Sarah Hernholm, the Founder and President of Whatever It Takes (WIT), is our guest today. Through WIT, Sarah supports teens and young adults in using their voices, launching businesses, and creating sustainable impact in their communities. Feeling “sick and tired of being sick and tired,” Sarah came to our retreat site in Connecticut to attend the Process. During the Process, students face the pain of the past and learn to take responsibility for their lives. It’s challenging work. As a writer, podcast host, and three-time TEDx speaker, Sarah is used to speaking honestly and eloquently. While at the Process, she voiced her feelings of wanting to leave. In response, her coach, Drew, suggested she take it one session at a time. Sarah was able to do that and stayed. She’s glad she did. Sarah beautifully expresses that she found it “really overwhelming to take on the history of being yourself and of what that has been.” This is what the Process is about. It is where you learn to face yourself, your past, and your behaviors. And it’s where you discover deep compassion and forgiveness for yourself and others. We’re grateful to her for sharing her experience and insights from her week at the Process. We hope you enjoy this engaging, enlightening conversation with Sarah and Drew. More about Sarah Hernholm: Sarah Hernholm is the Founder and President of Whatever It Takes (WIT). She hosts both the DO WIT podcast and the Just Start podcast. Sarah focuses on creating platforms for teens and young adults to use their voices, launch businesses, and create sustainable impact in their communities. Sarah champions young entrepreneurs committed to innovation and doing “whatever it takes to make the world a better place.” She’s a three-time TEDx speaker, a contributor to FORBES, a Today Show blogger, editor of WIT Magazine, a WSB speaker, and, one of these days, she will finally finish her book “The 11 Tips for Doing WIT.” Follow Sarah (Miss WIT), Doing Wit, and the WIT Podcast. As mentioned in this episode: Hoffman Retreat Site Connecticut – Guest House •   Donate to Guest House Hoffman Tools Gratitude – •   “Focus on the Give, not the Get” •   Gratitude Sandwich – Always focus on something good first, then on what needs improvement, and then close with something good. Hoffman Tool – A Practice of Appreciation and Gratitude Awareness Hell – In awareness hell, we use the intellect to create awareness so the body and Spirit lag behind. In awareness hell, we know we are aware of our patterns and the things we do we wish we didn’t do, but we are still unable to change. We understand but feel stuck in this place of hell even though our awareness keeps expanding.  To get out of awareness hell, our work to grow and transform must include three additional steps for change. These three steps are Expression, Compassion, and New Ways of Being. All four make up the Cycle of Transformation. Tweener – A child who is between the stages of childhood and adolescence. The term “tween” comes from this “in-between” stage 

Megan Lowry, Marine Corps Veteran, Veteran Wellness Specialist, and citizen of the Muscogee Nation is our guest today on the Hoffman Podcast. Megan’s story is one of hope. She held ‘a kernel of hope’ when she came to the Hoffman Process in 2015. As a Native American, Megan wasn’t sure how she would navigate the week of the Process. She shares, “Being Native, there’s things that we do to grieve and things that we never show and never talk about just, culturally, and so just bringing all of that to the Hoffman process, it was intimidating.” Megan served our country in the Marine Corps and then in the Secret Service for President, George W. Bush and First Lady, Barbara Bush. The military was where Megan gained so much, yet it was a place that also caused her great harm. She grew and learned to “adapt and overcome,” but she suffered both sexual and emotional abuse during those years. After leaving the service, she found herself having a difficult time. Then she was fortunate to meet Lee Lesser, founder of Veteran’s PATH. Lee became a mentor to Megan, helping Megan find a path of healing path that included the Hoffman Process. Now a PhD student, Megan continues to heal her significant PTSD while bringing her many skills and wisdom to serve as the commander of the Muscogee Creek Nation women’s honor guard and support Veterans in finding healing and well-being. For her dissertation, Megan intends to highlight the need for a blend of healing modalities, such as talk and recreational therapies, and ties to the community to give you purpose. Megan says, “It’s not just one thing or another, it’s a blend of so many things, of so many pieces to create the human experience.