Making Meaning: Deep Conversations on Life, Purpose, and The Human Experience

Episodes

• 
  Finding the Lesson in Every Trigger: You Owe it to Yourself to Heal with Tracy Smaldino 27.08.2026 1h 41m

  Trauma is something we all experience and are called to integrate and grow through, and no one’s journey exemplifies this strength of the human spirit more than Tracy Smaldino.****CW: SA, Physical Trauma, Car AccidentsA near-death auto accident at 12, group sexual assault at 15, and a lifetime of repression and suppression led Tracy to a moment where she realized it was time to start living life on her terms.From meditation and reflection to MDMA therapy, Tracy has dedicated her life to herself and her healing and now uses her story, authenticity, and compassion to help others feel heard and supported in their own journeys.Tracy embodies what it means to be a survivor, and a true Trauma Rock Star, which also happens to be the name of her podcast!In this episode of the Making Meaning Podcast, hear more about Tracy, her journey, and how she built a life, not defined by her trauma, but defined by her resilience.Learn about Tracy’s Work: https://traumarockstars.com/#about Listen to Trauma Rock Stars: https://traumarockstars.com/ Work with Tracy: https://traumarockstars.com/#offersFollow Tracy:https://www.instagram.com/traumarockstars/https://www.tiktok.com/@trauma.rock.stars?lang=enhttps://www.facebook.com/people/Trauma-Rock-Stars/61577768623272/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfF2mjPEQcXMepzlntQmCowFollow The Cohere Collective:https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollectiveLearn about The Cohere Collective: www.thecoherecollective.com To support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/supportFollow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music:https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover:https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/Resources and References:Watch Siobhan Briar Aquilar’s video on The Tell by Amy Griffin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcELZgiSIgY&t=698sThank you for being here!Smack,Reese
• 
  The Intersection of Grief and Growth: Holding Pain to Create Healing with Angela Clement and Kevin Hughes 11.08.2026 2h 3m

  It’s difficult to be told, or to tell ourselves, “everything happens for a reason.” Not only can it undermine and invalidate our feelings, it can also unhealthily minimize extremely tragic events and experiences.Conversely, grief is often looked at as a set back in our lives, but what are the ways that grief and other hardships actually support our personal growth and spiritual evolution?There has to be a middle ground between looking at life’s most difficult experiences as purely constructive or solely hurtful, and perhaps the intersection of pain and power can be found in spiritual growth.This intersection where Angela Clement and Kevin Hughes like to work with their clients.Angela lost her husband of 35 years to cancer in 2021, and since then has taken the complex emotions of grief and growth and used them to hold space for others to continue their journeys of spiritual evolution.Kevin grew up a bullied Catholic boy, discouraged from looking deeper into his inner magic, until one day, he was no longer being able to ignore that spark.Now, Kevin and Angela bring their lived experiences into conversation with spiritual awakening and self development to empower their clients to embrace grief, trust their inner voice, and grow through what they go through.Follow Angela and Kevin’s Work:Find Angela’s work and Healing Hearts Sessions:healingenergy.worldRead Awakening Through Grief: https://www.healingenergy.world/booksFollow Angela: https://www.instagram.com/aclementvmhttps://www.tiktok.com/@awakenysj https://www.facebook.com/AwakenYSJ/Find Angela’s Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@AwakenysjFollow Kevin: https://www.facebook.com/KevinthemediumFollow The Cohere Collective:https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollectiveFor more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.comTo support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/supportFollow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music:https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover:https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/Thank you for being here!Smack,Reese
• 
  From Half Half Cakes to Whole Lives: Redefining Success and Presence with Jim Sabellico 29.07.2026 1h 43m

