Healing begins when we can acknowledge the brokenness and pain in our lives and still see glimpses of beauty in who we are. As we heal, we see more of our strength, our courage, and our gifts. We see hope again.

In this Look to See Me podcast episode, Chris Pepple discusses the times when compromise is helpful and when it’s harmful. Sometimes we build community by compromising on issues, but at other times a compromise would be harmful to us. We can learn to say that we deserve safety and respect in our schools, our homes, and our work environment. We dese…

In this Look to See Me podcast episode, Chris Pepple talks about the relationship between kudzu, religion, and transgender rights. As families battle state legislatures to fight for the rights of transgender youth, we need to stand with them and make sure equality is guaranteed and love wins. #transgenderrights #LGBTQequality #lovewins #mamabearsro…

In this Look to See Me podcast episode, Chris Pepple talks about the joys of celebrating Pride this year and reminisces about the people she met. As we meet people at Pride or at any other place along our journeys, do we take time to listen to the stories of others?

In this Look to See Me podcast episode, Chris Pepple discusses what it means to be an ally for the LGBTQ+ community. #Pride #ally

Happy Pride Month! This Look to See Me podcast episode includes a review of Sara Cunningham’s memoir titled How We Sleep at Night. Sara Cunningham is the founder of the nonprofit organization Free Mom Hugs. Her memoir shares her journey as a mother when her son came out to her. #pride #family #lovewins…

In this Look to See Me podcast episode, Chris Pepple reads a poem from her newly released poetry book and discusses her personal healing journey. She also discusses the beauty in claiming our own identities and not letting others define us. #healing #personalgrowth #LGBTQ+ #poetry

This Look to See Me podcast episode discusses the idea of being a visionary who can picture what freedom for all looks like rather than a person who works to take away the freedom of others. #equality #equalrightsforall

This Look to See Me podcast episode examines ways we can protect transgender children from the misinformation surrounding who they are and from the many laws being passed in the United States revoking the rights of transgender children and their families.

A reading of my poem "Dreamer of Dreams" read during a worship service of remembrance on Words Aids Day in honor of my family member who died of AIDS in 1993. You are remembered forever.

Bonus poetry reading of a 2021 poem used in a public reading through an online community program.

In this Look to See Me podcast episode, Chris Pepple talks about the importance of communities coming together to stand with the LGBTQ+ community and speak out against the laws being passed in our states that take away rights. As churches split and discriminatory laws are passed and prejudices persist, new life is being breathed into these affirmin…

In this Look to See Me podcast episode, Chris Pepple talks about the many faces of grief. After receiving the news of the death of her brother, she reflects on the way grief affected her in the following days. Grief can be known, yet grief can also be indescribable.

We often hear people talking about their “happy places.” They enjoy time at the beach or beside a mountain stream. They have a favorite cabin in the woods or a condo in the city they can visit and see the city lights. When we are weary or stressed and can’t get away, how can we create happy spaces in our homes? This Look to See Me podcast episode e…

Are we willing to be a part of the changes needed in our communities to be hope and love, equality and justice to all people? This Look to See Me podcast episode looks at ways we can change on a personal level that will then help us advocate for a end to abuse and hunger and lack of access to life-sustaining resources and many other challenges that…

This Look to See Me podcast episode is a love letter to my city. I recorded this on an afternoon walk and left in the sounds of my city instead of editing them out. We are a city facing a tragic loss of one of our citizens and the arrest of five officers charged with his death. We must do better. I talk about all of the good I see in this city and …

Do we take time to see the many different aspects of the people in our communities? Do we look past the labels and see the gifts and strengths people have to share? Do our labels force people into boxes we create so that we are comfortable? I challenge you to look past the labels and see the whole person. #respect #affirming #diversity…

In. this Look to See Me episode, Chris Pepple remembers the life of her cousin who died of AIDS thirty years ago (1993) on the day of this recording. She reads part of his funeral service and reminisces about his life and the loving community in Key West who took care of him as he was dying. Who do we look to see?Whose stories do we truthfully tell…

This Look to See Me podcast episode looks at light as a symbol in many faith traditions. Chris Pepple talks about Epiphany Sunday for Christians and relates that to our our journeys in life. We can find the answers that we need from the light outside of us and from our inner light. We may be uncertain as we move forward, but uncertainty doesn't hav…

In this Look to See Me podcast episode, Chris Pepple explores the concept of extending grace to ourselves and others as we move into a time of new beginnings. #newbeginnings #newyear #grace

This Look to See Me podcast episode delves into the thoughts about what makes a gift special. I share my thoughts on what has been meaningful in my life during a challenging year.

