Socratic Dialogues with Kristin Llamas

If you are a parent during the covid-19 school closures, this episode is for you!With covid-19 school closures. We suddenly found ourselves juggling a full 9 weeks of at home education in some form or other. I can personally say that my appreciation for teachers grew exponentially! And I quickly realized that while I don’t want our kids to fall behind… I don’t always know how to help them. This conversation takes us back to the question, are we smarter than a fifth grader? I guarantee that I have forgotten more than I remember from elementary school! Do you know how to interpret a line plot? How about using an area model for fractions? I know I’m terrible at math but this is elementary school math! Trying to be the full time guide for my kindergarten, 4th grade and 6th grade daughters, was suddenly in for a wake up call!So I couldn’t be more excited about my guest today who has created a company where the goal is to empower parents in their children’s education. Not only does he discuss the importance of speaking in the same language as our children's  teachers, but he actually gives us the resources to do so. We are essentially talking about tutoring… but for parents! It’s really awesome.Dr. Jim Swek has more than a decade of experience in the classroom, earning advanced degrees in educational leadership as well as small business and startup experience dating back to the late 90’s,  Jim is responsible for leading the Cohesion Education team through the development and growth of the business as they establish themselves in the online educational support marketplace nationwide.The timing for this conversation couldn’t be better so I hope that you enjoy and feel empowered!SHOW LINKS:Visit Host Kristin Llamas at:Websites: www.kllamas.com | www.llamasart.comInstagram: @kllamasart @llamasartshowFacebook: @kllamasart @llamasartshowYouTube: KllamasBook: ¿Como te Llamas? Everyday Llamas You Might KnowCheck out Cohesion EducationLink for Free Registration - bit.ly/cohesionedfreeWebsite: cohesioned.comSocial Media:http://www.facebook.com/cohesionedhttp://www.twitter.com/cohesionedhttp://www.instagram.com/cohesioneducationhttp://www.pinterest.com/cohesioneducationhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/cohesioneducation/MUSIC BY:Alfonso Llamas

Today we have a VERY special episode full of firsts. It is the first episode that I’ve done solo… Yep, I’m the only guest today.  And while it is actually our 15th show, I do feel like we have to address the very large elephant in the room. Or should I say the llama in the room…. The name change of this podcast from The Socratic Dialogues Podcast to the One Herd Podcast.  I just want to be clear that I had zero intention of launching this rebrand under such unusual circumstances. Towards the end of last year, I had this inspiration to change the name to One Herd because it felt more in-line with this vision of using art and storytelling to inspire connection and unity around the globe. In a large way, I now feel like this mission is even more important than ever, given the global effect of this virus, and that we are all navigating through it together, figuring out the answers as we go.  How are you holding up?  We are a few weeks in and I feel like I’ve experienced the 5 stages of covid-19 isolation:  Uncertainty - Anxiously awaiting every new statistic, update, case count, death toll, prediction... waiting for instruction on how to survive thisPreparation - Get supplies, plan a homeschooling program, evaluate budget, create a daily scheduleOptimism - So much time and space to explore all the beautiful and amazing things around us. We are healthy, and so happy to be alive. Let's make the most of this time exploring new things?Overwhelm - Too much noise. Too many possibilities. I can’t get anything done. Mind swimming with all the things I could/should be doing. No moments of silence. Income gone. So many emails. Teachers sending full day curriculums for each kid... Can’t keep up. #failingAcceptance - Getting dressed everyday seems like a lot of unnecessary laundry, homeschooling = kids read a book and did a craft today, no one really cares if I get my newsletter out on tuesday… is it tuesday? What day is it anyway?  So many people around the world are scared, lonely, and grieving. Yet with it all, it feels like we have in a way, become more globally compassionate than ever before.  Before this pandemic and mandated social isolation, we were all just plowing through life with full calendars, noisy days and selfishly going in separate ways. But in this time of tragedy, we have been given a once in a lifetime gift. The gift of going nowhere. The gift of standing still. In this stillness, we’ve fallen so much deeper in love with one another... not just in our individual homes, but as a global family