“ Content warning: This episode references sexual assault, emotional trauma, and suicide. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, you can call the US National Suicide Prevention Program at 800-273-8255 or message the crisis text hotline at 741741. If you are a veteran, you can also reach out to the Veterans Crisis Line. More about Megan Lowry: Megan is a Marine Corps Veteran who served as a military police officer and presidential security. She resides in Oklahoma on the Muscogee Creek Nation Reservation with her family, caring for her aging mother and two special needs stepdaughters. Her partner builds hot rods! Megan is also serving as the commander for the Muscogee Creek Nation women’s honor guard, where they are asked to travel the country providing tribal veteran representation for ceremonies. Megan received her sociology degree and her Master’s in Social Work. She is working on her PhD in Psychology while also working full-time as a Veteran Wellness Specialist. She covers the state of Oklahoma for Aetna and is also on the national leadership team for veterans and native resource groups. Megan has 10 dogs, 7 chickens, 2 ducks, a pig named Pumba, and a bunny named Iggy Hop. In her free time, Megan likes to garden, be outside, cycle, and meditate.  As mentioned in this episode: Mvto – “Thank you.” in Muscogee Creek •   More on the Muscogee Creek language Read and watch more about Megan and her life at the University of Tulsa website. Lee Lesser •   Sensory Awareness Retreat •   Veteran’s Path Secret Service, Serving President George W. Bush and First Lady, Barbara Bush •   Interview with Megan about the process of applying to the Secret Service •   Megan received the Marcy Lawless Service Award Marine Corps Military Police •   Military Sexual Trauma PTSD – Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Conex Box Muscogee Creek Nation Reservation Muscogee Creek Nation women’s honor guard Suicide in the Military Veteran’s Mental Health Congresswoman, Jackie Speier Invisible Wounds Documentary Vanessa Guillen Service dog, Therapy dog,  vs. Emotional Support dog PTSD Dysregulation “It’s literally…your ordinary brain trying to cope with an extraordinary situation, and that is human. That is in essence human nature.” Megan Lowry Native Sweat Lodge Wisdom 2.0 Conference Hoffman Process tools and practices mentioned: •   Play and Celebration •   Recycling      

Welcome to Season 10 of the Hoffman Podcast! We’re glad to be back with you and a new season of conversations. Marissa and Raz Ingrasci Marissa Ingrasci and Raz Ingrasci, Hoffman Process teachers, join Drew for this deep dive into the many layers of spiritual lineage running through the Process, and their own journeys to becoming Process teachers. There’s also a familial lineage, as Marissa is Raz’s daughter. Raz and Marissa came to teach the Hoffman Process through the lens of theatre. For Raz, this meant studying classic Greek theater; for Marissa, it meant studying and living the art of acting. In this conversation, they share fascinating ways theatre, in its many forms, illuminates the Process’s inner workings. Within the Hoffman Institute and the Process are layers of spiritual lineage. The spiritual lineage of teaching the Process is passed down as each new teacher takes their seat, teacher to teacher. Bob Hoffman passed the Process lineage down to Raz and Liza, Hoffman’s CEO and President and Raz’s wife when they established the Institute in the United States. Over recent years, Raz and Liza have been working to ensure the lineage continues. Raz and Marissa share a deeper understanding of the spiritual dimension in the design of the Hoffman Process. Marissa highlights the nature of the Hero’s Journey and how the week of the Process is remarkably