Thrive-Learn-Connect

You are More Than Your Job

We’re more than our résumés. Yet it’s easy to let titles, salaries, and status define who we are. In this conversation, Jamie and Max explore the cultural scripts that tie identity to employment—and offer simple practices to expand your self-definition with curiosity and kindness.

Highlights:

• Language shifts that reduce “work” baggage (try contribution, practice, craft, service, calling, flow, making).

• Three reflection prompts to meet yourself beyond the paycheck.

• A playful Calling Card 2.0 you can hand out to spark real connection—human first, role second.

• Redefining success through creativity, resilience, community, and joy, not just recognition and rank.

• Why integration beats “work/life separation,” and how permission helps you rebalance across seasons.

Walk away with practical words, tiny experiments, and a kinder inner script: you are a whole human—your job is just one part of your story.

Help us spread TLC - like, comment, share, and follow us on:

Web: https://www.thrivelearnconnect.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thrivelearnconnectcommunity

Instagram: @thrivelearnconnect

 

The Thrive-Learn-Connect Podcast is a joint production of Creative Input, LLC, and St. Emillion Productions.

Stay curious and keep exploring!

©️2025 Thrive-Learn-Connect

Around the Digital Campfire: Tell Your Story

This episode is a warm, down-to-earth chat about the magic of storytelling: how our voices carry history, build connection, and even help us heal and imagine the future. We trace storytelling from ancient oral traditions to today’s “digital campfires.” You’ll hear why stories light up the brain (for teller and listener), how they can heal—or harm—and why your voice is an irreplaceable fingerprint. Plus, we share practical ways to begin: audio journaling, capturing your family’s oral history, and finding community story stages. You’ll also get five quick tips to tell a tighter, more vivid story and a list of places to listen and learn.

Learn More:

• The Moth (live shows + podcast). themoth.org
• Meditative Story (mindfulness + narrative podcast). meditativestory.com
• Pivot Spokane (local live storytelling). spokanepublicradio.org/show/pivot-spokane
• Listen To Your Mother (national storytelling series). listentoyourmothershow.com
• Idaho Listens (Boise State / Institute for Advancing American Values). boisestate.edu/americanvalues/idaho-listens
• Heather Cox Richardson — Letters from an American (newsletter + podcast). heathercoxrichardson.substack.com
• Ken Burns (documentary film hub; PBS collection). kenburns.com
• Studs Terkel’s “Working” (context; oral-history legacy). (Check your local library for the audiobook.)

If this episode nudged you to capture a story, record a 1–3 minute voice note and send it to someone you love—or save it for your future self. Want prompts? DM us on Instagram and we’ll send a free “Digital Campfire” starter list.

We love the Ali and Calli: An Artcast and think you will, too!
Listen here: alicallieartcast.com

Help us spread TLC - like, comment, share, and follow us on:

Web: https://www.thrivelearnconnect.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thrivelearnconnectcommunity

Instagram: @thrivelearnconnect

 

The Thrive-Learn-Connect Podcast is a joint production of Creative Input, LLC, and St. Emillion Productions.

Stay curious and keep exploring!

©️2025 Thrive-Learn-Connect

From Dissonance to Bliss: The Healing Power of Sound with Hannah Talbot

Fall carries its own soundtrack—wind in the chimes, rain on the roof, and yes…pumpkin-season comforts. In this episode, we welcome back Hannah, meditation teacher and somatic educator, and the founder of Anam Cara Healing Center in downtown Spokane. We explore why September feels like a fresh “new year,” how seasonal rituals root and steady us, and how sound—from crystal bowls and drums to rain sticks and wave drums—can move the body from fight-or-flight into rest, digest, and restore.

Hannah breaks down consonance and dissonance (think C + F vs. that suspenseful E–F “Jaws” half-step), the chakra-note framework many sound bath practitioners use, and why intentional tension + release can gently “unstick” us. We talk parasympathetic activation, theta/delta brain states, pain and inflammation relief, and the surprisingly profound role of silence at the end of a session.

There’s even a live “sound & tell” segment, plus the origin story of how Thrive-Learn-Connect got its name. If you’ve been craving a nervous-system reset, this episode offers a cozy seasonal doorway back to yourself—and a few simple ways to bring sound home.

Help us spread TLC - like, comment, share, and follow us on:

Web: https://www.thrivelearnconnect.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thrivelearnconnectcommunity

Instagram: @thrivelearnconnect

Learn more about Anam Cara Healing Center:

Web: https://www.anamcarahealing.center

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anamcarahealingcenter

Instagram: @anamcarahealingcenter

 

The Thrive-Learn-Connect Podcast is a joint production of Creative Input, LLC, and St. Emillion Productions.

Stay curious and keep exploring!

©️2025 Thrive-Learn-Connect

Sing Like No One’s Listening: Finding Joy in Your Voice

Welcome to Season 3 of Thrive, Learn, Connect! In our first episode, Jamie and Max dive into the power of singing—not as a polished performance, but as a deeply human act of joy, connection, and self-expression. From car karaoke and childhood songs to beer choir and spontaneous pub sing-alongs, they share personal stories and cultural insights about how song has always brought people together.

Along the way, you’ll learn about the physical and emotional benefits of singing, including stress reduction, lung strength, and enhanced brain function. Plus, Max offers simple exercises—from humming to kazooing—that you can try right away. The big takeaway: when you find your singing voice, you may just find your voice in other areas of life, too.

Help us spread TLC - like, comment, share, and follow us on:

Special thanks:

 

The Thrive-Learn-Connect Podcast is a joint production of Creative Input, LLC, and St. Emillion Productions.

