Stories Lived. Stories Told.

How does hearing Dora’s story shape your perception of immigration? How can you seek out more stories that humanize those who migrate? …Dora Rodriguez, an unwavering advocate for migrant rights, survived the 1980 tragedy in Organ Pipe National Monument, AZ, where Salvadorans fled civil war, resulting in 13 deaths, including 3 minors. This experience propelled her into the forefront of the sanctuary movement in Tucson, AZ. Residing in Tucson, AZ, with her husband and five children, Dora is als...

What changes when we go beyond sustainability and strive for “regeneration” instead?…Abrah Dresdale, MA, is a bold and visionary social designer of cultural change at the intersection of land and justice. She consults through the national organization she co-founded, Regenerate Change, serves as faculty at UMass-Amherst and Omega Institute, and is the author of Regenerative Design for Changemakers: A Social Permaculture Guide.Today, Abrah and Abbie discuss what it means to be a social designe...

Please be aware this conversation contains descriptions of violence perpetrated by white colonizers against indigenous people. (46:04-49:11)...How can we “decolonize” our ways of thinking and being?What does it look like to “re-indigenize”?What does it mean to “rematriate”?…Sikowis Nobiss (she/her) is Nêhiyaw/Saulteaux of the George Gordon First Nation in Saskatchewan, Canada and grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. She has been living in Iowa for 19 years and is the founder and Executive D...

Why does it matter how we talk about climate action?How does better language inspire better action?...Miriam Kashia is a self-proclaimed “climate action warrior.” Based in Iowa, she is involved with 100 Grannies for a Livable Future. In 2014, at the age of 71, she participated in the Great March for Climate Action, where she walked 3,100 miles over 8 months across the United States. She was named a “Climate Hero” by the Guardian’s Down to Earth Environmental Newsletter in 2022. You can hear m...

What can you change today about the way you relate to food that would minimize your food waste?What is the “highest level context” that is guiding you when it comes to how your actions affect the planet?...Yolanda Soto has been the CEO President of Borderlands Produce Rescue for 30 years. Borderlands Produce Rescue is located in the border community of Nogales, Arizona and goes beyond the limits of traditional Food Banks by addressing the issue of food waste at the intersection of hunger. &nb...

How can you embrace wildness in yourself?What opportunities do you have to experience nature, beauty, and wilderness in your own backyard?...Mark Edwards is a 76-year-old naturalist, is a leader in BeWildReWild and its Big River Connectivity project, and is retired from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, where he lead restoration efforts for 30 years. You can join the "Rewilding Iowa and Beyond" Facebook Group and check out this podcast with Mark from the Iowa Nature Summit. In this co...

Please be aware this conversation contains references to sexual assault and gender-based violence. …What ideas about gender have you learned from your culture, peers, and family? How can you find ways to call people in instead of calling them out? How can you practice approaching defensiveness with curiosity in yourself and others?How can we begin to embrace our full humanity by allowing ourselves to engage in all ways of being, not just the ones that were assigned to us based on our sex?What...

Where do we start?How do we bring an awareness of systems and structures and also redefine power within our own selves?...Sarah Urech is senior strategist and a founding staff member of the Omega Women's Leadership Center (OWLC), where she designs, coordinates, and leads innovative, holistic education programs, including workshops, conferences, and online courses. Sarah holds a Bachelor’s in Drama from Duke University and studied theater in Berlin, Paris, and London, where she first saw Playb...

How can we seek to tell and hear stories that encourage empathy-based communication?Where can you seek out more (or new to you) information about women in history? ...Leah Leach is the founder of Gal's Guide, the first women's history lending library in theUnited States. She is a teacher, author, and Buddhist. She is also one of the hosts of the Gal's Guide to the Galaxy Podcast.Today, Leah introduces herself and her work with Gal’s Guide. Leah and Abbie discuss why it matters to know and sha...

What do you negotiate in your life?What is your relationship to belonging? What is your identity? How do these things affect the way you show up in the world?What is something new you can try to better advocate for yourself or negotiate with others?How can we rewire our ways of thinking and being to better celebrate the ways we show up?What does it look like to empower ourselves in our storytelling?...Beth Fisher-Yoshida⁠ (PhD, CCS) is a facilitator, educator, and executive coach. She is Pres...

What can you imagine for yourself and your social world?What stories make you think: “that’s what I want for myself”? How can you make it so?...Riley Carroll is a 26-year old cat mom, thinker, and author from Chicago. Since completing her master’s in Communication in 2022, Riley has strived to live authentically, imagine new ways of being, and make space for joy which helped lead to the release of her debut novel, What the Blood Sings.Today, Riley talks about the stories, people, and experien...

How can an investment in Art (any and all kinds) translate into an investment in ourselves, our wellbeing, and our communities?...Sharon Cadja (she/they) is an Artist and Property Manager with a Bachelor’s in Business Marketing from Ball State University. She works full time, but dedicates her free time to her art business in hopes to invest in her ideal lifestyle. Sharing insight of her journey to aspiring creatives is what she believes is imperative to a building a more encouraging art comm...

