This episode is brought to you by the NCRTD Blue Bus.

This episode marks the beginning of our new, monthly release schedule. The next episode of Voices of Taos will be released on May 5, 2026.

This week on “Voices of Taos,” reporter Olivia Lewis sits down for a conversation with Ted Wiard, licensed therapist, certified grief counselor, and  founder and director of Golden Willow Retreat in Arroyo Hondo. He was also the Taos News Citizen of the Year in 2020.

Ted retired on April 1,  25 years after opening Golden Willow retreat with his wife, Marcella, and says that it’s time to open things up for change — both for him and for the nonprofit. He plans on travelling, and is working with Genevieve Oswald on a second book about “emotional sobriety” and how balancing the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual parts of life can help us make better decisions and be better people.

Lewis and Wiard discuss the importance of recognizing loss as a natural part of life that teaches us about transition and growth. Golden Willow Retreat aims to provide a space for healthy grieving and healing for anyone experiencing a loss. 

Learn more about Red Willow Retreat

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