about all the creative practices she does – writing, drawing, music and how they help her to express emotion. She fills us in on a sweet thing she’s been doing with her four-year-old younger brother, Mr. D. to help him do the same.

This is a fun episode filled with the enthusiasm and delight of youth. Miss O is someone I learn from on a regular basis and I think you will too. Please listen for inspiration and for some sweet smiles – we know you’ll love it!

Episode 45 show notes

Nov 24, 202336:38
Episode 44: Hot Tips For Writing About Family With Brian Hannon

Episode 44: Hot Tips For Writing About Family With Brian Hannon

In this episode of the Sharing the Heart of the Matter podcast, Wynne Leon is with co-host, Dr. Vicki Atkinson, and writer and author, Brian Hannon. Brian is one of our colleagues on the Heart of the Matter blog and we love the inspiration he brings forward about writing and creativity on a regular basis. In this case, it was an article on Writer’s Digest by Sierra Godfrey entitled, 4 Ways to Write Complicated Families.

Oh boy. What family isn’t complicated? So we get Brian to talk about Sierra’s four points: pair the darkness with humor, use character imperfections, leave room for characters to grow, and have empathy.

The great thing about having good source material and a great writer to comment on it is that it adds up to a fantastic conversation about how to actually do it. Brian talks about writing about family members, whether in personal narratives or in fiction, from a three-dimensional viewpoint. We dig into the humor of Vicki’s book Surviving Sue as an example of how to lighten up the load that came with Sue’s dysfunction.

Brian asks me a great question about my book, Finding My Father’s Faith that is based on conversations that I had with my dad. Could we have talked in-depth about life, religion and spirituality ten years earlier than we did? Nope, because as Parker J. Palmer says, “The inner life of any great thing will be incomprehensible to me until I develop and deepen an inner life of my own.” I wouldn’t have been able to have those conversations until I was ready.

Timing is such a key to writing about family and the three of us talk about it. Vicki brings up the readiness factor – that we have to have done enough work in order to be able to follow Sierra Godfrey’s points to write full characters.

And through it all we affirm all that writing can do for us, especially when dealing with complicated characters and family. Brian borrows from Jerry Maguire, “It completes me.” We get to work through our stuff, leave room for our own growth as a character in the story, all the while leaving a story so that others know they aren’t alone.

This is a great episode about great tips that comes with writing about all the facets of family. We know you’ll love it.

Episode 44 show notes

Brian’s personal blog: Writing from the Heart with Brian

Sierra Godfrey article on Writer's Digest: 4 Ways to Write Complicated Families

Vicki’s recently released book: Surviving Sue

Wynne’s book about her beloved father: Finding My Father’s Faith

Nov 17, 202338:33
Episode 43: Reclaiming Oneself with Deb Tecca

Episode 43: Reclaiming Oneself with Deb Tecca

In this episode, Wynne Leon is with co-host, Dr. Vicki Atkinson, and blogger, Deb Tecca. Deb is one of our colleagues on the Heart of the Matter blog and we’ve loved her take on growth, acceptance, and personal evolution.

So we ask her about her courageous writing and she explains how she’s come to see it more as reclaiming herself. After growing up in the shadow of her mom’s blame, Deb finds she’s had a voice all along that she’s worked her way back to. Being courageous enough…pushing fear to the wayside….to allow the space for authenticity - Deb’s heart, soul and spirit. Her own voice.  The essence that is Deb.

We ask Deb about a recent description that our mutual colleague, Erin wrote about Deb and her blog, Closer to the Edge. In that description Erin encapsulates all that Deb writes about – kindness, community, family and trends. Then Erin sums it up with a description of Deb as “feisty and self-assured, yet kind and understanding.” Deb responds to that summary with a virtual hug for Erin – for seeing the glory in Deb’s feisty demeanor – a badge of courage and confidence from a dear blogging friend.  Sometimes our friends see our strengths before we do.

Vicki and I ask Deb about the courage to write about family when life was anything but sunshine and rainbows.  We ask about Deb’s process as she writes and true to form, our amazing, contemplative and thoughtful Deb tells us that long before she writes, her thoughts begin to take shape in her head and only then do words come together.   

And one of Deb’s strengths?  She’s a terrific listener, commenter, and thoughtful human.  She often writes what others might be thinking, contributing to conversations with depth and perspective. We laugh about the moments when Deb thinks she gone on a ‘rant’ and applaud her for knowing how to tailor her messages and points of view to provide input and insight.  If that’s a ‘rant’ – we love it. 