Abby Flittner is a phenomenal woman that graduated with a master’s in accounting, yet decided to use her wits to become a self-made entrepreneur! Her and her husband created Nashville Guru, an online publication with a mission to help visitors find local businesses and events in the Nashville area. In order for her to spend time with husband and their 4 year old daughter, she has learned that she needs to keep a balance between her work, family and social life.Abby explains to us that her daily balance list consists of four categories that include self-care, family, work, and social. She is honest in sharing with us that she is not always able to fully maintain all 4 categories at the same time, and that’s okay! She has learned that if she’s a little bit more focused on work, she may be neglecting time she could be spending with her husband. She advises us know that balance will never be exactly perfect, we must learn how to prioritize. One of Abby’s top priority is self-care, she knows that in order for her to be productive she needs to workout and eat healthy.She also warns those who have an entrepreneurial spirit that starting a business requires a lot of work that will make life unbalanced for a period of time. Most entrepreneurs can experience a burn out, unless they have the funding to hire a team from the start. Most don't so they must expect to be working long hours. Finding small periods of time to dedicate to areas in your life that are meaningful to you will help to avoid this.SHOW LINKS:Visit Host Kristin Llamas at:Websites: www.kllamas.com | www.llamasart.comInstagram: @kllamasart @llamasartshowFacebook: @kllamasart @llamasartshowYouTube: KllamasFIND MY NEW BOOK ON BOOKSHELVES!: ¿Como te Llamas? Everyday Llamas You Might KnowVisit Guest Abby Flittner at:Websites: NashvilleGuru.com ; GetRealAF.comInstagram: @nashvilleguru, @getrealAF, @abbyflittFEATURED ARTISTS:Photography of 2 year old daughter at the Gulch, in front of Jason Woodside’s mural in Nashville.A note from the CEO, at a bank that she previously worked at, that read “People rise to new heights like kites do, not with the wind but against it.”MUSIC BY:Alfonso Llamas

Kristin invites her behind the scenes assistant, Ashley, to be front and center on today’s podcast episode. Ashley is a soon to be graduate from Tennessee State University who decided to change her major from Nursing to Studio Art. Talk about courage! She discusses her journey on how she was able to build up the courage to follow her passion, regardless of what others thought about her choices to change majors.Ashley’s work focuses on the strong female figure. To her, a woman’s greatest strength is her emotions. Learning how to express her own emotions and how others wield their power of emotions is what drives Ashley into creating art.  Someone once told Ashley that she hasn’t allowed her fears about becoming an artist stop her from doing what she loves. It seems that as we get older we allow fear to stop us from doing things that make us happy. Children, however, have a raw courage to declare who they are and what they want to be in life. What happened to our raw courage, and why do we allow fear to take our joy away?Courage does not exist only in what we do, but also in what we don’t do. In a world full of antagonists who try to push our buttons, we must think of how important it may be for us to not react. Don’t let anyone bully their way into making you do something you may regret, rather, find the courage to walk awayAs Ashley makes her way into the art scene she is finding out that it takes courage to appear confident in her skills and her abilities. With each passing experience she is finally finding the courage to be confident and show the world that she is an artist. Ashley and Kristin are following their dreams, do you have the courage to follow yours?SHOW LINKS:Visit Host Kristin Llamas at:Websites: www.kllamas.com | www.llamasart.comInstagram: @kllamasart @llamasartshowFacebook: @kllamasart @llamasartshowYouTube: KllamasFIND MY NEW BOOK ON BOOKSHELVES!: ¿Como te Llamas? Everyday Llamas You Might KnowVisit Guest Ashley Hicks at:Websites: byashh.comInstagram: @byashhFEATURED ARTISTS:The Unraveling ZebraBy: Raphael Howard (grandfather)MUSIC BY:Alfonso Llamas 

