Magic Thread Media

https://www.linkedin.com/company/create-magic-at-work

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnEm4h3fUgaq8qgvZpz6dGg

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I'm in Vampire Time with Michele Bettencourt Apr 15, 2026

Show notes

Hello Hive!

Happy birthday to me!

It’s April 15th, Income Tax Day, and my mother always told me I was a great return on my birthday.

It’s also World Art Day!

Art nurtures creativity, innovation and cultural diversity for humans around the globe, playing an important role in sharing knowledge and encouraging curiosity and courageous conversations.

And ART is RESISTANCE! What better day to release my next episode, one that celebrates creativity, identity, and the power of artistic expression and storytelling.

Today we are #LIVEintheHIVE with former Silicon Valley Tech CEO, musician, and non-binary trans advocate, Michele Bettencourt - for a courageous conversation on the evolution of IDENTITY.

Easily one of my most favorite conversations. Michele’s willingness to share her provocative story openly, along with her articulate, salty and, intriguing story-telling, kept me rapt, laughing heartily, and deeply moved. I know you will be, too.

With over a thirty-five-year career in Silicon Valley, Michele Bettencourt served as CEO and Director of multiple private and public companies, including Imperva and Coverity. She is the founder of the Michele Bettencourt Foundation which promotes fair employment for transgender individuals.

Michele is a singer/songwriter/musician who, in 2018, dropped her debut album, Vampire Time, which features such esteemed collaborators as Carmine Rojas (David Bowie, Rod Stewart), Steve Ferrone (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), and Russ McKinnon (Barry Manilow, Tower of Power).

Vampire Time examines the paradoxes of contemporary life—how people can feel both connected and distant, certain yet uncertain, and visible yet misunderstood, real human experiences on the edge between ordinary life and moments of transformation.

Life Lessons through these stories:

It’s okay to evolve. Understanding yourself is a journey, not a one-time decision.

Be kind. Respecting and accepting others helps create a more compassionate and inclusive world.

Creative expression can be a powerful way to share truth and process identity.

In Vampire Time, the White House is upside down. In real time, too.

Live by the personal mantra, “My Life. My rules.”

You can usually tell when people are being kind.

Cross dressing is the gateway drug to transitioning.

Be an ambassador.

Believe in accidental journeys.

Become a “meanderthal.”

Parental passing grants permission and release.

What makes a transition “successful” is how you’re treated.

Trans people in bathrooms. Women say the nicest things in bathrooms. Make someone’s day and call them she if that’s what they want. The ripple effect will change humanity.

It’s hard to hate someone up close.

Thank you, Michele.

Remember, the edge is where you come alive.

Find Michele + Vampire Time:

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/michele-bettencourt-and-vampire-time/1831583691

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd9ZrZBQw3QAmC2k1SjKdsg

https://www.samdevorah.org/board

Find Sandra:

SandraBargman.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandrabargman/

https://createmagicatwork.net/meet-the-team

Mentioned in this episode:

This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

Beyond Linear Time: The "Quantum Anchor" Method For Deep Healing with Dr. Aaron Tabacco Apr 07, 2026

Show notes

Time may not be as fixed as we experience it, and the way we relate to it shapes how we heal, remember, and move forward. In this second part of a two-part conversation, Amy continues with returning guest Dr. Aaron Tabacco to explore quantum presence, a perspective that expands awareness beyond the present moment into a more interconnected experience of past, present, and future. Together, they examine how emotionally charged moments become what Aaron describes as quantum anchors, experiences that remain accessible across time through the energy that created them.

As the conversation unfolds, memory, trauma, and emotional awareness are reframed through a more expansive lens, offering a new way to understand both the weight of the past and the possibility of healing. What emerges is a grounded yet powerful insight: we are not as bound to linear time as we believe. With greater awareness, we can intentionally anchor meaningful moments, revisit them, and even allow a future version of ourselves to bring comfort to the present. The result is a deeper sense of agency, connection, and trust in our own unfolding experience.

Moments That Create Momentum:

1. Rethinking What Time Really Is – Explore the idea that time may not be linear and how that shifts perception and awareness.

