The On Purpose Podcast
Conversations that inspire, uplift, and inform the listener. Host and producer Lynn Thompson welcomes authors, musicians, educators, philosophers, and entrepreneurs, each with stories and ideas to share. Episodes include discussion forums, featured guests with an audience, one-on-one conversations, and monologues. Many feature music from Zapsplat, thanks to Black Fedora with Sneaky Jazz. In August 2024, Living on Purpose will reach 20 years in the making! Beginning as a radio talk show on CHLY in British Columbia (2004-2009) and a podcast since 2007 on numerous channels, now on Podbean since April 2020 with The On Purpose Podcast (twin of Living on Purpose). Thanks for listening! Also, thanks for scrolling down to learn more about Lynn Thompson with Living on Purpose Communications for editing audio projects and collaborating with authors and books for publication. Thank you!
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Episodes
Thursday Jun 29, 2023
Thursday Jun 29, 2023
Practical information and considerations blend with musings, insights, and noticing signs in this discussion among a dozen people hosted (and afterward, audio edited) by Lynn Thompson for Living on Purpose.
Sandra E. Foster, financial planner and investment advisor who can hold her own in conversation with accountants and lawyers, is the author of You Can't Take It With You: Common-Sense Estate Planning For Canadians (Sixth Edition) and joins us in the first hour, with questions from the group.
Then Lisa Pahl, co-creator (with Lori LoCicero) of The Death Deck and The EOL (End of Life) Deck, introduces herself and those decks with examples.
For the final stretch, further discussion on practical and esoteric levels about before, during, and after death, including stories of communication with and signs from those who have died.
Others joining us for the Art of Departure > Take Three, Bobbi Rowntree, Born Medium, Pashta MaryMoon from CINDEA (Canadian Integrative Network for Death Education and Alternatives), Daniel, Christina, Annie, Toni Gitles, Valerie, feather, and Sandy.
Thanks for listening. Earlier episodes and future! Four:
Art of Departure EightArt of Departure SevenArt of Departure SixArt of Departure FiveArt of Departure FourArt of Departure ThreeArt of Departure TwoArt of DepartureArt of Departure Sampler
Thanks to Black Fedora with Sneaky Jazz for the music weaving through this podcast.
Tuesday Jun 20, 2023
Tuesday Jun 20, 2023
Susan Barber speaks about avoiding death to embracing her path as a hospice volunteer and her current role with Human Prison Hospice Project. Host Lynn Thompson met Susan through Ann Randolph's online writing sessions, Your Story Matters: Unmute Yourself where Susan regularly co-hosts with Ann.
Thanks to Black Fedora with Sneaky Jazz for the music weaving through this podcast.
Monday Jun 19, 2023
Monday Jun 19, 2023
Let's talk about death and how to prepare ourselves and our advocates for the inevitable. This 20 minute glimpse is from the second Art of Departure of people talking about before, during, and after death.
To set the stage, first, I combine points of conversation among two dozen of us during the debut of The Art of Departure in April and add a story about my friend. Then I paraphrase comments by Erika, who attended The Art of Departure >Take Two earlier in June.
There is an ideal image of being surrounded by family at the moment of death, perhaps to calm our fear of dying alone. What if the person wants to be alone for the transition of death, yet is unable or hesitant to express that wish? In the first Art of Departure, we talked about a way to provide that option with your loved one who is nearing death. Once an hour, say, “I’m stepping out for ten minutes.” That reminds me of a time in the 1990s in British Columbia when I first learned the meaning of the word “advocate” in connection with how I had been supporting my elder friend. After she died, the nurse told me about what happened. “Her family visited on Sunday afternoon, and gathered around her bedside for an hour or so. After they left, she asked me for a hug and a glass of water. We hugged, and I left the room. When I returned with the water a few minutes later, she had died.”
Paraphrased from when Erika Crichton, MSW, LASW, spoke, one of the fifteen who attended The Art of Departure > Take Two on Sunday, June 4th:
I listened to the podcast of the first Art of Departure and found it so engaging and helpful, so I’m thrilled to be here. In my work as a Hospice Social Worker, working at an inpatient hospice facility, I have the honor of walking alongside people in their final weeks and days and helping their families sort through what those deaths might mean and sometimes what the patient is feeling about it. I’m influenced by all of the people I’ve witnessed going through that experience. It helps me be intentional about sharing what’s important to me with the people who I love who may be part of my support as I die. The people who I have encountered who seem to struggle most with dying are folks who haven’t reflected on their experiences with death before their own death is occurring. I have such an interest in this topic and find it fascinating, and at the same time, when I think about the Art of Departure, I also consider the joy of living. While death is inevitable, there’s much to be enjoyed, like pretty little birds chirping away in my garden. Thanks for letting me share.