We ask Deb about her ‘secret sauce’ for prioritizing what matters most and in addition to her meal planning and love of nature, Deb’s picked up a few tried-and-true tricks that we know will resonate with listeners.  If they’re good enough for Deb, they’re great for the rest of us!   One of the tricks Deb has learned is to say “no.” So we are so grateful that Deb said “yes” to us to create this beautiful podcast. We know you’ll love it.

We've added transcript to our podcasts. See the link below.

Episode 43 show notes

Episode 43 transcript (provided by Otter AI): Reclaiming_Oneself_With_Deb_Tecca.pdf

Deb's blog: Closer to the Edge

Deb's post about reclaiming herself: Reclaiming Myself

Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature and Spirit by Lyanda Lynn Haupt

Nov 10, 202341:01
Episode 41: Enter If You Dare with Mark Petruska

Episode 41: Enter If You Dare with Mark Petruska

Are you ready for some spooky talk? In this episode of the podcast, Wynne Leon is with co-host, Dr. Vicki Atkinson, and we are back with author and blogger, Mark Petruska. We hope you are ready for some fun because Mark has a story to tell  -- a spine-tingling paranormal tale if ever there was one!

Mark holds NOTHING back as he regales us with the disconcerting details about his night of inexplicable sights, sounds and sensations from a real-life haunted house.  We feed our inner “Ghost Busters” as Mark tells us about the technology that his friend, Steven, a professional ghost hunter, used in the investigation.

Note – there is a one sentence glancing mention of some trauma that purportedly happened to a young girl in the story.

But In between shivers and shakes, Vicki and Wynne chime in about a couple of our own head-scratcher experiences that might, like Mark’s ghost hunting, point to mysteries beyond our realm. 

Mark confesses – he’s really a skeptic at heart and his night in a haunted house changed him, and his view about the paranormal forever.  Calm and deliberate, Mark breaks down all the creepy events and we were simply awe-struck. The fact that one of the inhabitants was a police officer, looking out for his dear mom who was terrified and besieged in her own house adds an extra spooky glow to the story. 

This is an episode you will love…but maybe keep the lights on?  Listening to Mark – whether he’s talking about his ghostly adventure or his thriller of a book, No Time for Kings,  will entrance you.  Almost literally…..bwah ha…ha…ha.

Make sure you listen until the very end when we ask Mark the million-dollar question about his conclusions and beliefs – after his experience as a real-life ghost buster.  You will love his answer…we know it.  

So, ENTER this podcast IF YOU DARE….Who Ya Gonna Call? Mark Petruska!

Episode 41 show notes

Confronting Her Demons HoTM blog post by Mark

Mark’s Blog: Mark My Words

⁠No Time for Kings⁠ by Mark Petruska – a fantastic eco-thriller!


Oct 27, 202334:40
Episode 40: The Power of Choice with Wynne Leon

Episode 40: The Power of Choice with Wynne Leon

In this episode, Wynne Leon is with my co-host, Dr. Vicki Atkinson, and they are talking about choice and Wynne's journey to parenthood.

Following up on the question a pre-school teacher asked Wynne about how she became a parent, she shares the story of how she started a family as a single person. From the fertility clinic doctor who laid out all the options for getting pregnant as a 45-year-old single woman to some of the interesting facts I learned about in-vitro fertilization along the way, she share the answers that are part of my process.

With Vicki as a trusted guide, we talk about the role that agency and self-determination played in not only choosing to have kids but also as a part of parenting. Wynne often call the power of choice my secret for digging deep on the days that she doesn’t have enough in the tank. Knowing that she's living the life that she's chosen and doing it her own way gives Wynne the extra charge to step it up and also be so grateful for the life that she has.

In this vulnerable podcast, Wynne reveals the fears that I’ve had to work through to become a single parent. How she knew that she was opening herself up to the opinions of others when it comes to building family in a non-traditional way and how those opinions have sometimes been surprising. We talk about Brene Brown and Joseph Campbell’s The Hero’s Journey and how sometimes getting to where we need to go has to pass directly through the heart of vulnerability.

Wynne's often written about intertwined the cycle of birth and death was for me. She wrote my book about her dear father in the wake of his sudden death in a bicycle accident almost nine years ago as she was pregnant with Miss O. Vicki teases out the lessons that Wynne gleaned from her dad's special sparkle that Wynne uses in parenting. His specialties of love, curiosity, openness and faith directly come to play as Wynne navigates trying to parent my two precious kids.

