We recently had the chance to connect with Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg and have shared our conversation below.
Caryn, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Stepping outside and immersing myself in the sounds and sights of the living earth always restores me to the world, and in that swirl, myself too. I work as much as I can on my screened-in front porch, and since I live with my husband and our animals in the country, I’m surrounded by constantly evolving bird calls and song, wind in the cedars and across the prairie, and so many other sensory reminders of what’s real.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a poet, writer, and transformative language artist, which means I work with individuals and communities on writing that brings them meaning, clarity, and pathways to their own autonomy, voice, and the healing and transformation that comes with that. How I do this is through facilitating workshops, often focused on the healing power of writing, for many communities, especially for people living with serious illness as well as for the general public. I also offer writing, right livelihood (finding and creating the work that brings you meaning), and facilitation (how to effective lead workshops and meetings) coaching. I’m blessed to collaborate with wonderful artists in offering retreats, including singer-songwriter Kelley Hunt for Brave Voice writing and singing retreats; singer-songwriter and poet Kathryn Lorenzen on Big Picture retreats (to find the work you love); and poet and writer Joy Roulier Sawyer on Writing from the Soul, a spiritual writing retreat.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Growing up in a very difficult family situation, I found myself mostly on my own in so many ways from age 14 onward. But I was saved in so many ways by mentors and guides who showed up in my life, especially two people. Phil Brater was my youth group advisor at my synagogue, and as an educator who worked with girls like me, he met with me weekly before youth group to listen to what was happening in my life, how lonely and confused I was, and what poetry I was writing, continually telling me I was not crazy, just in a crazy situation as well as encouraging my poetry. I also had a wonderful high school English teacher, Judith Rance-Roney, who told me early on, “you’re a poet!”, then met with me regularly to listen to all I was writing. What a gift these people were to my life!
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
I’ve had so many defining moments in my life, but the one I’m writing and speaking about lately has to do with my diagnosis of eye cancer (ocular melanoma) in 2019. Having survived breast cancer years before, I thought I had paid at the office, and I didn’t even know eye cancer was a thing. This diagnosis and the very painful treatment (a radioactive disk surgically inserted behind my eye for five days, then removed, followed by a long recovery) coincided with my husband and I facing a long-awaited (35 years!) chance to save the land where we lived, but that was a big chance. I found healing and wholeness through my connection with the earth and sky, my loving husband and community, and — as always — through writing about it. The result of the writing is THE MAGIC EYE: A STORY OF SAVING A LIFE AND A PLACE IN THE AGE OF ANXIETY, my new book just released in July of 2025.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
I share myself in my writing and also in my teaching and facilitation (although the focus in working with others is the others in the room), and I pretty much try to convey who I really am. My writing is full of the inner folly, confusion, anxiety, and even the stuck moments in my life — as best I can honestly convey them — as well as what I’m learning and seeing anew.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
That I was kind, listened well to them in ways that helped them hear themselves, and acted courageously even if I was feeling anything but brave at the moment.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://carynmirriamgoldberg.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/carynmirriamgoldberg
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caryn-mirriam-goldberg-3772006/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarynMirriamGoldbergWriter
- Other: http://bravevoice.com
http://yourrightlivelihood.com
http://artoffacilitation.net
Image Credits
Head shot by Stephen Locke, all other photos by Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg
