Make Meaning Podcast Episodes
Category: Purpose

Episode 51 – Lynne Golodner and Christina Weaver – Storytelling Marketing & Strategic Messaging

Nike. Gillette. Proctor and Gamble. Airbnb. What do they all have in common? Effective, compelling stories that inspire people to connect, commit, and forge deeper, longer-lasting relationships with the brand.  What is the basis of these stories? Strong, foundational messaging that conveys meaning and purpose behind brand identity. On this episode of the Make Meaning podcast, marketing entrepreneur and host Lynne Golodner, and fellow team member and content specialist, Christina Weaver, explore the role of storytelling in business and how important messaging can be. Learn how big brands are telling great stories, how you can, too, and why it is so important in a connection economy to have stories that pull […]

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Episode 48 – Arthur, Ross, Jason, Steve, Shelli & Jeffrey – The NFHS Reunion Episode: Reflecting on 30 Years Since Graduation

When you were an aspiring high school graduate, where did you think you would end up? Did you get there? Or did the path twist and turn over the years? And, do you check in at high school reunions to see where your classmates are today – or do you blow it off, leaving the past behind you?  On this episode of the Make Meaning podcast, Lynne Golodner talks with six of her classmates from the North Farmington High School class of 1989 about where they wanted to go, and where they ended up 30 years later.  Are there experiences and insights that might resonate with […]

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Episode 47 – Linda Makowski – Quieting the Mind

People discover purpose in many ways – through experiences, a passion, or actively searching. On this episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, Lynne talks with Linda Makowski about how purpose can come from stillness. Owner of Namaste Yoga Studio, Linda found purpose as a teacher, a championship women’s college basketball coach, social worker, and at Namaste. Throughout her life, Linda’s strength has been helping others find their dharma – their purpose – and to guide them to be who they’re meant to be. Listen here as Linda explains how one simple breath can open the mind to new possibilities: Have you discovered your purpose, or are you still on a path to discovery? Wherever you may […]

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Episode 46 – Amy Haimerl and David Dwaihy – Creating Communities

When was the last time you felt welcome – like an “us”, not a “them” – among strangers? Have you experienced people of different walks of life coming together from different origins, united by a common purpose? These are the kinds of experiences and spaces that Amy Haimerl, founder of Shady Ladies Literary Society, and David Dwaihy, co-owner of Detroit City Football Club, are creating. They joinedLynne recently for a special episode of the Make Meaning podcast, recorded live at the Motor City Woman’s Podcast Brunch as part of the Detroit Podcast Festival. Amy and David share a purpose: creating common ground for people from diverse backgrounds to connect over shared interests. […]

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Episode 45 – Dr. Joshua Mezrich – Life from Death

What was the moment you discovered your purpose? On this episode of the Make Meaning podcast, Lynne talks with Dr. Joshua Mezrich, transplant surgeon and author of When Death Becomes Life: Notes from a Transplant Surgeon, about his moment of discovery. Meaning seems a small word for the giving of life. Dr. Mezrich facilitates the transfer of hope and opportunity, when one person’s death gives life to another. This work helped him form deeper connections with his patients and fueled his drive to share the meaningful stories of transplants, of life, with others. Check it out here: In this episode, Lynne and Dr. Mezrich discuss: The moment of discovering […]

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Episode 41 – Marianne Simon – Making Meaning from Loss

What happens when you suffer incomparable loss? The sudden death of a loved one, when life changes instantaneously and you never saw it coming?  Such a life-changing situation happened to Marianne Simon when she lost her husband of 26 years – and through the grieving, she evolved into a one-woman show called “Widows Anonymous,” which launches in June live in Los Angeles. On this week’s Make Meaning podcast episode, Lynne speaks with Marianne, an actress, writer, artist, and sustainable landscape architect who has spent two years redefining herself and her purpose.  Journaling, reflecting and spending time in stillness led to creativity and connection. Now, […]

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Episode 34 – Julie Silver – Building True Health

We love entrepreneurs who carefully craft their brand story and create visual components to inspire. Julie Silver, founder and president of Michigan Associates of Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine, is a great example of this. She’s our guest on this week’s Make Meaning podcast, sharing stories about how her brand evolved over time, how she dared to make a career pivot to follow her heart and soul, and how she has built a thriving, connected team. Listen here: About Julie Silver: Julie Silver, MSW, R. Ac. is president and founder of Michigan Associates of Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine, Inc. Julie is a […]

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Episode 32 – Lynne Golodner – A Poet’s Legacy: Lynne Golodner remembers Mary Oliver

This week on the Make Meaning podcast, Lynne pays homage to Mary Oliver, an American poet who has had a significant impact on her life. Oliver does a beautiful job capturing the profound in the quiet occurrences of nature and finding meaning with her observations of the natural world. As a visionary, she received the Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award and Lannan Literary Award for lifetime achievement. Mary Oliver found her escape in two places: writing and nature. She found beauty in the simple, everyday life around her. She could take the smallest moment – first snow – and not […]

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Episode 28 – Lionel Bradford – The Greening of Detroit

Lionel Bradford is president and executive director of The Greening of Detroit, a nonprofit devoted to creating sustainable growth for a healthy, urban community through trees, green spaces, food, education, training and job opportunities.   Lionel has a bachelor’s degree in urban forestry from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and began his career as a forestry technician with the U.S. Forest Service in New Mexico. 

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Episode 27 – Rev. Faith Fowler – Advancing Justice

Rev. Faith Fowler is both the pastor of Cass Community United Methodist Church and the Executive Director of Cass Community Social Services, a nonprofit agency that provides food, housing, medical/mental health and employment programs for people living in areas of concentrated poverty. She has held these positions since 1994.  In addition to her work at Cass, Rev. Fowler has served as a board member of the Cass Corridor Neighborhood Development Corporation, an advisory board member of the Detroit Area Agency on Aging and a board member and trustee on the General Board of Church and Society.  In 2014, Rev. Fowler founded Cass Community Publishing […]

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Episode 24 – Stephen Payne – Inner Voice

Stephen Payne, also known as Farmer Steve, is the resident farmer and garden teacher at Sacramento Waldorf School in Sacramento, California. He has a degree in Business Marketing from Central Connecticut University and 10 years of experience in organic farming, and another five years of experience as a market garden business owner. Stephen came to SacWaldorf in 2001, where he lives on the property, manages the farm, and teaches children of all ages and grades in a hands-on curriculum on the three-and-a-half acre farm that is part of the campus. In an era where children are becoming less and less […]

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