Compass Stories

Welcome to Compass Stories with Veronica Sterling — a podcast about navigating disruption with clarity, connection, and courage. Through honest conversations, storytelling, and reflections from the road, Veronica explores what it means to move forward with purpose during seasons of change. A former hospice CEO, keynote speaker, and creator of The Commitment Compass , Veronica brings listeners into meaningful conversations about resilience, grief, leadership, caregiving, healing, reinvention, and the courage to realign when life feels uncertain. Each week features authentic guest conversations alongside personal travel diary reflections recorded during a cross-country journey in a 42-year-old Airstream motorhome. From national parks to small towns and big cities, these episodes explore the experiences, questions, and moments that shape us most. If you’ve ever felt stuck in transition, burned out, disconnected, or unsure of your next

Compass Stories is a education podcast hosted by Veronica Sterling, with 26 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Veronica Sterling hosts Compass Stories, a education show with 26 episodes published.

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  Episode #13

  The Power of Failure: How to Grow Through Life's Storms

  Aug 10, 202658 minS1

  In this episode, John Kelly shares insights on failure, resilience, and the importance of having tough conversations with others. Discover how embracing failure as a learning tool can transform your life and relationships. Guest Bio: National keynote presenter and law enforcement life coach, Retired Sgt. John Kelly faced several attempts on his life from suspects over his 30 year career in law enforcement. None of these attempts came as close to killing him, as he did to killing himself. "Surviving Self-Inflicted Wounds, A Deputy's Life of Redemption" chronicles his life journey. An alcoholic, addict, and adulterer, confronting PTS, and suicidal ideation, John tears open his life, to provide a roadmap to personal accountability and growth. His “Sometimes Heroes Need Help” Program takes a tactical approach to personal development and team building. John's vulnerability in discussing his failures gives the audience permission to forgive themselves and more importantly the courage and strength to keep getting up, striving to be better today than yesterday. Key Topics The importance of embracing failure as a learning opportunity The role of tough conversations in relationships and growth The myth of bouncing back and the real meaning of resilience The impact of seasons in life and how to navigate them The importance of community and support in overcoming storms The dangers of victim mentality and empowering self-responsibility Sound Bites "Seasons change, and so do we." "Love enough to have tough conversations." "Your story is a never-ending book." Chapters 00:00 Introduction and guest background 03:27 Failure as a moral obligation to share lessons 06:47 The OODA loop: Observe, Orient, Decide, Act 11:42 Training for a triathlon as a metaphor for failure 16:44 The importance of early intervention and tough conversations 25:08 Protecting your peace and setting boundaries 33:38 Seasons of life and personal growth 41:43 The power of community and support systems 49:54 Overcoming victim mentality and taking responsibility 58:33 The simplicity of reaching out and having honest conversations 1:06:43 The significance of presence and human connection 1:07:51 Lessons learned from travel and life experiences 1:16:55 Redefining resilience and moving forward with uncertainty 1:39:59 The ongoing journey of self-improvement and growth [ 1 , 2 ] Resources Connect with John www.lawenforcementlifecoach.com John on LinkedIn John Kelly | LinkedIn John's Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/law-enforcement-life-coach-sometimes-heroes-need-help/id1618348574 Connect with Veronica https://www.veronicasterling.com

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  Compass Stories

  Travel Diary: White Rim Road & How Our Values Guide Us When Life's Trail is Unclear

  Aug 6, 20268 min

  In this final travel diary from the road, Veronica shares the adventure of traversing in the back country of Canyonlands National Park. She shares the 3D Value Check for choosing our core values and aligning our actions to it. Key topics Using adventure as a metaphor for life's journey The importance of defining and displaying core values Making decisions aligned with personal values The concept of a 3D values check Trusting your direction without seeing the entire road Takeaways Your core values should guide all aspects of your life, not just work or family. Visible actions aligned with values indicate you're on the right path. Decisions should be based on alignment with values, even if uncomfortable. Trust the direction of your values, even when the road is unclear. Sound Bites "Where's the road? I can't see the road." "Use your values as your compass." "Decide what to do based on alignment." Chapters 00:00 Exploring the White Rim Road 07:52 Navigating Life's Uncertainties with Core Values Resources: Connect with Veronica https://www.veronicasterling.com

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  Episode #12

  Feel the Fear & Do It Anyway, But First IMAGINE It: Life Lessons from a Trauma Therapist