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Thanks to Black Fedora with Sneaky Jazz for the music weaving through The On Purpose Podcast (Living on Purpose).
Sunday Jun 18, 2023
Sunday Jun 18, 2023
A few times a year, Joshua & Adam, the hosts of Notes On Your Notes (a podcast about the creative process and storytelling) feature storytellers in a Story Salon with an audience on Zoom offering comments through the chat.
Living on Purpose host Lynn Thompson heard about the Spring Story Salon during her full talk and glimpse with Joshua and Adam earlier in 2023. She was delighted when they invited her to be one of the storytellers for the event in March. Joshua has been involved in the theater, film, and entertainment industry for almost three decades. His Nature Based Approach to the Creative Process has been transformative for him as a writer, actor, director, and story coach, allowing him to support any creative as he guides them through writing and performing their story in a variety of different mediums. His belief that "process brings results" has been the foundation of his unique approach to the creative arts. Adam is a writer whose career began in journalism at NBC News. After journalism, he moved on to focus on his creative work, which included TV pilots, fiction, and on-stage personal storytelling. He is the author of The Creative Workbook, a process-based approach to setting and achieving bold creative goals.
Lynn met Joshua and Adam through Ann Randolph and Ann's online writing session, Your Story Matters, Unmute Yourself.
Thanks to Black Fedora with Sneaky Jazz for the music weaving through this episode of Living on Purpose (the original of The On Purpose Podcast).
Saturday Jun 10, 2023
Saturday Jun 10, 2023
Also known as The Bald Explorer, Richard Vobes is pondering the mysteries and questioning the narrative while posting a monologue or conversation daily. By the time host Lynn Thompson watched one, two, three videos overflowing with the creative, quirky, open-minded, on-point voice of Richard Vobes, she was refreshed and reached out to welcome him to be her Living on Purpose guest. Her email surfaced among the thousands Richard receives and he accepted her invitation and answered her questions about charting his course bringing him to this strangest of times and what he's going to do after the call. Here's what happened in just over an hour.
Friday Jun 09, 2023
Friday Jun 09, 2023
This time fifteen us showed up to listen and contribute to discussion about many matters about death, before, during, and after in The Art of Departure > Take Two.
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Thanks to Black Fedora with Sneaky Jazz for the music weaving through The On Purpose Podcast (Living on Purpose).
Thursday Jun 08, 2023
Thursday Jun 08, 2023
Talking on Eggshells: Soft Skills for Hard Conversations. A LinkedIn article from exactly eight years ago introduced Living on Purpose host Lynn Thompson to the prolific writer, speaker, and consultant, Sam Horn. And on the publication day of Sam's 10th book, Talking on Eggshells, published by New World Library, Lynn gets to welcome Sam as her guest. Mid-way through their conversational tour, they discover they both know Dewitt Jones, who is one of America’s top professional photographers and one of the most sought–after keynote speakers.
Sam Horn is the CEO of the Intrigue Agency, a positioning/messaging consultancy that helps people design and deliver TEDx talks (as she did with Dewitt), keynotes, funding pitches, and one-of-a-kind brands. She is also the CEO of the Tongue Fu! Training Institute, a trade-marked communication skills approach that teaches how to give and get respect at work, at home, online, and in public.
With her books published in 17 languages, Sam has had the privilege of speaking to more than half a million people worldwide, and her work has been featured in dozens of publications, including the NY Times, Forbes, Readers Digest, Fast Company, and Harvard Business Review. She has been interviewed on every major network, including NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, NPR, and MSNBC.
And now, Living on Purpose. Thank you, Sam!
Thanks to Black Fedora with Sneaky Jazz for the music weaving through this episode of Living on Purpose (the original of The On Purpose Podcast).