Chad James, founder and principal of the award-winning design firm Chad James Group based in Nashville, TN. With a rich portfolio, Chad James Group works to create custom residential and commercial construction, including bespoke boutique hotels, refined restaurants, and perfectly appointed homes. The internationally recognized firm has been published in The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, Traditional Home and Billboard Magazine, to name a few. Award-winning designer Chad James was honored as a 2017 Rising Star of Design by Traditional Home.Designing a beautiful home is not an easy task, especially if you want it to feel comfortable with your lifestyle. Chad James, an interior designer in Nashville, states that one of the biggest misconceptions in interior design is that design does not follow function. This means that many people believe that if you want a well-designed home, you better be prepared to tiptoe around the house rather than actually using the furniture.  That is why when it comes to Chad James and his design team, their first thoughts are about the types of memories their clients will share with their families.During the show, Chad recalls his fondest memories in his childhood home and how they were a big part in shaping who he is today. The majority of his family lives in Muscle Shoals Alabama. This is where he and his older sister were raised by his mother and father. He shares with us that both of his parents were very creative and were great at making their house feel like a home. His father was a musician and would always be playing music inside the house, while his mother was more of a creative all around. One of his favorite memories was during his 7th birthday, when his mother created a carnival themed party. He said she took cardboard boxes and created carnival characters and games out of them. James truly appreciated everything his parents did for him and his sister.Chad also described his relationship with his sister as oil and water while they were growing up. His sister, who is 5 years older than him, is “the most intellectual person I know” he states. Achieving academic heights was easy for her, but being creative was a little bit difficult for her. On the other hand, he had to truly work hard to achieve B status in school, but creativity was like second nature. Although they differed in many areas, Chad’s parents were good at not comparing him and his sister to each other. He recalled his mother saying that “comparison is the thief of all joy” and to this day Chad continues to live by those words.Chad attributes his success and ability to create well designed homes and functional living space to his mentor, Landy Gardner, and his parents. While Gardner was able to show him the ins and outs of the industry, it was his parents who showed him what a true home really feels like.What do you do to make your house a home? Does your childhood home influence the home you have created for yourself now, like Chad’s has? Tell us your thoughts!SHOW LINKS:Visit Host Kristin Llamas at:Websites: www.kllamas.com | www.llamasart.comInstagram: @kllamasart @llamasartshowFacebook: @kllamasart @llamasartshowYouTube: KllamasFIND MY NEW BOOK ON BOOKSHELVES!: ¿Como te Llamas? Everyday Llamas You Might KnowVisit Guest Chad James at:Websites: http://www.chadjames.com/Instagram: chadjamesgroupMUSIC BY:Alfonso Llamas

On today’s episode of the Socratic Dialogues, Kristin Luna and Kristin Llamas chat it up about the meaning of community! Luna shares with us how community has become so important to her and how she truly gets to know an area as a travel journalist.Luna had always aspired to be a writer, and before graduating from the University of Tennessee in 2005, she had 7 years of experience in journalism.  While originally interested in sports journalism,  she got her feet wet in the travel industry by writing a hotel and restaurant column for Newsweek, and authored more than a dozen guidebooks for Frommer's. Today, she still freelances for such publications as Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, Parade and AAA Living. But she more regularly works with city and state tourism boards on their content efforts through her media production agency, Odinn Media, and 12-year-old blog Camels & Chocolate. Kristin’s ability to connect with people and community has allowed her to maintain a successful career as a freelance journalist. She genuinely loves people and credits being interested and curious to helping her build trusting relationships. Her career began well before social media was used to make connections, and she still believes that face to face relationships are invaluable to building community.In 2018, Kristin and her husband created a mural program that is focused on helping cities add public art to the streets as a way to benefit local communities. They have seen first hand how much murals and public art can benefit neighborhoods, bringing people of all age, race, and background together. Her involvement in boosting the morale in communities all around is truly inspiring! How do you connect with the community around you? Please be sure to share your thoughts! SHOW LINKS:Visit Host Kristin Llamas at:Websites: www.kllamas.com | www.llamasart.comInstagram: @kllamasart @llamasartshowFacebook: @kllamasart @llamasartshowYouTube: KllamasFIND MY NEW BOOK ON BOOKSHELVES!: ¿Como te Llamas? Everyday Llamas You Might KnowVisit Guest Kristin Luna at:Websites: https://www.camelsandchocolate.com/Instagram: @lunaticatlarge