similar. Raz, who has studied multiple Eastern spiritual traditions, such as Buddhism and Hinduism, highlights how Bob Hoffman brought the Process into being in the West. We don’t have to travel to distant lands to benefit from this spiritual lineage of the Hoffman Process. We hope you enjoy this deep, delightful conversation. More about Marissa Ingrasci: Marissa Ingrasci holds a B.A. from Emerson College. She received her coaching training through the ICF-approved, Academy of Leadership Coaching and is also a certified NLP (Neurolinguistic Programming) coach. Marissa did the Hoffman Process when she was 23 years old. Marissa says, “The Hoffman Process changed my relationship with me, quieting critical voices and allowing me greater access to my inner knowing and wisdom. In short – it gave me freedom! It’s inspiring and a joy to walk alongside and support others doing this work.” More episodes with Marissa: •   Ready to Step Into the Mystery   More about Raz Ingrasci: Marissa, Raz, and Liza Ingrasci Raz Ingrasci graduated from UC Berkeley and has been an executive, consultant, and facilitator within the Human Potential Movement since 1972. He is also a Hoffman teacher and founded the Hoffman Institute Foundation in 1998. Raz took the Process in July 1989. From that experience, he had three major takeaways: “I knew my marriage would last; I could be a great dad to my young children, and I’d found work worthy of devoting my life to.” “The Hoffman Process is the most highly effective method for people to heal, discover their true nature, and live a more free, open, loving, and spontaneous life,” Raz shares. His passion for teaching the Hoffman Process is both professional and personal; it brings him into the depths of human experience where he learns at least as much as he teaches. Raz lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife of over 40 years, Liza. More episodes with Raz: •   Husband, Father, Son •   Hoffman and the Enneagram with Raz and Ward Ashman   As mentioned in this episode: Bob Hoffman, founder of the Hoffman Process Theatre and Performing Arts Greek Theatre •   Greek Mythology •   Greek Tragedy Spiritual Modalities: •   Tibetan Buddhism •   Hinduism Joseph Campbell’s and the Hero’s Journey Quote shared by Raz: “Even the truth, when believed, is a lie. You must experience the truth, not believe it.” Werner Erhard  (Referring to the spiritual truth which can only be known through experience, not through belief.) Gift from Raz to Marissa – Lucite Buddha Hoffman Institute International Jochen Windhausen: Hoffman teacher, Hoffman Affiliate License holder for Germany. Jochen was married to Christiane Windhausen. Jochen was a close friend of Bob Hoffman and a Buddhist practitioner. The Hoffman Process as a 13-week program: In the early ’80s, the Quadrinity Process (as it was known then) was a 13-week, non-residential course. Students would come to class one night a week for 13 weeks. Giles Bateman First Chairman of the Board, Hoffman Institute Foundation (1998 – 2008) Maria Montessori •   Follow the Child Greek God – Dionysus- the destroyer God. Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Sustainer, Shiva the Destroyer Hoffman Process Terminology Embodiment: “Embodiment is the state of being connected to your body and senses. It’s an active process of living life through your body’s experiences.” Read more...  Patterns or Negative Love Patterns: “Negative love patterns” refer to recurring, unhealthy behaviors or dynamics within a romantic relationship that can lead to conflict, dissatisfaction, and ultimately, a breakdown in the partnership; these patterns often stem from past experiences, poor communication, or an imbalance of power, and can include behaviors like constant criticism, emotional manipulation, codependency, stonewalling, and the inability to express needs openly.” Read more…  Spiritual Self: The Spiritual aspect of your Quadrinity A Right Road Human: Someone who chooses from the unconditioned part of oneself rather than from conditioning. BE DO HAVE – the cycle for manifesting spirituality in the world. Quad checks: Participate in Instagram Live Daily Quad-checks and Appreciation & Gratitude Practices with Hoffman teachers and teacher candidates.    

