This is My Silver Lining

Mike knew he wanted to be a professional golfer when he was five years old.  He talks to us about how he made his big dream come true as a golf pro.  We explore how he and his business partner, Andy Plummer, created the Stack & Tilt System of golf instruction through intense study and data analysis long before artificial intelligence was a thing. Mike tells us about the controversial Golf Digest article that introduced their teaching method to the world.  He emphasizes the value of connections and helping others, both in the golf world and in his personal life. As a parent, he teaches his daughters the importance of resilience and the joy of doing favors for others. In this conversation, Mike Bennett shares his insights on building confidence, creating meaningful connections, and expressing gratitude. Episode Links and ResourcesStack & TiltStack & Tilt ArticleSupport this podcast by subscribing and reviewing!Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Audio Blocks.Technical Podcast Support by: Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co.© 2022 Silver Linings Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Just in time for Spring Break and with a special nod to National Optimism Month, we're thrilled to bring you this inspirational interview with Travel Expert, Lindsey Epperly, the CEO of JetSet World Travel. Lindsey shares some of her most difficult challenges as an entrepreneur in the travel industry during a global pandemic.  She also talks to us openly about how an unexpected health scare created an opportunity for her to lean into her vulnerability and become a stronger leader.   Episode Links and ResourcesLindsey EpperlyJetset World TravelWho Made You the BossSupport this podcast by subscribing and reviewing!Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Audio Blocks.Technical Podcast Support by: Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co.© 2022 Silver Linings Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.

The daughter of immigrant parents, Sabrina was the consummate high achiever growing up.  An Ivy Leaguer with her sights on law school, she did a summer internship at a prestigious firm that changed her plans.  She took a role as a fixed income analyst on Wall Street.  She was young and curious; she was great at her job.  By all measures, Sabrina was a success, but she wanted more from life.  As she considered her options, the music stopped.  In 2008, Sabrina had a front row seat to the downward spiral that was the financial crisis. If she ever needed a sign to define a new career path, this was it.  She traded her pin stripes for sneakers and became an entrepreneur.  She hasn’t looked back.  Fifteen years later, Sabrina has successfully launched several consumer brands.  Her journey has been anything but smooth or “balanced”.  She’s had moments of doubt, regret, and feelings of failure, but she is enjoying the ride!  Sabrina is also the proud mother of three young sons.  Motherhood has provided some unvarnished challenges and fresh opportunities for triumph at home and in her business ventures.  This perspective has fueled her passion for creating healthy work environments where people feel appreciated and valued.Forbes Magazine, How To Create Your Best Real Life on the Non-Linear Path to Career Success Support this podcast by subscribing and reviewing!Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Audio Blocks.Technical Podcast Support by: Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co.© 2023 Silver Linings Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Jamil Simon is a documentary filmmaker, development worker, peace activist and lifelong adventurer.  Over the course of multiple capacity building projects across sub saharan Africa, the Middle East, and beyond, Jamil gained insights into the deep challenges associated with building and maintaining lasting peace in several conflict-ravaged areas.  He witnessed firsthand that signing peace agreements and shaking hands in front of the cameras does little to repair divisions and discord. Peace-building is a practice that requires learning what each side needs and wants in order to find common ground.  That sounds straightforward and obvious, but in an age of great division, 24/7 news, and the proliferation of misinformation on social media, finding enough daylight to cultivate meaningful peace seems almost unimaginable.Jamil is undeterred; he believes peace is possible.  We speak with Jamil about the practice of building lasting peace and the powerful role of journalists in shaping public consciousness. On his podcast, Making Peace Visible, Jamil speaks with journalists and peacebuilders who help us understand the human side of war and peacemaking efforts around the world. Please note that in this episode, we mistakenly refer to Abraham Trail.  It is the Abraham Path, a monumental undertaking and true testament to what is possible in the name of peace.  Links to Jamil’s interview with Josh Weiss and Anisa Mehdi about the Abraham Path is linked below, as is his interview with Dutch investigative journalist, Bette Dam, to which we also refer in this episode.If you would like to be notified of future episodes of the Making Peace Visible podcast, news and other publications, sign on to the War Stories Peace Stories website on the contact page: https://www.warstoriespeacestories.org/contactLinks and Resources:Jamil Simon (http://www.linkedin.com/in/jamil-simon-245580)War Stories Peace Stories (https://www.warstoriespeacestories.org/)Making Peace Visible Podcast, Un-embedding Western narratives about Afghanistan with Bette DamMaking Peace Visible Podcast, Building peace on a walk through the Middle East with Joshua Weiss and Anisa MehdiSupport this podcast by subscribing and reviewing!Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Audio Blocks.Technical Podcast Support by: Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co.© 2023 Silver Linings Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.