SHOW NOTESDo you consider yourself a creative? It is easy to think of being creative as being an artist or a visionary. A creative person works well with their hands and is truly inspiring. On today’s podcast, Jason Minser helps us challenge what we may consider as creativity and shows us that we can become creative within our everyday lives. Jason works with Nashville’s WeGo Transit, a form of public transportation that helps connects people to their lives & communities by offering comprehensive service to Nashville's neighborhoods. Jason helps reinvent the way we look at public transit and studies how it could affect the lives of those who use it.Minser shares with us that after spending the majority of his life growing up riding public buses, he now believes that the best way to know a city is to walk it or ride the bus system. Jason was able to use his passion for the bus system to help WeGo Transit create projects such as the llama bus with Kristin Llamas’ artwork to help inspire viewers and commuters. Jason says that we can use public transportation to create joy and a feeling of connection as commuters and bystanders engage more with their surroundings. He admits that he does not consider himself a typical creative person, but proves that creativity lives within us all. Sometimes it takes quiet moments to discover that inspiration.I love this conversation because when people find out I'm an artist, the number one thing they say is that they aren't creative... so this conversation got me wondering, with constant interruptions and ToDo lists, we challenge you today is to shut it all down. Turn off the media, alerts, worries. Find that quiet space within you and tap into your true creativity. Then send Kristin a note or a picture and tell her what you created in your quiet! Learn how you can become more creative in your everyday life. Let’s all set our inner visionaries free to paint this world in a multitude of colors and be sure to let us know what you believe creativity is!  FOLLOW UP:FOLLOW UP:A few weeks after the recording, Jason found himself thinking about the last question that I asked during the podcast on creativity. I asked “What is the one thing in your life that you find inspiring and would want to take it with you?”  After thinking about it a while, Jason had more to say on the topic. In fact, he decided to share with us an amazing story that he has never shared with anyone before! This story is of the very first painting he owned at the young age of 6. Jason transports us back to the 80’s and shares how he became the proud owner of a very special painting, and why it continues to carry significance in his life today. Its an honor to be able to share Jason’s story with you today. You can read it here:  The One Thing... by Jason Minser SHOW LINKS:Visit Host Kristin Llamas at:Websites: www.kllamas.com | www.llamasart.comInstagram: @kllamasart @llamasartshowFacebook: @kllamasart @llamasartshowYouTube: Kllamas Visit Guest Jason Minser and WeGo Transit at:Websites:WeGoTransit.com

Getting to the truth is not an easy task, but luckily we have Leigh Hendry in the studio to help navigate this tricky conversion. Leigh recently retired as the Director of External Affairs at the Tennessee State Museum, where she worked for over 26 years, and now she acts as a curatorial consultant and arts writer.We learned on today’s episode that truth is different for everyone, as Leigh states, “there is no such thing as ‘collective truths’.” This means that even though you might attend the same event as someone, it does not mean that you share their experience or truth about it, but can someone’s truth be altered?Truth can change over time due to imperfect memories, history, and new discoveries. However, when does a person’s truth become a lie? Do you have to know the truth in order to tell a lie? Truth is knowledge. To live our lives in truth, let go forward and gather as much information as we can to make honest decisions each and every day. Please be sure to share your truths with us, we would love to hear it!SHOW LINKS:Visit Host Kristin Llamas at:Websites: www.kllamas.com | www.llamasart.comInstagram: @kllamasart @llamasartshowFacebook: @kllamasart @llamasartshowYouTube: KllamasFIND MY NEW BOOK ON BOOKSHELVES!: ¿Como te Llamas? Everyday Llamas You Might KnowFEATURED ARTISTS/INSTITUTION :Lyon, Francehttp://www.insideoutproject.netNashville, Tennesseehttps://www.akllamas.com/portfolio/nashville-paper-portrait-lanterns/Susan Stryk - ArtistMUSIC BY:Alfonso LlamasTell me... WHAT IS Truth? Share your thoughts with me on your favorite social channels or visit kllamas.com to email me your thoughts and recommend guests! Subscribe, review & share!

