Let’s Talk About Love Stories from Everywhere

Episode 43: Turning the Tables — Jill L. Ferguson on Why Love Is the Boldest Movement of Our Time

As Stories from Everywhere approaches its one-year anniversary, Episode 43 flips the (no)script in the most heartfelt way.
Board member Danielle Brooks takes the host seat and interviews Jill L. Ferguson about the deeper “why” behind Let’s Talk About Love — the social purpose corporation and global movement Jill felt called to create.
In this candid, unscripted conversation, Jill opens up about:
The healing journey that led to a powerful vision of Truth and the message that “love is the way” 
Launching a grassroots love movement in a time when fear and division dominate headlines 
Why love is not soft — but one of the strongest forces on the planet
How trust, truth, and vulnerability form the foundation of real connection
The personal cost of starting something meaningful while navigating family illness 
The small, everyday acts of kindness that ripple outward and change lives
Jill shares a moving story about listening to an inner nudge to buy a meal for a stranger — and how that simple act became a profound moment of human connection on one of the hardest days of his life’ 
It’s a reminder that love is not theoretical. It’s practical. It’s relational. It’s brave.
You’ll also hear Jill speak vulnerably about where she still struggles — especially around romantic vulnerability — and why choosing love anyway is worth the risk.
Together, Jill and Danielle explore:
What it really means to “lead with love”
How to respond to hate without becoming hateful
Why community and collaboration are the only path to lasting change
How you can participate in spreading love — through storytelling, meditation, conversation, and everyday courage 
This episode is personal. It’s philosophical. It’s practical. And it’s an invitation.
If you’ve ever wondered whether love can truly change systems, businesses, relationships — or even the world — this conversation will challenge and inspire you.
Because in the end, as Jill reminds us, we are here for such a short time. And when everything else fades, what remains is love.
Listen in. Then go start your own ripple.

Episode 42: When Money Meets Meaning: Navigating Life’s Biggest Transitions with Joshua Dunlop

What if money isn’t just about numbers but about grief, identity, purpose and how we move through life’s biggest changes?
In this deeply human and surprisingly soulful conversation, host Jill L. Ferguson sits down with Joshua Dunlop, founder of Even Path and a purpose-driven financial planner who works at the powerful intersection of money and emotion. Together, they explore why financial decisions are often hardest during moments of loss, divorce, retirement, or major life transitions—and why spreadsheets alone can’t guide us through them.
Joshua shares his philosophy on emotionally informed financial planning, why shame keeps so many people from seeking help, and how true financial clarity can free us to grieve, heal, and reimagine what comes next. From redefining retirement as a lifestyle transition (not a financial event), to unpacking our complicated relationship with money, relevance, and self-worth, this episode challenges everything we’ve been taught about success and security.
You’ll hear about:
Why emotions—not investments—derail financial plans
The six non-financial pillars that predict a fulfilling retirement
How grief, identity, and money collide during major life changes
Letting go of shame around finances (no matter how much—or little—you have)
Why purpose-driven planning may be the future of financial guidance
This episode is for anyone navigating change, questioning old definitions of success, or wondering how to build a life that feels meaningful—not just financially “sound.”
💛 Because when money meets clarity, life gets lighter.

Episode 41: When Art Becomes Shelter: Sahba Aminikia on Music, War, and Healing Children

What happens when music becomes an act of resistance and love becomes a form of education?
In this deeply moving and unflinchingly honest conversation, host Jill L. Ferguson sits down with composer, TED Fellow, and founder of the Flying Carpet Festival, Sahba Aminikia, to explore how art can heal what politics and war have broken. Raised in Tehran during years of cultural repression and conflict, Sahba shares how underground music, storytelling, and community became lifelines and how those early experiences now fuel his life’s work.
As the artistic director of the Flying Carpet Festival, Sahba has helped bring music, performance, and joy to more than 400,000 children living in war zones and conflict-affected regions. In this episode, he speaks candidly about growing up amid bombs and beauty, why limitation fuels creativity, how children suffer for adult decisions, and why investing in imagination may be the most radical peace-building act of all.
Together, Jill and Sahba unpack big ideas with rare nuance: the danger of dehumanization, the failure of cultural institutions, the difference between information and wisdom, and why “only through love is education possible.” This is not a conversation about politics; it’s a conversation about humanity, empathy, and what it means to bring light into the darkest places.
If you believe art can change lives, if you’ve ever wondered how hope survives in impossible conditions, or if you’re searching for a reminder of what truly connects us across borders—this episode is essential listening.

