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  • 60 Seconds for Motivate Your Monday: Take a Tip From a Toddler: Say No!

    60 Seconds for Motivate Your Monday: Take a Tip From a Toddler: Say No!
    2026/03/02

    Hello to you listening in Auckland, New Zealand!

    Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk with 60 Seconds for Motivate Your Monday and your host, Diane Wyzga.

    As the oldest of 7 children I learned early on the innate wisdom toddlers bring to the game of life. They know how to say No! And then the world shows them the error of their ways. We grow up saying Yes when we mean No!

    What changed? We were taught that saying Yes is right, good, proper, helpful even and saying No! is just plain wrong. The problem is the more we say Yes when we mean No we forget how to make choices in our own best interest and well-being. This self-sabotage robs us of our ability to choose wisely, of our personal power, of our legitimate right to say No! with certainty, confidence, and clarity.

    Of course, there’s nothing wrong with saying Yes so long as we agree with ourselves, are not limited in our options, feeling compelled, or thinking we will be rejected or worse. It takes practice to practice saying No! As you get better at it you will come to value saying what you mean and meaning what you say.

    Practical Tip: When asked to take on work you want to decline, say this, “No. It’s good work; but it’s not my work.”

    And thank you for listening!

    You're always welcome: "Come for the stories - Stay for the magic!" Speaking of magic, I hope you’ll subscribe, share a 5-star rating and nice review on your social media or podcast channel of choice, bring your friends and rellies, and join us! You will have wonderful company as we continue to walk our lives together. Be sure to stop by my Quarter Moon Story Arts website, email me to arrange a no-obligation Discovery Call, and stay current with me as Quarter Moon Story Arts on Substack.

    Stories From Women Who Walk Production Team

    Podcaster: Diane F Wyzga & Quarter Moon Story Arts

    Music: Mer’s Waltz from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron Music

    ALL content and image © 2019 to Present Quarter Moon Story Arts. All rights reserved. If you found this podcast episode helpful, please consider sharing and attributing it to Diane Wyzga of Stories From Women Who Walk podcast with a link back to the original source.
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    3 分
  • 60 Seconds for Story Prompt Friday: What Do Superheroes Say About Living Life as a Superhero?

    60 Seconds for Story Prompt Friday: What Do Superheroes Say About Living Life as a Superhero?
    2026/02/27

    Hello to you listening in Pasadena, California!

    Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk with 60 Seconds (and a bit more) for Story Prompt Friday and your host, Diane Wyzga.

    I’ve been binge-watching The Big Bang Theory TV series as I do this time each year to humor me through our Pacific Northwest November to May Rain Festival. As you might know a consistent theme is the characters’ devotion to comics and superheroes. Why? The characters are highly intelligent, socially awkward nerds who have difficulty navigating society whereas the superheroes possess save-the-day abilities, rare powers, and bravery. Comics can be a safe place to fantasize living idealized versions of themselves as the nerd-turned-hero.

    But what do the Superheroes have to say about living life as a Superhero? Following are 7 quotes:

    1. “When you decide not to be afraid you can find friends in super unexpected places.” — Ms. Marvel

    2. “Everybody’s story begins “once upon a time,” and it’s up to us to cherish the time we’re given to ensure we live happily ever after.” — Scarlet Witch

    3. “I have no idea where I’m going to be tomorrow but I accept the fact that tomorrow will come and I’m going to rise to meet it.” — Donna Troy

    4. “The fate of your planet rests not in the hands of gods. It rests in the hands of mortals.” — Thor

    5. “The future is worth it. All the pain. All the tears. The future is worth the fight.” — Martian Manhunter

    6. “The door is more than it appears. It separates who you are from who you can be. You do not have to walk through it… You can run.” — Franklin Richards

    7. “A hero can be anyone. Even a man doing something as simple as putting a coat around a little boy’s shoulders to let him know the world hasn’t ended.” — Batman

    Story Prompt: For a long time your character has felt that she is more than she appears to be but does not believe she has what it takes to show up fully in her power until one day a door appears in a wall and she .... write that story and share it out loud!

