The Story with Charu

After 9 seasons, 80 plus episodes content creator/writer/journalist/speaker Charu Kumarhia talks about the show going on a hiatus.www.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Karen Petersen always knew there was a problem she needed help with, in 2002 she was ready to do something about it.Growing up with an alcoholic father she was familiar with the disease.  Alcohol became a way for her to cope with other anxieties but soon she realized she was addicted.In this interview she shares her story and how others may be struggling as well.Petersen wrote this blog post in 2021 about her struggle and success:https://minndixiemom.wordpress.com/If you are someone you know needs help with alcohol:https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helplinehttps://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/treatment-alcohol-problems-finding-and-getting-helpMany people choose not to drink alcohol for various reasons, as a host it's always nice to have something special for those guests.  There is a world of “mocktails” out there but here is a special holiday one created just for The Story with Charu listeners:Apple Ginger Sparkler:Blend Sparkling Apple Juice (we used Martinelli's Brand) with equal parts Ginger Beer (we used CannonBorough)More juice will make it sweet and more ginger beer will make it tart.  You can add club soda or seltzer to add fizz.We topped this with a dried, candied orange but a piece of crystalized ginger could work too! Check out https://www.instagram.com/thestorywithcharu/?hl=en to take a look at the results.www.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Roopa Pai is one of India's best-known writers for children. The Bangalore-based author has written over 25 books and  given countless talks and lectures related to heritage.Her two most popular books are the award-winning Indian national bestseller “The Gita For Children” and its prequel “The Vedas And Upanishads For Children.”She recently co-authored fitness evangelist and supermodel Milind Soman's memoir – “Made In India.”In this conversation Pai and Kumarhia talk about the spirtual wisdom of ancient India and how to understand it today.Check out her popular Tedx Talks:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMI0j1AJh5Qhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckaEwJj2A1Uhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9UvkK2xxr0https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/2939420.Roopa_Paiwww.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

William Dissen is a renowed chef with 3 popular restaurants in North Carolina.  He's also known for his efforts to be sustainable.In this interview Kumarhia and Dissen talk about the love of food, cultural traditions and how to celebrate Thanksgiving without the myth of its origin.Find out more about Dissen here:https://marketplace-restaurant.com/chef-william-dissenhttps://haymakerclt.com/team/william-dissen/https://billydschicken.com/https://twitter.com/chefbillyd?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthorhttps://www.instagram.com/chefbillyd/?hl=enWatch William going head to head to Gordon Ramsay here:https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x82m7zfwww.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Family therapist Ann Dillard has built a following among folks who want to better their parent/child dynamic - no matter the age of the child.She offers conversation prompts for parents, especially mothers, who are eager to listen and repair generational  patterns of trauma and neglect.In this interview, content creator Charu Kumarhia and Dillard talk about being raised in immigrant households and how to do the work of mending relationships.Dillard also wrote the Amazon #1 Bestseller Unchain My Legacy and has contributed to several other publications.You can find more about Dillard and her work here:Ann Dillard, LMFT, DWCFBrainspotting TherapistPresident, K.I.P. Consulting ServicesTherapist . Teen Therapist . Parent Coach . Author . SpeakerPhone: (763)228-9757  Email: KIPConsult@msn.com  IG: @AnnDillard.LMFTClubhouse: Anndillardlmftwww.anndillard.com www.payhip.com/healthyconversationshttps://www.facebook.com/AnnDillard.MA.LMFTTransforming the lives and minds of teens and those who love themwww.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Ainsle MacLeod is a past life psychic who never wanted to believe in psychics.  His path has led him to work with famous clients (he often has a waiting list) and in front of Oprah Winfrey for her Soul Sunday podcast.In this interview, the second he's done with creator Charu Kumarhia, the two talk about a soul's mission and about the general basic stuff that makes up the life of a famous psychic.https://ainsliemacleod.com/www.