For Meredith Tapper, boxing is as much about patience and persistence as it is about landing the perfect punch.  Meredith is a 38-year-old lawyer from Winnipeg, Manitoba who works on Wall Street.  She’s a big thinker driven by intellectual challenge who gets things done.  She is also a risk taker who won't hesitate to take a solo trip to Southeast Asia or some other far-flung destination.  In 2019, she embarked on a new adventure right at home in New York City when she started taking boxing classes.  She had a hard time fitting in at first.  She tried several gyms.  Coaches and other fighters asked her why she kept coming back - she didn’t seem like the type.  Undeterred, she kept at it.  There was something about boxing.  She wanted to master it.  On November 2, 2023, Meredith will enter the ring officially at the Haymakers for Hope 11th Annual Hope NYC charity boxing event at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City.  Haymakers for Hope gives everyday people the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete in their first sanctioned boxing event. Over the years, Haymakers has raised over $25 million dollars for cancer related charities.  Meredith is raising funds and awareness for cancer patients who cannot afford treatment or the broader economic consequences that come with fighting a terminal illness.  We speak with Meredith about how she discovered her passion for boxing and what it continues to teach her about life outside the ring.  She dispels many of the myths that surround boxing, notably that it’s all about violence.  To the contrary, Meredith says she is more centered, focused and patient with herself (and others) thanks to boxing.  For those who are truly committed to the sport and their community, there is love, kindness, and respect for others.Links and Resources:Meredith’s Fundraising Page on Haymakers for HopeTo Buy at Ticket to Haymakers for Hope 11th Annual Hope NYC Boxing Event - Make sure to type “Tapper” as the unlock code.Haymakers for HopeSupport this podcast by subscribing and reviewing!Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Audio Blocks.Technical Podcast Support by: Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co.© 2023 Silver Linings Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.

When she was just seven years old Erin Dionne knew she wanted to be an author.  She took all the right steps - she majored in English at Boston College, she earned a Masters in Fine Arts in Creative Writing at Emerson College in Boston, and set her sights on writing the great American novel.  But a chance opportunity to take a class in children’s literature ignited a new creative spark. Today, Erin is a successful author who has written 7 books for tweens, children's picture books, and recently, a nonfiction book about writing.  She also writes mystery novels –for grownups– under a pen name.  Erin talks with us about launching herself into the creative process, how she has learned to receive and accept feedback, and the generous community of writers she has found to share her experiences and challenges with. Erin confesses that she’s not one of those writers who writes every single day. She’s a busy mom and a professor of creative writing at Montserrat College. But, she finds at least 15 minutes every day to work on something related to her writing. At a time when it’s harder and harder to get our kids to put their devices down, we talk to Erin about the importance of reading and storytelling and the connection between reading and learning empathy. Episode Links and ResourcesErin DionneMontserrat College of Art Books by Erin:Moxie and the Art of Rule Breaking - A 14 Day Mystery Models Don’t Each Chocolate CookiesThe Total Tragedy of a Girl Named HamletBad Choices Make Good StoriesLights, Camera Disaster Books Erin Recommends:On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft (A Memoir of the Craft), Stephen KingBird by Bird: Som

