The Ripple Effect with Stephanie Romero Ed.D

Episode 46: A Practice of Radical Gratitude

This episode offers a gentle guided practice led by Dr. Stephanie Romero that invites listeners into a state of radical gratitude while honoring the complexities of their emotional landscape. She begins by grounding participants in breath, body awareness, and emotional check-ins before moving into a compassionate RAIN practice to hold difficult feelings with curiosity and care. From there, the guidance shifts toward recognizing even a single point of goodness in one’s life and deepening that sense of appreciation through embodied awareness. Listen in wherever you get your favorite podcasts!

Learn More at www.awakenpittsburgh.org

Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis and Forever and A Day by Kim Aspen (canva.com)

Produced by Say Some Thing Studios, a creative media division of Elevate 1 Consulting.

Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the generosity of our community to achieve our mission of fostering well-being, empathy, and compassion for all. Your support helps mindfulness practitioners reach individuals across the Greater Pittsburgh Area through evidence-based programs, activities, and events. Give Today! www.awakenpittsburgh.org/support

Music: "Chill Mode" by Audiobinger from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.

Episode 45: Bonnie Weiss

This episode of The Ripple Effect Podcast features an insightful conversation between Stephanie Romero and Bonnie Weiss, who shares her personal and professional journey with meditation. Bonnie discusses how discovering meditation in 2011 transformed her life, particularly in coping with trauma and grief following her husband's death. She highlights the role of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in supporting mental and physical health, while emphasizing that meditation isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. The episode also explores the evolution of Bonnie’s work from teaching children to guiding adults, advocating for compassionate, individualized approaches to mindfulness and healing.

Resources Mentioned:

• The book The Body Keeps the Score
• The Bon Buddhist Center Olmo Ling in Pittsburgh

Learn More at www.awakenpittsburgh.org

Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis and Forever and A Day by Kim Aspen (canva.com)

Produced by Say Some Thing Studios, a creative media division of Elevate 1 Consulting.

Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the generosity of our community to achieve our mission of fostering well-being, empathy, and compassion for all. Your support helps mindfulness practitioners reach individuals across the Greater Pittsburgh Area through evidence-based programs, activities, and events. Give Today! www.awakenpittsburgh.org/support

Music: "Chill Mode" by Audiobinger from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.

Episode 44: Dr. Ken Thompson

In this powerful episode, psychiatrist Dr. Kenneth Thompson joins Awaken Pittsburgh’s Executive Director, Stephanie Romero, to explore the deep connections between mindfulness and Integrative Community Therapy (ICT). Together, they reflect on how collective healing, compassion, and community dialogue can complement individual mindfulness practices to build stronger, more resilient communities.

Learn More at www.awakenpittsburgh.org

Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis and Forever and A Day by Kim Aspen (canva.com)

Produced by Say Some Thing Studios, a creative media division of Elevate 1 Consulting.

Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the generosity of our community to achieve our mission of fostering well-being, empathy, and compassion for all. Your support helps mindfulness practitioners reach individuals across the Greater Pittsburgh Area through evidence-based programs, activities, and events. Give Today! www.awakenpittsburgh.org/support

Music: "Chill Mode" by Audiobinger from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.

Episode 43: Lora McKnight

In this heartfelt episode of The Ripple Effect Podcast, Lora McKnight—Vedic meditation teacher, community builder, and COO of Vibrant Pittsburgh—opens up about her personal journey with anxiety, healing, and the transformative power of stillness. She shares how meditation helped her reconnect with herself during motherhood and the pandemic, and how that practice now shapes her approach to leadership and community.

Learn More at www.awakenpittsburgh.org

Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis and Forever and A Day by Kim Aspen (canva.com)

Produced by Say Some Thing Studios, a creative media division of Elevate 1 Consulting.

Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the generosity of our community to achieve our mission of fostering well-being, empathy, and compassion for all. Your support helps mindfulness practitioners reach individuals across the Greater Pittsburgh Area through evidence-based programs, activities, and events.

Give Today! awakenpittsburgh.org/support

Campaign Music:  "Chill Mode" by Audiobinger from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.

Episode 42: Dr. Alice Fox Thompson

In this episode of The Ripple Effect, Dr. Stephanie Romero sits down with Dr. Alice Fox Thompson, co-founder of Visible Hands Collaborative and a psychiatry resident at the University of Texas, Austin. Drawing from her background in political science, community organizing, and medical training, Dr. Thompson shares how an unexpected detour during the pandemic led her to discover Integrative Community Therapy—a grassroots mental health approach rooted in Brazilian practice. Together, Stephanie and Alice explore the intersections of public psychiatry, community care, and the power of collective healing, offering listeners a fresh perspective on building supportive, inclusive spaces in mental health and beyond.

