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

The Cohere Collective
  • 5.0 (18)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Why are we here? What's the meaning of life? What's the meaning of your life? Exploring these mysteries often results in more questions than you began with. So how do we move forward living meaningful lives? Making Meaning by The Cohere Collective explores this exact question. Every other week, host Reese Brown interviews a new guest about how they have chosen to live their life in a meaningful way. We hope that through these stories you can explore how you have, and can, make meaning in your life. Let's make meaning together. We are so glad you're here!

  1. Be Unapologetically ALIVE: Mental Health, Belonging, & Radical Self-Love with Lydia Shock

    12/16/2025

    Be Unapologetically ALIVE: Mental Health, Belonging, & Radical Self-Love with Lydia Shock

    What happens when you stop shrinking yourself to fit into spaces that were never built for you? Content Warning: 6:03-10:28 and 44:43-46:01 Discussion of self-harm and suicidal ideation In this episode of Making Meaning, Lydia Shock shares her journey through depression, suicidal ideation, self-acceptance, and radical healing, and how learning to take up space quite literally saved her life. Together, we explore: Why being labeled “too much” is often a trauma response to patriarchyHow mental health, identity, and belonging intersect in adolescenceWhy self-love isn’t indulgent, it’s disciplinedTherapy as a lifelong skillset, not a crisis toolFeminism, dating, and why women are done settlingMen’s mental health without excusing harmful behaviorThe power of tribe, chosen family, and asking for helpThis episode is for anyone who’s ever felt, too loud, too emotional, too intense, too much, or somehow never enough; You’re not broken. You’re becoming. A huge thank you to Lydia Shock for her time, energy, and openness during our conversation! Follow Lydia Shock and the Someone Should Know Podcast: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/someone-should-know/id1830132865 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/71YLzhr2I4mKZaYrgDYUN2?si=bdc629aab42e4075 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@someoneshouldknowpodcast https://www.instagram.com/someoneshouldknowpodcast/ https://www.tiktok.com/@someone.should.know.pod 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, Lillian Reese Brown, MA, MCLC

    1h 47m
  2. Let Your Inner Child Lead the Way: Creative Purpose & Politics with Dave Neal

    12/02/2025

    Let Your Inner Child Lead the Way: Creative Purpose & Politics with Dave Neal

    Unleashing your inner child just may be the most radical thing you can do in our current culture. Join host, Reese Brown as she sits down with comedian, creator, and political commentator Dave Neal to discuss his path as a gritty creator, passionate father and husband, and spiritual meaning maker. Neal discusses everything, from inner child work to politics to the deeply human need to live authentically. We start with the moment Dave almost quit everything. Living in Hollywood, getting by with his then girlfriend (now wife), when we lost his job due to the pandemic. A seeming rock bottom allowed Dave to rediscover his spark that changed the trajectory of, not just his career, but his life. A huge thank you to Dave for his time, energy, and vulnerability during this conversation! Follow and Support Dave Neal and The Rush Hour Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/dnealz/ https://www.facebook.com/dnealz https://www.tiktok.com/@dnealz?lang=en https://www.youtube.com/@DaveNealComedian https://www.rushhourwithdave.com https://www.patreon.com/daveneal 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 Dr. Annie Andrews’ Senate Campaign: https://drannieandrews.com - Learn about James Talarico’s Senate Campaign: https://jamestalarico.com - Lady Lazarus by Sylvia Plath: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/49000/lady-lazarus Thank you for being here! Smack, Reese

    1h 23m
  3. How to Become Who You Really Are: Healing the Mother Wound & Reclaiming Your Truth with Diane Sorenson

    11/18/2025

    How to Become Who You Really Are: Healing the Mother Wound & Reclaiming Your Truth with Diane Sorenson