We are so excited for you listen in on this week’s episode ‘What is Love?’, with Seemi Rizvi. This episode is truly special because it is the first ever that was recorded live, which will give you listeners a raw and uncensored discussion about love. Take a moment to listen to Seemi share the way she learned love throughout her life, her culture, her family, her arranged marriage for 18 years, and her ability to love again after the divorce. Seemi expressed that in order to take care of others you must learn to take care of yourself first. However, the way we love ourselves and how we want to be love, at times, can conflict with those who we are trying to share our love with. Her islamic culture and Pakistani upbringing taught her that a good person is one who sacrifices themselves for others. It wasn’t until she heard a motivational speaker for the first time that she learned how could she save her children or others from suffocating when she does not have oxygen herself. The key to sharing love positively is by understanding your own love language and the way others around you feel and express love. The paths that Seemi took taught her that love was the key to her life and what gave her power to fight for her children and for herself. How does love affect you life and what are ways we should learn how to love others? Please share thoughts so that we can all grow our love for one another. SHOW LINKS: Visit Host Kristin Llamas at: Websites: www.kllamas.com | www.llamasart.com Instagram: @kllamasart @llamasartshow Facebook: @kllamasart @llamasartshow YouTube: Kllamas FIND MY NEW BOOK ON BOOKSHELVES!: ¿Como te Llamas? Everyday Llamas You Might Know Visit Guest Seemi Rizvi at: Websites: FEATURED ARTISTS/INSTITUTION : Seemi’s Henna Body Art MUSIC BY: Alfonso Llamas Tell me... WHAT IS Love? Share your thoughts with me on your favorite social channels or visit kllamas.com to email me your thoughts and recommend guests! Subscribe, review & share!

We are so excited to have Nashville Artist, Aaron Grayum in the studio for this week’s episode, ‘What is Wonder?’ Aaron uses wonder in his artwork as he gives a voice to his 5 yr old self through his childlike style paintings. We discuss what wonder is, why it is significant in our lives, and how to preserve it from childhood into our adult lives. Join us as we wonder about wonder! As children, our curiosity is limitless, allowing the smallest of things give us wonder and happiness, but as we grow, our sense of wonder and excitement diminishes. When did little things stop kindling joy for us anymore? Have you ever wondered why? Our guest, Aaron Grayum, believes it might have to do with our awareness of others around us that causes us to lose the freedom to wonder. Yet, as adults, how can rebuild our curiosity and wonder? Marc Chagall, once said, “the dignity of the artist lies in his duty of keeping awake the sense of wonder in the world.” Kristin chose the right artist to help keep the wonder alive in this week’s discussion, ‘What is Wonder?’, Aaron Grayum joins us and share his methods on keeping wonder alive in his artwork and in his life. Turning childlike doodles into massive paintings gives Aaron the perfect voice in helping all of us revitalize our sense of wonder. In the Metaphysics, Aristotle says “it is wonder that led the first philosophers to philosophy, since a man who is puzzled thinks of himself as ignorant and philosophizes to escape from his ignorance.” Having a sense of wonder will push people to understand the world around them. Instead of creating divisions with comparisons, lets wonder and grow to understand what makes us all different, then truly come to appreciate those differences. It is amazing to see how wonder can help lead to admiration. What does wonder mean to you? Share your thoughts with us! SHOW LINKS: Visit Host Kristin Llamas at: Websites: KLlamas.com | LlamasArt.com Instagram: @kllamasart @llamasartshow Facebook: @kllamasart @llamasartshow YouTube: Kllamas FIND MY NEW BOOK ON BOOKSHELVES!: ¿Como te Llamas? Everyday Llamas You Might Know **Visit Guest Aaron Grayum at: ** Websites: www.aarongrayum.com FEATURED ART: Painting titled OK by Aaron Grayum