Where can you find (or better yet, create) a soft space for yourself?What can you learn when you stop making assumptions and start asking ‘why’?...Caitlin Metz (they/them) is an accidental author, wayward adjunct faculty, chronic project starter, designer and illustrator, parent, Mary Oliver evangelist, cloud watcher, and big feeler. Caitlin is the co-author of My Body, My Home and the author of Feel Something, Make Something. They run Saturday Morning Carton with their partner and host "brai...

What would you create if you weren’t worried about producing? How can you embrace “regret” and acknowledge the things you would do differently as a sign of your own growth instead of failure?…hesitantdoodle (Sidney McLeod) is a non-binary illustrator and comic artist based just outside of Glasgow, Scotland. Their work combines the action of sports, the drama of romance novels, and the whimsy of magical girls to produce effervescent, queer, and colourful comics. They are the creator and co-pro...

How do we create space for ALL the emotions we experience?How can we find creative and constructive ways to engage with the world?…Tumelo Victoria is one of five CosmoTeenz Fellows, sponsored by the CMM Institute for Personal and Social Evolution. The Fellows have created a comic book on mental health that will be available soon. She is 19 years old, lives in Norway, and is currently working and taking a gap year after completing her last year of high school.Today, Abbie and Tumelo Victoria d...

How do we demonstrate our caring (for others) through sharing (our stories)?…MableAlexis is one of five CosmoTeenz Fellows, sponsored by the CMM Institute for Personal and Social Evolution. The Fellows have created a comic book on mental health that will be available soon. MableAlexis is 23 years old and lives in Louisiana.Today, Abbie is joined by CosmoTeenz Fellow MableAlexis Jackson to discuss what it has meant to her to take the opportunity to share her experience with mental health in th...

What change do you hope to see in your social worlds? And how can you be a part of making it happen?...Johanna is one of five CosmoTeenz Fellows, sponsored by the CMM Institute for Personal and Social Evolution. The Fellows have created a comic book on mental health that will be available soon. She lives in Denmark and is interested in a career in politics. Today, Abbie and Johanna explore the desire to make change happen and finding opportunities to do so. Johanna shares the most reward...

Where in your life are there opportunities to find community and create connection by talking about experiences that have not been talked about?...Haruka Suwabe is one of five CosmoTeenz Fellows, sponsored by the CMM Institute for Personal and Social Evolution. The Fellows have created a comic book on mental health that will be available soon. She is interested in working in the STEM field.Today, Abbie is joined by Haruka Suwabe to discuss becoming a part of the CMM community, using collabora...

What kinds of conversations about mental health are you having with the young people in your life? How can you better take care of yourself (and others) when talking about mental health? …At the time of recording this episode, Fatima was completing her senior of high school. Now, she is 19 and attending university. Fatima is studying psychology, as well as counseling and human services, with the goal of pursuing a career in school counseling. Fatima is one of five CosmoTeenz Fellows...

"Hi and welcome. As always, I’m Abbie, this is Stories Lived. Stories Told., and today, I invite you to join me as we embark on Season 3. This season is all about embodying a communication perspective. So let me explain that a little bit: To take a communication perspective is to consider what we’re making and how we’re making it through our communication practices. This means we pay close attention to patterns and contexts, stories and relationships; and that we use curiosity, mindfulness, c...

Listen to Part 1 with Abbie and Marit here.Abbie and Marit continue their conversation about the way we create better things in relationship with each other, change the moment in the moment, and embracing improvisation and practice in communication. Abbie and Marit discuss mystery, hope, and looking ahead to Season 3!…Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created, produced & hosted by Abbie VanMeter.Stories Lived. Stories Told. is an initiative of the CMM Institute for Personal and Socia...

In this very special conversation, host Abbie VanMeter is interviewed by CMM Institute Steward (and friend) Marit Eikaas Haavimb. Together, they reflect on what Abbie has learned in 2023.…Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created, produced & hosted by Abbie VanMeter.Stories Lived. Stories Told. is an initiative of the CMM Institute for Personal and Social Evolution....Music for Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created by Rik Spann. Find Rik on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠...

What are the limits you place on yourself? ...Romi Boucher has been an ⁠executive coach⁠, strategic change consultant, and designer of leadership programs and organizational development change initiatives for over 30 years. She has helped leaders and their organizations cause breakthrough change and results in business sectors ranging from established Fortune 100 organizations, governmental agencies, and educational organizations to professional firms characterized by intense compet...

What is possible? (And what else is possible when we start to ask ourselves this question?)…Romi Boucher has been an executive coach, strategic change consultant, and designer of leadership programs and organizational development change initiatives for over 30 years. She has helped leaders and their organizations cause breakthrough change and results in business sectors ranging from established Fortune 100 organizations, governmental agencies, and educational organizations to professiona...