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Matthew Raiford was winning accolades  in the food world, traveling, writing amazing cookbooks,  meeting other foodie folks - but something was drawing him back to Georgia.His family has owned and operated Gilliard Farms in Burnswick, GA for centuries.  For context, this is the same part of the southeast where Ahmaud Arbery was brutally killed while jogging, the crime covered up until the public outcry grew to a zenith.  Food, culture and activism combine in Raiford's talents and efforts.In this interview creator Charu Kumarhia and Raiford talk about their love of history and food.https://www.chefarmermatthew.com/https://www.gilliard-farms.com/www.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Michael Muller was a first grade teacher and a man committed to creating and supporting things of beauty in this world.. then came along a furry little rascal that was full of personality - Mirabelle.Mirabelle was a Boston Terrier gifted to him, soon she was inspiring him to create children's books.  The Adventures of Mirabelle was born.In this conversation, Charu Kumarhia and Muller talk about their shared love of the breed and why it was so important to find things of joy over the last few years. https://www.theadventuresofmirabelle.com/www.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Sunya Folayan ventured  into something new in  2003.  After working as a family and marriage therapist she decided to follow her heart and work as an artist.  She especially wanted to explore fabric and processes used across the globe.In this interview she talks about how keeping these ways alive relates to her work as an activist.Find out more about Folayan here:https://www.sunyafolayan.com/www.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Yvonne Liu could not stop herself from writing and her best work is when she tells her own story.She was found on a Hong Kong staircase as a baby and then spent the next several months in an orphanage.  A Chinese-American couple adopted her but her childhood  was full of  emotional and physical abuse.In 2021 she submitted a brief synopsis of her story to the New York Times Tiny Love Stories section.  Even though it was a tiny love story, it captivated many readers.In our interview Liu talks about the healing power of writing and the impact telling your story can have on others.Find her on Twitter and Instagram: @yvonneliuwriterFind out more about her work here:https://yvonneliuwriter.com/https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eC1Mnv2S3jpRv3WsDy2icVe78Lk90nkN/view?usp=drive_web https://www.salon.com/2021/09/13/everybody-loves-raymond-anniversary-parental-favorite/www.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Earl B. Hunter Jr. started Black Folks Camp Too after years in the RV and outdoor recreation industry.  After going on a backpacking trip with friends in 2015, he fell in love with the great outdoors and wondered why more African Americans weren't out there too.  He knew all too well the fears and stigma associated with “the woods” for Black Americans.His company's goal is to ensure the woods is a place where all people feel safe and at ease.  In this interview host Charu Kumarhia and Hunter talk about their shared love of the woods and how to get more Black folks to camp too.Find out more:https://www.blackfolkscamptoo.com/www.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Anu Sehgal grew up in India and moved to the United States more than 20 years ago.  She realized quickly that keeping one's language skills strong in the melting pot that is America is hard.  Once she became a mother, the lack of quality and authentic Indian programs and classes became even more evident.  Sehgal believes an awareness of one's heritage, culture and language is key for children to become self-aware and confident individuals.  That's why she started The Culture Tree, a New York based company that offers language and culture classes for students in the city and across the country.  The Culture Tree also partners with organizations and museums to bring South Asian culture and languages to the forefront.More on Seghal and her company:http://indiangirlamericanworld.blogspot.com/2017/03/anu-sehgal-famous-fridays.htmlhttps://theculturetree.com/www.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