Holiness is definitely a difficult topic to discuss, it seems that it is one of those faux pas topics during proper gatherings, because let’s be honest, it can be a tricky one to navigate. There is a lot of passion and conviction that stems from an individual’s beliefs and lifestyles, and oftentimes in history people have gone to war over religious disagreements or differences. So in this episode, Kristin Llamas has invited Carrie Mills, curator of the art galleries at the Nashville Jewish Community Center, to join her in discussing holiness outside the realm of organized religion. The question seems to become "What is the essence of holiness?" as they enter into a humbled conversation about the quest for holiness. Carrie Mills is curator of the art galleries at the Gordon Jewish Community Center, or JCC here in Nashville and she also writes for the Jewish Observer. Carrie’s life has been filled with creativity, from fashion and product design in New York to now styling models for Vogue photoshoots. Listen to how she has found her way to Nashville, TN and all the adventures she had inbetween. Mills shares with us that her spirituality is collecting essences that come from the best parts of various religions that she has encountered. The many paths that she has taken has lead her to find that the heart of holiness is self-love. She explains that in order to truly share love with others you must understand how to love yourself. Although loving yourself maybe harder to learn and do, it is essential for spiritual growth. She recalls a moment where she asked her rabbi “where do you find God?”...her response, “within yourself.” Grow your understanding of holiness this week with Carrie and Kristin. Learn how self-care and self-love can help strengthen your spirituality and share your thoughts on what holiness means to you. SHOW LINKS: Visit Host Kristin Llamas at: Websites: www.kllamas.com | www.llamasart.com Instagram: @kllamasart @llamasartshow Facebook: @kllamasart @llamasartshow YouTube: Kllamas FIND KRISTIN'S NEW BOOK ON BOOKSHELVES at Barnes and Noble, Amazon and bookstores near you: ¿Como te Llamas? Everyday Llamas You Might Know Visit Guest Carrie Mills at: Websites: www.CarrieMills.com FEATURED ART HISTORY : Look back on art history and it is easy to see how much of an influence religion and beliefs played a role in art. From the depictions of ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman Gods and Goddesses to large frescoes commissioned by the Catholic Church, such as Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, we quickly see religious storytelling through the old masters. MUSIC BY: Alfonso Llamas What are your thoughts?... What Is Holiness to you? Share your ideas and stories about this topic and episode with Kristin on your favorite social channels or visit kllamas.com to email your thoughts and recommend guests! Subscribe, review & share!

Daniel Peter James Benson, or Dan for short, stops by the studio on this week’s episode to discuss ‘What is wealth?’ with Kristin. Born in Canada, Benson and his family found their way to Nashville, Tennessee, where Benson’s father started his financial company in 1996. He shares his stories of how he has gained wealth within his life by simply watching his parents. Dan expressed that “wealth is a relative statement”, because everyone’s interpretation of wealth is different. In his opinion, wealth has very little to do with actually money, rather wealth is about a person’s state of mind. Statistics show that if a person makes $35,000 a year, they are in the top 1% of income in the world. However, according to psychologist Andrew T. Jebb, from Purdue University, “you need just $60,000-$75,000 for emotional well being and day to day happiness.” This shows that wealth does not come from just a financial situation based on numbers, rather a person can find wealth in other ways. “People can be both rich and poor.” Dan informs us, wealth can be measured as time, knowledge, and our willingness to give to others. He let us know that giving to others creates and adds value to a person. He asks us, “how often do we think about what we don’t have, rather than appreciating what we do have?” To truly become wealthy, Dan explains, that a person must have a balance in all areas. Anyone can have financial wealth, but those who are remembered by others are the ones that use their wealth to help others. Do you agree with Dan’s thoughts on wealth? Share your comments with us. SHOW LINKS: Visit Host Kristin Llamas at: Websites: www.kllamas.com | www.llamasart.com Instagram: @kllamasart @llamasartshow Facebook: @kllamasart @llamasartshow YouTube: Kllamas FIND MY NEW BOOK ON BOOKSHELVES!: ¿Como te Llamas? Everyday Llamas You Might Know Visit Guest Dan Benson at: Websites: https://beaconcm.com/ Book: From Financial Failure to Fitness FEATURED ARTISTS/INSTITUTION : Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I , (also known as The Woman in Gold) by Gustav Klimt, MUSIC BY: Alfonso Llamas Tell me... WHAT IS Wealth? Share your thoughts with me on your favorite social channels or visit kllamas.com to email me your thoughts and recommend guests! Subscribe, review & share!

