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Serena & Lily Co-Founder Serena Dugan on Creativity, Courage, and What Matters Most
Today, I’m re-releasing my conversation with Serena Dugan for a different—but equally powerful—reason.Over the years, people have stopped me on the streets of my hometown of Bend to tell me that Serena’s words gave them the courage to finally write the book that had been living inside them… or to leave a corporate job and start a small design company to help people feel more alive in their homes.
Learn How Terminal Cancer Taught Successful Wealth Manager Bill Valentine the True Meaning of Life
This is a re-release of my conversation with Bill Valentine, who passed away peacefully at home on October 21, 2022. I felt deeply called to bring this episode forward again. It’s exactly what we need right now.
This conversation isn’t about fear or loss—it’s about living without regret, being fully present because life is fleeting, and holding hope for the future.
Learning to Trust Your Guides with Psychic Medium MaryAnn DiMarco
Throughout my life, clients and friends have often described me as a bridge—a bridge between science and spirituality, between practical cognitive tools and trusting your intuitive voice, between deep compassion and what I lovingly call “getting Nebraska on you” (a little tough love and real accountability).
Maybe you’ve felt that tension too. Wanting concrete strategies you can rely on, while also sensing there’s a deeper wisdom guiding you—something you can’t always explain, but you know is there.
That’s exactly why I’m so excited to share today’s conversation with MaryAnn DiMarco on the Cracking Open podcast.
From Rock Star to Soul Guide: Dr. John Price on Transformation and Purpose
Have you ever had one of those months where you just can’t climb out of a dark hole? That was my October and November.
My son had a health scare (instant compassion for every parent walking that road), I wasn’t sleeping—wide awake at 3 a.m. every night (thank God for a dear friend who meets me at Starbucks at 5 a.m.)—and I felt completely unmotivated and uninspired by my work. Not fun.
I’m sharing this because maybe you’ve been there too. And here’s the gift hidden inside those seasons: wisdom.
What did I learn? Compassion for myself. Humility that I will never “have it all together.” Trust that this, too, shall pass. And it did pass. The light returned—beginning with the conversation you’re about to hear with Dr. John Price. It was medicine for my soul, and I know it will be for yours too.
How to Find Hope in Unexpected Places: Lessons from CNN Hero Maggie Doyne
From the moment Maggie Doyne and I joined our Zoom call, there was an instant recognition—a connection of the heart. We share a love of children, the Oregon coast, and a deep commitment to living in service. Interviewing her was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when one person follows the quiet call of compassion.
Stop Talking About Creativity and Start Living It with Author Nicole Meier
This week's guest on the Cracking Open podcast, Nicole Meier, isn’t just a brilliant creative—she’s family. We’ve raised our kids together, navigated the loss of our parents side by side, and cheered each other on as our careers evolved. She’s been a confidant, a mentor, and, without exaggeration, a savant in her craft.
Look, Feel, & Stay Young Forever: #1 Neurosurgeon Dr. Vonda Wright’s Proven Protocol
I’m excited to introduce you to this week’s guest: Dr. Vonda Wright—a world-renowned orthopedic surgeon and longevity expert.
#1 Neurosurgeon on the Power of Manifestation and Positive Mindset (In Memory of Dr. James Doty)
Dr. Doty passed away on July 16, 2025, from medical complications following surgery. This episode was recorded before his death and remains one of our most beloved conversations. He was truly an incredible human being who believed deeply in the power of the human spirit, mind, and soul.
From Rock Bottom to Redemption with Lara Love Hardin
Today’s guest, Lara Love Hardin, is a powerful example of what it takes to rise from absolute rock bottom.
Lara’s journey is extraordinary: from suburban soccer mom to opioid addict, incarcerated felon, and now bestselling author and advocate. Her memoir, The Many Lives of Mama Love, is a 2024 Oprah Book Club pick and a New York Times bestseller.
Sr. Monica Clare: From Hollywood to Holy Orders – A Journey to Authentic Joy
For years, Sister Monica Clare heard a quiet call toward a quiet religious life. She first explored Hollywood, marriage, and conventional success before discovering that her heart was truly drawn to sisterhood.