On August 4, 1910 these words were said in connection to a statue erected to honor the Confederacy in Cornelius, North Carolina:“… to love home and its purity, protect from taint the Saxon blood that courses in your veins.”Complete Speech here:http://archive.org/details/idealconfederate00burw/mode/2up?view=theaterConfederate statues were erected at a time when Civil War Veterans were dying and when American Blacks were asking to be included in the society they helped build.     The speech above glorifies the Confederate soldier - whom some white southerners  believe fought for his state and homeland, and not so much slavery.  Historical record indicts that slavery was very much the reason for the Civil War, because the work of the enslaved held up the entire economy of the United States at that time.For many - Confederate monuments glofiy the cause of white supremacy and downplay the terror many African-Americans faced in the fight for a more equal society (and still do).111 years after the statue was dedicated, journalist and wrtier Charu Kumarhia attended a demonstartion for its removal and met a young activist Justin Miller.In this interview they both discuss the event and an interesting development from the night.www.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Landon Eustache is a high powered corporate attorney with a soft spot for kids.Years ago he started doing pro bono work for the Charlotte based Council for Children's Rights. The Mecklenburg County based non profit envisions a community committed to standing up, speaking out, and acting to ensure every child's right to be safe, healthy, and well-educated.  The group works across various aspects of society to defend and champion the rights of children to be supported and treated with fairness, compassion, and respect, regardless of personal obstacles.You can find more about the group here:https://www.cfcrights.org/www.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Charu Kumarhia talks to JT Kaltreider about how the pandemic inspired the edcuator to find a new way to reach children and let them know they matter.JT Kaltreider, or most famously known as Mister Kay, is an elite early childhood educator with over a decade of experience in the field. He currently is in Drexel University's Doctorate in Educational Leadership & Management program with a concentration in Global & International education. Mister Kay also received his K-12 Principal Certificate from Drexel and a Master of Education with a specialization in Special Education from The Pennsylvania State University. He dual majored in college and received his Bachelor of Science in Education with a PreK-4th grade teacher certification. JT is a National Marketing Coordinator for the Children's Media Association and a member of the Diversity Content Committee. He wants all children to feel that they matter and a have a purpose in the world.Follow this link to find The Mister Kay Show:https://solo.to/misterkayshowwww.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Michiel Perry is a South Carolina girl who loves all things Southern and stylish.   When she started plannng her Charleston wedding and decorating her first home she realized that there was not enough out there about being Black and Southern - even though most African-Americans can trace their roots in the American South.That spurred her to create the digital lifestyle brand Black Southern Belle.  Black Southern Belle has been featured on HGTV, Essence, Black Enterprise, Draper James, Apartment Therapy, Brides, Today, Levo League, AOL Lifestyle Collective, and more.  They've also done marketing campaigns with Pure Leaf, American Express, Gildan, Walmart, and various Fortune 500 companies.In this interview Perry talks about how there is more to the American South than meets the eye.Find more here:https://blacksouthernbelle.com/about-us-black-southern-belle/www.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Most of us did not learn about the story of Robert Smalls, which is shocking when you look at what he accomplished.In short, Smalls, enslaved in Beaufort, South Carolina is credited with stealing a Confederate ship and delivering it to Union forces in 1862.  He went on to serve in the South Carolina legislature and the US House of Representatives.  He founded what became the first public education system for all.In this interview his great, great grandson discusses his life and why we are still working on social justice issues today.More information:http://www.afrocentric.me/https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwim9vi-6t3xAhVeRTABHR9EDEAQFjAFegQICBAD&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.africanamericancharleston.com%2Farticles%2Fthe-incredible-life-of-robert-smalls%2F&usg=AOvVaw0YE8XWMhAs8cO-ME1BdHV0https://yourislandnews.com/great-great-grandson-of-robert-smalls-highlights-day-at-penn-school/https://www.ocregister.com/2016/03/04/descendant-of-slave-who-stole-rebel-ship-named-head-of-planned-international-african-american-museum/https://thegrio.com/2013/02/21/the-descendants-robert-smalls-great-great-grandson-says-hes-the-unsung-hero-of-the-civil-war/https://www.greenvilleonline.com/videos/news/2017/09/18/michael-moore-reflects-great-great-grandfather-robert-smalls/105769670/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6T7ksyhUkwwww.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Dr. Kanchan Koya is on a mission to demystify spice, food and the way we eat.The Harvard. trained molecular biologist is also the author of Spice, Spice Baby - 100 receipes for your family table.Find more about her amazing work here:https://www.spicespicebaby.com/about/www.