From the beginning, my podcast has done whatever it wanted. It is, at best, loosely scripted.

As in: There's no application process. You cannot pitch yourself. I will say no thank you. This is the ONLY way it works: Someone says something that sparks my attention and I reach out to invite them. Most of the time they say yes, and if a conversation never comes to pass, then it isn't meant to happen. Each season, the podcast puts itself on hiatus so that I can write a book or record other content. Whatever I have recorded will keep. Sometimes conversations have sat for a year before I come back around to them, returning just at the right time. 

In other words, I really don't think about this podcast. I feel it.

Recently, my production partner, the Brilliant Brooke Roy asked me how long I thought the current Season 6 would run. I didn't know because things have been kind of crazy around here in Minnesota. But as the ICE occupation took hold, three episodes wanted to happen as a dismount. This is the third one. Good thing too, because with all that's been going on, I'm finding myself drawn in new directions.

The podcast wants go on hiatus: I have new ideas to unpack, books to write, and book writers to support.

This final Season 6 episode does everything I describe above, dialed up to an 11. In 2026, I've only wanted to talk with people intimately acquainted with Minnesota. I want you to see this (still ongoing) ICE situation as we do, living through it. We are not quaint heroes, though it's tempting to paint us this way. We are people who have found good ways to play in the face of some pretty atrocious attacks on our neighbors in the Twin Cities and across our state. I'm proud to land on this conversation with my friend Tom Bell from my class at Carleton College.

Tom loves Minnesota. He isn't from here, and he doesn't live here now, but he once made Minnesota his home, and he's got a way with words, consistently centered around his Habits of Heart. I'm not quoting him here, but I liberally quote Tom back to himself in our conversation. After you listen, do yourself a favor and go read what he's written in the links below. Tom's is the strong, gentle kind of voice and vision we all need.

Anyway. This episode... We had set a time to talk and Tom had to reschedule. Then we recorded a whole conversation  for which the files didn't turn out—not surprising because Tom's Internet kept cutting out. Third time's a charm, though. We both happened to have an extra free hour, that same day, and this episode was the result. Not scripted, not perfect. (Seriously not perfect. I refer to Joseph Lee Haywood as "Hayward" and I can't fix it and I'm not bothering to try. I love what resulted from our improvisational podcasting dance.

It's almost like this episode wanted to catch us off guard so that it could do what it really wanted.

It's exactly the message that both of us wanted to share at this time: That stories aren't frivolous. Play isn't wasting time. Perfection isn't a useful construct when it gets in the way of expressing our hearts. And perhaps most importantly, love can (and does) guide our actions even in the very worst human moments, and more than that, echo out to the people who need examples of what that might look like where they live.

Thomas Bell is an advocate of heart-led critical thinking, loving leadership, and transformative storytelling. As a writer, actor, dancer, aerialist, speaker, facilitator, and adventure athlete, he lives and leads toward truth, love, and beauty in many modes, with more yet to come as the future unfolds. Yet through them all runs an unwavering commitment to kindness, creativity, critical thinking, joy, abundance, and love.

Linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-r-bell/ 

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/thomasrbell/ 

Website:

https://thethomasbell.com/ 

Substack “Habits of Heart”:

https://substack.com/@habitsofheart 

There’s a full description of the newsletter here: https://habitsofheart.substack.com/about

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

My friend Jillian Rae has done this thing twice while we've posed for a photo, once at her album launch, once at my book launch: Jillian points to me and makes a face as if she can't believe her luck to have encountered me personally. And yet, Jillian is a bonafide rockstar.

I use that term rockstar broadly, because Jillian refuses to fit into a clear genre. She plays at venues all over town, in many roles, with a wide range of musicians, and she's kinda famous in China.

So then who am I in this picture? 

I am Jillian's former student who dabbled with violin lessons when my kids were young. Here I thought I was learning an instrument I admired, as a mom who needed creative escape from my real life. Jillian wasn't a rockstar YET when I met her. I remember clearly when she texted that she was appearing onstage at Prince's beloved First Avenue in Minneapolis, and we should get our butts over there. That first performance, Jillian played backup fiddle for a headliner whose name I no longer remember. I have no idea how often she's played at First Avenue since. 

I don't even know how many of Jillians shows I've attended or how often I've heard her on The Current, our local MPR music station.

To me, Jillian Rae is the person who first convinced me to drive in to Minneapolis regularly on weekdays. When my kids and I were taking violin lessons from her in one of those suburbs, Jillian co-founded the Music Lab in a walk-up near Lake Nokomis. Suffice it to say, I wouldn't have chosen that neighborhood for my kids' music lessons, forty-five minutes from home in rush hour. But Jillian has vision like nobody's business.

During our lessons, we talked about Jillian's work and her career... and my aspirations to be a real writer and whatever the dream was that I'm living now. I've honestly translated so much of what Jillian taught me into my business, because every time I showed up in her private studio (never having practiced, because that was part of my deal with her, though I did learn some fiddle tunes decently well, and even Pachelbel's canon) I got to be the feral Gen X child I once was, learning from my friend Jillian to see my creative gifts through the eyes of a Millennial. 

I have long understood that were it not for Jillian, I would never have understood what being a real-life creative looks like for me. 

When I think about this podcast (this episode and more broadly), I understand that not everyone can meet my friend Jillian personally, or other real-life creatives like her that I encounter ongoing. And that did start for me in Minneapolis. Since then, I've made a practice of talking and writing about Minneapolis, so much so that many people think I live there. I do not. Or shall I say, that's not where my house is. And yet.

All my lineage travels directly through Minneapolis, on all sides. So you weren't entirely wrong if you thought I was from there.

Indeed I was born in a Minneapolis hospital building that is currently occupied by the federal government, so I hear from reliable sources. Throughout my childhood, I visited the city with family for special occasions.

But I know the city best as a grown-up.

If you don't know a city that well, and have no reason to go there, it's easy to believe horror stories that the media serves you and forget the everyday people who live there. In the years since Ronald Reagan eliminated the fairness doctrine (that said you can't publish lies) media corporations have made it their business to further exacerbate bias, divide us with scary demographics, and consolidate profits. 

That's the false narrative that Minneapolis is actively refusing, and many of us in the Twin Cities Metro and Greater Minnesota recognize, though some white Minnesotans believe they aren't safe in the city. Which didn't happen by accident. 

Deliberate semantics games misrepresent one big idea: THESE PEOPLE ARE OUR NEIGHBORS.

And as I see it nowadays, my neighbors. That's a pretty good thing.

I love to drive the long way home from Minneapolis, one neighborhood into the next, one suburb into the next, awash in memories, never using a freeway until the bridge across the river. That's how well I know the city these days. I know all the places you've heard about in the news.

But when I want to talk about what life's been like in Minneapolis I defer to people who inhabit these neighborhoods.

That's why I invited Jillian Rae to speak to her own, lived experiences.

It's going to take a long time to heal from the willful damage inflicted by ICE and this administration. You need to know that it's still going on. Furthermore, I don't see how a "kinder, gentler" (more stealthy for optics) invasion is going to stop all the harm being done. Intentionally.

Jillian's graciously allowing me to share her new single, "Fuck ICE," at the end of this episode. You can purchase the salty or the sanitized version to support Twin Cities people. Pretty sure that song title clarifies where she stands. Jillian's one of my heroes AND a dear friend.

At the beginning of the episode, we reference Jillian's single "Silence," a precursor to "Fuck Ice" in many ways. Watch the video here.

Which makes me realize one more connection: If I didn't know so many beloved people and places in Minneapolis personally, I don't know what I'd be thinking right now. Maybe I'd think these people were heroes, but their struggles aren't mine. That they are somehow separate from me. Instead, I am finding plenty of ways to fight the good fight where I am. I'm asking you to think about how you can address evil, in solidarity, where you are too. Because make no mistake, this does affect you. Even if the connections are being obscured. You need to see them.

Please listen. And then take one simple step you can take to speak up. And the next. And the next. 

Travel safely, dear friends.

Love, Amy

About Jillian Rae:

Lauded as a “triple threat on vocals, fiddle, and composition” (Star Tribune), Jillian Rae is a fiercely unique spirit who cares more about making authentic music than about conforming to expectations. The Minneapolis-based, classically trained violinist has made a name for herself as a top-notch fiddler and a singer with a powerful stage presence. Heading up her own critically acclaimed band, she performs an original mix of Americana, rock, and pop. She also performs regularly with her traditional folk band Corpse Reviver and has toured extensively, backing up Grammy-winning acts like The Okee Dokee Brothers. Jillian is an in-demand producer and session player, known for her soaring string orchestrations, arrangements, and fiddle parts. Along with her partner/co-producer Eric Martin, she operates The Clubhouse Recording Studio, where they produce Jillian's music as well. As a music educator, she has kept a studio of private students for more than two decades.

Jillian is available for live performance, virtual streams, recording, and production work. All inquiries can be made at booking@jillianraemusic.com.

Get Jillian's single and support Twin Cities mutual aid organizations at https://jillianraemusic.bandcamp.com/album/fuck-ice.

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

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You likely know that Renee Nicole Good was killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, Minnesota two Wednesdays ago. ICE is occupying our state because the Supreme Court said that they could. Specifically, Brett Kavanaugh—who gave me flashbacks to a Third Reich judge* in his confirmation hearings—wrote in September that speaking Spanish was probable cause for detention.

*Google the White Rose to see for yourself.

And now, here we are.

ICE was always going to come to Minnesota. Once again, our home state, specifically Minneapolis extending outward, is the focus of Trump’s White House. But he doesn’t own us. He’s never won here. Our Governor Tim Walz ran against his ticket and called him weird. That’s why Trump is so fixated on us, and what makes him want to control us so badly.

When I say we, I mean Minnesota. I mean all of the kinds of people who love our home state and our neighbors. It's incredibly cold and beautiful here in the winter.

We're here because we've chosen to be here.

Hours after a friend texted me the shocking news of Renee’s death, I recorded a podcast episode with my friend and colleague Terry Newby. Terry’s a Twin Cities novelist, playwright, and lawyer who writes about Black history, which is American history. He'd prepared good questions on a related topic, so we carried on and acknowledged the death without sharing details we didn’t yet know.

We wanted to bear witness with the information we did have.

Here’s another thing I already knew: Being a white woman (like Renee Nicole Good) in America is not always safe, but it’s not immigrants and people of color and queer folks and native people who endanger our freedoms. For many years, I've driven into Minneapolis several times a week and felt incredibly safe there.

Paul Wellstone, our beloved late senator, famously said that we all do better when we all do better. Renee Good’s final words wouldn’t be widely heard until the following day, from the shooter’s own phone: "That’s fine, dude, I’m not mad at you." In return, after he filmed himself shooting her, the coward in a mask called her a f’ing bitch. Then he ran away, went into hiding, and feigned an injury; meanwhile his ICE buddies prevented medical treatment as Renee died. He's still out there.

All of this is fact. You can witness it for yourself.

As you can tell, I am still angry, and I am not sorry for being angry. The occupation of Minnesota continues in real time. Meanwhile, I’ve let myself be a witness, making relevant notes to self. Because I know that my books have revealed themselves in good time. Tiny Altars, published in 2023, provides relevant prologue to what's happening right now.

Ten years ago, on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, I walked away from my teaching career, and I’m grateful I walked away when I did. I’ve been present to pay attention to what’s happening in Minnesota and forge connections far beyond her borders.

This moment will add up to so much more.

My own experience tells me so. Both of my memoirs document everyday intersections with historical moments. In 1987, as an exchange student to West Germany with minimal German fluency, I lived on a street named after two heroes of the German resistance, siblings Sophie and Hans Scholl from the White Rose. They grew up in the Black Forest where my host family lived. I stood on both sides of the notorious Berlin Wall, built in the aftermath of World War II, and I first learned their history further in a West Berlin museum. My comprehensive journal of daily rambling notes to self from those three months helped me to write and publish German Awakening three decades after I returned home from West Germany, a country that no longer exists.

Once the Berlin Wall fell in 1989 and reunified a divided people, my German literature major no longer made logical sense. Yet my path through language education was the most relevant training I can imagine to meet this moment in American history, as ICE comes down on us all.

I haven’t been outside much in this cold snap, unlike many brave neighbors in Minneapolis. But I know what it is to live and learn and connect using a non-native-to-me language. That’s worth a lot in this moment. I'll find the work I'm called to do. I call myself a Courageous Wordsmith, along with my collaborators. We're in this together.

What’s the work you’re called to do? How are you courageous?

I am asking you to not look away from Minneapolis or Greater Minnesota. I wonder, what can you offer to center humanity in this moment? How can you raise awareness so that all of US, everywhere, can do better? You don’t have to know the end at the outset.

You don’t have to be a martyr for the cause. But we all need you. Nothing is wasted.

We start wherever we are.

All the path of a real-life witness requires is that we’re aware: We’re willing to ask questions, listen, keep taking notes, and do something Good.