And then we end with an incredible question that Vicki asks about what advice Wynne would give to her previous self to guide her through this journey to parenthood that I’ve gone on. It makes Wynne cry to think of all that I’ve gone through in the last ten years, and all the support she's had from family and friends. She talk through some of the quotes and inspiration that have kept her inspired along the way.

This is a deeply personal and wonderfully warm episode about what it looks like when we flip our scripts from fear to love and walk our individual paths through life – and the blessing of great company along the way. We know you’ll love it!

Episode 40 show notes

Vicki’s personal blog: Victoria Ponders

Wynne’s personal blog: Surprised by Joy

Vicki’s recently released book: Surviving Sue

Wynne’s book about her beloved father: Finding My Father’s Faith

Oct 20, 202341:48
Episode 39: Rennaisance Woman with Michelle Oram

Episode 39: Rennaisance Woman with Michelle Oram

In this episode of the Sharing the Heart of the Matter podcast where we bring you talented creatives who inspired you to reach your next level of personal growth, Wynne Leon is with my co-host, Dr. Vicki Atkinson, and blogger, and musician Michelle Oram.

Finding out how people came to blogging is so fascinating. So we dig into what brought Michelle to blogging four years ago. But more interesting than that – is why people stay. Michelle tells us how her mission of sustainability has evolved over time.

Michelle’s professional life focuses on retirement so it’s fitting that the book that she plans on writing when she retires is on that topic. But she tells us that it’s not usual topics of identity and purpose that she plans on tackling but instead on the systems of retirement and how to navigate them.

We know it’ll be a great book and that she will do it. Because anyone that reads Michelle’s blog knows she has a great track record of working towards goals. She manifests accountability on her blog and monthly round-up. In this episode, she tells us how that works for her. And then we dig into her current focus – her 60 before 60 goals. Guess what? Podcasting is one of them so Vicki and I find out if being on our podcast counts.

Music is another theme that is interwoven into Michelle’s life. She tells us the story about how she came to sing for a band that performs regularly and the fun and zest that brings into her life.

Determined. Driven. Interesting. Fun. Michelle shows us how those four traits come together with creativity to build a full life.

This is a great episode featuring a writer that we know and love. It’s so much fun to see what goes into this Renaissance Woman.   We know you’ll love it!

Episode 39 show notes

Michelle's blog: Boomer Eco Crusader


Oct 13, 202330:51
Episode 38: Jazz on King with Todd Fulginiti

Episode 38: Jazz on King with Todd Fulginiti

In this episode, Wynne Leon is with co-host, Dr. Vicki Atkinson, and musician, writer, blogger, and retired educator, Todd Fulginiti talking about the great new music he’s recorded and released as Jazz on King, volume 1. Centered on the ongoing gig he has with his two fellow musicians, Dave Winter and Dave Santana, Todd talks about the recording process – the low-stress way they recorded it for themselves. Then the step away they took from the project after recording it, and now the release.

We find out what it’s like to have music as a family affair since Todd’s daughters, Bailey and Ally both contributed to this album and collaborate with him on their yearly music project to raise money for a good cause.

Having an interested curator of our art is always so helpful so we learn about Bill Speakman, the manager of the live venue where the Fulginiti trio plays bi-weekly. And then Bill also comes in as a sort of producer of this album.

Because Todd is multi-talented and can write as well as he plays, we dig into the blog post he wrote about finding his way to the style of music that he likes to play after years of both practicing and teaching music. He’s built on what he learned from his father-in-law to hone a style where less is more. I know you’ll be as fascinated and inspired by Todd, and his less notes and more space style as Vicki and I were.

We talk about the particulars of trying to make money as a musician, especially in the digital streaming era. Todd fills us in on what licensing and formats require and how that dove-tails with performing live.

This is a great episode about great music and the interesting and complex choice creatives have to make when releasing their art to the world. We know you’ll love it!

Episode 38 show notes

Todd site where you can listen to the album and find out more: Todd Fulginiti Music

The album review page: Jazz on King Vol. 1 Album Reviews

Todd's Wise and Shine post about the album release: My New Album Releases Today!

Todd's Wise & Shine post about finding his playing style: Why Did I Say That?


