The Make Meaning Podcast: Recent Episodes
Lynne Golodner
What does it actually look like to live a purpose-driven life?
How exactly do authors, educators and entrepreneurs make decisions from a meaning-first perspective?
The Make Meaning podcast ponders these questions in conversation with educators, authors, entrepreneurs and leaders around the world.
Host Lynne Golodner is a multi-title author, writing coach, award-winning marketing strategist and inspirational speaker who knows how to ask the right questions to yield rich, inspiring conversations.
Since our first episode on July 9, 2018, we have interviewed more than 100 visionaries. Listen to the latest episodes!
Brenda Meller is an entrepreneur, author and social media coach who helps people maximize their presence on LinkedIn. She is the author of Social Media Pie: How to enjoy a bigger slice of the LinkedIn Pie and host of the Enthusiastically Self-Employed podcast.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Brenda about her book and the evolution of her career. She talks about her writing process, including how she wrote the book in just 30 days, and why she opted to self-publish. They talk about the ever-evolving nature of social media, which demands periodic updates to the book along with plans for future books.
In this episode, Lynne and Brenda discuss:
- The story behind the book title
- Her writing process and the power of writers conferences
- Committing to daily writing
- Creating a community-focused book with shoutouts to readers
- Self-publishing with help
- Creating an audiobook
- The benefits of multiple book formats
- Working past retirement age
Links and Resources:
- Social Media Pie: How to Enjoy a Bigger Slice of the LinkedIn Pie
- Enthusiastically Self-Employed
- Rochester Writers
- How to write a book in 30 days by Don Staley
- NaNoWriMo
- Scotia Road Books
- Dave Stokes - audiobook coach
- Boot Camp with Brenda
Find Brenda Meller:
Website
YouTube
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
- Episode 21 – Brenda Meller – All About Pie
- Episode 25 – Crosby Noricks – Perfect PR Moments
- Episode 117 – Steven Wingate – How to Find Your Voice Again & Again
- Episode 128 – Becky Robinson – Building Reach for Books
- Episode 142 – Announcing Scotia Road Books
Patrick Hicks is an Irish Catholic writer from Minnesota who has a deep fascination with the Holocaust. He has written three Holocaust novels and has conducted extensive research on the subject, visiting twelve different concentration camps and speaking with survivors. Patrick is also a professor at Augustana University in South Dakota, where he teaches writing and literature.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Patrick about his newest book, Across the Lake. In his second time on the Make Meaning Podcast, Patrick explains what inspired this novel, driven by research on gender and violence. He reflects on the impact of writing about such a dark period in human history and the importance of standing up to fascism at any time, especially today. The interview concludes with a discussion on topics that engage students today and a look at the future of writing.
In this episode, Lynne and Patrick discuss:
- Inspiration for Across the Lake
- Braided narratives
- How to create compelling characters that are starkly different from the author
- Challenging yourself as an author
- Why it’s so important for an Irish Catholic novelist to write about the Holocaust
- Character development and story visioning
- The art of naming characters
- Gender differences in violence during the Holocaust
- The impact on the author of writing about the Holocaust
- The importance of addressing fascism and hatred in fiction
- Contemporary students' interest in equality and progressivism
Links and Resources:
-
Patrick’s first interview on the Make Meaning Podcast, episode 102
-
In the Shadow of Dora
- Ravensbrück concentration camp
- PBS: Public Broadcasting Service
- Hitler's Furies by Wendy Lower
- Aufseherin
- B17 bombers
- Augustana University
- Patriot Front
Find Patrick Hicks:
Website
Blog
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
Episode 127 – Ly Tran – Writing Unapologetically
Episode 123 – Karen Gordon – On Surviving the Surviving
Episode 117 – Steven Wingate – How to Find Your Voice Again & Again
Episode 102 – Patrick Hicks – How to Write Historical Fiction
Episode 68 – M.L. Liebler – H ow to Use Writing & Performance to be an Activist
Episode 61 – Merle Saferstein – How to Leave a Legacy Through Journaling
Qin Sun Stubis is a Chinese-American author of the book Once Our Lives: A Memoir of Shanghai, Teahouses, and Three Generations of Family, which tells the story of four generations of Chinese women in Shanghai, China during the Great Famine, navigating war and revolution.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Qin about her early life, China’s Cultural Revolution and her love of words and storytelling. Qin explains how the loss of her parents inspired her to write a memoir that brings to life her family’s stories and a fascinating part of China’s history. She also discusses her writing process and the challenges she faced as a first-time author. Qin has received awards for this beautiful book and continues to write essays and short stories.
In this episode, Lynne and Qin discuss:
- Growing up in poverty and how that influenced her writing
- A mother's influence on her love of words
- Early memories of writing – quoting Mao Zedong’s quotations
- Attending the Shanghai Institute of Foreign Languages
- Being a late-blooming writer
- A mission to preserve family stories and reputation
- Why history and humanity is the same around the world
- First-time author challenges along the publishing journey
- The importance of the first sentence and first chapter
- Forming a support group for older women writers
- Her column for the Santa Monica Star
Links and Resources:
- Chinese Cultural Revolution
- Thomas Hardy
- Shakespeare’s Sonnets
- Louisa May Alcott
- Bessie Streeter Aldrich
- Tess of the d’Urbervilles
- F. Scott Fitzgerald
- The Great Gatsby
- Nonfiction Author Association
- Miami Book Fair
- PenCraft Book Awards
- Frank McCourt, Angela's Ashes
Find Qin Sun Stubis:
Website
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
Episode 156 – Blair Fell – Original Storylines & Unique Characters
Episode 149 – Anne-Marie Oomen – Writing through Family
Episode 146 – Barbara Stark-Nemon – Tracing the Path of Historical Fiction
Episode 139 – Desiree Cooper – Being “Genre Agnostic”
Episode 131 – Weina Dai Randel – The Last Rose of Shanghai
Elizabeth Conte is an author with a passion for bringing 19th-century literature to the 21st-century reader. She is the author of Finding Jane, a time travel historical novel, and Chosen Mistress, a scintillating story set in Victorian England. Elizabeth is the founder of Jane Writes Press, a hybrid publishing house for writers who don't fit into traditional publishing boxes.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Elizabeth about her debut novel, Finding Jane, her inspiration for the book and the challenges she faced while writing and editing it. Elizabeth also talks about her marketing strategies and the success she has achieved as an indie author. She introduces her next book, Chosen Mistress, which explores the dark side of Victorian life and women's roles during that time. She also explains her decision to self-publish and her vision for her imprint, Jane Writes Press.
In this episode, Lynne and Elizabeth discuss:
- The story behind Finding Jane, an homage to Pride and Prejudice
- Making 19th century literature more accessible
- What it means to "do really well" with book sales
- Book marketing strategies
- The importance of consistent marketing efforts
- Pitching media outlets for author interviews
- The purpose of writing & target audience
- Perspectives on adverbs – listen to a fierce debate on adjectives & adverbs around the 10-minute mark!
- The indie author’s journey
- Frustrations with fitting into traditional publishing categories
- Starting a publishing house
- The importance of professional editing
- Creating a new category called Literary Romance
- What is the purpose of your writing & how do you want people to know you?
Links and Resources:
- Pride and Prejudice
- Nathaniel Hawthorne
- Writing Coaching
- Woman of Valor
- The Los Angeles Times article about Elizabeth Conte
- Lynne’s class, Demystifying Show, Don’t Tell
Find Elizabeth Conte:
Website
TikTok
Blog
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
Episode 152 – Ami Irmen – Character-Driven Narratives
Episode 146 – Barbara Stark-Nemon – Tracing the Path of Historical Fiction
Episode 136 – Tammy Pasterick – Writing & Publishing Your Way
Episode 129 – Rosina Lippi – Author of the Wilderness Series
Episode 128 – Becky Robinson – Building Reach for Books
Ana Veciana-Suarez is a journalist and author. She has written for various publications and has published several books, including her latest novel, Dulcinea, which was inspired by her reading of Don Quixote in high school. Known for her meticulous research and attention to detail, Anna spent many years digging up the information she needed to focus on the Spanish Inquisition.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Ana about her writing process, the challenges of researching historical fiction, her experiences with marketing her book, and her insights into the changing landscape of the writing community.
In this episode, Lynne and Ana discuss:
- Juggling writing as a journalist and author
- Process of writing her novel, Dulcinea
- Marketing and response to the book
- Different challenges, writing fiction as opposed to journalism
- Balancing writing with life and work
- Advice for aspiring writers: read and have self-discipline
- Finding historians who are subject matter experts in the era you are writing about
- Focusing on the characters at the edges of a story
- Golden Age Spain
Links and Resources:
- Don Quixote
- Miguel de Cervantes
- The Miami Herald
- Readers Digest
- O magazine
- Woman’s Day
- The Washington Post Magazine
- Goodreads
- Women's Fiction Writers Association
- Michigan Writers
- Catalonia
Find Ana Veciana-Suarez:
Website
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
Episode 146 – Barbara Stark-Nemon – Tracing the Path of Historical Fiction
Episode 136 – Tammy Pasterick – Writing & Publishing Your Way
Episode 132 – Merryn Glover – Literary Fiction About Place
Episode 127 – Ly Tran – Writing Unapologetically
Episode 118 – Elizabeth Gowing – How to Know a Place by Living its Stories
Jonathan Whitelaw is a Scottish author and journalist now living in Canada who wrote his first novel at the age of 17. He’s since published several books in the cozy crime genre, including Morbid Relations and the popular Bingo Hall Detectives series.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Jonathan about the cozy crime genre, why he’s drawn to it and the genre’s emphasis on humor, character, and setting. Plus, they discuss his publishing journey, from his first horrible book to being published by a small independent publisher to getting an agent and taking the plunge to become a full-time author. They also explore the differences and similarities between the publishing industry in the UK and Canada and how Jonathan has adapted his marketing to reach a North American audience while still appealing to his loyal UK readers.
In this episode, Lynne and Jonathan discuss:
- Why you can write at any age
- Audience differences between Canada and the UK
- Genre talk
- The expansiveness of writing and publishing
- The popularity of cozy crime during times of crisis
- The challenge of writing humor
- Inspiration from in-law relationships
- The need for luck and endurance in the author journey
- Writing practice & daily routine
- Juggling writing, parenting and income-earning
- Importance of a supportive family and the "village" of the publishing industry
- Book cover differences between countries
- Lynne’s writing sabbatical in Nova Scotia
- Finding your audience in different geographical locations
Links and Resources:
- The Hobbit
- Die Hard
- Lynne’s Writing Classes & Programs
- Nova Scotia Retreat
- When Words Collide
- Cozy Mystery
- Agatha Christie
- Terry Pratchett
- The Bingo Hall Detectives
- Ringwood Publishing
- Harper North
- Harper Collins
- The Village Hall Vendetta
- LJ Ross
- Indigo
- Colleen Hoover
Find Jonathan Whitelaw:
Website
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
Episode 158 – Suzanne Nugent – On Character Development
Episode 149 – Anne-Marie Oomen – Writing Through Family
Episode 134 – Andrew McDiarmid – Simply Scottish
Episode 132 – Merryn Glover – Literary Fiction about Place
Episode 70 – Elena Reads – How to Stoke a Love of Reading in Kids
Finding an agent and publisher was easy for April Davila, an award-winning author who quit her job in 2016 to write full-time. Her debut novel, 142 Ostriches, won the WILLA Literary Awards for Women Writing the West.
In this episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner chats with April, a fourth-generation Californian who studied marine biology before being called to the written word. She honed her skills in marketing and technical writing jobs, dedicating early mornings to crafting fiction until she could finally make the transition to writing full-time. In this episode, Lynne and April discuss the lessons she learned along the way and why she pairs meditation with writing.
In this episode, Lynne and April discuss:
- The inspiration behind 142 Ostriches
- Handling rejection
- Celebrating accolades
- Being a mindful writer
- Writing as a meditation
- How meditation helps writers
- Aligning entrepreneurship with writing
Links and Resources:
- 142 Ostriches
- Kensington Books
- Mindfulness at Berkeley
- Write with Lynne
Find April Davila:
Website
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
Episode 96 – Jim Rajan – How to Leave Everything Behind
Episode 52 - Stacy Dockins - Journey to the Self
Episode 50 - Gautam Jain - Strengthening Intellect
Episode 47 - Linda Makowski - Quieting the Mind
Episode 18 - Amy Haimerl - Shady Ladies & Detroit Hustle
Suzanne Nugent, author of Brunch and Other Obligations and host of the Character Development podcast, uses humor to confront life’s darkest moments. She navigates between various storytelling mediums, from novels to screenplays, finding the right narrative platform for each project.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Suzanne about her creative career and how writing has shaped her as a person. She shares her inspiration for her novel Brunch and Other Obligations and her journey to publishing. Suzanne also talks about her love for storytelling across platforms, including screenwriting and podcasting.
In this episode, Lynne and Suzanne discuss:
- How writing helps Suzanne process her thoughts
- How to keep voice and focus consistent in writing
- How a first job writing obituaries sparked interest in finding humor in sad situations
- How to decide on a book publishing path
- How hiring a book coach motivated Suzanne to write her novel
- How to set long-term author career goals
- How to adapt novels to film
- How to create an audiobook
Links and Resources:
- Lynne’s 2023 Nova Scotia Writers Retreat
- Ghost tour of Lunenberg
- Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
- Scotia Road Books
- Woman of Valor
Find Suzanne Nugent:
Website
Podcast
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
Episode 151 – Rochelle Weinstein – Writing Best-Selling Novels
Episode 150 – Lisa Peers – First Novels & Writing Friendships
Episode 148 – Woman of Valor – Katie Scott interviews Lynne about her first novel!
Episode 143 – Annie Cathryn – Dreams Come True: The Friendship Breakup
Episode 135 – Camille Pagan – Making Writing Your Career
Blake Kimzey is the founder of writingworkshops.com, a global community offering writing classes taught by experienced instructors, like Make Meaning Podcast host Lynne Golodner. Blake is also an author, screenwriter and hands-on dad of three. In this episode, Blake recalls a pivotal moment in sixth grade when he wrote a King Arthur rip-off. He and Make Meaning Podcast host Lynne Golodner also talk about his journey as an author, the inspiration behind WritingWorkshops.com and the surprising and very winding journey of becoming an author.
In this episode, Lynne and Blake discuss:
- Going from short stories to writing a novel
- Submitting novels and receiving rejections
- Transitioning to screenwriting
- Writing a novel while working at an engineering firm
- Embracing the long-term nature of a writing career
- The importance of supporting women authors over 40
- WritingWorkshops.com's explosive growth
- Offering online classes during the pandemic and beyond
- Being in it for the long haul and why “first” novels are often third, fourth or tenth projects
- Publishing later in life
- Coming into your voice
- Creating stakes, tension and care for characters
Links and Resources:
- King Arthur
- MFA
- George Saunders
- Austin Film Festival
- David Benioff
- Liz Hannah
- D.B. Weiss
- “A professional writer is an amateur who didn't quit.”– Richard Bach
- Elizabeth George Foundation
- Carrie by Stephen King
- On Writing, Stephen King
- ASJA Virtual Annual Conference
- Scotia Road Books
- Edan Lepucki
- Writing Coaching
- Lynne’s Writers Retreats
- Sackett Street Writers
Find Blake Kimzey:
Website
Find writingworkshops.com:
Website
Blog
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
Episode 144 – Danny Hankner – Founding Story Unlikely
Episode 142 – Announcing Scotia Road Books
Episode 79 – Laura Munson – How to Find Refuge in Writing
Episode 73 – Jim Reese – Why Teaching Writing in Prisons Helps Everyone
Episode 1 – Norman Cohn – the Best Business Advisor
While fiction is born from imagination and creativity, many authors explain how they came to the stories they create through lived experiences. This is definitely true for Blair Fell, author of The Sign for Home, whose work in the deafblind community taught him about nuances, details and issues facing that community. This debut novel takes readers on a journey through a fascinating community and the lives of compelling characters.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Blair about his writing process, the importance of research and the value of participating in a writing group. He discusses his background as a playwright and television writer, and how he transitioned into writing novels. Plus, Blair offers advice for writers, emphasizing the need to just write, join a writing group, and prioritize writing amid perpetual other commitments.
