S3 Ep27. From Bartending to the Classroom: Wellbeing, Work and Small Acts of Kindness with Tara Salinas

S3 Ep29. What It Means to Live Fully: A Conversation with Kashonna Marrow

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2315926/fan_mail/new] In this episode of ABWilson’s Heart of the Matter, Kashonna Marrow shares a thoughtful and deeply personal conversation about joy, calling, growth, and the power of self-awareness. She describes herself as happy, joyous, open, and approachable, and explains that joy, for her, is not dependent on outside circumstances but anchored in faith and cultivated through intention. Kashonna reflects on the importance of staying open to change, people, and new opportunities, even when discomfort shows up. She speaks candidly about learning to lean into curiosity instead of shutting down, and about creating a sense of safety and trust for others through approachability, active listening, and genuine care. Her work as a speaker, coach, and training and development leader is rooted in helping people feel seen, heard, and supported. The conversation also highlights Kashonna’s adventurous side, from skydiving and zip lining to her red belt in taekwondo, as well as her love of dreaming big and seeing what is possible. She shares how seeing her long-held dreams come to life has strengthened her faith and confidence, especially in her work and travels. These stories bring out her playful, determined spirit and her belief that life is meant to be fully lived. A major theme of the episode is personal growth through challenge. Kashonna opens up about the lessons she learned through divorce, therapy, and faith, explaining how digging into the root causes of pain helped her change the fruit in her life. She speaks honestly about boundaries, forgiveness, and the need to stop carrying emotional weight that blocks peace, creativity, and progress. Throughout the episode, Kashonna emphasizes that her business is about people, purpose, and impact. After 14 years in business, she continues to show up with commitment because she sees her work as a calling, not just a passion. Her reflections on self-care, harmony, seasons of life, and the importance of saying no offer listeners practical wisdom for staying grounded while serving others. https://www.abwilsonconsulting.com [https://www.abwilsonconsulting.com] https://abwilsonphotography.com [https://abwilsonphotography.com]

S3 Ep28. Creativity Saves Lives: Art, Storytelling and the Power of Kindness with Joanna Sell

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2315926/fan_mail/new] Joanna Sell joins ABWilson Heart of the Matter for a warm and wide-ranging conversation about creativity, kindness, imagination and the many ways art can support well-being.  Joanna describes herself as someone who deeply values creativity in everyday life, whether that means experimenting in the kitchen, engaging in creative tasks or  writing, where she says she truly flourishes. She also reflects on the close relationship between creativity and imagination, explaining that the creative process brings something new into the world while remaining rooted in what already exists. A major theme in the conversation is Joanna’s belief that art has healing power and can help people understand one another across cultures. She shares how her background in art history, her interest in intercultural communication and her professional work all come together in projects designed to use art as a bridge for connection and reflection.  Joanna also discusses her art-based cards inspired by the PERMA model, which she created to invite positive emotions, engagement and meaningful storytelling through visual art. The episode also touches on Joanna’s roots in Poland, especially Krakow, a city she describes with deep affection and pride. She speaks about the challenge of discussing her own accomplishments, shaped in part by cultural values of humility and offers a thoughtful example of how success can be understood as helping dreams become reality rather than simply self-promotion.  Joanna’s story shows how personal history, cultural context and creative practice can shape a life of purpose and contribution. Listeners will also hear about Joanna’s commitment to experiential learning, relationship building and non-judgmental communication. She shares a memorable story about making an unexpected but important difference in a professional setting, as well as the lessons she learned after overcoming self-doubt around language and belonging early in her career.  Throughout the episode, Joanna returns to the idea that creativity, when paired with kindness and openness, can transform individual lives and the way we connect in families, communities and across cultures. https://www.abwilsonconsulting.com [https://www.abwilsonconsulting.com] https://abwilsonphotography.com [https://abwilsonphotography.com]

S3 Ep27. From Bartending to the Classroom: Wellbeing, Work and Small Acts of Kindness with Tara Salinas