Terrance C. Newby is an attorney, novelist, and playwright based in Roseville, Minnesota. His plays The Cage, The Body Politic, Reunion Forever, The Piano Teacher, Little Rock 1942 and Our Dearest Friends have been professionally staged in Twin Cities theaters. Terry’s novel Dangerfield’s Promise was published in April 2022, and has received five-star reviews from the Seattle Book Review, Manhattan Book Review, Chicago Book Review, and the Midwest Book Review, among others. The book and customer reviews are available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Terry is currently working on a sequel to Dangerfield’s Promise. More information about Terry’s work can be found on his website. 

https://www.terrancenewby.com/

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

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I have so much to say about the richness and challenge of my journey through the life coach world, and someday soon I'll be ready to write about that. But if there's anything I would tell my former self, as she moved through that process, it's this: You aren't doing this wrong, and you don't have to justify this training (at an advanced level, no less) by becoming a FULL-BLOWN LIFE COACH. You can educate yourself (and invest in yourself) just because it's helping you learn who you are, in deeper ways than you have before. So you can trust in the process, and trust in your gifts unfolding, even if you don't know how to apply them yet, especially when—up until now—experts told you how to meet and exceed their expectations. Beloved, I'm proud of how you're taking this time to redefine your own expectations, even if the clarity is taking a while.

After all, your life's work is unprecedented. Life coaching tools are expanding your vocabulary. That's more than enough.

Most of all, you get to enjoy being exactly where and who you are. No apologies needed for wanting to play with new kinds of knowledge.

Here's some added context in retrospect: After I quit my increasingly scripted teaching career, I turned to life coach training to heal and to build my (unnamed, undefined) new career at midlife, because I didn't believe I was finished with my work in the world. But it was never as simple as calling myself a life coach; that's never felt entirely right, even though the training felt necessary. That title missed so many of my core gifts, the ones that had brought in the money before, which is why I stayed too long and got so wounded in the first place. But listen.

Just because I no longer wanted to be a teacher in that setting, didn't mean my teaching skills were no longer valid. Those remained part of my curriculum vitae—my life's body of work. Even if I wasn't seeing it anymore.

I have gifts like nobody else in this world. So do you. Finding new context for our life's body of work? That's courageous.

So maybe also, I'd like to say, Thank you. Thank you for taking this risk even though you were scared. Especially because you were so scared. While you might be tempted to feel ashamed of your very big feelings, you can be proud that you let yourself feel what your body was saying.

Your body has been steering you to what matters, and what you don't truly require. Such as that title of "Master Life Coach."

Nowadays, I call myself an author, podcaster, book writing mentor, and editor—who has life coach training.

Which is another way of saying: I'm a language teacher. I teach embodied narrative craft.

All of which brings me to this: There are people on the path with information, all kinds of people you'll engage with, but you get to decide which parts are most useful for you to grow, how you interpret that information, and which parts hold the meaning that you'll carry forward.

Since I can't offer this advice to Amy in 2017, I offer guidance along these lines to the writers I work with today. Where it also applies.

Finally, I would say this to 2017 Amy: Notice your glimmer of hope when Bev Barnes takes one look at your work, never having met you before, and calls you a teacher. She's truly a Master Life Coach. You're going to want to invite her as a guest on your podcast to talk about this exact topic, after you've proven her right. (Yes, there will be a podcast. Enjoy!) 

PS—And if you want to play pickleball, play pickleball. Because it's fun.

Bev Barnes guides midlife coaches and creatives to stop circling their calling and finally create the work their soul came here to do. A Certified Master Life Coach, Soul Work Midwife, and Life Coach Mentor, Bev has been guiding women at midlife to claim their brilliance and shine their light for decades. Today, she specializes in working with women who are at midlife or beyond, who trained as coaches but never quite got going—or never followed their true calling—helping them finally put the pieces together and bring their soul’s work to life.

Bev's Links:

You can access Soul's Niche Guide - an AI tool created to help you find your purpose as a coach or soulpreneur 

Free Master Class coming up - From Wound to Wisdom - Unlocking the Work that Only You Can Do. Sign Up here

Find out more about Bev's services here

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Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

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At the heart of my work, I draw connections with and for real-life creatives, often from my lived experience of making those kinds of connections in my own work. Not only would a younger Amy have cringed to see me publish the writing I do, but also at the way I reach out to people and say, "Hey, I have a feeling we could work together," or more simply, "Something you shared resonated with me. Please record a conversation for my podcast." But you know what? I'm really good at it, so at this point I own that gift. Because it works out well for me.

When I look at Beth Cyr's artwork, I see her doing a similar thing: This is my gift, she says through her pieces, It's something beautiful inside me, and I'm going to do it. And once I've made it, I'll share it. As a result, the rest of us get to enjoy her beautiful imagery. I have a print on my bookshelf from Beth, from this time when she had done all this drawing and I could buy a random print from the collection.

That simple yet nuanced landscape inspires me every time I contemplate it. And it's there in the background, quietly keeping beauty in mind. What if your creations could be like that? It comes from knowing who you are and how you feel most like you as you move through the world.

Beth made it easy to buy and I was grateful to receive this present-to-me I'd requested that was nonetheless a surprise. She's since taken it to a whole new level in her Gifts from the Universe project, which you can read about in the links below.

Beth and I have mutual online friends. So over the summer when she sent an email to her list that especially spoke to me, it wasn't such a stretch to reach out and say, "Hi. We've never spoken before, but let's talk." Unsurprisingly, Beth knew who I was... I was surprised when she replied that she'd seen my name in a congratulatory forum post announcing my certification in Level 4 Quantum Human Design. Ahem.

In the space of three weeks, I completed four levels of Quantum Human Design certification, and I was kind of wondering how I was going to talk about that. It makes Younger Amy very uncomfortable to mention. Academic Amy as well. As in, I hadn't mentioned it widely. Because it's an esoteric, well-known field in the life coaching world, certain people expect that from me; my clients know I'm a bit spiritual. I also come from a more prosaic world where such things are looked on as a little (or a lot) out there... a pseudoscience... and also... I find that Human Design is incredibly cool and my chart explains SO MUCH. So I've been quietly exploring for years. I'm only just starting to talk about why that is.

So when Beth congratulated me, I recognized the opportunity for what it was: an opportunity to explore this unexpected connection and gather courage to be a bit more "out there." Maybe stop letting the younger, more-easily-mortified Amy decide what I'm talking about. Decondition myself, if you will, and let my gifts shine. Because Human Design is a gift. We talk a bit about deconditioning in the podcast.

In essence, it's letting go of what isn't really your energy and your gifts, and embracing what really is. And who decides? YOU.

My Human Design chart reveals that following Shiny Objects (I've mentioned several examples above) is a grand and restorative use of my energy. I'm wired to indulge my muses, and to encourage you to as well. And there will be talking. For Beth, it's more body based.

I've found the creative process is like this. I let myself respond to a Shiny Object (rather than shrinking away for fear of derision, and potentially being labeled as having "Shiny Object Syndrome..." a known term of derision) and I find out that not only do I have this initial thing in common with the person I contacted to talk, but we have more to talk about, and they help me to see the depth where prior to that I only had worries.

That's what this conversation with Beth was like, as well as a primer on Human Design. Beth made Human Design abundantly clear, and as I listen again, I continue to learn more. That's why I think this episode is incredibly cool, and I'm proud to share it.

Beth Cyr is an artist, relationship coach, and Quantum Human Design Specialist. To work with clients she has an array of practices from her tool box that include Human Design, somatic work (movement), breathwork, mindfulness and meditation, creativity and art. Through Human Design she's gained a new level of understanding, compassion, and acceptance in all her relationships and wants to share this with others.

Beth's Links:

Website

Instagram

Beth's Gifts from the Universe Project starts on Black Friday—but it isn't a typical Black Friday sale. Read more about it.

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Anyone who has been in my world even briefly knows that my work is about books... and yes, I do love a well-written book... and my work is about supporting real-life authors and working creatives... and / but / also there's this affective healing side I'm always paying attention to. This understanding leads people I know to make introductions of people they think I should meet. Kris Jennings was one of those people. 

What interested me about Kris, and why I wanted to talk with her on my podcast, is that she managed to accomplish big leadership goals in the corporate world...while also living with anxiety. Despite that great anxiety, she supported top leaders behind the scenes... and she's built a small business despite that anxiety too. And Kris has written a book about all that. There's this myth that high-achieving people have it all together in ways that the rest of us don't, like such people are somehow more calm. In my experience, it isn't necessarily true. 

Accomplishment can actually mask fears. And yet—those fears don't need to stop us from being the human leaders we're meant to be.

This conversation is about Kris's book. But this conversation is also about the very understandable fear of becoming an author, and how Kris allowed herself to do that in a way that her nervous system could handle, and I really think THAT's a topic we could stand to talk more about. Someone once told me that I had published and released my first book "wrong" because I hadn't gotten it to best-seller status on Amazon. And they missed the whole point that publishing any book at all was a really big deal for me, and that publishing my memoir WAS the accomplishment I celebrate. The fact that people wanted to read it was gravy. Nobody gets to decide your book path for you.

So while I do think that you should read Kris's book because the topic of Courageous Leadership is valuable in its own right, this episode is a master class in how you feel the fears and show up anyway, without ever needing to hide our human emotions the way we so often do.

Kris Jennings has more than three decades serving organizations during change. Her designs have helped more than a million people change their behaviors—and feel good about it. She's the author of Inspired by Fear: Becoming a Courageous Change Leader.

Best place to find Kris, learn more about her, and buy her book is on her website: 

https://krisjennings.com 

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kris-jennings/

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Ten years ago this month, I started my 21st year of teaching with painful confirmations that my career was on its last legs: betrayal by people in power and a frozen right shoulder (my dominant side) that made it hard to write on the board.

I didn’t know how or when I would make the leap to the life of a working creative. But I knew I had run out of options in my longtime school district.

It turned out to be two things. 

First: I had to leave. When the semester ended in January, I did. My body insisted I do so. Certain people made sure it happened… some who didn’t have my back, some who absolutely did. Thanks to them, even (especially) in that fearful passage, I experienced HOPE.

Second: After my escape, I kept hope alive by cobbling together activities in person and online, including a book revision cohort that met around a dining room table in South Minneapolis, led by an occasional mentor of mine. I got admitted by promising to finish my manuscript in time for my critique, several months in. That’s where I met Keri Mangis, also processing the end of a dream.

When my book’s turn came to be read, my draft was done, but I backed out for reasons that boil down to a still-raw and reactive nervous system. Of that group, I only trusted Keri to read my draft.

And when we reached the milestone of being published—our respective book launch parties—you better believe we were there for each other.

I pulled oracle cards, doing readings for guests at Keri’s February 2020 launch, just before the world shut down. And of course I was going to podcast about Keri’s TEDx Talk experience this summer.

See, every time I get to witness Keri’s path or she mine, we both have something to offer and we both take something away. I feel a bit more courageous. Every time, without fail. This time as well. 

Keri’s talking about menopause: One life period ending, a promising period starting. Her TEDx idea is to celebrate that passage with women.

I’m here for the celebration.

And we’ll both keep walking.

Keri Mangis is more than just an author and speaker—she’s a guide for those seeking deeper meaning and transformation in a chaotic world. With over 20 years of experience as a wholeness advocate and spiritual teacher, Keri understands the frustration of feeling stuck and disconnected. Through her writing and teachings, Keri helps people break free from limiting beliefs to rediscover their true essence and align with their core values. Her spiritual and personal growth studies and certifications have run the gamut over the years from yoga, Ayurveda, energy work, and meditation. Most recently, she has taken on studying Alchemy, Jungian Psychology, archetypes, and rites of passage. Her writing has appeared in Spirituality and Health Magazine, Star Tribune, Elephant Journal, and others. Her first book, Embodying Soul: A Return to Wholeness, received multiple awards, including the 2020 IPA award for Mind, Body & Spirit and the 2020 Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal in Non-Fiction Spiritual and Supernatural. 

She is currently working on her second book, an illuminating exploration of personal and collective transformation that will empower readers to evolve their consciousness for an uncertain future.

Keri's Links:

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Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

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The big ideas that get us all talking didn't come from nowhere. Someone started talking about them, and somewhere along the way, they got traction. Somebody or something amplified them and they resonated. And that's the big idea behind a TedX talk. It's also the idea behind the partnerships I've been nurturing ever since I decided that I was going to commit my life going forward to being an author. These are those people we encounter who contribute indelibly to our understanding of where we've been and where we want to be going forward. 

Keri Mangis is one of those people for me.

I met Keri shortly after I had resigned my teaching job in early 2016, when I signed up for a book revision class in Minneapolis as a way to motivate myself to FINALLY get that first memoir draft finished. In theory we four participants would read through each other's manuscripts in turn and give helpful notes. In actuality, when I got the manuscript done, I gave it to my mother to read and (hint to all people writing memoirs: NEVER do that) not only did it ruin Mother's Day (yes, really, it was her Mother's Day present... seriously... do not do this... she hated my book) but the experience was so painful that I decided that I also did not trust the participants of the group to comment on my manuscript, nor the leader (who had just lost her mother... you see what a slippery slope this is) even after my mom and I started talking to each other again. 

Except... I really wanted Keri to be my first beta reader. And so, I quietly reached and asked her and felt comforted when she agreed.

That's right. Keri read German Awakening when it still went by another name. Her comments were helpful and made me feel seen.

Keri gave me names for a lot of things I didn't recognize fully back then, such as the word "Patriarchy." But I did know that in a society centered on men, certain essential truths about women get devalued at best, and often hidden. So. When Keri started talking about menopause as a liminal space, even though it's a topic we're FINALLY discussing, of course Keri had a fascinating take on menopause I'd never thought of.

And as the anecdote with my mom reveals, we really should be talking about the experience of women elders in our male-normative world.

It feels preordained that Keri would be selected to give a TedX Minneapolis talk. And of course we were going to podcast about it.

This is the pre-talk episode, on the origins of Keri's talk and what this whole experience has meant to her so far. 

