The Edge of Everyday with Sandra Bargman

Between Worlds: Who Gets to Decide Who We Become?What happens when you grow up with one culture at home and another one outside the front door? Who do you know yourself to be?Today we are #LiveInTheHive with author and poet Parul L. Bhandari, a first-generation American, raised by Hindi-speaking Indian immigrant parents, and her story lives in that fascinating space between heritage and identity, expectation and possibility, belonging and becoming.Her newest book is Good Brown Girls, poetry that opens up the intimate, sometimes tender and sometimes uncomfortable spaces where culture, family, womanhood, race, identity, desire, and belonging intersect.Because what does it mean to be “Indian” when you were raised American? And what happens when the values, traditions, stories, and expectations you inherit from your family don’t always line up with the person you’re becoming?We talk about what we inherit from our families—and what we choose to keep. We dig into the labels we carry, the identities we construct, and the sometimes uncomfortable process of figuring out which parts of ourselves are genuinely ours.How do we honor where we come from without allowing it to dictate where we’re going?Parul brings a perspective shaped by both her Indian heritage and her American upbringing, offering a nuanced look at what it means to navigate multiple cultural worlds—and ultimately, to become more fully yourself.We talk about: Growing up “between” Indian and American cultures,What it means to be a first-generation American?The tension between cultural expectations and personal identity – how do you hold onto traditions from your culture of origin whilst also embracing the culture and customs of your new home.The duality of being both “modern” and “traditional,” which she witnessed her own parents grapple with.The edges of guilt – how is informed her biases.The preservation vs evolution of traditions.Living from our own values vs carrying the expectations of our ancestors.I read a couple of her poems – Parul shares her desire to help women to move forward, understanding that it it’s time to break some rules.What is Diwali? Parul’s Diwali children’s book is Shine a Light on Diwali: An American-Born, Indian-Heritage Family Celebrates the Festival of Lights, illustrated by Ali Cardenas. The story follows 2 brothers as they share how their U.S.-based Indian-American family celebrates Diwali—at home, at school, and in their community. A central idea is that they’ve developed their own family traditions, combining their Indian heritage with their American upbringingAll this and much more.About Parul L. BhandariParul L. Bhandari is a Chicago-based author, tech entrepreneur, podcast host, and speaker who has never believed in doing just one thing. She is the founder of CustomerXSuccess, a fractional customer success consultancy for B2B SaaS companies, and the author of six books spanning children's literature, poetry, and business — including the Amazon bestselling Good Brown Girls and The Customer Success Talent Playbook.Full bio, order books, and connect HERE. @parul_bhandari_authorAbout Sandra BargmanI help people find and express a more truthful presence through voice, storytelling, and deep listening.My work draws on decades as a professinal actor, singer, director, coach, and as a spiritual counselor, bringing together vocal technique with emotional intelligence, mindfulness, breath and body awareness, and the transformative power of story.My signature B.I.G. Approach explores Breath and Body, Intention, and Genuineness—because powerful communication isn't simply about what we say. It's about how fully we inhabit ourselves when we say it.Whether I'm working one-on-one or with a group, my goal is not to teach people how to sound like someone else.It's to help them hear themselves more clearly—and have the courage to let that voice be heard.SandraBargman.comMagicThreadMedia.com@SandraBargmanMentioned in this episode:This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

What if dreaming is one of the oldest technologies we have for accessing consciousness?What do we do when the usual ways of making sense of our lives stop working?And what might we discover at the edge between what we know and what we don't?Today we are #LIVEINTHEHIVE with Lynda Samphire, an Intuitive and transformational Guide who explores that very territory through dreamwork, plant medicine, embodiment, breath, and nervous system regulation.So today, we're stepping to the edge—and asking:How do we learn to trust ourselves in the liminal spaces between waking and dreaming, between certainty and mystery, and between the Self we think we are and the one we are becoming?Moments to Ponder…The power of labeling vs. the contemplation of identity.The conditioning of “Find a career and stick with it” vs. the evolution of “what I do” into “who I am.”Humans craving 3D life adventures in order to experience consciousness.Lynda shares how discovering her underlying grief revealed itself through functioning anxiety and depression—and became the doorway into her work with nervous system intelligence.What is the Sovereign Edge?Dreamwork as a spiritual technology: sleep is medicine, and dreams are the original journey.Where do dreams, nervous system intelligence, and plant medicine intersect?Lynda’s Dream Decoder app, which provides dream readings as if you were sitting with her in person.Lynda shares an easy dreamwork practice.Lynda shares her relationship with plant medicine and how she guides her clients in their use of plant medicine.SoulRoot Earth—her newly created online plant medicine store and retreat center.In our Off the Edge questions, Lynda shares something she has never shared in an interview EVER. And she’ll be back on the show to share more deeply about it.·All this and so much more…About Lynda SamphireAt the heart of Lynda’s work lies a deep respect for each thought, emotion, and experience.She honors them as sacred invitations to grow and evolve.Her purpose is to guide others with compassion and presence as they travel inward, cultivating awareness and connection with their true selves. She holds a safe and nurturing space for these sacred processes so stress can release, creativity can blossom, and a unique path to wholeness can unfold.Her offerings are for those who feel called to open their hearts and minds, to evolve, and to welcome a higher vibrational way of living. They are an invitation to explore the depths of the soul, gain clarity amid life’s complexities, and tune into the wisdom within each experience.Lynda provides intentional pathways for transformation and growth through microdosing, breathwork, sleep and dreamwork, guided meditations, light language, and more—in one-on-one and group settings, immersive retreats, and through online courses.Connect with Lynda [email protected] @lyndasamphire @lyndawsamphireAbout Sandra BargmanI help people find and express a more truthful presence through voice, storytelling, and deep listening.My work draws on decades as a professinal actor, singer, director, coach, and as a spiritual counselor, bringing together vocal technique with emotional intelligence, mindfulness, breath and body awareness, and the transformative power of story.My signature B.I.G. Approach explores Breath and Body, Intention, and Genuineness—because powerful communication isn't simply about what we say. It's about how fully we inhabit ourselves when we say it.Whether I'm working one-on-one or with a group, my goal is not to teach people how to sound like someone else.It's to help them hear themselves more clearly—and have the courage to let that voice be heard.Continue the ConversationIf this episode resonates with you, I'd love to hear from you.Connect with Sandra HERE.@[email protected] in this episode:This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

