What are the real ways that we can embrace the complexity of our experiences? How can we let go of a scarcity mindset in favor of a mindset of abundance? How can we see the stories of others as adding something important rather than taking something away from us?What does it actually look like to make more space for people and their stories? How can we start to “build a bigger table”? Instead of dismissing our vision as unrealistic or unattainable, how can we learn to use imagination and hope...

What power do you have in your community? ...Sue Wells is a New Zealander. Now living in the North Island's beautiful Kapiti Coast, she is originally from Christchurch in the South Island. There, she grew up, studied at Canterbury University, and had a highly successful broadcasting career in radio and television, including starring in her own show, "Susan Sells", on CTV. She moved from there into local government as an elected city councillor in Christchurch from 1998-2013. She chaired the C...

How do we, as a community of individuals with individual experiences, thoughts, and feelings, come together to create shared meaning?How has our understanding of communication evolved to more accurately encompass the complexities and nuances of human relationships?Whether or not we consider ourselves "creative" or "leaders," how can we still find ways to create and lead?...Mike is the Director of Leadership Development for the Clinton Foundation and co-directs the Presiden...

How can you create a sense of “Mattering” for yourself and others in your communities? ...Ottar works as a Professor of Counselling at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and also as Head of NTNU WellFare: Nordic Research Center for Well-being and Social Sustainability. Ottar is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Agder (Norway) and an Honorary Professor at Aalborg University (Denmark). He has worked as a systemic family therapist for many years and his research in...

What does it look like for you to celebrate?Where in your life can you pursue creation (in any of its many forms) as a way to check in with yourself and reflect?What stories do you have around death and dying?…Madison Wood-Gonzalez is a National Public Speaker, Storyteller of the Year Award-Winner, Best-Selling Author, and Published Poet. She is also the Executive Director for an Indianapolis-based nonprofit, Morning Light, that fosters community programs in Indiana for the terminally ill, se...

What are your “Undigested Stories”?…Tracey currently lives and works in Aberdeen, Scotland within an independent therapy service at Possibilities Counselling and Psychotherapy. Her professional training was initially in Social Work and she worked with children and families, before retraining in Systemic Psychotherapy. Tracey currently works with children, adults, couples and families. She has also been involved in running parenting groups and bereavement groups. Tracey uses CMM ideas and tool...

What are you creating in your relationships?What does 'healing' mean to you- both individually and collectively?...La Shanda Sugg describes herself as a storyteller, storyholder, reflector, and soul hugger. She is the co-host of the Labors of Love Podcast and “Chief Love Officer” of Labors of Love Counseling and Consulting.Heddy Nam is a liberatory coach and facilitator for people, organizations, and networks working towards social change through Rosalee Consulting. She is a healer, speaker, ...

Please be aware that this conversation contains mentions of disordered eating, domestic violence, and sexual abuse. …What does it mean to take a "not knowing position?" How can you change the moment in the moment?What else can you listen for?…John Burnham is a consultant systemic psychotherapist and supervisor, with over forty years of working with families, couples and individuals. He works at Parkview Clinic, Birmingham Women and Children’s Hospital where he was formerly Director of Systemi...

Where in your life are you living or telling a singular story? How can you make space to explore more stories for yourself and others?…Nana Bonsu is an experienced senior leader. Nana is a qualified social worker, family and systemic psychotherapist, and systemic supervisor. Nana is the Director of Relational Practice in Camden. Nana has worked in children’s services for over twenty years, both in children’s statutory services and CAMHs (Child Adolescent and Mental Health Services). Nana has ...

How can you begin to embrace communication as a transformative force for change in your life?…Kongit Farrell is a licensed marriage and family therapist with specialties in conflict resolution, trauma, couples therapy, and human sexuality. She is the founder of the Center for Healthy Marriage and is an adjunct professor of Clinical Psychology at Pepperdine University. Kongit is an alumna of the CMM Institute and AC4 Fellowship programs at Columbia University and serves on the executive board ...

Where in your relationships can you name the meaning you are making? Where can ask others to name the meaning they are making?… Laurie Budlong-Morse is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and an AANE Certified Neurodiverse Couples Therapist with a private practice in Indianapolis; she also creates educational content and offers online services with a focus on mixed-neurotype relationships. Laurie holds training in postmodern and social constructionist methods of therapy as well a...

What is "perceived oughtness"? How does it show up in our lives? How can we reflect on this force and make new choices?How can we embody curiosity to understand ourselves and others well?What is the relationship between “beliefs,” "meaning," "action," and "emotion"? How can we come to understand the complex dynamics that exist to find healing for our past and a new way forward for our future?...Dr. Barbara McKay is a systemic psychotherapist, supervisor, and teacher. She has served on the Boa...