Raw Love: Healing Brains, Feeding Fur Babies, & Building a Business from the Heart with TC Raw Eats

In this heartfelt and surprisingly funny neighborhood-turned-global story (Episode 40 of Stories from Everywhere), host Jill L. Ferguson welcomes Billy Walsh and his partner Wendy Childer, the owners and creators behind Long Beach–based raw pet food company TC Raw Eats—the shop that Jill literally gets dragged into by her own dogs. What begins as a conversation about healthier food for aging pets quickly unfolds into a powerful narrative about loss, love, resilience, and entrepreneurship. Billy shares how losing his Labrador to cancer sent him down a rabbit hole of pet nutrition, culinary school, and eventually K9 nutrition certification—transforming a personal heartbreak into a mission to change how people feed their dogs and cats.You’ll hear:• Why raw food can mean shinier coats, cleaner teeth, better digestion (yes, even better poop), and happier, more energetic pets • How TC Raw Eats grew from a tiny apartment “cottage industry” into a fully licensed brick-and-mortar shop with over a dozen freezers—and a fiercely loyal four-legged fan base • Billy’s life-altering traumatic brain injury after a Vespa accident, his journey through coma, memory loss, seizures, and later discovering he is autistic—and how that understanding reshaped his life and relationships • How he used AI as a personalized training partner to prepare for a marathon, turning technology into a motivational tool tailored to a neurodivergent brain • Wendy’s own intense health battles—including hip dysplasia, spinal surgeries, and literally growing an inch from metal spacers—while still helping run a growing business This episode is about more than pet food. It’s about questioning authority, advocating for your animals and yourself, navigating trauma and neurodiversity, and building a life—and a business—out of love, curiosity, and stubborn hope.If you’ve ever wondered whether raw food really makes a difference, how small businesses survive in California’s regulatory maze, or how two people can stay standing when their bodies keep breaking, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Stories from Everywhere Episode 38: Find Your Voice in a Noisy World with Kate Peters

In a world where everyone is talking — and fewer people are truly connecting — how do you find your real voice?In this illuminating episode, host Jill L. Ferguson sits down with vocal coach, author, performer, and communication strategist Kate Peters, the founder of Vocal Impact and the visionary behind her new venture, The Human Voice Initiative. Kate is preparing to release her upcoming book, The Art of Finding Your Voice in a Noisy World, and this conversation is a masterclass in presence, influence, and authentic connection.Drawing from decades as a professional singer, violinist, voice teacher, consultant, and coach to corporate leaders, Kate reveals why your voice is not a fixed trait; it is a skill you can train, strengthen, and align with your purpose.Together, Jill and Kate explore:* Why most people take their voices for granted and how to change that* The difference between wishful intention and “purpose with a plan”* How intention, story, and presence must align to create real influence* Why communication is a practice, not a one-day workshop* How to use “Story with a capital S” to create meaningful connection* The subtle mechanics of inflection, tone, and presence, especially for women in leadership* Practical voice-care tips for cold season, including what not to do when you lose your voice* How gratitude, thank-you notes, and job follow-ups become powerful when fueled by genuine intention* Kate’s peace-building work with Braver Angels, helping people bridge divides through courageous dialogueThis episode is for anyone who has ever said, “I wish I could speak up,” “I don’t like my voice,” or “I don’t feel heard.” Kate reminds us that your voice is not something you’re born with; it’s something you create.🎧 Tune in and discover how to move from being just another voice in the noise to becoming a presence people truly feel.

Stories from Everywhere Episode 38: Find Your Voice in a Noisy World with Kate Peters

