Grounded on Purpose with Jennifer Duck

22/11/2023

So much to be for in spite of some big losses in my life this month.

I’m so thankful for my students and dear friends who made this full circle moment happen. Our Belmont University students were recently live on Good Morning America and it was such a thrill to show them the behind the scenes magic of TV. It takes a village!

Nearly 20 years ago on this day I was sitting in the ABC News offices wondering if working every holiday in the media world would pay off (it did!).

For everyone hustling over the holidays to bring the world news and stories from all walks of life, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You give so much to keep us informed, and we appreciate you.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

15/11/2023

This is one of my favorite programs at Belmont University. After living and interning in NYC through our Belmont East program, our students have landed full-time jobs at ABC News NBC and so many other media, TV, and film outlets in the Big Apple. Plus, they get to live in this sweet spot all semester (the video below brought back some MTV Cribs vibes!).

Marissa Avnaim Haydn Nash and Abigail Bowen - I'm coming to visit you all soon so we can tour your old stomping grounds in BK, and you can show me your spaces at ABC/NBC!

To my current students who landed spring internships in NYC -- get ready for some fun next semester.

Join us for a guided tour inside an amazing New York City college dorm! This dorm tour gives you an inside look at the EHS building in Brooklyn! To learn mor...

27/06/2023

This episode brings home many of the topics we discussed over the past two seasons. Conflict consultant and award-winning author Michael McRay has traveled to Israel, Palestine, Northern Ireland, and Africa studying conflict and resolution. These experiences inspired Michael to build his own company, “Becoming Restoried,” which uses the power of story to make meaning, heal harm, and repair relationships.

Michael takes us around the world, sharing his personal interviews with people who were deeply divided but came together despite all odds. Michael also opens up about his own journey of finding peace with himself, which inspired his life’s work.

Learn more by listening to the full episode on Spotify or Apple podcasts. We also posted links to Michael’s work, including his TEDx Talk, in our podcast show notes.

Thanks again for listening!

22/02/2023

Have you ever talked with someone who continued to spread information that just isn’t true? I definitely have, and it can be frustrating, especially when it happens on social media.

My frustration reached a peak in 2020 when we were locked down and only communicating online. I searched high and low for ways to confront these disinformation dilemmas. Thankfully I found psychologist and UC Santa Barbara Professor Tania Israel.

Listening to this conversation with Tania again reminded me that reaching across the political divide and finding common ground are skills we need to constantly remind ourselves of and practice often.

Tania’s tips are simple, and speaking from experience, they really do work.

Link in bio to listen to the full episode!

01/02/2023

Happy 80th birthday !

What a gift you are to this world. Thank you for preserving Nashville music and culture. Learning from you and telling your story has been a true honor, and we can’t wait to share it with the world soon.

Cheers to you and all you do!!!

30/01/2023

Here we be CAREFREE 😅

Writers’ retreat in Carefree, AZ was one for the books, literally.

Weekend mantra: Walk, write, restore, review, write, write, write…soak in the views.

A heartfelt birthday cheers to my Aquarian soul sister and our friendship that bloomed more than a decade ago researching, writing, and producing with the amazing Katie Couric

Our book brainstorms this weekend were so fun, and I love that we’ve already plotted the sequel!

Also, big thanks to for clearing our minds and filling our souls with an unforgettable mountaintop yoga session. You gave my “grounded theory” new life—you are a true Arizona treasure.

Doctorate degree, I’m finally coming for you in May! What an illuminating four-year journey it’s been, and I’m beyond grateful to be celebrating another trip around the sun this week ☀️ 💗

11/01/2023

Annnd we’re back with another great VIDEO podcast from Northern Ireland!

Episode three just released, and it’s a treasure with lessons for all of us. Our biggest question discussed throughout the pod: How do you remain calm and cordial with people you disagree with?