Welcome to our season 9 finale, this generous, vulnerable conversation with Hoffman grad, Kevjorik Jones, and host, Drew Horning. There are many reasons why people come to the Hoffman Process — as many reasons as people who have graduated from the Process. Kevjorik, a self-described consummate student of the human condition, came because he felt he was falling short. He was aware of the powers and opportunities he had. He was aware of the great relationships in his life. And yet, Kevjorik sensed he was falling short of living up to all he sensed he could become. In October 2024, Kevjorik completed his Process at the Guest House, the Hoffman Retreat Site in Chester, CT. Nature and the labyrinth on site provided a lot of healing. Rising early in the morning, Kevjorik would walk the labyrinth. One morning, he entered the labyrinth feeling shame. He emerged feeling connected to his child within. The beauty of this conversation lies in the generous stories Kevjorik shares with us. He offers stories of his childhood, the trauma he experienced, and the courage he found to do the deep work of the Process to heal the pain of his past. We hope you enjoy this moving, enlightening, uplifting conversation with Kevjorik and Drew. Thank you for listening to the Hoffman Podcast. We will be back for season 10 in early 2025. Happy New Year! More about Kevjorik Jones: Kevjorik is a real estate finance professional based in Washington, DC. From a young age, he developed a profound curiosity about the human spirit, the nature of existence, and the pursuit of enlightenment. Raised in a broken home, his adult life has been devoted to understanding the lasting impacts of social suppression—shaped by colonialism, racism, and polarization—on community, family, and personal achievement. During college, Kevjorik founded an organization to teach students entrepreneurial skills while pursuing careers in technology and real estate. Around this time, he discovered a spiritual connection to his African roots when he traveled to Ghana, West Africa. There, Kevjorik deepened his curiosity about the consequences of being uprooted and the maladaptations that emerge from being disconnected from one’s origins through this experience. Today, Kevjorik is focused on village-building as a solution to the challenges posed by the WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic) parenting model, which isolates the individual from the collective whole. He believes that fostering interconnected communities can alleviate these strains. Kevjorik is blessed to have met his soulmate, now his wife of 15 years, just before his trip to Ghana. Together, they have built a loving family of four and a supportive network of like-minded individuals committed to growth, healing, and mutual care. Kevjorik’s relationships have been deeply affected by the legacy of his childhood trauma. This eventually led him to the Hoffman Process. Before embarking on his Hoffman week, Kevjorik’s primary goal was to break free from limiting thoughts and behaviors. Patterns of self-doubt and indecision had kept him from fully embracing life. Kevjorik has integrated tools from the Process into his daily life. He is committed to keeping his heart open, loving deeply, and living in alignment with his true purpose. Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevjorikjones/ As mentioned in this episode: Rancho La Puerta Watsu Healthy Deviant George Floyd and the Summer of 2020 Protests My Grandmother’s Hands, by Dr. Resmaa Menakem •   Epigenetics •   Intergenerational trauma Somatic Therapy Functional Nutrition Tapping World Summit – •   Meridian Tapping The Great Migration Surrogate Parents in the Process: Working with people/groups who were like our parents. In Kevjorik’s case, these were his Grandmother/Aunt and the church. Inner Child / Parenting Attachment Styles Labyrinth Wade in the Water •   Listen to Wade in the Water Hoffman Retreat Site in Chester, CT Ferry across the Connecticut River to Gilette Castle State Park •   William Gilette’s Castle    

Christy Foley is a dynamic connector, life explorer, and philanthropist. She’s also Vice-Chair of the Hoffman Board of Directors. Christy attended the Process two decades ago, just two weeks after her father graduated. The Hoffman Process was the first step in Christy’s spiritual journey. To this day, Hoffman remains one of the three most profound experiences that completely transformed her life. She shares that a transformation happens at the Process that “you can’t go back from.” In doing the work of the Process, we leave our week there with an awareness we didn’t have before. This profound awareness allows us to see situations or patterns more clearly and respond wisely with a more conscious choice. If we get caught in the pattern, we can forgive ourselves, choose again, and move on. After the Process, Christy embarked on a spiritual journey that has taken her to many places, but most importantly deeper into her inner world. She tears up as she talks about living in the presence of the unknown. It’s living from her heart. In her words, it is “where the magic happens.” In this generous conversation, Christy speaks of the trap of our attempts at perfection. As she says, to be human is to be imperfect. There’s a great relief in that. We hope you enjoy this conversation with Christy and Drew. More about Christy Foley: Christy is a dynamic connector, life explorer, and philanthropist. She participates in the global community as an accelerator of ideas and vision and is passionate about our interconnectedness to all life on this planet. With her consulting and philanthropic efforts, Christy supports projects that foster spiritual development, social justice, and community building.  