2. The Concept Of Quantum Presence – Understand how presence can expand beyond the current moment into a broader field of experience.

3. What Quantum Anchors Reveal About Memory – Discover how emotionally charged moments create lasting connections across time.

4. Trauma And The Body’s Experience Of Time – See how PTSD reflects a deeply embodied form of nonlinear time awareness.

5. Emotional Energy As A Bridge Across Time – Learn how emotion activates memory and shapes how moments are accessed and revisited.

6. Creating Intentional Moments Of Meaning – Recognize how awareness allows you to consciously hold onto meaningful experiences.

About the Guest:

Aaron Tabacco, PhD, has spent more than thirty years guiding people through growth and change, often in complex and high-stakes environments. He currently serves as the Director of Staff Experience at a major academic health sciences university. With a background spanning nursing, neuroscience, education, coaching, and mediation, his work centers on helping individuals and organizations navigate identity, connection, and transformation with greater clarity and care.

Known for his grounded presence and compassionate communication, Aaron works with students, clinicians, faculty, executives, and senior leaders across healthcare and other industries. His approach integrates relational depth, reflective practice, and a commitment to creating more humane, integrated ways of working and living. He works in San Francisco, California, and lives in Vancouver, Washington, where he continues a lifelong engagement with writing, music, and the landscapes of the Pacific Northwest alongside his husband and three adult sons.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-tabacco-phd-83359b9/

https://lucusgroup.com/home

https://substack.com/@aarontabacco?r=b5ap9&utm_medium=ios

https://www.youtube.com/@CirclesEdges

About Amy:

Connect with Amy:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/create-magic-at-work

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnEm4h3fUgaq8qgvZpz6dGg

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Trailer | The Edge of Everyday Apr 01, 2026

Show notes

Happy April Fools Day!

April 1st is a day for surprises. Far more than a prank day— The Day of the Fool is a ritual threshold.

What better day to launch The Edge of Everyday podcast on Magic Thread Media?

April Fools’ Day belongs to the archetype of The Fool—the one who steps forward without a map, who trusts curiosity over certainty, and who begins the journey before knowing where it leads. T

The "truth" of the fool is a paradox...

A step into uncertainty
A break from rigid thinking
Permission to see the world differently

The Fool is the only archetype who can move freely between worlds —logic and intuition, ordinary and extraordinary. The Fool is an Edgewalker.

And THAT is exactly what a conversation exploring “the edge of everyday” promises to do. Walk between worlds. It's what we've been doing for over 120 episodes.

I started #TheEdgeofEverydayPodcast in October 2021 at TalkRadio.NYC. I then moved to Buzzsprout in 2024. Shows from TalkRadio.NYC are on my YouTube Channel. All the shows from Buzzsprout are now here on Magic Thread Media.

Hosting this podcast has changed my life immeasurably. It is through hosting that I met Amy Lynn Durham, and because of our spectacular relationship, I've (and The Edge of Everyday) landed at Magic Thread Media.

And I'm so grateful.

So pour a drink with me and let's have toast to creating magic, exploring edges, holding courageous conversations, and celebrating my joy in becoming a part of the Magic Thread Media Team!

Remember...the Edge is where YOU come alive.

Find me:

www.SandraBargman.com

@SandraBargman

https://www.youtube.com/@sandraamazon

#TheEdgeofEveryday #TheEdgeofEverydayPodcast #MagicThreadMedia #LiveInTheHive

Mentioned in this episode:

This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

Empathic Distress, Identity, And The Hidden Cost Of Helping with Dr. Aaron Tabacco Mar 31, 2026

Show notes

There is a tension beneath helping others that most people never question. What feels like empathy can sometimes be driven by something deeper, a need to resolve our own discomfort, stabilize our identity, or feel whole through someone else’s experience.