Oct 06, 202336:27
Episode 37: The Waiting Game with Dr. Gerald Stein
Sep 29, 202345:12
Episode 36: They Call Me Mom with Pete Springer

Episode 36: They Call Me Mom with Pete Springer

In this episode, Wynne Leon is with co-host Vicki Atkinson and we are talking with author Pete Springer about his book, They Call Me Mom: Making a Difference as an Elementary School Teacher

Pete, an elementary school educator for 31 years, tell us some heart-warming and also some heart-breaking stories that came from his years in the classroom. As he worked to educate kids and helped to raise a generation of decent people, he captures all the lessons he learned from the unfiltered goodness of children.

He recalls his early days on the job – wanting to walk in and prove himself but also finding out how much on the job learning happens as a teacher. So he pays homage to how hard, and also necessary, it is for new teachers to be vulnerable and ask for help.

Pete speaks to the level of trust that's necessary to connect with students to create a positive learning environment and it comes as no surprise that some of his former students still trust him enough to have their stories included in his book.

At the end, we ask Pete about his thoughts about the future of education and also what he’s working on. And he shows us that it’s possible to teach through writing.

This is a great episode about teachers, learning, and the best of community and collaboration when we come together to support both educators and students. We know you’ll love it.

Episode 36 show notes

They Call Me Mom: Making a Difference as an Elementary School Teacher on Amazon

Pete's blog: Pete Springer


Sep 22, 202341:44
Episode 35: September Savor with Vicki and Wynne

Episode 35: September Savor with Vicki and Wynne

Sep 15, 202334:18
Episode 34: How To: Writing Family Narratives with Brian Hannon

Episode 34: How To: Writing Family Narratives with Brian Hannon

In this episode of the podcast, Vicki and Wynne turn the microphone over to our colleague, Brian Hannon, and he interviews us. Brian, an accomplished writer and author, started his career as a newspaper reporter and he uses those skills to uncover how Vicki and I came to write family memoirs.

Brian digs in to how the two of us, started our projects to write personal narratives even though neither of had jobs as professional authors.

In talking about our impetus to write, we uncover the many similarities between our narratives. Both of us were writing uncover secrets, Vicki to find what her mother was working so hard to hide, and I was trying to figure out what combination made my dad twinkle.

Brian asks us to expand on the difficult part about writing about families as we navigate the territory to put pen to paper about our individual experience and perspective amidst the interwoven stories of family.

We shed some tears talking about our dearly departed and recognizing that people want to be remembered. And how answering the call to write helps to not only make sure they are remembered but also pass along the best part of those that have gone before us.

Brian gets Vicki and me to expand on the trepidation that comes with showing others what we’ve written, especially others that have a part in the story. We circle back to knowing our motivation for writing to keep us steady through the process.

This is a great episode about how to approach writing a personal narrative when you are called to do it and navigating all that comes with it. I know you’ll love it. And another thing I know you’ll love is our catchy new podcast music composed for us by the exquisitely talented Jack Canfora and Rob Koenig. I hope you give it a listen!


Episode 34 show notes

Brian's personal blog: Writing from the Heart with Brian

Brian's post that we mention at the end: The farmer: A message of hope

Vicki’s recently released book: Surviving Sue

Wynne’s book about her beloved father: Finding My Father’s Faith


Sep 08, 202355:30
Episode 33: Love Lessons with Mark Petruska
Sep 01, 202333:10
Episode 32: Trying Podcasting Part II with Vicki and Wynne

Episode 32: Trying Podcasting Part II with Vicki and Wynne

In this episode, Wynne Leon and Vicki Atkinson are finishing their two-part series about podcasting. In this second episode of the two, we are focusing on the mechanics of podcasting.

We talk about some of the choices we’ve had to make about where to publish our podcast, how widely to distribute it on other platforms, and what we’ve learned about how those choices impact things like the ability to see listener stats.

Vicki brings up some of the down stream options that have come to us to partner with people and how our approach is to be curious and careful. Which extends to advertising and making money off a podcast, neither of which we’ve done, because we’ve taken this slow route.

In this episode, we also talk about how to find and invite guests on, a practice we still are relatively new at but has been so fun and inspiring to us personally to get to meet our guests. Vicki and I talk about the care and feeding of guests as well as our ongoing practice to be voracious listeners.

And although we don’t talk about it on air, Vicki found a great resource of podcast ideas along the way on our journey and so we link to it below.