  On his son’s 6th birthday, Jim came home late from work to find half of a birthday cake, presents already opened, and the realization that everything he had been taught and believed about success led him to act in contradiction to who he wanted to be.Throughout his life, Jim worked tirelessly to provide for his family, and though he provided financially, he realized he wasn’t providing the most important aspects of parenthood; patience and time, a strong example of healthy masculinity, and presence with his family.No Half Cakes was born when Jim began to redefine his purpose, and redefine how he lived, and now helps you do the same.A huge thank you to Jim for his time, energy, and presence during our conversation!Learn more about Jim Sabellico: https://nohalfcakes.com/ Follow Jim: https://www.instagram.com/jimsabellico/ Follow No Half Cakes: https://www.instagram.com/nohalfcakesFollow The Cohere Collective:https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollectiveFor more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.comTo support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/supportFollow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music:https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover:https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/Resources and References: Learn about and read the Bhagavad Gita: https://ocoy.org/read-our-books/introduction-gita-for-awakening/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=756548521&gbraid=0AAAAADNGo5MMRG4uPSl7WJf8HJSQmBAZb&gclid=CjwKCAjwpqHTBhAcEiwAj2AfumU73Wq-EQhpkpcYe_xK4ZGnVAZdxY87F83HyoVjYPJsbgn5ATn88hoCsZIQAvD_BwERead the Myth of Sisyphus, Albert Camus’ work that touches on Philosophical Suicide: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/91950.The_Myth_of_SisyphusThank you for being here!Smack,Reese
• 
  The Sacred Art of Hunting: A Journey of the Land and the Self with Christie Green 14.07.2026 1h 45m

  Christie Green is the author of Moonlight Elk: One Woman’s Hunt for Food and Freedom published by The University of New Mexico Press (UNMP) in 2024.Christie is a land and water steward, landscape architect, local food activist, educator and hunter which attracts passionate audiences in these fields. She represents a fundamental missing bridge between polarized audiences and cultural extremes.During our conversation, Christie and I discussed the ethics of food consumerism, feminist hunting practices, and ways in which we all can take steps to become more aligned with the natural world.Green’s forthcoming book, Salmon Dreaming: Coming Home to Alaska will be released by UNMP in 2027 and her third book, The New Meridian: Undamming the West will be released by UNMP in 2029.Learn More about Christie Green: https://www.christiegreen.net/ Read Moonlight Elk: https://www.unmpress.com/9780826366726/moonlight-elk/#:~:text=Here,Follow Christie Green: https://www.instagram.com/radiclelandscape/Follow The Cohere Collective:https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollectiveFor more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.comTo support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/supportFollow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music:https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover:https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/Thank you for being here!Smack,Reese
• 
  How to Choose Yourself and Create Lifelong Evolution and Balance with Hakeem Bourne Mcfarlane 30.06.2026 1h 41m

  We’ve all heard, “put your own oxygen mask on first,” and yet, we still all struggle to do so, and to make space for others to do so too. Choosing yourself sounds self-centered. So why does it allow us to step into service and reverence with so much more presence?Hakeem Bourne Mcfarlane is a speaker, coach, and storyteller focused on harnessing his story of resilience, honesty, and accountability to help others recognize their power and choose themselves before life chooses for them.Hakeem isn’t worried about growing pains, questioning authority, or getting real. He confronts life’s challenges with humor, raw truth, and practical frameworks that empower himself and others to be self-centered, in the most Coherent sense of the word!In our conversation, we dive in to Hakeem’s story as an only child living inside addiction, instability, and silence, not from a lack of love, but from parents who were struggling to Choose Themselves. Becoming and older brother at 10 completely changed Hakeem, as did the lessons learned through athletics, but nothing seemed to be able to break him out of the prison of his own mind.Facing five knee surgeries, chronic pain, incarceration, and addiction, Hakeem found the thing that finally saved him: himself.A huge thank you to Hakeem for the time, presence, and energy during this conversation!Learn About the Choose Yourself Community: https://chooseyourself.info/ Follow Hakeem: https://www.instagram.com/bigdreamhakeem/?hl=enhttps://www.tiktok.com/@bigdreamhakeemFollow the Choose Yourself Community: https://www.instagram.com/chooseyourselfchannel/?hl=enhttps://www.youtube.com/@ChooseYourselfChannelFollow The Cohere Collective:https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollectiveFor more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.comTo support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/supportFollow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music:https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover:https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/Thank you for being here!Smack,Reese
• 
  The Power of Musicality in Connection, Transformation, and Meaning with Tigrilla Gardenia 19.05.2026 2h 5m