In this episode, Lynne and Blair discuss:
- Finding inspiration in your work and relationships
- Researching and interviewing deafblind individuals
- Finding an agent and a publisher
- Writing a second book after a celebrated first book
- Working through a horrible first draft
- Motivation from setting deadlines and fear of disappointing others
- Building a successful writing career
- Why so many writers have a day job
- Authors who find success later in life
- Audiobook opportunities
Links and Resources:
- John Lee Clark
- Protactile movement
- James Hannaham
- Didn't Nobody Give a Shit What Happened to Carlotta
- Doug Stewart
- Sterling Lord Literistic
- Cloud Atlas
- The Silver Linings Playbook
- American Dirt
- “Take care of the sense, the sounds will take care of themselves” - Alice in Wonderland
- Writing group with Marian Fontana & Louise Crawford
- David Groff
- PEN/Faulkner
- Delicious Foods
- Simon & Schuster
- Where the Crawdads Sing
- The City College of New York
- Woman of Valor by Lynne Golodner
Find Blair Fell:
Website
TikTok
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
Episode 152 – Ami Irmen – Character-Driven Narratives
Episode 150 – Lisa Peers – First Novels & Writing Friendships
Episode 145 – CL Walters – Young Adult & New Adult Fiction from Hawaii
Episode 143 – Annie Cathryn – Dreams Come True: The Friendship Breakup
Episode 139 – Desiree Cooper – Being “Genre Agnostic”
Episode 155 - Martha Anne Toll - Finely Crafted, Award-Winning Fiction
Martha Anne Toll is an author and former lawyer who has always been passionate about writing. She grew up in a secular Jewish family and was deeply influenced by the stories of Holocaust survivors. Martha's debut novel, Three Muses, is a beautifully crafted story that combines her love for ballet and her exploration of the impact of the Holocaust on her own Jewish identity. She is currently working on her second novel, Duet for One, which delves into the world of classical music in Philadelphia.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Martha about her writing process, her publishing journey, marketing efforts, and the value of attending book events to learn from other authors. They also discuss how the Holocaust factors into Jewish identity, especially for 20th century American Jews.
In this episode, Lynne and Martha discuss:
- The inspiration behind the novel Three Muses
- Martha's introduction to Judaism through the Holocaust
- Martha's next novel
- Developing characters & the love story in Three Muses
- Writing process and revision
- Research for writing a book
- How to find a publisher
- Marketing & speaking engagements
- The power of 100 rejections
- Writing routines & book events
- Why beginnings & endings are so difficult
- Writing novels with no formal writing training – why you don’t need a degree to write a great book!
- Being a ruthless self-editor
Links and Resources:
- The Holocaust
- Auschwitz
- Classic music in Philadelphia
- Woman of Valor
- Viola
- Writing Coaching
- Swan Lake
- Developmental Editing
- Writing Retreats
- Regal House Publishing
- Petrichor Prize
- Lynne’s Substack
Find Martha Anne Toll:
Website
Substack
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
Episode 146 – Barbara Stark-Nemon – Tracing the Path of Historical Fiction
Episode 142 – Announcing Scotia Road Books
Episode 131 -Weina Dai Randel – The Last Rose of Shanghai
Episode 129 – Rosina Lippi – Author of the Wilderness Series
Episode 128 – Becky Robinson – Building Reach for Books
Episode 154 - Dawn Chalker - Writing What You Know
Dawn Chalker wrote her first novel in fifth grade, finding inspiration from real life. That curiosity, creativity and imagination has continued throughout her life, drawing stories from journeys in nature. The northern Michigan-based writer based her recent novel, Bear Me in Mind, on a real-life encounter with a bear in Alaska and also her love for British detective shows. She also writes children’s books.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Dawn about the joys of writing, the importance of writing what you know, her publishing choices, and how she promotes her books.
In this episode, Lynne and Dawn discuss:
- Writing a first novel in fifth grade before YA was a genre
- Writing as mindfulness
- Finding inspiration for books and diving into research to build a story
- Writing what you know and doing research
- Basing characters on people
- Finding the best beta readers
- Respecting the writer and understanding their goals
- The importance of doing your own book marketing
- Being more creative when writing by hand
Links and Resources:
- Hepatica Books
- Mendenhall Glacier
- Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
- Amazon KDP
- IngramSpark
- The Nature Conservancy
- Grass River Conservancy
- Author Brand Marketing Mastermind
- Where’s the Vacation?
- Bear Me In Mind
- Northwestern Michigan College
- Leelanau Peninsula
- Michigan Writers
- Traverse City Area District Library
Find Dawn Chalker:
Website
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
Episode 138 – Sara Bennett Wealer – Connecting with YA Readers
Episode 129 – Rosina Lippi – Author of the Wilderness Series
Episode 122 – Valoree Gagnon & Karena Schmidt – On the Food & Culture of Indigenous Gardens
Episode 105 – Helen Taylor & Gina Nicholas – How to Really Protect the Environment by Being a True Part of it
Episode 49 – Dennis van Englesdorp, Nicole Lindsey & DeAndra LeMelle – Saving the Bees
Episode 153 – Jewish Books, Jewish Authors
In a special two-part episode, Lynne Golodner interviews people who curate and promote Jewish books and Jewish authors. The first part features representatives from America's longest-running Jewish Book Fair -- Lauren Johnson, a librarian and consultant at the J-Detroit, and Brenda Brook, the 2023 chair of the Detroit Jewish Book Fair. The second part is a conversation with Naomi Firestone-Teeter, executive director of the Jewish Book Council. Learn why Detroit is a hub for Jewish literature, and consider the role of Jewish books in shaping identity of and for diverse audiences.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Brenda, Lauren, and Naomi about the legacy of Jewish book fairs and trends in the Jewish book world, including an increase in Holocaust-related writings and the growth of children's publishing. They also touch on the responsibility of Jewish authors in representing the community and how virtual events are attracting a global audience.
In this episode, Lynne, Lauren, Brenda and Naomi discuss:
- The long history of the Detroit Jewish Book Fair
- Being the "People of the Book"
- Gentile authors writing for a Jewish audience
- Criteria for selecting books for the book fair
- Communicating Jewish identity to global audiences
- Jewish book fairs compared to other book events
- The importance of featuring authors who are not bestsellers
- The value of community engagement
- Growth and diversity in Jewish children's literature
- Personal journeys and passions for Jewish culture
- Changing conversations in the Jewish book world
- Trends in graphic narratives and genre fiction
- Intergenerational growth in the Jewish genre
- Fascination with the Orthodox community in Jewish literature
- Jewish books inspire conversations about identity and culture
- How books reflect the multifaceted Jewish experience and promote diversity
- Portraying Jews responsibly
- Jewish Book Month
- Accessibility and opportunities for smaller communities
- The JBC’s writers’ conference
Links and Resources:
- Detroit Jewish Book Fair
- Woman of Valor
- The Holocaust
- Martha Ann Toll (who will be on the Make Meaning Podcast Dec. 1, 2023)
- Lynne’s Writing Classes
- Jewish Book Week
- PJ Library
- Jewish Publication Society
- The Paper Brigade
- JBC Network
- Global Jewish Literary Alliance
- JBC writers conference
- Irwin Shaw
- Maimonides
- Torah
- Elie Wiesel
- Jim Lehrer
- Peter Max
- Jeffrey Toobin
- Chaim Potok
- Jennifer Weiner
- Belva Plain
- Daniel Silva
- Pam Jenoff
- Karen Tintori Katz
- Jill Gregory
- Donald Levin
- Kristin Harmel
- Fanny Goldstein
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
Episode 148 – Woman of Valor – Katie Scott interviews Lynne about her debut novel
Episode 146 – Barbara Stark-Nemon – Tracing the Path of Historical Fiction
Episode 130 – Merle Saferstein – Journaling & Legacy
Episode 123 – Karen Gordon – On Surviving the Surviving
Episode 39 – Rabbis Who Rock
Ami Irmen’s favorite storyteller was her grandfather, who set her on the path to becoming an educator and a writer. Her first traditionally-published novel is coming soon from Scarsdale Publishing, while she self-published another novel, Wherever Would I Be. Her short stories and poems have appeared in Sinister Wisdom, The Copperfield Review, and Glass: A Journal of Poetry. Ami teaches writing at Kishwaukee College.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Ami Irmen about her creative process, how to turn an idea into a book, which publishing route to take and how to fund a book on Kickstarter.
In this episode, Lynne and Ami discuss:
- Teaching writing at the university level
- The writing process
- Finding a publisher without an agent
- Finding time to write when you work another job
- Jane Adeny Memorial School for Girls in Kenya
- Traditional publishing vs. self-publishing
- Finding a cover designer
- The teachers who inspire us to write
- Finding community with other writers
- Period Poverty
- Why having a good editor is so important
Links and Resources:
- Peaker Writers
- My Peak Challenge
- University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
- Friends of JAMS
- Northern Illinois University
- Artist Pascal Campion
- Revise & Resub
- University of Detroit-Mercy
- Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Find Ami Irmen:
Website
Blog
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
Episode 145- CL Walters - Young Adult & New Adult Fiction from Hawai’i
Episode 142 – Announcing Scotia Road Books
Episode 136 - Tammy Pasterick - Writing & Publishing Your Way
Episode 113 – Ramona Pintea – How to Make Art a Path for Serving Others
Episode 107 – The Hon. Jan Tinetti – How to Eliminate Period Poverty
Rochelle Weinstein is a successful and talented author known for her emotionally charged novels. After leaving a career in the music industry in 2000, she started writing and has produced eight novels, with the latest coming out on Oct. 20th. Rochelle's writing explores topical issues and draws inspiration from her own experiences and emotions. What’s more, she is a leading example of generosity, camaraderie and community in the world of women’s fiction!
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Rochelle about how and why, after two wildly successful self-published books, she landed an agent and publishing contract that is still going strong. They discuss hitting bestseller status by trusting instincts, Rochelle’s writing process, where she finds inspiration (real-life emotions, timely, topical subjects, and places she loves) and the impact of platforms like TikTok.
In this episode, Lynne and Rochelle discuss:
- Why being a voracious reader makes you a better writer
- Launching a writing career while raising twin sons
- Why every book publishing story is unique
- The importance of a strong, professionally-edited self-published book
- The shift from self-publishing to finding an agent
- Inspiration for book ideas
- Plotter vs. Pantser
- Rochelle's role as a book influencer
- Changes in the publishing industry
- The importance of supporting other authors
- How AI is affecting authors
- The importance of having a writing community & support system
- Rochelle's vision for her writing future
- Advice for aspiring writers
Links and Resources:
- Danielle Steele
- Sidney Sheldon
- Judy Blume
- What We Leave Behind
- The Mourning After
- Merle Saferstein
- Where We Fall
- Lake Union Publishing
- Somebody's Daughter
- Publishers Marketplace
- USA Today Bestseller List
- GSD - Glycogen storage diseases
- What You Do To Me
- Woman of Valor
- NBC 6 South Florida
- Barbara Bos, Women Writers, Women’s Books
- Jen Herrera
- Lauren Margolin, Good Book Fairy
- Jamie Rosenblit
- Renee's Reading Club
- Zibby Owens
- Connie Ogle
- Edinburgh Writers Museum
- Miami Book Fair
- Colleen Hoover
- BookTok
- Camille Di Maio
- Samantha Greene Woodruff
- Lisa Barr
Find Rochelle Weinstein:
Website
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
- Episode 135 – Camille Pagan – Making Writing Your Career
- Episode 131 – Weina Randel – The Last Rose of Shanghai
- Episode 130 – Merle Saferstein – Journaling & Legacy
- Episode 128 – Becky Robinson – Building Reach for Books
- Episode 127 – Ly Tran – Writing Unapologetically
As a child in Richmond, Virginia, Lisa Peers was introduced to writing by her mother, who was also a writer who invited her young daughter to play with her typewriter. Still, Lisa began her career in theater and only later pursued writing in a professional capacity. She shares how acting shapes her writing process and helps her build authentic dialogue, which is a strength of Lisa’s new novel, Love at 350°. This gorgeous story features 40something characters challenging the norms of the romantic comedy genre.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Lisa about her journey from acting to writing, the process of finding an agent and publisher, and the importance of writing books you want to read.
In this episode, Lynne and Lisa discuss:
- Building a body of work
- People who inspire us to write
- How other passions/hobbies influence writing
- Finding the right writer’s group for you
- No one way for a book to come to life
- Creating compelling characters
- The power of manifestation
- Finding agents - right time + right place
- Publishers looking for diverse stories (plus-size, LGBTQ, etc.)
- How to weather shifting editors and their changing perspectives
- Publishing trends
Links and Resources:
- True Romance
- Love and Other B-Sides
- Irving Berlin
- Cole Porter
- George Gershwin
- The Golden Oldies
- Punk Era
- The myth of Psyche and Eros
- Eros & Psyche
- Love at 350°
- Woman of Valor
- Tracy Gardner Beno
- Hallmark
- The Dial Press
Find Lisa Peers:
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
- Episode 143 – Annie Cathryn – Dreams Come True: The Friendship Breakup
- Episode 136 – Tammy Pasterick – Writing & Publishing Your Way
- Episode 118 – Elizabeth Gowing – How to Know a Place by Living its Stories
- Episode 14 – Heather Leavitt – An Artful Path
Lynne Golodner first met Anne-Marie Oomen at Goddard College, where Lynne was beginning her MFA in Writing and Anne-Marie was graduating. A fellow Michigan resident who calls the forests and hills of the Lake Michigan shores her home, Anne-Marie serves on the board of Michigan Writers where Lynne is now in charge of Marketing.
In this episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner chats with Anne-Marie about teaching in the Solstice MFA program at LaSalle University and at Interlochen Center for the Arts, the backstory for As Long as I Know You: the Mom Book - which won the Sue William Silverman Prize for Creative Nonfiction - and honing your own voice.
In this episode, Lynne and Anne-Marie discuss:
- Family relationships
- The power of observation and journaling
- Writing routine
- Imitating to find your voice
-
Writing communities
-
The Old Testament
Links and Resources:
- Grimm’s Fairy Tales
- Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
- Michigan Humanities Council
- Pulling Down the Barn
- Wayne State University Press
- Michigan Notable Book Award
- Michigan Writers
- Dunes Review
- Chapbook Content
- Submittable
- AWP Award
Find Anne-Marie Oomen:
Website
Blog
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
Episode 141 - Tom Sleigh - a Lifetime of Poetry Episode 137 - Christopher P. Locke - Breathtaking Essays & Stories
Episode 133 - Sara Henning - Poetry about Loss and Redemption
Episode 129 - Rosina Lippi - Author of the Wilderness Series
Episode 122 - Valoree Gagnon and Karena Schmidt - on the Food & Culture of Indigenous Gardens
A Super Special Episode: Lynne Golodner discusses her debut novel!
Writer, Washtenaw County Commissioner, Nurse and Friend Extraordinaire Katie Scott takes the mic on this episode to interview Make Meaning host Lynne Golodner about the release of her ninth book and debut novel, Woman of Valor. Lynne and Katie met in a writing course in the 1990s and are more like sisters than friends.
In this episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner finds herself on the other side of the interview as Katie asks about the journey behind Woman of Valor, which releases September 26, 2023.
In this episode, Lynne and Katie discuss:
- Building the main character, Sally
- Deciding on POV
- The role of cooking and food in the book
- The process of writing a novel
- Plotters vs Pantsers
- Jewish traditions and tensions within the story
- Choosing critique partners
- Finding a writers community
- The creation of Scotia Road Books
Links and Resources:
- Woman of Valor
- Gefilte Fish
- Save the Cat Beat Sheets
- Book Coaching
- Writer Retreats
- Women of Valor Virtual Book Launch
Find Lynne Golodner:
Website
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
Episode 132 - Merryn Glover - Literary Fiction About Place
Episode 82 - Jessica McCormick - Envisioning a New Type of Jewish Community
Episode 48 - the NFHS Reunion Episode
Episode 40 - Lynne Golodner - The Message Matters
Episode 1 - Norman Cohn - the Best Business Advisor
Diane Gottlieb champions midlife women while telling her own provocative, riveting stories for publications like River Teeth, HuffPost, and SmokeLong Quarterly. Winner of the Tiferet 2021 Writing Contest and a finalist in SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest 2022, Diane has three master’s degrees and serves as editor of Awakenings: Stories of Body and Consciousness and prose/creative nonfiction editor of Emerge Literary Journal.
In this episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner chats with Diane about her passion for writing, her dedication to empowering the voices of midlife women and her journey to becoming known in the literary community.
In this episode, Lynne and Diane discuss:
- Creating community
- Winning writing awards
- How editing helps your own writing
- Curating content
- How writing styles change over time
- Diane’s book projects
- The power of revision
- How to know when a piece is finished
- Social Media Marketing
Links and Resources:
- Woman Pause
- Author Brand Marketing Mastermind
- Lunch Ticket Literary Journal
- Christopher P. Locke
- Scotia Road Books
- Writing Coaching
Find Diane Gottlieb:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
LinkedIn
Blog
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
Episode 137 - Christopher P. Locke - Breathtaking Stories & Essays
Episode 127 - Ly Tran - Writing Unapologetically
Episode 117 - Steve Wingate - How to Find Your Voice Again and Again
Episode 107 - The Hon. Jan Tinetti - How to Eliminate Period Poverty
Episode 73 - Jim Reese - Why Teaching Writing in Prisons Helps Everybody
Barbara Stark-Nemon takes her time writing historical fiction, tracing the paths her characters walked and lived. The author of award-winning novels, Barbara turned to writing after retiring from a successful career.