    You're always welcome: "Come for the stories - Stay for the magic!" Speaking of magic, I hope you’ll subscribe, share a 5-star rating and nice review on your social media or podcast channel of choice, bring your friends and rellies, and join us! You will have wonderful company as we continue to walk our lives together. Be sure to stop by my Quarter Moon Story Arts website, email me to arrange a no-obligation Discovery Call, and stay current with me as "Wyzga on Words" on Substack.

    Stories From Women Who Walk Production Team

    Podcaster: Diane F Wyzga & Quarter Moon Story Arts

    Music: Mer’s Waltz from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron Music

    ALL content and image © 2019 to Present Quarter Moon Story Arts. All rights reserved. If you found this podcast episode helpful, please consider sharing and attributing it to Diane Wyzga of Stories From Women Who Walk podcast with a link back to the original source.
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    4 分
  • 60 Seconds for Wednesdays on Whidbey: What Happens When We Share Our Stories Out Loud?

    60 Seconds for Wednesdays on Whidbey: What Happens When We Share Our Stories Out Loud?
    2026/02/25

    Hello to you listening in Olympia, Washington!

    Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk with 60 Seconds (and a bit more) for Wednesdays on Whidbey and your host, Diane Wyzga.

    I am a storyteller of the old school. What do I mean? For over 30 years I’ve taught (and continue to teach) my clients and students the same thing: “Put down the paper and nobody gets hurt!” Why? Because storytellers have something to say that comes from their aliveness, which is what people most want to feel and connect with. Sharing our stories out loud brings them to light and life, and encourages us to do what most folks fear more than snakes: stand up and speak up in public.

    Story spoken aloud is what we leave of ourselves in another person. A story is an intimate lasting legacy, a permanent inheritance much like a vow or an oath.

    When we share our stories out loud, we connect with each other, we belong to each other. We might not realize it but we are creating a verbal promise, a vow, an oath of belonging. Think about how many times we’ve heard someone say, "Repeat after me: I solemnly swear..."

    • Marrying couples pledge faithfulness through the challenges and joys of marriage.
    • Lawyers uphold the law, maintain client confidentiality, and act as an officer of the court.
    • Doctors focus on ethics, patient care and societal responsibilities.
    • Politicians preserve and defend the Constitution.
    • US military support and defend the Constitution against all enemies.
    • Immigrants becoming US citizens swear the Oath of Allegiance to the United States during a formal naturalization ceremony.
    • From the time we are children in school we recite The Pledge of Allegiance, a patriotic promise of loyalty to the United States flag and the republic for which it stands.

    What happens when we share our stories out loud? They become real. We say what we mean, we mean what we say. We—and those hearing us—know what we stand for and what we won’t stand for. Yes, you might write a story but it needs to be shared out loud to enrich and include the wider world. That’s the legacy of the stories we leave in those who have heard them spoken aloud.

    CTA: If you’d like to learn more, email me at info@quartermoonstoryarts.net for a no obligation Discovery Call. And thank you for listening!

    You're always welcome: "Come for the stories - Stay for the magic!" Speaking of magic, I hope you’ll subscribe, share a 5-star rating and nice review on your social media or podcast channel of choice, bring your friends and rellies, and join us! You will have wonderful company as we continue to walk our lives together. Be sure to stop by my Quarter Moon Story Arts website, email me to arrange a no-obligation Discovery Call, and stay current with me as "Wyzga on Words" on Substack.

    Stories From Women Who Walk Production Team

    Podcaster: Diane F Wyzga & Quarter Moon Story Arts

    Music: Mer’s Waltz from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron Music

    ALL content and image © 2019 to Present Quarter Moon Story Arts. All rights reserved. If you found this podcast episode helpful, please consider sharing and attributing it to Diane Wyzga of Stories From Women Who Walk podcast with a link back to the original source.
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    4 分
  • 60 Seconds for Motivate Your Monday: We Have the Power to Hold Musk & DOGE Criminally Accountable for Pirating Private SSA Data