The show is THIS WEDNESDAY, 6:00 at Orchestra.

You can buy tickets here. 

Keri will be back for Episode 111 to debrief with me. See you at Orchestra Hall

Keri Mangis is more than just an author and speaker—she’s a guide for those seeking deeper meaning and transformation in a chaotic world. With over 20 years of experience as a wholeness advocate and spiritual teacher, Keri understands the frustration of feeling stuck and disconnected. Through her writing and teachings, Keri helps people break free from limiting beliefs to rediscover their true essence and align with their core values. Her spiritual and personal growth studies and certifications have run the gamut over the years from yoga, Ayurveda, energy work, and meditation. Most recently, she has taken on studying Alchemy, Jungian Psychology, archetypes, and rites of passage. She has completed several courses with Sharon Blackie, Michael Meade, and the Center of Applied Jungian Studies. Her writing has appeared in Spirituality and Health Magazine, Star Tribune, Elephant Journal, and others. Her first book, *Embodying Soul: A Return to Wholeness*, received multiple awards, including the 2020 IPA award for Mind, Body & Spirit and the 2020 Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal in Non-Fiction Spiritual and Supernatural. She is currently working on her second book, an illuminating exploration of personal and collective transformation that will empower readers to evolve their consciousness for an uncertain future.

Keri's Links:

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Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

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I am not a fangirl. I'm not that person who waits at the stage door to talk with famous people after a concert or someone who would approach a famous person at a restaurant to ask for an autograph. I'd rather go home and sleep than attend a loud afterparty where I have to engage in group small talk. Better still, I love to connect one on one, in a quieter setting, uninterrupted, around the stories behind the performance.

Which is why this podcast episode is both surprising and not. Because it's all about connecting through creativity on genuine, human level.

I've heard Jeremy Messersmith's name around the Twin Cities for years. His music is frequently played on The Current, the Minnesota Public Radio music station. Some years back, I heard that he was doing these house concerts where he played his ukulele in people's living rooms. Last summer, I attended one of these parties where I had a front row seat and interacted more with Jeremy than I would have expected. Afterwards, over catered appetizers, we got into a conversation around the parallels between his creative process and mine.

Which led to this conversation around Jeremy Messersmith's creative process, and where he gets his inspiration and courage.

In a world where it's loud out there and human presence feels increasingly rare, Jeremy has found a way to perform his songs and connect with people personally, much in the intimate way that a storyteller does. He's sharing this human experience. And it goes beyond performance to the creation. Jeremy interacts with fellow musicians to write his music, and his engagement with audience members reflects back meaning.

And isn't that why we create?

It's a good conversation. Enjoy.

Travel safely, 

Love, Amy

PS—Twin Cities real-life creatives....read below for my take on an interactive living room party for writers.

Jeremy Messersmith is a singer/songwriter based in Minneapolis, MN.

Instagram @jeremymessersmith

Jeremy's linktree

Coming Sunday, August 10, 9:45–noon in St. Paul, Minnesota: Courageous Wordsmith Sunday Morning

Interested in my iteration of a Courageous Wordsmith Twin Cities living room party, inspired in part by Jeremy's idea? Join us for my first-ever Courageous Wordsmith Sunday Morning, part parallel writing session, part reflective circle. Get inspired in the company of kindred writers.

$25 for a session, FREE for members of the Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers.

Email me at amy @ amyhallberg (dot) com for the details and payment link.

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Timing for creative work is interesting. Sometimes you start a project that, for whatever reason, doesn't want to come together right then. Later the perfect timing arises, and you understand that this project was preparing itself to meet the moment.

I recorded this conversation with Sigrid K. Nielsen two years ago; then my podcast went on a forced hiatus. (As in, my editor quit to be a musician, causing me to rework my production process.) Which meant that this and other conversations never got produced, but I kept them in reserve.

Now it's Pride Month 2025; now is the moment.

What I said then is equally true today: Sigrid K Nielsen lights up a room. I have spent time with her on many occasions, live and on Zoom calls, 1:1 and in groups, and she's never been anything but her most authentic, fully expressed, and yes, BLISSFUL, free self. That’s a choice on her part. When you read Sigrid‘s book (forthcoming) you'll see what I mean: Sigrid is incredibly vibrant. But you don't have to wait for the book to meet her. You can listen today.

Be forewarned, Sigrid will force you to rethink things you thought you were certain of. Because she sure has rethought things. Courageously so.

Back to the timing: As I release this episode, it's Monday, June 23. I wanted to release it on Friday, but that just didn't want to happen, even though it was ready. All the things were conspiring to delay publication. Then on Saturday evening, we learned that bombs were illegally dropped on Iran without notice and without any justification except to make an old man feel good about himself. As with so much right now, there is so much distraction.

And I'm going to say this part out loud: Othering trans people, making them scapegoats for all the harms in the world, is keeping US ALL from being who WE ALL truly are, seeing what's right there for us to see. WE ALL have it in us to be compassionate, kind, loving people, when we're not running scared from each other. But that requires awareness.

We can make another choice.

This othering is not a new tactic. It was there in the 30's in Germany, when trans people were targeted (we forget that part because their libraries, their history, their rich artistic culture was obliterated), and it was there in the 80's when Sigrid and I were coming of age, and only rockstars could dress as they wanted. Because it was a "costume."

Performance, you see. Heaven forbid YOU be queer. Or other. Sigrid’s former self knew that assignment.

But that required hiding in plain sight. Even from yourself. And once you're aware of what's really there, you can't not see it. Pretending not to see is exhausting. You want to stop making believe.

Isn’t that true for us all?

Sigrid is a trans woman who transitioned at nearly 50 years old. AND. This is who she's always been.

As much as I have always recognized Sigrid's voice as powerful, her writing sublime, her presence uplifting and joyous, there has never been a moment when her message was more essential.

We have solutions to find for our one small, beautiful planet's great problems. Queer people are not one of those problems. They deserve all the love.

They are leading the way, ahead of their time.

It's going to require all of us to face our deepest fears and embrace our most profound gifts. Our humanity. And to be abundantly clear, this doesn't mean YOU have to be TRANS. Unless you are.

We need YOU to be YOU. That's our agenda.

Because, as Sigrid often reminds me, though our stories may look vastly different on the surface— hers is from the perspective of a trans woman who came out at midlife, and mine is a different kind of midlife revival—our real-life stories are universal.

We are all human and we are all in this together.

Thanks Sigrid!

Love, Amy

Sigrid K. Nielsen stepped into her truth in May 2021 and has been living her best self ever since. Her life is better now than anything she ever imagined in her wildest dreams. She works with people and companies as a speaker, coach, and Financial Advisor.

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

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Cara Pacific Campbell was the first person who took me up on my offer of a 1:1 Book Writing Mentorship and put her trust in me. I was grateful that someone so vibrant felt drawn to working with me, but looking back, it makes perfect sense. When we are paying attention, we're drawn to our people. Cara and I are both high-performing women who worked way too hard and paid a steep price with our health. 

As in, our bodies made us quit our careers when our minds thought that we could—had to—power through. Instead, we were sidelined.

And why did we think we had to power through? Well... how else would we have any meaningful impact in life? How else did we have value? Which is a societal misperception that has needed addressing for a very long time. What we've been through, many are going through now.

Also... we are both people who communicate who we are through our colors of choice. I think of Cara in vibrant yellows and reds.

These lively signature colors are very much at odds with what Cara was living with in her battle with chronic Lyme disease.

There's a huge silver lining. Cara finally connected to her dreams of work in Peru, tapping into ancient knowledge that now infuses this book. And hey, I taught beginning Spanish for a few years. I've always thought that teaching Spanish was a way station on the journey to something beyond that. This book was one of those meaningful stops on the journey. Oh, and also...

Pretty sure that Cara and I are going to host a Writing Revival in Peru someday.

Picture yourself there with us. How awesome would that be?

Meanwhile, you can actively witness the culmination of her book journey if that's calling to you, or simply take courage from hearing how it came into being. Me? I got to help Cara infuse this book with her witty, deep, infectious wisdom. I feel profoundly proud and grateful to know that I was there at Cara's beginning as an author, and that she was there at my beginning as a book writing mentor. 

What a beautiful testament to my vision for Courageous Wordsmith.

It's a full-circle episode and it feels like that.

Enjoy!

Cara Pacific Campbell is a top-performing sales leader turned author, coach, and resilience expert. After a medical collapse ended her high-achieving career, she began an unexpected healing journey—one that blends neuroscience, ancient wisdom, and the gritty reality of burnout recovery. Her upcoming book is part memoir, part roadmap for ambitious women ready to succeed without self-destructing. Cara helps high performers reconnect with their power, rewrite their patterns, and rise—on their own terms.

Cara's Links:

www.linkedin.com/in/carapacificcampbell 

https://www.instagram.com/carapacificcampbell/ 

https://www.facebook.com/carapacific 

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Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

When Keri and I recorded this episode in late 2022, I was still editing my second memoir for publication and she was drafting a book that's also now nearing publication. The podcast never got produced at that time, but I happened onto the recording this past winter and it caught my attention. Keri and I are still writing today. I'm starting new books and she's preparing to deliver a TED-x Talk this summer.

And this conversation feels like a divinely timed gift from our former selves, and a personal invitation to you if you want it. 

Because yes, I absolutely am writing for my life. I know Keri still agrees.

I had a stage one cancer diagnosis this past month. That's all I care to say about that right now, because this gets to be my story first. For now, I want you to know that I have emerged on the other side, and am currently cancer free with a heightened sense of awareness: 

One reason I need to survive IS FOR MY WRITING. I need to write this story for me. And I will share it someday.

I have wisdom I am still gaining, and knowledge that people will need.

I don't need to justify that impulse nor ask permission. 

I don't need to know now how it turns out. 

I am healing. I will be creating. 

I live into my passions.

How about you?

Keri Mangis is more than just an author and speaker—she’s a guide for those seeking deeper meaning and transformation in a chaotic world. With over 20 years of experience as a wholeness advocate and spiritual teacher, Keri understands the frustration of feeling stuck and disconnected. Through her writing and teachings, Keri helps people break free from limiting beliefs to rediscover their true essence and align with their core values. Her spiritual and personal growth studies and certifications have run the gamut over the years from yoga, Ayurveda, energy work, and meditation. Most recently, she has taken on studying Alchemy, Jungian Psychology, archetypes, and rites of passage. She has completed several courses with Sharon Blackie, Michael Meade, and the Center of Applied Jungian Studies. Her writing has appeared in Spirituality and Health Magazine, Star Tribune, Elephant Journal, and others. Her first book, *Embodying Soul: A Return to Wholeness*, received multiple awards, including the 2020 IPA award for Mind, Body & Spirit and the 2020 Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal in Non-Fiction Spiritual and Supernatural. She is currently working on her second book, an illuminating exploration of personal and collective transformation that will empower readers to evolve their consciousness for an uncertain future.

Keri's Links:

Book

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

I am so ridiculously proud of my latest podcast episode with Corinne Bauer of Tiny Art Maui.

And I really hope you will listen to it. Everything about this conversation and how it came to be is unexpected. I met Corinne at an art show in a Hawaiian hotel lobby. But when I talk about Shiny Objects and allowing myself to play freely in their presence, this is what I’m talking about.

On the surface I was drawn to Corinne’s delightful Tiny Art Maui display because, as she herself says, it’s so stinking cute. And because I couldn’t ignore the synchronicity with my book Tiny Altars, which includes framed dollhouse art in its opening chapter. So I indulged my fascination and asked her about her dainty landscapes and frames and how they came to be. That's the draw of Shiny Objects.

But underneath that whimsical façade that allowed us to connect, we quickly discovered the powerful foundational beliefs that Corinne and I both share as Gen X women who came to our artistry later in life. Namely that art is absolutely necessary for our humanity. That we are so much more creative than we give ourselves credit for being. And that we absolutely get to claim our gifts.

So just as Corinne came to believe that the world needs Tiny Art Maui, I believe that the world needs to hear this gorgeous, candid, spontaneous podcast conversation. En-JOY.

Love, Amy

PS—The TED Talk Corinne references in our conversation is HERE.

With a steady hand and an eye for intricate detail, watercolor artist, Corinne Bauer creates captivating miniature paintings that invite viewers into tiny worlds of wonder. Each piece, often smaller than a matchbox, celebrates light, color, and the power of special moments captured in time. Based on Maui, Corinne draws endless inspiration from the island’s vibrant landscapes, tranquil seascapes, and lush flora. Her process involves using brushes as fine as a needle and holding her breath to achieve extraordinary precision in every stroke. These tiny masterpieces invite the viewer to slow down, lean in, and immerse themselves in the infinite beauty of Hawaii’s natural world. Corinne’s work has been featured in galleries, artist showcases, and private collections.

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Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

I always knew that I loved writing. But I'm not sure I understood—until I went through a major transition, and not by my own choice—that writing is healing. At first it's writing just for me, raw and unwieldy and terrifying, but I always have the sense that this writing is something that, when I'm ready, is meant to be shared. Because stories tell us we're not alone. And they help people find us so that we can be there for each other.

Meanwhile, I let myself stay in that first stage of book writing as long as I need to, a stage I call ALLOWING. Allowing it all to be whatever it is. And that allowing makes room for the most powerful stories come through. One of the biggest compliments I ever receive as a writer, and how I know my words have landed, is when people feel inexplicably drawn to tell me THEIR stories. It comes from the deepest parts of them, as a welcome release. I can feel it. Because I've processed my hard things, I'm able to listen to theirs and that helps.