What does it look like to show up for each other in newly connected ways?How can we reorient ourselves to prioritize human connection and relationships?How can we break out of unwanted repetitive patterns by engaging in conversations that open us up to alternatives we may never had considered? …⁠Terry Strauss⁠ is a producer, writer, director. Her documentaries include, ⁠AS IF THEY WERE ANGELS⁠, ULTIMATE RESTORATIONS, as well as documentary programs for DISNEY, DISNEY CHANNEL, LIFE...

How can we better support veterans and make space to hear their stories?What are the stories we have around war and those who serve? How do these stories keep us isolated and disconnected?How do we overcome the impulse to “look away” from painful realities and instead create opportunities for connection to our own (and others’ humanity)?...Terry Strauss is a producer, writer, director. Her documentaries include, AS IF THEY WERE ANGELS, ULTIMATE RESTORATIONS, as well as documentary programs fo...

How can we build awareness of ourselves, others, and all the stories we all have?How can we rewire our ways of thinking and being to better celebrate the ways we show up?What does it look like to empower ourselves in our storytelling?...Beth Fisher-Yoshida⁠ (PhD, CCS) is a facilitator, educator, and executive coach. She is President and CEO of Fisher Yoshida International, LLC. Beth is Professor of Professional Practice, Program Director of the MS in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution progra...

What do you negotiate in your life?What is your relationship to belonging? What is your identity? How do these things affect the way you show up in the world?What is something new you can try to better advocate for yourself or negotiate with others?...Beth Fisher-Yoshida (PhD, CCS) is a facilitator, educator, and executive coach. She is President and CEO of Fisher Yoshida International, LLC. Beth is Professor of Professional Practice, Program Director of the MS in Negotiation and Conflict Res...

What is the intent? What is the impact?Where do we start? What story is being told here? What stories are not being told here?...Diane Grimes is an associate professor of ⁠Communication and Rhetorical Studies⁠ at Syracuse University. She works to encourage the mindful and critical interrogation of unexamined assumptions around issues of race.Liz Cooney is a queer writer, facilitator, and speaker from Des Moines, Iowa. Her work focuses on helping people communicate more effectiv...

What does it look like to meet people where they are and at the same time ask people to move forward with you even when (especially when) it feels uncomfortable?What is your background or story of your experience with race?How can we, not only build awareness but also, generate curiosity, and experience exposure to diverse ways of being and making meaning?...Diane Grimes is an associate professor of Communication and Rhetorical Studies at Syracuse University. She works to encourage ...

How can we become more conscious of the “third culture” we create with others?What new perspective and understanding can we gain when we zoom in and zoom out in our interactions with others?What can we learn about the way we show up to ourselves in the way we show up to others?…Don Waisanen is a professor of strategic and leadership communication in the Baruch College, City University of New York Marxe School of Public and International Affairs. All of his research, teaching, and consult...

What in life can you “yes, and”? How can our understanding and practice of communication evolve to match the other advancements we have made as a community?What does it look like to use improv in our everyday lives (which is not the same as “winging it”)?…Don Waisanen is a professor of strategic and leadership communication in the Baruch College, City University of New York Marxe School of Public and International Affairs. All of his research, teaching, and consulting projects seek ...

How do we lean into the mess of progress?How do our actions and stories communicate our values?…Kaya Hill graduated from Ball State University in 2022 with a Bachelor’s in Communication Studies and two minors in history and African American studies. Since then, Kaya moved to Florida to work in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and continue studying various aspects of African-American History and Critical Race Theory. Listen to Part One with Kaya here. Kaya and Abbie continue their convers...

Why?…Kaya Hill graduated from Ball State University in 2022 with a Bachelor’s in Communication Studies and two minors in history and African American studies. Since then, Kaya moved to Florida to work in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and continue studying various aspects of African-American History and Critical Race Theory.Kaya shares her story, including the impact of finding “more” in her college experience (despite not planning on going to college) and the importance of understandi...

What is keeping us from really getting to know people?How can empathy save us?…Steven Fuller is a Communication professor at the University of Cincinnati. He hosts the ⁠Communication Junkie⁠ podcast, wrote ⁠The Church Experiment⁠, and co-created ⁠Good vs Gooder⁠. But, most importantly, he's spent the past three years assembling over 100,000 pieces of LEGO. Listen to Part One of this conversation with Steven here.Today, Steven shares his curiosity about and experience ...

Why do people do what they do?How can better communication practices help you in your work life? In your personal relationships?How can you help make your community one where people feel empowered to share their stories?…Steven Fuller is a Communication professor at the University of Cincinnati. He hosts the Communication Junkie podcast, wrote The Church Experiment, and co-created Good vs Gooder. But, most importantly, he's spent the past three years assembling over 1...