Sunday May 28, 2023
Sunday May 28, 2023
The author of the new book, 21 Mistakes Caregivers Make & How to Avoid Them, is Lynn Thompson's guest in this half hour tour of conversation. Toni Gitles navigating the caregiving journey with her mom by trial and error, figuring out the do’s and don’ts of caregiving almost completely on her own. As an only child and dutiful daughter, she put her mom’s care and quality of life as a top priority. They lived life fully, expressed their love frequently, and created memories that she treasures today. The time Toni spent as a caregiver changed her life forever. At the end of their journey, she was able to say that she had no regrets. Her mom died peacefully February 20, 2017. She has written the guidebook that she wishes she had when she started the caregiving journey. Available September 20, 2023 through Spotlight Publishing House.
Thanks for writing your book and being a consultant. Your comprehensive manual will save people a lot of time and heartache.
—Jack Canfield
Author and Speaker, co-creator of the best-selling Chicken Soup for the Soul ® series and co-author of The Success Principles TM
Saturday Apr 29, 2023
Saturday Apr 29, 2023
Welcoming the Living on Purpose Panel of five including two dozen other wisdom sharers and witnesses for this consideration of matters before, during, and after death of the physical body who gathered on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 for (edited) just under two hours.
Toni Gitles
author of 21 Mistakes Caregivers Make & How to Avoid Them
Val Bourdain
The Funeral Whisperer
Pashta MaryMoon
CINDEA: Canadian Integrative Network for Death Education and Alternatives
Bobbi Rowntree
Born Medium, Trinity Yoga and Spiritual Services
Susan Barber
Director of the Prison Palliative Care Program for Humane Prison Hospice Project
Thanks to Black Fedora with Sneaky Jazz for the music weaving through this episode of Living on Purpose (the original of The On Purpose Podcast).
Update May 31, 2023:
Bubble wands are for sale again in the Dollar Store. The other day, while walking down the aisle with my arms full of two dozen colorful wands, I got into a discussion with another customer about various bubble liquid formulas to refill empty wands. Finally, I said, "Well, I'm glad to have a fresh supply of them for my funeral." Startled, she said, "Oh, are you dying?" I replied, "Of course, aren't you?" Smiling, I added, "Well, I hope not soon. However, I like to keep lots on hand because you never know." She shook her head and repeated reflectively, "You never know, that's right. Well, it's a different way to look at it."
Art of Departure EightArt of Departure Seven
Art of Departure SixArt of Departure FiveArt of Departure FourArt of Departure ThreeArt of Departure TwoArt of DepartureArt of Departure Sampler
Thanks to Black Fedora with Sneaky Jazz for the music weaving through The On Purpose Podcast (Living on Purpose).
Thursday Mar 23, 2023
Thursday Mar 23, 2023
Sunday, March 26th, 2023, on Zoom was where it all happened with free valet parking is the time and place for a fast moving evening of story amid a supportive and warm writing community!
Several times a year, Joshua & Adam, the hosts of Notes On Your Notes (a podcast about the creative process and storytelling) bring that special community into an intimate Thursday evening class that focuses on story development and writing. Email notesonyournotes@gmail.com for details on all things Notes On Your Notes.
Living on Purpose host Lynn Thompson wove together these spoken notes about the Spring Story Salon from conversations on their full talk and glimpse of the full talk. In June, Lynn posted "Keep Your Head Up," which was her contribution to the Salon event after Joshua and Adam welcomed her to join the storyteller dozen with an audience on Zoom adding comments in the chat. Joshua has been involved in the theater, film, and entertainment industry for almost three decades. His Nature Based Approach to the Creative Process has been transformative for him as a writer, actor, director, and story coach, allowing him to support any creative as he guides them through writing and performing their story in a variety of different mediums. His belief that "process brings results" has been the foundation of his unique approach to the creative arts. Adam is a writer whose career began in journalism at NBC News. After journalism, he moved on to focus on his creative work, which included TV pilots, fiction, and on-stage personal storytelling. He is the author of The Creative Workbook, a process-based approach to setting and achieving bold creative goals.
Lynn met Joshua and Adam through Ann Randolph and her online writing series, Your Story Matters, Unmute Yourself.
Thanks to Black Fedora with Sneaky Jazz for the music weaving through this episode of Living on Purpose (the original of The On Purpose Podcast).