And even if we never meet at all, these readers and I, stories of healing help people. Yes, we write for ourselves first, but it doesn't stop there. Memoir is not selfish. It's the most generous thing you can do. Does that make sense? Because if you take nothing else away from this episode, it's that you can write your hardest things, yes, the very worst of them, and you can transform them into beautiful writing. 

So the next question people ask me is: How?

How to you get from that very worst moment of heartbreak to a beautiful completed book? Well...

I remember when Nikki Kindred Halvorson's husband was killed by a drunk driver in March 2020, because a mutual friend reached out to let me know what had happened. Nikki would need to work with me, this mutual friend said. She didn't know when, but she wanted to let me know. And she was absolutely right. I felt called to work on this project as Nikki's mentor and editor in due time. Eventually, she reached out.

After Allowing, you progress into other stages: Composing, Revision, Editing, and now Sharing. That's where I came in.

(Do you see the acronym? ACRES? My shorthand for: If you're transforming a landscape, you do it acre by acre.)

There was nothing expected or pretty about the loss of John Erik Halvorson—Nikki's longtime best friend and husband—a tragedy compounded by so many things. Such as the old house they were restoring together, all torn apart. A pandemic. And more.

But the process of salvaging stories for a beautiful book? (Or several...) There's nothing like it.

So if you're wondering how you do that, write a book about your worst nightmare and feel proud of it and even grateful?

Nikki pulls back the curtain in this episode. You'll want to listen.

Nikki Kindred Halvorson works as a pediatric speech-language pathologist and is active in historical preservation. She realized a lifelong dream in 2014 when she became caretaker of a great old house with her husband, Erik. Widowed in 2020 at age 32, Nikki has continued to rehab her house and has begun building a new life on the foundation of her old one as she heals. She’s currently in the process of realizing another lifelong dream of becoming a published author.

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

As long as I've known Sara Taylor, I've thought of her as a gifted writer who—when she gained momentum—would write volumes I want to read. Which is how she was an early participant in what has become my Circle for Real-Life Writers; I've been an up-close witness. Sara's subject matter and how she frames it fascinates me. If I'm interested in the inner working of stories around generational trauma and healing, Sara's a healing practitioner who delves deep into underlying patterns behind stories AND fearlessly applies these lessons in her own life.

Her work is groundbreaking. I really believe that. But writing about such things takes time.

So when Sara sent out a newsletter sharing how she gained traction on a writing practice thanks to the website 750words.com, I took note. The previous day, I'd heard a random podcast where a prolific author credited the same unknown-to-me website with her own momentum. This was a welcome synchronicity. For months, I've been looking for a way back into the earliest drafting stage of book writing. 

It's been a long time since I typed the early free-written content that became my two memoirs, random thoughts I saved in Pages with only the vaguest idea of what my book wanted to be (singular, I thought) in the dark forty-five minutes before I awoke my seven-year-old twins. This followed years to work up a strategy and courage to write, and only after I stole the playroom from my kids where I still write today. Initially Pages worked. Afterwards, I had all these document files to wade through and got bogged down again in subsequent stages.

Writing tools have evolved since 2011; I'm a different writer too. As in, I think of myself as a writer. Sara talks about this shift too.

There's no one tool to write a book. It's just what works for you. But! Within two days, two women I respect described this site as a game changer. And I was intrigued. Because knowing where you're going to write, with a simple set-up, helps calm down resistance. 

So I signed up for the website, to try it out for myself. The next thing I did was invite Sara to record this conversation.

It's one of many tools, but it might be the one that will get you—finally—writing.

Because we want you to have options for your practice too.

Sara Taylor, PhD, is a neuroscientist turned generational and existential life coach who helps deep thinkers and creatives break free from inherited patterns and lingering existential unease. With a deep understanding of generational trauma, she works with those who’ve done extensive personal work—especially around anxiety and depression—but still feel stuck, disconnected, or like life is passing them by. She helps people recognize and shift the hidden influences shaping their lives so they can move beyond dissatisfaction into greater potential, meaning, and momentum.

Follow here: 

IG: @sarabtaylorphd 

Substack: @sarabtaylorphd

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

My junior year in high school, we read Thornton Wilder's play Our Town in English class. My senior year, that same English teacher, Carol Ottoson, directed the play and cast me as the Stage Manager. That role, which spends so much time reflecting on details in life and their meaning, had a huge influence on how I see the world, and I'm certain that's rubbed off on me as a writer of creative nonfiction: how I make sense of small details, the things that matter, the people around me, and how they all connect to each other. It seems to me that I would be a different person if not for that experience, and the understanding that I had a voice that carries, and that I can use it for good in the world.

So when I went with my husband to a recent production of Our Town at a neighboring high school, I was delighted to run into my old castmate (and previous podcast guest) Cory Busse, himself a writer, whose daughter was now in the show. We both agreed that this play was something special, something that had a huge impact on both of us, and something that holds up across time. So I reached out to our former English teacher, Carol Ottoson, and the three of us recorded a reunion conversation. It's the perfect introduction to my latest podcast season.

I am reminded all the time that story is powerful. Connection to each other is powerful. And we have no idea the impact that stories will have on us until long after they're told. Some stories have our attention a moment. But some stories—and some people—make an indelible mark.

And if that's not a worthy reason to make our artwork and write our stories and engage in creative play with each other, I'm not sure what is.

Carol Ottoson (Otto) retired from teaching, coaching, and directing after 36 years in the classroom, including 24 in the Prior Lake Savage (MN) School District. She continues to sub in the district. She directed theater for thirty years and coached speech for 34 years. Carol and her husband Keith have been married for over 51 years and have two adult children, Heather and Andy, two sons-in-law, Collan and Branden, and two grandsons, Zach and Jameson. Carol and her husband enjoy traveling and are frequently on the road somewhere. Carol also occasionally preaches at her local church (htumc.org). They are a reconciling congregation, and promote inclusivity.

Follow Carol on Facebook  or email her directly at ottoem50@aol.com. 

Cory Busse was once voted "Sexiest Man Alive" by Cory Busse Magazine whose audience boasts more than zero Cory Busses.

Follow "Tales from the Christmas Village," a way to keep the spirit of snark alive in your heart all year long. 

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

This year, more than ever, I wanted to honor Black History Month, at a time when attempts have been made to erase it. I invited my friend Terry Newby to help me do that. As a white woman in America, I loved literature, but I did not grow up reading many marginalized voices. While I knew the name James Baldwin, I couldn't have told you what he stood for. And now? I know him as a Black man and a gay author. And what else? I've admired him interview clips. He feels important. How do I talk about his contributions, beyond a surface level?

I'm no expert in Black literature. I'm still very much learning. But this is knowledge that Terry brings.

I'm also not German, and I taught those stories for seventeen years, within a historical context. That was not an accident. I was trained by some excellent literature teachers. I learned about the authors as people within their life circumstances in concert with reading their writing. For our six-hour comprehensive graduation exam, we German majors were required to know all relevant information, literary terminology, authors, character names, themes, and dates for all literary movements and a selection of eighty German canonical works. And were required to figure out what "relevant" meant for ourselves. It was brutal. I read some in the German original, some in translation, and met with fellow German majors to compare notes. We passed, all six of us, which is to say: We graduated, none of us with honors in our major, not even my classmate who graduated Summa Cum Laude. I will always remember how Julie Klassen, our beloved mentor, brought us strawberry tea and donuts for a break three hours in. It was more than perfect. She gave us a powerful lesson, better than acing the test, honestly. We didn't know everything we were asked, but we could prepare, come close enough, and celebrate our exploration of writers.

This took place in a language that wasn't even mine until I was fourteen. Let that sink in for a moment. Their voices were truly foreign to me. But they came from a context I needed to learn and these were their authentic voices. What a gift. So what I have, really, is the training to ponder the authors I read. Where do they come from, and what does that bring to their writing?

What's there for me to take away from the reading?

Please understand, I don't mean that an author intended to include all the meaningful connections that show up in their writing. I firmly believe that things land in creative works that a writer never consciously intended to add, but readers see them, because I have experienced this in my own writing. It's magic, really. It's the fullest expression of what it is to be human, and it's essential. The writer's gifts take on a life of their own. But what the writer does, and must do, is gather the courage to show up and publish the words. And readers make meaning.

We, the readers, can ask the questions together and individually and trust that it's going to be a good journey, whatever we find.

James Baldwin had courage in spades. I've seen him in those video clips and thought of him as another mentor, albeit not one I know well. And when Terry Newby came into my world, we started having conversations that make us both think deeply, as I once did with my German major peers. (You'll hear this in the interview. I pose some questions where it's clear that I'm formulating. I have no idea where we'll end up. Terry laughs and calls me out and responds with his own surprises. Not all of it makes it into the final product. Terry can attest to that.)

It's a creative process we capture, just as Baldwin was known to say unexpected things on the video clips that I've seen and admired.

This is actually the antidote to that star-student perfectionism that society trains us to reach for. When we don't have to be the expert, this makes room for us to appreciate the experience of all the interesting, diverse voices around us. Terry and I agree: We must do this NOW.

I appreciate how James Baldwin led the way, refusing to be someone that he was not, nor a stereotype of the richly gifted person he was. Baldwin didn't parse words. And because he grounded us so fully in his experience, I can extrapolate. I can learn where I stand and maybe take steps in another direction. And I loved seeing where Terry came from as a writer, with Baldwin as one of his key influences.

Thank you to Terry for introducing me to James Baldwin as one of the authors that influenced him most as a writer.

We ended with a list of Terry's favorite books for Black History Month, or frankly, whenever you want a good read.

Terrance Newby's Recommendations:

• Another Country, by James Baldwin
• The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison
• Invisible Man, by Ralph Ellison
• Native Son, by Richard Wright
• Beloved, by Toni Morrison

Think fast: If you enjoyed this conversation and you're in Minnesota, you can see a play by Terry this Friday, February 28 at 7:00. Landmark Center in St. Paul is staging an encore performance of Little Rock, 1942, by Terrance Newby and James Lundy. Terry not only co-wrote this play, but he's in it. I saw the premiere and I learned so much. Seriously good. Buy your tickets in advance here. Only $10, only one night.

Terrance C. Newby is an attorney, novelist, and playwright based in St. Paul, Minnesota. His plays The Cage, The Body Politic, Reunion Forever, and The Piano Teacher have been professionally staged in Twin Cities theaters.

Terry's novel, Dangerfield's Promise, was published in April 2022, and has received five-star reviews from the Seattle Book Review, Manhattan Book Review, Chicago Book Review, and the Midwest Book Review, among others. Terry is currently working on a sequel to Dangerfield's Promise.

Terry's LinkedIn

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

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Welcome to my 100th Episode! Thank you for celebrating with me.

When I launched this podcast as Frau Amy's World on January 1, 2019, Sarah Bamford Seidelmann was my very first guest. As the original name suggests, I was still transitioning out of my teaching career, through the life coach world, into this literary life as a writer and editor of my own unfolding design. My first true-life novel, German Awakening: Tales from an American Life, had come out in October 3, 2018. This book was much more timely than I anticipated, which made me nervous to talk much about it. As a woman who had stood on both sides of the Berlin Wall at seventeen, two years before it unexpectedly fell, and then went on to teach 20th-century German film and literature for most of my career, I saw too many themes from my book echoing out in my own native land concurrent with publication. How on earth would I talk about that? Such a unique problem for memoir writers.

But / and / also universal to all human beings living on this planet together. We're longing for language to meet these times.

And how did I possibly talk about this life-coaching-meets-narrative-craft world I've been shaping for myself ever since?

Indirectly, via my podcast. The podcast helped me get used to the idea of talking about timely topics. I don't really shape this content. The topics present themselves to me. I read something or I cross paths with somebody. I reach out. Almost invariably they say yes. (Though I must say: ONE famous author that I admire sent me an incredibly gracious no thanks! All I could say was: SHE WROTE ME BACK! But also: I ask knowing she can say no, which likewise requires grace on my part.) I've spoken with many gracious guests, and some amazing humans have partnered with me, especially Will Quie, my first editor, and now Brooke Roy.

All that collaboration requires me to know where I stand, and where others begin. Which gets to this special 100th episode: Boundaries Make Love Possible, also the title of Sarah's most recent beautiful book. And I've seen Sarah live those words.

In saying yes, Sarah was my ideal first guest. Like me, she was a published author (who had graciously blurbed my front cover!) and had left an established career (in her case, as an MD) and gone through Master Coach Training. At the time—and I did look to see—Sarah was the only other Martha Beck Certified Master Life Coach in Minnesota when I graduated. (That name has since changed too. It's now Wayfinder Master Coach Training. Anyway... Sarah is a mentor, a few steps ahead of me in many ways.) The more things change, the more they stay the same, to quote a cliche. I am still a teacher. Sarah is still a healer.

America is still changing fast. It's still hard to talk about it.

But also... we have come a long way in those six years. As I write this, this podcast is nearing 6400 downloads.

Sarah is now known as an artist, and I have always considered myself a working, real-life creative. Which is why it was such an honor to interview Sarah about her most recent workbook that combines Sarah's writing and her distinctive artwork. You really might want to read it. It's lovely and colorful, and I find myself relying on the wisdom inside and quoting sections to friends. Several of them have received Sarah's book from me for birthdays and Christmas. It really is that relevant and timely.

I have a few more episodes with Sarah coming up in April to celebrate my second book's second birthday.

Meanwhile, inspired by Sarah once more, I'm unveiling new show art. Enjoy!