What are you still thinking about from our conversation with Zev Burton?What are you still thinking about from our conversation with Paul Porter?…Dr. Ilene Wasserman is the Founder and President of ⁠ICW Consulting⁠. Ilene is on the Board of Stewards for the CMM Institute for Personal and Social Evolution. She has been on the cutting edge of practice and research in strength-based methodologies, capacity building, and relational leadership, that engage diversity, create equity, and fosters inc...

What does it mean to live in a body?What is keeping you from reclaiming your full humanity?How can we embrace the experience of having a body in a way that empowers us as we age and our bodies change?...Rebekah Taussig is a Kansas City writer, educator, and parent. Bolstered by academic knowledge and personal experience, she strives to tell stories that enhance and complicate the way we think about disability. You can find her writing on Instagram, in her memoir, or on her website. Listen to ...

What is your current understanding of disability? How do you relate to those who are disabled?How can we move away from the medical model and closer to the social model when it comes to understanding disability?How can we continue to show up and be curious about conversations surrounding disability, language, and accessibility even when we mess up or feel discouraged?...Rebekah Taussig is a Kansas City writer, educator, and parent. Bolstered by academic knowledge and personal experience, she ...

What does it mean to you to see yourself represented in stories?How can we find the courage to tell our stories, knowing that it matters for us to tell them?What is the story that you want to tell about yourself? How is it different from the story the world is telling you?...Rebekah Taussig is a Kansas City writer, educator, and parent. Bolstered by academic knowledge and personal experience, she strives to tell stories that enhance and complicate the way we think about disability. You can fi...

Please be aware this conversation contains references to sexual assault and gender-based violence. …How can you practice approaching defensiveness with curiosity in yourself and others?How can we begin to embrace our full humanity by allowing ourselves to engage in all ways of being, not just the ones that were assigned to us based on our sex?What is a small thing you can do this week to create a next turn/ ripple from this conversation? …Burton Patterson is a social worker by ...

Please be aware this conversation contains references to sexual assault and gender-based violence. …What ideas about gender have you learned from your culture, peers, and family? How can you find ways to call people in instead of calling them out? …Burton Patterson is a social worker by trade with experience in the fields of Harm Reduction and Mental Health and Addiction, Sexual Violence Prevention, and Healthy Sexual Education. He specializes work...

Whether or not we consider ourselves "creative" or "leaders," how can we still find ways to create and lead?How do we make decisions? How can we let go of thinking we could possibly know which decision is 'right' before making the decision?What does it look like to "communicate for communication's own sake"?...Mike is the Director of Leadership Development for the ⁠Clinton Foundation⁠ and co-directs the ⁠Presidential Leadership Scholars⁠ program. He is also a Professo...

How do we, as a community of individuals with individual experiences, thoughts, and feelings, come together to create shared meaning?How has our understanding of communication evolved to more accurately encompass the complexities and nuances of human relationships?How do we fool ourselves into believing "the illusion of stability"? And how can we learn to embrace mystery instead?...Mike is the Director of Leadership Development for the Clinton Foundation and co-directs the&nbsp...

How can we use our individual relationships to make a difference in our larger social worlds?How can we promote healing and growth in our relationships?How can we learn to be agile and lead with emergence in our lives?...Listen to Part One with Ilene and Jeff here....Dr. Ilene Wasserman is the Founder and President of ⁠ICW Consulting⁠. Ilene is on the Board of Stewards for the CMM Institute for Personal and Social Evolution. She has been on the cutting edge of practice and research in strengt...

How do we create spaces where people feel, not just safe enough but also, brave enough to share their most vulnerable stories and selves?How can we learn to manage the tension that arises when we start having new and challenging conversations?...Dr. Ilene Wasserman is the Founder and President of ICW Consulting. Ilene is on the Board of Stewards for the CMM Institute for Personal and Social Evolution. She has been on the cutting edge of practice and research in strength-based methodologies, c...

How can we be asking ourselves, "Is this a world in which I want to be living?" What do we do when the answer is "no"?...Karen A. Foss⁠⁠ is Regents’ Professor Emeritus of Communication at the University of New Mexico. Her work expands the boundaries of communication to incorporate and legitimatize feminist perspectives. She is the author of ⁠⁠COLOR Up to Create the Life You Want to Live⁠⁠.⁠⁠Sonja K. Foss⁠⁠ is Professor Emeritx of Communication at the University of Colorado Denv...

How can we communicate in a way that acts as an invitation for others?...Karen A. Foss⁠ is Regents’ Professor Emeritus of Communication at the University of New Mexico. Her work expands the boundaries of communication to incorporate and legitimatize feminist perspectives. She is the author of ⁠COLOR Up to Create the Life You Want to Live⁠.⁠Sonja K. Foss⁠ is Professor Emeritx of Communication at the University of Colorado Denver. She has been on the forefront of scholarship on a...