In this episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner chats with Barbara about her passion for writing and her experiences speaking at conferences, literary events, libraries and book clubs. A University of Michigan alumnus, Barbara has two published novels - Even in Darkness and Hard Cider - and is at work on a coming-of-age refugee story set in the aftermath of the Inquisition.
In this episode, Lynne and Barbara discuss:
- How to build ideas into books
- Hybrid publishing
- How many books you need to sell to be “successful”
- Whether to invest in publicity
- Finding writer friends and critique groups
Links and Resources:
- The Women’s Fiction Writers Association
- Lynne’s Classes
- She Writes Press
- Brooke Warner
- Scotia Road Books
Find Barbara Stark-Nemon:
Website
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook
LinkedIn
Blog
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
Episode 129 - Rosina Lippi - Author of the Wilderness Series
Episode 102 - Patrick Hicks - How to Write Historical Fiction
Episode 80- Iris Lee Underwood, Lavender Farmer, Author, Descendant of the McCoys of Appalachia
Episode 48 - Arthur, Ross, Jason, Steve, Shelli & Jeffrey - the NFHS Reunion Episode, 30 Years after Graduation
Episode 44 - Kirstin Karoub, Lynne Golodner & Norman Cohn - Celebrating One Year of the Make Meaning Podcast
Building an author career depends on writing book after book after book, which is something CL Walters knows well. From her home base in Hawai’i, she writes and publishes through Mixed Plate Press, the venture she runs with her husband. CL writes Young Adult and New Adult titles, and pens Romances under the name Maci Aurora.
In this episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner chats with CL Walters about her author journey, making a living as a writer, maintaining a steady flow of stories, and the resilience required when your first book doesn't quite take off.
In this episode, Lynne and CL discuss:
- Early writing memories
- Becoming a full-time writer
- The trials of self-publishing
- Platforms for self-publishing
- Consistency in theme
- Understanding rejections
- Building audience relationships
- Fighting Imposter Syndrome
- Setting goals for your book
- Choosing a pen name
- How many books to write a year
Links and Resources:
- Brand Marketing MasterMind
- In the Echo of This Ghost Town
- The Ugly Truth
- Lynne’s Poetry
- Scotia Road Books
- Swimming Sideways
- The Stories Stars Tell
- KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing)
- Ingram Spark
Find CL Walters:
Website
Facebook
TikTok
Instagram
LinkedIn
Blog
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
Episode 138 - Sara Bennett Wealer - Connecting with YA Readers
Episode 135 - Camille Pagan - Making Writing Your Career
Episode 128 - Becky Robinson - Building Reach for Books
Episode 101 - Margaret O’Gorman - Why Bicycling Through Countries is the Best Way to Learn Local Culture
Episode 70 - Elena Reads - How to Stoke a Love of Reading in Kids
Danny Hankner is an electrician by trade and a writer at heart as well as the founder of Story Unlikely. This online literary publication showcases incredible stories, focusing on non-fiction memoiristic pieces. As a publisher, Danny is passionate about discovering great authors and beautiful stories, providing a platform and audience to showcase worthy voices.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Danny Hankner about his literary journey. One of Lynne’s favorite of her original nonfiction writings, “The Roads We Travel,” was accepted by Danny not even 24 hours after she submitted it. She says it was the best acceptance she has ever received. Read it here.
In this episode, Lynne and Danny discuss:
- The process of publishing on Story Unlikely
- Writing with meaning
- Dealing with rejection
- Strategic submissions to the right publications
- How writing can be healing
- This vision for Story Unlikely
- Tips to get published on Story Unlikely - follow the instructions!
- Why writers need a work ethic & tenacity
Links and Resources:
- Story Unlikely
- What is a memoir?
- Story Unlikely’s Annual Short Story Competition
- Lynne’s Writing Classes
Find Danny Hankner:
Website
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
- Episode 137 – Christopher P. Locke – Breathtaking Essays & Stories
- Episode 117 - Steven Wingate - How to Find Your Voice Again & Again
- Episode 116 - Jake Neher - Telling Stories & Planting Seeds
- Episode 102 - Patrick Hicks - How to Write Historical Fiction
- Episode 77 - Jason Kadlitz - Building Community in a Barber Shop
Annie Cathryn transitioned from a career in marketing for a Fortune 500 company to her own consulting agency inspired by Elizabeth Gilbert's "Eat Pray Love" to pursue her dream of writing fiction. She recently released her debut book, The Friendship Breakup, and is a self-proclaimed book nerd who has expanded her love for literature by becoming a Bookstagrammer and starting the Soulful Series Video podcast.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Annie Cathryn about her debut novel, creative process, publishing journey, and why we should read our book’s reviews.
In this episode, Lynne and Annie discuss:
- Early memories of writing & the teachers who encourage us
- Why and when to leave another career to write a book
- Writing two fantasy novels before diving into women’s fiction
- The inspiration for The Friendship Breakup
- The traditional publishing journey
- Benefits of outlining and plotting a book
- Using Instagram for book marketing
- How Annie is marketing The Friendship Breakup
- Advantages to reading your book reviews
Links and Resources:
- The Friendship Breakup
- The Lightning Thief
- Caraval by Stephanie Garber
- What is a saggy middle?
- Plotting vs. Pantsing
- Lynne’s Classes
- Alcove Press
Find Annie Cathryn:
Website
TikTok
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
- Episode 135 – Camille Pagan – Making Writing Your Career
- Episode 128 - Becky Robinson - Building Reach for Your Book
- Episode 100 – Bassie Shemtov – How to Combine Career and Family to Really Make a Difference
- Episode 79 - Laura Munson - How to Find Refuge in Writing
Welcome to a special episode of the Make Meaning Podcast!
As a full-time author, writing coach, and host of this podcast, Lynne Golodner never thought starting another business would be part of her plan. However, her passion for storytelling and a gap in the marketplace led Lynne to create Scotia Road Books, a new publishing imprint dedicated to providing a platform for women over 40 with strong voices that need to be heard. With a focus on contemporary, historical, and literary fiction, as well as narrative memoirs and essay collections, Scotia Road Books seeks to make a meaningful impact in the publishing world.
Joining Lynne on the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast are two repeat guests: Elizabeth Gowing, author and co-founder of Elbow Publishing, and Merle Saferstein, a journaling expert and author. They share their unique publishing journeys and insights on today’s publishing options.
In this episode, Lynne, Elizabeth, and Merle discuss:
- How and why your publishing journey can change from book to book
- The benefit of print-on-demand
- The power of journaling
- The different publishing options available to writers
- The costs of book publishing & why you might make more money with non-traditional paths
- Hybrid publishing
- The process to be published by Scotia Road Books
- Advice for authors looking for their right publishing path
- How to leave a legacy
- Book marketing & publicity
Links and Resources:
- Great Mother Press
- The Balkans
- Travels in Blood and Honey
- Buy Elizabeth’s books
- Buy Merle’s books
- Elbow Publishing
- Bradt Travel Guides
- Living and Leaving My Legacy vol. 1
- Scotia Road Books
Find Elizabeth Gowing:
Website
Find Merle Saferstein:
Website
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
- Episode 136 – Tammy Pasterick – Writing & Publishing Your Way
- Episode 130 – Merle Saferstein – Journaling & Legacy
- Episode 128 – Becky Robinson – Building Reach for Books
- Episode 118 – Elizabeth Gowing – How to Know a Place by Living its Stories
- Episode 61 – Merle Saferstein – How to leave a legacy through journaling
The award-winning author of 11 books, Tom Sleigh is the latest author to be a guest on the Make Meaning Podcast. In this episode, Tom talks with host Lynne Golodner about how his love of language traces back to childhood, when his mother, an English teacher, first read Thoreau aloud.
That journey continued through decades when he was a war correspondent on the front lines in Lebanon and Syria to his archeologist days in southern Mexico and finally, to the resonance of the global COVID-19 pandemic, which turned us all into isolated individuals yearning for the connection that language brings.
In this episode, Lynne and Tom discuss:
- The crossroads of journalism and poetry
- The importance of noticing details
- Feral cats on military tanks in southern Lebanon
- King James I’s fascination with witches and also being a germophobe
- Writing articles about refugees
- How to make poetry accessible
- The profound sense of pleasure that comes with sitting with the words
Links and Resources:
- THE KING’S TOUCH
- Walden by Henry David Thoreau
- Elizabeth Bishop
- French philosopher Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
- Swiss archeologist and photographer Gertrude Blom
- Na Bolom research center
- Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s The Lady of Shalott
- Charles Bell
Find Tom Sleigh:
Website
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
- Episode 133 – Sara Henning – Poetry about Loss & Redemption
- Episode 120 – Jacqueline Suskin – A Poem Every Day
- Episode 119 – Roots – Israeli-Palestinian – Toward True Peace in the Middle East
- Episode 68 – M.L. Liebler – How to Use Writing & Performance to be an Activist
- Episode 32 – Lynne Golodner – A Poet’s Legacy: Lynne Golodner Remembers Mary Oliver
Minda Zetlin has written columns for Inc. Magazine for more than a decade, and out of that research, reporting and curiosity grew the material and focus for her latest book, CAREER SELF-CARE.
The latest author to share her story on the Make Meaning Podcast, Minda Zetlin talks with host Lynne Golodner about how crucial membership in the American Society of Journalists and Authors has been for her career, how self-doubt and self-belief have been her biggest challenges, and how important it is to not just build a career, but build a life you’re happy to live.
In this episode, Lynne and Minda discuss:
- Writing a book while still contributing articles
- Using what you have from your journalistic career to build a book directed by trends and reader interest
- Finding the right agent, publisher and contract for each book
- Keeping clients for a long time
- Thinking outside the box when it comes to marketing your book
- Being a solopreneur
- Mentoring & sponsoring
- Thinking about your writing career from a 20,000-foot perspective
Links and Resources:
- ASJA
- Hungry Minds publishing
- Your People LLC
- American Management Association
- Brad Willis/Bhava Ram
- HARO
- New World Library
Find Minda Zetlin:
Website
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
- Episode 121 – Stephanie Steinberg – On Personal Passions & Creating Communities
- Episode 116 – Jake Neher – Telling Stories and Planting Seeds
- Episode 63 – Nikki Little – Purpose at the Core
- Episode 56 – Ken Budd – How to be a voluntourist
- Episode 51 – Lynne Golodner and Christina Weaver – Storytelling Marketing & Strategic Messaging
Desiree Cooper was once a Detroit Free Press columnist, a Pulitzer Prize nominee, a Kresge Artist Fellow, an attorney and now she’s a children’s book author – which explains why she considers herself “genre agnostic.”
The latest author to share her story on the Make Meaning Podcast, Desiree started writing professionally before social media was a thing, and readers regularly sent her letters and pictures in response to her columns. Her children’s book NOTHING SPECIAL was three years in the making – and it might be her best creation yet.
In this episode, host Lynne Golodner interviews Desiree Cooper about how much books ignited her when she was a child, the friendship between her grandson and her father, moving from Detroit to Virginia to care for her parents, and the fabrication artist who helped bring her book to life.
In this episode, Lynne and Desiree discuss:
- Launching the book in her yard
- The joy of being a featured book at the Miami Book Fair
- The Great Migration away from Jim Crow & the terrorism of the South
- The Great Reverse Migration trend of African-American families to gather for reunions in the South despite segregation and white supremacy
- All the touchpoints in the book – including a USAF hat, a University of Michigan shirt and a UVA pennant
- Author branding
- Themes of motherhood, family and one life making way for another
Links and Resources:
- Booklist
- Know the Mother
- The Choice film
- Marilyn Nelson
- Flash fiction
Find Desiree Cooper:
Website
TikTok
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
- Episode 127 – Ly Tran – Writing Unapologetically
- Episode 121 – Stephanie Steinberg – On Personal Passions & Creating Communities
- Episode 118 – Elizabeth Gowing – How to Know a Place by Living Its Stories
- Episode 102 – Patrick Hicks – How to Write Historical Fiction
- Episode 97 – Eric Hale – How to Give Every Child a Chance, Even in the Most Poverty-Stricken Communities
- Episode 70 – Elena Reads – How to Stoke a Love of Reading in Kids
When your mother is an English teacher and your favorite TV show is Masterpiece Theater on PBS, it’s almost inevitable that you’ll take to writing creative, compelling, fantastical stories that captivate readers. “Writing was something I knew I could do,” says Sara Bennett Wealer, the latest author to share her story on the Make Meaning Podcast.
In this episode, host Lynne Golodner interviews Sara Bennett Wealer about how to make a living as a writer, how to earn money writing books and how they are not often the same thing. Sara discusses the importance of the author hustle to keep enough books in the pipeline so readers will keep returning to your words, and what to do when your first book goes nowhere.
In this episode, Lynne and Sara discuss:
- What to do when your first agent is a “hot mess”
- What it’s like when you finally click with an agent (shout-out to Holly Root and Root Literary!)
- Getting over publishing heartbreaks
- What to do when your books don’t sell
- The importance of a tight time frame and compelling conflict
- Book tours
- How to market your books & your author brand
- How publishing is a long game
Links and Resources:
- Books Forward
- Grave Things Like Love
- Rival
- Now & When
- Plotter or Pantser
- Harper Teen
- Rush
- Bloomsbury Spark
Find Sara Bennett Wealer:
Website
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
- Episode 128 – Becky Robinson – Building Reach for Books
- Episode 117 – Steven Wingate – How to Find Your Voice Again & Again
- Episode 103 – Katie Yamasaki – How to Create a Mural That Represents a Community
- Episode 87 – Rasheda Kamaria Williams – How to Emerge Stronger After Being Bullied
- Episode 84 – Andrew Meloche – How to Make Every Student in a High School Feel Special & Noticed
The key to great writing, says Christopher P. Locke, is to be vulnerable. Don’t worry about what people will think. Don’t censor yourself. Just share your realness and that will help others feel less alone.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Christopher P. Locke about his writing journey, their shared memories in the MFA program at Goddard College, the importance of great mentors and taking yourself seriously as a writer.
In this episode, Lynne and Chris discuss:
- The arrogance of youth
- Straddling genres
- Believing that you and your voice matter
- Why you’ll be the most passionate promoter of your work
- Why you can’t be a good writer if you’re not an avid reader
- How writing allows for exploration of loss, discontent, struggle and suffering
- Why bad choices make good stories
Links and Resources:
- Michael Klein
- Jane Wohl
- 25 Trumbulls Road
- Music for Ghosts
- Without Saints
- Black Lawrence Press
- NYQ Books
- Black River Chapbook Award
- Denis Johnson
Find Christopher P. Locke:
Website
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
- Episode 133 – Sara Henning – Poetry about Loss & Redemption
- Episode 120 – Jacqueline Suskin - A Poem Every Day
- Episode 79 – Laura Munson – How to Find Refuge in Writing
- Episode 73 – Jim Reese – Why Teaching Writing in Prisons Helps Everyone
- Episode 68 – M.L. Liebler – How to Use Writing & Performance to be an Activist
- Episode 2 – Barbara Jones – Stories Can Change the World
Tammy Pasterick didn’t intend to become a historical fiction novelist. But when a deep dive into her family’s immigrant history unearthed fascinating storylines about Eastern European emigres who settled in Pennsylvania, she knew she had a great story on her hands.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Tammy Pasterick about her journey of writing Beneath the Veil of Smoke and Ash, why she went for hybrid publishing, growing up in a family of steelworkers and coal miners, and her career as an investigator with the National Labor Relations Board, a paralegal and a German teacher.
In this episode, Lynne and Tammy discuss:
- Mining your family history for ideas & identity
- Self-publishing and managing book marketing
- How Americans perceive immigrants
- What it takes to make a life in America
- Launching a writing career
- Beta readers
- Character development, literary arcs and voice
Links and Resources:
- San Francisco Writers Conference
- NetGalley
- She Writes Press
- IngramSpark
- Penn State University
- Book Sparks
- Bookstagram
- Blog tour with the Coffee Pot
- Amor Towles
- Kristin Hannah
- Outlander
Find Tammy Pasterick:
Website
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
- Episode 129 – Rosina Lippi – Author of the Wilderness Series
- Episode 131 – Weina Dai Randel – The Last Rose of Shanghai
- Episode 123 – Karen Baum Gordon – On Surviving the Surviving
- Episode 102 – Patrick Hicks – How to Write Historical Fiction
- Episode 80 – Iris Lee Underwood – Author & Descendant of the McCoys of Appalachia
As a first-generation college student, Camille Pagan thought she’d study medicine. She ended up writing about health and then penned her first novel after the birth of her daughter, selling it at auction in a six-figure deal. But all was not easy after that. While Camille has enjoyed a hearty career as the bestselling author of eight novels, she endured ups, downs and redirects along the way and now guides other writers in staying the course to build success as an author.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Camille Pagan about being an author coach, query letters and mindset shifts, career strategy and setting goals for your writing.