Here's to 100 episodes. And here's to 100 more.

Sarah Bamford Seidelmann is a 4th generation physician, accomplished author, artist and shamanic healer. Her celebrated and unconventional work aims to restore the soul. “Sarah Seidelmann is a true medicine woman and everything she creates is good for what ails us.” —Martha Beck, New York Times bestselling author of The Way of Integrity.

Boundaries Workbook

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

This episode, in which my dear colleague and peer Orla Collins interviewed me in 2023, introduces my 52-card Tiny Altars oracle deck. My books are available through distributors other than me, and I haven't been interested in opening a storefront to sell these decks. I already tried that with my first book and my first products, and I could do that again, but it's not where I want to put my energy. And I only want to focus on what I am truly here to do as a working creative. I could market the cards to someone else, a distributor who could make them available widely. I do believe they're that good. But I don't want to.

I grew up watching my sign-painter grandpa make branded gifts for his clients, and his remaining golden yardsticks (two that I use daily) bring me profound joy. So instead, I only sell these cards locally in Minnesota and make them available as gifts to my Courageous Wordsmith clients that I work with personally. Which is an intentionally small group. That doesn't make the cards any less powerful or any less profound or any less beautiful. They are in fact the capstone of my self-appointed curriculum on the path to becoming a working creative, my odyssey while I healed myself from the intensive trauma of my teaching career. Now I do what I want. And so... since for all these many reasons, you can't buy the cards on the Internet, I have held off on releasing this episode until now. And then, recently, I listened to the beautiful gift that my friend Orla gave me.

She would not let me deflect my attention away from what I have accomplished with these cards.

These cards represent the complete set of my life-coach-meets-narrative-craft questions around which I framed Tiny Altars. The cards in turn shaped the final book revisions. Both are distilled thanks to that process.

So here's why I'm sharing this episode now:

Because it gives a behind-the-scenes look at what it is to put your creative work into the world, and to remind you that maybe you too feel like hiding as I have, but there's good work that you have to share, however you do. You have choices and agency about how you show up in the world. And furthermore these cards are now, more than ever, at the heart of my work in Courageous Wordsmith, including my recent premiere one-day Writing Revival. So you might want to work with me.

And as I say, for those of you without an artist grandfather to model your life on, who still want to be a real-life working creative, it helps to know what it might look like for you.

Orla Collins, aka the Irish Orlacle, profoundly understands how constant people-pleasing damages relationships, drains energy, producing anxiety, anger and despair. Originally from Dublin, Orla lives in Toronto with her husband, is mum to four, young adults, and a snuggly goldendoodle. Orla loves a well-made cup of tea, speaks with a soft Irish accent, swears occasionally, while using her experience and humour to help her clients dissolve unhealthy, inherited, people-pleasing patterns, strengthen their intimate relationships, and create peace in their homes.

Orla's podcast: Tea with the Irish Orlacle

Instagram: @orlacle_coaching 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orla.collins.5811/ 

Website: www.orlaclecoaching.com

Subscribe to Orla's newsletter

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

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When Cara Pacific Campbell first inquired about working with me as a 1:1 Book Writing Mentor, she was reluctant, but not because she was my first book writing client per se. She was reluctant because she'd never written a book, especially about such tender topics, but she was determined to write her book because it wouldn't leave her alone. As in, she was still living the experience she was writing about. A lot of people who end up working with me are like that. They have something to say, and it's tender and personal and ongoing. I can teach them to write in their own language while they bear witness to what's going on.

Cara's trust in me meant a lot because I too was starting over, at least wearing the hat of a developmental editor. People had started to approach me for writing guidance even before I retired from teaching high school languages, and I'd been coaching writers since then, and edited some. But Cara was the first person to hire me for a longitudinal book development project.

And I got to recapture what I love best about teaching languages: seeing fluency, awareness, and pride build over time.

People come to me at all different stages of writing. In Cara's case, she couldn't even get started. So that's what we worked on. Time passed while Cara lived into the rest of the story, and now she's nearing publication of her memoir. So I asked her to reminisce with me about what it's like writing a book when you've never been a writer before. 

I know that many people out there are wondering how you get started, and if it's all worth it. This is how, and in Cara's opinion: Yes. Yes it is.

Cara Pacific Campbell is an award-winning sales leader, consultant, and author of an upcoming memoir about her battle with Lyme disease and the path to deeper healing. Known for coaching leaders to create thriving, high-performing teams, Cara blends strategy with heart to help people achieve more—without the burnout. Whether she’s teaching reps how to close million-dollar deals or sharing hard-earned life lessons, Cara inspires growth from the inside out. 
 

www.linkedin.com/in/carapacificcampbell
 

https://www.instagram.com/carapacificcampbell/
 

https://www.facebook.com/carapacific

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

You can find Bridgette and learn more about her offerings at https://www.bridgetteboudreau.com.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bboudreau/

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

I met Nicole Diaz in the life-coaching world around the time that I was first envisioning my online community for real-life writers. She demonstrated a brilliant understanding of the creative process, and I had this idea of hosting Idea Parties as the centerpiece of my work with writing groups, with Parker Palmer's work as my model. Nicole was a Parker Palmer fan too. So for a few years, we collaborated to host once-a-month calls on Saturday mornings where we let beautiful words draw us into our writing.

Afterwards, people spoke their voices into the room, and nobody corrected or coached or edited each other. Instead, we let you be at the heart of your story and reflected your words back. And books began to be written and friendships began to be made.

Together, Nicole and I developed a flexible and potent Idea Party format that works to this day, even after she has moved on.

There were other experiments Nicole and I tried, among them this little series of three podcasts. It was going to be available in the community library only, as one of many exclusive features. Since then I've streamlined my online Writing Circle space to center on writing calls and there's no reason to house a three-part podcast series with a leader who's no longer there.

On the other hand, Nicole and I agree that these three episodes would make a beautiful Winter Solstice gift to YOU, my podcast listeners, at a time when creativity could bring us all comfort if we could just calm down about the creative process itself.

These are shorter than my other episodes, and I find talking with Nicole delightful. I hope you enjoy.

Happy holiday season.

Love, Amy

PS–Nicole sends her love too.

Nicole Diaz is a creativity coach and business strategist. She works with business professionals to access their creative flow, and with creatives to build the structure they need to stay on track without losing inspiration. Through private coaching and workshops, she helps people balance strategy and creativity so they can bring their ideas to life. 

www.nicolemdiaz.com

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

I met Nicole Diaz in the life-coaching world around the time that I was first envisioning my online community for real-life writers. She demonstrated a brilliant understanding of the creative process, and I had this idea of hosting Idea Parties as the centerpiece of my work with writing groups, with Parker Palmer's work as my model. Nicole was a Parker Palmer fan too. So for a few years, we collaborated to host once-a-month calls on Saturday mornings where we let beautiful words draw us into our writing.

Afterwards, people spoke their voices into the room, and nobody corrected or coached or edited each other. Instead, we let you be at the heart of your story and reflected your words back. And books began to be written and friendships began to be made.

Together, Nicole and I developed a flexible and potent Idea Party format that works to this day, even after she has moved on.

There were other experiments Nicole and I tried, among them this little series of three podcasts. It was going to be available in the community library only, as one of many exclusive features. Since then I've streamlined my online Writing Circle space to center on writing calls and there's no reason to house a three-part podcast series with a leader who's no longer there.

On the other hand, Nicole and I agree that these three episodes would make a beautiful Winter Solstice gift to YOU, my podcast listeners, at a time when creativity could bring us all comfort if we could just calm down about the creative process itself.

These are shorter than my other episodes, and I find talking with Nicole delightful. I hope you enjoy.

Happy holiday season.

Love, Amy

PS–Nicole sends her love too.

Nicole Diaz is a creativity coach and business strategist. She works with business professionals to access their creative flow, and with creatives to build the structure they need to stay on track without losing inspiration. Through private coaching and workshops, she helps people balance strategy and creativity so they can bring their ideas to life. 

www.nicolemdiaz.com

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

I met Nicole Diaz in the life-coaching world around the time that I was first envisioning my online community for real-life writers. She demonstrated a brilliant understanding of the creative process, and I had this idea of hosting Idea Parties as the centerpiece of my work with writing groups, with Parker Palmer's work as my model. Nicole was a Parker Palmer fan too. So for a few years, we collaborated to host once-a-month calls on Saturday mornings where we let beautiful words draw us into our writing.

Afterwards, people spoke their voices into the room, and nobody corrected or coached or edited each other. Instead, we let you be at the heart of your story and reflected your words back. And books began to be written and friendships began to be made.

Together, Nicole and I developed a flexible and potent Idea Party format that works to this day, even after she has moved on.

There were other experiments Nicole and I tried, among them this little series of three podcasts. It was going to be available in the community library only, as one of many exclusive features. Since then I've streamlined my online Writing Circle space to center on writing calls and there's no reason to house a three-part podcast series with a leader who's no longer there.

On the other hand, Nicole and I agree that these three episodes would make a beautiful Winter Solstice gift to YOU, my podcast listeners, at a time when creativity could bring us all comfort if we could just calm down about the creative process itself.

These are shorter than my other episodes, and I find talking with Nicole delightful. I hope you enjoy.

Happy holiday season.

Love, Amy

PS–Nicole sends her love too.

Nicole Diaz is a creativity coach and business strategist. She works with business professionals to access their creative flow, and with creatives to build the structure they need to stay on track without losing inspiration. Through private coaching and workshops, she helps people balance strategy and creativity so they can bring their ideas to life. 

www.nicolemdiaz.com

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

In the early days of my podcast, I hired Molly Darling and her now husband, Christian Rivera, to help me understand what it was to be a working creative with a business (as opposed to a dedicated real-life creative). I thought I was hiring them to help make my Instagram design more visually appealing, but I ended up rethinking my Courageous Wordsmith brand in significant ways. This includes renaming my podcast from Frau Amy's World to today's Courageous Wordsmith. (Good name for a business, equally good name for a podcast. Frau Amy was the remnants of a teaching identity that I loved, that planted enduring seeds, that didn't end well and I still hadn't processed. I'm not even German. Or barely. Parts of this story appear in both books.)

Much of what I learned from Molly back then have provided foundations for my business that endure to this day.

Fast forward to this time last year. I was looking at my online community space that I had built way too large for what I really wanted. I thought I wanted a bustling hub for real-life writers to follow up between calls, where the real connection happened. What I had created instead was more like "sprawling-but-dead shopping center." I was ready to throw in the towel. Molly was moving on from a longtime facilitator position and asked if I could use her help again. I thought she could build engagement.

Instead Molly helped me start to distill the online community down to the library that I truly want. Because, as I said, the calls are the center of our work. Everything else stems from there. One year later, I have the right-sized creative space I actually wanted.

When Molly posted about downsizing her own art spaces, I knew it was time to reminisce. This episode was a fun one.

Molly Darling is a mixed media artist, storyteller, and creative guide with a passion for uncovering the beauty in life’s messiest moments. Rooted in the philosophy that “it’s all compost,” Molly’s work transforms the highs and lows of existence—love, shame, resilience, and struggle—into layered, thought-provoking pieces that invite viewers to explore their own stories. In addition to her art, Molly is the creator of Compost & Creation, a Substack where she shares behind-the-scenes glimpses of her creative process, reflections, and poetry. She also co-hosts the podcast Behind the Studio Door, where she interviews fellow creatives about their journeys and the human side of making art. Through her work, Molly inspires others to embrace vulnerability and creativity as tools for self-discovery and connection, whether through her courses, community projects, or mentorship. She believes that every layer of life has something to teach us—and that art has the power to hold it all.

thedarlingrevolution.org

compostandcreation.substack.com

instagram.com/thedarlingrevolution

thedarlingrevolution.org/podcast

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

From the beginning of my work as a "real" writer (which I had tried to be on my own for a very long time, but I couldn't move past the journaling stage... no matter how "gifted" anyone said I was at wordsmithing...) I have found that I cannot succeed without the support of collaborative partners whose gifts and vision complement mine. That's true of this podcast, and it's definitely true of an audiobook. So when my long-time podcast editor moved on to brighter things (he's a gifted musician who graduated from college and spends his time performing on stage), and I couldn't get traction recording and editing my second audiobook (surprise, surprise), I reached out to K.O. Myers, whose work I had long admired from Natalie Miller's Mindwitchery podcast.

I could not have been more pleased with the results, and I have to let you in on a secret. This was an experiment I was conducting not just for my own audiobook, but because I refer my writing clients to professionals I know firsthand.

So let this be my ringing endorsement: I love the audiobook that K.O. produced for me. He's got skills and profound wisdom. Beyond that, I felt supported and seen—or should I say, heard. If you're wondering what the process looked and felt like, for curiosity sake or even because you're considering if audio work is for you, this episode lets you in behind the scenes.

K.O. Myers is the founder an lead editor of Particulate Media, a full-service audio production company that helps podcasters and audiobook presenters sound more professional without sacrificing their authenticity.

https://particulatemedia.com

K.O.'s Podcast is https://roll-factory.captivate.fm

https://www.facebook.com/particulatemedia

https://genvexed.bsky.social

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

We were originally hoping for a November 22 release of my Tiny Altars audiobook on Audible, but that date came and went while it awaited its turn in Quality Assurance for over two weeks. Now it's December 3, and the audiobook has arrived, which reminds me that books, like children, arrive in their own time and way, no matter how we try to control it.

Fun fact: From my first callings to write my personal narrative, I kept seeing the number 123 in association with my writing. This book always knew and was telling me what it wanted to be, even if I didn't see it.