In a world where everyone is talking — and fewer people are truly connecting — how do you find your real voice?
In this illuminating episode, host Jill L. Ferguson sits down with vocal coach, author, performer, and communication strategist Kate Peters, the founder of Vocal Impact and the visionary behind her new venture, The Human Voice Initiative. Kate is preparing to release her upcoming book, Reverberate! The Art of Finding Your Voice in a Noisy World, and this conversation is a masterclass in presence, influence, and authentic connection.
Drawing from decades as a professional singer, violinist, voice teacher, consultant, and coach to corporate leaders, Kate reveals why your voice is not a fixed trait; it is a skill you can train, strengthen, and align with your purpose.
Together, Jill and Kate explore:
* Why most people take their voices for granted and how to change that
* The difference between wishful intention and “purpose with a plan”
* How intention, story, and presence must align to create real influence
* Why communication is a practice, not a one-day workshop
* How to use “Story with a capital S” to create meaningful connection
* The subtle mechanics of inflection, tone, and presence, especially for women in leadership
* Practical voice-care tips for cold season, including what not to do when you lose your voice
* How gratitude, thank-you notes, and job follow-ups become powerful when fueled by genuine intention
* Kate’s peace-building work with Braver Angels, helping people bridge divides through courageous dialogue
This episode is for anyone who has ever said, “I wish I could speak up,” “I don’t like my voice,” or “I don’t feel heard.” Kate reminds us that your voice is not something you’re born with; it’s something you create.
🎧 Tune in and discover how to move from being just another voice in the noise to becoming a presence people truly feel.

Episode 37: Paddling Forward: Legacy, Resilience, and Reinventing Life After Breast Cancer

What does it mean to truly live after a life-altering diagnosis?In this powerful and heart-opening episode 37 of Stories from Everywhere, host Jill L. Ferguson welcomes award-winning internationalist, strategist, mentor, and breast-cancer-dragon-boating pioneer Michelle Hanton OAM joining us from a small island off the coast of Queensland, Australia — the only island in the country connected to the mainland by a single bridge.Michelle shares the extraordinary journey that took her from a young breast cancer diagnosis to founding Dragons Abreast Australia, now a nationwide movement supporting more than 2,000 survivors through the transformative power of dragon boating. What began as a medical study in Canada became a global community redefining recovery, resilience, and what it means to move your body — and your life — forward after cancer.Together, Jill and Michelle explore:• How breast cancer dragon boating began as a clinical trial — and became a worldwide movement• Why community, not isolation, is essential to healing• The stigma men still face when diagnosed with breast cancer — and why advocacy matters• What it means to “pass the baton” as a founder and let your legacy live beyond you• Michelle’s globe-trotting childhood with a UN-diplomat father and how it shaped her fearless adaptability• Why retirement can feel like emotional whiplash — and how to plan not just what comes next, but how it will feel• The importance of writing down your life stories before they’re lost forever• Her upcoming memoir collaboration with her 87-year-old mother• And the one lesson she wants everyone to remember: don’t wish your life away — happiness is built from the inside out.This episode is a moving reminder that survival is only the beginning and that legacy is not what we leave behind, but what we build, paddle by paddle, day by day. 🎧 Listen in for inspiration, perspective, and a deep conversation about courage, change, and creating a life that still thrills you — no matter what you’ve been through. And here’s a link to Michelle’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Internationally-Abreast-Exercise-as-Medicine/dp/064528890X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PPMABE6ZYUW5&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.VOIpSjDQV_Znf0bs3caCKXnfJBLk9e9iIV5oUwpmzpbwZwUzX9lFl5K_xyjwQcwHknjacDVsC7uqTAeZSPYib3xuEZ1pgqqJKBAP0P0_bR43fzCJdpn8X6GKVN_N_PE2_PZmTk7Yt2eHU3K3pB70eqABRE-o9r1ZtMLRiaOQ7Jvgz2y7Z_or3IbX08CPudChG5PAL-J9naKWdRrHy-W1Foqk9UAl20W5jiEVs-0RQkM.Qx2EeYBNJBLk_3tEEZ_yOaz3KO-U8g266Rw8i85-478&dib_tag=se&keywords=Michelle+Hanton&qid=1768249426&sprefix=michelle+hanson%2Caps%2C194&sr=8-1

Stories from Everywhere Episode 37: Paddling Forward: Legacy, Resilience, and Reinventing Life After Breast Cancer

