Artists Who Parent

I am so grateful to share this FATHER'S Day the podcast from the writer, musician, and actor Elie Benhiyoun. At 25, Elie was a rabbi, married, with a child, running a Jewish spiritual center or Chabad House. When Elie faced a hard truth: this wasn't the life he wanted. A couple years later, our paths converged. Elie had divorced and moved away from his son to Brooklyn, where he showed up at a writing class my husband was running. Which started him on a whole new journey to an unrealized ambition: the arts. Now, with his life on the road, Elie reflects on his journey to believing and pursuing his passions and about making the tough decisions to follow your dreams, even when it means seeing your kids less. And why sometimes that's the best thing you can do for them. You can check out Elie's writing at https://www.eliebenhiyoun.com/, his creative branding company at https://www.gromybrand.com/, and his fabulous selfies at https://www.instagram.com/ebenhiyoun/. The first article Elie discusses in this podcast can be found at https://hevria.com/eliebenhiyoun/quest-solitude-ended-brooklyn/.

Anisah, Islam, On Respect by Artists Who Parent

About Wandering Towards The Divine Show by Artists Who Parent

Dori, Judaism, On Sustainability by Artists Who Parent

Ellen, Buddhism, On Hope by Artists Who Parent

DJ, Sikh, On The Patriarchy by Artists Who Parent

Dan, Bahaii, On Mental Health by Artists Who Parent

Umar, Islam, On Representation by Artists Who Parent

Curtis, Christianity, On Music by Artists Who Parent

Rini, Hinduism, On Family by Artists Who Parent

Jose Castro is one of those people you meet and immediately need to get to know better. His warmth, and enthusiasm transform the energy of any room he's in. At a Zoom LB arts council event this year, Jose was also my first step into the artistic world of LA/Southern California. Honestly, that event changed everything for me. Along with being a trained dancer, fashion designer, and photographer, Jose is a master teacher, his current love and primary artistic practice. In this podcast, he shares wisdom of his teaching perspective and explains how teaching can be an art form in its own right, if you do it right. Jose, thank you for being here. You are a radiating blessing for this world.

Neshama is an award-winning singer, songwriter, and educator.  She has released 10 albums and sold over one million records. She was one of the creators of the Broadway musical Soul Doctor and was inducted into the Brooklyn Hall of Fame in 2016, receiving a Certificate of Congressional Recognition for her work. In addition, Neshama has sparked public conversation about the place of women in Judaism, and the importance of religious pluralism as she collaborates with musicians of different faiths. Neshama is also the daughter of Shlomo Carlebach, a man both widely celebrated and shunned in the Jewish world. Reb Shlomo, as he was called by his followers, is considered by many to be the foremost Jewish religious songwriter of the 20th century. Through his charismatic storytelling, unconventional spiritual approach, and lively songs, he inspired thousands of Jews to desire to live a spiritual and Jewish life. But Shlomo was also accused by many people of sexual abuse, accusations that were heard and addressed mostly after his death in 1994, and many Jewish communities particularly after the #metoo movement, wrestle over whether to use the music he created at all. Neshama untangles herself from the complicated life and legacy of her father. She sits rooted in her deep values, purpose and voice, looking out with piercing honesty at the hypocrisy that surrounds her. She shares insights into a world that, in the pursuit to idolize her father, pushed her aside. She shares about both the greatness and the brokenness of Shlomo, and about the way she is using her life to love with boundaries and attention in a way he never could. And she blows me away with her daily routine, as a way to make herself and her children her top priority. Most exciting of all, Neshama shares her latest project which is to be sure to illuminate our eyes and to change countless people's lives. Neshama, thank you for being here. we are so in need of your life and spirit in this world.

David Karpel is a writer, poet, and teacher as well as a father to two incredible young adults also pursuing creative lives. In this podcast, we talk about his journey from a frustrated, daydreaming child who never realized he could write to an unexpected moment in his high school year that changed everything. David explains how a series of events catapulted him to pursuing an MFA in writing before losing his confidence and dropping out, and how he reclaimed his belief in himself as a poet. His outlook on teaching and parenting matches up with his poetic attention, as he strives to take everyone to the next level of their capabilities. We dedicate this podcast to David's dear friend, Jay, who recently passed away, may his soul experience an elevation. You can read David's writing at https://hevria.com/author/davidkarpel/ and look out for his upcoming chapbook!

Having an hour to sit down with Brian Tate, the quiet leader and cultural curator of important conversations going on in New York City was so nourishing for my soul.  We talked about his life growing up in Ohio, in a home that regularly housed civil rights leaders, the turning point in his life to living a more value-driven one, and how this all evolved into his current life as a cultural curator, creating events that bring thousands of people together for collective conversations that promote empathy, justice, and change. Just listening to Brian speak already makes me into a better person. I hope this podcast touches you as much as it touched me. Sign up for his newest program, a free five week series called New American Dream: Democracy That Doesn't Flinch at https://www.thirteen.org/blog-post/build-diversify-political-power/

Wow, what a conversation. In this podcast, we go into Elad's childhood, looking at the ways in which he used his voice more as self preservation than as an objective moral stand. We look at what shifted in college, and how he developed his spiritual journey and creative path. We discuss the ways in which people within challenging circumstances can (or can't) rise above them, and whether creating "change from within" should be our goal. Then we go into how he works on empowering his own children to use their voices, and how to get into deep discussions with your kids. With Passover coming, may we be blessed to use our voices for the right reasons in the most powerful ways possible. L'chaim.

Adina Polen is the Founder and Executive Director of Atiq: Jewish Maker Institute, an applied arts yeshiva(school) based in Berkeley, CA. Adina believes that multi-sensory opportunities for meaning-making sustain us as individuals, and strengthen our communities. Here we talk about how she understood the need to build your own spiritual life from an early age and how she finds a middle ground between the world of traditional artistry and scholarly study. We also go into Pesach (Passover) and how she found inspiration from Burning Man to bring into creating a transformative experience for her young family.

I can't get enough of Bill's honest, hilarious, soulful approach to life. In this podcast we talk about Bill’s experience growing up in a family of scientists who loved the arts, having his mind blown open to the power of music as he attended Stevie Wonder and Rolling Stone concerts, his journey to finally committing to his music at 27, and what he did with his own kids to help their talents blossom. Check out Bill's band @ www.NewBluesRevolution.com www.FaceBook.com/NewBluesRevolution www.instagram.com/newbluesrevolution and his charity Long Beach Blues Society www.LongBeachBluesSociety.org www.Facebook.com/LongBeachBluesSociety www.Instagram.com/LongBeachBluesSociety

I am ecstatic to announce the FIRST episode of the podcast Artists Who Parent as I interview the amazing cellist and mother of three, Laura Melnicoff. Last year, you could find Laura scootering down the streets of Manhattan with her large, 9 month pregnant belly and her cello strapped on her back in order to perform every night in the Off-Broadway production of Yiddish Fiddler On The Roof. Here she shares her thoughts on the enormous impact playing music together can have on children, her earliest transformative music experience, and why finding community is her biggest advice to artist parents.