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Embark on a journey of self-discovery, health, and wellbeing with The Ripple Effect podcast by Awaken Pittsburgh. Dive deep into the transformative power of mindfulness as we uncover how our guests integrate it into their personal and professional lives, igniting ripples of positive change that resonate far beyond the present moment. Join us as we explore the profound impact of mindfulness practices on our mental health while navigating life’s challenges and fostering inner and outer peace.
Episodes
Tuesday Aug 19, 2025
Tuesday Aug 19, 2025
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.
Tuesday Jul 29, 2025
Tuesday Jul 29, 2025
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.
Tuesday Jul 15, 2025
Tuesday Jul 15, 2025
In this heartfelt episode of The Ripple Effect, Stephanie Romero welcomes Don Brucker, a lifelong public servant whose path to becoming a fire marshal was deeply influenced by family legacy and meaningful community connections. Don shares how early memories with his grandfather and a desire to understand the "why" behind fire scenes sparked a lifelong journey of learning, service, and resilience. Their conversation explores how seemingly small moments create profound ripples across time, impacting careers, values, and relationships. Tune in for a story that honors generational wisdom, purpose-driven work, and the unseen impact we have on one another.
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.
Tuesday Jul 01, 2025
Tuesday Jul 01, 2025
In this deeply moving episode of The Ripple Effect Podcast, host Stephanie Romero sits down with Dr. Lovie Jackson Foster—researcher, educator, and advocate—for an intimate conversation about trauma, healing, and the powerful role mindfulness can play in breaking intergenerational cycles of harm. Dr. Foster shares her personal and professional journey into mindfulness, sparked by a vision to support survivors of sexual abuse—especially those who are or want to become parents. Together, they explore the connection between trauma and relationship-building, the burdens of shame and self-blame, and how healing practices can offer safety, connection, and hope.
Whether you're interested in trauma-informed care, community wellness, or mindful parenting, this episode offers heartfelt insight and inspiration.
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.
Tuesday Jun 17, 2025
Tuesday Jun 17, 2025
In this moving episode of The Ripple Effect Podcast, Stephanie Romero sits down with Helen Stickney—an experienced meditation guide, grief companion, and end-of-life doula—to explore the intersections of mindfulness, mortality, and healing. With over 40 years of meditation practice and a background in both hospice administration and green burial, Helen brings profound insight into how we can meet death, grief, and the unknown with presence and compassion. Listeners will find not only a deeply personal reflection on Helen's early start in meditation but also a tender, empowering invitation to approach life’s hardest moments with courage and care. This is a must-listen for anyone interested in mindful living, conscious dying, and the power of human connection.
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.
Tuesday Jun 03, 2025
Tuesday Jun 03, 2025
In this episode of The Ripple Effect Podcast, Dr. Stephanie Romero speaks with special guest Shawn Meredith about the transformative power of vulnerability, healing, and leadership shaped by lived experience. Shawn shares his powerful journey through childhood trauma, addiction, and incarceration, revealing how these painful experiences ultimately led him to a path of redemption and service. The conversation highlights the role of empathy and storytelling in breaking cycles of shame and fostering connection, especially within systems like education and social services. Dr. Romero emphasizes that true leadership doesn’t come from perfection but from the courage to lead through one's wounds. Together, they invite listeners to reflect on their own stories and consider how healing can become a force for rippling hope and change in the world.
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.
Tuesday May 20, 2025
Tuesday May 20, 2025
In this episode of The Ripple Effect Podcast, Stephanie Romero sits down with Dinnie Goldring—psychotherapist, mindfulness teacher, and former midwife—for a profound conversation about healing, presence, and transformation. They explore the power of embodied awareness, the wisdom gained through life transitions, and how spiritual and emotional growth ripple outward into our communities. Tune in for a calming, insightful dialogue that gently invites you to reconnect with your inner self and the world around you.
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.
Tuesday May 06, 2025
Tuesday May 06, 2025
Join host Stephanie Romero in a heartfelt conversation with artist and activist Sheba Gittens as they explore collective healing, emergent strategy, and the power of dreaming new futures into being. Together, they reflect on community-building, radical imagination, and how vulnerability shapes the movements we long to see. Tune in for an inspiring dialogue that invites you to show up authentically in the work of transformation.
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.
The Ripple Effect
Welcome to The Ripple Effect Podcast with your host, Stephanie Romero, Ed. D. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or new to the concept of mindfulness, this conversation promises to inspire, educate, and perhaps most importantly, encourage you to improve your mental health by incorporating the principles of mindfulness and meditation into your daily routine. Discover how the subtle yet powerful practice of mindfulness can create ripples of change in your life, leading to a more centered, balanced, and fulfilling existence.
Don’t miss this opportunity to embark on a transformative journey with The Ripple Effect Podcast, where every episode is an invitation to explore the depths of your being and unlock the potential within.
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.