Eddie's Podcast with Eddie Stephens

Caryn A. Stevens, co-founder of Stephens & Stevens, gives inspirational remarks after being named 2023 Herizon 2023 Rising Star Award Recipient 

Stephens & Stevens, PLLCwww.ss-familylaw.comNovember 17, 2022

"Tennessee Whiskey" sung to Jacquie for her birthday

Sung toJacquie for her birthday.

Stephens & Stevens, PLLCwww.-ss-familylaw.com(561) 430-4350

"Proud to Be a Deltasig" by KidMental#PTBADLyrics:Delta Sigma PiAs I walk this journey throughout my lyfe (lyfe)Delta Sigma PiI kross my heart these memories'll never die (die die die)Delta Sigma PiIll be here to answer when I hear you kalling me (kalling me)Delta Sigma PiI swear to god that you always will be apart of me (apart of me)This bloodline Beyond dedication; a familyA trust unwaivered respect of this Autonomy U.N.I.T.Y. Recognize thru self-sacrifice We keep it live, communication set scale and height Helping the community the struggle is realOrganized through responsibility Move thru silence UntilThe effect is a direction that acensenion entailsUnveilling the ism of profession that this knowledge instillsKause

A few months ago I was selected by The Palm Beach Post and USA TODAY to participate in the Storytellers Project.On March 9, more than 150 people gathered theater to hear live stories about “Growing Up” from 5 storytellers (including me). The audience laughed, and cried and remembered what it was like to be part of a community that supports and values one another.This endeavor is based on one simple truth: that there are experiences we all share and that we grow closer – as people and as a community – when we share them. In short, we find common ground.My “story” began as a humorous tale of my step-daughter learning an important life lesson. After working with professional writers for several sessions it expanded To include why I love being a divorce lawyer.I want to thank my brilliant and awesome step-daughter Kathleen Spencer-Schmidt for allowing me to include her in the narrative.#WhoTellsYourStoryFor your consideration, “Officer Stephens”:

Famed Swiss Psychologist Carl Jung created a theory of psychological types to categorize people in terms of their primary modes of psychological functioning.  Learning and understanding these personality types and how they work together have many real-world applications including workplace environments.  Veteran trial attorney Eddie Stephens will describe these various personality types, how they can be strategically placed for optimum performance for your organization (work, volunteer, social), and how to anticipate and deescalate conflicting personality types. About the Presenter:Eddie is an equity partner in Ward Damon, PL, where he leads the family law department and manages community relations for the firm. He is a Board Certified Family Law Attorney who specializes in high-conflict matrimonial law and is also the Director of Legal Education for the Center for Child Counseling, Inc. He has earned the AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell, a professional rating indicating the highest ethical standards and professional ability.In addition to practicing family law, Eddie is an author, lecturer, and community leader who supports a number of local civic and charitable organizations including Center for Child Counseling, Leadership Palm Beach County, Boy Scouts of America, Delta Sigma Pi, Kibblez of Love, Inc., and Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League. His hobbies include cooking, yoga, camping and spending time with his family. Eddie is happily married to Jacquie and has two children, Christopher and Matthew, and they all call Palm Beach, Florida home.

