Season 01, episode 06 March 23, 2025 Originally recorded on February 19, 2025 Speakers: Dayna Del Val & Pastor Paula Mehmel SSUMMARY In this conversation, Pastor Paula Mehmel shares her journey from being a pastor in North Dakota to her current role in Connecticut, emphasizing the importance of finding middle ground in discussions about faith, politics and community. She reflects on her diverse friendships and the significance of shared values despite differing beliefs. The dialogue explores the challenges of navigating Christian nationalism, the radical nature of faith and the necessity of compassionate conversations to foster understanding and connection among individuals with varying perspectives. In this conversation, Dayna and Paula explore…
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Brave Middle Ground | Naomi Vladeck
Season 01, episode 05 March 9, 2025 Originally recorded Feb 14, 2025 64 minutes This episode of Brave Middle Ground is brought to you by The Prosper Network and their upcoming summit, The Smart Woman’s Secret to Networking for Lasting Profits and Purpose on March 12. Learn more here. SPEAKERS Dayna Del Val, Naomi Vladeck SUMMARY In this engaging conversation, Dayna and Naomi explore the concept of ‘middle ground’ and its significance in personal and creative growth. Naomi shares insights from her book, Braving Creativity, discussing the five pillars of transition: liberation, navigation, play, empowerment and flourishing. They delve into the importance of embracing fear and excitement, the role of…
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Welcome to the Audaciously Curious Exchange
Welcome to the Audaciously Curious Exchange (ACE), a 4-week program designed to foster bold, meaningful conversations beyond echo chambers. In a world where quick answers replace deep discussion, ACE challenges participants to ask better questions, engage with opposing viewpoints and embrace curiosity as a tool for growth. The first Exchange will explore The Death of Politics by Pete Wehner, with discussions held via Zoom. The goal isn’t to be right—it’s to understand, to listen and to evolve. If you’re ready for thought-provoking dialogue, this is your invitation to step into the middle ground.
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Brave Middle Ground | Dr Adi Jaffe
Season 01, Episode 02 Jan 26, 2024 Originally recorded on December 6, 2024 68 MINUTES SPEAKERS: Dr Adi Jaffe, Dayna Del Val SUMMARY In this conversation, Adi Jaffe, PhD, and Dayna explore the complexities of addiction, mental health and societal definitions of normality. They discuss the stigma surrounding addiction, the fluidity of what is considered normal and how these concepts impact individuals, especially children. The conversation delves into the relationship between substance use and underlying mental health issues, emphasizing the importance of understanding the root causes rather than merely labeling behaviors. In this conversation, Adi explores the complexities of addiction, emphasizing the interplay between biological factors and environmental influences. He…
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Brave Middle Ground | Pete Wehner
Season 01, Ep 01 January 12, 2025 Originally recorded December 06, 2024 53:03 minutes SPEAKERS: Pete Wehner, Dayna Del Val SUMMARY In this conversation, Dayna and Peter Wehner explore the concept of middle ground, emphasizing its importance in today’s polarized society. They discuss the virtues of moderation, the pursuit of truth and the role of literature in fostering understanding. The conversation highlights the need for trust and empathy in political discourse, advocating for meaningful conversations that seek common ground despite differing beliefs. In this conversation, Peter Wehner and Dayna explore the complexities of political figures, the importance of civility in political discourse and the challenges of navigating personal relationships…
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In fact, I was recently invited to be on the podcast, Leave Your Mark, with Scott Livingston. He asked me a series of questions about things no one had ever asked me about, including why I'm an actor, and that me articulate some of this in a new way for me. I've been thinking about many of the questions ever since. Start at minute 8 to hear me talk about why I've always known I am a performer and what drew me to it even further. And note what age I set for the G.O.T.E. sheet analogy to life as well as the fact that i was 22 when I…
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Welcome to what is next
We’ll start from failure, but that’s not where we’ll spend much time, because that’s not the interesting part of the story. It’s the pivot, the path forged from that failure that has me intrigued, and I think will intrigue a vast audience. It’s the learning, the joy, the discoveries that come from the failure that is where we’ll ultimately spend the majority of our time.
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2019: My year in review
It’s always a little melancholic to get to the end of a year: time is passing so quickly, but it’s also a little liberating to see what has been done in the past 12 months, too. So in the spirit of looking back before I look forward, I have opted to assess 2019 from this series of questions I found from a friend on Facebook. We talked through a number of them at supper last night and had a great conversation; I invite you to consider doing the same, either by yourself of with some close friends or family. What makes this year unforgettable? Travel:
