The Becoming Aligned podcast was created to explore and learn from amazing, “regular” people who create meaningful lives that align with their personal values.
Learn how they connect to their authentic truth and navigate the challenges of life. Discover what shaped their personal journeys and how they make time to stay connected and aligned to their values.
Becoming Aligned is currently on hiatus, but you can listen to past episodes below or on your favorite podcasting app.
Developing a Growth Mindset
This is the third solo episode of a series in which I’m sharing a bit more about my story and my journey to Becoming Aligned. If you missed the last 2 episodes, please check those out before coming back to this one.
I would never have described myself as a perfectionist because I was sooooo far from being perfect, But the truth is, a fear of rejection and disapproval was driving my choices and impacting how I was showing up in the world.
In this episode, I dive into perfectionism and explore why it can be so harmful even though it seems that many of us wear it as a badge of honor.
Then I talk about how we can begin to shift our mindset. And truly create change in our lives.
Own Your Story w/ Love and Self-Compassion
This is the second solo episode of a series in which I’m sharing a bit more about my story and my journey to Becoming Aligned. If you missed the last episode, please check it out before listening to this one. It will help things make more sense:-)
In this episode, I begin to share some of the inner work that I did to help me create some positive shifts in my life.
Maureen Ryan #1: Reaching Out For Support
I have something different planned for the next 5 episodes. I’m planning to release a series of short solo episodes where I’ll share more of my story and my journey to becoming aligned.
It’s definitely been a process, but a worthwhile one. It’s a process I want to share with you in the hopes that it will help you along your journey and also give you a sense of what has informed my perspective and approach.
Máire P. Walsh: Becoming the Best Version of Myself
In this episode I talk to Máire P. Walsh. Máire is one of my wonderful cousins. She’s originally from Ireland but has been living and working in San Francisco for over 15 years. She now considers both home and is fortunate to work in a capacity that allows her to support Irish companies in Travel Technology while being based in SF.
Máire was quick to point out that she’s at the beginning of her Becoming Aligned Journey. I might argue with her a bit… I am family after all;-) Because I can see the process of becoming more aligned in how she approached her move to SF and how she became involved in the community there.
In particular, I appreciate that she was willing to share and be open about her experiences managing grief and her feelings around that. We talk about how this experience has drastically shifted her perspective and learn how she’s staying focused on what’s truly important and taking care of herself in the process.
Theresa VanderMeer: Activist Entrepreneur
n this episode I talk to Theresa VanderMeer. She is the founder of Work+Shelter. An ethical factory in India that employs women in need. While this is now her full-time job, she started Work+Shelter as her passion project / side hustle 7 ½ years ago. They now employ almost 40 women!
I was so impressed with Theresa for her vision and persistence. She believes business can be a vehicle for good and is actively working to make that true within her company. She is truly an Activist Entrepreneur.
Amelia Hruby: The Process of Unlearning
In this episode I talk to Amelia Hruby. She is a writer, podcaster and a PhD candidate in Philosophy with an emphasis in Art and Feminist Theory.
We talk about the value or really the necessity of getting comfortable with being uncomfortable for those of us with privilege. And she shares how she views her role in this process in terms of the work she does.
We also discuss her process of becoming aligned as a journey of unlearning, learning, integrating with self care and taking action.
Rebecca Hamilton: The Law of Attraction
In this episode I talk to Rebecca Hamilton. She is a mom who homeschooled her child. A successful Real Estate Agent in FL and an Entrepreneur who is making a positive difference in the lives of her clients.
But she has also experienced her share of life’s challenges.
We chat about the story of her personal growth and how the Law of Attraction played into that. She also helps to demystify the Law of Attraction and some of the myths that prevent people from accessing the full benefits.
Sue DeSanto: Creating Change
In this episode I talk to Sue DeSanto. She’s a therapist and a relationship coach based in Chicago…AT LEAST FOR A FEW MORE WEEKS.
She is preparing for a big move, a big change in her life. And we talk about what that looks like for her. And how she’s taking care of herself in the process.
I know change is something we can all relate to, so it was fun to dive into this with her and learn more about what’s she’s discovering through this process.
Something else we can all relate to is relationships.
I talk to Sue about what drew her to start Relationship Coaching for Singles. While she works with couples in her private therapy practice, She focuses on working with Singles in the coaching aspect of her business.
She helps Singles work through his/her blocks and build his/her foundation to being a happy single.
Jason Brammer: Doing the Work
In this episode I talk to Jason Brammer. Jason is a visual artist, painter and muralist based in Chicago. For those of you in Chicago you have probably seen his work! He has many street murals throughout the city and installations inside businesses like Dark Matter Coffee Shop. Check out the links below for his website!
I really appreciate Jason’s honesty. And I loved hearing him talk about doing the work of an artist. And what that’s actually like. For anyone feeling “stuck” or dealing with resistance, I think you’ll appreciate this episode.
