In this episode, Jamie Serino and Peter Carucci sit down with acclaimed poet and professor Liz Rosenberg for a heartfelt reunion that explores the intersections of poetry, music, teaching, and personal connection. What begins as a nostalgic reflection on a college classroom quickly unfolds into an exploration of how poetry, music, art and storytelling shape identity, relationships, and the way we move through the world.

Liz reflects on the opportunity for artists to engage with the world around them, while also offering a compassionate perspective on teaching, creativity, and the emotional risks that come with self-expression. The conversation also delves into the idea of poetry as witness, examining how art can respond to injustice, preserve memory, and help us process both personal and collective pain. Check out this episode for a compelling conversation that is both intellectually engaging and fun!

Want to learn more about Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)? Then check out this conversation with Sara Weand, licensed professional counselor and Dialectical Behavioral Therapist (DBT). Sara unpacks what Borderline Personality Disorder looks and feels like, from the intensity of how emotions are felt, to the misreading of social cues, to the struggle with impulse control. We then discuss the details of how DBT provides the validation, structure and compassion to help people manage all of this and thrive.

Sara breaks down BPD, discussing core patterns of dysregulation, how BPD shows up in relationships, and why it’s so often misdiagnosed as bipolar disorder or misread as manipulation. Using examples, Sara explains how some of us are born more emotionally sensitive, and when that sensitivity meets an invalidating environment at home, school, or in a relationship, people learn to fear emotions and chase short-term relief. That relief can be a range of actions that could include substance use, cutting, overspending, or rage texting. It works for a moment but then results in damage and shame. Understanding the root function of this behavior is the first step to changing it.

The discussion then turns to Dialectical Behavior Therapy, which can be used to help people with BPD. Sara walks through how it works and why it works. A key concept is dialectics. Things aren’t always either/or and there can be two truths at once. That shows up in language and narratives. For example, using “and” instead of “but” to frame situations, which can help. acceptance and change to move together. Another key concept is structure and Sara discusses skills modules that people move through in therapy, and she offers concrete examples of how they stop crisis spirals, repair relationships, and keep the world from tiptoeing around you.

Sara’s energy and straight talk make complex ideas simple and useful, whether you’re seeking help, supporting someone you love, or just curious about BPD and DBT.

Learn more about Sara Weand and her practice here: https://www.saraweandlpc.com/.

Join us as we speak with Al Cook—former drill sergeant, business and community leader, and motivational speaker—to unpack how confidence is built under pressure, why leadership is an art, and how attention to detail can shape your life. Al takes us behind the scenes of basic training: the controlled chaos of arrival, the initial shock that flips a mental switch, and the quiet satisfaction of watching a scared 18-year-old become a soldier who trusts themselves when it counts.

From there, we chart Al’s path into retail management and entrepreneurship, where he sharpened his philosophy: thoughts drive emotions, emotions drive actions, actions become habits, habits form character, and character sets destiny. He shares practical tools for business owners feeling stuck, including writing clear goals, expecting struggle before victory, building mental toughness, and gathering a coterie of people who are smarter than they are. We dive into the power of visualization and why most people unintentionally imagine failure more vividly than success. Al shows how to redirect that imagination toward outcomes you actually want.

Al blends tough love with compassionate coaching. You’ll hear how to turn “I can’t” into “Here’s my next step,” how to reduce negative inputs and increase positive ones, and why small, consistent wins beat frantic busyness. We wrap with a gratitude practice that resets your day in minutes and a reminder that your greatest resource is people: align them around a vision and watch momentum build. If you’re ready to swap excuses for execution and turn thought into action, press play, subscribe, and share this with someone who needs the spark.