Let’s Talk About Love Stories from Everywhere

Stories from Everywhere Episode 33: Communication, Curiosity, and Global Influence with Jose Ucar

What does it mean to be international—not just in where you live, but in how you think, listen, and connect?In this episode of Stories from Everywhere, host Jill L. Ferguson is joined by Jose Luis Ucar La Salvia, a global communications expert, leadership coach, TEDx speaker, and author of Global Influence. Broadcasting across continents—from Los Angeles to London—Jill and Jose dive into the lived experience of cross-cultural communication, human connection, and the power of curiosity.Jose traces his remarkable journey from growing up in Venezuela to becoming a sought-after communications strategist working with global brands. He shares formative moments—from declaring at age five that he wanted “to be international,” to navigating language barriers as a teenage exchange student in Sweden, to rising through the ranks of European business before launching his own coaching and speaking practice.Together, Jill and Jose explore:*Why listening to understand is one of the most underrated leadership skills*Authenticity paired with adaptability in communication*Human-to-human connection beyond labels, stereotypes, and cultural assumptions*The role of feedback, presence, and self-awareness in effective leadership*How public speaking and communication skills quietly open doors you never expected*Lessons from Jose’s two TEDx talks and his global influence frameworkThis conversation is thoughtful, practical, and deeply human—less about tactics and more about how we show up for one another in business, leadership, and life. Whether you’re a leader, entrepreneur, communicator, or simply curious about people and the world, this episode offers insight you can immediately put into practice.🎧 Listen in and discover how becoming more curious, present, and adaptable can transform the way you communicate—and the opportunities that follow.

Stories from Everywhere Episode 33: Becoming International — Communication, Curiosity, and Global Influence with Jose Luis Ucar

What does it mean to be international—not just in where you live, but in how you think, listen, and connect?
In this episode of Stories from Everywhere, host Jill L. Ferguson is joined by Jose Luis Ucar La Salvia, a global communications expert, leadership coach, TEDx speaker, and author of Global Influence. Broadcasting across continents—from Los Angeles to London—Jill and Jose dive into the lived experience of cross-cultural communication, human connection, and the power of curiosity.
Jose traces his remarkable journey from growing up in Venezuela to becoming a sought-after communications strategist working with global brands. He shares formative moments—from declaring at age five that he wanted “to be international,” to navigating language barriers as a teenage exchange student in Sweden, to rising through the ranks of European business before launching his own coaching and speaking practice.
Together, Jill and Jose explore:
Why listening to understand is one of the most underrated leadership skills
Authenticity paired with adaptability in communication
Human-to-human connection beyond labels, stereotypes, and cultural assumptions
The role of feedback, presence, and self-awareness in effective leadership
How public speaking and communication skills quietly open doors you never expected
Lessons from Jose’s two TEDx talks and his global influence framework
This conversation is thoughtful, practical, and deeply human—less about tactics and more about how we show up for one another in business, leadership, and life. Whether you’re a leader, entrepreneur, communicator, or simply curious about people and the world, this episode offers insight you can immediately put into practice.
🎧 Listen in and discover how becoming more curious, present, and adaptable can transform the way you communicate—and the opportunities that follow.

Stories from Everywhere, Episode 32 with Peter Young: Wanderlust, Wisdom & Love that Connects Us

Wanderlust, Wisdom & the Love That Connects Us with Peter YoungIn this globe-spanning, heart-opening episode of Stories from Everywhere, host Jill L. Ferguson sits down with educator, technologist, Emmy judge, and world traveler Peter Young, dialing in from the warm breezes of O‘ahu. What unfolds is a rich, funny, deeply human conversation about love as a way of moving through the world—across classrooms, cultures, and decades.Peter shares how a childhood spent hopping from American Samoa to Hong Kong to Taiwan shaped his lifelong curiosity and empathy. He talks about learning Fortran on a refrigerator-sized computer in high school, discovering his calling in both technology and teaching, and how artificial intelligence is transforming the way he helps students become stronger writers and critical thinkers.Jill and Peter dive into:🌍 What traveling and living abroad taught him about joy, humility, and connection💡 Why AI belongs in the classroom—and how the Socratic method can elevate student writing❤️ How purposeful love, kindness, and cultural openness strengthen relationships and workplaces🎓 Stories from his career in higher education, including accreditation battles, hiring insights, and the importance of mission-driven leadership✨ The secret ingredient that makes his long-distance marriage thrive Peter also shares vivid, humorous stories—from learning phrases like “I love you” in Belarusian to get by in local bars, to being escorted out of the country by the KGB, to teaching tech executives how not to embarrass themselves in Tokyo boardrooms. Through it all, his message is clear: people everywhere want the same things—connection, respect, and the chance to be understood.This conversation is equal parts warm, thoughtful, global, and wise. If you love stories that blend humanity, humor, and heart, Episode 32 will stay with you long after the credits roll.