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Tamanna Raisinghani is a software enginneer who has a side hustle of being a spirtualist.  From a young age, she found herself asking questions and seeking answers.Her musings have found an audience online.  In this conversation she and journalist Charu Kumarhia talk about their shared history growing up as Hindus and how it relates to spritual understanding.Here are some of Raisinghani's articles:https://www.huffpost.com/entry/souls-resonance_b_8427392https://www.huffpost.com/entry/post_10009_b_8180898 https://indiacurrents.com/decoding-mindfulness/  https://indiacurrents.com/do-you-work-2/  https://indiacurrents.com/unpeeling-the-real-me/ https://indiacurrents.com/an-unusual-whatsapp-rendezvous/ https://medium.com/@t.raisinghani/my-dream-house-a0ee9c544de9 https://medium.com/@t.raisinghani/nothing-out-of-box-about-it-60b63906262ahttps://indiacurrents.com/40-life-lessons-on-turning-40/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/whats-holding-you-back_b_9722152https://traisinghani.wixsite.com/cupofcoffee/single-post/2018/03/12/impressions-of-a-bumpy-ride www.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Victoria Smalls grew up on St. Helena, South Carolina.  St. Helena is a barrier island on the coast of of the eastern United States.  It's home to many descendants of slaves brought from Africa to grow rice, sea island cotton and other crops.In this interview she talks about her Gullah heritage and the famous Penn School set up to educate newly freed slaves.www.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Dr. Jennifer Mullan trained as a psychologist but quickly realized that so much of what we call therapy doesn't get to the root of systematic oppression.  That realization led her to start Decolonizing Therapy.  In this interview she talks about that work.Find more here:https://www.drjennifermullan.com/Dr. Jennifer Mullan  creates spaces for people and organizations to heal.  She believes that it is essential to create a dialogue to address how mental health is deeply affected by systemic inequities and the trauma of oppression.  Dr. Mullan has earned her Doctorate of Psychology (Psy.D) in Clinical Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies; a Master's in Counseling & Community Agencies from New York University's Steinhardt School of Education; and her Bachelors of Arts in Psychology and Elementary Education, from New Jersey City University.  She notes that her dissertation: “Slavery and the Intergenerational Transmission of Trauma in Inner-City African American Male Youth: From the Cotton Fields to the Concrete Jungle,” has been a primary foundation for her current work in furthering emotional wellness on a larger collective scale for communities of color.   Dr. Mullan is currently a full-time Psychologist at New Jersey City University's Counseling Center, facilitator for the campus LGBTQIA+ Support group, Coordinator of the University's nationally recognized Peer Education program (Peers Educating Peers).  She has almost 15 years of experience in clinical practice, higher education, teaching, and grant writing.  She is passionately committed to solidarity work that effectively addresses inequities based on race, gender, class, ability, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Her professional research and clinical interests include complex and intergenerational trauma, group psychotherapy, LGBTQIA wellness, spirituality & mindfulness practices, racism as trauma, healing in therapeutic settings, self-love as a revolutionary act, and the process of decolonizing mental health. Social Media has been a primary platform for Dr. Mullan's current work in politicizing therapy and emotional health on a larger collective scale, with over 53K followers on Instagram.  In 2019, she founded Decolonizing Therapy, LLC. They seek to create spaces to “call mental health professions IN” (rather than call people out). Dr. Mullan believes it is essential to ask mental health professionals to reassess their education, “whom they are serving? “and begin to question the relatability of the mental health industrial complex to the People they serve.  It is her belief that we can tend to our emotional/ mental health AND hold systemic oppression accountable. You can frequently hear Dr. Mullan stating, “Everything is political!”   Dr. Mullan also centralizes Historical and Intergenerational Trauma, which she identifies as Ancestral Trauma, at the crux of decolonization work. Through the movement of Decolonizing Therapy, Dr. Mullan can be found providing international keynotes, holding Radicalizing Rage workshops, doing Coaching sessions while un-training mental health professionals and providing Ancestral healing sessions.Whether on stage or through her writing, Dr. Mullan offers conscious, clear, and authentic dialogue that is a healing interchange of therapy, intersectional awareness, social justice work, and practical interventions that pave a path for her participants to carve out a purposeful life for themselves.  