This podcast is not planned, run, or sponsored by the International Fraternity of Delta Sigma Pi.Eddie's Podcastwww.youtube.com/EddieStephens​​Special Delta Sigma Pi Campaign Edition All candidates running for Grand Office for Delta Sigma Pi are invited to participate in Eddie's Podcast.   To participate, email Eddie Stephens at eddie@eddiestephens.comName of Nominee: Meghan HillPrimary Address: Marietta, GAName of Employer or Business: Tropical Smoothie CafeJob Title: Guest Experience ManagerChapter Name and School: Nu Pi/Kennesaw State UniversityDate Of Initiation: 5/2/1998Email Address: SoutheasternRVP@dsp.orgGraduation Year: 1999Brief Description of Employment Responsibilities: I am responsible for defining, implementing, and measuring the success of the Tropical Smoothie Cafe brand guest experience nationwide. This includes leveraging strategic insights and detailed analytics collected via guest surveys, contact center feedback, and social media engagements. I encourage increased participation in guest surveys through expanding technologies used to capture guest feedback.Once strengths and gaps in our guests' experiences are identified, I collaborate with the training team to create procedures and training elements to enhance and improve brand hospitality standards and crew hospitality training. I also work with field business leaders to ensure guest concerns are addressed and appropriate coaching and adjustments in cafe level procedures are implemented.Additionally, I manage outside vendors including a guest contact center, to ensure they aremeeting defined service level agreements (SLAs) and they have necessary tools and information to best serve our guests. Other responsibilities include the design, monitoring, and continuous improvement of guest feedback escalation, as well as facilitating the connectivity between contact center, website, mobile app, vendors, and other appropriate business partners to ensure our guests experience seamless, uniform communication with our brand.Unfortunately, no one lets me make the smoothies (but I do love sipping them).Statement of Platform: The three most exciting areas for growth in the Southern Province and Delta Sigma Pi are TRANSPARENCY, INNOVATION, and ENGAGEMENT.TRANSPARENCY is more than just open-door policy, but deliberate and proactive communication with the constituency of collegiate and alumni chapters. As PVP, I will actively engage our brothers in the issues that come before the board. We must take advantage of the unique opportunities 2020 handed us. As PVP, I will prioritize the INNOVATION and expansion of fraternity technologies and practices with entrepreneurial spirit to help equip our brothers for their professions in an ever-evolving and technology-driven world of commerce.Our future success lies in our ENGAGEMENT of brothers where they are. As PVP, I will focuson fostering opportunities for collegiate brothers to collaborate with alumni and other chapters, regions, and provinces to share best practices. I will also invite brothers, business professionals, and educational leaders to engage in a wider variety of volunteer and leadership development experiences while encouraging alumni to share their field of expertise.I will be honored to serve our brotherhood as Southern Provincial Vice President and humbly ask for and appreciate your support.

This podcast is not planned, run, or sponsored by the International Fraternity of Delta Sigma Pi.Eddie's Podcastwww.youtube.com/EddieStephens​​Special Delta Sigma Pi Campaign Edition All candidates running for Grand Office for Delta Sigma Pi are invited to participate in Eddie's Podcast.   To participate, email Eddie Stephens at eddie@eddiestephens.comName of Nominee: Paul CarpinellaPrimary Address: Stoughton, MAName of Employer or Business: VIZITJob Title: Director of Demand GenerationChapter Name and School: Lambda Tau/Bentley UniversityDate Of Initiation: 11/19/1999Email Address: paulforgp@gmail.comGraduation Year: 2002Website: https://paul4gp.com/Collegiate Chapter Offices or Responsibilities Held: PresidentVice President Pledge EducationVice President Alumni RelationsHistorianProfessional Activities CommitteeBrief Description of Employment Responsibilities: VIZIT is a Boston-based start-up which provides brands, retailers, and agencies with AI-based software and services to ensure their images are primed for maximum views and conversions.  Recruited by the CEO based on my extensive start-up and marketing experience, I am responsible to drive strategy and execution for customer acquisition and retention programs.Included in these duties are partner and trade association relationship building, virtual and physical event content and logistics management, as well as integrated marketing campaign planning and execution utilizing coordinated email, social media, digital advertising, and sales rep outreach. I am also responsible to build, manage, and optimize our sales and marketing tech stack.Statement of Platform: Delta Sigma Pi enters the coming decades with the opportunity to advance how we work with our Brothers along with the academic and business communities.As your next Grand President, I will set us on a path that ensures we will not miss this opportunity. By listening to new ideas and implementing proven business practices, we will be more efficient, build stronger connections, and prime all brothers for success.In walking down this path I will work with our leaders to…-Leverage technology, marketing, and communication to bring Brothers closer to each other and the wider business community-Foster collaboration, improvement, and empowerment with open communication and transparency-Refresh our educational content to make it more relevant and impactful in an evolving and diverse business environment.Throughout my twenty-one years as a Brother, I have been fortunate to work with many great leaders and watch our Fraternity grow and prosper. During this year, I'm proud of the way we worked together to adapt to a new normal and bring our brotherhood closer together. I would be honored to build upon this success as your next Grand President.  I humbly ask for your vote.