In this episode, Lynne and Camille discuss:
- How thoughts influence feelings, which lead to actions
- Why query letters are her superpower
- Why coaching is as rewarding as writing
- Being the brand for your author career
- Overcoming self-doubt
- Getting specific on your goals to make them happen
Links and Resources:
- QueryTracker
- Publishers Marketplace
- Julie Buxbaum
- Jenny Bent
- Allison Winn Scotch
- Shutters on the Beach, Santa Monica
- Lake Union
- Jane Friedman’s newsletter
- Radcliffe Publishing Course
- Colleen Hoover
Find Camille Pagan:
Website
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
- Episode 128 – Becky Robinson – Building Reach for Books
- Episode 121 – Stephanie Steinberg – On Personal Passions & Creating Communities
- Episode 117 – Steven Wingate – How to Find Your Voice Again & Again
- Episode 110 – Margaret Trimer – How to Define & Live by Your Core Values
- Episode 23 – Crazy Whole Life with Rev. Josephine Robertson
What began as penance for speeding has become a beloved radio show-turned-podcast called Simply Scottish that allows writer Andrew McDiarmid to stay connected to his heritage and his homeland. “Being an immigrant has enriched my life,” says Andrew, who emigrated to the United States from Scotland at the age of 11 and straddles cultures and countries in his identity and his affiliations.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Andrew McDiarmid about the influence of the Scots on North America, what they both love about podcasting, building community around great ideas and ways to impact people through writing.
In this episode, Lynne and Andrew discuss:
- The Scottish diaspora
- How travel enlarges your perspective
- Relating to the underdog
- Stepping back to understand perspective
- Writing to inform and inspire
- Understanding where ideas & issues come from
- Lynne’s Scottish writing sabbatical
Links and Resources:
-
Braveheart
-
Your People marketing company
-
Northwaters/Langskib
-
Thistle & Shamrock with Fiona Ritchie
-
Robert Burns
-
Sir Walter Scott
-
Nessie
-
Lynne’s Nova Scotia writers retreat
-
Calum MacPhail
-
C.S. Lewis
Find Andrew McDiarmid:
Website
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
- Episode 132 – Merryn Glover – Literary Fiction About Place
- Episode 77 – Jason Kadlitz – Building Community in a Barber Shop
- Episode 68 – M.L. Liebler – How To Use Writing & Performance to be an Activist
- Episode 67 – Clay Carnill – How to Podcast
- Episode 48 – The NFHS Reunion Episode: Reflecting on 30 Years Since Graduation
In her latest poetry collection, Sara Henning tries to make meaning of grief, after losing her mother to metastatic colon cancer. “I lost my center,” Sara says, and Terra Incognita is her way to regain a firm stance on this earth. In this episode, Sara does a live reading of her poem “Queening” around the 25-minute mark.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Sara Henning about where poetry comes from, how to let the soul speak and how to keep on living after immense grief. Her poems interrogate meaning, and Lynne and Sara discuss how poems – and all literature – can be a companion at our loneliest times.
In this episode, Lynne and Sara discuss:
- Lynne’s essays about losing her father – Swimming, Oysters, Waiting for My Father to Die
- The rituals of mourning
- Research as a defense mechanism
- Confessional writing
- 21st century creative nonfiction and the truth vs. one’s truth
- Writing about parents
- “Doing It Scared”
Links and Resources:
-
Tell It Slant
-
Robert Lowell
-
Anne Sexton
-
Heaven’s Coast by Mark Doty
-
The Crab Orchard Series
-
Kevin Young’s The Art of Losing
-
Allison Joseph’s My Father’s Kites
-
Patricia Smith’s Blood Dazzler and Incendiary Art
-
Marie Howe’s What The Living Do
-
Cheryl Strayed’s Wild
Find Sara Henning:
Website
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
- Episode 127 – Ly Tran – Writing Unapologetically
- Episode 123 – Karen Baum Gordon – On Surviving the Surviving
- Episode 120 – Jacqueline Suskin – A Poem Every Day
- Episode 114 – Nancy Sharp – How to Turn Tragedy into Opportunity
- Episode 73 – Jim Reese – Why Teaching Writing in Prisons Helps Everyone
Episode 132 – Merryn Glover – Literary Fiction about Place
Merryn Glover writes literary fiction from the Scottish Highlands, deep into the Cairngorm Mountains. Her lyrical prose invokes place and relationship in gorgeous ways, her words rising from the page to attach to the reader’s heart. Born in Kathmandu and raised in Nepal, Pakistan and India, Merryn is the daughter of Australian missionaries and moved to Scotland after she met the love of her life.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Merryn Glover about how a sense of place shapes us, how we belong, and the shifting territories of culture. Writing since she was young, Merryn is the author of two literary novels and a forthcoming homage to philosophical nature writer Nan Shepherd, the author of The Living Mountain.
In this episode, Lynne and Merryn discuss:
- “Hill walking,” hiking in the Cairngorms and the lust for the summit
- Serving as writer in residence for Cairngorms National Park
- The slog to find an agent and a publisher & make money as a writer
- Taking the “unpath”
- Not pinning hopes or a sense of self on external markers of success
- How to build an author platform
- The art of marketing your books
- The interweaving of culture, place and landscape
Links and Resources:
-
The Guardian’s Country Diary
-
Highland LIT
-
Helen Sedgwick
-
XpoNorth Creative Industries Festival
-
Northwoods Now
-
Polygon
-
Robert Macfarlane
-
Nan Shepherd Prize
-
Cathryn Summerhayes
Weina Randel emigrated to the United States from China at the age of 24, switching from her native Chinese to English, as she began to write fiction. She wrote a duology about China’s first and only female emperor, Wu Zetian, and then penned a truly stunning historical novel called The Last Rose of Shanghai, about a love story between a Chinese woman and a Jewish refugee in Shanghai during World War II.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Weina Randel about the long road to landing an agent and a multiple book deal with a traditional publisher, how to conduct research for historical fiction, and how “writing is an art, and publishing is a business.”
In this episode, Lynne and Weina discuss:
- The four years it took to land an agent & a book deal
- Establishing a dedicated writing practice
- How to come up with topics to write about
- Using maps and primary sources for historical research
- Beat sheets & character outlines
- How to market your books without hiring a publicist
- Changes in the publishing industry
- What to do if you’re afraid to share your writing
Links and Resources:
- The Last Rose of Shanghai
- Elizabeth George book on craft, Mastering the Process
- The Jewish Book Council
- Lake Union publishing
Weina Randel emigrated to the United States from China at the age of 24, switching from her native Chinese to English, as she began to write fiction. She wrote a duology about China’s first and only female emperor, Wu Zetian, and then penned a truly stunning historical novel called The Last Rose of Shanghai, about a love story between a Chinese woman and a Jewish refugee in Shanghai during World War II.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Weina Randel about the long road to landing an agent and a multiple book deal with a traditional publisher, how to conduct research for historical fiction, and how “writing is an art, and publishing is a business.”
In this episode, Lynne and Weina discuss:
- The four years it took to land an agent & a book deal
- Establishing a dedicated writing practice
- How to come up with topics to write about
- Using maps and primary sources for historical research
- Beat sheets & character outlines
- How to market your books without hiring a publicist
- Changes in the publishing industry
- What to do if you’re afraid to share your writing
Links and Resources:
-
-
- The Last Rose of Shanghai - Elizabeth George book on craft, Mastering the Process - The Jewish Book Council - Lake Union publishing - The Moon Palace
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Find Weina Randel:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
LinkedIn
Merle Saferstein has been journaling since 1974, so when she decided to comb through her nearly 400 journals to create a book, she knew it would not be an easy endeavor. It has taken the better part of the last two decades to create LIVING AND LEAVING MY LEGACY, volume 1, which debuted in June 2022 to much acclaim. Volume 2 will be published in June 2023.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Merle Saferstein – the first guest to make a repeat appearance on the Make Meaning Podcast! – about journaling, legacy, ethical wills and writing on a daily basis to clear your mind and be a historian for your life. (Listen to Merle’s first interview on the Make Meaning Podcast here.)
In this episode, Lynne and Merle discuss:
- The process of creating her most recent book
- Journaling for self-care and compassion
- Why there are really no rules for journaling
- How to create an ethical will
- The power of writing first thing every morning
- How journaling frees you up to write
- Why a writer of nonfiction might consider journaling a great tool
- Confronting uncomfortable topics
Links and Resources:
- Living and Leaving My Legacy vol. 1
- Tara Mohr
- Sexual abuse hotline
- The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
Find Merle Saferstein:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
LinkedIn
Rosina Lippi writes under her own name and under the pseudonym Sara Donati, and her Wilderness series of six historical novels is some of the most gorgeous fiction you’ll ever read. A former linguistics professor, Rosina has been writing for decades and built quite a following, even as the publishing industry has changed.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Rosina Lippi about how to make fiction your career, frustrations with book marketing, and how to create believable characters in authentic landscapes. In the episode, Rosina quotes George Orwell on writing: “Writing a book is an exhausting struggle. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand.”
In this episode, Lynne and Rosina discuss:
- Making money as a novelist
- Historical fiction
- Retelling history with real women in the stories
- Choosing a pen name to not “confound reader expectations”
- How publishing has changed over the decades
- How to authentically show race, indigeneity and survival in colonial times
- Marketing & PR for books
- How to handle negative feedback on your writing
Links and Resources:
- Rosina Lippi
- Into the Wilderness (book 1)
- Sara Donati
- Elizabeth Bennet
- The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper
- The Pen/Hemingway award
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- Homestead
- Congo Square
- Lynne Golodner’s Author Brand Marketing Mastermind
- Kirkus Review
- Stranger than Fiction film
Find Rosina Lippi:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
LinkedIn
Imagine starting a company to give yourself an income source that is compatible with your role as a mom of small children. And then, as that company grows, realizing your role is really about creating opportunities for others – providing meaningful, flexible work, access to great content and guidance to reach goals and grow influence.
And then, 10 years in, you write a book about everything you learned and have an early reader community of more than 400 people who are chomping at the bit to read your book. That’s Becky Robinson’s story.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Becky Robinson about her first book, Reach: Create the biggest possible audience for your message, book, or cause. They discuss the successful book marketing business that inspired the tome, Becky’s writing and publishing process, and the 4-step formula for growing your reach.
In this episode, Lynne and Becky discuss:
- Building a book launch team
- Becky’s approach to book marketing
- Social media, email marketing & websites
- Creating value
- Content marketing
- Meaning, purpose and making a difference
- How to help marginalized individuals face challenges growing their reach
- The 4 Commitments
- Growing an online audience in a noisy marketplace
- How to be memorable & meaningful
Links and Resources:
- Dan Rockwell
- Lynne Golodner’s Author Brand Mastermind
- Mark Miller
- David Cooperrider – Appreciative Inquiry
- Weaving Influence
- Buy Becky’s Book
Find Becky Robinson:
- Website
- Podcast
The Make Meaning Podcast will be on hiatus until October 2022, at which point we will kick off with interviews featuring Rosina Lippi (a.k.a. Sara Donati), Merle Saferstein, Sara Henning, Andrew McDiarmid, Christopher P. Locke, and more authors and writers!
So many writers say they write to figure out what they believe or make sense of a situation. Ly Tran says she writes to overcome self-doubt and to celebrate her voice. More than that, she says her words connect her to others, and the best part of putting a book in the world is the feedback she gets from readers who say that her story touched them in a deep and meaningful way.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Ly Tran about her memoir, House of Sticks, which took six years to write after landing a contract simply by the strength of her pages as presented to a professor. Ly came to America at the age of 3, a Vietnamese refugee who was a sweatshop worker as a child and spent a decade failing school as her vision deteriorated. Literature was her only refuge, holding books close to her face to commune with characters. With the gift of a pair of contacts at high school graduation, she eventually made it to Columbia University, where instructors saw her gifts and encouraged her to write her incredible story.
In this episode, Lynne and Ly discuss:
- Her parents’ response to her truth-telling: “You do what you need to do.”
- Finding identity in food and language
- Embodying multiple conflicting identities
- The myth of “the American dream”
- Realizing that she’s not like other kids and learning to find her own way
- How books can be our salvation
- Code-switching
- How to honor family and values while assimilating
- Her next book, a historical novel about the Tru’ng Sisters
- The need for strong Asian-American voices
Links and Resources:
- The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
- The Model Minority Myth
- My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
- Columbia University
- Writers in New York at NYU
- Fierce Attachments by Vivian Gornick
- Maps to Anywhere by Bernard Cooper
Find Ly Tran:
- Website
Coming up next on the Make Meaning Podcast: Lynne interviews Becky Robinson, founder of Weaving Influence and author of Reach: Create the biggest possible audience for your message, book, or cause.
Do you do fun things often? Do you take risks? Are you connected to a community that makes you feel good about who you are?
These are essential elements of a healthy life, according to Dr. Indigo Willing, who started skateboarding in her 40s, after finishing her PhD and becoming a “mum.” It was something she always wanted to do but never thought it was open to her – and now she’s not only great on the board, she’s a global role model for creating access for all who want to hop on.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Indigo Willing about growing up as an “outsider,” as a Vietnamese orphan adopted into an Australian family, fulfilling her grandmother’s advice (community before cliques and people before popularity), and creating access for all.
In this episode, Lynne and Indigo discuss:
- The importance of consent
- Diversity in skateboarding
- First Nations and Indigenous skateboard companies
- Teaching research methods at Griffith University
- How fun is an essential part of human well-being
- Why skateboarding is “like oxygen”
- Careers in skateboarding
- Connecting to ancestors and culture
- Trying to make skateboarding inclusive across the board
Links and Resources:
- Consent Is Rad
- We Skate Queensland
- Adopted Vietnamese International Network
- Oldster article about Indigo Willing
- Evie Ryder
- Tora Waldren
- Lily Turek
- Millie Miljevic
- Apache Skateboards
- Nation Skate Youth
- Kim Woozy
- Skate Like a Girl
- Billy Elliot
- Tet Festival
- Day of the Dead
Find Indigo Willing:
- Website
Coming up next on the Make Meaning Podcast: Lynne interviews Ly Tran, author of the memoir House of Sticks, about being a Vietnamese refugee and American immigrant, working in a sweatshop as a child, and making it to Columbia University while trying to preserve her family’s honor.
Sometimes inspiration comes from sources very close to home. While spending more time with his family during the Covid-19 pandemic, Jeffrey was inspired to pass on his experience and values to younger generations by writing a children’s book starring his own grandchildren, I Don’t Want to Turn 3.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Gramps Jeffrey about his business background, his transition from entrepreneur to author of children’s books, and why he believes influencing younger generations is our true purpose.
In this episode, Lynne and Jeffrey discuss:
- His first book, The Secrets of Retailing,: Or: How to Beat Wal-Mart!
- Writing for the Huffington Post
- Discovering a love of writing through journaling
- Becoming inspired to write during a backpacking trip in his youth
- His writing process
- His first children’s book: I Don’t Want to Turn 3
- The importance of grandparents being present for their grandchildren
- Lessons his grandfather taught him
Links and Resources:
- Dollar Days
- Arianna Huffington
- Borders
- Barnes and Noble
- Episode 116 – Jake Neher
- Baby Boomers
- WWII - Pacific Fighter Pilot History
Find Gramps Jeffrey:
- Website
- Blog
Coming up next on the Make Meaning Podcast: Lynne interviews Dr. Indigo Willing about her books, skateboarding, and her organizations, Consent is Rad, Adopted Vietnamese International (AVI), and We Skate Queensland.
As a young woman, Dorit Sasson moved to Israel and served in the Israel Defense Forces as a lone soldier. After 18 years, Dorit returned to the United States, and those decisions, along with the details of her life in both places, inspired two memoirs about straddling cultures, languages, and definitions of home.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, Dorit speaks with host Lynne Golodner about her books, Accidental Solider and Sand and Steel, which were driven by her determination for self-exploration, observation and a desire to connect. As someone who identifies as Israeli by culture and language, yet never stepped foot in a synagogue while she lived in the Jewish State, Dorit talks with Lynne about the many identities of Israel - a nation, a religion, and a people.
