A dialogue between two friends - one an atheist (me) and the other a minister (Mary), exploring the universal imperative of caring for one another, and what that looks like in politically divisive times.

Despite the differences in our belief systems, we share a profound agreement on the importance of human empathy, mutual support, and compassion as a foundational human value. We talk about maintaining human connection across ideological divides, and explore what genuine care looks like in practice - beyond theoretical or philosophical positions.

The takeaway? Compassion is not dependent on shared religious beliefs, and ethical care of each other as humans transcends idelogical and religious differences.

My challenge to listeners is to consider :

• How can we practice empathy with those who hold fundamentally different worldviews?
• What does meaningful community care look like in challenging times?
• How do personal beliefs inform our approach to supporting others?

About my Guest

Mary Nelson is a Transitional Conference Minister with the Missouri Mid-South Conference with the United Church of Christ. Her primary work is with congregations in transition and crisis and providing leadership resources. She works with clergy of the Region in offering counsel, support and advice as well as pastoral care.

Raised in Plymouth UCC in Des Moines, Iowa, Mary Nelson earned her Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies at Grinnell College, Grinnell, IA; and then her Masters of Divinity at Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Pastor for six years of the Malletts Bay Congregational Church UCC in Colchester, Vermont, she has served as a leader in the UCC 2030 Clergy Network National Planning Team. In 2009, she received a UCC Presidential Fellowship, recognizing new clergy of exceptional promise for national leadership.

In this powerful conversation, we sit down with Stacey Tank, CEO of Bespoke Beauty Brands and 20+ year Fortune 500 veteran, to explore how purpose-driven leadership can transform businesses and communities. Stacey shares insights from her remarkable career spanning HEINEKEN, The Home Depot, and General Electric, revealing how connecting work to deeper meaning creates both business success and positive social impact.

We talk about how Stacey has consistently integrated social impact initiatives into corporate strategy, and why purpose-driven businesses outperform their competitors. We dive into her leadership philosophy, and passion for creating workplaces where employees can connect their work to deeper meaning, and how clear purpose enables better decision-making.

Connect with Stacey and Bespoke Beauty Brands-

• X (Twitter)
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Jason Wu Beauty
• Kim Chi Chic

In today's episode, we journey into the world of modern witchcraft with Stephanie Pixi Morris, a practitioner dedicated to reclaiming the ancient wisdom of witchcraft as a healing, nature-based practice. Pixi is a High Priestess, Reiki Master, Kundalini Yoga Instructor, and lifelong student of magick and esoteric wisdom. With a Master’s in Education and over a decade of teaching experience, she now blends her passion for learning with her work as a Holistic Virtual Assistant and spiritual mentor.

In our conversation, Pixi shares her personal awakening to this path, including how she first felt the call of the natural world as a child, before she had words to describe it. She cast her first spell at age 14, and has since embraced the term "witch" despite its loaded history, recognizing it as her authentic spiritual identity.

Originally from Massachusetts, Pixi now lives in Charleston, SC, with her husband, step-sons, witchy son, and their black cat and dog. She believes in the power of divine connection and collective magick, sharing ancient wisdom with those ready to embody their inner healer and Priestess.

She's also a writer, with a brilliant, approachable, and engaging writing style. Link to her Substack is below!

Throughout the conversation, Pixi's joy and authenticity shines through as she offers listeners a fresh perspective on an ancient tradition that continues to evolve and heal in modern times.

Learn more about Pixi's work via her websites, linked below, or learn about her origin story here.

• Thegoodwitchchs.com
• Holisticvirtualassistant.com
• Official Witch of CHS Instagram
• Stardust for Writers Instagram
• Pixi's Substack