Practicing Connection

OneOp
  • 4.3 (3)
  • Education
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Improve your resilience and readiness in a rapidly changing world.Jessica Beckendorf and Erin Carlson Rivera host this exploration of personal and collective practices that empower us to work together to help each other, our families, and our communities improve our resilience and readiness.

  1. 3h ago

    The Military-Civilian Divide: Why Transition is More Than Culture Shock. With Dr. Seth Hayden

    Send us Fan Mail Many professionals want to help military families. Few understand the invisible barriers they're navigating. When service members and military families transition to civilian life, they're often told to expect "culture shock." But according to counselor and researcher Dr. Seth Hayden, that phrase doesn't fully capture what's actually happening. In this episode, Jessica Beckendorf and guest co-host Kim Smith explore the military-civilian divide with Dr. Hayden, whose work focuses on the intersection of career development and mental health for service members, veterans, and military families. Together, they discuss: Why military transition is about more than employmentWhat civilian providers often misunderstand about military cultureThe hidden challenges veterans face when translating military experience into civilian opportunitiesHow spouses experience transition differently than service membersWhy career struggles and mental health concerns are often part of the same storyPractical ways professionals can better support military-connected familiesWhether you work with military families or simply want to better understand the transition experience, this conversation offers valuable insights into what it takes to bridge the divide. Dr. Seth Hayden is a professor of counseling and coordinator of the clinical mental health program at Wake Forest University.  His research sits right at the intersection of career development and mental health, with a particular focus on the career and personal development needs of military service members, veterans, and their families, including some recent work specifically on military spouses navigating the transition to civilian life. Links and resources from this episode: SpouseWorks:  https://spouseworks.militaryonesource.mil/portal/Dr. Seth Hayden:  https://counseling.wfu.edu/faculty-staff/dr-seth-hayden/https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-hayden-wfu/Clinical Military Counseling: Guidelines for Practice: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781119783527?__cf_chl_tk=KzKEp3QotoNpCKT8u789ZOz.7I__Ea9bfxdNhM3pztc-1787167104-1.0.1.1-bpa3CFcvdvBE1WDaUs_QgQGyUNbLWa6QWC6waQibXUg https://www.counseling.org/publications/aca-books/view/clinical-military-counseling--guidelines-for-practiceCognitive Information Processing: Career Theory, Research, and Practice: https://publishing.lib.fsu.edu/books-textbooks/cognitive-information-processing-career-theory-research-and-practice/ Integrating Career Development and Mental Health in Counseling: https://www.counseling.org/publications/aca-books/view/integrating-career-development-and-mental-health-in-counseling Connect with us! Sign up for our monthly newsletter: https://oneop.aweb.page/practicing-connection-newsletterJoin our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12879756/ Send us a message: practicingconnection@oneop.org

    The Military-Civilian Divide: Why Transition is More Than Culture Shock. With Dr. Seth Hayden

  2. Aug 27

    Stronger Together: A Change Framework for Community Action. With Tom Mosgaller

    Send us Fan Mail In this conversation with Tom Mosgaller, we unpack a flexible Change Framework designed for communities of any size or location. Tom explains why relationships and taking action together are central, and how aligning desire, vision, power, and action can help us all overcome resistance and move toward a brighter future. Tom Mosgaller is an experienced community builder, teacher, and leader who believes that relationships are the cornerstone of strong, vibrant communities.  Tom has led, taught, and coached community builders in places both big and small, urban and rural, locally and internationally. He’s also co-author of Pulling Together: A Handbook for Community Change and Bending Granite: 30+ True Stories of Leading Change. Links and resources from this episode: Tom on LinkedInhttps://www.pulling-together.com/ On the Importance of Being Unprincipled: https://www.jstor.org/stable/41206444Reveille For a New Generation https://actapublications.com/reveille-for-a-new-generation/ Connect with us! Sign up for our monthly newsletter: https://oneop.aweb.page/practicing-connection-newsletterJoin our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12879756/ Send us a message: practicingconnection@oneop.org

    Stronger Together: A Change Framework for Community Action. With Tom Mosgaller

  3. Aug 20

    Pressure Relief: What Cooperatives Can (and Can't) Do for Child Care. With Kristin Forde Hurckes

    Send us Fan Mail When child care is hard to find and harder to afford, some communities aren't waiting for a fix.  Kristin Forde Hurckes of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension Center for Cooperative explains how cooperative models are helping - and where they hit their limits.  Kristin Forde Hurckes is part of the team of Cooperative Development Specialists at the UW Center who supports worker cooperatives in rural community, with an emphasis on worker cooperative conversions.  She emphasizes the importance of both individual and collective commitment to the significant cultural and organizational change that is required to shift toward democratic and participatory decision making.  Kristin enjoys learning about the many creative ways cooperatives organize and structure themselves; and developing effective formats for group processes. Links and resources from this episode: UW Madison Center for Cooperatives Childcare Cooperative Resources Cooperative Development ServicesICA Group Childcare ResourcesEnergy Capital Cooperative ChildcareNestling HouseConnect with us! Sign up for our monthly newsletter: https://oneop.aweb.page/practicing-connection-newsletterJoin our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12879756/ Send us a message: practicingconnection@oneop.org

    Pressure Relief: What Cooperatives Can (and Can't) Do for Child Care. With Kristin Forde Hurckes

  4. Aug 13

    The Connective Tissue: A Look at Statewide Collaboration to Support Military Families. With Jennifer Holliday

    Send us Fan Mail Many military families don't live near a large installation.  Jennifer Holliday, Alabama's first Military Family Liaison shares what it takes to coordinate support for geographically dispersed families and what any service provider can do to build that connective tissue in their own community. Jennifer Holliday serves as the first Military Family Liaison for the State of Alabama. She is a military spouse with over 21 years of military life experience with her Army husband Doc Holliday, including 7 wartime deployments and 9 PCS moves while raising their three Army BRATS. They now live on the “retiree side,” in Huntsville. Her past military spouse leadership roles centered around Family Readiness Group Leader and Advisor positions, including the 3d SFG(A) Headquarters and 3ID Headquarters. Jennifer was also the Vice President of the Stan the Man Foundation from 2006-2010, helping the organization continue and expand its mission to support military families in need at Fort Bragg. Since moving to Alabama in 2016 for Doc to serve as the Redstone Arsenal Garrison Commander, Jennifer has cultivated an expansive network across the local military spouse, civilian, Federal, and Veteran communities. She has volunteered in a variety of roles across the community and continues to serve as the Communications Director for the Semper Fi Community Task Force. Links and resources from this episode: The Heroes Welcome Initiative websiteHeroes Welcome LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alabama-heroes-welcome-initiativeHeroes Welcome on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlabamaHeroesWelcomeInitiativeJennifer on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferholliday1Connect with us! Sign up for our monthly newsletter: https://oneop.aweb.page/practicing-connection-newsletterJoin our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12879756/ Send us a message: practicingconnection@oneop.org

    The Connective Tissue: A Look at Statewide Collaboration to Support Military Families. With Jennifer Holliday

  5. Aug 6

    When Community Works: Care, Connection, and Collective Resilience. With Julika von Stackleberg, Ph.D.

    Send us Fan Mail Belonging isn’t just a warm feeling - it’s something people build together over time.  In this episode, we’re talking about how communities learn to do that in ways that are genuinely caring, how they keep it going, and what that means for people who have to rebuild their sense of community again and again, including many military-connected families. Jessica and Erin talk with Julika von Stackelberg, a Family and Community Resilience Educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension, whose work sits at the intersection of parenting education, community development, and systems change. Through programs like the Orange County Resilience Project, Julika brings people together to build communities rooted in care, connection, and shared responsibility. Together, they unpack what “belonging” looks like in practice, why the feeling of being cared for can matter even more than visible acts of support, and how communities can sustain that care over time—even when people are constantly coming and going. Whether you work with military families or are simply interested in how stronger, more resilient communities are built, this conversation offers practical insights and thoughtful questions to carry into your own work. Links and resources from this episode: Julika on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julikavstackelberg/Connect with us! Sign up for our monthly newsletter: https://oneop.aweb.page/practicing-connection-newsletterJoin our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12879756/ Send us a message: practicingconnection@oneop.org

    When Community Works: Care, Connection, and Collective Resilience. With Julika von Stackleberg, Ph.D.

  6. Jul 30

    Asking Powerful Questions

    Send us Fan Mail Community engagement, co-creation and collaboration depend on meaningful conversations.  Asking the right question is the most effective way of expanding a conversation, keeping it engaging and making it meaningful. In this replay episode from 2024, Jessica and Bob share a practice to help us engage people in the meaningful conversations we need to have, in order to plan and do our work together. Connect with us! Sign up for our monthly newsletter: https://oneop.aweb.page/practicing-connection-newsletterJoin our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12879756/ Send us a message: practicingconnection@oneop.org

  7. Jul 23

    Finding Your Purpose as a Group, Four Questions That Can Help

    Send us Fan Mail Getting to a shared purpose as a group often requires digging a little deeper than usual.  In this replay episode from 2024, Jessica and Bob talked about the "chaordic stepping stones," a helpful tool for going below the surface with a group, and share four questions that can help groups work toward a clear statement of purpose together. Links and resources from this episode: "You don't have to be local" by Derek Sivers"Keep Going" by Austin KleonConnect with us! Sign up for our monthly newsletter: https://oneop.aweb.page/practicing-connection-newsletterJoin our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12879756/ Send us a message: practicingconnection@oneop.org

    Finding Your Purpose as a Group, Four Questions That Can Help

  8. Jul 16

    How Does a Small North Carolina City Become a National Example of Collaboration Between Military and Community?

    Send us Fan Mail How does a small North Carolina city become a national example of collaboration between military and community?  Mayor Will Lewis says it starts with relationships - and a willingness to show up for one another. In this replay episode from early 2026, Jessica talks with Havelock, North Carolina Mayor Will Lewis about what it looks like when a city and an installation grow together.  As president of Allies for Cherry Point Tomorrow, Mayor Lewis helps connect community, education, and military partners to strengthen opportunities for service members, veterans, and local families alike.  Their conversation explores how collaboration, communication, and long‑term vision can build lasting readiness at every level. Links and resources from this episode: Visit the ACT website: https://alliesforcherrypoint.com/Connect with us! Sign up for our monthly newsletter: https://oneop.aweb.page/practicing-connection-newsletterJoin our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12879756/ Send us a message: practicingconnection@oneop.org

    How Does a Small North Carolina City Become a National Example of Collaboration Between Military and Community?
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4.3
out of 5
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About

Improve your resilience and readiness in a rapidly changing world.Jessica Beckendorf and Erin Carlson Rivera host this exploration of personal and collective practices that empower us to work together to help each other, our families, and our communities improve our resilience and readiness.

Information

  • Creator
    OneOp
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    134
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Practicing Connection
  • Show Website
    Practicing Connection