Just off the coast of Portland, Maine, in the Casco Bay lies Great Diamond Island, the home of Crown Jewel, a unique dining hotspot where you are sure to make new friends and memories while you delight in the chef’s creative twists on seafood standards and truly smashing cocktails.  A 20-minute ferry or water taxi ride will get you there, but you’ll definitely need a reservation.  This gem is open Memorial Day to Columbus Day and offers an intimate dining setting, with 35 seats, in what was long-ago a Blacksmith’s shop.Crown Jewel’s creator and owner, Alex Wight, has had a longstanding passion for creating memorable dining experiences; she has made this her life’s work.  As we discuss, after studying at the Institute for Culinary Education, Alex received hands-on training in the kitchens of some of the most renowned restaurants in New York and San Sebastian, Spain.  Hardwired for entrepreneurship, she knew early on that she wanted to bring her creative visions to life with her own restaurant.  As with many entrepreneurial journeys, getting to and succeeding on Great Diamond Island has not been easy.  Alex learned to be a resilient and creative problem solver from her mom.  Her unflappable demeanor continues to serve her well.  We discuss the challenges of owning and operating a seasonal restaurant on an island with a limited water supply, making friends with neighbors, and launching a “boatside” service during the pandemic.  We get Alex’s impressions on how the restaurant business has evolved during her career with respect to diversity and equity.  Finally, Alex shares her thoughts on labor shortages and environmental sustainability in the industry.   Episode Links and ResourcesCrown JewelThese Maine restaurants are making the extra effort for the environment, Tim Cebula, Portland Press Herald, June 11, 2023.The 18 Essential Maine Restaurants, Kate McCarty, Eater.com, July 21, 2022.Saved From the Flames, Ready for Love, Sandy Keenan, The New York Times, August 27, 2014Fabulous Femmes at Flanagan’s Table, Karen Watterson, The Maine Mag, November 2016.Support this podcast by subscribing and reviewing!Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Audio Blocks.Technical Podcast Support by: Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co.© 2023 Silver Linings Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.

For Bram Zeigler, an economist and unapologetic capitalist, changing the narrative on poverty starts with dignity and self-determination.  In 2021, Bram founded Capitalists for Shared Income (C4si).  Inspired by the work of Milton Friedman, who advocated for a negative income tax in the late 1960s, C4si offers an innovative approach to address poverty and income inequality.  Through one-time debit card cash payments of $58, C4si partners with existing nonprofit organizations that work with the disenfranchised to lift them out of poverty.  While $58 may not seem like a lot to many listeners, it can make a lasting difference to someone in need of groceries, a tank of gas, or an oil change.  Bram intentionally chose $58, which is "a day's pay" for anyone working a job at today's federal minimum wage.  That’s a full day’s pay — $ 58.While he sees a role for the government in addressing income inequality, Bram’s focus is on the private sector.  Despite its imperfections, Bram believes that capitalism is the best economic system we have devised to allocate resources and reward individual effort efficiently.  For the system to work for everyone, however, Bram believes that the individuals and organizations who reap the benefits of a free market economy are also responsible for self-regulating and addressing the widening income disparities between rich and poor.  Working with his board, partner organizations, and investors, Bram is applying his expertise in Asset Management to raise an endowment to fund C4si’s cash distributions.  Through C4si, Bram has created a life with social impact, one debit card at a time.  Episode Links and Resources:Capitalists for Shared IncomeA New Year’s Resolution For Capitalism, Kevin Coldiron, Forbes, January 6, 2022Milton Friedman - The Negative Income Tax, interview on “The Firing Line with William F. Buckley Jr.”, 1968, YouTubeMaid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive, Stephanie Land, 2019.Support this podcast by subscribing and reviewing!Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Audio Blocks.Technical Podcast Support by: Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co.© 2023 Silver Linings Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.

How do we teach students about civics and generate excitement around civic engagement in the 21st century?  Like our ever-evolving American experiment, we try new tools.  iCivics leverages a suite of interactive video games that put students at the center of the educational action. By the time Justice O’Connor retired from the Supreme Court, she had grown increasingly concerned about the lack of understanding, awareness, and appreciation of the basic tenets of democracy and civic engagement during her time on the Court.  In 2009, she founded iCivics and worked with a team of educators and engineers to reimagine and reinvigorate civics education through gaming.  iCivics has become the nation’s premier non-profit civic education provider of high-quality, non-partisan, engaging, and FREE resources to more than 9 million students annually in all 50 states. Today, we are honored to speak with Louise Dubé, the Executive Director of iCivics.  Louise was born and raised in Quebec, Canada.  After earning a law degree from McGill University in Montreal, she came to the US and earned an MBA from Yale.  She became a US citizen.  Working in the criminal justice system in New York in the 1990s, Louise co-founded CASES, a mentoring and skills program for young offenders that offered an alternative to incarceration.  This experience ignited in Louise a passion for the transformative power of education, particularly the use of rapidly evolving technology to deliver memorable content.  She and her team at iCivics are committed to activating our young citizens, preparing them to solve problems and engage in challenging but respectful debate in their communities.   Episode Links and Resources:iCivicsLouise Dube BioCivXNow CoalitionCivics Secures Democracy ActA Supreme Court Pioneer, Now Making Her Mark on Video Games, New York Times, March 27, 2016New Poll Shows Strong Support for Civic Education Across Party Lines, Cision PR Newswire, October 27, 2022Support this podcast by subscribing and reviewing!Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Audio Blocks.Technical Podcast Support by: Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co.© 2023 Silver Linings Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.