  Community has been a pressing need in the zeitgeist. But beyond the desire for human connection, there is a vast world of other-than-humans ready to connect and waiting for us to come home.Tigrilla Gardenia, B.M. M.S., Nature-Inspired Mentor, Certified Life Coach (ICF PCC), and World Ambassador for Plant Advocacy, empowers creative multipotentialites and nature-inspired professionals to confidently live authentic, purpose-driven lives in collaboration with the plant world. Tigrilla’s multifaceted experience allows her to connect with individuals and broad communities to remind us of truths we intuitively connect with and have always known.In our conversation, Tigrilla and I dive into her experience in the music industry, community living in Damanhur – one of the world’s largest spiritual eco-communities – and her intimate connection to the plant world.Now in her work, she uses the depth and breadth of her experience to empower creatives multipotentialities to take action with confidence and become the conscious leaders of their lives.Check Out Tigrilla Gardenia’s Work: https://tigrillagardenia.com/Work with Tigrilla: https://tigrillagardenia.com/work-with-me-coaching/1to1-mentorship/Follow Tigrilla: https://www.instagram.com/tigrillagardeniaWhat’s Your Spirit Wild Plant?: https://tigrillagardenia.com/what-s-your-spirit-wild-plant/Follow The Cohere Collective:https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollectiveFor more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.comTo support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/supportFollow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music:https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover:https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/Thank you for being here!Smack,Reese
• 
  Stop Choosing Between Purpose and Security: Pursuing Purpose and Cultivating Vocation 05.05.2026 1h 34m

  Purpose and practicality rarely seem to work together in today’s world. But what if we could build our lives to support necessity, a baseline feeling of safety and security, and fulfill our deepest needs of fulfillment? It’s these questions of Purpose, passion, and Vocation that we dig into in today’s episode, and continually ask: how can I live more Coherently? A huge thank you to Florian Kemmerich for his time, energy, and expertise during this episode! Check out Florian’s Work: https://on-vocation.com/ Read On Vocation: https://on-vocation.com/books/ Follow The Cohere Collective: https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/ https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollective For more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.com To support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/support Follow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music: https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/ Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/ https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/ Thank you for being here! Smack, Reese
• 
  Purpose is a Privilege: Creating Financial Freedom to Make Meaning 14.04.2026 1h 26m

  In a world where meaning is a privilege, how do you create the life of your dreams from a place of safety, security, and empowerment? Pursuing Purpose is a privilege, one that every human being deserves access to, but feels like a rarer and rarer possibility.In our current economic and socio-political world where systemic factors prevent so many from building a life of Purpose, where do we go from here? Of course, we can all use our voices, bring Space to power, and advocate and activate for change; while we get to work creating a life where all individuals have the Coherent right to self-determination, what can we do now to try and create as much financial independence and personal autonomy as possible?It’s these complex questions that we tackle in today’s episode.Learn more about David Nassief: https://onepagewealthcompass.com/Read One Page Wealth Compass: https://onepagewealthcompass.com/#bookFollow The Cohere Collective:https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollectiveFor more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.comTo support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/supportFollow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music:https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover:https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/Thank you for being here!Smack,Reese
• 
  Unlock Your Soul’s Mission: Building Aligned Movements with Cailen Ascher 31.03.2026 1h 36m

  The time for your vision is now.So many of us feel the intuitive sense of Purpose seeded deep within us, but what does it look like to actually craft a life in alignment with our soul’s fulfillment? Cailen Ascher’s work is founded on the belief that soul-led women don’t just live their missions – they create movements. And the world needs you and your Purpose.Check Out Cailen Ascher’s Work:Free Training - Discover Your Soul-Led Business Plan: www.CailenAscher.com/shiftWebsite: www.CailenAscher.comhttps://www.instagram.com/cailen.ascher/Substack: https://cailenascher.substack.com/Follow The Cohere Collective:https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollectiveFor more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.comTo support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/supportFollow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music:https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover:https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/Thank you for being here!Smack,Reese
• 
  Release The Overwhelm of People Pleasing with Radical Self Acceptance with Christina Slaback 17.03.2026 1h 49m