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2315926/fan_mail/new] In this episode of ABWilson's Heart of the Matter, host Aderonke Bademosi Wilson speaks with Tara Salinas, an educator, mother,and fervent supporter who brings warmth, humor and practical wisdom to conversations about wellbeing, work and relationships.  Tara shares how becoming a mother later in life reshaped her priorities and taught her to be more purposeful in her attention, and she reflects on the surprising joys and challenges of parenting a kind and curious 10 year old. She describes her journey to teaching, from an unexpected first class that sparked a love of mentoring to intentionally choosing a small university environment so she can know students by name and support them beyond course content.  Tara explains her identity as a fervent supporter, the value she places on deep friendships and how small acts of recognition and kindness can create meaningful differences in other people's lives.  She discusses practical strategies for resilience including movement classes that require no thinking, short naps, solo writing retreats for brain dumps and trying tapping and breath work to reset during stressful times. Tara and her colleague’s Psychology Today blog, The Problem With, translates social science research into accessible guidance, and she celebrates the satisfaction of reaching readers beyond academic journals.  Looking ahead Tara will launch a new undergraduate course called Wellbeing Work and You that brings together research on happiness, resilience, relationships and workplace practices to give students practical toolkits for living well in their careers.  The conversation closes with Tara’s invitation to treat people like people, to lean into causes and relationships that matter and to remember that even small gestures of recognition can ripple outward in powerful ways. https://www.abwilsonconsulting.com [https://www.abwilsonconsulting.com] https://abwilsonphotography.com [https://abwilsonphotography.com]

S3 Ep26. Play, Pause and Parenting with Presence: A Conversation with Dr. Julia Sen

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2315926/fan_mail/new] In this episode of ABWilson’s Heart of the Matter, Dr. Julia Sen shares a deeply personal and inspiring story about how her passion for parenting support came full circle. What began as a childhood desire to help children eventually led her into psychology, infertility work and now a new chapter focused on creating community-centered support for parents. Julia opens up about her own fertility journey, living with PCOS, and how those experiences shaped both her compassion and her calling. Julia describes herself as playful, fascinated and parenting-focused, and those words come through clearly throughout the conversation. She talks about the joy she finds in play, music, baseball, learning new creative skills and staying curious about life.  She also shares why she stepped away from traditional psychology, explaining that she wanted more freedom to support parents in an accessible, global way through a membership-based community called Supported. At the heart of the episode is Julia’s belief that children thrive when they feel understood. She introduces the Habit of Heart, a mini course built around secure attachment and three simple daily statements: “I’ve got you,” “You’re safe with me,” and “I believe in you.” Julia also offers her Be Fabulous practice, or BFAB, as a way for parents to regulate themselves in stressful moments by breathing, offering empathy, affirming safety, and believing in themselves and their children. The conversation also explores how parents can break generational patterns and respond differently in challenging moments. Julia shares how she has worked to interrupt cycles of exhaustion, yelling, guilt and self-sacrifice by learning to pause, practice self-empathy, and respond with more intention. Her reflections are thoughtful, practical, and full of warmth, making this episode especially meaningful for parents who want to grow without perfectionism. https://www.abwilsonconsulting.com [https://www.abwilsonconsulting.com] https://abwilsonphotography.com [https://abwilsonphotography.com]

S3 Ep25. Raising the Next Gen: Sonia Dong on Parenting, Purpose, and Baby Steps

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2315926/fan_mail/new] In this episode of ABWilson Heart of the Matter, Sonia Dong shares a thoughtful and deeply personal conversation about parenting, identity, healing and growth. Sonia is a writer, podcaster and speaker whose work centers on helping parents feel less alone and more connected as they navigate the evolving stages of raising children.  She opens up about creating her podcast Raising the Next Gen after realizing that the parenting landscape changes dramatically as children grow older and that community and support are still needed just as much in the teen years as they are in the toddler years. Sonia reflects on the idea that parents are the original influencers, explaining that children often learn more from what we model than from what we say. She speaks candidly about rediscovering her voice as a writer, including her Substack Next Gen Connection, her co-authored book contribution in Mamas Gotta Grow and her personal project of capturing 49 moments to remember in her 49th year.  Sonia also shares how her signature talk, All About the Baby Steps, grew out of her belief that both children and parents need patience, practice and encouragement as they learn and grow together. The conversation also explores a season of grief, strain and reinvention after the loss of a close friend and the collapse of a business she once poured herself into. Sonia describes how therapy, coaching, journaling and a shift in mindset helped her let go of old definitions of success and release the business with love, making space for a new chapter rooted in purpose, creativity, and service. She now channels that energy into her podcast, writing, speaking, workshops, a parent book and trail club and future possibilities including a TED stage. Throughout the episode, Sonia’s warmth and wonder come through beautifully. She speaks about joy in the small things, from rainbows and birds to car washes and laughter and invites listeners to notice the beauty around them.  Her story is a gentle reminder that growth can be slow, healing can be messy and meaningful change often begins with one small step. https://www.abwilsonconsulting.com [https://www.abwilsonconsulting.com] https://abwilsonphotography.com [https://abwilsonphotography.com]