This podcast is not planned, run, or sponsored by the International Fraternity of Delta Sigma Pi.Eddie's Podcastwww.youtube.com/EddieStephens​​Special Delta Sigma Pi Campaign Edition All candidates running for Grand Office for Delta Sigma Pi are invited to participate in Eddie's Podcast.   To participate, email Eddie Stephens at eddie@eddiestephens.comName of Nominee: Monica MonroePrimary Address: Catlett, VAName of Employer or Business: Monica Elizabeth EventsJob Title: Owner & Lead Event CoordinatorChapter Name and School: Epsilon Kappa/Shepherd UniversityDate Of Initiation: 4/2/2012Email Address: capitalrvp@dsp.orgGraduation Year: 2014Collegiate Chapter Offices or Responsibilities Held: Chapter PresidentChapter Relay for Life Chair MemberStudent Life Council RepresentativeChapter Fundraising Chair MemberBrief Description of Employment Responsibilities: I wear many hats in my career: I run two small businesses and I also have a corporate job!In 2018 I opened Monica Elizabeth Events. As an Event Coordinator, I am responsible for the planning & execution of corporate and private events. Besides the coordination and planning aspect of my job, I also manage the company's social media accounts and create and maintain networking opportunities with other vendors and clients. My position requires strong attention to detail, excellent customer service and networking skills as well as the ability to make rational split-second decisions.In June 2020, I expanded my endeavors and became an independent travel agent with Walt's Dream Destinations, a small business company based out of New Jersey. This position expandsmy planning abilities and blends my love of travel into one!Finally, as a Sales Support Coordinator with Music & Arts, I am responsible for providing operational support to over 300 of our retail and affiliate locations. This includes, but is not limited to: daily helpdesk email/phone support, reviewing & approval of expense reports, overseeing lesson programming and functionality, testing & training on new POS integrationsand inter-departmental collaboration for retail advancement.Alumni Chapter Offices or Responsibilities Held (include dates): Frederick Alumni Chapter:Founding MemberVP of Chapter Operations (Jan 2020- Present)Fundraising committee memberEvents committee memberMembership committee memberShepherdstown Alumni Chapter:President (June 2019-Present)Alumni Chapter Affiliation?: YesAlumni Chapter Affiliation: Frederick (MD)National Activities or Responsibilities Held (include dates): August 2017-Present: CapitalRegional Vice PresidentAugust 2017- Present: Northeastern Provincial Discipline Committee MemberFall 2018: Ritual Team Member at the installation of Chi Omega at Old Dominion UniversitySpring 2020: COVID Task Force Member2013 Northeastern L.E.A.D. Provincial Conference2013 Baltimore L.E.A.D. School2014 Northeastern L.E.A.D. Provincial Conference2015 Grand Chapter Congress2017 Grand Chapter Congress2018 Northeastern L.E.A.D. Provincial Conference2018 Volunteer Leader Training - Boston2018 Cleveland L.E.A.D. School2019 Northeastern L.E.A.D. Provincial Conference2019 Grand Chapter Congress2019 National Volunteer Leadership Retreat2019 Syracuse L.E.A.D. School2020 Northeastern L.E.A.D. Provincial Conference2020 National Volunteer Leadership Virtual Retreat2020 Fall Virtual LEAD SchoolCertified Deltasig Leader Status: Tier 2 training complete.Statement of Platform:ENGAGEMENTTo continue to grow the cohesion of the Province and the Provincial Leadership Team by:-Hosting Leadership Retreats-Expanding Provincial town hall opportunities