This is a fun episode of storytelling about podcasting, with a few extra stories about the silliness of the ups and downs that happen along the way. We laugh even as we talk about dry topics like podcast platforms and stats. I know you’ll love it.


Episode 32 show notes


75 Podcast Ideas and Topics


And if you'd like to be on our podcast or suggest someone else, please send email to sharingtheheartofthematter@gmail.com

Aug 25, 202335:16
Episode 31: Trying Podcasting - Part 1 with Wynne and Vicki

Episode 31: Trying Podcasting - Part 1 with Wynne and Vicki

In this episode, Wynne is with co-host Vicki Atkinson and they are doing a two-part series about podcasting. In this first episode of the two, we are focusing on what podcasting has taught us about trying.

We start by talking about the quote from an unknown author Wynne saw before starting this journey:

Your first podcast will be awful.
Your first video will be awful.
Your first article will be awful.
Your first art will be awful.
Your first photo will be awful.
But you can't make your 50th without making your first.
So get it over with, and make it.

It's a quote that made Wynne feel impatient at the outset – not wanting to go through the awful and having all those repetitions. Vicki thinks of it as the pancake quote – the first one out of the pan is never the best.

But now that we’re on our 31st episode, we talk about how much we’ve learned in the process. And that we’d never have gotten there if we hadn’t tried.

We talk about Vicki’s willingness to jump in and try, how having a shared mission is important to her willingness to jump on board.

Vicki talks about podcasting being a part of publishing and marketing a book and how we want to be a place to helps authors with that part of the cycle. Part of our mission is that we want to shine a light on the good things they’ve done.

Wynne shares what learning to be a sound engineer as well as a host has taught her about listening, and we laugh about all the things that happen that we can’t edit out. Vicki shares the tips and tricks that she learned doing voice over work in years past.

We come together to talk about how to make people comfortable telling their stories that matter. And how doing that – it what matters most for us.

This is first episode in this podcast about podcasting is a great episode about trying and learning. And a little about podcasting and publishing along the way. We know you’ll love it.

And then come back and join us next week for an episode focused on the how-tos and whats of podcasting both as a guest and a host. We look forward to it!

 Episode 31 show notes

Aug 18, 202338:31
Episode 30: True Grit with Cheryl Oreglia

Episode 30: True Grit with Cheryl Oreglia

In this episode, Wynne Leon is with co-host Vicki Atkinson and they are talking to author and blogger Cheryl Oreglia.

Cheryl reads an essay from her book, Grow Damn It, called True Grit and we talk about what we develop as we grow through life – the ability to get up and dust ourselves off again and again. In her charming and funny way, Cheryl makes us realize that each failure is a delightful opportunity.

We talk about how Cheryl found a letter she’d written to her mom, but never delivered, a few years after her mom passed and the reluctance to open it. We touch on that feeling that beckons us to think back to the moment we were before our parents died and the bittersweetness of crossing back to that time.

But for each increment of wisdom and perspective we gain, there are many things we also get to lose as we get older. Vicki and I ask Cheryl about the most delightful things she’s found useful to leave behind in middle-age and beyond. Cheryl talks about letting go of perfectionism, over-apologizing, and over-pleasing and using the space to focus instead on family and faith.

This is a great conversation with Cheryl, a wonderful and authentic writer and essayist. So, of course, we ask what she’ll write next and we talk about a perspective on retirement that we rarely hear about. This is a wonderful episode full of love, laughter, and a little risk. We know you’ll love it.


Episode 30 show notes

Grow Damn It!: The Feeding and Nurturing of Life by Cheryl Oreglia

Cheryl's blog: Living in the Gap

Aug 11, 202338:24
Episode 29: Accidental Philanthropists with Dr. Gerald Stein
Aug 04, 202350:14
Episode 28: How Self Care Can Make Us Better Humans with Vicki Atkinson

Episode 28: How Self Care Can Make Us Better Humans with Vicki Atkinson

In this episode, Wynne Leon is with Vicki Atkinson talking about how self care can make us better humans.

We all have different ideas of what a self-care looks like for ourselves – ideas that match our personality and phase of life. But for all the variation in style, there is a central question of how to make self-care stick.

So in this episode, Vicki and I talk about the little hacks that help us to really fill our cups – things like knowing how we self-sabotage or trying not to go whole hog into self-care but instead picking and choosing what’s really helpful.