In this Look to See Me podcast episode, Chris Pepple shares thoughts and memories about what it means to feel warm. She reflects on physical warmth when she sat around fires with her grandmother or her children. She also discusses what giving and receiving emotional warmth can mean, whether that’s sharing a hug, a safe space, or a moment of communi…

I celebrated my birthday last week. It was a wonderful week filled with special people in my life. In this episode, I talk about the history of birthday celebrations and about all of the ways that we change and experience new "birth" moments in our lives. We are constantly growing and learning as we journey through life. Let's think about the ways …

What brings you joy? Do you find joy along your journey? In this Look to See Me podcast episode, Chris Pepple discusses ways she has found joy along her journey and seeks joy in her daily life. #joy #personal growth

In this Look to See Me podcast episode, Chris Pepple reads an original short story title "The Chairs." She then reflects upon our journeys toward healing, hope, and love. Whether we are healing from domestic abuse or facing racism and inequality in our communities, we need a balance of moments of courage to fight the hard battles and moments of sel…

This podcast episode opens the door for discussions about our gender identities and the states who are trying to make laws against transgender equality for youth and adults. Be a lifelong learner…be a listener…talk to professionals…talk to anyone who is transgender and willing to be open…read books by parents and by people who are nonbinary or tran…

This episode lets listeners know some of the things that made me smile this week. I talk about being intentional about looking for joys along our journey when life is challenging. I also share three things that brought joy to me this week. We can be intentional about looking for joys and about being a joy in the life of someone else. #joy #whatmade…

Chris Pepple reads an original short story from her first published book, Look to See Me. "Shifting the Bowl" is a story of mothers and daughters and family memories...a glimpse of grief and the things we cherish as we heal.

Tennis star Serena Williams has teamed with the Allstate Foundation Purple Purse project to help us all understand the devastating effects of financial abuse and give us an opportunity to share conversations about how we can bring this to an end. I also share my story of surviving financial abuse. Original Release Date: November 2018…

My thoughts on why the Supreme Court nominee matters to me...our nation's choice will have an impact on my family. First release date:24 September 2020

This podcast invites us to look closer at the lives of people around us and to take time to hear their stories. This week I reflect on what happens when we fail to look to see the truth about other people. I challenge all of us to create a common table where we can share our stories honestly and boldly in order to help bring about peace and hope in…

Today I’m talking about two groups of Moms who have given me the courage to speak out and to love and to find hope for all people. My silence though the years allowed all of discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community to continue. There is no pride for me in all that I failed to say—didn’t do. For the people I never fought for and spoke up with. I’…

I used to naively believe that there never had to be “sides.” There never had to be choosing who to stand with because I thought we could learn to stand together. I believed in tables…I believed in conversations. I believed in being willing to hear another person’s voice, to understand another person’s life experiences. But then life taught me that…

Today I’m going to talk about all that is good. I have thought long and hard about what I consider to be the good in the world…what I will choose to love and be a voice for as much as I am able. I think we all need to use this time to define what we will stand for and what we define as all that is good in this world. Hang on to all that is good. No…

Today I offer a reading of a Service of Healing originally written for a worship setting in Atlanta, Georgia. This reading reminds us to hang on to hope, to love, and to all that is good as we struggle in these uncertain times.

I’m Chris Pepple and today I’m once again going to talk about an individual instead of a nonprofit group. This week, however, I’m not going to talk about a public figure. I’m going to talk about a private individual…a person who could be defined as an average person in America with a career and a family. Today's episode is about a mentor and a fina…

I’m Chris Pepple and today I’m going to talk about poetry. April is National Poetry Month, in case you didn’t know. National Poetry Month was inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996. So, in honor of this month, I’m reading here several of my poems from my book titled Looking, Seeing published in 2018.…

In this podcast, I talk about people making one right choice at a time today. There’s a quote from Frozen 2 that says, “When one can see no future, all one can do is the next right thing.” I’m discussing what each of us can do in the moment we are in to not only help others but to also bring joy to ourselves as we do it. There are some wonderful th…

You will be known by your vote...by your love...by your justice...by your wisdom in understanding that we are all lifelong learners...that none of us have all of the answers...that we are better together. Vote like I matter. I will vote like you matter as well. We can sort out the economy and the national debt after we make sure we are all safe...n…