Making Meaning: Deep Conversations on Life, Purpose, and The Human Experience

by The Cohere Collective

Finding the Lesson in Every Trigger: You Owe it to Yourself to Heal with Tracy Smaldino

Trauma is something we all experience and are called to integrate and grow through, and no one’s journey exemplifies this strength of the human spirit more than Tracy Smaldino. ****CW: SA, Physical Trauma, Car Accidents A near-death auto accident at 12, group sexual assault at 15, and a lifetime of repression and suppression led Tracy to a moment where she realized it was time to start living life on her terms. From meditation and reflection to MDMA therapy, Tracy has dedicated her life to herself and her healing and now uses her story, authenticity, and compassion to help others feel heard and supported in their own journeys. Tracy embodies what it means to be a survivor, and a true Trauma Rock Star, which also happens to be the name of her podcast! In this episode of the Making Meaning Podcast, hear more about Tracy, her journey, and how she built a life, not defined by her trauma, but defined by her resilience. Learn about Tracy’s Work: https://traumarockstars.com/#about Listen to Trauma Rock Stars: https://traumarockstars.com/ Work with Tracy: https://traumarockstars.com/#offers Follow Tracy: https://www.instagram.com/traumarockstars/ https://www.tiktok.com/@trauma.rock.stars?lang=en https://www.facebook.com/people/Trauma-Rock-Stars/61577768623272/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfF2mjPEQcXMepzlntQmCow Follow The Cohere Collective: https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/ https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollective Learn about The Cohere Collective: www.thecoherecollective.com To support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/support Follow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music: https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/ Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/ https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/ Resources and References: Watch Siobhan Briar Aquilar’s video on The Tell by Amy Griffin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcELZgiSIgY&t=698s Thank you for being here! Smack, Reese

E83

Aug 27, 2026

1:41:28

The Intersection of Grief and Growth: Holding Pain to Create Healing with Angela Clement and Kevin Hughes

It’s difficult to be told, or to tell ourselves, “everything happens for a reason.” Not only can it undermine and invalidate our feelings, it can also unhealthily minimize extremely tragic events and experiences. Conversely, grief is often looked at as a set back in our lives, but what are the ways that grief and other hardships actually support our personal growth and spiritual evolution? There has to be a middle ground between looking at life’s most difficult experiences as purely constructive or solely hurtful, and perhaps the intersection of pain and power can be found in spiritual growth. This intersection where Angela Clement and Kevin Hughes like to work with their clients. Angela lost her husband of 35 years to cancer in 2021, and since then has taken the complex emotions of grief and growth and used them to hold space for others to continue their journeys of spiritual evolution. Kevin grew up a bullied Catholic boy, discouraged from looking deeper into his inner magic, until one day, he was no longer being able to ignore that spark. Now, Kevin and Angela bring their lived experiences into conversation with spiritual awakening and self development to empower their clients to embrace grief, trust their inner voice, and grow through what they go through. Follow Angela and Kevin’s Work: Find Angela’s work and Healing Hearts Sessions: healingenergy.world Read Awakening Through Grief: https://www.healingenergy.world/books Follow Angela: https://www.instagram.com/aclementvm https://www.tiktok.com/@awakenysj https://www.facebook.com/AwakenYSJ/ Find Angela’s Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@Awakenysj Follow Kevin: https://www.facebook.com/Kevinthemedium Follow The Cohere Collective: https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/ https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollective For more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.com To support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/support Follow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music: https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/ Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/ https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/ Thank you for being here! Smack, Reese

E82

Aug 11, 2026

2:03:56

From Half Half Cakes to Whole Lives: Redefining Success and Presence with Jim Sabellico

On his son’s 6th birthday, Jim came home late from work to find half of a birthday cake, presents already opened, and the realization that everything he had been taught and believed about success led him to act in contradiction to who he wanted to be. Throughout his life, Jim worked tirelessly to provide for his family, and though he provided financially, he realized he wasn’t providing the most important aspects of parenthood; patience and time, a strong example of healthy masculinity, and presence with his family. No Half Cakes was born when Jim began to redefine his purpose, and redefine how he lived, and now helps you do the same. A huge thank you to Jim for his time, energy, and presence during our conversation! Learn more about Jim Sabellico: https://nohalfcakes.com/ Follow Jim: https://www.instagram.com/jimsabellico/ Follow No Half Cakes: https://www.instagram.com/nohalfcakes Follow The Cohere Collective: https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/ https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollective For more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.com To support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/support Follow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music: https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/ Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/ https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/ Resources and References: Learn about and read the Bhagavad Gita: https://ocoy.org/read-our-books/introduction-gita-for-awakening/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=756548521&gbraid=0AAAAADNGo5MMRG4uPSl7WJf8HJSQmBAZb&gclid=CjwKCAjwpqHTBhAcEiwAj2AfumU73Wq-EQhpkpcYe_xK4ZGnVAZdxY87F83HyoVjYPJsbgn5ATn88hoCsZIQAvD_BwE Read the Myth of Sisyphus, Albert Camus’ work that touches on Philosophical Suicide: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/91950.The_Myth_of_Sisyphus Thank you for being here! Smack, Reese