She is passionate about helping people and movements define their own healing and resistance to oppression. She loves cats, the ocean, brunch, dancing, and affirmation cards. www.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Chef Therese Nelson's culinary career began in 2004 after graduating summa cum laude from Johnson and Wales University, with degrees in Food Service Management and Culinary Arts. Her training spanned throughout the East Coast, where she worked her way through the kitchens of major hotel groups such as the Hilton, Marriott, Orient Express, and Four Seasons. In 2006, she joined the all-female team of The Get Em' Girl Inc., using her culinary expertise as a recipe consultant for the company's two branded cookbooks, The Get Em' Girl's Guide to the Power of Cuisine and The Get Em Girl's Guide to the Perfect Get Together. She was the food editor for the brand's lifestyle website and the executive chef for the company's in-house boutique catering company.Her food graced the tables of global brands such as Black Enterprise, Carol's Daughter, BET, MTV, WEEN, Verizon, and RocNation. In 2014 the company dissolved and Thérèse pivoted to the private sector, working as a chef for select clients, writing for publications such as First We Feast, and consulting for catering and restaurant businesses throughout the Tri-State area.In addition to her culinary life, Thérèse is the founder and culinary curator of Black Culinary History, founded in 2008 as a way to connect Black chefs, preserve Black heritage throughout the African diaspora, promote and share the work of Black food and beverage professionals, and maintain the legacy being constructed by Black chefs for the next generation.Thérèse is a member of Eta Sigma Delta, Women Chefs and Restaurateurs, Southern Foodways Alliance, Equity At The Table, International Association of Culinary Professionals, National Association of Professional Women, and the Culinary Historians of New York. She's worked with AFROPUNK and has been featured in the Washington Post, New York Times, and Huffington Post. She is a board member of the Museum of Food and Drink and was one of the first chefs-in-residence for TASTE Cooking. Thérèse is a proud native of Newark, NJ and currently resides in East Harlem, NY where she enjoys being a part of the community's rich and diverse culinary landscape, personally and professionally.https://www.blackculinaryhistory.com/homewww.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Natalie Weaver became a sudden advocate for those with facial deformations, the profoundly disabled and the medically fragile when her own daughter (who suffered from all three) was at risk of having medical benefits cut.  The journey has taken her to congressional hearings and meetings with other activists around the country.It has also made her the target of online trolls.In this interview she talks about becoming a mom to Sophia and finding her voice and purpose thru that bond.  Sophia passed away in 2019.  While her decade on earth was brief, the impact is profound. Find out more:https://www.sophias-voice.com/about-ushttps://www.natalieweaver.com/Grow with Sophia (helping in discussing facial differences with kids):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXO4jnDdXIwwww.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Moshitadi Lehlomela  is a counselor and life coach based in South Africa.   She launched Temple Beautiful, a service to help men and women heal their mother wound so they can live their best lives in 2017.Lehlomela had no idea when she started her work the impact she would have, and the interest from people outside of her own African culture.The “mother wound” is a theory in psychology that states if a mother is not able to meet the needs of her child - she will create long lasting wounds that often keep getting passed down thru generations.  Mother wounds can exist because the mother herself was experiencing great stress at the time of birth and the early childhood years.Find @thestorywithcharu on Instagram to see pictures of Lehlomela and be linked to her work.  These articles and links on the mother wound explain the syndrome more:https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/addiction-and-recovery/201910/the-mother-woundhttps://www.healthline.com/health/mother-woundhttps://www.terricole.com/themotherwound/https://www.terricole.com/healingthemotherwound/www.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Brad Stoehr has always liked helping people, but becoming a kidney donor wasn't necessarily on the list.That all changed when he saw a social media post about a high school friend in need of a kidney.On January 25, 2021 Stoehr gave Petra Herzog (part 1 of this story) a kidney.The process lead them both to create the non profit Odd Kidneys.  