In this final installment of our series highlighting stories of the achievements and challenges faced by some of the most distinguished women judges in our history, we speak with former Chief Justice Peggy Quince of the Florida Supreme Court, who is featured in the ABA’s recently published Her Honor - Stories of Challenge and Triumph from Women Judges, edited by  Lauren Rikleen.Raised by a single father in Virginia with her four siblings, Chief Justice Peggy Quince learned early on what it means to be treated unfairly.  In 1954, the United States Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the policy of “separate but equal” justifying segregation in schools was unconstitutional in the landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education.  The decision had little practical or positive impact on the course of young Peggy’s education - many white schools actively resisted efforts to integrate, with some shuttering for years to avoid it.  Still she persevered. Justice Quince tells us about the profound influence her father, Solomon Quince, had on her education.  He was determined to afford his children the education he had been denied.  Peggy excelled at school and after graduating from Howard University, she was inspired by both the civil rights movement and the anti-war movement, to pursue a career in the law.  In 1993, she was appointed to the Second District Court of Appeal and then in 1999, she was appointed as the first African American woman to serve as a Justice on the Florida Supreme Court.  From 2008-2010, she served as Chief Justice.Episode Resources:Her Honor: Stories of Challenge and Triumph from Women JudgesJustice Peggy A. Quince BioSupport this podcast by subscribing and reviewing!Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Audio Blocks.Technical Podcast Support by: Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co.© 2023 Silver Linings Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Nestled in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies in southern Alberta lies the small town of Pincher Creek.  With a population of just under 4,000, Pincher Creek has the distinction of being the “Wind Capital of Canada.”  It is perhaps better known as the birthplace and hometown of the Right Honorable Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin, the longest serving Chief Justice of Canada’s Supreme Court.Despite being told by her 8th grade teacher that her aptitude for reading wouldn’t do her much good as a girl, Chief Justice McLachlin went on to study philosophy and eventually law at the University of Alberta.  Upon graduating with high honors, she spent six years in private practice and then turned to academia, teaching at the University of British Columbia for seven years.  At age 37, she received her first judicial appointment to the Vancouver County Court.  Could she have imagined the significance of this life changing moment?  Over the next eight years, from 1981 to 1989, Justice McLachlin was on the rise!  She was appointed to the Supreme Court of British Columbia, the British Columbia Court of Appeals, made Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of British Columbia, and in March 1989, she was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada. Her highest honor came in the year 2000 when she was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, a role she held for 17 years, making her the longest serving Chief Justice in Canada’s history.    Chief Justice McLachlin’s legacy cannot be adequately cataloged.  During her tenure on the Supreme Court, she authored over 400 majority opinions on the most consequential matters of legal interpretation under Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms, including assistance in dying, the criminalization of prostitution, equality, free speech, and aboriginal rights.Resources:Truth Be Told: The Story of My Life and My Fight for Equality, Beverley McLachlinFull Disclosure: A Novel, Beverley McLachlinHer Honor: Stories of Challenge and Triumph from Women JudgesThe Persons CaseSupport this podcast by subscribing and reviewing!Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Audio Blocks.Technical Podcast Support by: Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co.© 2023 Silver Linings Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Last Friday, This is My Silver Lining lost a dear friend. Kevin Sousa lost his battle with skin cancer, which had suddenly and aggressively metastasized to his brain.  He passed away in his beloved Hermosa Beach, California, with his wife Patti by his side.  Kevin was a kind soul with an unshakeable effervescence for life.  By day, he worked as a psychotherapist, counselor, and mentor, taking the hard-fought battles and lessons he learned from his own journey through substance addiction to help others.  Kevin served as the Program and Clinical Director for the Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation. This non-profit organization is at the forefront of providing those suffering from mental and physical illness, injury, and disabilities with life-changing Ocean Therapy.  By night, Kevin delighted crowded audiences as a singer, songwriter, and guitarist in his eponymously named rock n roll band.  When Kathleen and I first spoke to Kevin, we were intrigued to learn more about ocean therapy.  Thanks to his generosity of spirit and time, we came away from the conversation, having learned so much more.  We send our deepest condolences to Kevin's wife Patti, his friends and colleagues at the Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation, and all those who loved and admired him.  You can find more information on Kevin's legacy and the incredible work of the Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation in the show notes and on our website.We hope you'll have a listen to this replay of TIMSL episode 2 as we remember Kevin.  Time is short; stop pining for the perfect wave, and enjoy the wave you're on. Episode Links and Resources:Just the Man to See: Beloved musician and therapist Kevin Sousa touched thousands of South Bay lives before passing away last week, Ryan McDonald, Easy Rider, May 31, 2023Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation Catalina Classic Paddleboard RaceInternational Surf Therapy Foundation  Watch:  Resurface Listen: The Perfect Wave (original song by Kevin Sousa) Read:  Blue MindSupport this podcast by subscribing and reviewing!Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Audio Blocks.Technical Podcast Support by: Jon Keur at WayfareRecording Co.© 2023 Silver Linings Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.

