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#109: Executive Director of Chrisitan Associates of Southwest PA, Liddy Barlow is our guest.

Your Spiritual Journey

Release Date: 02/09/2025

#125 Distance animal healer/communicator and Bowen practitioner Barbara Ahern reveals her journey. show art #125 Distance animal healer/communicator and Bowen practitioner Barbara Ahern reveals her journey.

Your Spiritual Journey

A work injury directed Barbara Ahern to the field of natural medicine. First, as a massage therapist, then a holistic spa technician, then a Bowen practitioner. She opened a massage school and contracted with her graduates for outcalls at B&B's as well as in her Sierra Spa and Wellness Retreat.  After working with people for 15 years, she discovered an 84% correlation of physiology between people and dogs, validating that natural medicine benefits the animals, too, so she started working with dogs. She designed a health and wellness program (Canine AcuTouch) that addresses their...

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#124 Zen Buddhist, author, and mindfulness teacher, Billy Wynne describes his spiritual journey show art #124 Zen Buddhist, author, and mindfulness teacher, Billy Wynne describes his spiritual journey

Your Spiritual Journey

Billy Wynne is the author of "The Empty Path: Finding Fulfillment through the Radical Art of Lessening." A student of Buddhism and mindfulness for 30 years, he received meditation teaching certification under Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach and lay Zen Buddhist ordination from the Zen Center of Denver, where he now teaches classes and serves on the board. Providing an antidote to our never-ending quest for more, mindfulness teacher, successful entrepreneur, and Zen Buddhist Billy Wynne shows that embracing emptiness can declutter the mind and distill our experience of daily life to its essential...

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#123 Massage therapist Joan Gennarini reveals her spiritual journey show art #123 Massage therapist Joan Gennarini reveals her spiritual journey

Your Spiritual Journey

Joan Gennarini was born in Colorado and raised in Indiana. Her parents were music teachers, and her mother later became a massage therapist. Joan’s career in massage therapy started after a 15-year stint in Corporate America. During that time she moved across the country from California to Texas to Maryland working for companies like Shell Oil, Enron North America, and Pacific Gas and Electric. After enduring years of long hours sitting in meetings, working with various personalities of co-workers, meeting stressful deadlines, and staring at the computer screen for many hours on end, Joan...

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#122: Author, entrepreneur, Haitian American Sammy Orelien relates his spiritual success story show art #122: Author, entrepreneur, Haitian American Sammy Orelien relates his spiritual success story

Your Spiritual Journey

Dr. Jean-Guilmond Orelien (Sammy) is a visionary leader, public health expert, and entrepreneur who empowers individuals and organizations to achieve transformative growth. As the founder of two pioneering companies—ScitoVation and SciMetrika—he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in business startups, organizational development, and business leadership. Drawing on a deep understanding of science, psychology, and timeless wisdom, he guides others toward unlocking their fullest potential. In Turning Water into Butter, Sammy shares powerful life lessons from his journey,...

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#121 Psychic attorney, medium and author Mark Anthony provides stories from beyond the veil. show art #121 Psychic attorney, medium and author Mark Anthony provides stories from beyond the veil.

Your Spiritual Journey

Mark Anthony, JD Psychic Explorer (Psychic Lawyer®) is a fourth-generation psychic medium who communicates with spirits. He is an Oxford-educated attorney who has tried over 100 jury trials and is licensed in Florida, Washington D.C., and before the US Supreme Court. Mark was named a notable graduate by the Arthur Findlay College of Psychic Science; he is a Spiritual Awakenings International Circle of Honor Honoree and he received the OMMIE Award for Best Psychic Medium in the OMMIE Awards sponsored by OMTimes and iSpirit Media. Anthony is known as "The Psychic Explorer" due to his...

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#120 Mother of 4 including one autistic twin and professional educator Kellie Skweres describes her journey. show art #120 Mother of 4 including one autistic twin and professional educator Kellie Skweres describes her journey.

Your Spiritual Journey

Kellie Skweres, Teacher Support Liaison for Pittsburgh Public Schools, is a member of the district’s Office of Professional Learning. She has served in her current position for over ten years, facilitating and managing New Teacher Induction. In her more than 25 years in Public Education, she has also worked as an Instructional Teacher Leader, Curriculum Coach, Curriculum Writer, Intervention Specialist and classroom teacher for Elementary, Middle, and High School. In addition to her current role, Kellie also works as a Racial Equity Affiliate, providing educators foundational skills to...

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#119 Hypnotherapist and life coach Jana Dean discusses her spiritual journey show art #119 Hypnotherapist and life coach Jana Dean discusses her spiritual journey

Your Spiritual Journey

Jana Dean is a Master Hypnotist and Life Coach. She started her career journey working with athletes on mindset 15 years ago and expanded to hypnosis in 2020.  Hypnosis opened a whole new world for Jana and her clients. By connecting to the subconscious mind, blocks that had been present for years dissolved and clients were able to take their lives to a new level, one that aligns with their true selves.  Jana knows that when people connect to the authentic part of themselves, growth and expansion happen as well as peace. Jana feels in her authentic self through this work, she spent...

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#118 Author, entrepreneur and synchronicity expert Suzanne Kos inspires us with her story. show art #118 Author, entrepreneur and synchronicity expert Suzanne Kos inspires us with her story.