The part of me that likes to watch such things notes that it's arriving nearly one year to the day that I first met K.O. Myers at Particulate Media, who created this audiobook with me. The meeting was an unexpected development, but a fortuitous one.

There's what we think we're doing, and there's what wants to happen. Then we start wrap our head around what's really there. Especially in narrative craft.

In this episode, I talk about the surprise of mothering twins. This book, Tiny Altars, was like that. Unexpected. I didn't want to write about the dollhouse on the cover that represents something much bigger than me. I thought I was writing a different book when this dollhouse origin story snuck into my manuscript. I tried to fit it into my German-themed book. The dollhouse image took over. It had its own story it wanted to tell. Not about Germany, but a story much closer to home. I'm so glad I let it.

Which is how it ended up on the cover. The origin story of the dollhouse wraps up this episode. I hope you enjoy.

Let me also introduce you to K.O. Myers, the producer of this episode and my Tiny Altars audiobook.

K.O. Myers is the founder an lead editor of Particulate Media, a full-service audio production company that helps podcasters and audiobook presenters sound more professional without sacrificing their authenticity.

https://particulatemedia.com

K.O.'s Podcast is https://roll-factory.captivate.fm

https://www.facebook.com/particulatemedia

https://genvexed.bsky.social

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

This audiobook wanted to come into the world on November 22, 2024.

Listening to it in this light, I've thanked my former self for writing her story. It contains many things perfectly timed for this time, in ways that I could not have anticipated them landing so fully.

And so although I had already agreed with K.O. Myers that I would share this Foreword and another chapter coming out as podcast episodes to celebrate the release of Tiny Altars, the audiobook, I had no idea how to introduce them until Election Day had come and gone. There are many takeaways and many ways to proceed, too many to list here, especially since my book is not about politics but the context of one woman's life, specifically mine. The takeaway I unpack in this introduction is the one that Tiny Altars has been pointing me to for several years now, as a white Minnesota woman born into a mainstream Christian Protestant tradition. It's the message contained in this Foreword:

It's time to tell your story and stop counting on others (more interesting or worthy) to give you permission.

This Foreword is the frame for my book. Every story has one. Don't forget it. Thanks for listening.

Let me also introduce you to K.O. Myers, the producer of this episode and my Tiny Altars audiobook.

K.O. Myers is the founder an lead editor of Particulate Media, a full-service audio production company that helps podcasters and audiobook presenters sound more professional without sacrificing their authenticity.

https://particulatemedia.com

K.O.'s Podcast is https://roll-factory.captivate.fm

https://www.facebook.com/particulatemedia

https://genvexed.bsky.social

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Linda Flaherty Haltmaier is an award-winning author and the Poet Laureate Emeritus of Andover, MA. Named the winner of the Robert Frost Poetry Prize, she is known for her “sensational imagery, her deft ear for the music of language, and her emotional sonar for sounding the depths of love (and anger).” Her new collection, Shadows Set to Burn, was recently honored with the 2024 International Book Award for Narrative Poetry. Her debut collection, Rolling up the Sky, claimed the Homebound Publications Poetry Prize and her follow-up, To the Left of the Sun, was the winner of the American Bookfest Award for Poetry. Additional accolades include winning the JuxtaProse Poetry Prize and the Palm Beach Poetry Festival Competition, as well as Finalist honors for the Princemere Poetry Prize, the New Millennium Award for Poetry, the Joy Bale Boone Poetry Prize, the Tucson Festival of the Book Literary Award, and more. Nominated for four Pushcart Prizes, Linda’s work has been featured widely in journals and anthologies. A graduate of Harvard, Linda leads poetry workshops, gives readings, and promotes poetry on the North Shore of Boston where she lives with her husband and daughter.

https://www.instagram.com/linda.thepoet/

Buy Linda's book here & write a review

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

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We end with three promising writing prompts to try for yourself.

Sonya Huber is the author of eight books, including the new essay collection, Love and Industry: A Midwestern Workbook as well as the writing guide, Voice First: A Writer’s Manifesto, and an award-winning essay collection on chronic pain, Pain Woman Takes Your Keys and Other Essays from a Nervous System. Her other books include the Supremely Tiny Acts: A Memoir in a Day, Opa Nobody, Cover Me: A Health Insurance Memoir, and The Backwards Research Guide for Writers. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Brevity, Creative Nonfiction, The Atlantic, The Guardian, and other outlets. She teaches at Fairfield University and in the Fairfield low-residency MFA program.

www.sonyahuber.com

https://www.instagram.com/sonyahuber/

The What Happened Project

The Three Words That Almost Ruined Me As A Writer: Show, Don't Tell

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

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1946. Bebe Hammond, a shy bookworm with a wild imagination yearns to find her own voice in the world, but is held captive by the expectations of her family and the realities of the Jim Crow south. When faced with an odds-defying opportunity, does she risk her life in the fight for Civil Rights, or abandon her home, and fiancé, and flee to Paris to live a life she's always dreamed of? Returning the Bones is a novel that will transport you through many miles, perspectives, and epiphanies.

Gin Hammond is an award-winning Harvard University/Moscow Art Theatre graduate, as well as an actor, writer, director, and has performed onstage both nationally and internationally. A certified teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework ®, Gin teaches voice and speech, public speaking, voice-over, and accents and dialect. Gin received a Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actress for The Syringa Tree and NEA grants for multiple plays. She is also co-founder of the Meditations for Actors mobile app. Her book, Returning the Bones, is a National Indies Excellence Finalist and a Gold Winning INDIES Book of the Year winner.

www.returningthebones.com

www.instagram.com/returningthebones

www.instagram.com/livingincognegromovie/

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Terrance C. Newby is an attorney, novelist, and playwright based in St. Paul, Minnesota. His plays The Cage, The Body Politic, Reunion Forever, and The Piano Teacher have been professionally staged in Twin Cities theaters.

Terry's novel, Dangerfield's Promise, was published in April 2022, and has received five-star reviews from the Seattle Book Review, Manhattan Book Review, Chicago Book Review, and the Midwest Book Review, among others. Terry is currently working on a sequel to Dangerfield's Promise.

Terry's LinkedIn

Terry has two upcoming plays being staged. See you there?

Little Rock 1942: The true story of a civil rights lawsuit that brought Thurgood Marshall to St. Paul, and led to the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision

October 3 & 4, 7 pm | October 5, 2 pm, 2024.  Landmark Center, St. Paul, MN.

https://www.landmarkcenter.org/history-play/

Our Dearest Friends (the second play of the night)

Thu, Nov 21, 2024 7:00 PM  Sun, Nov 24, 2024 2:00 PM.  The Hive Collaborative, St. Paul, MN.

https://www.thehivecollaborativemn.com/events/a-woman-over-forty

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Terrance C. Newby is an attorney, novelist, and playwright based in St. Paul, Minnesota. His plays The Cage, The Body Politic, Reunion Forever, and The Piano Teacher have been professionally staged in Twin Cities theaters.

Terry's novel, Dangerfield's Promise, was published in April 2022, and has received five-star reviews from the Seattle Book Review, Manhattan Book Review, Chicago Book Review, and the Midwest Book Review, among others. Terry is currently working on a sequel to Dangerfield's Promise.

Terry's LinkedIn

Terry has two upcoming plays being staged. See you there?

Little Rock 1942: The true story of a civil rights lawsuit that brought Thurgood Marshall to St. Paul, and led to the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision

October 3 & 4, 7 pm | October 5, 2 pm, 2024.  Landmark Center, St. Paul, MN.

https://www.landmarkcenter.org/history-play/

Our Dearest Friends (the second play of the night)

Thu, Nov 21, 2024 7:00 PM  Sun, Nov 24, 2024 2:00 PM.  The Hive Collaborative, St. Paul, MN.

https://www.thehivecollaborativemn.com/events/a-woman-over-forty

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Terrance C. Newby is an attorney, novelist, and playwright based in St. Paul, Minnesota. His plays The Cage, The Body Politic, Reunion Forever, and The Piano Teacher have been professionally staged in Twin Cities theaters.

Terry's novel, Dangerfield's Promise, was published in April 2022, and has received five-star reviews from the Seattle Book Review, Manhattan Book Review, Chicago Book Review, and the Midwest Book Review, among others. Terry is currently working on a sequel to Dangerfield's Promise.

Terry's LinkedIn

Terry has two upcoming plays being staged. See you there?

Little Rock 1942: The true story of a civil rights lawsuit that brought Thurgood Marshall to St. Paul, and led to the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision

October 3 & 4, 7 pm | October 5, 2 pm, 2024.  Landmark Center, St. Paul, MN.

https://www.landmarkcenter.org/history-play/

Our Dearest Friends (the second play of the night)

Thu, Nov 21, 2024 7:00 PM  Sun, Nov 24, 2024 2:00 PM.  The Hive Collaborative, St. Paul, MN.

https://www.thehivecollaborativemn.com/events/a-woman-over-forty

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Every book, like every child, seems to arrive in its own divine timing and have its own significant birthday, and this is especially true for this memoir of history witnessed in real time. Because I had abruptly ended my teaching career midyear, I was available to be an up-close observer of a remarkable period in America, as a longtime student of 20th century German literature and film.

And that's just a taste of my curriculum vitae.

I always intended to release an audiobook of Tiny Altars, originally published in paperback and ebook in April 21, 2023. (On the anniversary of Prince's passing, a significant event in my book and for Minnesotans. Among other reasons.) For whatever reason, this audiobook production didn't align until early 2024. As in, it steadfastly refused to get going—until it did. All year, I've slowly but surely recorded and listened to every chapter, bringing this version to life, in collaboration with K.O. Myers at Particulate Media.

Recently, K.O. and I have been weighing which chapters I'd like to excerpt here first, on my podcast.

As I've revisited my own words aloud, it has fascinated me to recognize JUST HOW TIMELY AND RELEVANT this book has become in the summer of 2024. So much so that when my beloved Joe Biden (I saw him speak in Minneapolis when he was campaigning for Barack Obama's second term) stepped down from his candidacy for reelection as President of the United States, passing the torch to Kamala Harris, we both knew this was the section for me to start with. K.O. set about producing the episode for me.

That was even before my beloved Minnesota Governor Tim Walz joined the ticket. You won't see his name in my book. It's too late to add him to this episode. But he's in it. Along with this, our Minnesota Nice culture, once again in the world's spotlight.

Yesterday Kamala and Tim accepted the nomination, and it occurred to me that today, the third day of the DNC in Chicago, is exactly the right day to release this episode. Two notes on its content: My book is about finding personal responsibility and freedom in my American homeland, and this chapter is about my personal and political lineage.

I do mention two characters. My aunt "Vivian" and my paternal grandmother "Doris" are significant elders to me.

I believe that Tiny Altars, my audiobook, will premiere on October 3, 2025—leading up to the election.

But we'll see!

Thanks for listening now.

Love, Amy

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

NOTE from Amy: In this episode, Erica and I talk about a book and an upcoming writing retreat. We originally thought the retreat might happen this fall, but if you listen to the episode, it's clear that our bodies know this timeline is fluid. We'll keep you posted.

Erica Jones is a Transformational Coach, Multidimensional Healer, Musician, Author, and Mystic. A passionate explorer and voracious researcher, Erica lives in the intersection between science and spirituality. Her practical, evidence-based approach is a blend of 22 years of professional training and experience, inspired by her living connection with spirit. Clients call her the goddess of understanding, she has a keen ability to translate the wonders of the world, the wisdom of the body, and the whispers of the soul into actionable, aligned steps towards a life of passion and purpose. Erica’s background as a massage therapist, health educator, bodywork practitioner, sound healer, somatic practitioner, trauma-informed coach, podcast host, author, and retreat leader has helped clients around the United States, ranging from Olympic athletes, CEOs, directors of nonprofits, and community leaders, with a focus on helping high-performing women to come home to the themselves and experience feeling welle, within.

Erica's Substack

https://www.instagram.com/wellewithin

https://open.substack.com/pub/wellewithin

https://m.facebook.com/wellewithin/

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Amy discusses the importance of finding collaborative partners, learning from missteps, and understanding her own creative and working style through the lens of Human Design. The episode features a candid conversation with Brooke about her life-changing trip to Egypt and its metaphoric significance in their working relationship and creative process.

The episode underscores the necessity of support, authenticity, and courage in embodying one's voice.

Brooke Roy, is a virtual assistant and medical intuitive.  She is a Reiki Master and has been on this journey of self-exploration and wellness for almost 20 years.  She believes we can help our over health by being aware of our emotions and surroundings.  Brooke's passion is providing people with insights through her medical intuitive readings.  You can find Brooke on FB & IG. 

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Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

I hope you enjoy it.

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

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Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

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Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Facebook:

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Amazon:

https://amazon.com/author/bradleybodeker

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

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Sovereign Storytellers Podcast

Sovereign Storytellers and can be found on all players and www.thatmichellewolff.com/podcast

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Facebook

www.fb.com/michellewolff11

Instagram

www.instagram.com/michellewolff11

Sovereign Storytellers Podcast

Sovereign Storytellers and can be found on all players and www.thatmichellewolff.com/podcast

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

https://amyhallberg.com

https://write.courageouswordsmith.com

You can read more about Tiny Altars here.

You can buy Tiny Altars here.

Emma Magenta is a feminist Life Coach who helps people-pleasers, overachievers, and perfectionists stop being so hard on themselves, and start feeling at home in their lives. As a coach, her North Star is radical self-love. She’s particularly effective at coaching highly sensitive ADHD women, because she is one!