    What happens when the “good girl” grows up, becomes a mother, and realizes the performance is killing her and hurting her family? In today’s episode of Making mMeaning, Reese Brown sits down with Diane Sorensen, former teacher, mother, coach, and host of Chaos to Connection, **to unravel the mother wound, the good girl archetype, and the generational patterns that silently shape our lives. Diane shares the story of how her daughter’s mental health crisis became the unexpected catalyst for her own awakening. Together, they explore: Why perfectionism, people-pleasing, and chronic self-abandonment get passed down through the maternal lineHow “good girl programming” disconnects us from our truth, intuition, and inner knowingThe hidden ways self-harm shows up in thoughts, patterns, and body imageWhy awareness is a practice — not a one-time realizationHow to build healthy boundaries (the real kind, not the Instagram kind)What it means to live a meaningful life you experience, not just surviveAnd the powerful idea that we are “universal energy in individualized form”If you’ve ever struggled with the weight of expectations, the fear of rejection, or the longing to finally live as your authentic self, this conversation will feel like a homecoming. Check out Diane Sorenson’s work and the From Chaos to Connection Podcast! Diane’s Website: https://www.dianesorensen.net From Chaos to Connection: https://open.spotify.com/show/5crEBn4kp3kxqy8dH1PQyW?si=308a5252ecd44627 Follow Diane: https://www.instagram.com/dianesorensen.bb/ 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

    1h 40m
  4. Becoming the Poet in a Godless World: Mid-Season Reflections

    11/04/2025 · BONUS

    Becoming the Poet in a Godless World: Mid-Season Reflections

    What does it mean to make meaning in a world in the midst of radical transition and transformation? This mid-season check-in of Making meaning dives deep into what we should all consider as global citizens, hopeful activists, aware and conscious beings, and meaning makers. Host Reese Brown explores everything from Nietzsche’s “God is dead and we have killed Him” to human design, spiritual community burnout, and the poetic archetype within us all. Through reflections on each episode so far, Reese weaves themes of creation, destruction, coherence, and collective healing and ultimately asks what it means to hold both hope and nihilism. Featuring reflections on creativity, activism, spirituality, philosophy, and the cycles that shape our lives. Keeping listening, questioning, and reflecting and rediscover yourself and what meaning means to you. 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: The Gay Science by Friedrich Nietzsche: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/94578.The_Gay_Science Musings on Uranus Entering Gemini from Anxious-Vacation9850 (https://www.reddit.com/user/Anxious-Vacation9850/) on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/LetsFuckWithAstrology/comments/1ltv3zc/the_full_7_years_system_reboot_with_uranus_in/ The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House by Audre Lorde: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38598541-the-master-s-tools-will-never-dismantle-the-master-s-house Thank you for being here! Smack, Reese

    1h 11m
  5. From Silence to Strength: Reclaiming Your Story Through Strength, Healing, and Faith with Shara Goswick

    10/21/2025

    From Silence to Strength: Reclaiming Your Story Through Strength, Healing, and Faith with Shara Goswick

    From surviving abuse to building a lasting marriage, raising a family, and becoming “Aya” to her grandkids, Shara’s story is one of hope, resilience, and divine redemption. Content Warning: 8:49 - 15:10 Childhood Abuse and Trauma In this deeply moving conversation, join host Reese Brown as she sits down with Shara Goswick to discuss faith in the face of trauma, feeling purpose since birth, and the meaning to be made right in front of us. Shara’s remarkable journey is an entry way into exploring healing from childhood trauma, rediscovering faith, and reclaiming your voice after years of silence. Shara shares how her Christian faith, therapy, and community helped her overcome shame and fear, leading her to chase and create a life of purpose, joy, and connection. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Healing from childhood trauma through therapy and faithReclaiming your voice after years of silenceThe hard but beautiful work of forgivenessFinding your identity in Trust, not fearMarriage, motherhood, and generational healingLiving with purpose and gratitude every dayThe purpose that is all around us, no matter how mundaneA huge thank you to Shara for her time, energy, and vulnerability in this episode! Learn More about Shara and the Life Stories Podcast: https://lifestoriespodcast.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

    1h 23m
  6. How to Talk to the Universe – And Actually Hear Back: Cultivating Your Relationship with The Angels, Spirit, and Self with K. Margaret Solorio