She serves as Vice-Chair of the board of The Hoffman Institute and is a board member of Las Cumbres Ranch Educational Fund. Previous board services include A Sense of Home and Veterans Path.  Christy is also a member of Forward Global. Christy is a marketing, communications, and business development veteran having spent her career immersed in the technology, media, natural food products, and nonprofit industries. She holds a bachelor’s in Industrial Organizational Psychology from Pepperdine University. When Christy is not exploring the world, she spends her time between Santa Barbara, CA, and Bend, OR. Learn more about Christy at TheFoleyConnection.com. Follow Christy on Instagram. As mentioned in this episode: Negative Love Syndrome: Find out more about the Negative Love Syndrome in A Path to Personal Freedom and Love Liza Ingrasci, President and CEO of the Hoffman Institute Raz Ingrasci, Founder of Hoffman International and Hoffman teacher and coach July 2009 Forgiveness Garden White Sulphur Springs •   Fire at White Sulphur Springs •   The Forgiveness Garden at White Sulphur Springs, dedicated to Christy’s Dad, Ted Foley. After the Glass Fire of 2020, the Forgiveness Garden remained despite the destruction of the land around it. Oprah’s Wildest Dreams tour Picadilly Circus Mount Kailash Tanzania Pamela Anderson •   The Last Showgirl Trailer •   Cookbook Joe Dispenza Right Road Visioning at Hoffman Hoffman Q2 Intensive  

Arielle Ford, author, and love and relationship expert, joins Drew for this episode centered on change, truth-telling, and having as much fun as possible. Arielle came to the Hoffman Process in the early ’90s on recommendations from her sister Debbie Ford and her friend Joan Borysenko. Seventeen students were at the Process alongside Arielle. Their Process was held in the Big House at Esalen Institute in Big Sur. Raz Ingrasci was one of their teachers. One of the most powerful takeaways from this conversation is Arielle’s realization of the need to have as much fun as possible. People she meets ask her how she became so happy. As Arielle shares, she learned to be a happy person at Hoffman. As someone who has worked in the personal growth world for decades, working with many well-known experts in the field, Arielle has stories to tell. She shares some fascinating ones in this conversation. Arielle is now in an in-between place with her career. Her life story helps us understand how she has learned to relax in a new unknown place. Arielle shares much life wisdom in this engaging, joyful conversation. We hope you enjoy it. More about Arielle Ford: Arielle Ford is a love and relationship expert and a leading personality in the personal growth and contemporary spirituality movement. For the past 25 years, she has been living, teaching, and promoting consciousness through all forms of media. Her mission is to help people find love, keep love, and most importantly, be love. Arielle is a gifted writer and the author of 11 books including the international bestseller, THE SOULMATE SECRET: Manifest the Love of Your Life With the Law of Attraction. She is also the author of TURN YOUR MATE INTO YOUR SOULMATE: A Practical Guide to Happily Ever After, devoted to exploring a simple, fun, and effective way to attain groundbreaking shifts in perception so that you can embrace and find the beauty and perfection in yourself and your mate. Arielle has been called “The Cupid of Consciousness” and “The Fairy Godmother of Love.” She lives in La Jolla, CA with her husband/soul mate, Brian Hilliard, and their feline friends. Join her newsletter at www.soulmatesecret.com. Discover more at ArielleFord.com. Get her free online dating guide at www.arielleford.com/kiss. Follow Arielle on Instagram and Facebook. As mentioned in this episode: Raz Ingrasci: Founder of Hoffman Institute and Hoffman International, and a Hoffman teacher. •   Listen to Raz Ingrasci on the Hoffman Podcast Liza Ingrasci: CEO and President of the Hoffman Institute. Esalen Institute Quote that Drew shared: “In losing the sense of the unseen, people have come to fear the unknown.” Michael Meade Debbie Ford: The Dark Side of the Light Chasers Deepak Chopra •   The Chopra Center Wayne Dyer Marianne Williamson Louise Hay Joan Borysenko, PhD, Bestselling author, and Hoffman Advisory Council Chair •   Listen to Joan Borysenko on the Hoffman Podcast Jungian Shadow Work JFK University 12-Step Meetings Omega Institute Jimmy Kimmel and Aunt Chippy on YouTube Chemicals released when we laugh: •   Oxytocin •   Dopamine The Four Agreements

Roanne Adams, the visionary founder and Chief Creative Director of RoAndCo Studio, joins the conversation to share her transformative journey through self-care and the Hoffman Process. She discusses how personal growth shapes her entrepreneurial path, emphasizing the importance of aligning personal values with business practices. Roanne also reflects on navigating the emotional turbulence of partnerships and the healing power of vulnerability. Her commitment to serving others through creativity and community shines throughout their inspiring dialogue.