How can we better include the experiences of women in our understanding of communication?...Karen A. Foss is Regents’ Professor Emeritus of Communication at the University of New Mexico. Her work expands the boundaries of communication to incorporate and legitimatize feminist perspectives. She is the author of COLOR Up to Create the Life You Want to Live.Sonja K. Foss is Professor Emeritx of Communication at the University of Colorado Denver. She has been on the forefront of scholarship on ag...

What are you still thinking about from our conversation with Stephanie Higgs?What questions do you still have after our conversation with Chris Wells and Emma Nicholson?...Today, Abbie is joined by Sergej van Middendorp, a member of the CMM Institute's Board of Stewards, to reflect on the conversations Abbie previously had with Stephanie Higgs (Part 1 & Part 2) and Chris Wells and Emma Nicholson (Part 1 & Part 2). In this conversation, Sergej shares his own experience with learning ab...

What is the difference between leaning in and opting out of conversations that feel tricky to navigate? When we do not feel that we understand the beliefs that someone holds, how can we stay in conversation and push through to find the story behind that belief, which inevitably gives us the best chance at finding shared understanding?How can we make small (but significant) changes in our language so that we are inviting others into conversation instead of shutting down dialogue?...Jennifer Ar...

Who are you inviting to your table? Who or what do you need to disinvite? What changes if we really start to believe that communication is not just about talking? How can we create change simply by listening and paying attention?How can we find a balance between advocating for our own stories and making space for the very different stories of others? How can we learn to collaborate with others rather than over-accommodating or over-dominating in relationships? … Jennifer Arvin...

What are the possibilities of communication? What are the limits? How does understanding both bring us peace about what is outside of our control?How can we seek to “respond” instead of “reacting”? What is the difference between “responding” and “reacting”?What if we let go of the idea of trying to control the way that others communicate and instead focus on controlling our own communication in the hopes that it might be what sets the example for others?…Jennifer Arvin Furlong is a highly rat...

Please be aware that this conversation contains discussion of suicide, addiction, and mental illness.…How might we use the Theory of Positive Disintegration and CMM to equip ourselves to lean into the challenge of deconstructing and reconstructing our values?What makes you feel empowered to take control of your own narrative? How can you seek out language, tools, and community that encourages that? How can you yourself empower others to do the same?…Dr. Chris Wells is a writer, social worker,...

What is Giftedness? What is Overexcitability? What is the Theory of Positive Disintegration?What if we stopped trying to “fix” ourselves and started trying to change the world around us instead?How can we start to challenge the framework we have about cognition and emotion? How can we work together to co-create a new framework that honors emotions better?...Dr. Chris Wells is a writer, social worker, and founder of the Dabrowski Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the Theo...

Why is language so important? How does language empower us in our creation of social worlds?How can we let go of a scarcity mindset in favor of a mindset of abundance? How can we see the stories of others as adding something important rather than taking something away from us?What does it actually look like to make more space for people and their stories? How can we start to recognize the systemic ways that certain stories have been left out? How can we start to “build a bigger table”? I...

What is “multicultural competence”? And why do we need it?What are the real ways that we can embrace the complexity of our experiences? How do we manage an ever-evolving social world?…Dr. Paul Porter is the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA). Like Abbie, Paul graduated from Ball State University and was a member of the Ball State Speech Team. Paul went on to earn his Master’s in Communication and Rhetorical Studies at Easter...

How can we recognize the complexity of our social worlds by understanding the role of humor in moments of pain, suffering, and oppression?How might we make space for stories that are different than our own? And how might we begin to see all stories as contributing to the never-ending story of what it means to be human?What does it mean for people to "have the necessities they need for the opportunity to thrive"? How can we create a better social world that accomplishes this?...Zev Burton is a...

What is the role of data in our lives? How does data tell a story? How can we better understand it and use it ethically to create a better social world?How does humor allow us to subvert expectations in a way that is empowering? What can we change when we begin to believe this?How can we deepen our understanding of political events by using a communication perspective to consider meaning-making, context, and storytelling?...Zev Burton is a student, author, and all-around curious person. Zev g...

How do we do ourselves a disservice by oversimplifying grief and limiting what we consider to be "appropriate" responses and "acceptable" expressions of it? Instead of saying, "let me know what I can do to help," how can we answer our own question by using our empathy and creativity to show up for the people we love in the depths of grief? What does it do for us to see moments of pain and suffering as an opportunity for connection rather than disconnection?...Dr. Michelle Colpean is...

How do we find peace when there is no sense to be made of our pain? What can we do to lean into a more complex understanding of loss and grief? How can we trade platitudes like "everything happens for a reason" for a deeper understanding of the way pain and joy can coexist in our lives?...Dr. Michelle Colpean is a communication professor at the University of Cincinnati. She received her Bachelor's in Psychology and Master's in Communication Studies from Ball State University and her...