What happens when the advice meant to help us succeed slowly teaches us to distrust our own voice?This episode is a replay of a fantastic conversation I had with Amy Lynn Durham, founder of Create Magic At Work and Magic Thread Media. The conversation aired on HER hit podcast Create Magic at Work back in June. And I’ll tell you, this one really hit a nerve with her listeners so I knew I had to share it on The Edge of Everyday.For years, women have been given advice about how to sound more confident, more authoritative, more professional, more “executive.” We’re told to eliminate filler words, avoid vocal fry, speak with more certainty, temper our emotions, stop saying “Does that make sense?” and learn how to project power.But who decided what powerful sounds like?And what happens when the qualities that make someone thoughtful, collaborative, emotionally intelligent, relational, or genuinely curious are interpreted as signs of weakness rather than strength?In this conversation, we unpack the hidden assumptions behind executive presence and the double standards that can shape how credibility and authority are perceived. We explore the subtle ways we learn to soften, edit, second-guess, or even abandon parts of ourselves in order to be heard.We also look at what can happen when we stop treating presence as a performance.Because authentic presence isn't simply about speaking louder or taking up more space. Sometimes it lives in a breath. A pause. A story. A moment of silence. The willingness to let yourself be seen before you have perfectly rehearsed what you're going to say.And sometimes the most powerful thing we can do isn't learn to sound more powerful.It's trust our own voice enough to use it.Moments That Create Momentum1. Fixing Women—or Fixing the Room?Why does communication advice so often focus on changing women rather than examining the environments in which women are being evaluated?2. When Authenticity Gets Mistaken for WeaknessWhat happens when collaboration, emotional intelligence, vulnerability, and relational language are interpreted differently depending on who is speaking?3. The Hidden Cost of Second-Guessing YourselfFrom “Does that make sense?” to carefully editing our words, tone, and emotions, we explore the subtle ways self-doubt can become part of our communication.4. Silence Is Part of the VoicePresence isn't always about speaking faster, louder, or more often. Sometimes confidence sounds like a thoughtful pause—and the willingness not to fill every silence.5. The Stories We’re Afraid to TellThe experiences we minimize, hide, or dismiss can sometimes contain the very stories that help us understand who we are and what we have to say.6. Presence Beyond PerformanceBreath, body, intention, mindfulness, storytelling, and genuine connection can create trust and influence without requiring us to become someone we're not.About Amy Lynn DurhamAmy Lynn Durham, known to her clients as the Corporate Mystic, is the founder of Create Magic At Work®, an executive coaching firm helping leaders build workplaces rooted in creativity, collaboration, and fulfillment.A former corporate executive turned Executive Coach, Amy blends practical leadership strategies with spiritual intelligence to unlock human potential at work. She is certified through UC Berkeley and the International Coaching Federation (ICF), with additional certifications in Spiritual Intelligence (SQ21), the Edgewalker Profile, and Archetypes of Change.Amy is also the host of the Create Magic At Work® podcast, author of Create Magic At Work® and Creating Career Magic: A Daily Prompt Journal, and founder of Magic Thread Media™.Through her work, Amy inspires intentional leadership—and helps people create thriving workplaces and lives where “magic” becomes reality.Connect with Amy:https://createmagicatwork.net/LinkedIn: Create Magic At WorkFacebook: Create Magic At WorkInstagram: @createmagicatworkYouTube: @createmagicatworkAbout Sandra BargmanI help people find and express a more truthful presence through voice, storytelling, and deep listening.My work draws on decades as a professinal actor, singer, director, coach, and as a spiritual counselor, bringing together vocal technique with emotional intelligence, mindfulness, breath and body awareness, and the transformative power of story.My signature B.I.G. Approach explores Breath and Body, Intention, and Genuineness—because powerful communication isn't simply about what we say. It's about how fully we inhabit ourselves when we say it.Whether I'm working one-on-one or with a group, my goal is not to teach people how to sound like someone else.It's to help them hear themselves more clearly—and have the courage to let that voice be heard.Continue the ConversationIf this episode resonates with you, I'd love to hear from you.What have you been told about the way you should speak, lead, or show up?And what might change if, instead of asking “How can I sound more powerful?”, you began asking:“What would it sound like to trust myself?”Listen to more conversations about voice, identity, story, presence, and the questions that live at the edge of everyday life on The Edge of Everyday.Mentioned in this episode:This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