Resources Mentioned in this episode:

• The Visible Hands Collaborative: www.visiblehandscollaborative.org
• DBTselfhelp.com: dbtselfhelp.com
• Book: Girl Interrupted

Learn More at www.awakenpittsburgh.org

Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis and Forever and A Day by Kim Aspen (canva.com)

Produced by Say Some Thing Studios, a creative media division of Elevate 1 Consulting.

Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the generosity of our community to achieve our mission of fostering well-being, empathy, and compassion for all. Your support helps mindfulness practitioners reach individuals across the Greater Pittsburgh Area through evidence-based programs, activities, and events.

Give Today! awakenpittsburgh.org/support

Campaign Music:  "Chill Mode" by Audiobinger from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.

Episode 41: Kathy Flynn-Somerville

In this latest episode of The Ripple Effect, Stephanie Romero sits down with longtime friend and educator Kathy Flynn-Somerville for a heartfelt conversation about purpose, resilience, and mindfulness. Kathy shares how a formative experience as a child led her to a lifelong career in special education and why creating an “equal playing field” for all students became her guiding principle. She also opens up about her early introduction to mindfulness—long before it was a mainstream buzzword—and how that practice has shaped both her personal life and her work in public schools. This episode offers an inspiring look at how compassion, creativity, and meditation can ripple through classrooms and communities alike. 

Resources discussed in this episode:

• CASEL
• Jon Kabat Zinn
• Jack Kornfield
• Tara Brach
• Viktor Frankl - Man's Search for Meaning
• U. Cal. Berkely's Greater Good Center
• Mind & Life 
• Mindful Schools
• Patricia Jennings & Mark Goldberg's research 

Learn More at www.awakenpittsburgh.org

Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis and Forever and A Day by Kim Aspen (canva.com)

Produced by Say Some Thing Studios, a creative media division of Elevate 1 Consulting.

Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the generosity of our community to achieve our mission of fostering well-being, empathy, and compassion for all. Your support helps mindfulness practitioners reach individuals across the Greater Pittsburgh Area through evidence-based programs, activities, and events.

Give Today! awakenpittsburgh.org/support

Campaign Music:  "Chill Mode" by Audiobinger from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.

Episode 40: Christine Tapu

What happens when two lifelong friends and educators sit down to reflect on decades of shared experiences, growth, and purpose? In this heart-opening conversation, Dr. Stephanie Romero and Christine Tapu explore the power of education, resilience, and relationships that stand the test of time.

Christine shares stories from her 30+ year career as a public school and ESL teacher, offering wisdom from inside the classroom and beyond. Together, she and Stephanie discuss how their paths have woven together in unexpected ways, what it means to live a life of service, and how connection ripples through every stage of our journeys. This is more than just a conversation about education. It’s about friendship, purpose, and the kind of impact that lasts long after the lesson ends. Tune in today!

Resources discussed in this episode:

• Suicide Prevention: 988lifeline.org
• JJ McCarthy's Story: https://fortune.com/well/2024/01/09/michigan-quarterback-mccarthy-pregame-meditation-wolverines-victory/
• Timothy Earl Scott's Story: https://centerhealthyminds.org/join-the-movement/hip-hop-for-the-mind
• Create for Education: https://createforeducation.org/care/care-program

 

Learn More at www.awakenpittsburgh.org

Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis and Forever and A Day by Kim Aspen (canva.com)

Produced by Say Some Thing Studios, a creative media division of Elevate 1 Consulting.

Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the generosity of our community to achieve our mission of fostering well-being, empathy, and compassion for all. Your support helps mindfulness practitioners reach individuals across the Greater Pittsburgh Area through evidence-based programs, activities, and events.

Give Today! awakenpittsburgh.org/support

Campaign Music:  "Chill Mode" by Audiobinger from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.

Episode 39: Annamarie Fernyak

In this deeply personal and enlightening episode, host Stephanie Romero welcomes Annamarie Fernyak, a lifelong spiritual seeker, author, and mindfulness teacher, for a powerful conversation about the transformative path of awareness. Annamarie shares how her Catholic upbringing and early exposure to diverse world religions sparked a lifelong journey toward personal growth, curiosity, and spiritual awakening.

Listeners will hear about pivotal moments in her life—from college theology classes that introduced her to Buddhism and Hinduism, to eye-opening experiences in the Landmark Forum and the profound influence of Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now. Together, Stephanie and Annamarie explore how curiosity, critical thinking, and a willingness to question inherited beliefs can lead us toward a more compassionate, present, and authentic way of living.

 

Learn More at www.awakenpittsburgh.org

Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis and Forever and A Day by Kim Aspen (canva.com)

Produced by Say Some Thing Studios, a creative media division of Elevate 1 Consulting.

Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the generosity of our community to achieve our mission of fostering well-being, empathy, and compassion for all. Your support helps mindfulness practitioners reach individuals across the Greater Pittsburgh Area through evidence-based programs, activities, and events.

Give Today! awakenpittsburgh.org/support

Campaign Music:  "Chill Mode" by Audiobinger from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.