#MentalHealthMonday - Radical Acceptance
The Meredith Patterson Podcast
Radical Acceptance: My Career, My Life, My Dreams Today I’m going to speak from my heart about something that’s changed my life. Radical acceptance. Not just of my career — although that’s a big one. But of everything I’ve ever dreamed of. The life I thought I’d have. The love I imagined. The body. The home. The timeline. The moments that never came… and the ones that did, but didn’t look like I thought they would. This episode is for anyone who’s ever asked: “Why didn’t this go the way I hoped?” Or… “Am I still enough if my life doesn’t look the way I planned?”...
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Steven Schauer - Stories Sustain Us: How Storytelling Shapes Resilience, Equity, and Environmental Change
The Meredith Patterson Podcast
Welcome back to The Meredith Patterson Podcast, where we explore the power of stories, resilience, and purpose. Today, we’re diving into something truly powerful—how storytelling isn’t just art, but a tool for change, connection, and sustainability. Our guest is someone who lives and breathes this mission. Steven Schauer is a public servant, an environmental communicator, and the creator of the incredible podcast Stories Sustain Us, which highlights change-makers who are improving our planet and our humanity. He’s also a documentary filmmaker, a seasoned public affairs strategist,...
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#MentalHealthMonday - The Blind Spots We Don’t See… Until We Do
The Meredith Patterson Podcast
Today’s episode is a little different. I’m pulling back the curtain—not on a show or a project—but on me. On the inner world I often keep running past in the name of getting things done, lifting others up, staying strong, being inspiring. And maybe… just maybe… you’re doing that too. Because what I realized recently is this: There are blind spots in my life. And they’ve been quietly steering the wheel. So today, I’m naming them. Not because I have it all figured out, but because healing starts when we tell the truth—out loud. THE BLIND SPOTS 1. I tie my worth...
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Religion vs. Spirituality: Losing Trust, Surviving a Cult, and Finding My Own Source
The Meredith Patterson Podcast
Hi everyone. Welcome to The Meredith Patterson Podcast. This episode is raw. It’s vulnerable. And it’s deeply personal. I’ve hesitated to share this, but I’ve learned that silence around abuse—especially spiritual abuse—only allows it to thrive. And I know I’m not alone. Today, I’m talking about the difference between religion and spirituality—and how deeply religion has hurt me. From growing up in a guilt- and shame-based Catholic system steeped in silence and abuse… to being aggressively recruited into a cult here in New York City—the International Church of Christ… I...
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#MentalHealthMonday - Attention Is The New Currency
The Meredith Patterson Podcast
Welcome to The Meredith Patterson Podcast, where we explore how to live with more intention, more creativity, and more joy—especially in a world that often feels designed to distract us. And I want to start by asking you something that might stop you in your tracks… When was the last time you truly paid attention? I mean, deep, undistracted, fully present attention—to someone speaking, to something you're watching, or even to your own thoughts? The truth is, we are living in a world that is starving for our attention. And at the same time, we are hemorrhaging it. The Shrinking...
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Cinematic Storyteller April Wright
The Meredith Patterson Podcast
Today on The Meredith Patterson Podcast, I have the absolute joy of sitting down with a true cinematic storyteller—award-winning filmmaker April Wright. April’s passion for film began in the glow of drive-ins and majestic movie palaces, and she has since carved a powerful path in both narrative and documentary filmmaking. From celebrating the unsung heroines of Hollywood stunt work to honoring the nostalgic charm of roller rinks, April is a creative force dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices and preserving cinematic history. Her work is deeply personal, empowering, and always...
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#MentalHealthMonday - Microplastics: The Uninvited Guests at Your Dinner Table
The Meredith Patterson Podcast
Today’s #MentalHealthMonday episode? Might shock you a little. Because we’re talking about something that’s in your water, your food, your clothes, your makeup—heck, it’s probably in your bloodstream right now. Microplastics. “Your Gut Called—It’s Tired of Eating Tupperware” “Breaking Up with Plastic (It’s Not Me, It’s You)” Tiny pieces of plastic that are everywhere—and I mean everywhere. Including inside you. But don’t panic—this episode isn’t about fear. It’s about awareness. And power. Because once you know where plastic came from, what it’s doing to...
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Healing Through Vulnerability with Laverne Friesen
The Meredith Patterson Podcast
My guest is someone who embodies resilience and authenticity. is a former law enforcement officer whose life has been shaped by incredible challenges—childhood abuse, a painful divorce, a mental health crisis—but rather than being broken by them, he chose to transform. Through his work as a peer supporter, public speaker, and the host of the , Laverne is on a mission to shatter the stigma around mental health and masculinity. He’s showing others—especially men—that healing is possible, and that vulnerability is not a weakness, but a superpower. This conversation is raw, real, and...
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Let Go Of What You Can’t Control & Reclaim Your Energy
The Meredith Patterson Podcast
Today, I want to talk about something that every single one of us deals with. Every. Single. Day. How to let go of what you can’t control, and how to refocus your energy on what actually matters. Because here’s the thing: We spend so much of our precious energy trying to manage the uncontrollable—people’s opinions, outcomes, the past, the future, the weather, the Wi-Fi connection (let’s be real). And all of that? It drains us. It leaves us frustrated, anxious, overwhelmed, and disconnected from our power. So let’s shift that. Right now. The Illusion of Control...
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Jason Tuttle - Letters to Zachary
The Meredith Patterson Podcast
Welcome back to The Meredith Patterson Podcast, where we explore the power resilience, and healing. Today’s guest is someone whose vulnerability and strength have created a ripple effect of compassion and connection. Jason Tuttle is the founder of Letters To Zachary, a heartfelt blog that began after the tragic and sudden loss of his 15-year-old son, Zachary, in 2022. What started as a personal outlet for grief has grown into a deeply moving platform where Jason shares open letters, poetry, and reflections on fatherhood, loss, and emotional healing. Through his words, Jason invites...
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Today on The Meredith Patterson Podcast, I have the absolute joy of sitting down with a true cinematic storyteller—award-winning filmmaker April Wright.
April’s passion for film began in the glow of drive-ins and majestic movie palaces, and she has since carved a powerful path in both narrative and documentary filmmaking. From celebrating the unsung heroines of Hollywood stunt work to honoring the nostalgic charm of roller rinks, April is a creative force dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices and preserving cinematic history.
Her work is deeply personal, empowering, and always inspired. Let’s dive into the world of storytelling, tenacity, and transformation with April Wright.
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April Wright reminds us that stories matter—not just the big, blockbuster ones—but the ones that reflect where we come from, who we are, and what we might lose if we don’t stop to remember. Thank you, April, for your voice, your vision, and for preserving the magic of storytelling. If you haven’t yet watched her films, run—don’t walk—to Amazon Prime or your nearest historic movie palace.
Until next time, Have vision for what you want but be grateful for where you are every single day.
Thank you for listening