Mary McManus on Surviving and Thriving After Recovering from Trauma and Polio
Release Date: 05/28/2025
Phil Green on the Impactful and Inspiring Work He Does for Young Musicians and His Hometown of Oakland
Blue Sky
Phil Green has had a successful career in music and sports. For what he describes as his “third act,” Phil is now overseeing , a nonprofit in his hometown of Oakland, California. Follow the Music provides artist development, booking and management services to young artists — to shine a light on their talents and bring visibility to the programs that helped develop them. Chapters: 00:00 Introducing Phil Green and Follow the Music Bill Burke introduces Phil Green, co-founder of Follow the Music, an organization dedicated to fostering young...
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Stacy Palmer on Nonprofits and the Role Optimism Plays in Moving Them Forward
Blue Sky
Stacy Palmer leads , the leading journal in the world of nonprofits. In this Blue Sky conversation, she talks about the evolution of nonprofits into sophisticated organizations that do remarkable work around the world. She describes the role of donors large and small, and how they’re helping address challenges created by cuts in government funding. Stacy also shares her belief that nothing gets done in this space without a healthy dose of optimism. Chapters: 02:04 Origins of the Chronicle of Philanthropy Stacy Palmer discusses the founding of The...
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Shirzad Chamine on Saboteurs, Sages, and Positive Intelligence
Blue Sky
Shirzad Chamine experienced a traumatic childhood, raised in Iran by a father who was full of a frightening rage. Following high school, Shirzad decided to move to the United States and make his future there. Along the way, he heard an inner whisper telling him to make a positive influence on a worldwide scale. After a variety of education experience, he developed innovative theories that resulted in the New York Times bestselling book, . In this Blue Sky episode, you’ll learn more about Shirzad Chamine’s remarkable life and inspiring work. ...
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Author Bree Groff on Finding Joy at Work
Blue Sky
Losing her mom to cancer reminded Bree that life is fleeting. Working as a consultant, she also saw how many people are miserable in their jobs. Connecting these dots, she decided to help people find more joy and meaning in their work and rather than count the days to the weekend, turn things around and actually look forward to getting to work, perhaps even embrace a “TGIM” mentality. In her book, she gives numerous examples of way we can find more joy from our work and our colleagues and encourages employers that creating a fun-filled workplace can improve an...
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Erin Cain on Personal Resilience and the Power of Horses to Heal
Blue Sky
Erin Cain didn’t grow up around horses but eventually was exposed to them and the remarkable abilities they have to facilitate healing for a wide range of individuals. A series of life events caused her to move from her native northeast to the Colorado Rockies and today, she’s the co-founder, owner, and operator of . In this episode she describes the personal hardships she’s overcome and the work she now does rescuing and “gentling” wild mustangs, then working with these animals to provide therapy to the diverse group of individuals who come to Grace Reins for healing. ...
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Psychotherapist Meghan Riordan Jarvis on the Importance of Understanding Grief as a Path Toward Living Healthier Lives
Blue Sky
Meghan Riordan Jarvis was a practicing psychotherapist when she found herself devastated by the loss of her two parents. She suddenly saw she was no different from those she helped, but she still needed outside support to recover. In this Blue Sky episode, she describes how this realization led her to become an expert about grief and an advocate for all of us to learn about this important and challenging part of life. Chapters: 02:20 Journey to Psychotherapy Meghan shares her personal journey into psychotherapy, beginning with a...
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Tricia Rose Burt Describes How She Transformed Her Life and Why She Encourages Others to Believe That There Is “No Time to Be Timid”
Blue Sky
Tricia Rose Burt had done everything right, according to the way she was raised. She went to a “good school,” had a “good job” and all seemed to be going great on the surface. But inside, she was miserable and decided to make a change. She left her career in public relations, took classes at art school, and began to explore her own creativity in a way that, as she describes it, “filled her cup.” She’s never been happier, and in this Blue Sky conversation, she’ll explain how listeners might want choose to tap into their “inner artist” as...
