Naked Conversations

In our 10th episode, we focus on our response to the burgeoning COVID-19 pandemic.  How is the crisis affecting us personally?  What are we learning right now, especially about our fears, that may serve us in the aftermath?  When we look at the crisis from broader perspectives, what new possibilities can we see for ourselves and for the whole? REFERERENCES: Helen referenced a 1998 interview with the artist Leonard Cohen, https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/magazine/leonard-cohen-profile-pico-iyer Lisa referenced:   Her own blog post in response to the crisis, https://www.lisafitzhugh.me/writing/2020/3/18/upended The 1979 film Apocalypse Now directed, produced and co-written by Francis Ford Coppola, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apocalypse_Now Michael Ray, Professor of Stanford's Graduate School Business whose focuses on creativity https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/faculty/michael-l-ray and the power dispelling the inner critic.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGPUL7uV2yI CREDITS: Artist Tom X created the painting behind our show title Kevin McLeod created our show music Connect with Helen Lowe: www.creativecatalyst.us Connect with Lisa Fitzhugh: www.lisafitzhugh.me

In this our 9th episode we direct our attention towards politics and leadership. What aspects of the political landscape and its leaders are ripest for change? How do we reconcile the spiritual with the political realities of the moment?How do we engage with what appears to be a broken political system?   And what lies beyond what feels like permanent political conflict and how might we get there? REFERERENCES: Lisa referenced: Daniel Schmactenberger's new talk on emergence, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh7qvXfGQho The Seattle City Council District 3 election results, https://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2019/11/8-1-as-county-makes-legendary-victory-official-sawant-back-to-business-at-seattle-city-hall/#more-2067252180 Helen referenced Marianne Williamson's presidential campaign, https://www.marianne2020.com/ CREDITS: Artist Tom X created the painting behind our show title Kevin McLeod created our show music Connect with Helen Lowe: www.creativecatalyst.us Connect with Lisa Fitzhugh: www.lisafitzhugh.me

Are we investing our energy in things we want to grow? In our 8th conversation, we consider how we "buy into" things we may not want.  How can we take responsibility for our energy and  attention to create the more sustainable and compassionate world we desire?  What resources do we need to stay awake without collapsing or numbing-out in the face of increasing human suffering and despair?  REFERERENCES: Lisa mentioned: Ai Wei Wei's new film, "Human Flow" https://www.humanflow.com Eric Booth’s new book, "Tending the Perennials: The Art and Spirit of a Personal Religion" http://tendingtheperennials.com CREDITS: Artist Tom X created the painting behind our show title Kevin McLeod created our show music Connect with Helen Lowe: www.creativecatalyst.us Connect with Lisa Fitzhugh: www.lisafitzhugh.me

This 7th conversation expands on our last topic of polarities; this time examining the dynamic interplay of masculine and feminine energies in all of us.  How do these energies play out in both men and women? What is their role in gender biases and stereotypes?  What would  a healthy balance of masculine and feminine look and feel like in us, our relationships, and our leaders? And what might it take for us to get there? REFERERENCES: Helen and Lisa mentioned: Yin and yang from ancient Chinese philosophy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yin_and_yang  The Blue Angels https://www.blueangels.navy.mil/ Helen mentioned: Shiva and Skakti from the Indian Vedic traditions https://www.vedanet.com/shiva-and-shakti-yogas/ Lisa mentioned : Daniel Coyle's research on Navy SEAL teams from his book The Culture Code http://danielcoyle.com/the-culture-code/ The 2017 Seattle Mayoral General Election https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_Seattle_mayoral_election CREDITS: Artist Tom X created the painting behind our show title Kevin McLeod created our show music Connect with Helen Lowe: www.creativecatalyst.us Connect with Lisa Fitzhugh: www.lisafitzhugh.me