In this episode, Lynne and Dorit discuss:
- Her journey to Israel and return to the United States
- Her time serving in the IDF as a lone soldier
- The close-knit structure of Israeli communities
- The differences between statehood, identity and culture
- Israel as the most misunderstood country in the world
- The beauty of Hebrew
- Anti-semitism and Anti-Zionism
Links and Resources:
- Kibbutz
- Nahal Brigade
- Israeli Economy Today
- History of Israel
- Israel Population by Religion
- Israeli Identities
- Ashkenazi Judaism
- Mizrahi Judaism
- Sephardi Judaism
- Orthodox Judaism
- Conservative Judaism
- Reform Judaism
- Islam
- Christianity
- Druze
- Bedouin
Find Dorit Sasson:
Website
LinkedIn
Facebook
Instagram
It took 10 years for Karen Baum Gordon to write and publish her memoir, The Last Letter: A father’s struggle, a daughter’s quest, and the long shadow of the Holocaust, under the guidance of a friend who was an editor at McGraw-Hill. The book explores generations of her family through letters, while grappling with the ancestral trauma and psychological legacy of terror, genocide and persecution.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, Karen speaks with host Lynne Golodner about the complexities of identity, what inspired her to write a memoir even though she never considered herself a writer, how she understands the legacy of family, and embracing intergenerational love, loss and life.
In this episode, Lynne and Karen discuss:
- The constant act of becoming
- The legacy of her grandparents, who perished in the Holocaust
- The notion of “surviving the surviving”
- How keeping a journal helps with the writing of a memoir
- Intergenerational Trauma
- Antisemitism
- Being Jewish and American, in what order?
- Confronting family sadness & how children are impacted, or influenced, by their parents’ pain
- Combining the quotidian details of her grandparents’ lives, excerpts of their letters and her own ponderings
Links and Resources:
- Harvard College
- Columbia Business School
- Media Transformation Challenge Program
- Poynter Institute
- Baltimore Orioles
- The Chronicle of the Lodz Ghetto
- Lodz Ghetto
- Finding Your Voice at Midlife
- Rabbi Rick Jacobs
- Union for Reform Judaism
- Buchenwald
- Brooklyn Heights Synagogue
- Congregation Beth Ahm
- Your People LLC
- The Museum of Jewish Heritage
- Strategic Horizons, Inc.
- McKinsey & Co.
Find Karen Baum Gordon
Website
Facebook
LinkedIn
Instagram
The colonizing of America separated Indigenous people from their nourishing “first foods,” plant and animal species that native communities relied upon for subsistence, ceremony and medicine. More than a decade ago, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC), Michigan Technological University (MTU), and the Western UP Planning and Development Region came together to create a space that celebrated and preserved the knowledge and cultural identity of tribal people living in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. From this collaboration came the Debweyendan Indigenous Garden (DIGs), a place to grow foods and medicines and drive the community toward food sovereignty.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews two important DIGs contributors: Valoree Gagnon, Assistant Professor in the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science at Michigan Tech and Director for University-Indigenous Community Partnerships at the Great Lakes Research Center; and Karena Schmidt, an ecologist with the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Natural Resources Department.
In this episode, Lynne, Val, and Karena discuss:
- The creation & growth of DIGs
- How to define native foods
- The importance of food sovereignty
- The native communities of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
- How to be an ally to Native Americans
- Loving the land you come from
- Finding the foods native to your community
- Your role in achieving food sovereignty
Links and Resources:
History of First Foods
Diabetes & the Native American Diet
Remote Indigenous Gardens Network
Debweyendan Indigenous Garden
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community
KBIC Natural Resources Department
Michigan Technological University (MTU)
Western UP Planning and Development Region
Great Lakes Research Center
University of Arizona
The Seed Keeper
Elizabeth Hoover, Indigenous Food Sovereignty in the United States
Robin Wall Kimmerer
Potawatomi
Anishinaabe
Ojibwe
Odawa
Pow Wow
Michigan Tribes
Keweenaw Peninsula
Dr. Martin Reinhardt
Sean Sherman - the Sioux Chief
Stephanie Steinberg always knew she wanted to be a writer. From a young age, she chased her creative nature, which led her to become a published author, a successful journalist, and an inspiring entrepreneur.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, Stephanie speaks with host Lynne Golodner about their passion for their alma mater (University of Michigan), Stephanie’s two books, her experience as editor-in-chief of the Michigan Daily at the University of Michigan (where Lynne was a staff writer, many years before Stephanie!), the founding of the Detroit Writing Room and why she believes your best work comes from following your passions.
In this episode, Lynne and Stephanie discuss:
- University of Michigan Football
- Her time at the Michigan Daily
- What she loves most about writing
- The development of the Detroit Writing Room
- The importance of mentors
- How she pivoted her business during the COVID-19 pandemic
- The perks and detriments of virtual meetings
Links and Resources:
- Detroit Writing Room
- Bill Vlasic
- Anna Clark
- Writer Wednesday
- Laura Berman
- Fisher Foundation
- Coaching Detroit Forward Camps
- Sacred Overstreet-Amos
- Kidsworld
- Barrie Muzbeck
Find Stephanie Steinberg:
Website
Linkedin
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Find the Detroit Writing Room:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Jacqueline Suskin has been a poet all her life. It’s something she was born with, she says, and this passion for poetry has led her to build a career where people pay her to write poems about their experiences, their longings, their celebrations, and their desires.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, Jacqueline speaks with host Lynne Golodner about Poem Store, the entrepreneurial venture she created in 2009 by taking a typewriter to public spaces and writing spontaneous poems for payment; her seven books (plus the new one she’s working on); why she believes meaning is a choice and how being able to assign meaning to ordinary objects and experiences is what sets humans apart from every other creature.
In this episode, Lynne and Jacqueline discuss:
- Her latest book, Every Day Is a Poem
- How she works with people in one-on-one sessions
- What it feels like to write poems spontaneously & for commission
- Why she never keeps a copy of a commissioned poem
- How poetry is the conduit we need to ponder the depths in this crazy time
- How all people experience the same celebrating, grieving, longing and loving, and how everyone wants to connect to these experiences through language
Links and Resources;
- Jacqueline Suskin
- Poem Store
- Lynne Golodner
- Lynne’s Finding Your Voice at Midlife Writers Workshop
- The Hollywood Farmers Market
- Commune
- Typing poems in Oakland, California
Find Jacqueline Suskin:
Website
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Noor A’wad and Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger may have come to the question of how Palestinians and Israelis can co-exist on land that they both claim as sacred from different perspectives, but through their work with Roots, the Palestinian Israeli Grassroots Initiative for Understanding, Nonviolence and Transformation, they are figuring out a way to share the land while respecting both communities’ claims on it.
In this first episode of 2022, the Make Meaning Podcast looks at one of the world’s greatest global concerns and begins to make sense of it by speaking to two inspiring leaders in the quest for reconciliation. Noor A’wad is a Palestinian whose family moved to Palestine after the Oslo Accords were signed in the hope that it would be a new opportunity for their family. Growing up in that shattered dream, Noor became a voice for co-existence and understanding.
Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger made aliyah to Israel from the United States decades ago as a religious Jewish settler in the West Bank. He sought to meet his Palestinian neighbors but found it was nearly impossible to do so, since Israeli military law forbids the two populations from residing or gathering in each other’s communities. He is a founder of Roots as a way to make sense out of a truly perplexing situation.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, Noor and Hanan speak with host Lynne Golodner about the work that Roots does to bring together Palestinians and Israelis in the West Bank toward building relationships and understanding. Their goal is apolitical – generating dialogue, hosting meetings and summer camps, offering photography workshops and generally building relationships that pave the way for lasting understanding and co-existence.
In this episode, Lynne, Noor and Hanan discuss:
- The importance of using the right terminology (it’s not a “conflict” – given the differences in power)
- The “hubris of exclusivity”
- How media on both sides (and around the world) are part of the problem
- That identity is the core of the conflict
- That today’s situation dates back to 1948
- Why a two-state solution is ideal, but not the two-state solution that most people think of
- The importance of accepting each other’s legitimacy
- That self-definition and self-determination are essential for lasting peace
Links and Resources:
- Roots
- The Oslo Accords (History.com)
- The Oslo Accords (U.S. government site)
- The Second Intifada
- The West Bank
- A Land for All
Find Roots:
Website
Facebook
Facebook (Noor)
Facebook (Hanan)
Instagram (Roots)
Instagram (Noor)
LinkedIn (Hanan)
Elizabeth Gowing’s life changed when she moved from London to Kosovo in 2006 for her partner's job on what was supposed to be a six-month contract. Fifteen years later, Elizabeth speaks Albanian, teaches English and leads The Ideas Partnership, an NGO that offers support to people through education, health and social welfare as well as offering literacy classes, and arts and dance sessions.
Driven by a background in primary education and education policy, Elizabeth launched the nonprofit organization in 2009 to help children and families in the region. In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, Elizabeth speaks with host Lynne Golodner about the events that inspired The Ideas Partnership, how she writes about “slices of life around the world,” and the importance of seizing the moment, all the time. Elizabeth offers ideas for listeners about how to use joy to make change in the world.
In this episode, Lynne and Elizabeth discuss:
- How learning a language deepens connections
- The importance of education for all children
- How to tackle systemic problems by thinking big & staying small
- Being authentic in your writing
- The value of spontaneity
- Storytelling as a way to better understanding
Links and Resources;
- Kosovo
- The Ideas Partnership
- Kosovo Ministry of Education
- UNICEF
- EU Award for Roma Integration
- Mother Teresa Medal for Humanitarian Work
- Tara Mohr: Hooked vs. Unhooked
- Maya Angelou Quote
- Travels in Blood and Honey: Becoming a Beekeeper in Kosovo
- BBC Radio 4 Writing
- Finding Your Voice at Midlife Writers Course with Lynne Golodner
- Mary Edith Durham and the Royal Anthropological Society
- Frederick Buechner Quote
- Sapune
Find Elizabeth Gowing:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
LinkedIn
Blog
Steven Wingate writes to learn foundational truths such as: Who are we? And, why do we behave the way we do? A resident of South Dakota, Steven sets his novels in the center of America, known as the heartland, flyover country or a big open expanse of unbridled wilderness. He writes about this place that he calls home to showcase its beauty and its people. Two of his books, The Leave Takers and Of Fathers and Fire have found acclaim in the Nebraska Flyover Fiction series.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, Steven speaks with host Lynne Golodner about teaching writing at South Dakota State University, his writing process, family and finding his voice. He believes we have many authentic voices inside us, and writing is all about tuning into the voice that speaks best for each story. He says good writing is when you feel resonance between the stories and yourself.
In a way, every person is a storyteller, according to Jake Neher, senior producer for Detroit Today on 101.9 FM WDET in Detroit. As co-host of the weekly series and podcast MichMash, not only does Jake have storytelling gifts, but he brings a huge passion for gardening to guide his curiosity when choosing guests and asking questions. As his radio career took him to Barrow, Alaska, New York City and finally Detroit, Jake nurtured this interest in growing things, via a little hydroponic garden in the dark and cold of America’s northernmost reaches to a lone tomato plant on a fire escape in NYC. Living in Detroit with his wife and two sons allows Jake to spend his off-the-air hours in a backyard filled with vibrant produce and plenty of space to garden!
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, Jake speaks with host Lynne Golodner about how he combined his passion for gardening and radio into a special series, WDET: At Home, offering tips for people learning to garden during the pandemic. He talks about how gardening can teach us to find value in underappreciated things like soil - something we tread upon every day feeds our plants and therefore feeds us. Just as he nourishes his passion for gardening, Jake suggests that we all engage with our passions unabashedly and see where they lead us.
In this episode, Lynne and Jake discuss:
- How everyone is a storyteller
- Ways to get the whole family involved in gardening
- How what we read impacts the way we write
- How gardening can be revolutionary
- Tips for gardening newbies
- The importance of geeking out about your passions
Links and Resources:
- You are a Storyteller Podcast with Brian McDonald
- Michigan Public Radio Network
- Central Michigan University
- Aero Hydroponic Gardens
- Minnesota Midget Cantaloupe
- Joan Cherry Isabella Program Director for 101.9 WDET
- Ron Finley Ted Talk: A guerrilla gardener in South Central LA
- University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop
- Michael Carey
- WDET Series: Rooted by Annamarie Sysling
- Charles Dowding
Find Jake Neher:
Dean Stark began working at Sacramento Waldorf School when he was 21. That was 37 years ago, and when he began, he had no intention of staying so long because he imagined he would go on to coach at bigger and bigger schools until he possibly landed an opportunity to coach college basketball. But staying was a great decision - perhaps the decision of his lifetime, Dean says.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, Dean speaks with host Lynne Golodner about how coaching SacWaldorf teams turned into his dream job because of the depth of his relationship with the students and the style of the education. Dean has written two books about his experiences and coaching philosophy, with the most recent one, Uncommon: Inside my Coaching Career at Sacramento Waldorf, one of the focuses of this interview. In this book, Dean emphasizes the importance of developing a philosophy for your life - by reflecting upon what has brought you success, where you need to improve, and using those questions to identify your strengths and how to achieve your goals moving forward.
Nancy Sharp experienced an exceptional grief when her husband died from brain cancer at the age of 39, when their twins were toddlers. She eventually left New York City for Denver to start over amid the mountain air. She left a public relations career and became a Guided Autobiography instructor, as well as the author of the bestselling memoir, Both Sides Now: A True Story of Love, Loss, and Bold Living. Her writing and her work inspire resilience.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, Nancy speaks with host Lynne Golodner about her writing process, her passion for teaching Guided Autobiography, how life and death can collide, and her daily practices for building a life of meaning. She says, “In order to be resilient, you have to move beyond the things that hold you back. You have to be able to transcend challenges and sometimes that means re-writing your story or a part of your story.”
When Ramona Pintea turned 40, she decided to close her interior design business and start a new path following her true passion — art. During the beginning of the pandemic, she created a piece called Mother Earth which looks at the hope amongst all the terrible things happening. She shared it on Facebook and discovered a huge audience of supporters which spurred her to create the art series Urban Queen.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, Ramona speaks with host Lynne Golodner about the importance of making art about women, for women. Her bright and colorful paintings explore the desires, experiences, emotions, and inner worlds of women. Ramona is a perfect example of how it is never too late to change your career path.
The reason John Wynn has built an entertainment empire and impact school children is because he begins each day with daily devotion and family check-ins. That, and the way he keeps his father’s legacy front of mind. The Reno, Nev.-based third-generation pastor and entrepreneur says he watched his father become the first African-American to host a local religious TV show and be the first Black man to sit on the Governor’s cabinet – and he knew that he would follow in his footsteps.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, John speaks with host Lynne Golodner about eliminating mental roadblocks, empowering youth to succeed, and finding mentors who look like you to show you what is possible. As the only boy among nine siblings and the father of eight, John says, “Sometimes you’ll find your purpose in the pathway passed down from your parents. Your purpose is identified to you young.”
The coronavirus pandemic has changed the world in so many ways. For some people, the past year has led to a major shift in the work they do, either by necessity or by desire – both of which are reasons that propelled Rebecca Jeffreys to end her 35-year career as a professional flutist and launch Sprouting Health Families.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, Rebecca speaks with host Lynne Golodner about how she turned her journey parenting a child with autism into an effort to support parents along their autism journeys. Her new coaching company provides one-on-one and group settings to shore up parents’ self-care and emotional strength as they guide their children through school and life.
Margaret Trimer has created a varied and fascinating career with a focus on building educational opportunities for children and girding communities with value and voice. She does this, she says, by following her personal core values.
Beginning at the Detroit Free Press as a reporter covering education, Margaret has moved through roles as founder and director of one of the highest performing charter school districts in the region, president and CEO of Junior Achievement of Southeast Michigan, communications director at the Michigan Education Association and most recently, as VP of Strategic Partnerships of Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio and Indiana.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner speaks with Margaret about corporate caring for communities, what it takes to run extraordinary schools, and the beauty of driving across America with time to enjoy the scenery.
For Michael Ziman, life has been relatively easy. He grew up enjoying the nature of the Jersey Shore, and built a career building vacation homes in his favorite place. But when the COVID-19 pandemic shut the world down last year, he started to realize how damaged nature had been by human intrusion – and how clear and beautiful it became when humans stepped away.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner speaks with Michael about how the pandemic inspired him to be more climate-conscious in his work building new homes along the Atlantic Ocean. They discuss how the pandemic inspired him to research climate change and find ways to become part of the solution. In the past year, Michael has planted more than 100,000 trees to offset the carbon emissions of the homes he builds. He’s also introduced new sustainable practices and materials to his building practices.
