Author name: Gissele Taraba

Gissele Taraba has an Masters in Epidemiology from McMaster University as well as an MSW from Laurier University. She is a published author as well as a researcher and co-owner of Maitri Centre for Love and Compassion

Ep. 74-Dignity and Forgiveness at Work with Dr. Jenn Griggs

Podcast, Season 6

Are you struggling at work? Do you wish that workplaces could be more forgiving or more humanizing? Listen to this powerful and moving chat with Dr. Jenn Griggs about ensuring people’s dignity, the importance of authenticity, and the power of forgiveness at work.

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Ep. 73- Getting Under the Skin: Journey from Estrangement to Forgiveness with Vivian Kalvaria

Podcast, Season 6

Listen to this powerful episode with Vivien Kalvaria as we discuss her memoir, My Name is not Rifka. In this chat, we discuss silence, intergenerational trauma, the banality of evil, forgiveness and reconciliation.

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Ep. 72- Healing Division One Rhyme At a Time with the Spiritual Dr. Seuss (aka Scott Grace)

Podcast, Season 6

Tired of red vs. blue? Meet Scott Grace, the Spiritual Dr. Seuss, as we explore how to heal division with humor, heart, and his new book Beyond Red and Blue. Politics, peace, and poetry—this episode has it all, one rhyme at a time!

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Ep.71- Solitary Confinement Wasn’t the End: How Sonny Found His Way Back to Love

Podcast, Season 6

In this deeply moving episode, Sonny Von Cleveland shares his extraordinary journey of survival and transformation from enduring childhood sexual abuse and rape in prison to spending 19 months in solitary confinement. But this is not a story about staying broken, it’s a story about choosing love over hate.
Sonny opens up about the radical act of forgiveness, the power of compassion, and what it truly takes to create a more loving world. We explore healing from trauma, confronting greed and ego, and finding the courage to transform pain into purpose. His message is clear: no matter what we’ve lived through, we all have the power to love.
If you’re searching for hope, healing, or a reason to believe in the human spirit again then this episode is for you.

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Ep.70- Heart Centered Leadership: Compassion at work with Dr. Bruno Cignacco

Podcast, Season 6

Discover how compassion boosts business performance in this powerful podcast episode with Dr. Bruno Cignacco, author of The Art of Compassionate Business. Learn practical strategies to build trust, improve employee wellbeing, and create a more human-centered workplace culture. Ideal for leaders, entrepreneurs, and HR professionals looking to drive success through heart and purpose.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:28:55 — 122.1MB)

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Ep.69- Designing from Within: Mindful Spaces and Sacred Living with Kim Depole

Podcast, Season 6

Discover how to create spaces that support peace, presence, and emotional well-being. In this soulful conversation, interior designer Kim Depole shares how her time with Thich Nhat Hanh and the teachings of mindful living transformed her design philosophy. Learn how to design from the inside out, turning your home or workspace into a sacred, healing environment. Perfect for those interested in mindful interior design, conscious living, and creating intentional, soul-nourishing spaces.

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Ep.68- What Animals Can Teach Us About Love – Penelope Smith on Animal Communication

Podcast, Season 6

What if animals could speak—and we could truly understand them? In this powerful episode of Love and Compassion with Gissele, world-renowned animal communicator and telepath Penelope Smith shares how she discovered the ability to communicate with animals through telepathy—and how this deep interspecies connection can lead to greater compassion, healing, and mutual understanding.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:15:12 — 103.3MB)

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Ep.67- Building a Compassionate Child Welfare System with Peter Mutabazi

Podcast, Season 6

hat does it take to bring real compassion into the child welfare system?

In this heartfelt episode, we talk with Peter Mutabazi—author, advocate, and single Black foster and adoptive father—about his extraordinary journey from surviving life on the streets of Uganda to fostering over 36 children in the U.S. With raw honesty and deep wisdom, Peter shares the joys and challenges of being a foster parent, the unique barriers faced by Black single men in the system, and why love, safety, and belonging must be at the core of how we care for vulnerable children.

This is more than a story—it’s a call to action to reimagine the child welfare system with compassion at its center.

🎧 Tune in for inspiration, insight, and a powerful reminder that one person can truly make a difference.

#FosterCare #ChildWelfare #PeterMutabazi #NowIAmKnown #CompassionateParenting #Adoption #SocialJustice #Podcast

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Ep.66- Love and Leadership: Jeff Ma on Building a Compassion-Driven Workplace

Podcast, Season 6

In today’s evolving workplace, emotional intelligence isn’t optional—it’s essential. In this powerful episode, leadership coach and business strategist Jeff Ma joins us to talk about how love, compassion, and vulnerability are transforming company culture and improving team performance. We explore how to lead with empathy, create a psychologically safe environment, and have honest, difficult conversations at work. You’ll learn how forgiveness, trust, and authenticity can increase employee engagement, reduce burnout, and fuel long-term success. Whether you’re a CEO, manager, or team member, this conversation offers actionable insights for building a more human, high-performing workplace.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 54:26 — 74.7MB)

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Ep.64- Love, Abundance and Living an Authentic Life with Ghary Won

Podcast, Season 6

Do you want to know about the connection between love and money? Do you desire to understand what your passions are and how to live authentically? then listen to this conversation with Ghary D. Won around his experiences with homelessness, how a mindset shift helped him overcome that challenge and how his relationship with abundance changed after a conversation he had with money.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 54:28 — 74.8MB)

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Ep.63- Choosing Love in a Time of Great Division with Scott Stabile

Podcast, Season 6

We are living in a time of great division. Where rights are being eliminated, and people are struggling more than ever finding common ground. Additionally, people seem to be struggling more internally. They are feeling more burnt out. Many spiritual traditions claim that love is the answer. But how? Listen to my chat with Scott Stabile, on the power of love. We will discuss why choosing love is always the better choice and the connection between self-love and love for others. A must listen if you are interested in understanding how love can help us heal.

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Ep.62- The Gift of a Punishment-Free Childhood with Dr. Rebecca Woulfe

Podcast, Season 6

Transcript [00:00:00] Gissele: Hello and welcome to the love and compassion podcast with Gissele. We believe that love and compassion have the power to heal our lives and our worlds. Don’t forget to like, and subscribe for more amazing content. we’re doing an amazing documentary called the courage to love. Focusing on sharing stories of

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