In Utah, there is something special happening. There’s a school that teaches its students to exercise virtues such as truth and justice, to treat others with compassion and to create lasting friendships. The best part of it all? This school is free to the public. Dr. Susan Goers runs Capstone Classical Academy located in Plains City, Utah. Here, they don’t refer to the young adults who attend it as students, they are called scholars which seems like a small switch but we learn that the idea of being a scholar is at the core of the schools values. Within its walls, the key virtues identified by Socrates are exercised daily not only in curriculum but in the mediation of problems among students and staff. In the episode Dr. Goers speaks on what it means to be virtuous in our modern world and helps to identify the idea of exercising responsibility over rights. Sharing insights from her 30+ years of experience as an educator we learn how to identify truth and how that leads to a more beautiful an fulfilling life not just for her scholars, but for parents as well. She addresses navigating the troubles created by technology addiction in the classroom and how virtuous principles help guide her students in dealing with common conflicts amongst themselves, their peers and the community oriented world we live in. More importantly, she gives us numerous examples of how these same virtues help her and her students persevere through difficult times. An episode packed with knowledge and helpful tips for any listener, we can all benefit from the ideas being utilized at Dr. Goers school. Don’t miss this one! SHOW LINKS: Visit Host Kristin Llamas at: Websites: www.kllamas.com | www.llamasart.com Instagram: @kllamasart @llamasartshow Facebook: @kllamasart @llamasartshow YouTube: Kllamas FIND MY NEW BOOK ON BOOKSHELVES!: ¿Como te Llamas? Everyday Llamas You Might Know Visit Guest Dr. Susan Goers at: Websites: CapstoneClassical.org FEATURED ARTISTS/INSTITUTION : The School of Athens by Raphael. This was his interpretation of philosophy as a branch of knowledge. Showing a gathering of Greek philosophers engaged in various activities, 21 of them to be exact. And all men. However, if you pay attention, there is one female figure in the piece and it happens to be Athena, the Greek Goddess of Wisdom. MUSIC BY: Alfonso Llamas Tell me... WHAT IS Virtue? Share your thoughts with me on your favorite social channels or visit kllamas.com to email me your thoughts and recommend guests! Subscribe, review & share!

What is Empathy? Is the question Kristin asks and discuss with Sylvia Matiko, born and raised in Toronto, Canada. Sylvia is the cofounder of both A Different View, which work with Museums all around the globe creating an inspired and thoughtful visitor experience, and Timbalaya, a children’s book series and theme park being planted around the world to encourage outdoor play to grow the imaginations of children. Her area of expertise allows her to experience and practice empathy on a daily and she gives us valid information on how we can show empathy to others. Everyone would say that empathy is putting yourself in someone else’s shoes, but as Sylvia states “it’s a little bit more than that.” Studies have shown that empathy has declined at least 50% in the last decade, leaving us in an empathy deficit and we have all seen the effects with the more hate, prejudice, and fighting opinions we see on the news and around the world. Sylvia and Kristin go on to discuss how technology and social media might contribute to the decline of empathy shown in others. Now that we are aware of the issues and its effects, are we able to solve it and work back from this massive decline? As Sylvia states, everyone can be taught empathy. Sylvia breaks down empathy into 3 categories: Cognitive Empathy, Emotional Empathy, and Compassionate Empathy. Cognitive empathy allow people such as doctors, nurses, and social workers, who deal with emotional situations with their patients or clients on daily, understand where they are coming from without being too emotionally overwhelmed. They are able disconnect their feelings from the situation. Emotional empathy however, allows you to understand someone but it doesn’t mean you are completely connected with them. This means that if you have emotional empathy, you might not take compassionate action. Compassionate empathy on the other hand, mean that you are truly willing to help them properly to produce a strong connection. “Empathy fuels connections; where sympathy does not.” Sylvia says that Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits has a lot of valuable examples in how to practice empathy by truly listening to understand one another. Although you may not be able to help everyone, you are able to listen to and empathize with everyone you encounter. Finding that balance with empathy is also important so that you do not overwhelm yourself. One of the best quotes from the show would have to be from Miss Dolly Parton, “if you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours.” Even small actions such as a smile or holding the door for someone can show others that you care and empathize with their needs. Let’s all do what we can, big or small to show a little bit more of empathy. SHOW LINKS: Visit Host Kristin Llamas at: Websites: www.kllamas.com | www.llamasart.com Instagram: @kllamasart @llamasartshow Facebook: @kllamasart @llamasartshow YouTube: Kllamas FIND MY NEW BOOK ON BOOKSHELVES!: ¿Como te Llamas? Everyday Llamas You Might Know Visit Guest Sylvia Matiko at: Websites: http://www.adifferentviewonline.com and http://timbalaya.com Other Links: Empathy Museum: A Mile in My Shoes HumanFirst Club 5 Love Language FEATURED ARTISTS/INSTITUTION : The Minneapolis Institute of Art recently received a large grant of 750,00 from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation in 2017 to establish the world’s first Center for Empathy and the Visual Arts. MUSIC BY: Alfonso Llamas Tell me... WHAT IS Empathy? Share your thoughts with me on your favorite social channels or visit kllamas.com to email me your thoughts and recommend guests! Subscribe, review & share!