Why does a fear of the unknown keep us from leaning into the hard conversations and experiences around death and dying? How can we hold onto the things we can control so that we can feel steady enough to keep leaning into this big thing that we can't?How can we let go of unhelpful stories and write new ones for ourselves by learning better ways to recognize the deeply human pain we feel around death and better ways to support and show up for those in our life who are dying?Why do we wait unti...

How can we embrace celebrating every part of ourselves (even the parts we don't feel like celebrating) as a way to recognize our full humanity?What connection happens when we share our most vulnerable parts with others, especially when we are still in the middle of figuring them out? How can we make time to pursue creation (in any of its many forms) as a way to "check-in" with ourselves and reflect?...Madison Gonzalez is a poet and the author of Dear Mirror; the Executive Director of Mor...

How do we create meaning through shared language in every space?Why is it helpful to ask ourselves if what we know is being "Confirmed," "Challenged," or "Changed"?What does it look like to set boundaries that allow us to say our "Best Yes"?...Stephanie Higgs is, above all else, a passionate educator. Since graduating with her Master's Degree in Education she has taught pre-K, second grade, and fourth grade; she now works as a gifted educator and differentiation coach, where she supports both...

How can we celebrate our own individuality (and the individuality of others) by being honest about our needs, finding unique ways to meet them, and saying out loud the things we appreciate about each other? How can we celebrate children's individuality in school settings and beyond?What happens when we learn, not only how to tell our own story, but to hear the stories of others as well?Why does it matter for us to be honest about the things we are struggling with, uncertain of, or just don't ...

Hi. My name is Abbie, this is Stories Lived. Stories Told. and here’s what I know... Everything in our social world is created through communication—communication being the stories we live, the stories we tell, and all the other stories in between; it's the patterns we find ourselves in, the contexts that affect us, the meaning we make, the questions we ask, and how we listen; it’s the choices we make about how we show up to each other, and the spaces we create in ourselves, our relationships...

How do we balance looking back, looking forward, and staying present in our stories?How do the stories we tell shape us? But more importantly, how do the stories that we DO NOT tell also shape us?How can we have more empathy and compassion for others by reminding ourselves that we all have Untold Stories?...In this final Minisode of Season 1, Abbie talks about the complex place that she (and many of us) are in of reflecting on our pasts, asking ourselves "what is next?", and still trying to s...

How does fulfilling basic needs through sustainable agriculture also create space for economic freedom, social justice, and personal dignity in Africa?How is Aline’s work building bridges—for the future and for right now?What does it do for a society to nurture young people, open itself up to innovation, and reject the idea of a “single story”?...Aline Mugisho is the Executive Manager of the Innovative Youth in Agriculture Project at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)....

***Content Warning: Mentions of Sexual Violence***...How do we understand the parts of our story that we didn't have control over? How do we heal our communities and ourselves by empowering others? How do we create the space for innovation when our society is built on injustice and inequality?...Aline Mugisho is the Executive Manager of the Innovative Youth in Agriculture Project at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). She has a bachelor's in Journalism and Co...

***Content Warning: Mentions of Sexual Abuse***...How can you change the moment in the moment? We know what we don’t want to be…. but what do we want to be?What else can you listen for?...John shares his practice for unfreezing yourself when someone kills your imagination; the things he has learned from those he works with, including the resoluteness of the human spirit and experiencing real awe; and how he learned to be less certain and seek clarity instead. Abbie and John discuss making the...

What does it mean to be aware of our communication? How do we become actively engaged?Can we learn to recognize, acknowledge, note, and be present to our communication in a gentle and neutral way?How do we control our patterns instead of the other way around? What are we swimming in?...Abbie discusses how it might be easier to go on autopilot when it comes to how we communicate, but the way to create a better social world is through awareness; when we start to bring awareness to our communica...

Why are the hardest stories to tell the ones we most need to hear?How do we balance the stories that others tell about us vs. the stories we tell about ourselves?When is blame a resource? When is hope a problem?What does it mean to take a "not knowing position?" ...Today, John shares when he first became a storyteller and why it is important to take the risk of sharing your real, not-so-perfect story so that others feel safe to do the same. Abbie and John discuss learning to appreciate t...

What does it mean that we "create meaning?"How can we reframe? ...Abbie explains trying out different meanings like trying on a new pair of glasses; bringing attached meaning into the light by saying it out loud and what it can look like to bring others into the conversation and how we can be empowered to do it; and shares one more example for making meaning, managing meaning, and coordinating meaning....Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created, produced & hosted by Abbie VanMeter.Stories ...

Why does it matter how we show up as listeners in conversation? What does it mean to create a space for deeper connection? How can we "listen to others the way that we want to be listened to?"...Abbie discusses seeing our communication as a dialogue, instead of a monologue; becoming conscious of the subconscious with Active Listening; and moving from hearing to listening, listening to Active Listening, and Active Listening to Deep Listening....Stories Lived. Stories Told. is creat...