I talk about seeing the bigger picture and how that helps to orient meon  what truly is important. It’s quite probable that I won’t ever get to the end of my to-do list, or at least not until I retire and the kids have moved away, so it’s my way of finding some peace in knowing what is going to make a difference.

Vicki and I talk about the love of naps and how they help to reset our system and create a break between one thing and the next.

And in the midst of summer vacations and home improvement projects, we commiserate about all the fun threatens to throw us off kilter. I talk about how meditation is my tool to irrigate the irritation and Vicki reveals how she spends energy to get energy.

Vicki answers how disruption helps to remind her that she can learn and adapt. We tie our need for adapt to things at a personal level, like having to change plans because of the AQI or air quality index, and extend the conversation from personal self-care to global self-care.

Which is a great way to segue to why this is a full-circle episode because we tie how taking caring of ourselves helps us to be more thoughtful people in this world. I know you’ll love it.

Episode 28 show notes

Jul 28, 202334:40
Episode 27: The Power of the Pause with Deirdre Wilcox

Episode 27: The Power of the Pause with Deirdre Wilcox

In this episode, Wynne Leon is with meditation and yoga teacher, and massage therapist, Deirdre Wilcox and they are talking about the power of the pause. Deirdre talks about the pause she implements when we converse, the moment to let a question sink in so that she can respond in a thoughtful way that is more in-line with her wise mind. We talk about how pauses can help us when our buttons are pushed so that we can work to build bridges instead of walls with the people we love. Or in the cases where building walls is the most appropriate course of action, that we do it intentionally.

Deirdre introduces us to the idea of interosception – the way the mind perceives and gathers all the available input from the body – and how pauses to allow that to work to create freedom from our 1st level reactions into more accurate responses that are in-line with our deeper wisdom.

In this episode, we hear about the breath practices that help us to align with small pauses. In the breath, we can find ways to notice all the pauses in life around us – in the ocean, the lunar cycle, the solstices and find a way to anchor our natural pauses.

At the end of our time together, Deirdre describes a few small pauses she takes in a day to notice and remember what is around and how these short moments of mindfulness can help to slow our race through life and instead enjoy the here and now.

This is a great episode about using an extra beat to access better information, respond with more care, and pay closer attention. We know you’ll love it.


Episode 27 show notes

Jul 21, 202334:32
Episode 26: Eye of the Tiger with Mark Petruska

Episode 26: Eye of the Tiger with Mark Petruska

In this episode, Wynne Leon is with co-host, Dr. Vicki, and writer and blogger, Mark Petruska and we are talking about personal anthems and resiliency.

Do you have a personal anthem? That song that runs through your head and heart when you face something tough.

Mark reads his post, Eye of the tiger, thrill of the fight for us, the story of his divorce, then dating, and finally his career switch to becoming a full-time writer. We uncover how Mark used both an 80’s pop song, Eye of the Tiger by Survivor as well as the character of Rocky to give him a boost when needed through challenging times.

We find out from Mark how blogging helped him find his voice, be vulnerable and get support during hard times, and eventually even led to his now-wife Tara. Mark reveals how the practice helped him find the confidence to pursue a full-time writing career.

Hard times sometimes last for years as we work through major life changes like divorce, so Mark tells us what kept him laughing during the times when life events didn’t seem very funny.

And finally we end talking about optimism and resiliency. Mark ties it all together with the 3 P’s of positive psychology from Martin Seligman.

Wynne has a mantra that she talks about in this episode and Vicki reveals her personal anthem. Spoiler alert it’s “I Won’t Back Down” by Tom Petty. If you haven’t thought of one, we have a link to a great resource of personal anthem suggestions in the show notes.

 This is a great episode about using personal anthems through difficult circumstances to keep us motivated and energized to get back up again. We know you’ll love it.


Episode 26 show notes

Mark's blog: Mark My Words


Jul 14, 202331:58
Episode 25: The Book Publication Process with Vicki Atkinson

Episode 25: The Book Publication Process with Vicki Atkinson

In this episode of the podcast, I'm with Vicki Atkinson and we're discussing the book publishing process. We talk about the trepidation that publication can bring, the feeling that comes with opening what you’ve worked on privately for so long to a wider audience. Vicki helps to counter that by grounding us in knowing our purpose and inspiration for writing.

We talk about the difference between writing to spill secrets and writing to provide insight into how to be resilient through tough situations. Often, the difference lies in doing the work to center ourselves so that we are ready to write. Then one can operate from a foundation of curiosity and healing instead of just recounting the stories that wound.