This podcast is not planned, run, or sponsored by the International Fraternity of Delta Sigma Pi.Eddie's Podcastwww.youtube.com/EddieStephens​​Special Delta Sigma Pi Campaign Edition All candidates running for Grand Office for Delta Sigma Pi are invited to participate in Eddie's Podcast.   To participate, email Eddie Stephens at eddie@eddiestephens.comName of Nominee: James KuhnPrimary Address: Findlay, OHJob Title: Stay-at-home parentChapter Name and School: Xi Upsilon/Marshall UniversityDate Of Initiation: 11/18/2006Email Address: EastCentralRVP@dsp.orgGraduation Year: 2010Social Media: Facebook – James Kuhn for Northeastern PVPSocial Media: Instagram @jameskuhn4dspnepvpBrief Description of Employment Responsibilities: As a stay-at-home parent, I am ahomemaker and primary caregiver for the well-being and development of my child.Some of my responsibilities include: time management/scheduling, inventory control, riskmanagement, researching, budgeting, effective communication, educating/coaching, adaptability,empathy, humility, and occasionally singing and dancing.These responsibilities, in addition to my general skill set and a work history that includes:Quality Auditor, Actor, and Food Service, have allowed me to sharpen my mind and regularlytake on leadership roles in the organizations of which I am a part.In the past, those roles have included management positions in the Food & Beverage industry, atrainer position at the Walt Disney World Resort, and various volunteer roles.Aside from my involvement with Delta Sigma Pi, I also volunteer as the Inventory Coordinator,Scorekeeping Coordinator, and a team Captain in my recreational ice hockey league.Alumni Chapter Offices or Responsibilities Held (include dates): "What Not To Say" DEIEvent Organizer (Fall 2020)Alumni Chapter Affiliation?: YesAlumni Chapter Affiliation: CincinnatiStatement of Platform: Brothers,First and foremost, thank you!!!! Thank you for showing constant resilience in the face ofadversity, your continued efforts to help make Delta Sigma Pi a stronger organization,researching the candidates, and putting in the work necessary to make an informed decision about your next Northeastern Provincial Vice President. It's truly inspiring! As your Brother, a leader, and a nominee for this position, I promise to do the same for you.I also promise to promote the following for myself and the leaders on my teams and committees:TRANSPARENCY and ACCOUNTABILITY – Helping others to understand the reasoningbehind decisions.DIVERSITY/EQUITY/INCLUSION – Empowering diverse leaders through training, mentoring,and the promotion of opportunities for involvement in our fraternity.BROTHERHOOD ENGAGEMENT – Whether in-person or virtually (through groups such asFRAC), we should seek opportunities to engage our Brothers. Whether chapter-to-chapter,regionally, provincially, or (inter)nationally, we should demonstrate and improve the strength of our Brotherhood.TECHNOLOGY – Effectively utilizing existing and emerging technologies to ensure Brothersare able to operate and showcase their professionalism and creativity.Thank you once again! It would be my honor and a privilege to receive your vote and represent you as the next Northeastern PVP!!!!#PTBAD

This podcast is not planned, run, or sponsored by the International Fraternity of Delta Sigma Pi.Eddie's Podcastwww.youtube.com/EddieStephens​Special Delta Sigma Pi Campaign Edition All candidates running for Grand Office for Delta Sigma Pi are invited to participate in Eddie's Podcast.   To participate, email Eddie Stephens at eddie@eddiestephens.comName of Nominee: Stacy JordanPrimary Address: Alexandria, VAName of Employer or Business: U. S. Dept. of Transportation (OIG)Job Title: Supervisory IT Specialist (Infosec)Chapter Name and School: Epsilon Chi/Georgia Southern UniversityDate Of Initiation: 5/28/1993Email Address: stacyjfornepvp@gmail.comGraduation Year: 1995Website: stacyjordan-dsp.comSocial Media: Instagram @stacyjdsp