This episode contains content related to suicide that may be triggering to some listeners.   May is Mental Health Awareness Month.  If you or someone you know is in distress, please dial 988 in the United States for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, a suicide prevention network of over 200+ crisis centers that provides 24/7 service to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.  Calls to 988 are toll-free.   Kevin Kuczo was an all-American kid.  He played Lacrosse, worked hard at school, and volunteered with a local church youth group.  He was a great friend, teammate and student; he took great pride in his grades.  He was generous and kind; someone who would do anything to help others.  Kevin did his best to juggle the demands and pressures of high school - AP classes, fitting in, living life on social media.  Then in early 2020, like so many teens, Kevin struggled with the isolation and social dislocation wrought by the global pandemic.  He saw a therapist and a doctor prescribed antidepressants.  Kevin’s depression seemed to moderate, but tragically, in February of 2021, he took his own life.  He was 17.   Confronted by the devastating loss of their son, Jim and Kristen Kuczo decided to honor Kevin by dedicating themselves to raising awareness about depression and other mental health issues that can lead to suicide.  They created Kevin’s Afterglow, a non-profit advocacy organization to build a lasting legacy for Kevin.  Through their work, they are doing their part to save lives, helping other families avoid the pain they have suffered.  Jim speaks with high school and middle school students, sports teams, teachers and parents about recognizing the early warning signs and asking the right questions.  Through his talks, he emphasizes the importance of kindness, asking for help, checking in, and taking care of one another.   ResourcesKevin’s AfterglowKevin's Afterglow 2nd Annual Golf Classic988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineQPR InstituteThe Will to Live FoundationThe Friendship Bench ProjectTeen Suicides: What Are the Risk Factors?  Nadine Kaslow, PhD, Child Mind Institute, March 6, 2023Teen Girls Report Record Levels of Sadness, C.D.C. Finds, Azeen Ghorayshi and Roni Caryn Rabin, New York Times, February 13, 2023U.S. Depression Rates Reach New Highs, Dan Witters, Gallup News, May 17, 2023Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Suicide Prevention ResourcesSuicide in Children and Teens, The American Academy of Child and Adolescent PsychiatrySupport this podcast by subscribing and reviewing!Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Audio Blocks.Technical Podcast Support by: Jon Keur at WayfareRecording Co.© 2023 Silver Linings Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.

