Episode 145: Reese (Zahner) Maher (pen name: Cleo Childs) and herupcoming book "Moving With" that's based on her spoken word poetryalbum "Moving With" (May 2024)

ABOUT CLEO

Cleo released her spoken word poetry album "Moving With" in May 2024. Her book "Moving With" will be released later this year. These projects are the culmination of years of writing about the journey of grief she experienced after losing her mom to Alzheimer's when she was 28 years old. Her mother was an English major in college and her grandmother, who is also one of her editors, was an English teacher for 30 years, so she came by her grief-processing tool of writing naturally. With these projects, she hopes to show the path her grief took from having her mother, losing her mother, and the peace and acceptance she feels now. She also hopes to give an authentic and honest look at what her grief felt like so other people going through grief don't feel alone and feel community in their grief.

CONVERSATION HIGHLIGHTS

• Processing grief through poetry and writing.

• Stephen Colbert's story of tragedy.

• The meaning of loss and moving with (not past or beyond) grief.

• Connection through shared suffering.

• Perspective-giving moments in life.

• Easing the path for others through writing.

• The antidote to loneliness.

• Embracing imperfection.

• The freedom in authenticity.

The MAIN QUESTION underlying my conversation with Cleo is, How do you process and utilize the suffering you've experienced in life to move with your grief and move forward in life?

FIND CLEO

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reesezahner/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cleochildspoetry/
• Website: cleochilds.com

LinkedIn – Full Podcast Article:

CHAPTERS

00:00 - The Book Leads Podcast – Cleo Childs

01:07- Introduction & Bio

02:00 - Who are you today? Can you provide more information about your work?

08:00 - On Stephen Colbert's experience of life vs. career in comedy.

56:00 - How does the work you're doing today reconcile to who you were as a child?

01:07:04 - What does leadership mean to you?

01:18:46 - What's changed in you in the process of writing this book?

01:22:01 - What book has inspired you?

01:23:52 - What are you up to these days? (A way for guests to share and market their projects and work.)

This series has become my Masterclass In Humanity. I'd love for you to join me and see what you take away from these conversations.

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• Read About The Book Leads – Blog Post

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