Vicki walks us through some of the marketing activities she is currently wrangling with, regardless of how you publish a work, all the effort that goes in to promote it. We discuss what a different animal marketing is from writing, even though they both leave us feeling tenuous and exposed.

We discuss the differences between self-publishing and signing with a publisher, ranging from all the components like cover art, and editing that you need to fund if you self-publish and comparing it to the distribution and contracts that come with a publisher.

And then we circle back to having a clear purpose for writing the memoirs that are so personal and mean so much to us, and how that pushes us through all these uncomfortable aspects of not only writing, but the marketing and beyond.

Episode 25 show notes

This is a great episode about taking books to market and all that comes with it and I know you’ll love it.

Jul 07, 202333:40
Episode 24: The In-Between with Libby Saylor

Episode 24: The In-Between with Libby Saylor

In this episode of the Sharing the Heart of the Matter podcast, Wynne Leon is with co-host, Dr. Vicki Atkinson and our colleague, writer, and artist, Libby Saylor, and we talk about Libby’s essay, Old Doors are Closing but New Ones Have Not Yet Opened. We dig into that uncomfortable in-between place that we occasionally find ourselves in – experiencing the discomfort of change without the relief of knowing yet what the next thing will be. In her delightful, honest, and open way, Libby takes us into the disruptions in her life that are making her feel unsettled. And she shares what fuels her optimism for things to come.

Libby tells us a wonderful story about a similar period in her life that she had to feel her way through – and how it led to rich and rewarding experiences as she opened herself to as the doors the opened.

We talk about what to say to ourselves in the period of in-between, admitting this is hard and praying in whatever way we are inclined to be open.

Finally, Libby lets us peak into her artist ways of getting the gunk out as we tease a course that she is building for our community so that we can benefit from her depth and experience as an artist to express ourselves, even when life is uncomfortable.

This is a great episode filled with inspiration and depth as Vicki, Libby, and I talk about waiting through the periods of life that are uncomfortable and in-between. I know you’ll love it.

Episode 24 show notes on HoTM

Libby on Instagram as @libbysaylor and @thegoddessattainable

Jun 30, 202326:47
Episode 23: Marv Taking Charge with Lois Roelofs

Episode 23: Marv Taking Charge with Lois Roelofs

In this episode, Wynne Leon and Dr. Vicki Atkinson sit down with Lois Roelofs to talk about her incredibly beautiful book, Marv Taking Charge. We talk with Lois about her husband’s decision not to seek treatment for small cell lung cancer and how that choice set up a very intentional life for them as they spent quality time saying good-bye to people that were closest to them. Lois, who has a PhD in nursing and is a former nurse educator, talks about the Patient’s Bill of Rights and the importance of going into decisions about treatment knowing what the priorities are.

Lois brings us along on the road trips she and Marv took after his diagnosis to visit family and friends, to give cherished last hugs. Marv lived well beyond the doctor’s estimate of just a few weeks giving them six wonderful months together.

We talk with Lois about the rapid decline at the end and take in her advice for anyone going through a similar end of life process to lean on the beliefs that give them strength, gather their support system and to sign up for hospice from day one for the care and support they provide. Lois tells us how Marv gave her a gift from the beginning by saying, “You’ll be fine. I’m the one who is dying” and how she worked to honor him as the person who was dying.

This is a great episode filled love and meaning as we talk about intentionally walking towards the end of life. We know you’ll love it.

Show Notes: Episode 23: Marv Taking Charge with Lois Roelofs

Marv Taking Charge: A Story of Bold Love and Courage on Amazon

Lois' blog: Write Along with Me

Jun 23, 202334:34
Episode 22: Themes in Surviving Sue with Vicki Atkinson

Episode 22: Themes in Surviving Sue with Vicki Atkinson

In this episode, Wynne Leon is with co-host, Dr. Vicki Atkinson and they talk about Vicki's newly released book, Surviving Sue.

In this episode that is near and dear to our hearts, we dig in to what it takes to write a memoir about such a complex character as Vicki’s mom, Sue who was afflicted with anxiety, depression, alcoholism, Munchausen’s by proxy and later on, Alzheimer’s. We talk about the huge personal benefit of doing the work to turn anger into compassion and positive regard and how that facilitates intergenerational healing in our families as well as our own relationships.

