Making Kairos

My guest this week is Alexis Harris, aka PFuzz. Alexis is a classically trained violinist and violin instructor with an intense passion for electronic music. She enjoys merging her background in classical music with her love for psychedelic bass music, glitch, sound design, and melodies interspersed with unexpected ear candy. We discuss her development within the realm of classical music and her journey outside of the discipline to electronic music. Moving from a sense of failure and self-doubt to personal triumph and persistence through adversity. Her music can be found here:   Spotify   SoundCloud   @pfuzzofficial

My guest this week is Mordecai Lyon, Editor in Chief of the Boycott Times. As Editor in Chief of The Boycott Times, Mordecai is committed to publishing exciting and provocative content from a wide variety of perspectives centered around justice. His work has been published by the Harvard Business School, the Boston Review, the Undefeated, and ABC News. Mordecai graduated from Columbia Journalism School in 2014. Read his past interviews with Cornel West, Lorgia García Peña, and Tef Poe with Walter Johnson.   https://boycottx.org/   @mordecai_lyon @theboycotttimes

My guest this week is Paul Turano. Paul is an artist, award winning filmmaker, essayist and Associate Professor of Visual and Media Arts at Emerson College. Paul is an artist who uses film and video as poetic tools for exploring the human condition, incorporating subjects as close as my back porch and as far away as the planet Mars. We talk about his development as an artist, the changing technological landscape, the current higher education environment, and his love of the creative process.   More information and his work can be found on his website: https://paulturano.com/home.html   I have also posted some selected works on the show notes: makingkairos.com. 

A brief solo episode on where we've been, where we're at, and where we're going. Onward.

My guest on the show this week is my oldest friend, Tim Protzmann. Tim has chosen a different life path. Not content to move to the closest big city, Tim went a bit further and has chosen to live the life of an international teacher. Tim has lived for extended periods in Guatemala, Peru, Kuwait and China. He gives us insight into the moments that led him to move abroad, learning languages and cultures, and raising a family in a country outside of the one you were born in. Tim also recounts the difficult process of not only leaving China during the COVID-19 pandemic, but doing so while his mother was hospitalized and later passed away. An impressive woman who ranked as a General in the New Hampshire Air National Gaurd, Tim’s family mourns her loss during the lockdown.

In light of recent and ongoing events, I invited back previous guests Steph Hunt and Tom Ward to the show for a conversation. Steph is the director of the African American and Latino Scholars program at Brookline High School; Tom is a Deputy Superintendent with the Brookline Police. I originally had each of them on the show because they are two individuals trying to make the world a better place in their own way. That remains to be the case today. This is not a debate, but a conversation between two good people.

In the second episode during the quarantine period, I talk about dealing with financial fear on the macro and micro level, relaying a personal story of a time of financial uncertainty.    

This is our time. In this first solo episode of what I will try to make a weekly series during the quarantine period I talk about the Kairos moment I had yesterday when I went from a displaced mindset of fear to one focused on intention and positivity. We cannot choose our circumstances, we can choose our response. I will be making an effort to connect more and spread positivity during this time, making this time an important reminder that we are always in control of our contribution to Life’s Work.

My guest this week is Zack Gould. Zack is a father, husband, and entrepreneur, in that order. Zack co-founded G&N insurance ten years ago and Bobble On business consulting last year. What’s more, he lives an intentional life focused on identifying what is truly important and putting all of himself into those efforts. Through a dedication to learning and personal development, Zack has embodied the journey towards quality over quantity.   Full Show notes available on makingkairos.com

In this solo episode I wanted to talk about a few practices I have adopted in the past year that have been impactful for me. None of them have been New Years’ Resolutions, but I know at this time of year a lot of people are looking at habits, goals, and practices. This is a companion episode to my blog post “What I talk about when I talk about practice.” The three practices I discuss are 1. Refraining from phone use in the first hour of each day. 2. Learning to play guitar. 3. Writing Daily Pages.

Stephanie Hunt is Director of the African American and Latino Studies program at Brookline High School. Steph loves her job. When I first met Steph, she told me that she had a dream job and planned on staying there until she retired--someone who found their life’s work. In this episode we discuss Steph’s own development as a biracial child growing up in two very different neighborhoods, her passion for the study of history, and how she found her work as a teacher. We also discuss some of the dynamics of today’s teenagers, the challenges of being a teacher, and the best characters in the Wire. @scholarsofbhs @makingkairos @kairosnate   Full show notes available on makingkairos.com

My guest for this episode is Justin Wright: performance coach and athlete. Justin and I talk about his journey from dedicated high school wrestler to CrossFit Games team athlete. In addition, we talk about the dark period of Justin’s life where his athletic career took a precipitous fall do to his own mindstate and mental approach. As a result, Justin invested in his own mental game and now seeks to spread that knowledge with others on a mission of service. @trainedwright  https://trainedwright.com/   @makingkairos @kairosnate   Show notes available at makingkairos.com

