The On Purpose Podcast

Humane Prison Hospice Project with Susan Barber

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.

Sampler Art of Departure

Let's talk about death and how to prepare ourselves and our advocates for the inevitable. This 20-minute sampler combines points of conversation among two dozen of us during the debut of The Art of Departure in April 2023 with an added a story about my friend. Then I paraphrase comments by Erika, who attended The Art of Departure >Take Two earlier in June 2023 of people talking about matters before, during, and after death.
 
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.
Most recent: Art of Departure Ten
Dying to Meet You, Art of Departure NineArt 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 The On Purpose Podcast (Living on Purpose).

Spring Story Salon with Keep Your Head Up

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).

Richard Vobes

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.

The Art of Departure Two

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.
Art of Departure Nine
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 The On Purpose Podcast (Living on Purpose).

Sam Horn with Talking on Eggshells

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).

Toni Gitles and Heart of Caregiving

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

The Art of Departure

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.
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."
Most recent: Dying to Meet You, Art of Departure Nine
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).

Spring Story Salon with Notes On Your Notes

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).

Living on Purpose Panel on Book Promotion

Just under two hours about Book Promotion packed to the brim and overflowing with inquiring minds, abundant sharing, wise words, and practical insights woven throughout.
Thank you to everyone who attended. Here's an overview of voices featured and ears listening during the recording with host Lynn Thompson on Tuesday, March 14, 2023.
David Hancock, CEO and founder of Morgan James Publishing with appreciation for his e-book download gift, the insider free link that he shared with us on the call: Guerilla Marketing for Writers, 100 No-Cost, Low-Cost Weapons for Selling Your Work
Cathy Fyock, The Business Book Strategist, The Speaker Author: Sell More Books and Book More Speeches
Joshua and Adam from the podcast Notes On Your Notes swung by to talk about how to approach getting your work out in the world with authenticity and creativity.
Panel of authors, published, soon-to-be-published, and projects in progress.
Spotlight Publishing House (Becky Norwood was unable to attend our panel)
Elizabeth Brown, Toxic!: The Big Bad Wolf is Not a Fairy Tale!
Sandy Evenson, The Woo Woo Way
Sandy Levey-Lunden, I Just Want Peace
Tonya Pomerantz Sex, Self-Esteem & Sheer Stupidity: Surviving Your 20s and Beyond
Toni Gitles 21 Mistakes that Caregivers Make and How to Avoid Them
Bobbie Casalino-Lewis: The Expression ExpertSo That's What 70 Looks Like! The Essence of Aging Gracefully
Nancy Marshall Second Edition: A Dry Hate
​Nugget Press
Nancy Marshall
award-winning:​A Rattler’s Tale: When Wild Animals Encounter Humans
Shanti Arts Publishing ​
​Anne Ierardi, Award Winning Memoir Coming Alive ​
FriesenPress
feather aka denise bertrand, Once Upon A Solar Time
Page Publishing
Neil Rogers Bar Tips: Everything I Needed To Know In Sales I Learned Behind the BarNightwood Editions
Andrew BinksStrip 
The Summer Between
Self-published
Joanne Savoie-Malone, Power You Ahead to Your Job Search: 13 steps from your resume to your first 90 days
V R Brooks ChatGPT as a Guide For Weight Loss: How to prompt CHATGPT to get more hits and fewer misses for reliable weight loss advice
Yet to be chosen publisher
Dr. Linda Foster and Kim Locke, in editing processShattering the Trauma Trance: An Exploration of the Foster Care System in British Columbia
Plus a special shout out to Everett O'Keefe of Ignite Press who was my guest on the podcast in March 2022 with guests and an abundance of info for authors!