Lynn Thompson, Editor of Words and Audio
Living on Purpose Communications in Canada includes a podcast, audio editing, and collaborative editing of manuscripts for authors who appear as podcast guests! Podcast host and producer Lynn Thompson facilitates discussion forums, one-on-one conversations, monologues, and guest features. Lynn collaborates with numerous authors and their books of fantasy, historical fiction, future fiction, personal growth, how-to, and whimsy, from creative consultation in the developmental stage to final proofreading for publication. A guide with enthusiasm for drawing forth stories and polishing words to shine the author’s voice, Lynn enjoys the creative writing journey. For more information about being a podcast guest or developmental and collaborative editing, writing, and publishing, please email livingonpurposecommunications (at) gmail.com to hear from Lynn.
“As a first-time author, editing my novel was intimidating. Thanks to Lynn Thompson, it was a joyful and rewarding experience. Lynn is conscientious, organized, flexible, thorough, and professional. I feel very fortunate to have found someone who was also a kind, respectful, and supportive partner in preparing my book for publication. My novel is better because of Lynn’s contributions.”
—Kathryn Goodwin Tone, The King’s Broad Arrow (Germany/USA), Illustrator, Crystal Cregge. Winner, Juvenile Fiction, 2020 National Indie Excellence Awards
Finalist, 2020 Eric Hoffer Excellence in Independent Publishing Awards
Finalist, 2022 Young Adult Virginia Author Award
“Lynn transforms your literary work from good to great. She is organized, professional, and insightful.”
—Derian Tuitt, Life Success Hacks: How to Use Simple Action to Achieve Anything You Imagine (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)
“I have really come to appreciate and honor the way you poke, prod, encourage, and yes, sometimes drag me kicking and screaming to my greater potential.” —Bobbie Casalino Lewis, Expression Expert and author, So That’s What 70 Looks Like! The Essence of Aging Gracefully (CA USA 2023)
Reviews for Dinner at God's House
April 24, 2024 with Wellness Writers Press
Literary Titan Gold Book Award: Fiction
"This book is a must-read for those of us who feel and think and grind through the days knowing that with courage there can be peace. Even just for a minute. Dinner at God's House is not just Lieman's story. It belongs to all of us. A beautiful and raw story about healing and the choice to live in courage or fear." - Lara Love Hardin, author of The Many Lives of Mama Love and four-time New York Times bestselling author
"Dinner at God's House is what happens when you are ready to get really, truly honest, which is the biggest adventure of all. This brave, engaging, heartfelt book is a gift." - Nanea Hoffman, author and founder of Sweatpants & Coffee
"Deeply moving and emotionally profound, Dinner at God's House brings us face-to-face with the big questions of life and also helps us find the answers. This story will break you in two and break your heart, and then finally lead you to a better version of yourself. - Lauren Sapala, author, speaker & creative guide
About the Author
For anyone wondering what it’s like to collaborate with Lynn Thompson as an editor and writer, here are unsolicited, spontaneous testimonials from three of the numerous people on my team involved with preparing my book for publication with Spotlight Publishing House. —Sandy Levey-Lunden
From such modest beginnings when Angela and I began working on I Just Want Peace with Sandy, its completion and publication is breathtaking. Your painstaking editing has led to an incredible body of work and a wonderful read. —Gillian Hibbs
Lynn, you were an absolute JOY to work with! You show infinite patience and presence making me feel seen, heard, and valued! You have cultivated so much focus, but are always game to have fun! You are a super talented writer and diligent and detailed editor. Your awareness is unrivaled, yet you are unruffled. The way you honoured Sandy’s legacy and embraced every new person added to the team was phenomenal! Collaborating with you was a dream, we were so attuned, even over Zoom, it was like our minds merged in purpose and play-fullness! Knowing you is a true and beautiful Blessing! It’s so incredible what can be accomplished when a set of stellar communicators are led by a star like YOU, Lynn Thompson! —Kristi Birnie
A great tribute to you, Lynn. I concur with Kristi on how much infinite patience, presence, and passion you had for this book project throughout and how I felt seen and heard, grateful to learn some of the ins and outs of editing. I feel like a beginner’s mind in so many ways. Such attention to detail and making everything appear to be seamless, more fun, and just more than the sum of its parts that you tracked so well. It was a meaningful creative process that I secretly never wanted to end. But then we’d be denying the world of a great legacy book and to give Peace a better chance. Congratulations, Sandy and Team Peace! —Christina Ireland
I concur with everything Kristi said. You have shown infinite patience, Lynn, with all of us throwing in different edits, you have welcomed each and every one of us and responded with kindness. You are an awesome editor and have been a profound help to Sandy and her legacy book. Well done and thank you! —Sue Reynard
feather aka denise bertrand
Lynn Thompson is a most attentive, thorough, and enthusiastic editor.