Anna Switzer, PhD, outdoor educator, science educator, and educator of educators, shares her Hoffman Process experience and her deep expertise in partnering with Nature’s innate processes for healing and connection. In 2012, on the recommendation of her medical doctor, Anna came to the Process. Due to the high level of stress Anna was experiencing, her doctor said she should consider doing some emotional work. Within a few months, Anna was at the Hoffman Process. She loved the camaraderie of her Process cohort and remembers many ‘anchor moments’ in her group and alone as she spent time outdoors on the grounds around White Sulphur Springs. Anna’s mission statement is, “Helping heal the human spirit and natural world through facilitation of mutually positive experiences between the two.” The focus of her work is to try to bring herself and others back into “right relationship” with the natural world. Anna shares some practical practices you can use to help heal your relationship with the natural world. We hope you enjoy this rich and healing conversation with Anna and Liz. More about Anna Switzer, PhD: Anna Switzer, PhD is an outdoor educator, science educator, and educator of educators. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Physics, a master’s in Oceanography, and a PhD in Education. Alongside teaching, Anna derives her most consistent inspiration from the outdoors. She has spent thousands of hours exploring diverse landscapes and waterways; including incalculable time with students of all ages. Anna has worked for several prominent organizations including National Geographic Society and Outward Bound. At National Geographic, she was the Program Manager for Outdoor and Experiential Education. She is also certified as a Nature-Connected Life Coach. Anna’s mission relates to helping heal the human spirit and the natural world through the facilitation of mutually positive experiences between the two and creating and utilizing tools for reflection that invite new behavior.  Anna loves sharing life-enhancing ideas, tools, and practices with others. Her first book is License to Learn: Elevating Discomfort in Service of Lifelong Learning (Atmosphere Press, 2021). She is writing a second book now that includes a big portion on the processes of nature connection: a big topic in this interview. Anna is also progressing toward ‘owning’ the artist title; watercolor and mixed media are her favorites, especially as whimsical expressions of her love of the outdoors. You can see her artwork at annaswitzer.com. Follow Anna on Instagram and LinkedIn. As mentioned in this episode: Hoffman tool: Recycling White Sulphur Springs, Hoffman’s old retreat site Current Hoffman Retreat Sites: Hoffman Retreat Center in Petaluma, CA Guest House in Chester, CT Sanctum, Alberta, Canada Speaking about Nature and the Hoffman Process: •   Dr. Dan Siegel on the Hoffman Podcast •   Trecey Chittenden on the Hoffman Podcast Quote shared: “There is more in us than we know if we could be made to see it; perhaps, for the rest of our lives we will be unwilling to settle for less.” ― Kurt Hahn The Natural Intelligence Toolkit by Anna •   Practices: Feel the Pull and Wander With a Question Nature Connection Life Coach

We welcome Lori Raudnask, Operations Manager for Hoffman Institute, Canada, and an international speaker, entrepreneur, and author in her own right, to the Hoffman Podcast. Lori guides Canadian students through their pre-Process journey and oversees Hoffman Process, Canada operations. She has coached, trained, and mentored thousands worldwide and received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.  Lori came to the Process at the suggestion of an acquaintance who had a great experience there. Lori shares how the Hoffman Process was “like a bulldozer going through” her garden, “getting to the root of” her patterns.” It was that life-changing. As operations manager, Lori is all in on supporting students through the journey of the Process working with them to make sure they’re ready. She’s worked for many years with Canadian graduates through groups she named, Continuing Your Journey. Lori held group meetings in her living room, bringing together graduates of the Process, some of whom hadn’t been contacted for more than twenty-five years. Some even drove two hours to get to these monthly meetings. Hoffman USA has called these meetings Hoffman graduate groups. Hoffman Canada now does the same. What drives Lori is the desire to serve people and to help them win big in their lives. We hope you enjoy this delightful and informative conversation with Lori and Drew. If you decide to take the Process in Canada, you’ll meet Lori and be glad you have. More about Lori Raudnask: Lori is an international speaker, entrepreneur, and author who has coached, trained, and mentored thousands worldwide. She has mastered the sales process building a team that generated well over 100 million dollars in direct sales. Lori has launched the careers of hundreds of successful entrepreneurs worldwide. For decades, she has dedicated her life to helping others win big. Lori has produced and hosted the TV, show Persistence Pays, and is the author of Persistence Pays: How getting what you want is easier than you think. She received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and was chosen as Stoney Creek’s Citizen of the Year for her community service.  