SPECIAL DELTA SIGMA PI EDITIONEddie's Podcast with Eddie Stephens – Episode 12: Noel Miller - Candidate for North Central PVPEddie's Podcastwww.youtube.com/EddieStephensSpecial Delta Sigma Pi Campaign Edition All candidates running for Grand Office for Delta Sigma Pi are invited to participate in Eddie's Podcast.   To participate, email Eddie Stephens at eddie@eddiestephens.comNoel Miller:As Provincial Vice President, I will:- Empower and invest in our Provincial Leadership Team through regular leadership meetings, volunteer training, and retreats.- Drive diversity through inclusion, welcoming all Brothers - collegiate and alumni, active and returning, officers and general members - to be engaged and serve our province and brotherhood.- Engage more than 250 Brothers in regional and provincial volunteer or committee roles.- Collaborate directly with Brothers to develop chapter and regional goals aligned with the fraternity's strategic priorities, delivering accountability and transparency through monthlyprogress reports.- Champion strategic recommendations to improve retention from collegiate to alumni status, increase chapter engagement in national programs, and improve fraternity resources for chapters.- Strategically lead the province through post-pandemic transitions, adopting best practices from our pandemic operations and resetting our chapter and fraternal baseline for operations

Eddie's Podcast Special Edition: Ted Neeley from Jesus Christ Superstar discusses Hamilton the Musical,

Leslie Gray Streeter is a pop culture writer, columnist and reviewer for the Palm Beach Post, which means that if it's about music, movies, nightlife, food, drinks, TV, books, weird celebrity hijinks or something that's fun, she's probably got something to say about it.“Black Widow,” her debut, out now, by Little, Brown and Company..https://lesliegraystreeter.com/Jaquie Segment:  Discussion of series finale of The Clone WarsTo Subscribe to Podcast: EddiePodcast.comMore on Eddie Stephens: www.EddieStephens.com

An entire Podcast dedicated to Hamilton the Musical.With guests:Dave HareJames Monroe IglehartJacquie Stephens Caryn A. StevensMichelle SuskauerHamilton the Musical premieres July 3rd on Disney+

Eddie's Podcast – Episode 8 with Special Guest, AJ BrockmanFounder/President:Brewhouse Gallery: https://www.facebook.com/TheBrewhouseGallery/The Kelsey Theater: https://www.thekelseytheater.com/Kelsey City Brewery: https://www.kelseycitybrewing.com/AJ Brockman is a local digital artist. Wheelchair-bound since age 2, Brockman has SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy), a progressive neuromuscular disease. He views himself as being “differently abled” rather than “disabled” and lives life to the fullest every day. He began painting a child developed his own impressionistic style and started to see the world differently from that point on, using surroundings as inspiration and appreciating the little things in life.Following his passion for art become challenging when he lost the strength of his hands and the ability to create. He transitioned into pursuing a career in television production or radio broadcasting, as his voice was unaffected. However, while at Palm Beach Gardens High School, he discovered an elective course called “Commercial Art Technology.” With the aid of computer software that replicates traditional painting, typesetting, layout and with the use of two fingers on his left hand, he is able to manipulate a mouse and have no limitations due to his disability. Brockman graduated with a BFA from Digital Media Arts College. He was awarded the Distinguished Artist Award after graduating at the top of his class. Brockman has won multiple Addy Awards. His technique is a hybrid of Impressionism and Realism. All his works are unique composition, although photography is referenced for correct proportions. It is an extremely time-consuming process that requires hours of research on the subject matter before the canvas is opened. He is the principle at Single Handed Studio where his artwork takes on a wide range of subject matter. As a South Florida native, much of his work reflects the ocean, landscapes, and a beachside lifestyle, although his work runs the gamut and is not limited to a specific genre including influential athletes and musicians, historical events and satire statement pieces. Each piece creates a story with the goal to bring the viewer into the subject matter to experience it firsthand.Digital Artist:https://www.singlehandedstudio.com/'To Subscribe to Podcast: EddiePodcast.comMore on Eddie Stephens: www.EddieStephens.com