What if marketing—something so many of us resist—isn't really about selling at all, but about helping people recognize themselves in a story that speaks to their hopes, to their fears, and to their longings?Today, we're talking about Story—story with a capital "S." Not simply storytelling as a communication skill, but Story as the invisible thread that shapes our identities, our relationships, our businesses, and the way we move through the world.We are #LiveInTheHive with Paul Furiga, founder of Capital S Story. For decades, Paul has helped leaders, organizations, and entrepreneurs discover that beneath every successful message is something far more profound: a story that reveals not only what we do, but why it matters.In this episode…Since the beginning of time, storytelling is encoded in the human experience. “The Storyteller” held a revered position in tribal society, entrusted with recording the experiences and lessons of life. What then is the relationship between Storytelling and Identity?What is the importance of telling an authentic story in business, both individually and organizationally?The word authentic gets thrown around a LOT. Paul weighs in with his experiential definition.How has marketing evolved, and what has the role of storytelling played in this evolution?What is the capital S story? And what fundamental questions does it answer?Archetypal stories. What are they and how can they be used to engage an audience?How do companies lose VS evolve their stories?How can we move from hiding behind a polished narrative into sharing a dynamic, real story?Paul shares some very unexpected FUN FACTS from his storytelling legacy.What is the ONE word – for YOU – that describes Leadership? Paul and I shares ours.So many stories! So much more...Find Paul HERE.https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulfuriga/Come see me, Sandra Bargman, at Magic Thread Media for a conversation about how we might work together.And please, don’t forget to leave a review at Apple Podcasts!My website HERE.#AuthenticStorytelling #CapitalSStory #LeadershipStorytelling #BusinessStorytelling #MarketingThroughStorytelling #StoryDrivenMarketing #TheEdgeofEverydayPodcast #MagicThreadMediaMentioned in this episode:This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

Today, we are #LiveInTheHive with Dr Pavini Moray to explore the powerful intersections of embodiment, ancestry, ritual, and belonging.In a culture that teaches us to think our way through life, Pavini invites us to listen to something older, something wiser—the intelligence of the body. Their work bridges somatic psychology, trauma healing, consent, leadership, and ancestral practice, reminding us that healing isn't simply an individual journey. It ripples backward through our lineage and forward to those who will come after us.Their newest book, Tending the Bones, offers a thirteen-month journey through ritual, embodiment, and ancestral connection, asking not only how we heal ourselves, but how we become good ancestors.So today we'll explore questions like: What do our bodies remember that our minds have forgotten? Can ritual become a language of healing? And what does it mean to belong—not just to ourselves, but to generations past and generations yet to come?In this episode….“My identities are shortcuts for other people.”Their former podcast, Bespoken Bones, is now on Magic Thread Media. https://bespoken-bones-podcast.captivate.fm/episodesPavini shares the story behind the choice of the title, Tending The Bones, for their latest book?How do we remember who we are? The Body - What have we forgotten? The Ancestors -What have we inherited? The Ritual - How do we remember? The Future - What legacy are we creating?What is Somatic Psychology and how is it woven into their work?What is the relationship of Memory + Embodiment? How do memories live in the body?How does Pavini utilize ritual alongside ancestral work with their clients?Resource: Daniel Foors, PhD. https://ancestralmedicine.org/bio/Is ritual another form of STORYTELLING?Resource: Wellbriaty - https://wellbrietymovement.com/Does healing take place in isolation?Pavini shares a simple step towards conscious embodiment.Find Pavini HERE.LinkedIn.Dr. Pavini Moray is a somatic couples coach and Relational Life Therapy practitioner with a PhD in Somatic Psychology and 15+ years guiding couples through crisis, betrayal, and reconnection. They are the author of How to Hold Power (Penguin Random House) and Tending the Bones (North Atlantic Books). Rooted in the belief that our bodies hold profound wisdom, Pavini's work invites us to reconnect with ourselves, our lineages, and the possibility of collective healing.They are the host of Salty Sweet, a documentary-style podcast following real couples through the work of staying together. Their approach blends somatic psychology, relational science, and a spiritual sensibility, delivered with warmth, precision, and zero wellness-speak.Find Sandra HERE.Magic Thread Media#TheEdgeofEverydayPodcast #MagicThreadMedia #TendingTheBones #Embodiment #AncestralWisdom #Ritual #Storytelling #MythandMeaning #EmbodiedWisdom #DepthPsychology #SomaticPsychologyMentioned in this episode:This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/