E81

Jul 29, 2026

1:43:09

The Sacred Art of Hunting: A Journey of the Land and the Self with Christie Green

Christie Green is the author of Moonlight Elk: One Woman’s Hunt for Food and Freedom published by The University of New Mexico Press (UNMP) in 2024. Christie is a land and water steward, landscape architect, local food activist, educator and hunter which attracts passionate audiences in these fields. She represents a fundamental missing bridge between polarized audiences and cultural extremes. During our conversation, Christie and I discussed the ethics of food consumerism, feminist hunting practices, and ways in which we all can take steps to become more aligned with the natural world. Green’s forthcoming book, Salmon Dreaming: Coming Home to Alaska will be released by UNMP in 2027 and her third book, The New Meridian: Undamming the West will be released by UNMP in 2029. Learn More about Christie Green: https://www.christiegreen.net/ Read Moonlight Elk: https://www.unmpress.com/9780826366726/moonlight-elk/#:~:text=Here, Follow Christie Green: https://www.instagram.com/radiclelandscape/ Follow The Cohere Collective: https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/ https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollective For more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.com To support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/support Follow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music: https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/ Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/ https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/ Thank you for being here! Smack, Reese

E80

Jul 14, 2026

1:45:39

How to Choose Yourself and Create Lifelong Evolution and Balance with Hakeem Bourne Mcfarlane

We’ve all heard, “put your own oxygen mask on first,” and yet, we still all struggle to do so, and to make space for others to do so too. Choosing yourself sounds self-centered. So why does it allow us to step into service and reverence with so much more presence? Hakeem Bourne Mcfarlane is a speaker, coach, and storyteller focused on harnessing his story of resilience, honesty, and accountability to help others recognize their power and choose themselves before life chooses for them. Hakeem isn’t worried about growing pains, questioning authority, or getting real. He confronts life’s challenges with humor, raw truth, and practical frameworks that empower himself and others to be self-centered, in the most Coherent sense of the word! In our conversation, we dive in to Hakeem’s story as an only child living inside addiction, instability, and silence, not from a lack of love, but from parents who were struggling to Choose Themselves. Becoming and older brother at 10 completely changed Hakeem, as did the lessons learned through athletics, but nothing seemed to be able to break him out of the prison of his own mind. Facing five knee surgeries, chronic pain, incarceration, and addiction, Hakeem found the thing that finally saved him: himself. A huge thank you to Hakeem for the time, presence, and energy during this conversation! Learn About the Choose Yourself Community: https://chooseyourself.info/ Follow Hakeem: https://www.instagram.com/bigdreamhakeem/?hl=en https://www.tiktok.com/@bigdreamhakeem Follow the Choose Yourself Community: https://www.instagram.com/chooseyourselfchannel/?hl=en https://www.youtube.com/@ChooseYourselfChannel Follow The Cohere Collective: https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/ https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollective For more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.com To support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/support Follow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music: https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/ Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/ https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/ Thank you for being here! Smack, Reese

E79

Jun 30, 2026

1:41:21

The Power of Musicality in Connection, Transformation, and Meaning with Tigrilla Gardenia

Community has been a pressing need in the zeitgeist. But beyond the desire for human connection, there is a vast world of other-than-humans ready to connect and waiting for us to come home. Tigrilla Gardenia, B.M. M.S., Nature-Inspired Mentor, Certified Life Coach (ICF PCC), and World Ambassador for Plant Advocacy, empowers creative multipotentialites and nature-inspired professionals to confidently live authentic, purpose-driven lives in collaboration with the plant world. Tigrilla’s multifaceted experience allows her to connect with individuals and broad communities to remind us of truths we intuitively connect with and have always known. In our conversation, Tigrilla and I dive into her experience in the music industry, community living in Damanhur – one of the world’s largest spiritual eco-communities – and her intimate connection to the plant world. Now in her work, she uses the depth and breadth of her experience to empower creatives multipotentialities to take action with confidence and become the conscious leaders of their lives. Check Out Tigrilla Gardenia’s Work: https://tigrillagardenia.com/ Work with Tigrilla: https://tigrillagardenia.com/work-with-me-coaching/1to1-mentorship/ Follow Tigrilla: https://www.instagram.com/tigrillagardenia What’s Your Spirit Wild Plant?: https://tigrillagardenia.com/what-s-your-spirit-wild-plant/ Follow The Cohere Collective: https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/ https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollective For more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.com To support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/support Follow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music: https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/ Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/ https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/ Thank you for being here! Smack, Reese