While we take a pause to record new content and to spend time with our families over spring break, we wanted to take this opportunity to replay a few episodes that our newer listeners may not have heard and that long-time TIMSL listeners have loved.  We hope you enjoy this fantastic 2-part conversation with Ned Johnson and Dr. William Stixrud, co-authors of parenting books The Self Driven Child and What Do You Say?  Link to Orignal Episode Shownotes

While we take a pause to record new content and to spend time with our families over spring break, we wanted to take this opportunity to replay a few episodes that our newer listeners may not have heard and that long-time TIMSL listeners have loved.  We hope you enjoy this fantastic 2-part conversation with Ned Johnson and Dr. William Stixrud, co-authors of parenting books The Self Driven Child and What Do You Say?  Link to Orignal Episode Shownotes

Welcome to Part 2 of our series highlighting stories of the achievements and challenges faced by some of the most distinguished women judges in our history.  We are honored to speak today with Professor Deborah Jones Merritt.  Debby believes that true progress only occurs in the presence of a great deal of optimism.  She witnessed such optimism in none other than Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg as their law clerk.  She speaks with us today about how the wisdom and unique perspectives of these remarkable women has shaped this nation’s history as well as her own philosophy and career path.    In the earliest days of Debby’s legal career she had the enviable good fortune of clerking for both the then- Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg when she was somewhat unexpectedly appointed to the DC Circuit Court of Appeals and then for Justice Sandra Day O’Connor in her first year on the United States Supreme Court.  Indeed the lessons she learned from RBG and SOC built the framework for the rest of her career, much of which she has focused on teaching law students how to be good lawyers.  Our episode last week featured Lauren Rikleen, the editor of the ABA’s recently published Her Honor:  Stories of Challenge and Triumph from Women Judges.  Debby authored the concluding essay in this compilation, which highlights the significant contributions of the honorable Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to justice and the rule of law.  ResourcesHer Honor:  Stories of Challenge and Triumph from Women JudgesSisters in Law: How Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg Went to the Supreme Court and Changed the World, Linda HirshmanMy Own Words, Ruth Bader GinsburgRuth Bader Ginsburg – A Life, Jane Sherron De HartRBG Dissents: Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Most Striking Dissents on Women's Rights, Civil Rights, Voting Rights, & MoreConversations with RBG – Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Life, Love, Liberty and Law, Jeffrey Rosen

“Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.”  Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.  Welcome to Part One of our series celebrating some of the most influential women who have—sometimes against all odds— earned their position in some of the most important places where decisions are made:  on the bench of some of the highest courts in our country.   Our inspiration for this series and our guest today on This is My Silver Lining is Lauren Rikleen.  Lauren recently served as the Editor of Her Honor: Stories of Challenge and Triumph from Women on the Bench. Published by the American Bar Association, Her Honor is a collection of compelling personal narratives of the most revered judges in the United States (and one judge from Canada!).  The book provides an amazingly unique and deeply instructive glimpse into our justice system.  Lauren is the founder and president of the Rikleen Institute for Strategic Leadership and the interim Executive Director of the non-partisan Lawyers Defending American Democracy.  She is also a 2017 American Bar Association’s Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award recipient.  Lauren is a nationally recognized expert on developing a thriving, diverse and multi-generational workforce. Through her speaking, training, consulting, and writing, Lauren addresses such topics as strengthening multi-generational teams, women’s leadership and advancement, and implementing strategies to minimize the impact of unconscious bias.  Episode Links and Resources:Her Honor: Stories of Challenge and Triumph from Women JudgesRikleen Institute for Strategic LeadershipAbout the ABA’s Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award Support this podcast by subscribing and reviewing!Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Audio Blocks.Technical Podcast Support by: Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co.© 2022 Silver Linings Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Amy Impellizzeri was a highly successful litigator in New York City for over ten years at one of the largest law firms in the world.  Working around the clock, with three young kids at home, and a husband in medical school, Amy was stretched pretty thin.  She started to wonder whether she was living her most authentic life. In 2008, the Great Recession afforded her an unexpected sabbatical and an opportunity to rediscover her love of creative writing.  She started with an essay and just kept writing.  After a year, Amy wasn’t ready to go back; she wasn’t convinced she ever would be and negotiated a three-year unpaid leave of absence.  She never went back.  As the primary breadwinner for her family, her decision was a risky one with big financial consequences. Amy was undeterred.  Ultimately, her family made the difficult decision to move out of New York City, back to rural Pennsylvania.  That was 15 years ago.  This week, Amy’s seventh novel, Barr None, will hit the shelves.  Starting with Lemongrass Hope in 2014, her works of fiction are infused with mystery, fantasy, romance, and even time travel.  We couldn’t help but notice that the main character in her most recent book, In Her Defense, is a former lawyer-turned-podcaster named Ingrid!  Amy has also authored/co-authored two non-fiction books, including How to Leave the Law, with co-author Liz Brown, who we interviewed for Episode 16 of This is My Silver Lining.Amy’s successful career transition prepared her for other life changes.  In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, she and her husband made the difficult decision to get divorced after being married for 24 years.  She likes to say that she is on the “healing side” of that experience now, where she is able to look back and recognize that although it was difficult, it was the right decision for her and her family.  In its own way, leaving the law a decade earlier prepared her for the sense of lost identity and grief that came with divorce.  With the benefit of hindsight, Amy would not necessarily have designed so many significant life transitions for herself in a concentrated period of time, but she knows they happened as they needed to and that each challenge prepared her for the next.  Her best advice:  “say it out loud!”  Give voice to your dreams; you never know who is listening!  Episode Links and Resources:Amy ImpellizzeriBarr NoneIn Her DefenseLemongrass Hope

