Monday Morning Conversations with Nancy and Dan

Nancy and Dan Loeffler
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Mental Health

Having conversations about difficult subjects like the death of a loved one can be challenging. We are not taught the how or where to begin these. Our program can guide you with pointers as we share our experiences and the stories of our guests.

  1. Aug 4

    136 MMC - The Rhythm of Transformation

    The title track and album explore spiritual survival, resilience, and finding faith through rhythm and art. Rhythm helps humans overcome life's darkness. As we will explore in this episode of Monday Morning Conversations the rhythm of transformation. Healing is not a task you complete. It is a practice you live. Yes, it's been said before: it's not a destination, it's a journey. But in truth, it's more intimate than that. It's a relationship. With yourself. And like any real relationship, it asks for patience. You have to normalize the messy days, the messy life interruptions. The moments where old wounds resurface at inconvenient times. These are not dead ends, they are doorways.

  2. Jul 18

    R135 MMC Sandra Struthers - Healing thru Storytelling

    Sandra Struthers is a playwright, actress, teacher, and theater artist, as well as practicing psychotherapist. While based in Minnesota, Sandra has worked locally, nationally, and internationally on theater projects and storytelling workshops utilizing the arts as a tool for both healing, and for cultivating community connections. Sandra's professional history includes projects with many LORT theaters, schools, and arts organizations including The Moth, and Clowns Without Borders. Sandra's most recent play, Hungry Like the Wolf, premiered this Spring at the History Theater in St. Paul. Join us for a conversation about how telling our story guides our path toward healing.

  3. Jun 24

    133 MMC Michael Citrini

    Chosen, Blessed, Broken, and Served: How Henri Nouwen and The Wailin’ Jennys are Keeping Hope Alive with our guest MICHAEL CITRINI, Guest Bio Michael is a resident of Raleigh, North Carolina, He enjoyed a thirty-three year career in School Counseling within the North Carolina public school system. Throughout his career, Michael primarily served middle and high school students and their families, helping young people navigate academic, social, and personal challenges. Michael also served as an Instructional Specialist with Wake County Public Schools (WCPSS), where he facilitated Restorative Practice Circles for students, faculty, and staff across elementary, middle, and high schools. In addition, he led trainings in the Community Resiliency Model (CRM), a skills-based program designed to help individuals regulate and restore balance to their nervous systems, fostering greater resilience and well-being. Michael earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Wake Forest University and a Master of Education in School Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He later completed a Master of Pastoral Studies degree at Loyola University New Orleans and became a Certified Spiritual Director ten years ago. Michael currently serves on the Spiritual Direction teams at Edenton Street Methodist Church in Raleigh, NC and Saint Francis Springs Prayer Center in Stoneville, NC. In his free time, he enjoys photographing natural landscapes, leading retreats, writing poetry, and volunteering at Saint Francis Springs Prayer Center. Michael has three sisters and is a proud uncle of three nieces, six nephews, two great-nieces, and three great-nephews.

  4. Jun 3

    14 MMC - Aging with Grace

    How do we begin to address the fears, frustrations, and stereotypes that accompany aging. How can we live the fullest life in our advanced years if we haven't yet said good bye, come to terms with our other self? The one who had knees and hips we could count on, the confidence to take off running without wondering if we can do it, checking our balance on uneven surfaces, or being extra vigilant, looking for falling hazards, even if we feel like we still have all of our faculties. What’s not talked about is the grief of accumulated losses, that may bring sadness as memories flood in at unexpected times. Complaining about frailties, things that we never expected, changes to eye sight, our stamina or our ability to gracefully get up from the couch without a groan escaping our throat. When you hear and feel joints that snap crackle and pop when you stretch. Society is always looking for that positive spin on aging. We become addicted to looking young when we have lost that “Younger Generation” feeling.

