In this latest episode of The Ripple Effect, Stephanie Romero sits down with longtime friend and educator Kathy Flynn-Somerville for a heartfelt conversation about purpose, resilience, and mindfulness. Kathy shares how a formative experience as a child led her to a lifelong career in special education and why creating an “equal playing field” for all students became her guiding principle. She also opens up about her early introduction to mindfulness—long before it was a mainstream buzzword—and how that practice has shaped both her personal life and her work in public schools. This episode offers an inspiring look at how compassion, creativity, and meditation can ripple through classrooms and communities alike.

Resources discussed in this episode:

• CASEL
• Jon Kabat Zinn
• Jack Kornfield
• Tara Brach
• Viktor Frankl - Man's Search for Meaning
• U. Cal. Berkely's Greater Good Center
• Mind & Life
• Mindful Schools
• Patricia Jennings & Mark Goldberg's research

Learn More at www.awakenpittsburgh.org

Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis and Forever and A Day by Kim Aspen (canva.com)

Produced by Say Some Thing Studios, a creative media division of Elevate 1 Consulting.

Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the generosity of our community to achieve our mission of fostering well-being, empathy, and compassion for all. Your support helps mindfulness practitioners reach individuals across the Greater Pittsburgh Area through evidence-based programs, activities, and events.

Give Today! awakenpittsburgh.org/support

Campaign Music: "Chill Mode" by Audiobinger from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.