The past year was a challenge in so many ways, and relationships were impacted in many ways by long lockdowns, economic turbulence, and the need to work at home while guiding children in doing school remotely. But there was a sunny side for some relationships as couples settled in to more time together without the distractions of “normal” life. While some relationships reached a breaking point during the coronavirus pandemic, many grew stronger. Research shows trends in both directions, with a flurry of quarantine babies and a backlog of divorce cases facing the courts.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner speaks with her husband of 10 years, Dan Golodner, and her best friend and client, divorce attorney Alisa Peskin-Shepherd, of Transitions Legal. In this episode, Lynne and Dan talk about how they fell more in love and grew closer during the pandemic, and have come to cherish their time at home together. Alisa shares what she’s seen in her law practice – how cases already in process became more intense, while the court system slowed down. Divorcing couples stuck at home together experienced more tension and anxiety. Alisa’s legal practice fielded a lot of inquiries during this time, but not necessarily people filing for divorce – until recently.
After 20 years as a teacher and school principal, Jan Tinetti knows the damage period poverty can do to young girls and women seeking to build a better life. Children as young as six would miss a week of school each month due to a lack of products to support their monthly cycle. When she became Minister for Women in the New Zealand Parliament, Jan partnered with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in launching an Access to Period Products pilot program in 2020 to provide free products to schools.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, The Hon. Jan Tinetti speaks with host Lynne Golodner about the 2021 nationwide rollout of an effort to provide free period products to all New Zealand schools. This joins other efforts to eliminate child poverty, including a universal healthy lunch program, free breakfasts, milk and fresh fruit in schools, social workers and more. “We want to focus on making New Zealand the best country in the world to be a child,” she says in the episode.
When Lynne Golodner pivoted from journalism to public relations and marketing, she had a love-hate relationship with the PR field; it felt like crossing over to the dark side, she recalls. But Nancy Marshall, founder and CEO of Marshall Communications in Maine, never had such misgivings about the field of public relations. She loved it from a young age and has been thrilled with her decades-rich career in the industry.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, Nancy speaks with host Lynne Golodner about understanding yourself and your passions enough to find meaningful work. Nancy helps companies to understand how to best tell their story. A connector, she says, “Gratitude is the key to all happiness,” and she encourages people to “notice the things in daily life that you’re good at and which bring you joy.”
“The future doesn’t have to be about more stuff,” says Gina Nicholas. “It can be about sharing experiences with others.”
When the World Trade Center twin towers came down in a terrorist attack, Gina saw it as a sign that she should leave her corporate career to return home to the Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan, surrounded by the cold waters of Lake Superior, and focus on preserving the natural lands she loved for future generations. Through this work, she met Helen Taylor, the Michigan director of the global Nature Conservancy, and their friendship grew out of conservation collaborations and a passion for preserving the natural world.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, Helen and Gina speak with host Lynne Golodner about finding shared values between industry and conservation, trading an extraction mentality for an evolution of awareness, and realizing that the common enemy is actually fragmentation and development, not nature vs. the corporate world.
Sometimes meaning comes out of the tiny obligations and routines of daily life. We find meaning in the mundane as easily as preparing a meal and sitting down with people we love to enjoy it. As a celebrity chef, author of two books and mom to two young children, Crystal Blanchette is dedicated to making meal prep easy and making food a priority, not a chore.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, Crystal speaks with host Lynne Golodner about her internship at Lucas Films, her career cooking for such celebrities as Will.i.am, Prince, George Lucas, Mike Tyson and Jessica Simpson, and how she believes the secret to building a healthy family is not feeding your kids anything you won’t eat yourself.
“A mural cannot be a band-aid on a society that puts Black and Brown people at the bottom every single day,” says Katie Yamasaki, muralist and children’s book artist who uses art as a platform to build dialogue and tell stories of communities.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, Katie speaks with host Lynne Golodner about her early influences (including her famous grandfather, architect Minoru Yamasaki, who designed the World Trade Center), collaborating with former students and incarcerated mothers on important mural projects, and how she always cobbled together jobs to make ends meet so she could focus on her art.
Learning how to write and channel your voice is an act of bravery, says Patrick Hicks, which may lead you to become more adventurous in other parts of your life. The author of more than 10 books, including The Collector of Names, Adoptable and This London, Patrick is the latest guest on the Make Meaning Podcast.
In this episode, Patrick speaks with host Lynne Golodner about whose history is real history, how to pay homage to the possibilities, and why an American whose ancestors came from Northern Ireland writes about the Holocaust. A professor at Augustana University in South Dakota, Patrick lived in Northern Ireland during The Troubles and he says it’s important to view history from different vantage points.
Sometimes a meaningful life and a purpose-driven career grows out of a step-by-step approach to accepting opportunities and seeing where they take you. Margaret O’Gorman, President of the Wildlife Habitat Council and author of the book, Strategic Corporate Conservation Planning, could not have charted her life’s course from her childhood in Ireland – she simply embraced the opportunities that came her way and a meaning-rich life unfolded.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, Margaret speaks with host Lynne Golodner about being a nonprofit professional with more than two decades of experience in environmental consciousness, teaching smaller NGOs how to fundraise, and what it’s like taking part in peaceful marches on matters of great importance.
Growing up in the Chabad Lubavitch community, Bassie Shemtov always knew she’d devote her life to service. So when she married and moved to Michigan, she and her husband set about dedicating their life and family to building friendships with people in isolation.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, Bassie speaks with host Lynne Golodner about the origins of the Friendship Circle, her husband’s role as “the Friendship Rabbi,” and the next phase of the Friendship Circle’s growth, acquiring the Dakota Bread Bakery in West Bloomfield, Michigan, as a way to build a vocational training program for adults with special needs.
When many people receive life-altering medical news, they don’t see it as opportunity. Keisha Greaves does. As founder of Girls Chronically Rock and an inspiring advocate for the disability community, Keisha embraced her situation and let it motivate her to live her best life.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, Keisha speaks with host Lynne Golodner about being diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy while in graduate school and using such initially devastating news as motivation to start the fashion brand she’d always dreamed of.
She calls herself an eco-warrior, and her mission started early in life. By the age of 8, Kehkashan Basu was already advocating for sustainability, and now as a university student in Toronto and the founder of the Green Hope Foundation, she shows no signs of slowing down.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, Kehkashan speaks with host Lynne Golodner about why children are perfectly positioned to move the needle on climate justice, social equality, gender issues and more. She shares her inspiring family background that encouraged her to speak up and stand for something, and she explains how her work earned her the 2016 International Children’s Peace Prize and the title of National Geographic Young Explorer. At 12, she became the youngest person to be involved with the United Nations Environment Programme. Her ultimate goal? To become the first female U.N. Secretary General.
Eric Hale says he’s not trying to be the best teacher; he’s trying to be the most impactful educator in the country. As Texas Teacher of the Year, and the first African-American man to be awarded this honor, Eric raised more than $100,000 in the last two years for his economically challenged school district in the “red light district” of Dallas – in addition to teaching some of its youngest students. “I may be the first to receive it, but I know I’m not the first African-American educator who deserves this award,” he says.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, Eric speaks with host Lynne Golodner about advocacy, accountability and action as an educator, and what it takes to build the self-esteem of children in schools where 99 percent of students live below the poverty line. “You cannot educate the masses with a playbook designed for one segment of the population,” he insists.
Sabrina Colosimo has been productive during this year’s coronavirus pandemic. Her interior design business exploded online, as people stayed home and found renewed energy and inspiration for renovating and redecorating.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, Sabrina speaks with host Lynne Golodner about spending a month in Bali to find precious housewares and fabrics, creating rooms that are globally inspired, and how to find new purpose for vintage furniture amid contemporary design.
Seeing people as solutions to problems, Froswa’ Booker Drew says she wants her funeral to be a networking session. Relationships are critical for success, Froswa’ says, they teach us how to become leaders, how to interact with the world, and how to transform what we do and who we are.
Froswa’ holds many roles:
- Vice President of Community Affairs for the State Fair of Texas
- Co-Founder of HERitage Giving Circle (the first African American women’s giving circle in Texas)
- Professor at Tulane University
- Author of 3 books
- CEO of Soulstice Consultancy
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, Froswa speaks with host Lynne Golodner on the power of young people to create movements and make real change, developing your personal mission statement and creating a personal board of directors, and how 2020 is the year of vision, a time to wake up from our complacency.
When asked which role he prefers – teaching high school, coaching soccer, serving as a blended family expert, or being a husband and father – Joel Hawbaker has a hard time choosing. All of these roles combine to form his personal purpose, says the Alabama native.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, Joel speaks with host Lynne Golodner on having a growth mindset, the purpose of education (hint: it’s to become a better human being and better understand the world), taking time to blend families, banishing the divorce stigma, his love of soccer and so much more.
It makes total sense to form a consortium connecting the 17 colleges and universities in our nation’s capital. The Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area, led by Andrew Flagel, develops financial efficiencies and better delivery of higher education core services as well as making it easier for students, staff and faculty in the region to access the great offerings of its members.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, Andrew speaks with host Lynne Golodner on how he chose higher ed for his career, how to create pathways and equity to higher ed for all Americans, and why students so desperately want to get back in the classroom with their professors as the coronavirus pandemic rages on.
From living with monks to leading a consciousness-raising website, Harry Sherwood has done a deep dive into meaning and purpose in his young life and built a career based on what he believes. In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, Harry speaks with host Lynne Golodner about feeling suffocated by the life he was living and going on a journey for something more, something meaningful.
Harry studied with yogis, martial arts masters, professors and psychologists, devoting thousands of hours to meditation and earning a religious studies degree from the University of Michigan. He and his life and business partner Melanie McDaniel founded Consciously.org to help people find fulfillment, transform their lives and expand awareness.
As chair of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee of the Michigan PTA, and past PTA President at Norup International School, Jennifer Johnson is living out her purpose – to advocate for all children, and to take steps toward building true equity in education. Growing up in a family committed to Civil Rights and accompanying her mother to rallies from before she could walk, Jennifer feels purpose in her bones – and lives it out by speaking up and modeling for her children and her community.
On the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, Jennifer talks with host Lynne Golodner about how her post-Civil Rights childhood led her to a purpose-driven life. She’s spent a decade advocating for children and families, and recently earned a certificate in diversity and inclusion from Cornell University. The mom of a teenager and a 9-year-old, Jennifer leads by example, because, as she says, “The children are watching us.”
What does a high school teacher do after retirement? Teach about Ethics, of course. At least that’s Rabbi Yonason Goldson’s journey, from a “repentant hitchhiker” to an ordained Orthodox rabbi to a jolly grandfather who converts ancient wisdom into modern-day lessons on operating by a set of ethical imperatives.
On the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, Yonason talks with host Lynne Golodner about how purpose is the key to happiness and how biblical Hebrew has 8 words for joy or happiness – and all come from a root word meaning “growth.” Yonason draws from classic philosophers and ancient Jewish text to create curricula through his company, Ethical Imperatives, LLC – inspiring entrepreneurs to build a profession from a place of ethical decision-making.
From spreading out the learning calendar more evenly throughout the year to shifting from grades and ages as benchmarks to educational success toward competencies, David Hornak has revolutionary, smart ideas for how to transform education. As superintendent of Holt Public Schools, and executive director of the National Association for Year-Round Education, David is passionate about making American education equitable and far-reaching. For everyone.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, David speaks with host Lynne Golodner on how he came to his 27-year (and counting) educational career, starting as a Kindergarten teacher and rising through the ranks in the same mid-Michigan district to his current role as “lead leaner,” and his work on a national scale in changing the academic calendar to benefit all kids.
It’s hard to forget being bullied. In fact, it can alter the whole course of your life – if you let it. Knowing this first-hand, Rasheda Kamaria Williams founded Empowered Flower Girl and became an advocate speaking out against bullying to build up confidence and mentorship for young girls so they don’t let harsh early experiences dictate their futures.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, Rasheda speaks with host Lynne Golodner on where bullying comes from, PTSD that occurs from prolonged bullying, and how Reality TV contributes to a systemic bullying problem that is only getting worse. Plus, she offers resources for standing up to bullies and helping girls and women find the support they need to realize their own brilliance and worth.
October is Bullying Prevention Month – listen to this episode and let it inspire you to stand up for better behavior!
Joshua J. Smith was humbled and honored to be selected to serve on Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s COVID-19 Task Force on Education. As a high school counselor in Spring Arbor, Michigan, and a three-time cancer survivor, Josh knows how precarious health and wellness can be while also realizing the very real pressures of children not being able to go to school.
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, Josh talks with host Lynne Golodner about how the state of Michigan is making decisions regarding return to learn, how to support families and youth maintain sound emotional health during the pandemic, and how to find your purpose and let it pour over the rest of your life.
In this episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, Michele talks with Lynne Golodner about how “the arts teach us we are all in this together” and hold up a mirror to our societies and ourselves. They touch on the struggle to achieve universal access and equity in Higher Ed, democratizing the classroom, and the challenge to help people understand the value of Higher Ed in a changing world.
Leading with the belief that education is transformation, Andrew Meloche did an exemplary job as principal of Berkley High School in Berkley, Michigan, during the months of shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Adrian Tonon is an example of what happens when people believe anything is possible. The first-generation son of Italian immigrants, Adrian is now Director of Customer Service and the first 24-hour Economy Ambassador for the City of Detroit. But before that, he was an inspiring leader of the entertainment economy in Detroit, as co-founder of Sick Em Records with hip hop artist Kid Vishis, co-founder of the Detroit Music Foundation and a manager of bands during his years at Michigan State University.
For decades, we’ve heard that Americans are losing interest in formalized religion – while at the same time seeking spiritual connection. This episode’s Make Meaning podcast guest, Jessica McCormick, is part of an effort to reimagine how American Judaism can be. As director of the Jewish Emergent Network Rabbinic Fellowship, Jessica oversees seven innovative Jewish communities across America.
From a young age, John Hartig knew he wanted to work toward protecting the environment, especially waterways and the quality of water in the Great Lakes region. Today, he is a Visiting Fulbright Scholar at the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research at the University of Windsor and the Great Lakes Science Policy Adviser for the International Association for Great Lakes Research.
He’s the author of five books and more than 100 articles about the environment, and for 14 years he served as Refuge Manager for the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. Considering that 80% of people in the United States and Canada live in urban settings, it’s especially important, says John, to encourage relationships with the natural world among young people and toward grooming the next generation of conservationists.
Meaning has directed Iris Lee Underwood along the many paths of her life – from her childhood in Appalachia, hailing from the McCoy part of the Hatfield-McCoy legend, to raising three daughters in Michigan, to losing her eldest daughter to drug addiction and farming lavender as a way to heal from that devastating loss.
Along the way, she’s served as president of Detroit Working Writers and writer-in-residence at the Troy Public Library, published three books and authored a weekly column for her local newspaper. She also opened her home to the public as a lavender farm, baking lavender scones and making lavender lemonade as guests clipped the fragrant branches under the bright sunshine.
In this episode, Laura and Lynne Golodner talk about writing past the fear of exposure, writing as practice, prayer, meditation, a way of life and a way TO life, and so now what?, the next logical step from pandemic or other life-changing events. They also discuss the courage to face the empty nest, and how cultivating a self-definition that is productive and creative during motherhood can help women transition through the time that their children leave the nest.
What do you do when you’ve worked hard to ascend the academic ladder, put in the time, sparked great research and debate, and you’re denied tenure? You ask yourself some hard questions, turn to your personal board of directors for guidance, and redirect your career into the direction it was really meant to go.
That pivotal pause was groundbreaking for Dr. Sibrina Collins, this week’s guest on the Make Meaning Podcast, a story she humbly shares in this interview.
As Executive Director of the Marburger STEM Center at Lawrence Tech University, renowned in her beloved field of chemistry for far-reaching papers inspired by contemporary culture and modern living, Sibrina started in community college and rose to become a thought leader and a role model, inspiring girls, women and people of color to choose STEM careers.
In this episode, she speaks with host Lynne Golodner about discovering her love of STEM in a basic-level science class, starting at community college because it was free, and using her personal meaning to drive her professional successes. She also talks about how STEM impacts daily life and why we need better messaging about STEM disciplines to attract enterprising students into these fields.
Jason Kadlitz dropped an engineering career to become a barber, morphing his engineering skills and creative passion into vintage precision haircutting. As he built a one-of-a-kind business, he drew upon personal values to create a culture of kindness.
Jason has created in the Berkley Chop Shop a retro-style clubhouse of community and fellowship where everyone matters. Jason joins Lynne Golodner on this episode of the Make Meaning podcast to share what inspired him to find a new path, create a welcoming space, and encourage his children to be who they’re meant to be, the way his own father supported him.
In this episode of the Make Meaning podcast, Lynne Golodner speaks with former Your People team member Kirstin Karoub explore the power of volunteering to instill meaning, reveal purpose, create connections and build mutually beneficial relationships, all while making a difference.