    10/07/2025

    How to Talk to the Universe – And Actually Hear Back: Cultivating Your Relationship with The Angels, Spirit, and Self with K. Margaret Solorio

    What if joy isn’t the goal of life, but the strategy for living? Join host Reese Brown as she sits down with Angel Reiki Master, Host of the Intuitive Wisdom Podcast, and Meaning Maker K. Margaret Solorio for a deeply grounding conversation that explores how to co-create with Spirit, distinguish anxiety from intuition, and raise your vibration through joy and surrender. Reese and K. Margaret also explore mediumship, space-centered Reiki, and how each of us are just Spirit dreaming. This episode of Making Meaning reminds us of the power of deep and connective conversations and that purpose is already within us – we just need to remember who we are and come home to ourselves. A huge thank you to K. Margaret Solorio for her time, energy, and expertise during this episode! Follow K. Margaret: https://www.instagram.com/deliciousease/?hl=en Check out K. Margaret’s work: https://deliciousease.com Read Make Ease Your Vibe: https://deliciousease.com/meyv 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

    1h 33m
  7. Colonization & Ancestral Healing: Why did We Forget to Eat Acorns? with Elspeth Hay

    09/09/2025

    Colonization & Ancestral Healing: Why did We Forget to Eat Acorns? with Elspeth Hay

    In a culture of disconnection, how do we live with Purpose? Our collective hunger for belonging can be directly linked to the violent rupture of place experienced through the human cycle of colonization and displacement. Join host Reese Brown as she sits down with author and Meaning Maker Elspeth Hay to discuss the connection between the trauma of Euro-American history, our connection to trees, and the ability to eat acorns. Together we ask: how can healing begin, and expand — for ourselves, our communities, and the land — and what role does truth-telling play in collective belonging? Listen Now to Learn: - The connection between capitalism, colonization, and agriculture, and why we stopped eating acorns - How the root of belonging begins in place and our connection to the living world - The power of tree-based systems for sustainable agricultural - How our collective stories and myths have always connected us to trees, acorns, and food - How to personally connect with your local community and begin healing ancestral trauma through Truth-telling A huge thank you to Elspeth for her time, energy, and for sharing place during this episode! Read Feed Us with Trees: https://newsociety.com/book/feed-us-with-trees/?aff=65 Learn More about Elspeth’s Work: https://elspethhay.com Follow Elspeth: https://www.instagram.com/elspethhay/?hl=en 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/ References and Resources: Against the Grain by James C. Scott: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/34324534-against-the-grain Thank you for being here! Smack, Reese

    1h 6m
  8. The Innate Power of Breath: Remember and Restore Your Magic with Anthony Abbagnano

    08/26/2025

    The Innate Power of Breath: Remember and Restore Your Magic with Anthony Abbagnano

    Join host Reese Brown as she sits down with Founder of The Alchemy of Breath, Author of Outer Chaos Inner Calm, and Meaning Maker Anthony Abbagnano to discuss the divinity of the breath and how we can use this gift to regulate our nervous system, come back to the present moment, and return home to ourselves. When we engage with the outer world from our inner breath, we learn to see everything as a mirror for our own human experience; what can we learn from our broader world, our inner world, and our inner child to step into presence and more abundantly love one another? That, and so much more in this episode of Making Meaning! A huge thank you to Anthony for his expertise, energy, and time during this episode! Follow Anthony: https://www.instagram.com/alchemyofbreath/ https://www.facebook.com/AOB.Breathwork/ Read Outer Chaos Inner Calm: https://alchemyofbreath.com/outer-chaos-inner-calm/ Learn About Alchemy of Breath and Work with Anthony: https://alchemyofbreath.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

    1h 20m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

Why are we here? What's the meaning of life? What's the meaning of your life? Exploring these mysteries often results in more questions than you began with. So how do we move forward living meaningful lives? Making Meaning by The Cohere Collective explores this exact question. Every other week, host Reese Brown interviews a new guest about how they have chosen to live their life in a meaningful way. We hope that through these stories you can explore how you have, and can, make meaning in your life. Let's make meaning together. We are so glad you're here!

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