Emma loves dogs, long walks in foul weather, Broadway theater, reading, eating, singing, and resting.

https://emmamagentacoaching.com/

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Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Facebook:

https://facebook.com/KingBeeRadley

Amazon:

https://amazon.com/author/bradleybodeker

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

After ten years in education, Michael set out to prove to himself that it was possible to create a life and living on his terms. One more deeply rooted and aligned with his passions and values. In the nearly twenty years since, he's been using a unique blend of mentoring, myth, nature, and mischief to help people get unstuck and do the very same thing for themselves.

From businesses to coaching retreats, writer's workshops to community gatherings, small groups to 1:1, Michael knows how to use stories to generate inspiration, conversation, and transformation, inside and out.

It's a well-known fact he was raised by coyotes and is now raising one of his own on the bones of an old farm nestled along the banks of a tiny trout stream somewhere in Westchester County, New York.

Website

You can learn more about Michael and his work at www.StoryMischief.com

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

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Emma loves dogs, long walks in foul weather, Broadway theater, reading, eating, singing, and resting.

Website

https://emmamagentacoaching.com/

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/emmamagentacoaching/

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/emmamagenta/

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxQjr8dG9O40og0JcDeVPjA

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Website

https://sarabtaylor.com/

Instagram

@sarabtaylorphd

Facebook

@sarabtaylorphd

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

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Website

https://allysonscammell.com/

The Story of My Near Death Experience:

https://allysonscammell.com/episode35/

https://allysonscammell.com/episode36/

https://allysonscammell.com/episode37/

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

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www.instagram.com/michellewolff11

Podcast is Sovereign Storytellers 

and can be found on all players and www.thatmichellewolff.com/podcast

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

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Katherine is also Amy's longtime trusted writing partner.

Website

https://kqadhdandu.com

Podcast

https://kqadhdandu.com/podcast/

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Bev holds a master’s degree in the Human Behavior Sciences, a graduate diploma in Brief & Strategic therapy, graduate training in Career Counseling, and Master Life Coach certification. She’s the creator of the Soul’s Calling® Method and is known as a highly intuitive yet grounded Facilitator & Coach.

Website:

https://www.soulscallingacademy.com/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/barnesbev

Soul's Calling® Academy on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/soulscallingacademy

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

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Website

http://www.kerimangis.com/

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/kerimangiswriter

Twitter

https://twitter.com/KeriMangis

Pinterest

https://www.pinterest.com/kerimangis/

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https://www.instagram.com/kerimangis/

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

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www.centeredyou.com 

https://www.centeredyou.com/a-place-to-rest/

https://www.facebook.com/yogiprof

https://www.instagram.com/centeredyou/

https://www.tiktok.com/@centeredyou 

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

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http://declaredominion.com

https://instagram.com/declaredominion 

https://www.facebook.com/declaredominion

https://twitter.com/declaredominion

https://pinterest.com/declaredominion

https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-north-01955a12/

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Robin Richards, M.A., Ed.S., is pioneering empowered healing with education, inspiration and support through complementary therapies, teaching and coaching at Robin's WellNest. Robin has worked tirelessly to transform her childhood and adult trauma into triumph while inspiring and supporting others along the way. 

Website: 

www.robinswellnest.com

An Offer from Amy:

Dear Writer,

Want to collaborate with me?

I can help you be the author you're meant to be so that you can write beautiful stories and publish creative projects that your audience—and you—will love.

Together, we'll tap into your authentic voice and content so that you’ll know how to craft powerful narratives, your message can find its home in the wider world, and you leave your ideal audience wanting more.

Sound interesting? Book a chat.

I’ll help you identify one key tool to move you forward, and we can talk about my Book Writing Mentorship.

I’d love to explore possibilities with you.

Love, Amy

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Robin Richards, M.A., Ed.S., is pioneering empowered healing with education, inspiration and support through complementary therapies, teaching and coaching at Robin's WellNest. Robin has worked tirelessly to transform her childhood and adult trauma into triumph while inspiring and supporting others along the way. 

Website: 

www.robinswellnest.com

An Offer from Amy:

Dear Writer,

Want to collaborate with me?

I can help you be the author you're meant to be so that you can write beautiful stories and publish creative projects that your audience—and you—will love.

Together, we'll tap into your authentic voice and content so that you’ll know how to craft powerful narratives, your message can find its home in the wider world, and you leave your ideal audience wanting more.

Sound interesting? Book a chat.

I’ll help you identify one key tool to move you forward, and we can talk about my Book Writing Mentorship.

I’d love to explore possibilities with you.

Love, Amy

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Nina Jonson is the Director of Children and Youth Ministry at Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis, the church her family has attended for generations. There is little she loves more than supporting children and young people, and all her employment history—from bee educator at an apple orchard, to traveling sex ed teacher for a clinic—has focused on empowering youth. She is currently also the president of the middle school PTO, a Girl Scout troop leader, and a very part-time bakery waitress. In her spare time she loves doing anything with her family, dancing, and being in community theater.

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/nina.jonson.5

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/discofairy66/

Plymouth Church

www.plymouth.org

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Website:

www.CenteredYou.com

Podcast:

https://bit.ly/WBUpodcast

Rebecca mentioned an episode that describes Seed Moments.  You will find that here.

Facebook:

facebook.com/CenteredLiving

Instagram: 

instagram.com/centeredyou/

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Website:

followyourfeelgood.com

Facebook:

facebook.com/FollowYourFeelGood

Instagram:

instagram.com/sarahseidelmann

Where the Deer Dream:

Buy Sarah's new book!

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Website:

followyourfeelgood.com

Facebook:

facebook.com/FollowYourFeelGood

Instagram:

instagram.com/sarahseidelmann

Where the Deer Dream:

Buy Sarah's new book! Also, listen to the next episode to hear all about it. (No spoilers, promise!)

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Dana Smith is a mother, content creator + entrepreneur. You can follow her at instagram.com/dana23smith.

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Website

nataliekmiller.com

Facebook

facebook.com/nataliekmiller

Instagram

instagram.com/msnataliemiller

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Website

https://createmysanctuary.com

Instagram

https://instagram.com/createmysanctuary

Facebook

FB: https://facebook.com/createmysanctuary

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Since 2005 she’s been helping people fall madly in love with the wild… both inside and out, by sharing easy-to-follow connection practices fostering mindfulness, purpose, and greater intuition.

Facebook Group 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/611928405943312

Website

www.lynntrotta.com

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

https://www.roughmagicperformance.org

Buy tickets for Norma Jeane Baker of Troy, July 1-18 in Minneapolis

The Parker Project & The Macbeth Project Podcasts

https://www.instagram.com/roughmagicperformance/

https://m.facebook.com/roughmagicperformance

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Amy's e-Book, Shiny Objects 101: Eleven key tools to access muses, face Inner Trolls & Find Powerful Stories so that you can write & publish books your audience (& you) will love

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

www.evergreenauthors.com

—

Amy's e-Book, Shiny Objects 101: Eleven key tools to access muses, face Inner Trolls & Find Powerful Stories so that you can write & publish books your audience (& you) will love

Amy's FREE Narrative Masterclass on May 18, 2021

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Kiki's Podcast: Tales from a Bucket List Champ

—

Amy's e-Book, Shiny Objects 101: Eleven key tools to access muses, face Inner Trolls & Find Powerful Stories so that you can write & publish books your audience (& you) will love

Amy's FREE Narrative Masterclass on May 18, 2021

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

www.sunrisejourneys.com

https://www.facebook.com/SunriseJourneysLifeCoaching

https://www.instagram.com/sunrisejourneys/

—

Amy's Shiny Objects 101—Eleven key tools to access muses, face Inner Trolls & Find Powerful Stories so that you can write & publish books your audience (& you) will love

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

https://www.rebeccatolin.com/how-we-heal

https://www.rebeccatolin.com

https://www.facebook.com/rebecca.tolin/

—

Amy's Shiny Objects 101—Eleven key tools to access muses, face Inner Trolls & Find Powerful Stories so that you can write & publish books your audience (& you) will love

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Stephanie has been a leader in several Fortune 500 companies over the last 20 years. Her commitment to courageous leadership, self-awareness, and vulnerability, has successfully allowed her to coach business owners and leaders for nearly a decade. Her motivation is something she learned in her faith, "you make your dreams come true, when you help others achieve theirs." Stephanie is the author of Succeeding with Passion.

Stephanie's Website: https://succeedingwithpassion.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/succeedingwithpassion/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestephwalton/

From Amy: In the credits, I mentioned Courageous Wordsmith Collective. If you believe you have a book in you, and you want to play with writing, come join us for compassionate witness and creative cross-pollination. We're not for everyone who wants to write a book. We're unapologetically feminist. We're LGBTQ affirming. We're anti-racist and Black Lives Matter. We believe in humanity + spirit + earth. This is sanctuary space for writers. But if you're listening to this podcast, you already knew that.

https://write.courageouswordsmith.com

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

This is a tender and important topic for me. As a white woman, I'm afraid of getting it wrong. At the same time I'm so proud of this episode.

More importantly, I thank Stephanie Walton for engaging in this exchange. There's something so damaging when white culture denies the truths of Black people, and has for generations. 

And yet, here we are.

I strongly suspect—and Stephanie affirms—I've been missing some good stuff at the intersections of our two cultures by not digging deeper. So I'm educating myself—and some of the things we white people think we need to worry about? Stephanie says let it go. Some of the things I thought Black people knew? Stephanie didn't. I always learn from our talks.

Stephanie is a gracious, astute, Black woman who tells it like it is, and I'm grateful to her, both for her friendship and for meeting me here to explore.

About Stephanie:

Stephanie L Walton has come to understand that success is failure reengineered. In her own life, she has seem massive failures reengineered into glorious successes. Over the last decade Stephanie has worked with many people to create a plan for their lives.

The lessons she learned in her private and professional life led Stephanie to create her simple-to-use Passion Architect™ System. In 2018, Stephanie published Succeeding with Passion to help readers unlock their potential and reach new heights. In it, she shares the tools she developed that have helped her overcome homelessness in her youth, heal dysfunctional family relationships, advance in corporate America, and ultimately, pursue her own passion for helping others. Her motivation is something she learned in her faith, "you make your dreams come true, when you help others achieve theirs."

Stephanie has been a leader in several Fortune 500 companies over the last 20 years. Her commitment to self-awareness and vulnerability, courageous leadership, and coaching has successfully allowed her to coach business owners and leaders for nearly a decade.

Stephanie's Website: https://succeedingwithpassion.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/succeedingwithpassion/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestephwalton/

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Cory's take on it: When my parents died, I unwillingly inherited their off-brand Christmas village. This is how I get back at my siblings for making me take it.

www.talesfromthechristmasvillage.com

Instagram: TalesfromtheChristmasVillage

#talesfromthebussechristmasvillage

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

I met Azna in Northfield, where she returned to live following a reunion. She was among the first Black students, graduating the year I was born, and first to challenge prevailing white perspectives. Eighteen years later, Carleton was where I first had my white mindset challenged. So it felt like coming full circle to sort through this year's landmark events with her.

In Azna's words:

We've survived 2020, and—surprise!—graphically grasped the fatal flaws in our trusted institutions laid bare by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Whew!  

Radical change is necessary, but it seems to offer as much pain as promise.  There's no "normal" to return to, so what do we do?

Well, what if we learn to TALK with those who seem so different from us? Maybe they're not as "crazy" as they are simply human.  Demonizing others damns us all, but hearing hearts and minds through their STORIES might reveal much of value for all.  

We are our stories, and our stories are US.

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Bradley's books include a poetry collection—The Broken Mirror Reflected; horror fiction–Midnight Snacks, Nyctophobia, and Zechariah 14:12; and a book aptly titled Bar Napkin Rants. Bradley is currently working on two projects, The Ballad of Broken Bird and A Woman's Lot.

Bradley's Website: http://themadproet.weebly.com

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Bradley's books include a poetry collection—The Broken Mirror Reflected; horror fiction–Midnight Snacks, Nyctophobia, and Zechariah 14:12; and a book aptly titled Bar Napkin Rants. Bradley is currently working on two projects, The Ballad of Broken Bird and A Woman's Lot.

Bradley's Website: http://themadproet.weebly.com

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Katie's Website: https://TheSchoolOfSanctuary.com

Facebook group Sanctuary for Sensitives: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SanctuaryForSensitives

Instagram: https://instagram.com/TheSchoolOfSanctuary

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Dana’s passion is customer service. She graduated from the University of Saint Thomas, majoring in journalism. Prior to meeting Peter, Dana worked as an educator at lululemon and then helped open Nordstrom Ridgedale as a denim specialist. Peter knows food. He graduated from Le Cordon Bleu and held various kitchen jobs, most notably as sous chef at Campiello in Eden Prairie. After starting his family with Dana, Peter left the world of cooking to move up the supply chain as a sales representative.

At MinnyRow Market, they're creating an environment that educates the importance of local food while allowing the customer to feel like an old family friend each time they step inside the store. 

While MRM customers shop local, they're supporting small businesses across the state. Or as Dana and Peter put it:

"We don’t have any secrets, that’s our secret. We're transparent in the products we carry, not re-branding or putting our label on a commodity.

"We believe in keeping your friends close and your farmers closer."

