About this episode

Karen Olson shares her journey of resilience after losing her mother and suffering a spinal injury, emphasizing the importance of purpose and compassion.

Navigating life after a devastating spinal injury can feel insurmountable, yet it is entirely possible to discover a profound new sense of purpose . In this episode, Irene Weinberg welcomes Karen Olson , founder and CEO emeritus of Family Promise , to explore the beauty of resilience and the power of service. Karen shares her deeply personal journey of transforming the heartbreak of losing her mother at age twelve into a life dedicated to uplifting homeless families. She also discusses her inspiring new book, Meant for More: Following Your Heart and Finding Your Purpose , and how her recent spinal cord injury has deepened her spiritual perspective on compassion. Join us for a heartfelt conversation about how rupture can lead to rebirth, and how each of us can act as a North Star for someone else. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL HEAR ABOUT THINGS LIKE: How childhood loss, specifically the suicide of her mother, created a "hole in the heart" that simultaneously heightened Karen’s sensitivity to the suffering of others. The transformative power of a chance encounter with a homeless woman named Millie in Grand Central Station, which sparked the creation of Family Promise. How Family…

People in this episode

Host: Irene Weinberg

Guest: Karen Olson

Topics covered

• resilience
• loss
• spinal injury
• purpose
• compassion
• homelessness

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Family Promise

Books & works: Meant for More: Following Your Heart and Finding Your Purpose

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