Eddie's Podcast – Episode 7 with Special Guest Carrie Burns, Co-Founder/CEO & Chief Movie Buff of Atlanta Movie Tours.Carrie Burns is co-founder and CEO/Chief Movie Buff of Atlanta Movie Tours. She has been engaged in the Atlanta film industry for years, loves building experiences as well as showing off Atlanta and Georgia film. As a natural connector, Carrie often serves as a liaison between film and television crews working in “Atlanta's backlot” of Castleberry Hill, which sparked her initial interest in the filming boom in Georgia.She is dedicated to closing the gap between crews, neighbors and local businesses in order to create a symbiotic relationship for all involved during filming and keep the fun (and incentives) rolling in! Bringing film tourism into the mix in Georgia is a key focus of her day-to-day job and collaborating with other tour companies is a great bonus as she loves learning!Moving to Atlanta from Miami many moons ago, she holds a Masters in Business Administration & Marketing from Mercer University and worked in web development for years. She serves as Southern Provincial VP for Delta Sigma Pi and is on the board of the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, ArtsATL as well as others. Her husband Steven and she have two rescue pups, are huge Atlanta United supporters, as well as being avid beach-lovers & scuba divers! As Shuri says in Georgia filmed Black Panther, “You haven't seen anything yet.”To Subscribe to Podcast: EddiePodcast.comMore on Eddie Stephens: www.EddieStephens.com

Eddie's Podcast – Episode 6: The "Ink" Edition with Michael "Pooch" Pucciarelli  and Scott White from Altered State TattooAltered State Tattoo Studio:http://alteredstate.net/Pooch Art/Merch/Info:https://alteredstatetattoo.com/Scott Art/Merch/Info:https://www.etsy.com/shop/TriphammerStudioshttp://www.visualvortex.com/Jacquie Segment:  Jacquie discusses the Clone Wars, Season 7, Episode 11and more...To Subscribe to Podcast: EddiePodcast.comMore on Eddie Stephens: www.EddieStephens.com

Eddie's Podcast – Episode 5with Special Guest Robert Walter, President, Joseph Campbell Foundation  - JCF.orgJoseph Campbell Foundation (JCF) is on a mission to keep alive Joseph Campbell's mythic vision. To date, that mission has included publishing sixteen hardcover books, multiple digital works, over seventy audio lectures, and more then seventeen hours of video.JCF—a global community of artists, scholars, writers, educators, and questers—has organized conferences and workshops with a variety of institutions, fostered extensive and powerful online conversations, and currently sponsors over 50 local and regional community groups worldwide as part of JCF's Mythological RoundTable Program.Jacquie Segment:  Jacquie discusses the Clone Wars, Season 7, Episode 10.and more...To Subscribe to Podcast: EddiePodcast.comMore on Eddie Stephens: www.EddieStephens.com

Eddie's Podcast – Episode 4with Special Guest Tara Sullivan, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention - AFSP.orgEstablished in 1987, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is a voluntary health organization that gives those affected by suicide a nationwide community empowered by research, education and advocacy to take action against this leading cause of death.Are you in a crisis? Call 800-273-8255 or text TALK to 741741.Jacquie Segment:  Jacquie discusses the Clone Wars, Season 7, Episode 9.and more...To Subscribe to Podcast: EddiePodcast.comMore on Eddie Stephens: www.EddieStephens.com