What are the tangible changes that you can be a part of making in your social worlds? …Gro Emmertsen Lund is an independent scholar, education specialist, author and researcher; she is a part of The Taos Institute, USA, serving as a Taos Associate and Faculty Advisor. She is also part of NO!SE (Network of Independent Scholars in Education) in Denmark. She has published a number of articles and books and are active in public debates in Denmark and Norway. Gro has a bachelor’s degree in teachin...

How can we celebrate our own individuality (and the individuality of others) by being honest about our needs, finding unique ways to meet them, and saying out loud the things we appreciate about each other? How can we celebrate children's individuality in school settings and beyond?What happens when we learn, not only how to tell our own story, but to hear the stories of others as well?What does it look like to set boundaries that allow us to say our "Best Yes"?...Stephanie Higgs is, above al...

Where can you find paths to engagement?How can you redefine excellence for yourself?What would it look like for you to embrace curiosity in your own life and stories?...Emily Ruth Rutter is Professor of English, Associate Dean of the Honors College, and affiliate faculty in Women’s, Gender, and African American Studies at Ball State University. She is the author of four monographs, most recently White Lies and Allies in Contemporary Black Media (Routledge, 2023). She is co-editor of Revisitin...

How can research help us change the stories we tell about ourselves, our mental health, and our shared trauma?…Spozhmay Oriya is a PhD candidate in the Educational Psychology program with focus on collective trauma, faculty of Education, Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada. She has BA in psychology and MA in Education. She was assistant professor at faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences at Kabul University in Afghanistan since 2007 until 2021. Most of her teaching and resear...

Please be aware that this conversation contains discussion of suicide, addiction, and mental illness....What resonates with you from the Theory of Positive Disintegration?How can we start to challenge the framework we have about cognition and emotion? How might we use TPD and CMM to equip ourselves to lean into the challenge of deconstructing and reconstructing our values?...Dr. Chris Wells is a writer, social worker, and founder of the Dabrowski Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ...

What examples of indigenous representation have you encountered?For both indigenous and non-indigenous people, how can you seek out more stories told by indigenous people about indigenous experiences?...Jessica Engelking (she/her) is a descendant of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe. She has a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from the University of Minnesota, Morris and a master’s degree in Philosophy from the University of Iowa. Her research interests included the philosophy of fiction, metaphys...

How did you (or did you not) see yourself represented in stories growing up and how did that shape your understanding of yourself?How has your story changed?...Hannah Soyer is a queer disabled writer living in the Midwest. She has written fornationally acclaimed publications such as The Sun Magazine, Bustle, and Cosmopolitan and is the editor of The Ending Hasn’t Happened Yet: An Anthology of Disability Poetics from Sable Books (2022). Her debut ly...

How can you practice both authenticity and empathy as you interact with others?How can you create a “Neurodiverse Affirming” space in your social worlds?...Emily Kircher-Morris, M.A., M.Ed., LPC, inspired by her own experiences as a neurodivergent person, is dedicated to destigmatizing neurodiversity and supporting neurodivergent people of all ages. Emily currently works as a mental health counselor in private practice at Unlimited Potential Counseling & Education Center in O'Fallon, Miss...

How can we find the courage to tell our stories, knowing that it matters for us to tell them?What is the story that you want to tell about yourself? How is it different from the story the world is telling you?What is your current understanding of disability? How do you relate to those who are disabled?How can we embrace the experience of having a body in a way that empowers us as we age and our bodies change?...Rebekah Taussig is a Kansas City writer, educator, and parent. Bolstered by academ...

Please be aware that this conversation contains brief references to sexual violence and wrongful imprisonment....What is your “sphere of influence” and how can you change how you show up to it?...John Stewart served on the faculty of the Department of Communication at the University of Washington from 1969 to 2001; was Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of Dubuque; and became Special Assistant to the President of UD in 2010, retiring in 2016 to focus his training and consul...

Where in your life can you practice critical thinking?How can you think critically about your communication?…John Chetro Szivos is a semi-retired professor but still an active author who recently published On Becoming a Critical Thinker: Awakening Your Business Superpower. A student of Vern Cronen’s at UMass, Amherst and a dedicated CMM researcher and follower of the philosophy of John Dewey, he offered this manuscript to help others improve their thinking to make better social worlds.Today, ...

What is going on with your physiological self right now? What do you need to do to slow down and get quiet enough to pay attention to this? How might your interactions and relationships change if you show up using what you learned about Polyvagal Theory today?…Michael Allison is the developer of The Play Zone; a contributing author for Psychology Today with his platform, The Pressure Paradox; an educational partner with Polyvagal Institute; and a Polyvagal Performance Consultant for high prof...