Life Lessons From The Autistic Spectrum
Personal Growth, Mindfulness, Motivation and Inspiration: Bump In The Road
Release Date: 06/17/2025
Christine Davies
Personal Growth, Mindfulness, Motivation and Inspiration: Bump In The Road
For behind the scenes cnoversations, subscribe on Christine V. Davies has a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Master of Social Work degree from Rutgers University. With over two decades of experience as a hospital chaplain, pastoral educator, cognitive behavioral therapist and healthcare administrator, Christine offers "spiritual direction" What is spiritual direction? From Christine: Some of my clients are clergy, others would never set foot in a house of worship. It is not about being religious, or even believing in God. It is about getting in...
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What Secrets Do You Keep?
Personal Growth, Mindfulness, Motivation and Inspiration: Bump In The Road
How do our secrets define us? Everyone has a story or two they just don't tell. But Sandra Schnakenburg grew up in a family of secrets. And perhaps the greatest secret was that of her beloved housekeeper, Lee. On Lee's deathbed, she asked Sandra to write her story. Her story? Sandra had no idea what this really meant. But it prompted an investigative journey that uncovered not just Lee's fabricated past but also her family legacy of incredible wealth, poverty, and resilience across numerous generations. This story is about the power of secrets and how they shape our lives. Listen...
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Taoist Psychology
Personal Growth, Mindfulness, Motivation and Inspiration: Bump In The Road
Subscribers can enjoy exclusive, extended conversations from this podcast. To subscribe, go to BumpInTheRoad.Substack.com This is a story about radical transformation. Gerard Wouters brings us into the fascinating world of Taoist therapy. With his revolutionary approach, he focuses on using the present to change our attitudes about the past. Instead of focusing on what cannot be changed (i.e., the past), he encourages people to embrace the present moment and create a new path forward. In this manner, deep seated psychological change can be nearly instantaneous, rather than taking...
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How To Grow Beyond Your Family's Dysfunction
Personal Growth, Mindfulness, Motivation and Inspiration: Bump In The Road
Subscribers can enjoy exclusive, extended conversations from this podcast. To subscribe, go to While I often say that all families are dysfunctional, Michael Swerdloff's family had some pretty serious issues including violence and infidelity which deeply impacted the entire family and for Michael, set the stage for a tumultuous childhood that would shape his understanding of love, relationships, and self-worth. As Michael narrates his experiences, he takes us through the pivotal moments that led to his transformation. From dealing with the trauma of family secrets to facing his own...
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Life Lessons From The Autistic Spectrum
Personal Growth, Mindfulness, Motivation and Inspiration: Bump In The Road
Subscribers can enjoy exclusive, extended conversations from this podcast. To subscribe, go to BumpInTheRoad.Substack.com Artist, educator, nonprofit leader, and author Irma Velasquez is dedicated to living from a place of presence and connection—especially in the face of adversity. Her life’s work is rooted in the ongoing journey of bridging inner and outer divides, often through turbulent terrain. Through the arts and spiritual practices, she has found ways to stay grounded, meet hardship with grace, and transform pain into purpose. Her life lessons are something we can all learn...
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Living With Integrity: Josh McConkey, MD
Personal Growth, Mindfulness, Motivation and Inspiration: Bump In The Road
Subscribers can enjoy exclusive, extended conversations from this podcast. To subscribe, go to BumpInTheRoad.Substack.com Josh McConkey was the first in his family to attend college, breaking a long-standing lineage of railroaders. His passion for medicine led him to a successful career in emergency medicine. As a part-owner of a freestanding emergency department in Georgetown, Texas, Josh initially found success and fulfillment in his work. However, the joy was short-lived when he discovered that the majority shareholder was embezzling funds. Josh was offered a $3.4 million...
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How To Navigate Life
Personal Growth, Mindfulness, Motivation and Inspiration: Bump In The Road
Losing one's parent at 10 years old definitely qualifies as a bump in the road. But Marilyn Robinson has navigated this and other bumps with seeming ease. Her perspective on life is optimistic and take charge. She moves through many life phases as if it were a neighborhood walk. Something is always evolving, changing and blooming. You just have to look for it. From home schooling to a successful career, Marilyn's story is a reminder that change is inevitable, and how we respond to it defines our path. She emphasizes that every challenge presents an opportunity for growth. 'You own your...
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The Healing Journey of a Navy SEAL
Personal Growth, Mindfulness, Motivation and Inspiration: Bump In The Road
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Where Psychology and Spirituality Meet
Personal Growth, Mindfulness, Motivation and Inspiration: Bump In The Road
Where do spirituality and psychology meet? Are they polar opposites or can they complement each other? This conversation touches on the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism, the importance of presence, and the use of meditation for body, mind and soul connection. Ellen talks abut meditation as a vehicle to develop conscious thought which allows one to become an observer of the mind, rather than a prisoner of ruminating, often negative thoughts. Ellen calls the latter the “Critical Witness” (that part of your brain that’s constantly finding flaws in you and your life). As one becomes an...
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When 'No" Is Your Friend
Personal Growth, Mindfulness, Motivation and Inspiration: Bump In The Road
The fear of rejection can hinder our personal and professional growth. Can we learn to see transformative growth in "No"? Andrea Waltz is the author of "," a concept that encourages us to embrace rejection as a stepping stone to success. The crux of the "Go for No" philosophy is simple yet profound: to achieve more 'yeses' in life, we must intentionally increase our failure rate. Andrea explains how this mindset shift can empower individuals to face rejection head-on, rather than allowing it to deter them. By normalizing the experience of hearing 'no,' we can cultivate resilience and...
info_outlineSubscribers can enjoy exclusive, extended conversations from this podcast. To subscribe, go to BumpInTheRoad.Substack.com
Artist, educator, nonprofit leader, and author Irma Velasquez is dedicated to living from a place of presence and connection—especially in the face of adversity. Her life’s work is rooted in the ongoing journey of bridging inner and outer divides, often through turbulent terrain. Through the arts and spiritual practices, she has found ways to stay grounded, meet hardship with grace, and transform pain into purpose. Her life lessons are something we can all learn from.
Irma’s story is one of resilience and renewal. She has faced and navigated barriers in the education, medical and social structures with fierce love and unwavering hope. Her memoir about her autistic child, “Fish Dreams: A Mother’s Journey from Curing Her Son from Autism to Loving Him as He Is“, reveals a deep personal and spiritual transformation—one that moves from fixing to accepting, from struggle to spaciousness.
This episode is for all of us, seeking inspiration in the human journey and some of the life lessons that go with it.
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“This is a beautiful book about life, its imperfections, its challenges, and its joys. It is a book of hope and wisdom for all of us facing a bump in the road.” –Pragito Dove
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souls experiencing pain and yearning for growth.”
–Gary Hensel
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