    60 Seconds for Motivate Your Monday: We Have the Power to Hold Musk & DOGE Criminally Accountable for Pirating Private SSA Data
    2026/02/23
    Hello to you listening in Spokane, Washington! Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk with 60 Seconds for Motivate Your Monday and your host, Diane Wyzga. Christopher Armitage writing The Existentialist Republic on Substack posted an article entitled Democrats Can Launch Criminal Investigations into DOGE, Today. According to Armitage dozens of state investigations have the power to bring criminal actions to hold Musk/DOGE accountable for pirating private Social Security Administration (SSA) data and releasing it to third parties. Click HERE to read the article and get ready to take steps to e-mail your County Prosecutor, Governor and Attorney General. Following are three email templates you can use if you live in the Great State of Washington. For all other states, please check the Substack article comments to find yours. If you don’t see your state, comment in the post to receive your state's relevant statutes and templates to email. Thank you for listening and taking action wherever your feet touch the ground! Email 1: To your Washington State County Prosecutor Dear, I'm writing to request that your office refer a matter to Attorney General Nick Brown for criminal investigation under RCW 43.10.232. In a January 16, 2026 court filing in AFSCME v. Social Security Administration (D. Md., No. 1:25-cv-00596), the U.S. Department of Justice admitted that employees of the Department of Government Efficiency, while embedded at the Social Security Administration, transferred agency data to an unauthorized third-party server called Cloudflare outside all SSA security protocols. The SSA has confirmed it cannot determine what data was shared or whether it still exists on that server. A DOGE team member also sent an encrypted file believed to contain the names and addresses of roughly 1,000 people to the Department of Homeland Security and DOGE leadership, and the SSA has been unable to access the file to verify its contents. The filing further revealed that a DOGE employee signed a "Voter Data Agreement" with a political advocacy group seeking to match Social Security records against state voter rolls to overturn election results in certain states. The SSA made two Hatch Act referrals to the Office of Special Counsel as a result. Separately, NPR has reported that DOGE engineer Aram Moghaddassi contacted the Florida governor's office about state voter data while working simultaneously at SSA and DHS, and that a DOGE associate publicly claimed to have matched SSA data against voter rolls at a political rally. SSA records include the personal information of Washington residents in [your county]. This conduct may constitute violations of Washington's identity theft statute (RCW 9.35.020) and the Washington Cybercrime Act (RCW 9A.90). Federal officials do not have blanket immunity from state criminal prosecution when they exceed the scope of their authorized duties. I'm asking you to refer this matter to Attorney General Brown so his Criminal Justice Division can investigate whether Washington residents were victims of state crimes. The AG's office has confirmed it needs a referral from a county prosecutor or the governor to act. You have the authority to open that door. Thank you for your time and your service to our community. Sincerely, [Your Name] [Your Address] Email 2: To the Washington State Governor Ferguson Dear Governor Ferguson, I'm writing to request that your office refer a matter to Attorney General Nick Brown for criminal investigation under RCW 43.10.232. In a January 16, 2026 court filing in AFSCME v. Social Security Administration (D. Md., No. 1:25-cv-00596), the U.S. Department of Justice admitted that employees of the Department of Government Efficiency, while embedded at the Social Security Administration, transferred agency data to an unauthorized third-party server called Cloudflare outside all SSA security protocols. The SSA has confirmed it cannot determine what data was shared or whether it still exists on that server. A DOGE team member also sent an encrypted file believed to contain the names and addresses of roughly 1,000 people to the Department of Homeland Security and DOGE leadership, and the SSA has been unable to access the file to verify its contents. The filing further revealed that a DOGE employee signed a "Voter Data Agreement" with a political advocacy group seeking to match Social Security records against state voter rolls to overturn election results in certain states. The SSA made two Hatch Act referrals to the Office of Special Counsel as a result. Separately, NPR has reported that a DOGE engineer contacted the Florida governor's office about state voter data while working simultaneously at SSA and DHS, and that a DOGE associate publicly claimed to have matched SSA data against voter rolls at a political rally. These actions may constitute violations of Washington's identity theft statute (RCW 9.35.020) and the Washington ...
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    3 分
  • 60 Seconds for Story Prompt Friday: Do You Know the Power of Your Own Story?