In this interview he talks about what in his life lead to the living kidney donation.  Find out more about the group and Type 1 Diabetes here:https://www.oddkidneys.org/https://www.diabetes.org/diabetes/type-1Outside of serving Odd Kidneys, Stoehr is the Central Divisional Director for Horizon Investments.  His most important job is as a husband and father.   He and wife Leslie have two kids, Stella Reese and Miller Patrick. Stoehr is an avid Clemson fan (class of 2005), he was also the guy inside the school mascot when he was a student there! www.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Petra Herzog developed Type 1 Diabetes as a child and has struggled with the harsh effects of this disease for decades. In 2020 as the Covid pandemic raged across the globe, Herzog was hospitalized because of the effects from the disease.  That's when she found out she'd have to be on dialysis until she could get a kidney transplant. After months of tests - high school friend Brad Stoehr was approved as a match.  On January 25, 2021 Stoehr gave Herzog a kidney.  In this interview she talks about how it all happened.The process led to the creation of a non-profit - Odd Kidneys.Odd Kidneys helps donors, recipients, and their caregivers navigate through the process of living donation. Find more about their efforts and Type 1 Diabetes here:https://www.oddkidneys.org/https://www.diabetes.org/diabetes/type-1Petra is an alum of Wofford College and University of SC. She earned her Master's in psychology from Harvard University. Boating is one of her biggest passions and she's happy to be able to do water activities now that she's had a transplant. She loves animals, and definitely spoils her French Bulldog, Luna, way too much! www.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Annesa Tabassum's message is a simple one - “just one survivor trying to help the other”.  She has turned her story of domestic abuse into a huge social media following on Instagram and TikTok - where she helps others see the way out.   Go to @thestorywithcharu on Instagram to be linked.Some links for more information: http://www.ncdsv.org/ncd_linksasian.htmlhttps://www.thehotline.org/www.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

The best advice the guests of this last season had to offer...www.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

In this interview, Isis Bey talks about how to come at the world from a place of power.More info on the community center she started:www.harmonyhealthpllc.com How to support Harmony Health:https://www.gofundme.com/f/harmony-health-mental-health-fundhttps://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/a-lot-pain-charlotte-woman-shares-her-journey-surviving-sexual-abuse/QBYLQXZWPFFBTEKHLCPE427JNU/Bey's Bio:Isis Bey is the founder and owner of Harmony Health Therapeutic Services and an Adjunct Professor with multiple Universities.  Bey is also an NC Supervisor for Clinical Social Workers and currently completing her credits to supervise LCMHCA's in the future.Ms. Bey completed her Graduate education at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She has over 20 years' experience working with children and families. She is Nationally Certified as an Advanced Level Complex Trauma Clinician, Gang Specialist and Parent Educator.Her experience in the clinical field includes but is not limited to Crisis Intervention, Assessment, Individual, Groups and Couples Counseling, and Trauma. She also has practice experience using Mindfulness, Somatic Experience, Spiritual Social Work, African Drumming and Dance as a therapeutic tool. Her training/consulting experience includes Advocacy, Ethics, Implicit Bias, Systematic Disparities, Anti-Racism, Group Therapy, Child Welfare, Parent Education, Gang Intervention, Human Trafficking, Domestic and Teen Dating Violence. Ms. Bey has taught courses that include Group Therapy Advanced Practice, Human Behavior in the Social Environment, Interpersonal Skills, Trauma and Social Work Practice, Generalist Social Work Practice, Social Work Ethics, Field Instruction and more.Ms. Bey offers treatment, training and supervision through an Eclectic Humanistic Approach, which is a person-centered, strengths-based approach. The belief is that the participant is the expert of his or her life experiences. She is a guide and coach in the treatment or learning process, offering tools, feedback, resources, experiental learning, skills and techniques to assist the individual in the healing or learning process, and uses treatment modalities that are trauma-informed and evidence-based. Ms. Bey loves spending time with her family, engaging in community work and traveling.www.harmonyhealthpllc.com www.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Ron Potts grew up in Smithville, a historic Black section of Cornelius, North Carolina.  