Through their work, husband and wife, Jorge Bica and Marta Passerini, have a front row seat to the never ending resilience of the human spirit.  They are grateful to be “custodians of the most important moments in people’s lives.” Marta and Jorge were both in Haiti after the devastating earthquake in 2010 and although their paths were definitely meant to cross, they didn’t meet until some time later while working for Save the Children assisting Rohingya refugees in Myanmar.  Today, Marta is a Child Protection Specialist who works for UNICEF.  It’s her job to create and implement programs to care for the needs of migrant and refugee children in places like Haiti, Kenya, Tunisia, Myanmar, and Lebanon.  Jorge is an Emergency Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Specialist for UNICEF.  Jorge ensures that the victims of disaster, both natural and manmade - have access to clean water, the most critical requirement for our survival, as well as basic sanitation infrastructure.From 2013 through the end of 2020, Marta and Jorge were stationed together in Beirut, Lebanon.  During this time, Lebanon faced long-standing political instability, an influx of millions of Syrian refugees fleeing civil war, a severe economic crisis, and a global pandemic.  Despite these realities, Marta and Jorge know Lebanon as a place of incredible beauty and culture, whose people are generous to a fault.  On August 4, 2020 in the midst of the pandemic, a massive explosion ripped through the Port of Beirut, killing over 200, injuring 77,000, and decimating thousands of homes and buildings nearby.  The blast was felt in Syria, Turkey, Israel, Jordan and as far away as parts of Europe.  It’s considered one of the most powerful accidental, non-nuclear explosions in history.  Among those killed and injured were many that Marta and Jorge counted as friends and colleagues.  They themselves became displaced and dispossessed.  Today we speak with Marta and Jorge about what inspired them to dedicate their lives to humanitarian aid work, and what their experiences have taught them about grace, gratitude, community, and how we can all help. Episode Links and Resources:UNICEFSave the ChildrenInternational Committee of the Red CrossSupport this podcast by subscribing and reviewing!Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Audio Blocks.Technical Podcast Support by: Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co.© 2023 Silver Linings Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Olamide Michelle, the founder of The Boho Business Guide, speaks with us about the BOHO Method, which weaves together our personality, passions, and professional training to find successful and fulfilling careers.  Olamide is an intellectual property lawyer, brand expert, business coach, mentor, podcaster, and yoga instructor.  If you ever find yourself hitting a low energy point during the day, please listen to Olamide’s podcast, The Boho Business Guide, or replay this episode for an instant lift!  Olamide exudes positive energy and joie de vivre.  She grew up in Atlanta, the eldest of three and the only daughter of her parents, who emigrated to the U.S. from Nigeria.  After getting her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia in PR and Fashion, Olamide went to law school at Mercer University and earned her LLM in IP from George Washington University.  In the first years of her career, she worked hard to follow a traditional legal path.  Unfulfilled and frustrated, she confronted that she was not living the life she wanted.  She realized that the path to personal and professional success lay in embracing and aligning her many passions.  Today, Olamide works with creatives, entrepreneurs, and influencers to do the same.  Episode Links and Resources:The Boho Business GuideThe Boho Business Guide Podcast - Subscribe, Listen, and Review today!OMI Legal - Protecting Your Brand and Your BusinessThe War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles, Steven Pressfield and Shawn CoyneEat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia, Elizabeth GilbertBig Magic, Elizabeth GilbertSupport this podcast by subscribing and reviewing!Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Audio Blocks.Technical Podcast Support by: Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co.© 2023 Silver Linings Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.