Website: https://MinnyRow.com/

Facebook: https://Facebook.com/Minnyrowmarket/

Instagram: https://Instagram.com/minnyrowmarket/

Pinterest: https://Pinterest.com/minnyrowmarket/

#mrmfam

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Gathering your business team and tools as an entrepreneur can be tricky. Shellie provides solutions to these creative nomads in their journey. Through collaborative conversation and a supportive arena, Shellie has cultivated a garden that can feed the work of clients as they navigate the landscape of their business. (And yes, note from Amy, those garden and coffee metaphors helped me make sense of a whole lot of abstraction.)

Business Building Workshop:

https://4atribe.com/bountifulbusiness/

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/shelliemillercoach/

Pinterest:

https://www.pinterest.com/shelliemillercoach/

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi-eZY_Qw-yD-6wCK4nuTqQ/

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelliemillercoach/

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Emily's Website: https://emilypgerickson.com/

Emily's Medium Article: https://medium.com/@emilypgerickson/how-perfectionism-and-white-supremacy-culture-are-connected-a0e47da6f8c5

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmilyPGErickson

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emilypgerickson

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilypgerickson

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Dr. Sederstrom loves to read (especially long epic fantasy series), dance, knit, and engage in all things crafty. She is the first African American woman bakery owner to use locally sourced ingredients in the state of Minnesota. She is the mother of Grayson, who happens to be a baby model, and Aadya, who may model one day. She is the wife to Charlie, the love of her life. Her favorite music is anything before 2005. Her favorite quote is “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” — Maya Angelou

Charlie Sederstrom is a registered nurse and the current clinical and technical trainer at Medica where, among other duties, he is helping to lead a health equity work group that is beginning to take a detailed look at how access to quality health care, and health literacy, can be improved across the region.

He, like many White people, is beginning to better understand the role he needs to play in recognizing, and then taking action against, racism in our community.

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

After two master’s degrees and a PhD, Rebecca describes herself as a recovering stress addict, turned intuitive healer and spiritual teacher. She incorporates work as a certified yoga instructor and life coach, shamanic practitioner, Reiki master, and mindfulness instructor.

Rebecca uses ancient practices mixed with modern wisdom to help women with health challenges feel better and have more energy. 

Rebecca's Website: www.CenteredYou.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CenteredLiving

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/centeredyou/

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1515960370

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Free Your Story! Bravery is Beautiful!

Lisa's Website: http://fashionmeetspoetry.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fashionmeetspoetry/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fashionmeetspoetry/

Stephanie L Walton came to understand that success is failure reengineered. In her own life, she has seem massive failures reengineered into glorious successes. Over the last decade Stephanie has worked with many people to create a plan for their lives.

The lessons she learned in her private and professional life led Stephanie to create her simple-to-use Passion Architect™ System. In 2018, Stephanie published Succeeding with Passion to help readers unlock their potential and reach new heights. In it, she shares the tools she developed that have helped her overcome homelessness in her youth, heal dysfunctional family relationships, advance in corporate America, and ultimately, pursue her own passion for helping others. Her motivation is something she learned in her faith, "you make your dreams come true, when you help others achieve theirs."

Stephanie has been a leader in several Fortune 500 companies over the last 20 years. Her commitment to self-awareness and vulnerability, courageous leadership, and coaching has successfully allowed her to coach business owners and leaders for nearly a decade.

Stephanie's Website: https://succeedingwithpassion.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/succeedingwithpassion/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestephwalton/

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Ray's Website: www.sunrisejourneys.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SunriseJourneysLifeCoaching

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunrisejourneys/

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Website: www.jennbauerhealing.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.bauer.54772

IG: https://www.instagram.com/elationexplorer/

This was the quote from David Elliott's Healing:

"The higher dimensional beings, call them God, angels, deities, spirits, masters, or light are choosing to get our attention now. They are calling forth the contracts signed long ago; for many the time of amnesia is over. If you know you are a messenger with a message to deliver, you will have to be the conduit for it soon, otherwise your contract will be taken over by another who will deliver the message, leaving you with a familiar empty feeling. If you know this feeling and you do not like it—get creating now! As you birth the message, those meant to engage with it will find it. Do not worry about the logistics. The higher energies will be your representative, your agent, your curator, your publisher and teammate. Let’s go!"

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

KeriMangis.com

Embodying Soul: A Return to Wholeness — A Memoir of New Beginnings

Awaken Your Power Podcast

Curiosa Publishing

Embodying Soul Facebook Group

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Kaliopi says this about herself:

Nature lover. Scientist. Introvert. Artist.

Perpetual seeker of awe & inspiration.

Living with a chronic illness for over 8 years has forced me to dramatically alter my way of life. Whether I've wanted to or not, I've had to slow down and live in alignment with my body's needs.

Fun Facts:

• I have a toy poodle, Lucy, that goes everywhere with me (and sometimes stars in my YouTube videos).
• I am a huge bird nerd and carry binoculars with me all the time.
• I learned to draw at the age of 42 by taking drawing classes. (Who'd have thought?!)
• I love sketching & doodling so much I always carry a mini sketchbook with me wherever I go.

Kaliopi's Website

FB Group: From Overwhelm to Awe

Facebook

YouTube

Membership Site Coming Soon:

From Overwhelm to Awe: Slowing Down in a Fast World

Etsy

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Kaliopi says this about herself:

Nature lover. Scientist. Introvert. Artist.

Perpetual seeker of awe & inspiration.

Living with a chronic illness for over 8 years has forced me to dramatically alter my way of life. Whether I've wanted to or not, I've had to slow down and live in alignment with my body's needs.

Fun Facts:

• I have a toy poodle, Lucy, that goes everywhere with me (and sometimes stars in my YouTube videos).
• I am a huge bird nerd and carry binoculars with me all the time.
• I learned to draw at the age of 42 by taking drawing classes. (Who'd have thought?!)
• I love sketching & doodling so much I always carry a mini sketchbook with me wherever I go.

Kaliopi's Website

FB Group: From Overwhelm to Awe

Facebook

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From Overwhelm to Awe: Slowing Down in a Fast World

Etsy

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

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He suggested I coach him around that, and I know I say this every time, but this is one of my absolute favorite episodes so far.

If Ray speaks to you, consider reaching out.

Conversations can include thought work and inquiry, dream analysis, mind-body connection, energy awareness, animal messengers, Spirit Guides, and Oracle cards. They ALWAYS hold peace, compassion, and non-judgment.

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Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

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Roseanne Cheng is a teacher, an author, a mom, a book-marketer, and yogi all wrapped up into one. You can find her books at www.teachablelit.com, and get advice on marketing books at www.evergreenauthors.com.

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

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An associate professor for 19 years, she researches mindfulness and integrated wellness. She is also the founder of Centered Living, offering an intuitive and integrated approach to wellness. Rebecca is also a certified yoga instructor and life coach, a mindfulness instructor, shamanic practitioner, and Reiki Master.

Vibrant Yoga Retreat in Mexico, January 2020

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Rebecca's Website

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

This podcast is especially for all of us non- (or lesser-) marginalized folks who want to know how we can step up in support of fellow humans, at a time when we really need more human connection.

Kelly D. Holstine (she/her) is the Director of Educational Equity at OutFront Minnesota (one of the largest LGBTQ+ state equity groups in the nation) and is the 2018/19 MN State Teacher of the Year. She is the first out LGBTQ+ teacher and the second alternative educator in MN to be given that honor. She helped to design and open Tokata Learning Center in 2012 and has twelve years of teaching experience.

Kelly's website

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

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This conversation surprised us both when it led us into Molly's former religious ties, how she chose to trust herself over church teachings, and how she chooses to face challenges since then.

As a creative mentor and podcaster, Molly dedicates herself to building safe spaces where people can imagine better ways to create and trust themselves. A self-proclaimed process-based artist, she is passionate about using color and creativity to express the beautiful mess that makes up all our lives.

Molly's Website

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Podcast: The Darling Revolution on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

A former Spanish student of mine, Katie is a cyclist competing in gravel, road, and mountain bike races. She's also an undergrad at UW-Madison studying biochemistry and computer science. She likes taking on hard things (like a 100 mi race) and solving the puzzles of how to get to the finish line.

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

After these final two episodes, I'm taking Frau Amy's World on hiatus until September, giving myself permission to dig deeper into my second book, Where the Other Me Lives. But what perfect conversations to go out on. Ray always gives me something to ponder. He's a Life Guide, a Peaceful Dude, and Nature’s Wingman. Some folks (like me!) call him Gandalf, so be forewarned. We venture into unusual spaces.

In my book, I'm exploring my complex relationship with my Family Tree. (Don't we all have family patterns to heal?) When Ray shared his own story about Ancestral Healing, I was curious. And when he started talking about our personal responsibility within that lineage, I knew we had something to talk about. Did we ever!

During the upcoming hiatus, if you haven't listened to the rest of my first season, please check out episodes 1-20. (Here's episode 9, with Ray)! And if Ray speaks to you, consider reaching out for yourself.

Conversations can include thought work and inquiry, dream analysis, mind-body connection, energy awareness, animal messengers, Spirit Guides, and Oracle cards. They ALWAYS hold peace, compassion, and non-judgment.

Ray's Website
Instagram
Facebook
FB Group: Your Divine Practice
FB Men's Group: Men Finding Our Way Home
Ray's FREE 30-Minute Strategy Session

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

After these final two episodes, I'm taking Frau Amy's World on hiatus until September, giving myself permission to dig deeper into my second book, Where the Other Me Lives. But what perfect conversations to go out on. Ray always gives me something to ponder. He's a Life Guide, a Peaceful Dude, and Nature’s Wingman. Some folks (like me!) call him Gandalf, so be forewarned. We venture into unusual spaces.

In my book, I'm exploring my complex relationship with my Family Tree. (Don't we all have family patterns to heal?) When Ray shared his own story about Ancestral Healing, I was curious. And when he started talking about our personal responsibility within that lineage, I knew we had something to talk about. Did we ever!

During the upcoming hiatus, if you haven't listened to the rest of my first season, please check out episodes 1-20. (Here's episode 9, with Ray)! And if Ray speaks to you, consider reaching out for yourself.

Conversations can include thought work and inquiry, dream analysis, mind-body connection, energy awareness, animal messengers, Spirit Guides, and Oracle cards. They ALWAYS hold peace, compassion, and non-judgment.

Ray's Website
Instagram
Facebook
FB Group: Your Divine Practice
FB Men's Group: Men Finding Our Way Home
Ray's FREE 30-Minute Strategy Session

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Barbara is author of the No Ordinary Women Mysteries Series, including the book we discuss in this episode, Murder at Spirit Falls. Her short story "Release" appeared in Festivals of Crime and "Twisted" appeared in Dark Side of the Loon.

Barbara's website
Purchase Murder at Spirit Falls

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

That energy resides deep in our bodies, and it comes in waves. The trick is to let ourselves mourn, whenever that happens. Recently, Amy experienced this while working on her next book and reached out on Facebook for support. Fortunately, fellow Master Coach Jennifer Bauer answered the call. They reflect a few days later.

Plus Jenn's written a gorgeous new book of prompts for healing through writing.

Jenn's Website
Jenn's Instagram

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Jillian's Website
Facebook
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Twitter
YouTube
Listen to the new album here

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Will's 2012 MN State Fair Performance

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

By her own (skewed) estimation, Katherine Quie has been writing her memoir for five billion years, but now here she stands, on the verge of launching Raising Will: Surviving the Brilliance and Blues of ADHD. At this milestone for her book (intimately tied to her parenting journey), Katherine and Amy reflect on all the ways she's progressed so far, and Katherine's hopes for this work going forward -- not just a book anymore, but a mission.

Katherine's Website

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Allyson's Website (Act Quick for her May Offer!)

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Here she reads her story of hitting rock bottom (five minutes) and then we discuss where she finds herself today, looking back on all that she's learned since that humbling day when her friends told her she had to start over and kicked her out of town. Today life looks very different.

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Being Brave Podcast Facebook Page

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Plus, a glimpse into the mind of a first-time author approaching the launch of her book. Embodying Soul: A Return to Wholeness comes out in October.

Keri's Website
Curiosa Publishing
Keri's Instagram
Keri's Facebook

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

See Kiki's Work on My Website

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Master Certified Life Coach and Nature's Wingman Ray DePaola helps people find their footing and navigate change, especially with men who want to face and heal painful patterns. Ray shares his own experiences with finding courage despite not being fully OK, and how he connects with the Divine, in himself and fellow humans.

Sunrise Journeys Coaching
Ray's Instagram
FB group for men—Men Finding Our Way Home
FB group for heart-guided souls—Your Divine Practice: Following Your Inner Wisdom

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Amy talks about how she works this process, with examples from her telling of German Awakening: Tales from an American Life... and from the talk itself. Originally prepared as a talk for Author's Studio at Edina Art Center, Amy recorded this podcast episode due to a Minnesota Winter delay. Why this location matters? Although not mentioned in the book, the city of Edina had a huge impact on Amy's life, and it was speaking to her. (Twin Cities Folks, mark your calendar. New, original talk TBD scheduled for September 14, 10-11 am.)

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Buy your signed copy of German Awakening here
FREE German Awakening Readers' & Writers' Guide

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Turtles. She loves them so much she forgets to take pictures. Learn how you can travel with her to see them for yourself.

About Jenn's Turtle Retreats
Jenn's Instagram

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Jillian's Website
Jillian's Instagram
Jillian's First Album
Jillian's YouTube

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Get the FREE Readers' & Writers' Guide here.

Buy the signed book at Bookclub Prices here.

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Will Quie's MN State Fair Performance

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.