In our sixth conversation, we look behind the curtain of extreme positions.  We explore questions such as how does our need to be right produce the opposite of what we want? What does our hate reveal about our love?  And how how can we find balance amidst the increasing polarization? REFERENCES: Lisa mentioned the movie The Last Black Man in San Francisco https://a24films.com/films/the-last-black-man-in-san-francisco Helen mentioned the movie Easy Rider  https://www.filmsite.org/easy.html CREDITS: Artist Tom X created the painting behind our show title Kevin McLeod created our show music Connect with Helen Lowe: www.creativecatalyst.us Connect with Lisa Fitzhugh: www.lisafitzhugh.me

Our fifth conversion dives into the heart of healthy dialogue and explores the practice of conscious communication.  How does conscious communication create more space for learning, creativity and problem-solving?  What are the core skills/practices involved?  How do they help us bridge differences and discover creativity in the midst of conflict, within our organizations,  and in all our interactions? REFERENCES: Helen and Lisa referenced  Non-Violent Communications https://www.cnvc.org Helen referenced The work of Kathlyn and Gay Hendricks https://hendricks.com/about/ The Guardian article, The Mindfulness Conspiracy https://bit.ly/2XG2mdo Karpman's Drama Triangle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karpman_drama_triangle CREDITS: Artist Tom X created the painting behind our show title Kevin McLeod created our show music Connect with Helen Lowe: www.creativecatalyst.us Connect with Lisa Fitzhugh: www.lisafitzhugh.me

Our forth conversation explores a key component in all our previous conversations: the capacity to discern. What's the difference between discernment and decision-making?  How can discernment become a precise inner GPS? Why are feelings and bodily sensations so essential for mastering discernment?  And how can discernment lead us into new and more expansive territory for the soul? REFERENCES: Helen referenced The Tao Te Ching, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tao_Te_Ching Lisa referenced Bill Porter and his translations of ancient Chinese poetry.  Also his book Road to Heaven, Encounters with Chinese Hermits, 2009. CREDITS: Artist Tom X created the painting behind our show title Kevin McLeod created our show music Connect with Helen Lowe: www.creativecatalyst.us Connect with Lisa Fitzhugh: www.lisafitzhugh.me

In our third conversation, we examine our personal relationship to freedom. How do we find it among our many deeply held beliefs and assumptions? What 'bondage' is ours to disrupt? What do we learn when doing so? REFERENCES:  Helen referenced, "The Overstory" by Richard Powers http://www.richardpowers.net/the-overstory/ Michael Meade https://www.mosaicvoices.org Charles Eisenstein https://charleseisenstein.org Lisa referenced, Vice, released in 2018 and directed by Adam McKay2018 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vice_(2018_film) CREDITS: Artist Tom X created the painting behind our show title Kevin McLeod created our show music Connect with Helen Lowe: www.creativecatalyst.us Connect with Lisa Fitzhugh: www.lisafitzhugh.me

In this first conversation, we explore the topic of keeping and changing our agreements. How do we recognize when we need to break them? How can we be honest with ourselves and others even when it’s painful or disruptive? And how can we do all of this with more honesty and grace? REFERENCES: Lisa mentioned Richard Rudd's Gene Keys: teachings.genekeys.com/about/richard-rudd/ CREDITS: Artist Tom X created the painting behind our show title Kevin McLeod created our show music Connect with Helen Lowe: www.creativecatalyst.us Connect with Lisa Fitzhugh: www.lisafitzhugh.me ----

In our second conversation, we examine our shared commitment to creativity.  What does creativity require of us, both as individuals and as a society?  Why is it so uncomfortable?  And how we can invite more of it into our lives? REFERENCES: Lisa mentioned Richard Rudd's Gene Keys: teachings.genekeys.com/about/richard-rudd/ CREDITS: Artist Tom X created the painting behind our show title Kevin McLeod created our show music Connect with Helen Lowe: www.creativecatalyst.us Connect with Lisa Fitzhugh: www.lisafitzhugh.me ----