  It's time to get unstuck!Christina Slaback is a life and business coach who helps people understand why they’re stuck, and what staying there is quietly costing them. With a background in psychology and business and over 15 years of leadership experience, she blends compassion with honest perspective to help clients outgrow patterns that once kept them safe but no longer fit. Her work is about clarity, agency, and intentional change.In this conversation, I sit down with Christina to talk about getting unstuck. As caregivers, we can often struggle with people-pleasing, burnout, and resentment. To become the persion you want to be, you have to first belive you are worthy of what that person deserves. Embracing change isn’t about shame, blame, or guilt, it’s about radical self acceptance and feeling into what brings you joy and alignment.Check Out Christina’s Work: https://christinaslaback.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/christinaslaback/Linktree: https://linktr.ee/cslaback?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnig_yENiqe3mWa8ZqtYfXmOZGJoVwTM6kmFijB8nJlZN8Ztk_emjfTy-i5Kg_aem_SEbxXFfv_eUMECEA6RLItgIntentional Reset Framework: https://70ddd865.sibforms.com/serve/MUIFAJS6WNNerIX2UoXApqse6eJxgFMuNOQG9Z_1O5YxwE2NeqDhxefoDWPenKGB6XIu-sQSo0SrJqM1TYK8zMp5PjQGgML0ag6t0HqB0UpExeEdfpBYHkUMrMATE4OvujV83_XDDp81vEcnemfdhAgZ_4gvOoWE0nbM8JNaFrGG3BlwurGAm6d-MiqG5GOqOunSa6ufrl6fIeEdStrategic Alignment Reset: https://calendar.app.google/iypMk5auLhoyNgTJ7Follow The Cohere Collective:https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollectiveFor more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.comTo support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/supportFollow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music:https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover:https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/Thank you for being here!Smack,Reese
• 
  You Were Never Meant to be Separate from Nature with Julie Brams 03.03.2026 1h 41m

  Julie Brams IS your mother’s psychotherapist: Mother Gaia. An ANFT certified Forest Therapy Guide, meditation practitioner and teacher, and author of The Nature Embedded Mind, Brams works to help us all re-member our connection with nature and believes that through this sacred relationship, we can begin and deepen a restorative approach to environmental sustainability and social change.In our conversation, Brams shares her own journey into the forest and how an initmate connection with other-than-humans allows us to understand our own consciousness more deeply. Through recalling the language of nature (that we’ve always been able to speak and to understand) we can more deeply come into communion with the oh-so-alive world and with personal experience, allowing a deepening of trust in our individual, and universal, sovereignty.We’re facing a deep need to dismantle cultural systems and must begin by deconstructing these systems internally. This episode reminds us of the anthropocentric culture context we live in, and the power of storytelling in shaping our reality. Between the small acts of daily life, purpose is woven, and it is up to us to construct the future’s tapestry in the image of mutual care, restorative justice, and communal Coherence.A huge thank you to Julie Brams for her time, energy, and expertise in this episode!Read The Nature Embedded Mind: https://www.juliebrams.com/booksLearn more about Julie’s work: https://www.juliebrams.comFollow Julie: https://www.instagram.com/juliebramslmft/?hl=enFollow The Cohere Collective:https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollectiveFor more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.comTo support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/supportFollow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music:https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover:https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/Thank you for being here!Smack,Reese
• 
  Chiropractic Care is Deeper Than You Think: Healing Body, Mind, & Spirit with Dr. Trey McMahon 17.02.2026 1h 31m