Cliff Lyles: The Power of Perspective
In this episode I talk to Cliff Lyles. He is such an example of what you can accomplish when you accept that failure is a part of life and learning and ultimately growth. He is someone who has built his sense of resilience because he’s not afraid to put himself out there and try new things.
In this episode he shares more about his personal story, his experience as a chef and about an amazing adventure he’s preparing for that will take place in September. It’s something called the Eco-Challenge.
Ann Ryan: Home
You may remember that I’ve already interviewed my dad. It was actually meant to be a practice episode, but it was so fun to get his story and I thought he had great insights to share, so I put it out there.
After that, I was determined to see if I could get my mom to be a part of this project. I was so happy and surprised when she agreed.
She’s a very modest, hard-working, giving person who doesn’t talk much about herself. I was excited for the opportunity to learn more about her experience growing up in a small village in County Mayo, Ireland. And I wanted to get to know more about what life was like for her when she moved to Chicago.
Ruth-Anne Renaud: Living with Purpose
In this episode I talk to Ruth-Anne Renaud. She is someone I really admire because she lives her life with such PURPOSE. You don’t have to know her very long to begin to understand what she values. Because she really LIVES her values through her work and personal life.
We talk about what shaped her outlook on life and how she switched gears and made a career pivot so that she could apply her skills and knowledge to the non-profit sector.
Kate Strozak: Being Multi-Faceted
In this episode I talk to Kate Strozak. She is a multi-faceted, multi-passionate individual who has cultivated a strong sense of intuition and trust within herself. This has allowed her to discover that this way of being might be different from others, but that it offers many positives and unique perspectives.
We talk about how she takes care of herself to avoid burnout, which she has experienced in the past, and is something that I think many of us can relate to. We discuss the influence of nature and how that’s impacted her understanding of movement and also motivated her to explore the study of neuroscience. And we talk about grief and what she has learned from her experience with grief in her own life.
Stephanie Williams: Belief
In this episode I talk to Stephanie Williams. She is the mom of 5 with her own children’s clothing line, called Roxie Rose. She also owns The Lemon Seed Boutique, a women’s boutique clothing store in Bedford, IN. Both are absolutely adorable and truly represent Stephanie’s style.
Stephanie’s style and sense of self and purpose is evident in all areas of her life. Which is what I find so interesting and amazing about her. And what I wanted to learn more about.
She has so much insight to share about business, motherhood and having a sense of purpose. I hope you enjoy our conversation!
Sapna Dalal: It’s a Journey
In this episode I talked to Sapna Dalal, also known as the Veg Tourist. While working full time, She’s created an amazing blog called the Vegetarian Tourist where she shares her passion for delicious vegetarian food and international travel.
It was so fun to talk to her and hear how she grew her audience from her friends and family to at the moment 15.6k Instagram followers. We also talk about how she built the courage to put herself out there and the opportunities that came because she chose to do so. And what she’s learned through that experience. I really appreciate her openness on these topics.
Erin Alexander: Living with Intention
How do you create space for authentic relationships in your life? How do you manage your time in order to nurture your mind, body and soul?
In this episode of Becoming Aligned we dive into these topics with my guest Erin Alexander. Erin is a psychologist, an athlete, a devoted family member, friend and partner. And she is someone who is actively working towards creating positive change and opportunity for others.
Matt Hunsucker: Celebrating Life
In this episode I talk to Matt Hunsucker. He’s a Physical Education Teacher, Athlete, Volunteer and just an all-around good person. He is someone that I find inspiring because he’s so grounded yet he’s always challenging himself to grow in different ways. And he does so in such a well-rounded, fun, positive way.
But like all of us, he’s faced his own personal challenges. During the course of our conversation, he opens up and we talk about what helped him get through one of the lowest emotional periods in his life.
Priscilla Barnes: Building Community
In this episode, I interview my friend and former teammate, Priscilla Barnes. She is a recently tenured Professor at Indiana University with her PhD in Public Health. She is also actively involved in her community as a group fitness instructor at the local YMCA.
It really energizes me to know that she out there doing the work she is doing, because it centers around creating connections and forming community. We talk about the roots of these values and explore how they shape her life and her passions right now.
Denis Buckley: Being Punk Rock
In this episode I interview Denis Buckley. The lead singer of a Punk Rock band called 88 Fingers Louie and an old grade school classmate and friend of mine.
We talk about the roots of his interest in music and how he became the lead singer of a punk rock band even though there were expectations and plans for him to become a fireman.
We also talk about how he’s changed and grown over the years. And what’s allowed him to manage his anger and become a better communicator.
Erica Agran: Creating Connections
In this episode, I talk to my friend Erica Agran. The energy and passion she pours into her life, always inspires me.
In this episode we talk more about those interests and passions. We learn more about her running and why it’s such an important part of her life. We talk about what she’s learned from writing her blog Erica Finds
And we talk about how she makes her healthy lifestyle a priority with a busy schedule which includes work travel. She certainly has some wisdom to share!