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 Desiree Adaway of The Adaway Group. She is a coach, consultant and mentor who focuses on global service and leadership. I’ve long been a fan of hers, and it was a huge pleasure to talk with her about her life, her passions and her penchant for being uncomfortable.

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.

Here is Desiree in her own words. Find her at DesireeAdaway.com

I love to challenge and help others experience success.

I am a strong, strategic business professional with the breadth and depth of having worked with organizations of all sizes in various phases of transition. I bring my clients insights and expertise from having served in senior-level roles in the nonprofit and grant management sectors for such renowned organizations as Habitat for Humanity International, where I was the Senior Director of Volunteer Mobilization, and Rotary International, where I was the director of their largest Humanitarian Grants program.                                                                                                                                              

I identify the dangers, weigh their impact, and then place my feet deliberately—and stay by your side every step of the way.

I thrive at partnering with talented leaders to successfully navigate through integrations, reorganizations, through all stages of organizational evolution. My industry expertise also includes fundraising, grant management, environmental, social justice, and faith based initiatives.

I break bottlenecks.

I am especially skilled at helping organizations achieve more consistent, quality program results at both the chapter, national and international levels.  I have designed and/ or administered more than 150 global programs to engage 500,000 people into action directly and almost 1 million indirectly through creation of global strategy. I have crafted and administered partnerships that have secured over $10.5 million in funding from a variety of private and corporate resources. You need both sides of your brain–right and left – to create work of depth and meaning.  I bring you both.

I create clear narratives that showcase data and story.

I believe that success for nonprofit, small businesses or individuals  is not possible without taking risks and innovating. When we “go for broke” and learn to fail graciously, we open up opportunities for shared learning. We create a culture that encourages creativity and calculated risk taking. We energize each other. Fearless is not reckless, and I will never let you forget that.

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 the optimystical Mynde Mayfield, who was my coach at the time Benjamin died. (Talking about this still brings tears, as you’ll see in the video). She is one of the most positive people I have ever met, and last year this essential trait was put to the test with a Stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis. Having just received her NED (No Evidence of Disease) Mynde continues to walk her talk as she moves into the next stage of her life. Knowing that there is no right way to “do cancer”,  I wanted to share Mynde’s inspiring story.

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

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

Mynde is a Certified Life Coach, writer & survivor of advanced breast cancer. After 11 months of intensive treatment, including chemotherapy, a double mastectomy and radiation that ended in February 2013, she’s created a survivorship program called 12 Principles to Living Well With Cancer where she’s sharing her best strategies for survival and empowerment for the cancer journey and beyond. Mynde combines her life experience as a coach & cancer survivor, natural gifts, and practical spirituality to inspire you to live & heal your life with her special brand of optimystical magic.

Find her at MyndeMayfield.com

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 natural intuitive, soul-medium and shamanic practitioner Kimberely Arana. As a child she had a profound experience that led to years of grief, depression and addiction. As a young adult, a series of life-threatening situations led her to finally understand why she’s here on the planet at this time. She talks candidly about some of her big challenges and how she came to fall in love with life.

I’ve had a chance to work with Kimberely and she’s quite amazing. If the idea of communicating with your soul guide appeals to you, I invite you to take a look at the class she talks about in the video. You can find it here.

Bio and link to audio version are below. Running time is 33 minutes. If you’re seeing this in an email, click through the title to access the video.

Right-click or control-click here to download audio version.

Kimberely Arana is a healer, mentor and teacher of spiritual growth and personal well-being, your Spiritual Instigator.  She is the leader of unshakablesoul.com, created to help you cultivate a soul-driven life.

A natural intuitive, soul-medium, and initiated shamanic practitioner, she has well over two decades experience in deep spiritual awareness, magic + ritual, divine devotion and alternative healing. She holds a BA, Magna Cum Laude, from John F Kennedy University – a pioneer in consciousness studies and holistic health – and is a graduate of the Northwest School of Botanical Studies/ Professional Herbalist Program.

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, speaker, teacher and businesswoman, Angela Kelsey. Her memoir of her 8 year marriage, where she was a victim of domestic violence, is set to be released this fall. Angela talks candidly about what it was like to realize she’d married an abuser and live with him for over 7 years, hoping things would change, until finally having the strength to leave.

Bio & link to download the audio version are below. Running time is just under 30 mins.

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

Angela Kelsey is a writer, teacher, speaker, advocate, businesswoman, and survivor of domestic violence.

Her unflinching exploration of her abusive marriage has led to a memoir called Funhouse Marriage: Who I Was • Why I Stayed • How I Got Out, to be published in the fall of 2013. The answers to those questions cut to the core reasons why women across lines of age, class, and culture stay with men who batter them.

In 2011, she joined forces with friends to create In Real Life, a growing online community dedicated to providing psychotherapy and peer support for survivors of domestic violence, rape, and sexual abuse.

Her website is www.angelakelsey.com.