Life and Work with Anne Julian

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anne Julian.

Anne, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’m a Social Worker by title, that’s been working in social services at some capacity for almost 30 years. Over those 30 years, I have worked in a variety of diverse fields and demographics. I have had the honor of working with people at both ends of life’s spectrum from reproductive health to hospice and so much in between. I have personally experienced tragedies and trauma at a young age with few to no resources to process these events. I spent so much of my life fumbling through it wondering if I was going to sink or swim. I have been blessed to have a lifetime of unconditional love and community to hold and support me. It is a deeply personal mission for me to facilitate others to discover resources and the power of community for navigating through tough times. I do not want anyone to have to fumble through unnecessary pain and uncharted dark territory the way I did.

In my experiences exploring and providing resources, I found that they are changing as fast as the world is spinning. How can we discover, identify and integrate the resources for healing and navigating? By rolling up our sleeves and digging deep into issues. Let’s pull problems up by the roots like weeds and examine them so that we can re-plant healthy and flourishing gardens. This involves open communication, vulnerability, and sharing of tools. I believe, from the brightest part of my heart center, we CAN cultivate healing, consciousness, and light!

I currently live in Leucadia, California with my Husband Kirk, who I met in the Pacific Ocean and a menagerie of rescued animals. Leucadia means Paradise and Sheltered Place in Greek and it is INDEED appropriately named. My community still feels like a village and I love being involved with committees that support and plan community events. As well as working part-time in Environmental and water quality studies, Kirk and I own an event lighting business and I am actively involved in volunteering for pet encounter therapy programs and most recently disaster relief. To say I have been blessed is an understatement.

It feels good that perhaps, my 50’s are my pioneering years of a mission of sharing and having sometimes difficult conversations for healing and change – not just for me but for everyone trying to navigate through this ever-changing world we are all spinning on together. Grey Matters Now The Podcast has humbled me as I feel I am just a conduit for podcast guests that have inspired me beyond words!! Join me in this personal and exciting endeavor of conscious conversations in the grey!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Has it been a smooth road – NO! Road metaphors are great. Like an actual road, if it were perfectly smooth all the time, we would probably fall asleep and perhaps become complacent or inattentive. Every bump, obstacle, twist, turn, detour, feeling lost, and breaking down on the side of the road is what makes up our personal journey, map, and navigation system. The road never ends and our experiences help us develop our internal compasses or intuition. Do not be afraid to ask for directions or help either!!!! Asking for help and resources makes you strong, resourceful, and efficient. Resources help so much with wellness and maintenance – so important for navigating through life! We all need each other – embrace your community and tribe.

Please tell us about Grey Matters Now.
Grey Matters Now The Podcast : Conversations to foster consciousness and healing

Are you frustrated by the sensationalizing of polarizing issues and problems?
Does it pain you to see how fearful and angry people have become?

There is A LOT below the surface of what makes up the newsworthy. Very few issues, if any, are black and white and have an easy quick fix. Life is full of shades of grey – the stuff we need to explore in order to cope and navigate through this ever-changing world. It’s my goal and mission through Grey Matters Now to create a safe space to foster consciousness, facilitate conversation and have an outreach component that builds community.

I believe hate stems from fear.  My hope is that we can really dissect and explore fears and share how we move through fear with first person stories. The ultimate goal of dissolving hate – we need each other!  It is so important to try to understand what it is like to walk in someone else’s shoes. Like Michelle Obama stated…. “it’s hard to hate up close”

In this podcast we engage in healthy communication with one another, pick away at things one conversation at a time, roll our sleeves up, dig deep and remember to breathe.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve benefited from using?
Somehow this is the most challenging question as I devour books! I really like non-fiction and have been on a big memoir kick. Truth is stranger than fiction and truth sets everyone free and inspires. I just finished Chelsea Handler’s new book Life Will Be The Death Of Me – I thought it was such a good important book about self-discovery – I really like how she is using large platforms like tours and a podcast to promote it. Swell by Captain Liz Clark is also one of my new favorites – she is raw, honest and a BADASS! I love how she is using her book tour and platform to be an earth steward. It is my new coffee table book- a must have. Wild and Into The Wild… so poignant and important. For laughs, I read everything David Sedaris writes and love books like Confederacy of Dunces. For personal wellness, I love the little Thich Nhat Hanh books and highly recommend Healing After Loss: Daily Meditations For Working Through Grief by Martha Whitmore Hickman. Of course, Dr. Seuss… everything by Dr. Seuss. Contact me if you want to discuss books – there are just SO many!!!!

I really like Podcasts about human experience and first-person stories. Of course, I love the big production Serial and S-Town (I am a total NPR nerd!!). My favorite Podcast by an individual is Wild Ideas Worth Living With Shelby Stanger – SO GOOD!!!! She inspires me to keep going with my Podcast project.

Erica Fowler has a great blog and social media account Erica Jane Health… she is like sunshine and her recipes and intuitive eating plans are pretty simple and delicious!!!

Apps – I like language learning apps like Duolingo, meditation apps like Insight Timer, Weather apps like NOAA & Weather Bug, Surfline, AllTrails, and Instagram where I can follow interesting people and socially & environmentally conscious businesses and communities.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.greymattersnow.com or listen on iTunes or wherever you enjoy your favorite podcasts. I can also be found on
• Instagram:  Grey Matters Now @greymattersnow / my Personal Instagram Anne Julian – Fagergren @srfdncr
• Facebook: Grey Matters Now and for self/personal page Anne Julian-Fagergren

Image Credit:
Photos by Nikki Dupre Achartz, self and Kirk Fagergren

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