In this first part of a two-part conversation, Amy reconnects with returning guest Dr. Aaron Tabacco to explore empathic distress, the hidden patterns of fixing, and the concept of “leaky identity.” Together, they unpack how even our most well-intentioned actions can unintentionally center ourselves, reshaping how we understand empathy, leadership, and emotional responsibility. The conversation invites a more grounded, sustainable way of showing up for others without losing ourselves in the process, creating space for clarity, awareness, and a more honest form of connection.

Moments That Create Momentum:

1. The Hidden Cost Of Fixing Others – See how the instinct to help can unintentionally disrupt growth and silence others’ experiences.

2. Understanding Empathic Distress – Learn how emotional overwhelm often reflects internal discomfort rather than external responsibility.

3. What “Leaky Identity” Really Means – Explore how identity becomes dependent on others’ responses and why that creates instability.

4. The Shadow Side Of Being An Empath – Uncover how empathy can become self-serving when it is tied to validation and worth.

5. Why Compassion Is Not The Same As Empathy – Gain clarity on the distinction that allows for presence without depletion.

6. Social Conditioning And The Role Of Caretaking – Recognize how cultural and gender dynamics shape patterns of over-responsibility.

About the Guest:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-tabacco-phd-83359b9/

https://lucusgroup.com/home

https://substack.com/@aarontabacco?r=b5ap9&utm_medium=ios

https://www.youtube.com/@CirclesEdges

About Amy:

Connect with Amy:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/create-magic-at-work

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnEm4h3fUgaq8qgvZpz6dGg

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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The Power And Heartbreak Of Human Connection Mar 26, 2026

Show notes

"What are you waiting for? We’re all in the departure lounge." — Dr. Mark Rittenberg

How do we lead in a world that feels broken? In this pilot episode of The Ballet of Empathy, Dr. Mark Rittenberg invites us to step out of our "comfort zone" and into the "stretch zone" to reclaim what it means to be a human being in leadership.

What unfolds is a reflection on the beauty and rupture of human connection, where love becomes both the foundation and the test of leadership. Through moments of vulnerability, conflict, forgiveness, and truth telling, a deeper invitation emerges to repair what is breaking, to speak when silence feels safer, and to lead through presence, dialogue, and the courage to remain in relationship.

Recorded live at the Berkeley Executive Coaching Institute, this conversation launches a 12-month series exploring the heart of Mark’s life’s work and his upcoming book, Leadership is Love. Mark challenges the "culture of silence" and the "ridiculous" disconnect of our modern era, offering instead a "healing salve" for the workplace.

Facilitated by Amy Lynn Durham, Executive Producer of Magic Thread Media, this episode is a roadmap for those ready to commit the radical act of love in service of something larger than themselves.

The Choreography Of A Connection:

Uncover The Origin Of Leadership As Love – A defining moment reveals how a simple phrase became a lifelong philosophy rooted in human connection.
Explore The Duality Of Connection And Heartbreak – The conversation examines how the same relationships that uplift can also fracture through silence and avoidance.
Reveal The Cost Of Avoiding Difficult Dialogue – A growing pattern of ghosting and disengagement exposes a deeper cultural fear of confrontation.
Examine Courage Within The Danger Zone – Moments of truth-telling illuminate the emotional risk required to move beyond comfort into real transformation.
Illuminate The Healing Power Of Forgiveness And Apology – Leadership is reframed through acts of repair, where dialogue restores what disconnection erodes.

Ready to strengthen the human side of leadership? Explore the Berkeley Institute for Human Connection and discover programs designed to help leaders build trust, communicate authentically, navigate difficult conversations, and create stronger teams.

Learn more at https://bihc.org/

About the Host:

Dr. Mark Rittenberg is a Distinguished Teaching Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley Haas School of Business, specializing in leadership communication and interpersonal dynamics. He is known for helping individuals and organizations develop authentic leadership presence through human connection and dialogue.

With over three decades of global experience, he has worked with Fortune 100 companies, government institutions, and international organizations. He is also the founder of the Berkeley Executive Coaching Institute, where he trains leaders and executive coaches from around the world.

