Welcome to Transformation Talk. Every Thursday for a year, starting in September 2012, I’ll post an interview with someone who is a force for good in the world. These men and women have either deepened their passion or found their calling after experiencing a loss, trauma or diagnosis.

I want to broaden the conversation around grief and its transformative power. My hope is that in their words you’ll find echoes of your story. In their inspired actions, you’ll see yourself and your immense possibility.

*Special Request: The technology of Skype is amazing and imperfect. Please listen with your heart and forgive the occasional blips on the screen.

This week’s interview is with Erin Giles, business philanthropy expert and founder of End Sex Trafficking Day. While this part of Erin’s story doesn’t include a death or medical diagnosis, many of us feel intense grief during financial struggles. What I love most about Erin’s story is how the simple act of allowing her heart to be deeply touched by an issue led her to taking inspired action, which in turn led to business success all while having a positive impact in the world.

Bio and link to download the audio version are below. Running time is just over 21 minutes. If you’re receiving this via email, click through the title to view the video.

Right-click or Control-click here to download the audio version.

Erin Giles is the Founder of End Sex Trafficking Day and a Business Philanthropy Consultant who helps businesses find a cause they’re passionate about and create a campaign, so they don’t just have a business, they start a movement. She believes more than ever hope is alive and it’s alive in us. Erin’s been seen on USA Today, Inc, Forbes and Huffington Post. She writes weekly at eringiles.com and happily welcomes tweets at @erinmgiles.

Welcome to Transformation Talk. Every Thursday for a year, starting in September 2012, I’ll post an interview with someone who is a force for good in the world. These men and women have either deepened their passion or found their calling after experiencing a loss, trauma or diagnosis.

I want to broaden the conversation around grief and its transformative power. My hope is that in their words you’ll find echoes of your story. In their inspired actions, you’ll see yourself and your immense possibility.

*Special Request: The technology of Skype is amazing and imperfect. Please listen with your heart and forgive the occasional blips on the screen.

Today’s interview is with writer and square-peg Karen Caterson. I’d known Karen from the world of blogging and when Benjamin was stillborn, she shared with me the story of her son Christopher’s short life and death. This sent her on the path to being a psychotherapist, and eventually to the work she does now with “mindful non-conformists”.

Bio and link to download the audio version are below. Running time is 24 minutes. If you’re receiving this via email, click through the title to view the video.

Right-click or Control-click here to download the audio version.

In her own words:
Hi! I’m Karen Caterson, aka Square-Peg Karen. Are you a Square-Peg (i.e. mindful nonconformist)? Yes? Great! Let’s get acquainted – come visit me at Square-Peg People, where I encourage celebrating your uniqueness, building an X-treme self-care practice, and focusing on what’s right with you (not what’s wrong with you!).

Welcome to Transformation Talk. Every Thursday for a year, starting in September 2012, I’ll post an interview with someone who is a force for good in the world. These men and women have either deepened their passion or found their calling after experiencing a loss, trauma or diagnosis.

I want to broaden the conversation around grief and its transformative power. My hope is that in their words you’ll find echoes of your story. In their inspired actions, you’ll see yourself and your immense possibility.

*Special Request: The technology of Skype is amazing and imperfect. Please listen with your heart and forgive the occasional blips on the screen.

Today’s interview is with coach and writer, Sas Petherick. The last decade her life has been intimately shaped by grief and loss. She speaks eloquently about the desire to run from these difficult emotions, and the incredible gifts that have come from learning to let them flow through her. I’m honored to have her telling her story here.

Bio and link to download the audio version are below. Running time is 36 minutes. If you’re receiving this via email, click through the title to view the video.

Right-click or Control-click here to download the audio version.

Welcome to Transformation Talk. Every Thursday for a year, starting in September 2012, I’ll post an interview with someone who is a force for good in the world. These men and women have either deepened their passion or found their calling after experiencing a loss, trauma or diagnosis.

I want to broaden the conversation around grief and its transformative power. My hope is that in their words you’ll find echoes of your story. In their inspired actions, you’ll see yourself and your immense possibility.

*Special Request: The technology of Skype is amazing and imperfect. Please listen with your heart and forgive the occasional blips on the screen.

This week’s interview is with writer, teacher and creative artist Liz Lamoreux. Liz is one of those women I’ve long admired in the online world and I’ve recently had the pleasure of getting to know her better. She is deeply committed to creating community through the telling of our stories, and excavating the truth and beauty in all of life’s moments. Today she talks about how her creative practices helped her through a well of grief after her grandmother’s death, supported her when her newborn daughter needed open-heart surgery and continue to feed her soul and her work today.

Bio and link to download the audio version are below. Running time is 34 minutes. If you’re receiving this via email, click through the title to view the video.

Right-click or Control-click here to download the audio version.

Liz Lamoreux is the author of Inner Excavation: Explore Your Self Through Photography, Poetry, and Mixed Media. In this moment, you might find her dancing in her studio to Mumford and Sons, making muffins with her three year old, writing a poem, or deeply enjoying the quiet found in a cup of tea. Connect with her at www.lizlamoreux.com.

P.S. Liz’s wonderful e-course Water Your Toddler Mama Soul starts Wednesday June 5th. For more info and to sign up, click here.
(I wish I’d had this when my daughter was a toddler)

P.P.S. Find Liz’s soul mantra jewelry at her Etsy shop.