  Aug 3, 202640 minS1

  In this insightful conversation, Mary Vicario shares her personal journey from education to trauma-informed care, emphasizing the importance of creating safe spaces and understanding behavior as communication. Discover practical strategies for fostering resilience and healing in both children and adults. Guest Bio Mary Vicario, LPCC-S is the Founder of Finding Hope Consulting and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Supervisor, Certified Trauma Specialist who holds a Certificate in Traumatic Studies from Bessel van der Kolk’s Trauma Center at the Justice Resource Institute. Through her affiliation with the Jean Baker Miller Training Institute at Wellesley College and ongoing training at Harvard Medical School, Mary translates Relational-Cultural Theory (RCT) and neuroscience into in-home and community-based trauma programming to build resilience and improve stability for individuals of all ages and ability levels. Sound bites "Limits connected with safety give us felt safety." "Shame makes people feel like they are the mistake." "Resilience is adaptation, not bouncing back." Chapters 00:00 Introduction and guest introduction 01:02 Mary Vicario's background and journey 03:20 Story of Sue and Steve: Building trust and safety 1033:18:52 The importance of saying no before saying yes 17305:32:24 Applying trauma-informed principles in adult life 20333:19:08 Using limits and safety to foster healing 24111:05:50 Creating safe spaces and the significance of safety signs 26916:39:13 The brain's negativity bias and resilience 33416:39:13 Practicing fear and imagining success 36888:52:33 The power of positive prediction and visualization 43388:52:36 Trauma-responsive care and understanding behavior 52916:39:34 The layers of emotion: anger, sadness, fear 60999:59:46 The impact of shame and guilt on behavior 70138:53:12 The message of resilience and healing 83944:26:40 Resources and closing remarks Keywords trauma-informed care, resilience, safe spaces, behavior as communication, healing, education, mental health, neuroscience, connection, safety Resources – Reading List From This Episode Bruce Perry: What Happened to You: Conversations of Trauma, Resilience, and Healing Lou Cozolino: The Neuroscience of Human Relationships: Attachment and the Developing Social Brain Brene Brown: The Gifts of Imperfection Daniel Siegel: Personality and Wholeness in Therapy: Integrating 9 Patterns of Developmental Pathways in Clinical Practice Resources – Mentioned in This Episode Chief Tom Synan on Compass Stories: Watch Full Convo Hear Matthew Gellen on Compass Stories: Watch Full Convo Hear Connect With Mary: Home | Finding Hope Consulting, LLC Connect with Veronica https://www.veronicasterling.com

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  Compass Stories

  Travel Diary: Bryce Canyon, Self Discovery & Realizing Shifting Perspective and Growth

  Jul 30, 202610 min

  Veronica Sterling shares her transformative journey of travel, self-discovery, and how her perspective has evolved through her adventures in Bryce Canyon and beyond. This episode explores the importance of curiosity, reflection, and embracing change in life. Keywords self-discovery, travel, Bryce Canyon, perspective, personal growth, reflection, adventure, life changes, inspiration Key topics Travel as a catalyst for self-discovery The importance of reflection and curiosity The transformative power of nature and landscapes Personal growth through life experiences The role of perspective in understanding ourselves and the world Takeaways Travel can be a powerful tool for self-discovery and understanding. Reflection and curiosity are essential for personal growth. Experiencing nature deeply can change our perspective on life. Building a life around purpose and exploration leads to fulfillment. Change in perspective often comes from immersive experiences, not just observation. Sound bites "Travel stopped being just fun, it became purposeful." "The view is spectacular, but the real change is within me." "Some journeys are made for wonder, not conclusions." Chapters 00:00 The Origin Story of Travel 05:21 Personal Growth Through Exploration Resources Connect with Veronica: https://www.veronicasterling.com

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  Compass Stories

  The Power of Curiosity in Neurodiversity & Inclusion

  Jul 27, 202643 min

  In this episode, Laura Anthony shares her journey from childhood experiences with neurodiversity to her work as a disability lawyer and advocate for neurodiverse workplaces. She discusses the importance of understanding, curiosity, and systemic design in creating inclusive environments that benefit everyone. Laura Anthony is a nationally recognized speaker, disability attorney, and workplace consultant with decades of experience in neurodiversity, inclusive leadership, and dispute resolution. Drawing from her training and roles leading neurodiverse teams, Laura works with leaders who want to transform their workforce and culture through neuroinclusion. She partners with organizations ranging from global brands to local schools, helping them to recognize the different ways people think and communicate and to design systems where those differences spark innovation and growth. Laura has delivered keynotes and led corporate trainings for a variety of audiences, including Fortune 100 companies, government agencies, education institutions and associations representing legal, health care, education, and human resources professionals. Her work has been featured in Forbes and on leading podcasts, reflecting the growing recognition of neurodiversity as a workforce and talent priority. You can learn more about Laura’s work at lauraganthony.com . Keywords neurodiversity, inclusion, leadership, systemic design, curiosity, workplace culture, disability law, neurodiverse workforce Key topics Neurodiversity and systemic design Assumption of the risk and behavior interpretation Creating inclusive environments through systemic ramps The importance of curiosity over assumptions Leadership's role in fostering neuroinclusive cultures Personal stories illustrating neurodiversity in care and work The misconception of neurodivergence as superpowers Expanding the lens on diversity and inclusion Sound bites "Great minds don't think alike" "Ask how they are, not what’s wrong" "Neurodivergence is not a superpower" Chapters 00:00 Introduction and guest background 00:29 Guest's childhood and career path 188:50:50 Living with neurodiversity in the family 48055:32:34 The importance of empathy and authentic connection 139166:39:15 The risks of assumptions in interpreting behavior 200555:32:39 Core concepts: Great minds don't think alike 237777:46:05 Universal systems as ramps for inclusion 276944:26:10 Diversity, inclusion, and expanding the lens 318333:19:33 Applying neurodiversity understanding outside of work 378888:52:56 Personal story of caregiving during COVID 431388:52:57 Lessons from caregiving and making assumptions 550833:19:49 The myth of neurodivergence as a superpower 672499:59:56 Creating environments that support everyone 696111:06:38 How to fix a stubbed toe in relationships 786111:06:40 The importance of valuing differences in systems 812777:46:40 Closing thoughts and appreciation Resources Laura's Website www.lauraganthony.com Laura's LinkedIn Laura G. Anthony | LinkedIn Connect with Veronica https://www.veronicasterling.com Veronica Sterling | LinkedIn

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