E78

May 19, 2026

2:05:21

Stop Choosing Between Purpose and Security: Pursuing Purpose and Cultivating Vocation

Purpose and practicality rarely seem to work together in today’s world. But what if we could build our lives to support necessity, a baseline feeling of safety and security, and fulfill our deepest needs of fulfillment? It’s these questions of Purpose, passion, and Vocation that we dig into in today’s episode, and continually ask: how can I live more Coherently? A huge thank you to Florian Kemmerich for his time, energy, and expertise during this episode! Check out Florian’s Work: https://on-vocation.com/ Read On Vocation: https://on-vocation.com/books/ Follow The Cohere Collective: https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/ https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollective For more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.com To support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/support Follow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music: https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/ Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/ https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/ Thank you for being here! Smack, Reese

E77

May 5, 2026

1:34:50

Purpose is a Privilege: Creating Financial Freedom to Make Meaning

In a world where meaning is a privilege, how do you create the life of your dreams from a place of safety, security, and empowerment? Pursuing Purpose is a privilege, one that every human being deserves access to, but feels like a rarer and rarer possibility. In our current economic and socio-political world where systemic factors prevent so many from building a life of Purpose, where do we go from here? Of course, we can all use our voices, bring Space to power, and advocate and activate for change; while we get to work creating a life where all individuals have the Coherent right to self-determination, what can we do now to try and create as much financial independence and personal autonomy as possible? It’s these complex questions that we tackle in today’s episode. Learn more about David Nassief: https://onepagewealthcompass.com/ Read One Page Wealth Compass: https://onepagewealthcompass.com/#book Follow The Cohere Collective: https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/ https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollective For more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.com To support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/support Follow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music: https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/ Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/ https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/ Thank you for being here! Smack, Reese

E76

Apr 14, 2026

1:26:49

Unlock Your Soul’s Mission: Building Aligned Movements with Cailen Ascher

The time for your vision is now. So many of us feel the intuitive sense of Purpose seeded deep within us, but what does it look like to actually craft a life in alignment with our soul’s fulfillment? Cailen Ascher’s work is founded on the belief that soul-led women don’t just live their missions – they create movements. And the world needs you and your Purpose. Check Out Cailen Ascher’s Work: Free Training - Discover Your Soul-Led Business Plan: www.CailenAscher.com/shift Website: www.CailenAscher.com https://www.instagram.com/cailen.ascher/ Substack: https://cailenascher.substack.com/ Follow The Cohere Collective: https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/ https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollective For more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.com To support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/support Follow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music: https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/ Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/ https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/ Thank you for being here! Smack, Reese

E75

Mar 31, 2026

1:36:05

Release The Overwhelm of People Pleasing with Radical Self Acceptance with Christina Slaback

It's time to get unstuck! Christina Slaback is a life and business coach who helps people understand why they’re stuck, and what staying there is quietly costing them. With a background in psychology and business and over 15 years of leadership experience, she blends compassion with honest perspective to help clients outgrow patterns that once kept them safe but no longer fit. Her work is about clarity, agency, and intentional change. In this conversation, I sit down with Christina to talk about getting unstuck. As caregivers, we can often struggle with people-pleasing, burnout, and resentment. To become the persion you want to be, you have to first belive you are worthy of what that person deserves. Embracing change isn’t about shame, blame, or guilt, it’s about radical self acceptance and feeling into what brings you joy and alignment. Check Out Christina’s Work: https://christinaslaback.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christinaslaback/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/cslaback?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnig_yENiqe3mWa8ZqtYfXmOZGJoVwTM6kmFijB8nJlZN8Ztk_emjfTy-i5Kg_aem_SEbxXFfv_eUMECEA6RLItg Intentional Reset Framework: https://70ddd865.sibforms.com/serve/MUIFAJS6WNNerIX2UoXApqse6eJxgFMuNOQG9Z_1O5YxwE2NeqDhxefoDWPenKGB6XIu-sQSo0SrJqM1TYK8zMp5PjQGgML0ag6t0HqB0UpExeEdfpBYHkUMrMATE4OvujV83_XDDp81vEcnemfdhAgZ_4gvOoWE0nbM8JNaFrGG3BlwurGAm6d-MiqG5GOqOunSa6ufrl6fIeEd Strategic Alignment Reset: https://calendar.app.google/iypMk5auLhoyNgTJ7 Follow The Cohere Collective: https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/ https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollective For more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.com To support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/support Follow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music: https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/ Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/ https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/ Thank you for being here! Smack, Reese

E74

Mar 17, 2026

1:49:31

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