Compass Stories

Travel Diary: Death Valley NP & Tips for Helping Your Friend Through Grief

Veronica Sterling shares insights on supporting friends through grief, emphasizing the importance of connection, presence, and empathy, set against the backdrop of her trip to Death Valley National Park. Keywords grief support, emotional connection, friendship, empathy, mental health, personal growth Key topics Steps to support a grieving friend The importance of listening and following the lead The role of being a witness in healing Common pitfalls like saying 'at least' Practical actions to show support Takeaways Start before you're ready to connect. Follow the griever's lead and listen. Be a witness to their pain without trying to fix. Avoid minimizing phrases like 'at least.' Actions speak louder than words—offer practical help. Sound bites "Avoid phrases like 'at least'—they dismiss pain." "Apologize if you misspoke or feel you took a misstep." "When unsure, make the connection through actions." Chapters 00:00 Exploring Death Valley's Unique Landscape 06:14 Supporting a Grieving Friend: Practical Steps 09:00 MASTER OUTRO.mp4 Resources www.veronicasterling.com [http://www.veronicasterling.com]

Chris Littrell: Navigating Grief, Joy & The Power of Human Connection

In this heartfelt interview, Christopher Littrell shares his personal journey through grief, recovery, and the power of human connection. He discusses how courage, faith, and community have helped him navigate life's peaks and valleys, offering insights for those facing their own challenges.   GUEST Christopher Littrell is a retired law enforcement officer with almost 20 years of experience serving in the Pacific Northwest, including time on a regional SWAT team. He is also a U.S. Air Force veteran, where he served in Security Forces, building a foundation in leadership, discipline, and service. Throughout his career, Chris specialized in critical incident response, investigations, and officer wellness, gaining firsthand experience in high-stress environments that shaped his approach to leadership and resilience. Today, Chris is the founder of Gravity Consulting and Training, where he equips leaders and organizations with practical tools in leadership development, emotional intelligence, communication, and wellness. He is also the host of the Gravity Podcast and the author of Echoes from the Street: A Police Officer’s Journey Through Trauma, Recovery, and Redemption, where he shares powerful lessons from his career and personal journey of growth.     KEYWORDS grief, recovery, human connection, courage, faith, mental health, resilience, loss, healing, life lessons   KEY TOPICS The importance of human connection in healing The role of faith in coping with grief Courage as a contagious force Navigating peaks and valleys of life The impact of community support during trauma   CHAPTERS 00:00 The Importance of Human Connection 06:00 Courage and Its Contagious Nature 11:25 Navigating Grief and Joy 17:22 The Journey of Change and Surrender 23:21 Supporting Grievers: The Role of Friends 29:07 Navigating Grief and Community Support 37:39 The Importance of Presence in Grief 41:07 Faith and the Struggle with Loss 45:55 Finding Strength in Endurance Sports 52:28 The Power of Apology and Connection   RESOURCES   Christopher Littrell, MBA | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gravitychris/] Chris Littrell Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/chris.littrell.5] Echoes from The Street Book on Amazon [https://a.co/d/01gk0Jyo] Gravity – Captivating audiences [https://gravityct.com/]

Travel Diary: Mohave Desert & A Leap of Faith. Revealing the Journey & Purpose of This Podcast

Veronica shares her journey of traveling through national parks in her vintage Airstream, exploring themes of pursuing dreams, embracing change, and the power of connection. keywords Travel, Dreams, Change, Connection, Inspiration, National Parks, Airstream, Personal Growth key topics Pursuit of dreams and personal growth The role of disruption and change in life The importance of connection and starting before you're ready guest name sound bites "This desert is a wild wilderness." "Believe your dream is worth the leap." "There is so much more to explore." Chapters 00:00 Exploring Mojave National Preserve 05:56 Navigating Life's Changes and Dreams 06:40 MASTER OUTRO.mp4 resources National Park Service - https://www.nps.gov/ [https://www.nps.gov/] Veronica Sterling's Website - https://veronicasterling.com [https://veronicasterling.com]

Matt McManus: Sobriety & Wellness, Building a Purposeful Business While Talking Back to Self-Doubt

We realize a need for change, but how do we get started? How do we tackle self-doubt? In this conversation, Matt shares his story as he navigates growth through sobriety, wellness pursuits, and building a business that fulfills a purpose. Matt McManus was born and raised in Cincinnati. He went away briefly to attend Mississippi State University and majored in marketing.  After he graduated, he worked as a golf professional for 4 years before turning to the financial services industry.  Eventually he helped co-found and is currently one of the partners at Triplecrown Wealth Management.  His focus is on working with first responders and delivering actionable financial advice viewed from a lens of wellness.  He lives on the west side of the city with his wife Sarah and their 4 kids.  Matthew McManus RICP Friend to 1st Responders | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-mcmanus-friend-to-first-responders/] Triplecrown Wealth Management [https://www.triplecrownwm.com/] Veronica's Interview on Pension Protectors Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pension-protectors-s3e10-life-lessons-from-hospice/id1731409954?i=1000754833552 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pension-protectors-s3e10-life-lessons-from-hospice/id1731409954?i=1000754833552] MAIN TOPICS COVERED: * Matt’s story of addiction and recovery * The relationship between mental, physical, and financial wellness * Techniques for overcoming self-doubt and cravings * The importance of setting clear goals with a "start ugly" mindset * Building resilience through faith, purpose, and community

Travel Diary: Bandelier National Monument, NM. Activating Hope

Veronica shares her reflections on hope, disruption, and the journey of healing during her travels through New Mexico. She explores how hope acts as a guiding lantern in difficult times and offers practical ways to activate hope in our lives. Keywords hope, healing, disruption, personal growth, motivation, mental health, journey, inspiration Key topics The role of hope in navigating disruption Practical ways to activate hope The paradox of pain and hope in healing guest name Sound bites "Hope is like holding up a lantern in the dark" "Hope is a decision to activate" "I am moving forward anyway" Chapters 00:00 Exploring Bandelier National Monument 10:12 MASTER OUTRO.mp4 10:40 Valles Cauldera Forest Hike_ Birds_Wind_Footsteps 05.19.26.mp3 Resources Bandelier National Monument - https://www.nps.gov/band/index.htm [https://www.nps.gov/band/index.htm] Los Alamos National Laboratory Museum - https://www.lanl.gov/about/visiting/index.php [https://www.lanl.gov/about/visiting/index.php] Valles Caldera National Preserve - https://www.vallescaldera.gov/ [https://www.vallescaldera.gov/]