My guest this week is Liz O’Neil. Liz has an incredible life story or resilience and fortitude. Liz grew up with dysfunction and abuse. To compensate, Liz sought achievement and performance, establishing a picturesque family and career of her own. When turmoil returned through Liz’s parents, Liz sought treatment to address the trauma she had long lived with. She emerged with a new understanding of herself. Despite the turbulent waves of her life continues to seek and find fulfillment.   Show notes available at makingkairos.com   Instagram: @makingkairos @kairosnate

My guest this week is professional poker player David Paredes. David has played in multiple World Series of Poker Main Events, won the 2015 Borgata Poker Championship, and was involved in the unmasking of an online poker scandal in 2008. David also has an elite educational background, starting with his admittance to Hunter College Elementary school, to Harvard for undergrad, and graduate school at NYU in Creative Writing and Law. David had many conventional doors open to him in life, but chose to play his hand in an unconventional way. Show notes available at makingkairos.com   Instagram: @davidparedespoker @makingkairos @kairosnate

My guest this week is Mike Dunford. Mike was introduced to drugs and alcohol at an early age and the progression of addiction took off from there. Mike bounced from job to job and soon found himself having experiences with the wrong side of the criminal justice system. Mike eventually found sobriety, one day at a time, through the drug court system, a half-way house, the recovery community, and the chance at an honest job. Over the years, Mike worked his way up through the ranks professionally, went back to school to get his bachelor’s degree, and is now attending law school with the aim of practicing as a public defender. Mike’s life has come full circle and he is a powerful example of Redemption at any time in life.   Instagram: @makingkairos @kairosnate   Further show notes available at makingkairos.com.   

My guest this week is Michael Gropman, Deputy Superintendent of the Community Service Division of the Brookline Police Department. In addition to his over thirty years of law enforcement experience, Michael also holds his Doctorate in Education and Human Development, was part of the founding team for TEDxBeaconStreet, teaches leadership skills to police and security officers, and founded both men’s and women’s community hockey associations. He is a thoughtful, caring man who is deeply dedicated to community.   Instagram: @makingkairos @kairosnate   Additional show notes available at makingkairos.com

My guest this week is Jessa Lemoine. Jessa is an athlete, coach and teacher. Each of these identities has shaped her. After growing up as a competitive gymnast, Jessa’s world was turned upside down when she was forced to abruptly stop gymnastics due to injury. Jessa went on to compete in track and field at the University of Georgia and then transitioned to life as a competitive CrossFit athlete, competing in the CrossFit Games as an individual and as a member of a team. After leaving her competitive life behind, Jessa focused on coaching and helping others to better themselves. Now, Jessa is continuing her journey as a Physical Education teacher in the Boston Public Schools system. We talk about each of these transitions and living through passion. More show notes available at makingkairos.com   Instagram: @jessaklemoine @makingkairos @kairosnate

And by Camp, I mean a space to love yourself and create. My guest this week is Kevin Rice. Kevin has worked The Hole in Wall Gang Camp for nearly twenty years providing “opportunities for children with serious illnesses to experience the transformational spirit and friendships that go hand-in-hand with camp.” Kevin talks about the honor, responsibility, and joy of working with children and families in health crisis. Kevin also shares his story growing from a  young gay kid in a small town in the eighties to a man with a profound sense of self love and caring for others. Kevin is a bright spot in the lives of all who know him and I’m happy to be able to share a piece of him. Expanded show notes available at makingkairos.com   Instagram: @holewallcamp @bgmc1982 @makingkairos @kairosnate

Iona Holloway started out life as a classic all-around overachiever. Despite excelling in school, art, and athletics, playing field hockey at a national level in Scotland and an All-American level at Syracuse University, she developed a crushing eating disorder. While keeping up external signs of achievement, Iona suffered in silence until she could take it no more. Today we discuss her ongoing path to recovery. If you know someone struggling, please share. Further shownotes available at makingkairos.com.   Instagram: @ionaholloway @bodyofworkboston @makingkairos @kairosnate

“I don’t make music, I am a musician.”   Today my guest is My Friend Bill, Bill Mather. Bill has been a professional musician for fifty years and shares his experience playing music, entering the professional world, and recovery from alcoholism. I met Bill in my first year of sobriety as someone who idolized rock musicians from the sixties and seventies for both their playing and excesses. He was a great mentor for me to meet.   Further show notes can be found at makingkarios.com   Instagram: @makingkairos @kairosnate

Today’s episode is with Brookline Police Department Lieutenant, Thomas Ward. Tom not only has over thirty six years of service experience as a police officer, but is an author, poet, and artist. He is an example of a man pursuing a life well lived. Further show notes can be found at makingkarios.com   Instagram:   @thomasward.art @makingkairos @kairosnate

A brief introduction to the mission of the show and blog. For more information, check out makingkairos.com.