    60 Seconds for Story Prompt Friday: Do You Know the Power of Your Own Story?
    2026/02/20

    Hello to you listening in Samish, Washington!

    Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk with 60 Seconds for Story Prompt Friday and your host, Diane Wyzga.

    Imagine this: a storyteller in a room full of litigators. No! Not alligators - litigators. Trial attorneys who are curious about learning the tools to engage with their own narrative so that they could connect to the stories of their plaintiff clients - not as lawyers but as people. Once they know how to access their own stories they can engage the experiences of the jury, find common ground with the plaintiff’s story and, be well on their way to winning the trial.

    Over 30 years my clients have learned that before you tell someone else’s story be very clear about your own. Do the hard work of an archeological dig on your narrative. Once we understand how our narrative shapes and re-shapes our life, our purpose, the relationships we have with others we are well on our way to knowing what we stand for, what we won’t stand for, and how we can be of service. Our story can become one of advocacy, leadership, and healing. Our story can shift attitudes, behaviors, even cultures.

    CURIOUS TO LEARN MORE? Email me at info@quartermoonstoryarts.net for a no-obligation Discovery Call

    Story Prompt: Your life isn't about what happened to you; it's about what you did next! What have you learned as you journeyed from There to Here, and how might it be a healing story of growth? Write that story and share it out loud!

    You're always welcome: "Come for the stories - Stay for the magic!" Speaking of magic, I hope you’ll subscribe, share a 5-star rating and nice review on your social media or podcast channel of choice, bring your friends and rellies, and join us! You will have wonderful company as we continue to walk our lives together. Be sure to stop by my Quarter Moon Story Arts website, check out the Communication Services, email me to arrange a no-obligation Discovery Call, and stay current with me as "Wyzga on Words" on Substack.

    Stories From Women Who Walk Production Team

    Podcaster: Diane F Wyzga & Quarter Moon Story Arts

    Music: Mer’s Waltz from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron Music

    ALL content and image © 2019 to Present Quarter Moon Story Arts. All rights reserved. If you found this podcast episode helpful, please consider sharing and attributing it to Diane Wyzga of Stories From Women Who Walk podcast with a link back to the original source.
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    3 分
  • 60 Seconds for Wednesdays on Whidbey: Being Alive in Stillness & Silence

    60 Seconds for Wednesdays on Whidbey: Being Alive in Stillness & Silence
    2026/02/18

    Hello to you listening in Bellingham, Washington!

    Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk with 60 Seconds for Wednesdays on Whidbey and your host, Diane Wyzga.

    There is nothing quite so still as an old growth forest to settle the anxiety I feel in these times of madness. Walking deep in the woods of the island’s old growth forests a stillness beckons me to stop and listen deeply. The stillness asks if I can hear the immense power and depth of silence. I am reminded that all sounds arise from silence and fade back into silence.

    When we take the time to stop and experience silence we calm our mind, still the crazy chatter, breathe more deeply. Allow stillness. Stay with silence as long as you can. Tune in to your intuition, see clearly, hear your heartbeat, feel the blood coursing in your fingertips, and sense the steadiness of your breath coming and going easily. Remind yourself that we are alive and connected to all beings.

    Question: How does it feel to seek a bit of refuge in the stillness of the present moment? How does it feel to be alive, vibrant, and in tune with silence?

    You're always welcome: "Come for the stories - Stay for the magic!" Speaking of magic, I hope you’ll subscribe, share a 5-star rating and nice review on your social media or podcast channel of choice, bring your friends and rellies, and join us! You will have wonderful company as we continue to walk our lives together. Be sure to stop by my Quarter Moon Story Arts website, check out the Communication Services, email me to arrange a no-obligation Discovery Call, and stay current with me as "Wyzga on Words" on Substack.