We laugh about all the funny parts of Sue as well as a character with infectious positivity and gravitational pull. Because there is always a lighter side to go with the shadow, so we highlight all the fun that Vicki included into the book that makes it such a complete and satisfying story and picture of a woman.

Vicki tells us about uncovering the secrets that Sue carried her whole life, many of them filed away in an ugly gray-green filing cabinet, and the unspoken relationship Sue and Vicki had because as her daughter, she often saw more than Sue wanted her too.

As part of the sandwich generation, taking care of her mom at the same time as raising her daughter, Vicki talks about the tough spots trying to balance it all.

Show Notes: Episode 22: Themes from Surviving Sue with Vicki Atkinson on HoTM

Surviving Sue | Eckhart Press

Vicki's blog: Victoria Ponders

This is a great episode filled with inspiration and depth as Vicki and I talk about doing the important but difficult work to understand our parents as people. I know you’ll love it.

Jun 16, 202334:18
Episode 21: A Creative Life with Elizabeth Wickham
Jun 09, 202330:09
Episode 20: The Art of the Interview with Dr. Gerald Stein
Jun 02, 202347:01
Episode 19: Long Distance Letters with Vicki and Wynne
May 26, 202330:44
Episode 18: No Time For Kings with Mark Petruska
May 19, 202325:08
Episode 17: Building a Base with Brian Hannon
May 12, 202330:17
Episode 16: Nuggets of Kindness with Stuart Perkins
May 05, 202324:34
Episode 15: Writing into a Full and Balanced Life with Brenda Harrison
Apr 28, 202330:09
Episode 14: Holding Space with Deirdre Wilcox
Apr 21, 202345:03
Episode 13: The Best Seat In the House with Bruce Bohrer

Episode 13: The Best Seat In the House with Bruce Bohrer

In this episode, Vicki and Wynne had the pleasure of visiting with Bruce Bohrer, author of “Best Seat in the House:  A Diary of a Wrigley Field Usher” and it was a terrific, behind-the-scenes peek into a beloved sports venue in Chicago.

Tune in as Bruce shares anecdotes about famous players – Ryne Sandberg, Ernie Banks, and Ryan Dempster – and stay for the fun as Bruce shares stories about the “real stars of the game” – the fans – as he talks about fun encounters with the irrepressible die-hard Cubs fans. 

Bruce’s nine-year ‘second career’ was a dream come true --  and a privilege, he says, to work in historic landmark.  Join us as Bruce shares fond memories, including the bonds he built with his fellow ushers and fans from around the world.

We talk about all the characters that come together to make a ball field work - the marriage proposals, pictures taken, and vendor songs. Wrigley Field shows up as a character in its own right complete with history, ambiance, and destination for all those that want to see one of the oldest ballparks in America. Bruce also tells us about how his book about his post retirement stint as an usher came together with the stats, the stories and the surreptitious notes he took on the job.

We know you will enjoy this entertaining and fun episode!

Show notes: Episode 13: Best Seat In the House with Bruce Bohrer on HoTM

Best Seat In The House: Diary Of A Wrigley Field Usher | Eckhartz Press

Amazon.com: Best Seat in the House: Diary of a Wrigley Field Usher eBook : Bohrer, Bruce: Kindle Store


Apr 14, 202338:26
Episode 12: On Storytelling with Stuart M. Perkins
Apr 07, 202321:45
Episode 11: How to Journal the Right Way with Libby Saylor

Episode 11: How to Journal the Right Way with Libby Saylor

In this episode, Wynne Leon is with Vicki Atkinson and Libby Saylor to talk about Libby’s post about how to journal the right way. That is to say to journal to really heal the tough, icky, and not so fun, phases and feelings. We touch on the inner child and how journaling can work to really soothe those parts of ourselves who don’t feel heard.
We bring in Rumi’s guest house and liken journaling to really welcoming the whole complement of feelings in so we can receive the message and move on.

Libby and Vicki talk about the therapeutic effects of putting pen to paper. Libby inspires us as an artist and human to make the journaling and growing process attractive and social.
Finally we talk about how life requires us to pay attention and grow and that sometimes we write it down to squeeze out what we need.
We know you’ll love this episode with the company of wonderful people looking to lean-in to growth!


Show notes can be found at the HoTM website: Episode 11: How to Journal the Right Way with Libby Saylor


Mar 31, 202333:56
Episode 10: The Power of Intuition with Deirdre Wilcox
Mar 24, 202345:16