Anyone writing their first or tenth book would be lucky to have Lynn on their team.
Her attention to detail is outstanding.
Her gentle and clever suggestions created an inspiring working atmosphere for me
as I completed my first novel.
Once Upon A Solar Time.
I highly recommend Lynn as your editor.
The Woo Woo Way
"Cindy Childress, PhD, The Expert’s Ghostwriter, book-writing coach, and mentor, reawakened my love of storytelling and helped develop my writing style. Once we completed the developmental editing, I needed to find a copy editor. Who knew there was more than one kind of editing? My publisher, Becky Norwood of Spotlight Publishing House, introduced me to several copy editors to interview. I chose Lynn Thompson of Living on Purpose Communications.
"I thank Lynn for creating a collaborative approach in editing my book, chapter by chapter, line by line. With some of my lessons, she helped assemble bridges to connect ideas. Editing takes focused time,
so it’s great that we often laughed with abandon and talked aloud to Grammarly. There’s nothing better than a good belly laugh for healing. How perfect, since healing is the theme of my book."
—Sandy Evenson, Bestselling Author of The Woo Woo Way, in Spring 2023
Listen to Sandy on the Living on Purpose podcast
A Dry Hate - Second Edition
Published by Nugget Press with support from Spotlight Publishing House.
Nancy Marshall hopes that A Dry Hate will have a broad readership with adult discussion groups as well as in high school and college classrooms. She has a deep and abiding belief that by continuing to educate ourselves, to think and talk about ideas and events, we will become a more robust democratic society.
By opening ourselves to the interchange of ideas and knowledge, we will be more able to combat propaganda, lies, abuse of power, and threats of violence.
Listen to Nancy on the Living on Purpose podcast
Nancy says of editor Lynn Thompson:
“Lynn has been a fabulous, terrific, wonderful, irritating, fun-loving, imperfect, best-ever editor.
I am so grateful for all the work she’s done, and we’ve done together.”
June 2023
May 2024: A DRY HATE won first place as Best Novel with the Arizona Professional Writers!
November 2024: A DRY HATE won the first place award for BEST FICTION in 2024 from the Arizona Authors Association!
Publishing with Ignite Press in 2024
“When we began working together, I had a collection of blog entries, and I didn’t even know how to begin turning them into a book. You helped me to rearrange, rewrite, and polish these entries into a book I am proud of. Lynn, I really felt you were invested in my success and I enjoyed getting to know you. I will definitely work with you again!”
—Danell TeNyenhuis Black, SUDDENLY, A Widow’s Story of Unexpected Loss and Healing
Listen to Danell on the Living on Purpose podcast
Leading us through details of her unexpected loss, the author expands the shock rippling through their large families into a depth of insight, memories, hope, and supportive guidance. I recommend this book for comfort and company through the loss of a spouse and holding steady as life continues in ways unimaginable before that moment. Big thanks for the author's courage in sharing her story!
Lynn Thompson
PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 2023 with SPOTLIGHT PUBLISHING HOUSE
In memory of Mom and Dad who were always there for me. My bond with Mom reached new depths throughout the years I cared for her and as she expressed her incredible love for me.
Thanks to Denise M. Brown for your caregiver consultant training program and the many opportunities you provided, including giving me the foundation and tools to begin helping family caregivers. Thanks to my partner, Dennis, for your love, patience, support, and understanding while I wrote this book. Thanks to Junie Swadron, Theresa Wilbanks, and Lynn Thompson for your editorial guidance and encouragement and for making writing this book a fantastically fun journey. Like caregiving, writing a book is not a solo activity, and you each brought this message to life and gave it wings. It takes a community to write a good book. Steve Harrison, his coaching staff, and his group of authors provided education, guidance, and inspiration to keep me engaged and clear that my message is important and needs a voice. I greatly appreciate my first readers, Dennis Dulniak, Helen Carter, and Karen Briskey. A huge thank you to Maggie Morgan and Theresa Wilbanks for your marketing and social media expertise, and Becky Norwood, for all you and your staff accomplished to get my book published on time and with love and enthusiasm for this project.
Gratitude to all the caregivers I have met and coached. You validated over and over that this book and the information in it change lives. While the worries, mistakes, and concerns are real, you have created meaningful journeys through effective communication, asking for help, making memories, and celebrating with the loved ones in your care.