As we approach our 100th episode, I’ve been revisiting a few conversations that have stayed with me long after the microphones were turned off.

Bill Valentine’s episode was re-released because of the way he shared heart-centered, real-life wisdom while facing the end of his life. And today, I’m re-releasing my conversation with Serena Dugan for a different—but equally powerful—reason.

Over the years, people have stopped me on the streets of my hometown of Bend to tell me that Serena’s words gave them the courage to finally write the book that had been living inside them… or to leave a corporate job and start a small design company to help people feel more alive in their homes.

These two episodes remind us that our "cracking open" moments come in many forms. Sometimes they arrive through confronting mortality, and sometimes they arrive through choosing to trust our creativity and make brave, life-altering changes.

Serena is a beacon of authenticity and creative courage. She is an artist and textile designer based in Sausalito, California. With a background in both psychology and fine art, Serena has spent over 20 years shaping her voice as a painter, product designer, and the Chief Creative Officer of Serena & Lily, the home and lifestyle brand she founded in 2004.

In 2020, she launched Serena Dugan Studio, her namesake collection of fabrics and wallpapers. Her art-driven textiles draw inspiration from around the world—from the breezy jet-set spirit of Capri in the ’50s, to South American basket-weaving traditions, to the colorful mid-century architecture of Mexico City. Most recently, Serena collaborated with Erik Lindstrom on a line of rugs inspired by her artwork.

In our conversation, we explore what it really means to trust your creative instincts, make decisions from your inner knowing, release ego, and find your way forward through grief and loss. This episode is both grounded and expansive—a reminder that creativity lives within all of us when we remain open to change and willing to listen to ourselves.

Serena also speaks honestly about the value of making mistakes, starting over, and remembering that our achievements do not define who we are. As she so beautifully shares:

This conversation is a gentle but powerful reminder that our creative work, our businesses, and our accomplishments are simply vehicles. The true masterpiece is how we love and connect with others along the way.

If you’ve been waiting for permission to start that project, make that change, or trust the creative voice that’s been quietly calling you forward—let this episode be your catalyst.

🎧 Tune in now to listen.

With love,
Molly

🌱 Please consider supporting the Cracking Open podcast on Patreon.

RESOURCES & LINKS:

Serena Dugan:

Website | Instagram

Molly Carroll:

Website | Instagram | Facebook

Now accepting new therapy clients!
Learn more or schedule a session here.

In times of uncertainty, we need reminders of what truly matters. Today’s episode is a profound lesson in hope, love, and perspective—one that gently calls us back to presence, connection, and grace.

This is a re-release of my conversation with Bill Valentine, who passed away peacefully at home on October 21, 2022. I felt deeply called to bring this episode forward again. It’s exactly what we need right now.

This conversation isn’t about fear or loss—it’s about living without regret, being fully present because life is fleeting, and holding hope for the future.

Many people say the most precious gift we can give is our time. Bill understood this in a way few ever do. When we recorded this episode, he was living with stage four terminal pancreatic cancer, and he chose to spend some of his remaining time with us.

Bill was the only guest I’ve ever interviewed without doing extensive research beforehand. I wanted to meet him heart to heart. As it turns out, that choice mirrored one of his greatest realizations: who we truly are has nothing to do with what we’ve accomplished.

Bill was a husband and a father of four boys. His focus had narrowed to what mattered most—love, relationships, and presence.

In this conversation, Bill shares what his days looked like, what cancer was teaching him, and the lessons he wanted his sons to carry forward. He speaks openly about participating in his own living funeral—receiving love, hearing how he mattered, and discovering that he was, and always had been, enough.

He also shares how psilocybin treatment helped him come to terms with his diagnosis and arrive at a simple, powerful truth: the meaning of life is to give and receive love. This is the legacy he left behind.

Bill was one of the greatest teachers to ever join Cracking Open. His wisdom, humility, and open heart continue to ripple outward.

Rest in peace, Bill.
Thank you for everything you taught us.

🎧 Tune in now to listen.

Love,
Molly

🌱 Please consider supporting the Cracking Open podcast on Patreon.

RESOURCES & LINKS:

Molly Carroll:

Website | Instagram | Facebook

Now accepting new therapy clients!
If you’re feeling stuck, navigating change, or craving more purpose and peace, I’d love to support you. Learn more or schedule a session here.

Throughout my life, clients and friends have often described me as a bridge—a bridge between science and spirituality, between practical cognitive tools and trusting your intuitive voice, between deep compassion and what I lovingly call “getting Nebraska on you” (a little tough love and real accountability).

Maybe you’ve felt that tension too. Wanting concrete strategies you can rely on, while also sensing there’s a deeper wisdom guiding you—something you can’t always explain, but you know is there.

That’s exactly why I’m so excited to share today’s conversation with MaryAnn DiMarco on the Cracking Open podcast.

MaryAnn is an author, motivational speaker, and internationally recognized psychic medium and spiritual teacher known for her refreshingly grounded, relatable approach. With humor, heart, and real-world wisdom, she helps people develop their intuitive gifts and trust the guidance that’s already speaking to them.

In This Episode, We Explore

✨ MaryAnn’s personal journey of becoming a psychic medium—and learning to trust her own gifts
✨ How to tune into your guides and intuitive voice for clarity, comfort, and grounded decision-making
✨ Her concept of your “universal team of besties”—energies here to offer breadcrumbs of wisdom and help illuminate your soul’s purpose
✨ Why trusting benevolent guidance is the foundation of intuitive listening
✨ The power of language and curious questioning as tools for getting unstuck and moving forward

MaryAnn has been featured on beloved podcasts, including Dear Gabby, The Marie Forleo Podcast, Sibling Revelry, Small Medium at Large, and Language of Love. She also leads sold-out workshops, group programs, and one-on-one mentorship for lightworkers, empaths, and those wanting to deepen their connection with Spirit.

She’s the author of several books, including Believe, Ask, Act, Medium Mentor, and one of my personal favorites, The Guide(s) Book—a beautiful roadmap for connecting with your guides and understanding life’s journey with Spirit by your side.

Talking with MaryAnn feels like meeting someone who speaks both of my languages. We’re building the same bridge—between the seen and unseen, the practical and the mystical, the mind and the soul.

What struck me most is how aligned our approaches to transformation are. We both believe real change happens when we take grounded, accountable steps with our own two feet—while also trusting the spiritual guidance illuminating the path ahead.

Whether you’re using evidence-based tools or learning to listen to your guides, both are pointing to the same truth: You don’t have to choose between practical action and intuitive wisdom.

Real growth happens when we walk the bridge that honors both—and meet ourselves, and our highest potential, right in the middle.

🎧 Tune in now to listen.

With love,
Molly

🌱 Please consider supporting the Cracking Open podcast on Patreon.

RESOURCES & LINKS:

​​​​​​​MaryAnn DiMarco

Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

The Guide(s) Book
Mapping Out Life’s Journey with Spirit by Your Side
Listen on Audible

Molly:

Website | Instagram | Facebook