What does it mean to truly live after a life-altering diagnosis?
In this powerful and heart-opening episode 37 of Stories from Everywhere, host Jill L. Ferguson welcomes award-winning internationalist, strategist, mentor, and breast-cancer-dragon-boating pioneer Michelle Hanton OAM joining us from a small island off the coast of Queensland, Australia — the only island in the country connected to the mainland by a single bridge.
Michelle shares the extraordinary journey that took her from a young breast cancer diagnosis to founding Dragons Abreast Australia, now a nationwide movement supporting more than 2,000 survivors through the transformative power of dragon boating. What began as a medical study in Canada became a global community redefining recovery, resilience, and what it means to move your body — and your life — forward after cancer.
Together, Jill and Michelle explore:
How breast cancer dragon boating began as a clinical trial — and became a worldwide movement
Why community, not isolation, is essential to healing
The stigma men still face when diagnosed with breast cancer — and why advocacy matters
What it means to “pass the baton” as a founder and let your legacy live beyond you
Michelle’s globe-trotting childhood with a UN-diplomat father and how it shaped her fearless adaptability
Why retirement can feel like emotional whiplash — and how to plan not just what comes next, but how it will feel
The importance of writing down your life stories before they’re lost forever
Her upcoming memoir collaboration with her 87-year-old mother
And the one lesson she wants everyone to remember: don’t wish your life away — happiness is built from the inside out.
This episode is a moving reminder that survival is only the beginning and that legacy is not what we leave behind, but what we build, paddle by paddle, day by day.
🎧 Listen in for inspiration, perspective, and a deep conversation about courage, change, and creating a life that still thrills you — no matter what you’ve been through.
And here’s a link to Michelle’s book. 

Episode 36: Pure Life, Pure Art: How Creativity Thrives in Costa Rica’s Classrooms

In this heartfelt episode of Stories from Everywhere, host Jill L. Ferguson reconnects with children's book illustrator, former student, friend, and international art educator Gloria Castillo, joining us from sunny Costa Rica — where pura vida is more than a phrase, it’s a way of teaching and living. 
 
Currently employed by GSD International School, Gloria shares her unexpected journey from a childhood shaped by art as emotional refuge to becoming the sole K–12 art teacher in international schools across the San Francisco Bay Area and Costa Rica. She opens up about how art became her therapy — and why she now strives to make her classroom a safe haven for students who don’t always thrive in traditional academics. 
 
Together, Jill and Gloria dive into the realities of teaching visual arts in an IB program without air conditioning, the pressures today’s teens face to create “perfect” Pinterest-worthy work, and how the rush for instant results is stealing joy from the creative process. Gloria explains how she encourages students to slow down, trust their instincts, and create from the inside out — even when they only have 45 minutes a week to find their muse. 
 
The conversation also travels beyond the classroom into Costa Rican culture — from dual citizenship and international families relocating for a better life, to organic living, star-fruit trees in the backyard, Caribbean rice-and-beans cooked in coconut oil, and the country’s deep commitment to education and the arts. 
 
Warm, reflective, and quietly powerful, this episode is a love letter to creativity, community, and the teachers who shape lives long after the bell rings. If you’ve ever wondered how art can heal, how slowing down can be revolutionary, or what pura vida really feels like — this one’s for you.

Stories from Everywhere Episode 36: Pure Life, Pure Art: How Creativity Thrives in Costa Rica’s Classrooms

In this heartfelt episode of Stories from Everywhere, host Jill L. Ferguson reconnects with children's book illustrator, former student, friend, and international art educator Gloria Castillo, joining us from sunny Costa Rica — where pura vida is more than a phrase, it’s a way of teaching and living. 
Currently employed by GSD International School, Gloria shares her unexpected journey from a childhood shaped by art as emotional refuge to becoming the sole K–12 art teacher in international schools across the San Francisco Bay Area and Costa Rica. She opens up about how art became her therapy — and why she now strives to make her classroom a safe haven for students who don’t always thrive in traditional academics. 
Together, Jill and Gloria dive into the realities of teaching visual arts in an IB program without air conditioning, the pressures today’s teens face to create “perfect” Pinterest-worthy work, and how the rush for instant results is stealing joy from the creative process. Gloria explains how she encourages students to slow down, trust their instincts, and create from the inside out — even when they only have 45 minutes a week to find their muse. 
The conversation also travels beyond the classroom into Costa Rican culture — from dual citizenship and international families relocating for a better life, to organic living, star-fruit trees in the backyard, Caribbean rice-and-beans cooked in coconut oil, and the country’s deep commitment to education and the arts. 
Warm, reflective, and quietly powerful, this episode is a love letter to creativity, community, and the teachers who shape lives long after the bell rings. If you’ve ever wondered how art can heal, how slowing down can be revolutionary, or what pura vida really feels like — this one’s for you.