Stay curious and keep exploring!

©️2025 Thrive-Learn-Connect

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Season 2 Finale: Reflections & Revelations

Hello, friends! Get ready to dive into a whirlwind of emotions and insights with Jamie and Max as they wrap up a phenomenal Season 2 of Thrive-Learn-Connect." In this heartwarming episode, they reflect on the joys and challenges of life, including personal stories like eagerly awaiting a daughter's return from Antarctica and finding peace despite external chaos.

Join them in celebrating the beautiful connections made throughout the past episodes, from inspiring guests to masterclasses of soul-nurturing advice. Whether you're curious about life, seeking ways to add joy and kindness to your days, or simply wish to catch up on what you missed, this episode wraps it all up with love, laughter, and lessons learned.

So, grab your earphones, relax, and soak in the wisdom shared. And hey, remember to stay curious, stay kind, and always explore the possibilities that life offers. Enjoy the journey!

Help us spread TLC - like, comment, share, and follow us on:

Special thanks:

We♥️our local libraries! Thank you, Spokane Public Library, for helping us make this episode possible.

We♥️the Ali & Callie ArtCast and think you will, too! Look for it wherever you get your podcasts.

 

The Thrive-Learn-Connect Podcast is a joint production of Creative Input, LLC and St. Emillion Productions.

Stay curious and keep exploring!

©️2025 Thrive-Learn-Connect

Learn more at ThriveLearnConnect.com

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Creative Strategies for Dealing with Toxic People

In this heartfelt and thought-provoking episode of Thrive-Learn-Connect, Jamie and Max dive into two powerful topics: the meaning behind our names and how to creatively handle toxic relationships. They begin with a reflection on the newly named Pope Leo XIV and the profound significance a chosen name can hold—then pivot to the personal, sharing stories of their own names and what they’ve come to mean over time.

But the episode doesn’t stop there. Jamie brings her communication expertise to the table with eight creative strategies for dealing with toxic people—tools that protect your peace without escalating conflict. From the “mirror technique” to the “cloak of compassionate detachment,” this conversation is full of wisdom, warmth, and humor.

If you’ve ever struggled with honoring someone’s chosen name or felt drained by a toxic dynamic, this episode offers both insight and practical relief.

Help us spread TLC - like, comment, share, and follow us on:

 

Special thanks:

We♥️our local libraries! Thank you, Spokane Public Library, for helping us make this episode possible.

We♥️the Ali & Callie ArtCast and think you will, too! Look for it wherever you get your podcasts.

 

The Thrive-Learn-Connect Podcast is a joint production of Creative Input, LLC and St. Emillion Productions.

Stay curious and keep exploring!

©️2025 Thrive-Learn-Connect

Learn more at ThriveLearnConnect.com

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Embracing Positivity: A Conversation with Community Changemaker Jill Reeves

In this heartening and hopeful episode, hosts Jamie and Max sit down with Jill Reeves, Spokane’s Waste Reduction Education and Outreach Coordinator. From ballet to Bokashi, Jill shares how a life rooted in creativity, compassion, and community has led her to inspire others to reduce waste and live with more intention.

The conversation weaves together the power of words—like “ubuntu,” meaning I am because you are—with small but powerful acts like writing kind notes on Post-its and rethinking what we throw away. Jill shares how the Spokane Waste Ambassadors program empowers everyday people to make a meaningful difference, proving that sustainability isn’t just about the planet—it’s about people.

Listeners will walk away with practical tips for sustainable living, a renewed sense of connection, and an invitation to start where they are, use what they have, and do what they can. 💚

Learn more:
City of Spokane Waste Reduction Education programs
https://my.spokanecity.org/solidwaste/education/

Art Salvage Spokane
https://www.artsalvagespokane.com/

 

Help us spread TLC - like, comment, share, and follow us on:

 

Special thanks:

We♥️our local libraries! Thank you, Spokane Valley Library, for helping us make this episode possible.

We♥️the Ali & Callie ArtCast and think you will, too! Look for it wherever you get your podcasts.

 

The Thrive-Learn-Connect Podcast is a joint production of Creative Input, LLC and St. Emillion Productions.

Stay curious and keep exploring!

©️2025 Thrive-Learn-Connect

Learn more at ThriveLearnConnect.com

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The Gift of Time: Embracing Past, Present, and Future

In this heartfelt and humor-filled episode of Thrive-Learn-Connect, Jamie (rocking a delightfully husky voice thanks to a stubborn sinus infection) and Max (recovering from a fierce case of “pickle elbow”) reflect on how our past, present, and future shape who we are and who we’re becoming.

Through personal stories, laughter, and a few sniffles, they explore:

• The hidden gifts of our past (including Max’s third-grade grit and Jamie’s first-grade recorder concert gaff)

• Techniques for finding peace and presence in a chaotic world

• The power of dreaming big and imagining what’s next

Whether you’re stuck in the past, hustling through the present, or nervously eyeing the future, this episode invites you to pause, breathe, and appreciate all three timeframes as part of your personal mosaic.

Help us spread TLC - like, comment, share, and follow us on:

 

Special thanks:

We♥️our local libraries! Thank you, Spokane Valley Library, for helping us make this episode possible.

We♥️the Ali & Callie ArtCast and think you will, too! Look for it wherever you get your podcasts.

 

The Thrive-Learn-Connect Podcast is a joint production of Creative Input, LLC and St. Emillion Productions.

Stay curious and keep exploring!

©️2025 Thrive-Learn-Connect

Learn more at ThriveLearnConnect.com

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