Our Story
Stephanie Payne and Dan Dissinger connected as professors, scholars, and coaches who hold a deep belief in holistic learning practices. Steeped in the teachings of bell hooks, Thích Nhất Hạnh and other contemplative practitioners, Dan and Stephanie have developed a core of six practices that expand beyond the classroom. These core practices are shared in mindful and humanity centered workshops and coaching practices to provide guiding tools for individuals, educators, and organizations to become more self-aware, collaborative, and purposeful in their work and personal lives.
What We Created
Inspired Belonging cultivates the human capacities that help individuals, organizations, educators, and communities flourish. Through presence, belonging, care, voice, love, and imagination, we create spaces where people can recognize themselves, one another, and the possibilities that emerge when human connection becomes a foundation rather than an afterthought.
Join our mission to spread a human-centered approach.
About the Co-Founders and Facilitators
Dr. Stephanie Renee Payne is an educator, board certified coach, writer, and mindfulness practitioner dedicated to helping people reconnect with their humanity. Through more than twenty years of teaching, coaching, and community engagement, she has guided students, entrepreneurs, women leaders, and individuals navigating life transitions toward greater clarity, purpose, and authentic connection.
Stephanie is the author of ESP: Extreme Self-Pampering for the Soul, a mindfulness workbook that encourages reflection, intentional self-care, and personal renewal. Her work is grounded in the belief that meaningful transformation begins with a presence and the capacity to listen deeply to ourselves, to others, and to what matters most.
As co-founder of Inspired Belonging, Stephanie creates spaces where reflection, creativity, and dialogue foster deeper relationships with self, community, and purpose. Drawing from mindfulness, leadership development, storytelling, and human-centered learning, she supports individuals in discovering their voice, honoring their experiences, and living more fully aligned with their values.
At the heart of her work is a belief that belonging is both a human need and a human practice. When people cultivate belonging within themselves and in community, they become more capable of contributing their gifts, wisdom, and humanity to the world.
Daniel Dissinger is an Associate Professor in the Writing Program at the University of Southern California, host of the award-winning podcast Writing Remix, a poet, Kerouac scholar, and writing coach. Dan earned his PhD and MA from Saint John’s University as well as an MFA from The Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics at Naropa University. Dan’s poetry has been published in a variety of journals, and Shadow Mountain Press published his first chapbook, tracing the shape. In 2021, he co-created an international network of academic podcasters called The Humanities Podcast Network.
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