  Join host Reese Brown as she sits down with Dr. Trey McMahon to discuss the intersection of physical health, mental health, and how the nervous system is the key to unlocking your body’s spectrum of wellbeing.A huge thank you to Dr. Trey McMahon for his time, energy, and expertise during this episode!Follow Dr. Trey McMahon: https://www.instagram.com/chirotrey/Work with Dr. Trey McMahon: https://gocuris.com/providers/franklin-trey-mcmahon/Follow The Cohere Collective:https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollectiveFor more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.comTo support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/supportFollow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music:https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover:https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/Thank you for being here!Smack,Reese
• 
  Be Unapologetically ALIVE: Mental Health, Belonging, & Radical Self-Love with Lydia Shock 16.12.2025 1h 47m

  What happens when you stop shrinking yourself to fit into spaces that were never built for you?Content Warning: 6:03-10:28 and 44:43-46:01 Discussion of self-harm and suicidal ideationIn this episode of Making Meaning, Lydia Shock shares her journey through depression, suicidal ideation, self-acceptance, and radical healing, and how learning to take up space quite literally saved her life.Together, we explore:Why being labeled “too much” is often a trauma response to patriarchyHow mental health, identity, and belonging intersect in adolescenceWhy self-love isn’t indulgent, it’s disciplinedTherapy as a lifelong skillset, not a crisis toolFeminism, dating, and why women are done settlingMen’s mental health without excusing harmful behaviorThe power of tribe, chosen family, and asking for helpThis episode is for anyone who’s ever felt, too loud, too emotional, too intense, too much, or somehow never enough; You’re not broken. You’re becoming.A huge thank you to Lydia Shock for her time, energy, and openness during our conversation!Follow Lydia Shock and the Someone Should Know Podcast:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/someone-should-know/id1830132865Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/71YLzhr2I4mKZaYrgDYUN2?si=bdc629aab42e4075YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@someoneshouldknowpodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/someoneshouldknowpodcast/https://www.tiktok.com/@someone.should.know.podFollow The Cohere Collective:https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollectiveFor more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.comTo support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/supportFollow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music:https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover:https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/Thank you for being here!Smack,Lillian Reese Brown, MA, MCLC
• 
  Let Your Inner Child Lead the Way: Creative Purpose & Politics with Dave Neal 02.12.2025 1h 22m

  Unleashing your inner child just may be the most radical thing you can do in our current culture. Join host, Reese Brown as she sits down with comedian, creator, and political commentator Dave Neal to discuss his path as a gritty creator, passionate father and husband, and spiritual meaning maker. Neal discusses everything, from inner child work to politics to the deeply human need to live authentically. We start with the moment Dave almost quit everything. Living in Hollywood, getting by with his then girlfriend (now wife), when we lost his job due to the pandemic. A seeming rock bottom allowed Dave to rediscover his spark that changed the trajectory of, not just his career, but his life. A huge thank you to Dave for his time, energy, and vulnerability during this conversation! Follow and Support Dave Neal and The Rush Hour Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/dnealz/ https://www.facebook.com/dnealz https://www.tiktok.com/@dnealz?lang=en https://www.youtube.com/@DaveNealComedian https://www.rushhourwithdave.com https://www.patreon.com/daveneal Follow The Cohere Collective: https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/ https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollective For more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.com To support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/support Follow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music: https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/ Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/ https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/ Resources and References: - Learn about Dr. Annie Andrews’ Senate Campaign: https://drannieandrews.com - Learn about James Talarico’s Senate Campaign: https://jamestalarico.com - Lady Lazarus by Sylvia Plath: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/49000/lady-lazarus Thank you for being here! Smack, Reese
• 
  How to Become Who You Really Are: Healing the Mother Wound & Reclaiming Your Truth with Diane Sorenson 18.11.2025 1h 39m

