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

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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

Have you ever had one of those months where you just can’t climb out of a dark hole? That was my October and November.

My son had a health scare (instant compassion for every parent walking that road), I wasn’t sleeping—wide awake at 3 a.m. every night (thank God for a dear friend who meets me at Starbucks at 5 a.m.)—and I felt completely unmotivated and uninspired by my work. Not fun.

I’m sharing this because maybe you’ve been there too. And here’s the gift hidden inside those seasons: wisdom.

What did I learn? Compassion for myself. Humility that I will never “have it all together.” Trust that this, too, shall pass. And it did pass. The light returned—beginning with the conversation you’re about to hear with Dr. John Price. It was medicine for my soul, and I know it will be for yours too.

Meet Dr. John W. Price

Dr. John W. Price is a licensed psychotherapist, Jungian scholar, and modern-day mythmaker devoted to bridging psychology and spirituality in service of deep transformation. He holds a Master’s in Clinical Psychology and a Doctorate in Jungian Psychology and co-founded The Center for Healing Arts and Sciences in Houston with his wife, Leila-Scott Price.

Before dedicating his life to healing, John spent a decade as a professional musician—a journey that immersed him in both the highs of creative success and the depths of self-destruction. Becoming a father marked a powerful turning point, when the soul’s call overtook ambition and led him to his true purpose: guiding others through life’s great initiations—grief, identity collapse, spiritual awakening, and the long return to wholeness.

He now serves as President of the Board at the Jung Center of Houston, teaches at the Esalen Institute, and hosts The Sacred Speaks podcast—where he explores depth psychology, spirituality, mysticism, and meaning with guests like Richard Rohr, Anne Lamott, and Thomas Moore.

In This Episode We Explore

✨ John’s own “cracking open” story—from life as a rock musician to his awakening as a soul-centered psychotherapist
✨ How fatherhood transformed his ambitions into a deeper calling to serve
✨ Practical wisdom for navigating the dark night of the soul with grace and courage
✨ How men’s vulnerability and shadow work can become catalysts for collective healing
✨ Our candid exchange where I challenge John to fully step into his leadership as a bridge between psychology, spirituality, and the modern masculine

This conversation is rich with laughter, depth, and truth—but above all, hope.
John is a luminous guide whose presence reminds us that even in darkness, we are never alone.

If you’re walking through your own “dark night,” or simply feeling lost, uninspired, or uncertain, this episode is your lifeline. John offers not quick fixes or toxic positivity, but grounded wisdom:
You’re not broken—you’re breaking open.

Press play and remember—the light isn’t just coming; it’s already within you, waiting to be rediscovered.

🎧 Tune in now to listen.

With love,
Molly

🌱 Support the Cracking Open podcast here.

RESOURCES & LINKS:

Dr. John W. Price
Website | Substack | Instagram | YouTube

The Center for Healing Arts & Sciences

The Open Gate Program