From the Farm to the Field: A Life of Context, Curiosity, and Connection

In this episode, host Claude-Hélène Mayer sits down with Ronald Chenail for a thoughtful conversation about the experiences that have shaped his life and career. Ron reflects on growing up around a multi-generational dairy farm in Massachusetts and how those early lessons influenced his path into education, scholarship, administration, and family therapy.

Through Claude-Hélène’s questions, Ron shares stories from a career that unfolded organically rather than following a fixed plan. Teaching kindergarten, driving school buses, coaching football, running evening schools, and writing his first computer programs all contributed to how he came to think about people, systems, and the importance of context.

Together, they explore how family therapy reshaped not only Ron’s professional practice but also his understanding of leadership, organizations, and relationships. The conversation touches on narrative and systems thinking, the value of reframing problems, and staying open to new perspectives. The episode closes with Ron reflecting on legacy, meaning, and his hope to create spaces for reflection and healing grounded in land, history, and connection.