Stories from Everywhere Episode 31 with Captain James Owen

In this powerful and heartfelt episode of Let’s Talk About Love: Stories from Everywhere, host Jill L. Ferguson sits down with retired Long Beach, California Fire Captain James Owen—a first responder, father, waterman, and author of the forthcoming memoir The Last Patient.
James takes listeners on an extraordinary journey through his life: from a chaotic childhood in London and Northern California, to unexpected rites of passage in slaughterhouses and sailing voyages through Mexico, to the moment a group of Long Beach firefighters on Catalina Island ignited his calling to serve.
He opens up about the unseen emotional and psychological burdens first responders carry—trauma, compartmentalization, burnout, and the “favorite chair” where many retreat when they can’t yet find their way back to themselves. With candor and humility, James shares how his years as a paramedic and fire captain shaped him, challenged him, and nearly broke him… and how sobriety, therapy, nature, breathwork, neurofeedback, psilocybin-assisted healing, and an arsenal of unconventional modalities helped rebuild his life.
Listeners will hear:
What inspired The Last Patient—and why James wrote it for first responders and the people who love them.
How childhood wounds become the “hooks” trauma grabs onto later in life.
The brutal and beautiful realities of paramedic school and life on the ambulance.
How being a father transformed his understanding of love, resilience, and responsibility.
His mantra “Situation screwed. Still survivable” and how it guides him—and others—through crisis.
His vision for Camp Pivot, a healing-centered, community-based refuge for warriors recovering from post-traumatic stress.
The love story that surprised him in the middle of his recovery journey.
Honest, raw, emotional, and inspiring, this conversation offers a rare look into the heart of a firefighter—and the profound love, humility, and humanity behind the badge.
The Last Patient will be available everywhere books are sold in early 2026, and listeners can join James’s mailing list at captainjamesowen.com for updates, bonus content, and virtual book-signing details.
Tune in for a story about trauma, courage, redemption, and the transformative power of love.

Stories from Everywhere Episode 30 with guest Dr Bal Pawa

In this illuminating episode of Let’s Talk About Love Stories from Everywhere*, host Jill L. Ferguson sits down with renowned physician and author Dr. Bal Pawa—founder of the Westcoast Women’s Medical Clinic in Vancouver and author of *The Mind-Body Cure* and the forthcoming *Ovaries: The Owner’s Manual*. Together, they unravel the powerful connections between health, hormones, stress, and the stories our bodies tell.Dr. Pawa explains how chronic stress reshapes both mind and body, how food can function as medicine (or sabotage), and where pharmaceuticals fit into the bigger healing picture. She and Jill dig into the paradox of modern healthcare—how technology is revolutionizing treatment while simultaneously distancing patients from the deeply human need to see their doctor face-to-face.The conversation turns profoundly personal when Dr. Pawa shares the life-altering emergency that shifted her trajectory—from delivering babies to studying integrative medicine at Harvard Medical School—ultimately transforming her entire approach to care.Insightful, empowering, and full of compassion, this episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to understand their body more deeply and reclaim their well-being from the inside out.

Stories from Everywhere Episode 30 with guest Dr. Bal Pawa

In this illuminating episode of Let’s Talk About Love Stories from Everywhere, host Jill L. Ferguson sits down with renowned physician and author Dr. Bal Pawa—founder of the Westcoast Women’s Medical Clinic in Vancouver and author of The Mind-Body Cure and the forthcoming Ovaries: The Owner’s Manual. Together, they unravel the powerful connections between health, hormones, stress, and the stories our bodies tell.
Dr. Pawa explains how chronic stress reshapes both mind and body, how food can function as medicine (or sabotage), and where pharmaceuticals fit into the bigger healing picture. She and Jill dig into the paradox of modern healthcare—how technology is revolutionizing treatment while simultaneously distancing patients from the deeply human need to see their doctor face-to-face.
The conversation turns profoundly personal when Dr. Pawa shares the life-altering emergency that shifted her trajectory—from delivering babies to studying integrative medicine at Harvard Medical School—ultimately transforming her entire approach to care.
Insightful, empowering, and full of compassion, this episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to understand their body more deeply and reclaim their well-being from the inside out.