Why does it matter how we talk about climate action?How does better language inspire better action?...Today, Miriam shares her story, including all the challenges that led her to be where (and who) she is now. Abbie and Miriam discuss the lessons, people, and experiences that transformed Miriam from a concerned citizen to a "climate action warrior" and how Miriam is using her platform to educate and empower us with both. Miriam shares the quote, "We will not give into the fear because it is f...

What are we creating? What do we want to create?How can we learn to become resilient and flexible, physically, mentally, and emotionally?... Today, Abbie discusses our CMM Roadmap, considering what else we need to get where we are going. Abbie explores the challenge of beginning to embody CMM and change your patterns, shining light into the darkness of both our healthy and unhealthy patterns, and learning to be gentle with yourself when changing patterns....Stories Lived. Stories Told. i...

Why does it matter that our curiosity is genuine?How can you look for moments where others approach you with Genuine Curiosity and find opportunities for you to do the same?...Abbie discusses Genuine Curiosity (and how it fits in the process of moving from Imagination to Embodied Realism); Genuine Curiosity as an approach to our relationships, emotions, experiences, and ideas; and using the LUUUUTT model to understand the role of Genuine Curiosity in the practice of CMM....Stories Lived. Stor...

Why is it important to seek out spaces that encourage learning and critical thinking?What are imagination, genuine inquiry, and embodied realism? And why do we need them?How can you cultivate interactions that are meaningful, intelligent, loving, and connected?...Today, Alex Jagiello shares the story that she is currently telling about herself. Abbie and Alex discuss the relationship between technology, education, and communication as a potential force for good. Alex shares her experience as ...

What is the Cosmopolis 2045 project? And how did it start?How can we pay attention to the "invisible in-between" by re-evaluating whether or not our language is achieving our goals?What does it mean to engage and both personal and social evolution?...Today, Abbie discusses the importance of "cosmopolitan communication" and how we can be profoundly open to and respectful of others without giving up our own beliefs. Abbie explains how before we can embody CMM, we first have to imagine what...

What is mindfulness?How can mindfulness help us in our communication?...Today, Abbie discusses why we need mindfulness to create better social worlds, how collaboration in creating a space encourages storytelling and vulnerability, and what it can mean to bring mindfulness to even the smallest of moments....Find Part 1 with Sara here.Find Part 2 with Sara here....Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created, produced & hosted by Abbie VanMeter.Stories Lived. Stories Told. is an initi...

What does it mean for us to be invited into sacred spaces? What do we believe? And what kind of life do we live as a result?How can we ask thoughtful questions that give people the space to think more deeply and connect them back to themselves?How can we lean into the discomfort of deconstructing and reconstructing what we think that we know and believe? How can we acknowledge our ever changing contexts and become more conscious of the way we live?...Sara shares her story of becoming a minist...

How do we define ourselves in our communities? How does this build empathy? How do we work together to create a pool of shared meaning?How do the little moments shape us just as much as the big moments? How can we better engage with bifurcation points and be intentional about how we show up in the little moments?...Today, Reverend Sara Hayden shares the story she tells about herself and the story that others tell about her. Abbie and Sara discuss the overcorrection that happened between ...

What is CMM to you? What does your "better social world" look like? How does CMM help you get there?...In this episode Abbie explores one way of understanding how CMM has evolved over the years from an Interpretive Theory, to a Critical Theory, to a Practical Theory, and beyond. Abbie talks about CMM now in our lives as something that can transform us and something we can embody in our own lives. Abbie offers a potential "next phase" for CMM as a Connective Practice because it connects to oth...

What is the perspective Coordinated Management of Meaning (CMM) offers us?What are the practices that we can use to embody CMM?What are the goals of CMM that influence our choices?...Today, Abbie discusses three facets of Coordinated Management of Meaning (CMM): perspective, practices, and goals. Abbie explores what changes when we focus on the journey instead of the destination, how we can embrace what it means to be "curious participants," and why it matters that we ask ourselves: "what sho...

What does it look like to make that which is "unseen" into that which is "seen"?How can we teach kids that what they say and how they feel matters? How do we center kids' voices?...In this conversation, Abbie is joined by CosmoKidz teachers Amy, Nicole, and Katrina to discuss the ways that using CMM in the classroom has transformed their experiences and thinking. Amy, Nicole, and Katrina share their stories and how they define themselves by their roles as teachers and mothers. Abbie, Katrina,...

What is CosmoKidz? And what is the goal?...Today, Abbie explores CosmoKidz-- a social-emotional learning program created by the CMM Insitute, designed to teach children empathy and healthy communication skills. Abbie talks about how CosmoKidz was developed through a collaborative co-construction process involving kids; the value in making the implicit explicit by teaching kids "soft skills" like empathy and communication; and why it is important for kids to learn these skills, language, and t...