Eddie's Podcast – Episode 3with Special Guests WWE/WWF Superstar "Leaping" Lanny Poffo / "The Genius".  Poet Laurette of the Square Circle.  Son of Angelo Poffo.  Brother of Macho Man Randy Savage.  https://www.geniuslannypoffo.com/Jacquie Segment:  Jacquie discusses the role Ahsoka Tano plays in the The Clone Wars movie and the first six seasons.and more...To Subscribe to Podcast: EddiePodcast.comMore on Eddie Stephens: www.EddieStephens.com

Eddie's Podcast – Episode 2with Special Guests Renée E. Layman, MS, LMHC, Chief Executive OfficerAmber Payne, MSW, MPH, Director of Community Education and DevelopmentCenter for Child Counseling, Inc. to discuss Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).https://www.centerforchildcounseling.org/andJacquie Segment:  Jacquie discussed the return of Ahsoka Tano to The Clone Wars.and more...To Subscribe to Podcast: EddiePodcast.comMore on Eddie Stephens: www.EddieStephens.com

Eddie's Podcast – Episode 1with Special Guest Alberto VilloldoEddiePodcast.comBy his mid-20s Alberto Villoldo was the youngest clinical professor at San Francisco State University. He was directing his own laboratory, the Biological Self-Regulation Lab, investigating how energy medicine and visualization could change the chemistry of the brain.One day in his biology laboratory, Alberto realized that his investigation had to get bigger instead of smaller; Alberto needed to find a system larger than the neural networks of the brain. The microscope was the wrong instrument to answer the questions he was asking. Many others were already studying the hardware – Alberto Villoldo wanted to learn to re-program the SYSTEM. Anthropological stories hinted that there were people around the globe who claimed to know such things, including the Inka in Peru, the few remaining “shamans” in today's modern civilization.As he did initial research into the Inka, Alberto decided that he needed to personally investigate the roots of the Inka civilization itself to collect the vestiges of a 5,000-year-old energy medicine known for healing through Spirit and light.A few weeks later, knowing this investigation was not going to be a “part time” pastime or a brief sabbatical for a few weeks' time, Alberto Villoldo resigned his post at the university.Not to be dissuaded, Alberto Villoldo traded his laboratory for a pair of hiking boots and a ticket to the Amazon. He was determined to learn from researchers whose vision had not been confined to the lens of a microscope, from people whose body of knowledge encompassed more than the measurable, material world that Alberto had been taught was the ONLY reality. He wanted to meet the people who sensed the spaces between things and perceived the luminous strands that animate all life.Scattered throughout the remnants of this ancient Amazonian empire were a number of sages or “Earth Keepers” who remembered the ancient ways. Alberto traveled through countless villages and hamlets and met with scores of medicine men and women. The lack of a written body of knowledge meant that every village had brought its own flavor and style to the healing practices that still survived.For more than 10 years, Alberto Villoldo trained with the jungle medicine people. Along the way, he discovered that his journey into shamanism had actually been guided by his personal desire to become whole.From the Amazon, Alberto Villoldo trekked the coast of Peru, from Nazca, the site of gigantic markings on the desert floor that depict power animals and geometric figures, to the fabled Shimbe lagoons in the north, home to the country's most renowned sorcerers. Then, in Lake Titicaca – the Sea on Top of the World – Alberto Villoldo collected the stories and healing practices of the people from which, the legends say, the Inka were born.Through it all, Alberto Villoldo discovered a set of sacred technologies that transform the body, heal the soul, and can change the way we live and the way we die.Today, Alberto Villoldo is a best-selling author and founder in the world-renowned Institute of Energy Medicine, The Four Winds Society. In all of his teachings and writings, Alberto shares the experience of infinity's easy ability to heal and transform us, to free us from the temporal chains that keep us fettered to illness, old age and disease.Over the course of two decades with the shamans in the jungles and high mountains of the Andes, Alberto Villoldo would discover that we are more than flesh and bone, that we are absolutely fashioned of Spirit and light. This unending Luminous Energy Field exists in every cell of our bodies … it is up to us to recognize and work with this awesome gift to change the very nature of our living.