  What happens when the “good girl” grows up, becomes a mother, and realizes the performance is killing her and hurting her family?In today’s episode of Making mMeaning, Reese Brown sits down with Diane Sorensen, former teacher, mother, coach, and host of Chaos to Connection, **to unravel the mother wound, the good girl archetype, and the generational patterns that silently shape our lives.Diane shares the story of how her daughter’s mental health crisis became the unexpected catalyst for her own awakening. Together, they explore:Why perfectionism, people-pleasing, and chronic self-abandonment get passed down through the maternal lineHow “good girl programming” disconnects us from our truth, intuition, and inner knowingThe hidden ways self-harm shows up in thoughts, patterns, and body imageWhy awareness is a practice — not a one-time realizationHow to build healthy boundaries (the real kind, not the Instagram kind)What it means to live a meaningful life you experience, not just surviveAnd the powerful idea that we are “universal energy in individualized form”If you’ve ever struggled with the weight of expectations, the fear of rejection, or the longing to finally live as your authentic self, this conversation will feel like a homecoming.Check out Diane Sorenson’s work and the From Chaos to Connection Podcast!Diane’s Website: https://www.dianesorensen.netFrom Chaos to Connection: https://open.spotify.com/show/5crEBn4kp3kxqy8dH1PQyW?si=308a5252ecd44627Follow Diane: https://www.instagram.com/dianesorensen.bb/Follow The Cohere Collective:https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollectiveFor more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.comTo support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/supportFollow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music:https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover:https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/Thank you for being here!Smack,Reese
• 
  From Silence to Strength: Reclaiming Your Story Through Strength, Healing, and Faith with Shara Goswick 21.10.2025 1h 22m

  From surviving abuse to building a lasting marriage, raising a family, and becoming “Aya” to her grandkids, Shara’s story is one of hope, resilience, and divine redemption.Content Warning: 8:49 - 15:10 Childhood Abuse and TraumaIn this deeply moving conversation, join host Reese Brown as she sits down with Shara Goswick to discuss faith in the face of trauma, feeling purpose since birth, and the meaning to be made right in front of us.Shara’s remarkable journey is an entry way into exploring healing from childhood trauma, rediscovering faith, and reclaiming your voice after years of silence.Shara shares how her Christian faith, therapy, and community helped her overcome shame and fear, leading her to chase and create a life of purpose, joy, and connection.In this episode, you’ll hear about:Healing from childhood trauma through therapy and faithReclaiming your voice after years of silenceThe hard but beautiful work of forgivenessFinding your identity in Trust, not fearMarriage, motherhood, and generational healingLiving with purpose and gratitude every dayThe purpose that is all around us, no matter how mundaneA huge thank you to Shara for her time, energy, and vulnerability in this episode!Learn More about Shara and the Life Stories Podcast: https://lifestoriespodcast.com/Follow The Cohere Collective:https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollectiveFor more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.comTo support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/supportFollow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music:https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover:https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/Thank you for being here!Smack,Reese
• 
  How to Talk to the Universe – And Actually Hear Back: Cultivating Your Relationship with The Angels, Spirit, and Self with K. Margaret Solorio 07.10.2025 1h 33m

  What if joy isn’t the goal of life, but the strategy for living?Join host Reese Brown as she sits down with Angel Reiki Master, Host of the Intuitive Wisdom Podcast, and Meaning Maker K. Margaret Solorio for a deeply grounding conversation that explores how to co-create with Spirit, distinguish anxiety from intuition, and raise your vibration through joy and surrender.Reese and K. Margaret also explore mediumship, space-centered Reiki, and how each of us are just Spirit dreaming. This episode of Making Meaning reminds us of the power of deep and connective conversations and that purpose is already within us – we just need to remember who we are and come home to ourselves.A huge thank you to K. Margaret Solorio for her time, energy, and expertise during this episode!Follow K. Margaret: https://www.instagram.com/deliciousease/?hl=enCheck out K. Margaret’s work: https://deliciousease.comRead Make Ease Your Vibe: https://deliciousease.com/meyvFollow The Cohere Collective:https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollectiveFor more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.comTo support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/supportFollow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music:https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover:https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/Thank you for being here!Smack,Reese
• 
  Colonization & Ancestral Healing: Why did We Forget to Eat Acorns? with Elspeth Hay 09.09.2025 1h 6m