What do you need from this podcast? What adds value to your life? Why?How do we change how we relate to storytelling and story"hearing"?...Today, Abbie explores how building an understanding of CMM takes time (thanks for coming back!); why she desires to create a space for authenticity and vulnerability that allows you to be a part of the conversation, rather than just listening in on it; and what it does when we compare our story to others'. Abbie reflects on the conversation she had with he...

How are our stories shaped by the presence of love?...In part two of this conversation, Abbie's Grandpa shares the story he tells about himself. Abbie and Grandpa JP discuss the many roles he has had in his life and how he has found fulfillment in each one, his experience witnessing the power of creating a safe space to share and hear stories, and what storytelling means in their family. Grammie and Grandpa JP share travel advice and life lessons. Abbie's Mom, Grammie, and Grandpa JP all shar...

How do we define ourselves by our relationships?How can we learn to coordinate within our families using grace and compassion?...Today, Abbie has a very special conversation with her mom (Ann) and grandma (Jeanie). Ann and Jeanie share who they are and some of the stories of their lives. Abbie, Mom, and Grammie discuss what it is like to be part of a storytelling family and where that comes from. Finally, Abbie, Mom, and Grammie look at the ways that CMM shows up in families....Stories Lived....

What is Coherence? What is Coordination? What is Mystery? And how can we embody these processes to improve our communication?How can we become friends with Mystery?...Today. Abbie explores the importance of learning to meta-communicate in our relationships. Abbie discusses three key elements of the Coordinated Management of Meaning (CMM) theory that can guide us in our interactions-- Coherence (the process of making meaning through storytelling), Coordination (the process of collaborating wit...

What is the Serpentine Model?What are Unwanted Repetitive Patterns (URPs)? And how can we acknowledge and avoid them?...Today, Abbie explores CMM's Serpentine Model, including what it means to be in conversation with others, to be in collaboration with others, and to create patterns (wanted or unwanted) with others. Abbie discusses an example of using the Serpentine Model. Dr. Barbara McKay shares some thoughts on the Serpentine Model. Finally, Abbie offers two ways to put the Serpentine Mode...

How can we leave ourselves open to more spontaneity by letting go of some of our expectations?How do we suffer when we try to fit ourselves into the mold of "should"? Why do we need personal AND social evolution to create a more welcoming and curious culture?...Rik Spann is an organizational consultant, applied musicologist, artist, and jazz musician. In his work, he is interested in exploring what happens at the crossroads of various disciplinary fields, including science, art, design, music...

What is the Hierarchy Model?What does it mean to exist in "multiple contexts"?How can understanding the various contexts that shape us help us in our interactions?...In this episode, Abbie explores the Hierarchy Model, another of the models presented by the Coordinated Management of Meaning (CMM) communication theory. Dr. Barbara McKay explains her understanding of the Hierarchy Model and how she uses it in her work with couples therapy. Abbie considers the concepts that we are never only tel...

What is the Daisy Model?Why is it important that we recognize the layers of context that shape us?What is "The Socialized Self"? And how does the Daisy Model help us to understand our moral obligation to ourselves and others?...Today, Abbie discusses her experience with Imposter Syndrome and how the Coordinated Management of Meaning (CMM) Theory is helping her to trade those feelings of self-doubt for ones of grace and curiosity. Abbie explores how our lives become richer when we seek a deepe...

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

How are we arriving today? And why does it matter that we ask?What is the LUUUUTT Model? And how can understanding it help us to see more sides of the story?How can we apply the LUUUUTT Model in our everyday interactions?In this episode, Abbie unpacks the LUUUUTT Model and shares an example of applying the model to our everyday interactions. Next Turn: Try it for yourself! The LUUUUTT Model:Stories Lived Unknown Stories Untold Stories Unheard Stories Untellable Storie...

How did Abbie's involvement with her high school and college Speech Teams shape her?Where did Abbie's great love affair with words start? And how do certain quotes make her feel seen and understood?How is Abbie working to unlearn some old lessons and make some new choices?...Abbie shares her story, along with some of her favorite quotes and lessons she is learning. Abbie explores her experiences with "people pleasing" and the very vulnerable act of caring about things. Finally, Abbie offers a...

How do we own our stories? And how do we tell them in a way that is true to our experience and helps people to better understand us? What does it mean to be "intentional"? What does it mean to do things that matter "on purpose"? What is the difference?Why do we edit out the best parts of ourselves to accommodate other people? How do we let go of controlling what other people think?How can we help to cultivate imagination and push boundaries so that we can live in a world where everyone c...

What is Coordinated Management of Meaning?What does it mean to be "persons-in-conversation"?...In this first episode, Abbie gives an overview and introduction to the Coordinated Management of Meaning (CMM) Communication Theory. Abbie explores the way stories coexist in CMM and walks through the 4 central claims of the theory...Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created, produced & hosted by Abbie VanMeter.Stories Lived. Stories Told. is an initiative of the CMM Institute for Personal and Soc...