Stories from Everywhere Episode 29 with Guest Danny Bermant

In this dynamic episode of Let’s Talk About Love Stories from Everywhere, host Jill L. Ferguson chats with Danny Bermant, founder of CaptainJV and host of the podcast The Power of Two, joining in from London for a lively and insightful conversation about connection, legacy, and the power of partnership.Danny breaks down the heart of great marketing—how relational and network marketing build trust, how joint ventures amplify impact, and why strategic partnerships are essential for helping businesses not just survive but truly thrive. His practical wisdom and big-picture thinking offer a refreshing look at collaboration in an increasingly noisy digital world.The conversation also takes a personal turn as Danny shares what life was like before the age of selfies: growing up with a well-known parent whose public autograph requests were a normal part of daily life, and what it means to preserve pieces of that legacy now, in an era where memories live online.It’s a thoughtful, energetic episode about the relationships that shape us—professionally and personally—and the ways we carry our stories forward.

Stories from Everywhere Episode 29 with guest Danny Bermant

In this dynamic episode of Let’s Talk About Love Stories from Everywhere, host Jill L. Ferguson chats with Danny Bermant, founder of CaptainJV and host of the podcast The Power of Two, joining in from London for a lively and insightful conversation about connection, legacy, and the power of partnership.
Danny breaks down the heart of great marketing—how relational and network marketing build trust, how joint ventures amplify impact, and why strategic partnerships are essential for helping businesses not just survive but truly thrive. His practical wisdom and big-picture thinking offer a refreshing look at collaboration in an increasingly noisy digital world.
The conversation also takes a personal turn as Danny shares what life was like before the age of selfies: growing up with a well-known parent whose public autograph requests were a normal part of daily life, and what it means to preserve pieces of that legacy now, in an era where memories live online.
It’s a thoughtful, energetic episode about the relationships that shape us—professionally and personally—and the ways we carry our stories forward.

Stories from Everywhere, Episode 28 with guest Debbie Page

In this uplifting episode of Let’s Talk About Love Stories from Everywhere, host Jill L. Ferguson welcomes Debbie Page, coach of women entrepreneurs and a lifelong champion of intentional living. Together, they dive into the idea of life as a grand adventure—one where age is just a number and your emotional set point can stay a vibrant, curious 25 even when the calendar says 55.Debbie shares how every relationship and experience, even the challenging ones, nudges us along the path we’re meant to walk, reminding us that there’s no final destination when it comes to learning. The conversation turns deeply personal as she describes being a digital nomad not for beaches and palm trees, but because she was caring for her aging parents—navigating love, duty, and adaptability.Along the way, Debbie talks about rescuing dogs and the profound lessons her canine companions offer in resilience, presence, and unconditional love.This is a warm, wise, and wildly relatable episode for anyone who’s ever reinvented themselves, cared for family, cherished a pet’s quiet wisdom, or embraced the beautiful uncertainty of the journey.

Stories from Everywhere, Episode 28 with guest Debbie Page

In this uplifting episode of Let’s Talk About Love Stories from Everywhere, host Jill L. Ferguson welcomes Debbie Page, coach of women entrepreneurs and a lifelong champion of intentional living. Together, they dive into the idea of life as a grand adventure—one where age is just a number and your emotional set point can stay a vibrant, curious 25 even when the calendar says 55.
Debbie shares how every relationship and experience, even the challenging ones, nudges us along the path we’re meant to walk, reminding us that there’s no final destination when it comes to learning. The conversation turns deeply personal as she describes being a digital nomad not for beaches and palm trees, but because she was caring for her aging parents—navigating love, duty, and adaptability.
Along the way, Debbie talks about rescuing dogs and the profound lessons her canine companions offer in resilience, presence, and unconditional love.
This is a warm, wise, and wildly relatable episode for anyone who’s ever reinvented themselves, cared for family, cherished a pet’s quiet wisdom, or embraced the beautiful uncertainty of the journey.