It’s a tough topic to tackle, but our guest Sylvia Gordon works with Ireland’s oldest peace and reconciliation organization and provides great insight on how to work through our differences.

Tune in today on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Bonus content at the top for our Spotify viewers: the stunning coastline of Northern Ireland where Sylvia and the Corrymeela team team reside.

As always, thanks for listening and learning with us ❤️

Link to video podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/268Rz60FekyJKJRIGt9SpN?si=ls1dr1fOS2izsUI6tTnvTA

30/12/2022

Reflecting on all I've learned in 2022, it's fitting my top conversation on the pod was with one of my dearest colleagues and friends, and it was edited and produced with one of my dearest friends

I listened to this episode again today, and it made me smile and soak in all of Mary Ellen's wise words on "How to live a good life."

This episode was my very first attempt at solo podcasting, and it made me lean into a lot of vulnerabilities and dismiss the perfectionism that grips tight at times. My two dear friends who made this episode possible also pushed me to stop overthinking and "just record it, Jen!"

I'm thankful for all who listen to the Grounded on Purpose podcast, and I'm especially grateful for all of my incredible guests who took time to join me throughout the year to share their wisdom.

Cheers to more listening and learning in 2023!

21/12/2022

How blessed were we to hear from all of these amazing authors this past year on Grounded on Purpose with Jennifer Duck

So grateful to Marissa R. Moss Author Bonnie Smith Whitehouse .bailie.77 and Richard English for sharing their amazing work.

Bonus book on my list that ties into episode 2 on Lessons from Maya Angelou: “Little Guides to Great Lives: Maya Angelou.” I love reading this with my two girls.

Wishing you all the happiest of holidays ❤️

06/12/2022

What keeps me grounded? Among other things, music.

My favorite teacher to this day is Jane Strata, my high school music/theater/show choir/piano/voice teacher. She trained me to perform everything from Maria in West Side Story to Shania Twain’s “Man, I Feel Like a Woman,” which was quite edgy for our small town at the time ;)

I married a music man, and I love singing every female power tune from Garbage to the Pretenders with his band. Quinn fills me with music knowledge daily and his way with music holds a special key to my heart.

Music also has the power to stop injustice and help end violent conflicts. Growing up in a small town, music was often my window to the outside world and big news events. I love U2, the Cranberries, Thin Lizzy, Van Morrison, and Sinead O’Conner, among others. When I heard their songs, it made me dig deeper into world events.

This month’s episode dives into the power of music from these bands and more, with a specific focus on Northern Ireland and the 30 year conflict that found an end in part through musicians who raised their voices and guitars.

As my guest Stuart Bailie says, "God bless music. It just can take you to places that you're not expecting and can challenge all sorts of given stories."

Listen to my interview with Stuart now on Spotify or Apple Music and look in the podcast show notes for the personally curated playlist from Northern Ireland and beyond.

Special thanks to James Elliot who introduced me to Stuart, to my husband and Jodi Marr Music who helped me with the playlist, and to Molly Seuss who has been my star student helping me with edits! As always, big thanks to Mike Olekshy and J. Lauren who helped me launch this podcast and created our main theme music.

03/11/2022

One of my greatest gifts of 2022 was a life-changing trip to Northern Ireland. I’m forever grateful to the people tagged in this post who made this trip possible.

I was so humbled to learn more about a region that has one of the most prominent peace deals in modern political history. However, this came at a huge cost. My first Season Two guest, Dr. Richard English, was one of many Belfast thought leaders who told me they worry that the U.S. will fall into a similar violent history if we continue to let extreme polarization take over our lives.

Kitchen table conversations have never been more important. As we spend this month giving thanks and gathering with family and friends, I’m hopeful this episode can help us come together a little more.

Thank you as always for listening.

Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grounded-on-purpose/id1590689897?i=1000584745319

Special thanks: Mimi Barnard Wayne Barnard Queen's University Belfast Nichole Ritchie Darrell Gwaltney John Gonas Scott Hawley Heather Daugherty

20/09/2022

Season Two is here, and oh, I can't wait to share all the places I'll go!