Your Spiritual Journey

The author of "Super Synchronicity: Enter the Frequency of Lucky Chances,"Susi Kos likes to call herself the inventor of free time. This is her highest honor. Before this became her reality and she dove into an endless summer, she diligently completed a business academy, a communication studies degree, and everything else society deems important for career success. The result of that was an action-packed escape from the predetermined "office career." A fulfilling and successful life can also work completely differently! Patience is a virtue she doesn't have – but she has big dreams. That's...

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#117: Reiki energy worker, plant medicine guide and Kambo practitioner, Elisabeth White tells her story. show art #117: Reiki energy worker, plant medicine guide and Kambo practitioner, Elisabeth White tells her story.

Your Spiritual Journey

Elisabeth White's story includes traveling extensively across the United States and to different parts of the world. Her global experiences have opened her heart and mind to many paths for healing, self-reflection, and personal growth. A Reiki energy worker, plant medicine guide, and certified practitioner of Kambo, a frog medicine from the Amazon, she is also the owner of , a conscious consumer decluttering service that helps you repurpose and rediscover new ways to live life with a focus on total mind, body, soul transformation by re-discovering your wardrobe, living space, and learning to...

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#116 Mormon and CMU assistant dean Tad Brinkerhoff takes us on his spiritual journey show art #116 Mormon and CMU assistant dean Tad Brinkerhoff takes us on his spiritual journey

Your Spiritual Journey

C. Tad Brinkerhoff is the Assistant Dean for Masters’ Degree Programs at the Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business and has spent the last 24 years in business school administration at schools like Purdue University and the University of Missouri. Prior to working in higher ed, Tad worked in the corporate world in the automotive and software industries. He earned his bachelor degree in Spanish from Southern Utah University and his MBA from Brigham Young University.  He spent two years in Ecuador and four years in Japan and enjoys international travel and languages. He is...

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In April 2014, Rev. Liddy Barlow became the first woman to be installed as Executive Minister of Christian Associates of Southwest Pennsylvania. She reports to the Council of Bishops and Judicatory Executives, who represent 28 Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox church bodies throughout greater Pittsburgh. As Executive Minister, Rev. Barlow sets a vision for Christian Associates and manages all of the organization's projects and relationships.

​​Rev. Barlow is a key organizer of public worship services and events, including interfaith services after the earthquake in Turkey, the outbreak of war in Ukraine, and standing against bigotry after the demonstrations in Charlottesville, VA. She edits Christian Associates’ publications, including The Call newsletter, The Word in Our Voices series of sermon collections, and worship resources produced in partnership with community organizations.

In the aftermath of the anti-Semitic massacre at Tree of Life Synagogue on October 27, 2018, Rev. Barlow offered a clear voice of compassion and hope, representing the Christian community at numerous interfaith and civic events. With partners of many faith traditions, notably the Center for Loving Kindness and Civic Engagement at the Jewish Community Center, she convened interfaith spiritual leaders from 9 world religions and 24 Christian denominations for the "We Have to Talk" initiative, which continues to promote collegiality and healing.

 Through Christian Associates' ministry of connectedness, Rev. Barlow holds a variety of leadership roles in local organizations, serving as a member of the City of Pittsburgh's Commission on Human Relations, chair of the Allegheny County Emergency Food & Shelter Board, and board member for the Foundation of HOPE. She formerly served as secretary of the Western PA Regional VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters), steering team member for All for All, and board member at Pittsburgh Pastoral Institute. She has been active in the International Association of Women Ministers since 2007, and served as Program Chair for the 2019 Centennial Assembly. In 2015, she traveled to Israel and Palestine in the inaugural journey of Interfaith Partners for Peace.

 Rev. Barlow frequently preaches and speaks at churches and community organizations throughout our region. Her publications include a chapter in the 2022 book Explore: Vocational Discovery in  Ministry, columns in The Christian Century and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and a sermon featured in a Sojourners project.

On June 24, 2019, Rev. Barlow received an Antoinette Brown Award for trailblazing leadership in the United Church of Christ. She was recognized as "40 Under 40" leader by Pittsburgh Magazine. She received a Circle of Courage award from BCC Ministries, a Dialogue Award from the Turkish Cultural Center, and the Volunteer Mitzvah Award from the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh. The Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh recognized her as one of the “Righteous Among the Neighbors.”

Rev. Barlow is ordained in the United Church of Christ, and is a member of the national Manual on Church working group and the state-wide Keystone Working Group. She is the Assistant Moderator of the Penn West Conference Board of Directors. She also served six years as chair of the Pittsburgh Association Committee on Ministry, and was a member of the Habakkuk Group, a national United Church of Christ task force that rewrote the church's Manual on Ministry.

She grew up in Keene, New Hampshire and attended Mount Holyoke College. After teaching sixth grade in Rocky Mount, North Carolina with the Teach for America program, she earned a Master of Divinity degree from Andover Newton Theological School. Prior to her ministry at Christian Associates, Rev. Barlow served congregations in downtown Pittsburgh and North Huntingdon. She lives in Pittsburgh with her husband Gregory, a robotics entrepreneur, and their two children.