  In a culture of disconnection, how do we live with Purpose? Our collective hunger for belonging can be directly linked to the violent rupture of place experienced through the human cycle of colonization and displacement. Join host Reese Brown as she sits down with author and Meaning Maker Elspeth Hay to discuss the connection between the trauma of Euro-American history, our connection to trees, and the ability to eat acorns. Together we ask: how can healing begin, and expand — for ourselves, our communities, and the land — and what role does truth-telling play in collective belonging? Listen Now to Learn: - The connection between capitalism, colonization, and agriculture, and why we stopped eating acorns - How the root of belonging begins in place and our connection to the living world - The power of tree-based systems for sustainable agricultural - How our collective stories and myths have always connected us to trees, acorns, and food - How to personally connect with your local community and begin healing ancestral trauma through Truth-telling A huge thank you to Elspeth for her time, energy, and for sharing place during this episode! Read Feed Us with Trees: https://newsociety.com/book/feed-us-with-trees/?aff=65 Learn More about Elspeth’s Work: https://elspethhay.com Follow Elspeth: https://www.instagram.com/elspethhay/?hl=en Follow The Cohere Collective: https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/ https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollective For more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.com To support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/support Follow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music: https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/ Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/ https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/ References and Resources: Against the Grain by James C. Scott: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/34324534-against-the-grain Thank you for being here! Smack, Reese
• 
  The Innate Power of Breath: Remember and Restore Your Magic with Anthony Abbagnano 26.08.2025 1h 19m

  Join host Reese Brown as she sits down with Founder of The Alchemy of Breath, Author of Outer Chaos Inner Calm, and Meaning Maker Anthony Abbagnano to discuss the divinity of the breath and how we can use this gift to regulate our nervous system, come back to the present moment, and return home to ourselves. When we engage with the outer world from our inner breath, we learn to see everything as a mirror for our own human experience; what can we learn from our broader world, our inner world, and our inner child to step into presence and more abundantly love one another?That, and so much more in this episode of Making Meaning!A huge thank you to Anthony for his expertise, energy, and time during this episode!Follow Anthony:https://www.instagram.com/alchemyofbreath/https://www.facebook.com/AOB.Breathwork/Read Outer Chaos Inner Calm: https://alchemyofbreath.com/outer-chaos-inner-calm/Learn About Alchemy of Breath and Work with Anthony: https://alchemyofbreath.comFollow The Cohere Collective:https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollectiveFor more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.comTo support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/supportFollow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music:https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover:https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/Thank you for being here!Smack,Reese
• 
  Embrace Uncertainty and Outsmart Everyone: Why Doubt is Our Strongest Weapon Against Apathy with Carolyn Kraft 12.08.2025 1h 20m

  Join host Reese Brown as she sits down with lawyer, philosopher, and meaning maker Carolyn Kraft to discuss the importance of nuanced and philosophically informed civil discourse, the necessity of vulnerability in a progressing society, how interrogating the complex layers and intersectional wrinkles in opinions and worldviews garners more empathy in conversation, and most importantly, how changing the way we engage with ourselves, our loved ones, and the world around us truly is the nexus point for creating positive change in broader society.Carolyn also shares her story from growing up in Hawaii, through personal hardship, and eventually to becoming a lawyer and content creator. Her unique approach to content creation is informed by Carolyn’s passion for creating space for critical thinking amidst an ever-intensifying push towards black and white thinking. For Carolyn, even controversial topics and the hardest conversations are the areas where we all need to be taking a bit more time, and creating a bit more grace, for our personal and societal growth, starting with gratitude, vulnerability, and empathy.CW: 7:10 - 13:42 includes conversation regarding a car accident, personal injuries, and recovery.A huge thank you to Carolyn for sharing her time, energy, and expertise during this episode!Follow Carolyn Kraft:https://www.instagram.com/kraftythinking/https://www.tiktok.com/@kraftythinking?lang=enhttps://substack.com/@kraftythinkingwww.youtube.com/@kraftythinkingFollow The Cohere Collective:https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollectiveFor more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.comTo support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/supportFollow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music:https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover:https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/Thank you for being here!Smack,Reese