Lori believes that if we are persistent, we can have anything we want; she does mean everything!  Lori’s ultimate goal is to help people live happy, fulfilled lives and bring out the best in themselves. Her role as Operations Manager for Hoffman Institute, Canada, fulfills that dream. She has been married for 42 years has two children Megan and Kyle and is blessed with four grandchildren. Discover more about Lori and Persistence Pays, here. As mentioned in this episode: Site of the Canadian Hoffman Process: Sanctum Retreat, Canada Caroline, Alberta Calgary, Alberta The Raven River by Sanctum Retreat Peter and Maureen Kolassa, previous owners of the Hoffman Process Canada Grad groups – Canada Grad groups – US Liza Ingrasci: Liza is the CEO of the Hoffman Institute Foundation. She received her BA in Developmental Psychology from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 1974. Throughout her career, she has held executive positions in national seminar companies, where she was responsible for enrollment and alumni participation. She has been with the Hoffman Institute since 1990. Ongoing support for graduates of the Process: US, Canada 1-Day Graduate Refreshers     Toronto, ON: Living Your Vision, November 30, 2024, with Hoffman teachers Barbara Burke and Jamie MacRae. Single Choice Motherhood

Sarah Abrams and Virginia Benson Wigle join host Sharon for this warm-hearted conversation about their friendship, their Process experience, and the non-profit they founded, The Starfish Connection. Virginia attended the Hoffman Process at the urging of her husband, John. Years later, John passed away. Virginia, in turn, passed the Hoffman Process on to Sarah, and then to her new husband. Giving the gift of the Process to someone ready and willing to attend is a profound way to pass along the gifts discovered during the week. The seed for The Starfish Connection came from John’s dying words – “Our story.” The vision for The Starfish Connection, the non-profit Virginia founded, began as storytelling. Now, it focuses on giving gifts to people needing momentary help without expecting anything in return. John’s gift continues to grow with numerous gifts given through Starfish. This conversation begins with what’s possible in a friendship when two people have had powerful transformations in the Process and have come to trust each other profoundly. The way that Sarah and Virginia are there for each other is what gives their friendship such a strong foundation. We hope you enjoy this heartening conversation. Follow The Starfish Connection on Instagram. You can reach The Starfish Connection by email at hello@thestarfishconnection.org. More about Sarah Abrams: Sarah Abrams is a seasoned entrepreneur and has navigated various industries with curiosity and creativity. As the Executive Director of The Starfish Connection, she demonstrates her commitment to fostering community through giving and sharing her love of writing and storytelling.  Her journey as a serial entrepreneur underscores her versatility and passion to create products and services that serve her community. From launching a software startup to creating a floral and event company, and a children’s toy store, Sarah has a history of innovation and adaptability. Her ventures showcase her creativity and her knack for sustainable business practices. More about Virginia Benson Wigle: Virginia Benson Wigle is the founder of The Starfish Connection, the nonprofit organization whose mission is to make a difference, one life at a time by providing crisis funding grants to individuals and families facing sudden financial crises.  Virginia has passionately served in the nonprofit sector throughout Santa Barbara County for over thirty years. Before devoting her work full-time to The Starfish Connection, Virginia spent twenty years at Planned Parenthood of Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo in varying positions from clinic staff to education, and administration. She ultimately served as Vice President of Education before retiring in 2015. She also served two terms on the California State Legislative Committee for Planned Parenthood affiliates in Sacramento. As mentioned in this episode: Planned Parenthood Hoffman Q2 Intensive