The Great Connectors

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“The angel seeing us is watching through each other’s eyes.” – Rickie Lee Jones

Isn’t it interesting when others know us well enough that they have great recommendations of who we should meet? In this case, I’m thinking of author, blogger, and retired teacher, Pete Springer and his uncanny ability to suggest connections.

It’s like being a matchmaker of writers, thinkers, and talkers.

So, in this week’s episode of our podcast, Vicki and I talk with Melanie McGauran, someone Pete fixed us up with. Melanie is a former newspaper reporter and has a beautiful blog, Leavingthedooropen.com.

Melanie tells the story of her friend, doctor and educator, Lissa McKinley. As Lissa goes through her own journey of cancer, it informs her abilities as a doctor, teacher, and humanist.

Melanie tells us of her long friendship with Lissa, starting in all-girls preparatory school, and how she drew inspiration from Lissa both in life and in death.

We talk about how writing helps touch others long after we’re gone, especially when we go through similar experiences.

Melanie tells us about how Lissa’s joy and gratitude rippled out — even more so now that she has shared it with us.

We also get to hear about Melanie’s inspiration as a writer and newspaper reporter, starting with the legacy of her grandparents who were well-known artists.

This is a great episode with a fabulous writer about gratitude, empathy, and connecting with others. Through words, actions, and sometimes even tattoos.

[We had some technical difficulties so you don’t see Vicki in this YouTube clip but you will hear her in the full podcast episode.]

So I know you’ll enjoy the scenic and beautiful places we go when we share the power of story.

We know you’ll love it!

Search (and subscribe!) for Sharing the Heart of the Matter on Apple, Amazon, Spotify or Pocket Casts.

And subscribe to our YouTube channel to see a video clip of each story: @SharingtheHeartoftheMatter.

Links for this Episode:

Podcast Friday! Episode 74: Remembering Friends with Melanie McGauran

Melanie’s Blog: Leavingthedooropen.com – Real Storytelling

Saving Lissa – Leavingthedooropen.com by Melanie McGauran – the source post for this episode

A New Me – Leavingthedooropen.com  by Melanie McGauran – a post about getting her tattoo

Vicki’s personal blog: Victoria Ponders

Vicki’s recently released book: Surviving Sue

Wynne’s book about her beloved father: Finding My Father’s Faith

38 thoughts on “The Great Connectors”

  2. Such a treat to visit with you and Melanie, Wynne. And you’re right. Our friend Pete Springer IS a magical connector of people. Thanks to Pete and Melanie for being treasured blogging buds, for sure! 🥰

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Making this podcast episode was special to me. It makes me think about strength and adversity and change and friendship; new and old with Lissa and meeting you and Wynne. You both are crazy good at what you do and I am very grateful to be a new friend and “treasured blogging bud”. Thank you. 🙂 I will share Heart of the Matter soon! Thank you!

      Liked by 2 people

      1. LOL…you are very welcome…and I bet Wynne will agree…. with the extra emphasis on CRAZY good. Wynne’s the best partner in the world…so generous and delightful to work with. I’m a lucky girl to have dear ones around me who are JUST enough crazy to make life fun. Thanks for joining the party, Melanie! 🥰💕🥰

        Liked by 2 people

  5. Hi! I wanted to thank you and Vicki for having me on as a guest and creating an amazingly warm and supportive environment. You are both so easy to talk to! And I love, love that you looped Pete into it. If there is a Top Ten Blogger List out there, he should be on it with his dedication to helping other people connect and sometimes, see things in a new way. And not to mention, he’s hilarious! I love what you both are doing. ♥ Thanks again.

    Liked by 3 people

  6. I’m all about people who know how to bring people together, often without ever taking any credit for it. I cannot tell you how I know who I do online, yet someone introduced me. I look forward to checking out Melanie’s blog.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. It’s so funny because you were the other “great connector” I was thinking about when I wrote this post, Ally! You are SO GOOD at connecting others and making this community stick together better. Thank you for all you do!!

      Liked by 1 person

  8. What an incredible friendship Melanie and Lissa had, and I love how she shares the lessons gleaned from the relationship and the love they shared. Just beautiful. Leave it to Pete to share such a treasure with you and Vicki so we all can learn from Melanie’s experience. Hugs, C

    Liked by 2 people

  9. I just commented on Sharing the Heart of the Matter, but I wanted to follow up here. I’m so happy that you got a chance to talk to Melanie. I noticed her writing talent (3 years ago?) when we became blogging friends. The best compliment I can give her is she always makes me think, and I feel a little bit smarter after reading her posts. How humble do you have to be not to mention in every other breath that you used to write for The New York Times? I also recall that Melanie used to work for Legacy.com. While I’m thrilled to know she is working on a memoir, I think she should also write about her experiences at Legacy.

    I don’t know recall if we first bonded over our moms going through the challenges of aging or through Melanie’s compelling cancer stories. Not to compare my situation to hers because I was the son of a cancer patient and never went through it personally.

    As I said over on the other blog, I’m going to send this video to my goddaughter, a third year medical student.

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Yes Pete! We absolutely bonded over our mothers facing aging issues. Over time, they both developed dementia. I truly appreciated your stories and insight at that time to help ease what I was going through with my mom. I am touched that you want to send the podcast on to your goddaughter; a third-year medical student. Thank you for that. And although I LOVE the idea that I wrote once for The New York Times, I did not. 🙂 I was a feature reporter for the Pioneer Press newspaper group which has maybe 40 editions in the Chicagoland area. My stories could land in 2 or 20 editions depending on their relevance. Thank you, thank you again for all your support and introducing me to Vicki and Wynne.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. I’m glad you corrected me, Melanie. That’s not the reason we’re blogging pals anyway. Regardless, you are a talented writer.

        Liked by 1 person

    2. Pete – that is an amazing compliment to say she always makes you think and feel a little bit smarter. And I can see why. She’s got depth and talent. We are so grateful that you introduced her to Vicki and me! You are a wonderful connector of people, Pete!

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  10. I really enjoyed this interview, Wynne, and you were fantastic in just letting Melanie tell Lissa’s story and she did so in such a compelling way.

    I couldn’t help but think of my late sister and late close friend who both died of cancer in the recent while. It is such an awful illness and to face it with the grace and gratitude that Lissa did takes a truly special kind of fortitude and courage.

    Liked by 2 people

    2. I love what you say about the special kind of fortitude and courage, Ab. And not only for the patient but also for the friends and families near them. Thanks for tuning in and listening to this compelling story!

      Liked by 1 person

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