  5. May 30

    S12 MMC Jess Lucas - Embodied Movement

    Episode 12 Jessie Lucas Jessie Lucas, an expert in the Embodied Movement program, discusses navigating grief with body awareness, listening to body signals for healing, and the importance of kinesthetic intelligence in emotional well-being. The podcast highlights the role of movement in processing emotions and embracing authentic storytelling through movement for personal peace. Encouraging dialogue in difficult conversations fosters personal growth and understanding. Embodied movement aids in processing grief through body awareness and intentional movement patterns. Promoting Understanding Through Respectful Dialogue Creating a safe space for respectful conversations is crucial for promoting understanding. Encouraging dialogue in difficult conversations can offer valuable resources for personal growth and exploring topics like grief. By changing the conversation around grief, individuals can rediscover meaning and joy in their lives. Embodied Movement and Healing Grief Physically Embodied movement, as explained by guest Jesse Lucas, focuses on body awareness and kinesthetic intelligence to reduce stress and empower individuals. Addressing grief physically is essential for moving through the healing process effectively. By incorporating intentional movement and body awareness, individuals can navigate grief consciously. The Connection Between Emotional Response and Physical Movement Kinesthetic intelligence serves as a new form of emotional intelligence, emphasizing the correlation between body awareness and emotional responses. Practicing mindfulness through movement can help individuals trace and understand their body's signals, leading to a deeper understanding of their emotions and physical well-being. Creating Physical Changes for Emotional Growth Engaging in intentional movement patterns can provide new information and awaken the nervous system. By making small changes in movement, individuals can break old patterns, broaden their awareness, and rewire their neural pathways. Encouraging playfulness and exploration in movement can lead to a deeper connection with oneself and enhance emotional growth

  6. May 23

    S44 MMC - Nancy Ruffner Solo Aging

    Our friend Nancy Ruffner joins us to talk about the grief of aging alone or solo aging. Nancy Ruffner is a Patient Advocate, an online consultant for ‘All Things Aging’. She is a dynamic speaker. Nancy earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work (BSW) from Western Carolina University and a Graduate Certificate in Counselor Education (GCCE) from NC State University. Nancy is but one example of the emerging field of Professional Patient Advocacy, and she was among the first in her industry to earn the credential ‘BCPA’, Board Certified Patient Advocate. Nancy’s patient advocacy services has helped hundreds of clients and their loved ones to navigate the medical, legal, insurance, and housing challenges.

  7. May 5

    S131 MMC - Prepare for Death Now - Lynn B. Stone

    Lynn B. Stone is an international author, workshop facilitator, podcast host, and engaging guest speaker who brings warmth, honesty, and practicality to conversations many people avoid—planning for the inevitable. As the author of ’Til Death Do Us Part: A Practical Guide to Preparing for the Inevitable, Lynn helps open the door to meaningful discussions about death planning through the lived experience of widowhood. After navigating the emotional and logistical realities that come with loss, Lynn recognized how unprepared many families are—not because they don’t care, but because they don’t know where to begin. From a widow’s perspective, she reframes death planning as an empowering act of love rather than a fearful topic to be postponed. Her approach blends compassion with clear, practical guidance, helping people feel informed, confident, and in control of their future. Lynn has facilitated impactful workshops and appeared as a guest speaker on podcasts and at in-person events both nationally and internationally. She also created the Resistant Conversation Toolkit, which is intended to guide people through difficult conversations surrounding death planning. At the heart of Lynn’s work is a simple but powerful belief: preparation brings peace. By normalizing conversations around wills, documents, and end-of-life wishes, she empowers families to protect themselves and the people they love—long before it becomes necessary.

  8. Apr 22

    S130 MMC - Autoimmune - Celiac Disease - Annie Toro Lopez

    Living Well with Autoimmune or From Diagnosis to Thriving Annie Toro Lopez is a cookbook author, chronic illness advocate, and inspirational voice in the celiac and autoimmune communities. Her current cookbook, Simply Gluten-Free: Real Ingredients for Everyday Life, reflects her passion for approachable, nourishing recipes that empower people living with chronic conditions to reclaim joy in the kitchen. Annie speaks candidly about navigating health challenges, transforming mindset, and finding strength in community, inspiring audiences to embrace possibility, even in the face of adversity.

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Having conversations about difficult subjects like the death of a loved one can be challenging. We are not taught the how or where to begin these. Our program can guide you with pointers as we share our experiences and the stories of our guests.

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