At the heart of his work is a simple but powerful belief: leadership is rooted in love, expressed through presence, dialogue, and the courage to remain in human connection.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-rittenberg-bb90214/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcasts review

Mentioned in this episode:

This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

Origin Stories | 004 Mar 25, 2026

Show notes

There are moments when a stranger’s story feels like a mirror, quietly revealing something we’ve carried for years without naming. In this episode, Aaron invites us into the layered terrain of family origin stories, where identity, belonging, and inherited narratives begin to take shape long before we have language for them. Through a deeply human encounter and a series of gentle questions, the conversation settles into the quiet realization that much of who we believe ourselves to be may not have been chosen at all. As the night unfolds, listeners are asked to sit with the stories they’ve lived, the roles they’ve carried, and the subtle edges where those inherited patterns begin to soften, shift, or ask for release.

Invitations to Consider:

A powerful real-life encounter that opens the doorway into reflecting on human resilience and chosen identity
How family origin stories shape identity, often before we are aware of it
The role of belonging, attachment, and emotional conditioning in early development
The hidden influence of family roles, myths, and power structures on adult life
The possibility of rewriting inherited narratives and choosing new ways of being

Light a Candle With Me

A candle is part of my nighttime recording ritual, which makes Keap Candles a natural partner for Circles|Edges. If you’d like to bring the ritual into your own space, explore Keap through my affiliate link HERE

When you purchase through this link, Circles|Edges receives a modest commission at no additional cost to you, helping support the production of the show.

You are also invited to dive deeper with me and join our circle at https://www.circlesedges.org/

About Aaron:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-tabacco-phd-83359b9/

https://lucusgroup.com/home

https://substack.com/@aarontabacco?r=b5ap9&utm_medium=ios

https://www.youtube.com/@CirclesEdges

Email: aaron@circlesedges.org

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcasts review

This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

The Five Secrets to Effortless Creativity & Innovation with Rachel Efron Mar 24, 2026

Show notes

Creativity is not a talent reserved for a few, it is a resource that determines how fully we engage with our work, our ideas, and our lives. Amy is joined by songwriter, producer, and creativity coach Rachel Efron to explore a powerful shift from seeing creativity as something you either have or lack to understanding it as a relationship that must be resourced and tended. Through the lens of five essential elements—inspiration, courage, discipline, rest, and connection—a new framework unfolds for navigating burnout, problem-solving, and leadership. When one of these resources is depleted, creativity stalls, but when restored, clarity and momentum return naturally. The result is a grounded, actionable way to access innovation that feels less like effort and more like alignment.

Moments That Create Momentum:

1. Creativity as a Root Cause – Reframe common workplace struggles as symptoms of a deeper disconnection from creative energy.

2. The Five Creative Resources – Discover the essential elements that sustain creative flow and where depletion disrupts momentum.

3. Why Rest Fuels Innovation – Understand how lack of rest limits vision and why recovery is a direct path to clarity.

4. Discipline Reimagined – See how creative discipline differs from traditional productivity and requires responsiveness, not rigidity.

5. Courage Over Confidence – Learn why creating despite doubt is more powerful than waiting to feel ready.

6. Solving Problems Through Resourcing – Shift from forcing solutions to identifying what internal resource is missing.

About the Guest:

Rachel Efron is an Oakland-based songwriter/producer. She’s released four full length albums of original songs in her signature jazz-tinged art pop style, and toured extensively on both coasts. She produces song-centered albums for artists ranging from pop to jazz to folk to rock, and has a particular affinity for working with developing artists. She has written songs for artists as diverse as R&B legend Narada Michael Walden and stadium rock band Journey.

In 2011 Rachel became obsessed with helping other artists write songs. She taught Songwriting at The Berkeley Jazzschool for ten years, gave countless talks and workshops for various arts organizations, started Songwriting Salon, an incubator for committed songwriters, and is a premier songwriting coach for artists around the world. In 2022 Rachel recognized the more extraordinary calling of helping artists — and others — access greater creativity in their lives. She developed a comprehensive methodology for creative development and launched the iPhone creativity app, Muzi.

https://www.rachelefron.com/creativity

About Amy:

Connect with Amy:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/create-magic-at-work