The Stories Lived. Stories Told. podcast is nearing the half-way mark of Season 3, and (in true CMMish fashion) we are taking this opportunity to reflect on the past and look forward to the future. With just over 12,500 total downloads across more than 100 episodes, we are thrilled with the growth this podcast has experienced since its emergence in 2022. CMM continues, not only to be a major part of the content of each podcast episode, but also to be embodied in the approach to each conversation. In this way, CMM is both the “how” and the “what,” offering a relatively comprehensive model for “living CMM.”

Stories Lived. Stories Told. has been a testimony to emergence. Abbie’s relationship with the CMMi and the creation of the podcast was only enabled by placing Mystery as the highest-level context by the Stewards of the Institute. As such, Abbie’s approach to her conversations has evolved significantly over the years through a heavy reliance on emergence. In close conversation with Kim Pearce, and a number of Stewards, Abbie has been able to find new and different ways to apply CMM through the medium of a podcast.

Currently, the most-listened-to episode remains the very first episode, published March of 2022, “An Introduction to the Coordinated Management of Meaning Communication Theory” with over 500 downloads. More and more, we are convinced of a need for CMM in the world. Howard Thurman, an American author, philosopher, theologian, Christian mystic, educator, and civil rights leader, is quoted as saying, “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” Well, we also have been asking ourselves, “What does the world need?” and are coming to this same conclusion. Time and time again, it seems that a truly embodied use of CMM—being alive with CMM—brings about greater authenticity, more diverse stories, and better social worlds and this is the greatest way we can serve our fellow humans and our world.

By grouping podcast episodes around themes and creating month-long series, connections, patterns, and ideas have been able to emerge that may not have otherwise without the context of a designated theme. Some of this year’s previous themes have included conversation centered around Art, the Experiences and Stories of Women, Sustainability, and Migration. Upcoming series will address Inclusion, Healing, Conversations with Therapists, and more. If you have not yet listened to Stories Lived. Stories Told., we invite you to take some time to explore the rich library of previous episodes, find a topic that interests you, and join the conversation. Thank you for your continued support and for remaining in dialogue with us in this way. You can use this link to discover all the ways to listen to the podcast; this includes Spotify, Apple Podcasts, the CMMi website, the Stories Lived. Stories Told. website, and more.