Episode 7 - Pebbles, Pugs, & Purpose: Finding Joy in Service with Kimberly Wilson and Michelle Hynes
From uniting with friends to raise millions of dollars for local communities, to a childhood call to service in the form of a turtle shell, explore different ways we can use our creativity to be the change we wish to see in the world.
In this episode of Mighty Forces, I reunite with longtime friends Kimberly Wilson and Michelle Hynes, two women I admire whose lives embody creativity, compassion, and service.
The three of us first met decades ago at Kimberly’s beloved Tranquil Space Yoga studio in Washington, D.C.—a place that sparked deep friendships, activism, and the founding of the Tranquil Space Foundation.
Throughout the episode, we explore what it means to give a damn in a world that can feel overwhelming: how acts of service evolve over a lifetime, how creative expression and giving intersect, and why taking care of our nervous systems matters as much as caring for others. From Kimberly’s childhood obsession with turtles (and her $2-a-week donations to “the turtle lady”) to Michelle’s work with 99 Girlfriends—a women’s collective giving organization that’s donated over $3.6 million—the episode is a love letter to purposeful living, community, and the small acts that ripple outward.
What we talk about
Kimberly with Fred, whom you’ll meet in the episode
The story of Tranquil Space Yoga and the deep friendships it sparked
Michelle’s midlife move from D.C. to Portland and creating a more spacious life
Kimberly’s creative connection to Paris and how place shapes identity
Early awakenings to service—from saving turtles to serving communities
Founding and growing Tranquil Space Foundation and the Pigs & Pugs Project
How Ninety-Nine Girlfriends amplifies impact through collective giving
Balancing activism with nervous system care
The link between creativity, compassion, and service
Why obsession and joy can guide meaningful contribution
Mentioned in the episode
About Kimberly
Connect with Kimberly: get her Midlife Musings newsletter, explore her website, and enjoy the eye candy she shares on Instagram.
Kimberly Wilson, seated in a cafe
Kimberly Wilson is a psychotherapist, author, and founder of Tranquility du Jour, a lifestyle devoted to helping women design lives of beauty, balance, and style. What began as a yoga studio in 1999 has evolved into an ongoing exploration of mindfulness, creativity, and intentional living. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, Cosmopolitan, Huffington Post, and Bella Grace. In love with her 50s, Kimberly delights in ballet, matcha, and giving back through Pigs & Pugs Project—all while dreaming of Paris.
The organization she’d like to spotlight: Pigs and Pugs Project, which raises awareness through special events and supports the work of pig sanctuaries and pug rescue organizations throughout the United States with micro-grants.
About Michelle
Connect with Michelle through the website for her strategic nonprofit consultancy and on LinkedIn.
Michelle Hynes, shown here with the trappings of the work she does facilitating workshops for nonprofits
Michelle Hynes advises organizations whose work makes the world a better place — more inclusive, more caring, and more full of opportunity for more people. Beyond her paid work, she's active in a regional women's collective giving group called 99 Girlfriends; serves as a board member for a national collective giving network, Philanos; and regularly volunteers with a group of friends who are dedicated to boosting voting and other forms of civic engagement. Michelle lives in a walkable urban neighborhood in Portland, Oregon that looks very different from what you may see in the national news.
The organization she’d like to lift up is Philanos, a diverse collective philanthropy network that empowers and advances women’s collective giving to strengthen communities.