Growing up with dyslexia can lead children to feel stupid, misunderstood, or as if they don’t fit in. Jacob Blumenstein knows this well. His own transformation from a 5th-grader who tried to skip out on reading aloud in class to a 9th grader earning summa cum laude accolades led him to create KidsRead2Kids with his sister, Alana. Now graduating from Detroit Country Day School and heading to the University of Michigan Ross School of Business in the fall, Jacob joins his sister in a special Make Meaning episode about how their startup nonprofit, completely run and led by fellow teens, supports children struggling with reading challenges. In this Make Meaning podcast episode, Jacob and Alana talk about how their entrepreneurial parents inspire them and continue to guide their way, how having classic novels read aloud to them as children helped to develop a love of reading, and how kids relating to kids is the best way to bring understanding and compassion to students struggling to progress.
Our world is one of beautiful, powerful diversity. We can find many differences in race, culture, and religion, and yet there are many similarities, too. To appreciate and understand each other, we seek bridges connecting us to shared perspectives and practices. Building bridges for marginalized communities is where Deanna Singh, the daughter of an African-American mother and Sikh immigrant father, finds her purpose. Deanna is an author, social entrepreneur, and founder of Flying Elephant Foundation and is Lynne Goldner’s guest on this episode of the Make Meaning podcast. She shares her inspiration for helping others thrive, whether it’s working in her community, promoting positive representation for youth of color, or coaching others on how to find their purpose.
Jim Reese says readers connect most with his “failures and screw-ups,” because they reveal the humanity that lives within each of us. The author of four books, including a beautiful collection of essays called Bone Chalk, and director of the Great Plains Writers Tour, Jim teaches writing at Mount Marty College and as part of a writing-as-healing program at Federal Prison Camp in Yankton, S.D., where he is “passionate about helping people come to terms with their emotional instabilities through writing.”
A personal bout with asthma at the age of 18 led Monica Mae Leibson to learn about a variety of ways to create good health – which ultimately inspired her to build a career in acupuncture and Chinese medicine. Today, working with Michigan Associates of Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine, Monica plays detective to get to the root cause of troubling symptoms for her patients, leading them to lifestyle, diet, and perspective shifts that contribute to long-term wellness.
When Adri Smith, founder of Moss Floral Design in Fort Worth, Texas, was a child, she loved sitting in her mother’s garden, smelling the hyacinths and admiring the irises. She began her career as a teacher but knew it wasn’t her calling and it wasn’t until her own wedding that she reconnected with her early love of florals and realized she wanted to bring that beauty and delight to others.
In this episode, Adri shares her experiences innovating when times suddenly change and weddings are put on hold; doing right and taking action to make life meaningful; and the incredible art of floral design to bring joy and beauty to others. Adri joins Lynne Golodner on the Make Meaning podcast to talk about balancing artistic vision with fulfilling client dreams, bringing joy during the coronavirus pandemic through floral arrangements, and how to learn from your mistakes to stay grounded and find your purpose.
What did your younger self want to be when you grew up? Elena, 6th-grade book blogger of ElenaReads.com, wants to be a writer and is well on her way to realizing that dream. Celebrating her 2-year anniversary as a youth-book-blogger this week, Elena combines her passion for reading and writing on her avidly-read blog, where she reviews and recommends kid books, with a particular focus on diversity of race, religion, gender and abilities. She interviews authors, as well. Elena is bummed that the libraries are closed due to the pandemic stay-at-home mandate, but she sees this as an opportunity to ramp up her online presence with a “Storytime with Elena” weekly effort to read picture books to children ages 4-7. She’s definitely a self-starter! Elena joins Lynne Golodner on this episode of the Make Meaning podcast to talk about her passions, her dream to become a writer, and why diversity in literature is important.
For high school graduates, the expectation to obtain a college degree seems higher than ever, but greater still is the pressure to pursue a marketable course of study to offset the heavy price tag. The student loan crisis signifies that it’s time for a change in how we view higher education, and Philomena Mantella, a leader in higher-ed innovation and the new president of Grand Valley State University, has a plan to redefine higher education. The first female president of GVSU, Philomena joins Lynne Golodner on this episode of the Make Meaning podcast to share her vision for fusing earning with learning, making education more accessible to a diverse group of students, and why viewing education as a linear path is old-school.
“It’s not like I set out to be a poet,” explains M.L. Liebler, Fulbright Specialist, Wayne State University professor and Poet Laureate of St. Clair Shores. And yet, this self-described product of working-class upbringing did what came naturally, cultivating a life of writing, teaching, and performing, making poetry accessible to the average person. He speaks with Lynne Golodner on this episode of the Make Meaning podcast about how his passion for writing and teaching, his world travels as a Fulbright Specialist, even to war zones, and his passion for the Beatles have impacted and informed his path as a literary arts activist. He also reads an original work from his collection of poems, “I Want to be Once”.
Whether he’s talking with Tony Hawk, gathering with Make Meaning podcast guests, or convening with close friends over coffee, Clay Carnill knows when someone shares their story, it is a sacred moment. This skill makes him the invaluable sound engineer of the Make Meaning podcast as well as our expert producer, and an incredible listener. Clay regularly practices the discipline of quieting oneself to listen and to honor speaker and story. In this episode of Make Meaning, Clay talks with Lynne about the storytelling power of podcasting, why podcasts are popular, and the connections and opportunities that arise in this Golden Era of Podcasting.
Our paths in life often start with a dream, but they can’t end there. “A lot of times we just sit in the dream without putting the infrastructure in place so that the dream can be realized,” says Aaron Dworkin, author, performance artist and professor of arts leadership and entrepreneurship at University of Michigan.
Reyanne Mustafa, co-founder of Soulmuch, aims to rescue the 1 million pounds of untouched restaurant food headed for the trash bin every day. Reyanne knows Soulmuch can’t do it alone, but by engaging others in the effort, she believes it is achievable. On the latest episode of the Make Meaning podcast, Reyanne talks with Lynne about how she combats food waste and found her purpose by baking cookies.
The path to purpose isn’t always linear. In fact, many people set out on one path only to follow the bends and twists until they end up in a different calling. Today’s guest on the Make Meaning podcast, Rev. Dr. Maidstone Mulenga, was a journalist for nearly 17 years before he felt the call to ministry. Today, he is a powerful leader in the United Methodist Church. Listen as Lynne and Maidstone discuss how one purpose can lay the groundwork for what we are truly meant to do.
We talk often about core values in a corporate context, but what about personal core values? For Nikki Little, today’s Make Meaning podcast guest, core values – both for herself and her team – are at the heart of identifying pursuits filled with purpose and meaning. Nikki is Director of Strategy at Franco and in her own time, publishes the bi-weekly e-newsletter, The MichComms Report. Nikki’s expertise is integrated communications, but she applies it to more than just her work. She talks with Lynne Golodner about how she manages personal, professional and family interests in a meaningful way.
What would you tell your younger self, if given the chance? When it comes to finding meaning and purpose, Jen Coken says it’s more about what your younger self can tell you. Jen is an author, life coach and comedian who helps people identify and fulfill their “soul purpose” in both their professional and personal lives. She joins Lynne Golodner on this week’s episode of the Make Meaning podcast to talk about her own journey to purpose, and keys for finding direction, challenging your self-made limitations, and forging a successful path to reach your goals. What makes your heart sing?
How do you want to be remembered? Merle Saferstein, this week’s guest on the Make Meaning Podcast, works with people to determine their life legacies, and this is one of the questions she routinely asks. Merle has found great meaning through teaching children, working with Holocaust survivors, and most recently, fulfilling a lifelong goal of publishing her book, Room 732. Listen as Lynne talks with Merle about living and leaving a legacy, the choices we make to create lives of meaning, and the importance of knowing our lives matter.
The consummate workplace dilemma: you want to climb the rungs of the corporate ladder, but you don’t want to lose what you first loved about your work. Vickie Thompson-Sandy knows this challenge all too well. As a social worker dedicated to child welfare issues, and now a nonprofit leader on a national scale, her focus has always been to make the world healthier, stronger, and more whole.
Do today’s students have the luxury to ask, debate, and study life’s meaning and purpose, or are we seeing a “vocationalization of mainstream universities,” more focused on professional skills and salary potential? Perhaps it’s the cost of higher learning that drives students today to be more pragmatic and practical in their pursuit of a career and not have the luxury of pondering life’s big questions.
Is your glass half empty or half full? Maybe it’s less about how much is in the glass, and more about having a glass in the first place? In honor of Thanksgiving, we are airing a special episode of the Make Meaning podcast, focusing on how to mindfully cultivate gratefulness that can lead to a happier, healthier life.
We’re thrilled to welcome Tista Ghosh, the first female Chief Medical Officer of Colorado, as our most recent guest on the Make Meaning podcast! Tista has found her purpose identifying root causes of disease and working to prevent it, whether chronic or infectious. As a doctor of internal medicine, she saw alarming patterns in patient health that could be prevented if addressed long before they became an actual risk.
650,000 hours. That’s the average human life span and the title of a new website and newsletter launched by author, columnist, and former AARP Editor Ken Budd. Following his father’s unexpected death, Ken spent time volunteering around the world in an effort to find meaning and purpose, which led to his award-winning memoir, The Voluntourist. Ken joins Lynne on the Make Meaning podcast to discuss making the most of our time on Earth – finding meaningful work, satisfaction in life, making an impact in the world, and living every hour in a way that matters. Tune in here:
While many adults might dismiss teens as not-quite-ready to meet the real world, Lisa Damour, clinical psychologist, author, and this week’s guest on the Make Meaning podcast, knows that adolescents have the ability to perceive situations with clarity and accuracy often missed by adults. Adolescence is the age where true passion and natural talent develop, sowing seeds of purpose that provide life direction. Listen as Lynne and Lisa discuss how understanding adolescence can not only help us guide young people to find their purpose but might also shine light on finding our own.
Have you thought much about your purpose and how it reveals itself in your life? Perhaps your purpose comes from a natural talent or a collection of experiences that build on each other over time. Sandy North, this week’s Make Meaning guest, found purpose advocating for justice through quilts. Aiming to shed light on innocent victims of gun violence, Sandy co-founded the Remember Me Quilt Project of Michigan, which works with victims’ families to create quilts bearing victims’ faces, thus humanizing this tragic trend. The quilts are made by community groups and form a statewide traveling exhibit that educates and honors the memory of innocents caught in the crossfire.
Today is International Podcast Day (IPD), the day to celebrate the power of podcasting! On July 9, 2018, Lynne Golodner launched the Make Meaning podcast, jumping onto a growing platform as a way to share stories of inspiring people finding meaning and purpose, and making a difference in the world. In honor of International Podcast Day, we are highlighting one of our first episodes of the Make Meaning podcast, featuring Zingerman’s co-founder, Paul Saginaw. In this conversation, Lynne and Paul talk about his journey of building and running a successful business, from a just-hatched idea to a world-renowned phenomenon and trendsetter in the way to do business. Today, Zingerman’s boasts 17 managing partners and more than 750 employees.
The road to finding one’s purpose can take many turns, often with a destination not yet determined. Knowing when to pause, breathe, and listen to the “heart tugs” is how Stacy Dockins, yoga trainer/instructor, author and co-founder of the Yoga Project, has found meaning and fulfillment.
Nike. Gillette. Proctor and Gamble. Airbnb. What do they all have in common? Effective, compelling stories that inspire people to connect, commit, and forge deeper, longer-lasting relationships with the brand. What is the basis of these stories? Strong, foundational messaging that conveys meaning and purpose behind brand identity. On this episode of the Make Meaning podcast, marketing entrepreneur and host Lynne Golodner, and fellow team member and content specialist, Christina Weaver, explore the role of storytelling in business and how important messaging can be. Learn how big brands are telling great stories, how you can, too, and why it is so important in a connection economy to have stories that pull at the heartstrings.
Are you stressed? Worried? Yearning for something different? Happiness, success, and contentment all start and end within, and this week’s Make Meaning podcast guest, Gautam Jain, shares insights from the ancient philosophy of Vedanta – in advance of an upcoming landmark event featuring his guru, Swami A. Parthasarathy, a world-renowned philosopher who will be speaking in New York in a few weeks.
What do bees have to do with business? Strength in diversity. Efficiency and productivity from cooperation. Working together for the good of the whole. Concepts that we value in the business world are absolutely crucial to the survival of a honeybee colony. What’s more, honeybees are helping revitalize Detroit neighborhoods by “turning blight into gold.”
When you were an aspiring high school graduate, where did you think you would end up? Did you get there? Or did the path twist and turn over the years? And, do you check in at high school reunions to see where your classmates are today – or do you blow it off, leaving the past behind you?
People discover purpose in many ways – through experiences, a passion, or actively searching. On this episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, Lynne talks with Linda Makowski about how purpose can come from stillness. Owner of Namaste Yoga Studio, Linda found purpose as a teacher, a championship women’s college basketball coach, social worker, and at Namaste. Throughout her life, Linda’s strength has been helping others find their dharma – their purpose – and to guide them to be who they’re meant to be. Listen here as Linda explains how one simple breath can open the mind to new possibilities:
When was the last time you felt welcome – like an “us”, not a “them” - among strangers? Have you experienced people of different walks of life coming together from different origins, united by a common purpose? These are the kinds of experiences and spaces that Amy Haimerl, founder of Shady Ladies Literary Society, and David Dwaihy, co-owner of Detroit City Football Club, are creating. They joined Lynne recently for a special episode of the Make Meaning podcast, recorded live at the Motor City Woman’s Podcast Brunch as part of the Detroit Podcast Festival. Amy and David share a purpose: creating common ground for people from diverse backgrounds to connect over shared interests. Hear how grassroots efforts grow by promoting shared purpose and values.
What was the moment you discovered your purpose? On this episode of the Make Meaning podcast, Lynne talks with Dr. Joshua Mezrich, transplant surgeon and author of When Death Becomes Life: Notes from a Transplant Surgeon, about his moment of discovery. Meaning seems a small word for the giving of life. Dr. Mezrich facilitates the transfer of hope and opportunity, when one person’s death gives life to another. This work helped him form deeper connections with his patients and fueled his drive to share the meaningful stories of transplants, of life, with others.
We’re thrilled to announce a special milestone for Your People, LLC – the first anniversary of the Make Meaning Podcast! In this anniversary episode, our own Lynne Golodner and Kirstin Karoub highlight standout episodes from the past year – guests who have inspired us all with stories of purpose, meaningful connections, and passion-led endeavors that make a positive impact.
Natasha Guynes understands all too well the inspirational power of a story. For years, she hid her own, fearful it would destroy the successful career she had built on Capitol Hill. This week on the Make Meaning podcast, Natasha talks with Lynne Golodner about her journey through homelessness and addiction, how supportive mentors helped her break down walls of shame and isolation, and how she helps vulnerable young women do the same. Bravely sharing her story gave Natasha the confidence to create HER Resiliency Center. She finds meaning by using her past to help others build futures. Hear Natasha’s story of resilience here ...
April Jones Boyle of Build Institute has had a vision for our beloved city of Detroit for a long time. A vision of what it could be and what it can be, and she won’t just sit on the sidelines and hope someone will make it happen. She’s taking action, empowering entrepreneurs, and building Detroit from within.
What happens when you suffer incomparable loss? The sudden death of a loved one, when life changes instantaneously and you never saw it coming? Such a life-changing situation happened to Marianne Simon when she lost her husband of 26 years – and through the grieving, she evolved into a one-woman show called “Widows Anonymous,” which launches in June live in Los Angeles. On this week’s Make Meaning podcast episode, Lynne speaks with Marianne, an actress, writer, artist, and sustainable landscape architect who has spent two years redefining herself and her purpose.
What does your brand story say about your company? Does it communicate what you do AND why you do it? Does it engage the listener deeply or often enough? As a firm whose primary activity is message development, we know that a carefully crafted and delivered brand message can make all the difference between brands that succeed and those that don’t. This week on the Make Meaning podcast, Lynne Golodner explores why The Message Matters, and how to know if you're getting it right.
Many religions report waning interest among young adults, and leaders ponder what it will take to engage young people in spiritual life. The God Squad - truly, rabbis who rock - is an effort by some pretty cool young rabbis to create musical, community-gathering opportunities to bring young Jews together in spiritual ways.
What if every student aged 18-25 pursued a year of service? What might they learn about being a part of something bigger than themselves? For Andrew Stein, it was a transformational time that defined purpose and set the direction for his career as Executive Director of City Year Detroit. As a City Year corps member right out of college, Andrew learned about serving a community, which revealed a new definition of success - one consisting of people building vibrant careers running nonprofits and serving in government, making a difference through the work they do. This week on the Make Meaning podcast, Lynne talks with Andrew about the impact City Year is having in Detroit public schools, and how meaning and fulfillment ultimately drove his pivotal career shift from big-city law to big-city nonprofit work. Find out more about how Andrew Stein and City Year Detroit corps members build relationships with kids and schools to improve performance, strengthen futures, and make a difference every day.
Was there ever a time when you loved learning for learning’s sake? Has that stayed with you, inspiring you to specialize in your field, create, innovate, broaden your world view, or discover new connections and relationships? Learning doesn’t stop once school’s out. Our firm, Your People, LLC, specializes in working with schools and universities, promoting their efforts to prepare today’s youth to be successful in LIFE - to use their passions and talents to pursue their purpose and make a difference in the world. The Make Meaning podcast is all about sharing stories of people who are successfully doing just that. This week on Make Meaning, Lynne shares her perspective on what education truly means as a lifelong pursuit and its role in making a difference.
Breaking bread or preparing a meal together can remove barriers and build powerful connections. And when it’s Detroit teens embarking on a culinary adventure together in a safe space where they can question, explore, learn and engage with mentors, it could be the first step toward becoming future decision makers, thought leaders, changemakers. Tune in to this week’s episode of the Make Meaning podcast, when I have the delight of speaking with Jen Rusciano, co-founder and Executive Director of Detroit Food Academy, about how three pillars - food, business and education - make a difference in the lives of Detroit teens.
This week on the Make Meaning podcast, Lyndsay Edmonds, founder and owner of Harless and Hugh Coffee and the Public House, both in Bay City Michigan, talks about what it means to create “third spaces” for people to gather. Inspired by time spent in Southeast Asia, Lyndsay has developed an appreciation for people, their differences and similarities, and the community spots that cultivate connections through conversations. “I specialize in giving people spaces to be themselves,” says Lyndsay. “It’s mainly done through conversation – just being really open and listening to the community and what they think and need.” Learn more about how Lyndsay makes meaning through these purposeful third spaces on this week’s episode.
We love entrepreneurs who carefully craft their brand story and create visual components to inspire. Julie Silver, founder and president of Michigan Associates of Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine, is a great example of this. She’s our guest on this week’s Make Meaning podcast, sharing stories about how her brand evolved over time, how she dared to make a career pivot to follow her heart and soul, and how she has built a thriving, connected team.
What do public radio, the Clinton Administration, and clothing stores have in common? How does a person who hates shopping and dislikes the fashion industry become the owner of four successful retail clothing and accessory shops? Most of all, what is the key to pursuing purpose and making a difference through connections and relationships?
This week on the Make Meaning podcast, Lynne pays homage to Mary Oliver, an American poet who has had a significant impact on her life. Oliver does a beautiful job capturing the profound in the quiet occurrences of nature and finding meaning with her observations of the natural world. As a visionary, she received the Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award and Lannan Literary Award for lifetime achievement.
In this episode of Make Meaning, Lynne Golodner interviews Jacqueline Drake, a former healthcare worker who combined her passion for fine arts with her knowledge of intuitive and meditative healing to open a healing art gallery in Franklin, Michigan. Serendipity brought her to the perfect location for her gallery, but her pursuit for higher purpose turned it into the “safe, sacred place" where “art heals, inspires, and feeds the soul.” To Jacqueline’s surprise, it has evolved into something she never imagined. Check out Jacqueline’s episode to hear more about the spiritual and healing experience her art offers.
This week’s Make Meaning guest, Kelli Dobner, Chief Advancement Officer at Samaritas, talks about culture, community, and connection to a higher purpose, and how she successfully rallies some 2,000 employees around a cause and a vision. It has something to do with taking chances and dressing up like a rock - you have to be all in, if you want everyone else to be!
Cindy Eggleton is CEO of Brilliant Detroit, a program dedicated to building school readiness and success for families with young children. The organization started with one house and has expanded to seven houses, serving more than 800 families in the city of Detroit. Cindy is an admirable leader, most recently recognized as a Crain’s Notable Woman in Nonprofits, one of Skillman’s 50 Detroiters Making a Difference, the Stevie’s Woman of the Year Nonprofit and also Authority Health’s Best of the Healthnet – all in the last year! Wow, impressive.
Lionel Bradford is president and executive director of The Greening of Detroit, a nonprofit devoted to creating sustainable growth for a healthy, urban community through trees, green spaces, food, education, training and job opportunities. Lionel has a bachelor’s degree in urban forestry from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and began his career as a forestry technician with the U.S. Forest Service in New Mexico.
Rev. Faith Fowler is both the pastor of Cass Community United Methodist Church and the Executive Director of Cass Community Social Services, a nonprofit agency that provides food, housing, medical/mental health and employment programs for people living in areas of concentrated poverty. She has held these positions since 1994. In addition to her work at Cass, Rev. Fowler has served as a board member of the Cass Corridor Neighborhood Development Corporation, an advisory board member of the Detroit Area Agency on Aging and a board member and trustee on the General Board of Church and Society. In 2014, Rev. Fowler founded Cass Community Publishing House. She has authored two of CCPH’s books, This Far by Faith: Twenty Years at Cass Community and Tiny Homes in a Big City.
Jarret Alan Schlaff is cultivator, engineer, and organizer (CEO) of Pingree Detroit, a worker-owned, community-based manufacturing company co-founded in January 2015. In Pingree’s Detroit workshop, Detroiters and U.S. veterans are paid a living wage to handcraft bags, urban utility boots, and accessories using luxury-grade leather upcycled from the American auto industry. Jarret Schlaff lives on Detroit’s eastside and is committed to fostering neighborhood resilience and developing opportunities for sustainable, community-driven job creation. Since 2007, he has launched four nonprofit projects currently making an impact in the youth mentorship, environmental justice and food access arenas across Metro Detroit. He has 10 years of experience in management and organizational development. Jarret was a Global Leadership Fellow by the Hesselbein Leadership Institute, he was a Young American Leadership Fellow with Harvard Business School, and he was named an Emerging Leader by the Detroit Chamber of Commerce. And, in 2017, Jarret was named 20/20 Detroit Person of the week in November 2017. He is a born and bred Detroiter and graduated with a B.A. in Public Administration and Policy from Oakland University.
Crosby Noricks is the founder of PR Couture, the industry-leading platform for fashion and lifestyle communicators, as well as a brand strategist and business coach. Known as "the fashion publicists' most powerful accessory" by The San Diego Union-Tribune, Noricks was named one of the top 50 game-changers in PR by PR News, and as a top marketing innovator by iMediaConnection. Over the last decade, Noricks has served as de facto mentor to hundreds of PR and marketing practitioners through her accessibility, thought leadership, expansive network and programs like her signature PRISM course, a global educational workshop and self-enrichment series for aspiring professionals. Her successful marketing track record includes spearheading the traditional and digital footprint for major brands like Quicksilver Womens, Charlotte Russe, Creative Nail Design (CND) and Sutter Home. Noricks holds a Master’s Degree in Mass Communication and Media Studies from San Diego State University and graduated with honors from Pitzer College. As an advocate for education, she also serves as a lecturer at California State University San Marcos and San Diego State University.
Stephen Payne, also known as Farmer Steve, is the resident farmer and garden teacher at Sacramento Waldorf School in Sacramento, California. He has a degree in Business Marketing from Central Connecticut University and 10 years of experience in organic farming, with another five years of experience as a market garden business owner. Stephen came to SacWaldorf in 2001, where he lives on the property, manages the farm, and teaches children of all ages and grades in a hands-on curriculum on the three-and-a-half acre farm that is part of the campus.
An ordained Episcopal priest who leads a congregation in Bellevue Washington. Rev. Josephine Robertson has a Master's of Divinity and has spent nearly 25 years as a true spiritual geek. In 2017 she founded Crazy Whole Life, a resource for spirituality and more for modern humans.
At first glance, Kacee Must's Citizen Yoga empire looks like a typical yoga company. But look deeper and you see its focus is building community and connection as a way to prevent suicide. Kacee became an entrepreneur to honor the memory of her sister, Miya, who ended her own life in 2007. By providing a space where people feel included, welcome, and accepted, Kacee's built a spiritual company. In this week's Make Meaning podcast, Lynne Golodner talks with Kacee about her journey, our shared journey, and what the future holds.
Brenda Meller is the Owner and Marketing Consultant at Meller Marketing (www.mellermarketing.com), which provides marketing and social media support for individuals and businesses, specializing in LinkedIn. She has been leveraging social media to propel her personal and professional efforts for over ten years, and now blends this experiences with her marketing expertise to help clients achieve their goals. Someday soon, she will complete her next goal of writing a book on LinkedIn. Lynne Golodner invited Brenda Meller on the Make Meaning podcast to discuss how she transitioned from a traditional career to starting a business that truly helps others through unique messaging.
When Kerry Shaffer began rowing, in her mind there was no other end game than to compete and stand on the podium at the Olympic Games one day. After competing in four world championships, Kerry retired from competitive rowing and is now an excellent role model for the up-and-coming club athletes at the Detroit Waterfront River Association. Listen to this week’s Make Meaning podcast conversation with Kerry about how her determination and strength to meet challenges has led her to pursue a professional athletic career and after retiring, how she finds meaning coaching young rowers and swimmers.
Noreen Ehrlich, a savvy former Wall Street CFO and global entrepreneur, developed her latest venture as a success and business relationship coach. Her insights and her devotion to helping people break through to new levels of consciousness and success are inspiring. She’s a powerful lady, who helps her clients bring their inner power into the light and inspire others. Listen to this week’s Make Meaning podcast conversation with Noreen about how she daringly builds her next chapter every single day.
Amy Haimerl is the founder of the Shady Ladies Literary Society, an event series that pairs up emerging women writers, scientists, chefs and bartenders for unforgettable evenings. Amy is also a professor of journalism at Michigan State University and author of Detroit Hustle, a memoir about rehabbing an historic home in Detroit. Amy joins Lynne on the Make Meaning Podcast to tell us about teaching journalism today, in this era of media mistrust and "fake news." She also chats about her memoir and where the idea came from and why the Shady Ladies programs is so important.
Karen Dybis is everywhere, writing about the pulse of Michigan and Detroit. With 20+ years of writing and publishing, Karen specializes in writing about little-known local gems, stories, innovations and inspirations. This week, on the Make Meaning podcast, Lynne Golodner chats with Karen about why storytelling is so important in business today.
Burners Without Borders Detroit provides people experiencing homelessness supplies to survive the cold. This week on the Make Meaning podcast, I chat with Doxie Kaltz, lead community organizer for BWB Detroit. Hear Doxie building community and seeing the humanity in everyone:
DCFC (Detroit City Football Club) was founded with the motto “Passion for our city, passion for the game.” David Dwaihy, one of five founders, joins Lynne Golodner on the Make Meaning podcast to talk about the Detroit-proud soccer club, how he gains a sense of purpose building community around soccer in Detroit, and what its like balancing his roles of math teacher, soccer player, entrepreneur and dad.
Heather's love for cake design stemmed from her education in art, a passion for food, and a childlike refusal to believe that there was nothing she couldn't create. While attending the University of Michigan School of Art and Design, Heather Leavitt packed up her paint brushes and headed to Florence in pursuit to let Italian masters teach her how to be an artist. Instead, she found herself more interested in the perfect foam atop a cappuccino. When she returned back to the states, she decided to turn her focus to food and is now the owner and cake designer of Sweet Heather Anne, located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Heather joins Lynne on the make meaning podcast to share how she started her career after college, what it's like to own a baking business, and what it felt like pursuing her passion in the food industry.
Brynnna Connolly, Rithik Hossali, Sabriya Imami, and Krisha Ramani found meaning writing within the One Earth Writing Ambassadors program. One Earth Writing's empowerment programs bring together teens from different races, religions, and socioeconomic origins for writing workshops that build confidence, power and purpose. Students explore shared interests like family, friendship, sport, food, love and disappointment and find common ground on which to connect. All four of these teens met throughout the program. Lynne invites the Ambassadors to share how they made meaning throughout the program, who inspires them, and what advice would they give others on how to find purpose in their life.
Sherrie Singer is a full time community leader and volunteer. She is the president and co-founder of THREAD...Connecting Jewish Women, a non-profit organization with its mission to educate, engage and inspire Jewish women in the metro Detroit community. Sherrie joins Lynne on the Make Meaning podcast and discusses how Thread has grown, why she believes that every person has a sense of wanting to help others, and what she would tell others who feel they don't know their passion or their purpose.
LaTonia Walker is a lifelong resident of Detroit, MI. She is a Social Worker and Life Coach to women living in poverty and experiencing homelessness at a Detroit Shelter. She is also the founder and CEO of The Ladies League of Detroit, a women's group for middle ground women that focuses on professional and personal development, empowerment, and networking. LaTonia joins Lynne on the Make Meaning podcast to tell us about the women she serves, what inspired her to create this organization, and why it is important to connect people in both her personal life and professional sphere.
Anni Keane-Riley has over 10 years of experience working with professionals and families throughout the United States. She has worked primarily in training, social service support and advocacy roles, engaging people who work in and around the Child Welfare Industry: youth, prospective adoptive parents, social workers, and policymakers. Anni joins Lynne on the Make Meaning podcast to discuss what it means to be the director of the Nobody Ages Out Youth Movement at You Gotta Believe! in New York. She shares how she came into this position, how she was in foster care herself, and her experiences that shaped her life. Anni supervises the case managers of 'You Gotta Believe!' Older teen adoption agency, in New York City and is the Director of the Nobody Ages Out Youth Movement. Anni loves to learn new things and looks forward to expanding her knowledge and extending her attention and gifts beyond the field of child welfare.
Allen Einstein is the President and Founder of The Einstein Method and a retired Public School teacher. Allen joins Lynne on the Make Meaning podcast for conversations about what inspired him to leave teaching and start this company, what he loves about teaching, and what it was like to teach pop star Madonna. The Einstein Method provides the tools and instruction to allow teachers to be more effective in the classroom. Because students learn differently, The Einstein Method helps educators create an environment of success through seven core principals.
Alex Kimbrough is a director of newscasts for Fox 2 Detroit and a Detroit-proud advocate for, and graduate of, Cass Tech High School. He joins Lynne on the Make Meaning podcast to discuss why he remains connected to his high school and to promoting all the good things that come from it.
Katie Brown helps businesses of all sizes, from family-owned companies to multi-state corporations. She travels to their locations and evaluates any challenges and shows organizations how to avoid problems before they occur. Katie is principal at Madden Hauser, specializing in employment law. She joins Lynne on the Make Meaning Podcast to discuss how she got into law, how she prioritizes her personal life with her professional life, and who she admires most.
In 2017, High School junior Jackson Riegler was inspired to raise awareness of the dangers of The Great Lakes and created Oshki Merchandise, delivering local, long lasting comfortable clothing with 5% of the proceeds donated to local charities who share the same mission. Jackson joins Lynne on the Make Meaning podcast where he explains what Oshki means, how living on the great lakes factors into his life, and what's next for him as he graduates high school. Learn more about Oshki here: https://oshki.us/
Mike Forsyth, partner & founder of Detroit City Distillery joins Lynne as they discuss how he got into the business of spirits, DCD creative menu and local ingredients, and how Mike's family background lead him to become an entrepreneur. Mike's piece of advice on how to find purpose is "do what you love to do, otherwise you are wasting time." Detroit City Distillery creates small batch artisanal whiskey, gin and vodka using local ingredients sourced directly from farms near their distillery located in Detroit's famed Eastern Market.
Make Meaning Podcast Episode #4 - Amy Augustin, president of Venture6 Studio, a creative production studio specializing in video production and design. Amy launched Our Safer World, which prompted her to take a team to Uganda and then to Haiti, to "be a voice for a developing country." In this episode, Lynne and Amy discuss what it means to be a visual storyteller, how creativity can build success and connect people, and why Amy said Richard Branson is someone she admires.
For the Make Meaning Podcast Episode #3, Paul Saginaw, co-founder of Zingerman's, joins Lynne in-studio to tell the story behind Zingerman's and how they built a community of business from scratch. Beyond the two co-founders of Zingermans, there are now 17 managing partners and over 750 employees. Paul believes that he has been successful in spite of the fact that he has limited natural talent and abilities because he has always thought that the only real limits are those of vision. In this episode, Paul shares his three tips on how to build business and why it's important to him to "be of service" in his daily life. He discusses that his mantra is Just Be Nice, and how he came to that determination and why it's important to him.
Barbara Jones is the Executive Editor at Henry Holt publishers in New York. Barbara joins Lynne Golodner on the Make Meaning podcast as a great mentor,friend, and inspiration.They speak about how Barbara's career has taken her through magazines and publishing houses, telling powerful stories. Barbara shares her insights on how the publishing industry is doing today and what the future holds for books. Barbara is a committed citizen who devotes her life to impacting her community and the world community. Learn more about Barbara at www.hholt.com.
For the Make Meaning Podcast Episode #1, Lynne Golodner interviews her father Norman Cohn, retired CEO of Norco Alloys. He joined Lynne for an inspiring and in-depth conversation highlighting his past accomplishments from teaching to becoming a leader in the scrap metal industry in Detroit, founding and leading his company, Norco Alloys. They also discussed beliefs, personal growth, family, and living life on your own terms.