    Stories From Women Who Walk Production Team

    Podcaster: Diane F Wyzga & Quarter Moon Story Arts

    Music: Mer’s Waltz from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron Music

    ALL content and image © 2019 to Present Quarter Moon Story Arts. All rights reserved. If you found this podcast episode helpful, please consider sharing and attributing it to Diane Wyzga of Stories From Women Who Walk podcast with a link back to the original source.
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    3 分
  • 60 Seconds for Motivate Your Monday: Give a Lift & Get a Lift

    60 Seconds for Motivate Your Monday: Give a Lift & Get a Lift
    2026/02/16

    Hello to you listening all over the world as we get ready to greet the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Fire Horse last celebrated in 1966!

    Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk with 60 Seconds for Motivate Your Monday and your host, Diane Wyzga.

    Imagine this: you’re a podcaster, storyteller, writer, or entrepreneur. You have honest-to-goodness talent, outshine all the rest of the competition on the field talent! But, what if talent isn’t enough? What do you need? Connection!

    We are connected to allies, friends, colleagues and supporters who believe in us, who want us to succeed, who will go the distance for us. Think of your cohort of connections as a mini-culture. When we belong to a culture that embodies our beliefs, dreams and values they know us, we know them. We can ask for a trusted hand up when the time comes. What do we do in the meantime?

    Practical Tip: “Each One Lift One is the way we roll here!” Before you ask for a hand up, give a hand up. Look around for those talented unheard voices you could help. Be a generous champion for them and their skills. In turn, someone will do the same for you. Guaranteed!

    You're always welcome: "Come for the stories - Stay for the magic!" Speaking of magic, I hope you’ll subscribe, share a 5-star rating and nice review on your social media or podcast channel of choice, bring your friends and rellies, and join us! You will have wonderful company as we continue to walk our lives together. Be sure to stop by my Quarter Moon Story Arts website, check out the Communication Services, email me to arrange a no-obligation Discovery Call, and stay current with me as "Wyzga on Words" on Substack.

    Stories From Women Who Walk Production Team

    Podcaster: Diane F Wyzga & Quarter Moon Story Arts

    Music: Mer’s Waltz from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron Music

    ALL content and image © 2019 to Present Quarter Moon Story Arts. All rights reserved. If you found this podcast episode helpful, please consider sharing and attributing it to Diane Wyzga of Stories From Women Who Walk podcast with a link back to the original source.
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    3 分
  • 60 Seconds for Story Prompt Friday: An East Coast Girl Yearns for Winter’s Promise

    60 Seconds for Story Prompt Friday: An East Coast Girl Yearns for Winter’s Promise
    2026/02/13

    Hello to you listening in Layton, New Jersey and Hancock, New Hampshire!

    Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk with 60 Seconds for Story Prompt Friday the 13th and your host, Diane Wyzga.

    I’m an East Coast Girl born and raised. Winter was always a time of mystery and majesty. All that snow! All that wild and welcome time to trek, ski, snowshoe, winter camp, and skate frozen ponds. I yearn for the winter activities being enjoyed by my family still Back East; but even more I want what is yet to be. I want Winter’s Promise.

    Winter’s Promise

    “I do an awful lot of thinking and dreaming about things in the past and the future…

    the timelessness of the rocks and the hills... all the people who have existed there.

    I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape,

    the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it,

    the whole story doesn’t show.” –Andrew Wyeth

    Story Prompt: What is the promise your life holds for you now? What will you do to realize that promise? What are the stakes? Write that story and share it out loud!

    You're always welcome: "Come for the stories - Stay for the magic!" Speaking of magic, I hope you’ll subscribe, share a 5-star rating and nice review on your social media or podcast channel of choice, bring your friends and rellies, and join us! You will have wonderful company as we continue to walk our lives together. Be sure to stop by my Quarter Moon Story Arts website, check out the Communication Services, email me to arrange a no-obligation Discovery Call, and stay current with me as "Wyzga on Words" on Substack.

    Stories From Women Who Walk Production Team

    Podcaster: Diane F Wyzga & Quarter Moon Story Arts

    Music: Mer’s Waltz from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron Music

    ALL content and image © 2019 to Present Quarter Moon Story Arts. All rights reserved. If you found this podcast episode helpful, please consider sharing and attributing it to Diane Wyzga of Stories From Women Who Walk podcast with a link back to the original source.
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    3 分