This season, I'm taking the pod across the pond to Northern Ireland, a place where common ground felt almost impossible just a few decades ago during the 30-year conflict known as "the Troubles."

Special guests will guide us through the history and introduce us to the music that helped end the Troubles.

I'll also take you on a journey to a sacred place called Corrymeela on Northern Ireland's coast. This peace and reconciliation retreat is known for bringing people together, and it has hosted high-profile peacemakers, including the Dalai Lama.

At a time when the U.S. feels more divided than ever for most of us, I can’t wait to share all I'm learning from these amazing thought-leaders.

Get a sneak peek of my adventures and hear some great Irish tunes by tuning into the Season Two trailer available now on Apple podcasts and Spotify.

Thank you as always for coming along for the ride!

31/08/2022

It was so nice practicing what I've preached and taking a little pause this summer, but I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – getting back into the groove can be a little rough!

We are ending Season One with author and professor Bonnie Smith Whitehouse. This interview is sure to inspire and help you get back on your feet.

Bonnie explains how rituals like walking and finding time to capture your creativity can work wonders for the seasons we’re in. We also dive deep into her new book “Seasons of Wonder,” which comes out this fall.

Thank you all for joining me as I worked through my first season of solo podcasting! Stay tuned for Season Two as we take a life-changing trip to Northern Ireland. I can’t wait to have you along for the ride on these incredible adventures.

*You can find all Grounded on Purpose podcast episodes on Spotify or Apple podcasts. Bonnie's episode is linked below:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7mZnNF27hoLjujKD0qmq2N?si=JwlOCAiMSiKfieorHiyUDg

20/06/2022

Episode update! Listen to an exclusive excerpt of “Her Country: How the Women of Country Music Became the Success They Were Never Supposed to Be” along with our full interview with author on Apple podcasts or Spotify!

The book dives deep into the making of three different country stars all coming up around the same time in Texas - Maren Morris, Mickey Guyton, and Kacey Musgraves. It’s pretty amazing how these three powerful voices grew up within about 100 miles from each other and were on the scene as young girls around the same time. Fun fact: Kacey and Maren paved their way by yodeling, while Mickey found her spirit in her church’s choir.

Despite now being household names, selling out stadiums and performing at the Super Bowl, Maren, Mickey, and Kacey still have to battle a deeply embedded boys’ club, and they’re not alone.

Marissa’s book takes us back through history — from Loretta and Dolly to The Chicks, Shania Twain, Faith Hill, Leann Rhimes, Rissi Palmer as well as Taylor Swift and many other women who faced their fair share of abuse from the deeply ingrained good ol’ boys club. This club includes secret rules like not playing women back-to-back on the radio, which just changed two years ago after mass movements called out the discrimination.

Truth be told, when you turn on country radio today, you still don’t hear a majority of female voices. There’s a reason, and Marissa breaks it down so well in our interview.

As always, thanks for tuning in!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grounded-on-purpose/id1590689897?i=1000567091151

31/05/2022

Episode 7 - speaking from the heart and hoping we can all take more time to listen and act. Thank you for spending these 5 minutes with me.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grounded-on-purpose/id1590689897?i=1000564628901

11/04/2022

Some quick tips from our latest episode for the much-needed digital life balance we are all seeking. Find the full episode on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube!

06/04/2022

Happy hump day, friends! Our new podcast episode is up, and it hits on my purpose of trying to understand why we all keep falling for misinformation online. One of my favorite experts on this is topic is psychologist and Vanderbilt Associate Professor Lisa Fazio. Check out the full episode on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple podcasts!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfCrBUZ9Fa0

Psychologist and Vanderbilt University Associate Professor Lisa Fazio's ground-breaking research on how our brains work when we encounter misinformation and ...