What is Motherhood? Born and raised in Rochester New York, guest speaker Allyn Abraham has five siblings of her own. Allyn recalls memories of her own mom, whose mother passed away when she was young as well as stories about Kristin’s childhood. This is a story of someone who without planning to have children, ended up carrying and raising 9 children of her own. Hear the personal experiences of how significant how birth order plays a role in personalities and how to relate to each child on an individual level. This is a great episode to really understand 3 generations of motherhood. Kristin and her mom share a lot of laughs and also get a little bit personal, so whether or not you are a mother, you are sure to be entertained. The road of motherhood is never easy, and we want to let you know that we appreciate all of the mothers out there! Please share with us the experiences you have with your mother and what it means to you! If you are a mother, what life lessons do you experience with your own children? SHOW LINKS: Visit Host Kristin Llamas at: Websites: www.kllamas.com | www.llamasart.com Instagram: @kllamasart @llamasartshow Facebook: @kllamasart @llamasartshow YouTube: Kllamas FIND MY NEW BOOK ON BOOKSHELVES!: ¿Como te Llamas? Everyday Llamas You Might Know **FEATURED ARTISTS: ** Barbara Hepworth “My studio was a jumble of children, rocks, sculptures, trees, importunate flowers and washing.” – Barbara Hepworth **MUSIC BY: ** Alfonso Llamas Tell me... **WHAT IS MOTHERHOOD? ** Visit kllamas.com to email me your thoughts and recommend guests! Subscribe, review & share!

“What is beauty?” In this episode Kristin Llamas sits down with photographer and gallery owner Ashley Bergeron Segroves as they explore this topic through her story. Ashley has been experimenting with the concept and essence of beauty her entire life. Starting off as a family photographer, she insightfully recognized that beauty isn't about perfection but about the wonderful and often disorganized state of everyday life. In our daily lives there is much chaos but wrapped around that is there something beautiful? After moving to Nashville and establishing herself as a notable photographer she founded Bombshell Creative, a company which specializes in boudoir style shoots. In this episode she takes us through her journey of beginning a creative company starting with recognizing her own value and getting paid for it. From shoots that would be life changing for the women involved all the way to realizing what the digital era means for photographers, she shares with us the wisdom of “photoshop detox” and how to help capture the true soul of a client through photography. Ashley also runs The Studio 208 Gallery in downtown Nashville. There she shares her passion to develop a personal relationship with the works being showcased and sold as she walks clients through the process of finding the perfect art for their space. The building itself was an exploration in beauty and labor of love, beginning as a dilapidated historic property in the heart of Nashville now transformed into an awe inspiring space used as her photography studio, art gallery and even her home. Ashley shares with us what it means to truly feel beauty in the world rather than rely on our eyes to show us. This is an episode full of everyday wisdom and love shared by a wonderfully creative soul. SHOW LINKS: Visit Host Kristin Llamas at: Websites: www.kllamas.com | www.llamasart.com Instagram: @kllamasart @llamasartshow Facebook: @kllamasart @llamasartshow YouTube: Kllamas NEW BOOK: ¿Como te Llamas? Visit Guest Ashley Bergeron Segroves at: Websites: www.thestudio208.com | www.bombshellcreative.com Instagram: @thestudio208 Facebook: @thestudio208 FEATURED ARTISTS: Pablo Picasso "“Beauty? To me it is a word without sense because I do not know where its meaning comes from nor where it leads to.” – Pablo Picasso Ian Ross, Mural artist **Tell me... ****WHAT IS BEAUTY? ** Visit kllamas.com to email me your thoughts and recommend guests! Subscribe, comment & share!