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Stacey Garcia on Resilience and Optimism in the Face of Personal Roadblocks and Why She Thinks “Mondays are Magic”
Blue Sky
As a personal trainer and wellness coach, Stacey Garcia was doing everything right. She ate well, exercised, and took great care of herself. That’s why her cancer diagnosis came as an extra shock, and in this episode, she explains how she dealt with this news and found strength and resilience as she battled her disease. Now in recovery, Stacey helps guide others through similar challenges both in her daily work as well as her podcast . Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Stacey Garcia Bill Burke introduces Stacey Garcia, host of ‘Never Miss a...
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Astronaut Nicole Stott Reflects on Lessons She Learned in Outer Space and How They Changed Her View of Life on “Spaceship Earth”
Blue Sky
Nicole Stott had a remarkable career with NASA, logging more than 100 days in outer space. Her time on the International Space Station drives her appreciation for the importance of cooperation across cultures and national boundaries. On this Blue Sky episode, she describes lessons learned from her time as an astronaut, and the inspiring work she does today through the Space For Art Foundation, and her optimistic and solutions-oriented approach to life. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Nicole Stott This chapter introduces Nicole Stott, a retired NASA...
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Back to School Edition
Blue Sky
Host Bill Burke thinks back to his own back to school days and offers thoughts on what he might study were he an incoming student this fall. He also discusses what he might teach if he were a faculty member and encourages us all to keep learning in our lives, whether we are enrolled students or not.
info_outlineMary McManus has never had it easy. As a kindergartener, she was a victim of polio just a short time before the vaccine was introduced. She also faced trauma in her home life but somehow managed to persevere and overcome these and still more obstacles throughout her life. Today, Mary is an inspiring author, poet, motivational speaker, and finisher of the Boston Marathon.
Chapters:
01:05 Meet Mary McManus
Mary McManus is introduced as a remarkable individual with a story of resilience and triumph over adversity.
02:14 Mary’s Early Challenges
Mary shares her early life experiences, including her diagnosis of polio at a young age and the impact it had on her family dynamics. Despite her paralysis, she describes a profound spiritual connection that provided her comfort during this challenging time.
08:09 The Road to Recovery
Mary recounts her journey through physical therapy and the support she received from dedicated professionals who helped her regain mobility.
12:08 Finding Purpose in College
In college, Mary discovers her passion for helping others while working in the counseling center.
16:08 A Career with Veterans
Mary shares her experiences working with veterans at the VA, highlighting the challenges they faced upon returning from Vietnam
17:02 The Diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome
Mary discusses her diagnosis of post-polio syndrome nearly 50 years after her initial polio diagnosis, detailing the physical and emotional challenges she faced.
22:59 Turning Pain into Poetry
In a moment of introspection, Mary turns to poetry as a means of healing and self-expression. This creative outlet not only provides relief from her pain but also sparks a new chapter in her life.
24:21 From Poetry to Running
Mary shares her transformative journey from writing poetry to setting an ambitious goal of completing the Boston Marathon
29:01 Rebuilding Strength: The Journey Begins
Mary shares her initial struggles with physical fitness post-therapy, highlighting her determination to regain strength. With the support of her trainer, she sets ambitious goals, including a desire to run the Boston Marathon.
31:34 The Training Journey: From Walking to Running
Mary describes her gradual transition from walking to running, emphasizing the importance of patience and support from family during her training.
35:03 Facing Doubts: The Mental Challenge of Marathon Training
As the Boston Marathon approaches, Mary reflects on the mental hurdles she faces, including moments of doubt. However, her unwavering belief in her ability to complete the race, supported by her trainer and family, keeps her focused.
38:10 The Emotional Finish: Crossing the Marathon Line
Mary recounts the emotional experience of running the Boston Marathon, including the support from friends and family along the course. She describes the overwhelming joy and healing she felt as she crossed the finish line.
39:57 Life After the Marathon: Trials and Triumphs
After the marathon, Mary faces new challenges, including personal loss and health setbacks, yet she remains resilient.
44:33 Resilience Through Adversity: The Power of Poetry and Running
Mary discusses her experiences during the pandemic, including health challenges and the therapeutic power of writing poetry. Despite setbacks, she finds motivation to continue running and sets new goals for herself.
46:44 Looking Forward: Embracing New Challenges
As Mary reflects on her journey, she emphasizes the importance of resilience and gratitude in overcoming life’s challenges. With plans to run a half marathon again, she inspires others to pursue their goals, regardless of obstacles.