Cornelius is a town north of Charlotte, they share the same county.  For decades Smithville was not incorporated into the mostly white town.  Right now, it is the largest - still in tact - historic Black community in Mecklenburg County, NC.Potts went off to college, worked in other parts of the country and even served in the Vietnam war.  He came back home and has been an active community activist and organizer. In this interview he talks about how the last 4 years of life in America felt like no progress was really being made and how he has continued to be active and engaged.Find more about the Smithville community here: https://oldtowncornelius.com/smithville-cornelius-nc-history-redevelopment/?fbclid=IwAR3meTewjqxIwL8vamJMnZmcsdZXW0Q3Enqismum46G2wLMsLAkyiXIvGl4https://www.corneliustoday.com/smithville-community/https://www.lakenormanpublications.com/articles/celebrating-smithvilles-history/https://www.corneliustoday.com/wayland-whisnant-potts/Ron Potts cannot find definitive proof that his people were enslaved at the nearby Potts Plantation, but such a conclusion would be reasonable by most historians' standard.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potts_PlantationThe famous Nannie Potts of Cornelius was Ron Potts' sister in lawhttps://www.wfae.org/local-news/2018-11-16/remembering-nannie-potts-1st-female-and-only-black-mayor-of-corneliuswww.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Byron Ballard grew up wild and “unchurched” in the mountains of rural western North Carolina.  That lack of religious structure allowed her to grow her own spiritual practices - which later she would identify as Paganism/Wicca, a collection of earth based spirtual practices.   Such beliefs manifested around the world with similar ideas.  Ballard is a folklorist specializing in the cultural history of the Scotch/Irish who immigrated to the Appalachian mountains. You can find more about her here: https://www.myvillagewitch.com/If you order her latest book from Malaprops you can get a signed copy:https://www.malaprops.com/book/9780738764535H. Byron Ballard, BA, MFA, is a western NC native, teacher, folklorist and writer. She has served as a featured speaker and teacher at Sacred Space Conference, Pagan Spirit Gathering, Southeast Wise Women's Herbal Conference, Glastonbury Goddess Conference, Heartland, Sirius Rising, Starwood, Scottish Pagan Federation Conference, Hexfest and other festivals and conferences. She serves as senior priestess and co-founder of Mother Grove Goddess Temple and the Coalition of Earth Religions/CERES, both in Asheville, NC. She podcasts about Appalachian folkways on “Wyrd Mountain Gals.”Her essays are featured in several anthologies and she writes a regular column for SageWoman Magazine. Her books include “Staubs and Ditchwater” (2012), the companion volume “Asfidity and Mad-Stones” (2015) “Embracing Willendorf” (2017), “Earth Works: Ceremonies in Tower Time” (2018),“Roots, Branches, and Spirits: the Folkways and Witchery of Appalachia” fromLlewellyn (Feb. 2021) and “Seasons of a Magical Life: a Pagan Path of Living” (Weiser, August 2021). Upcoming: “The Ragged Wound: Tending the Soul of Appalachia” (Smith Bridge Press), “Porch Food: a cookbook from Wyrd Mountain” and a musical adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream.www.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Dara King, who is Black,  grew up in an all consuming white experience.  Her family became active in an evangelical white church when she was a child.  She attended several times a week, even going to the church school.  Hearing racist interpretations of the Bible and cruel things from other members started to wear thin on King, who (even at a young age) was Black and proud.In this interview - she talks about the last 4 years in America, what she thinks the future holds and how she has used her business savvy to cultivate a brand of products that help create a brighter future.You can order Ollies Fizzies (named after her son) here:https://olliesfizzies.comLearn more about the book the family wrote together:https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mytinytemper/my-tiny-temper-hardcover?ref=project_linkwww.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Patsy Keever is a school teacher turned political servant.  She was a county commissioner and state legislator in North Carolina for years.In 2010 Keever ran for Congress.  That year North Carolina's political districts were so out of whack, her district was redrawn and gerrymandered to the point that she couldn't vote for herself (even though she had lived in that district for decades).  In 2019 a 3 judge panel would rule that the state's maps were so gerrymandered that it violated the state's constitution.  Republicans had drawn the maps to benefit the GOP with “surgical precision.”The process of redistricting is confusing, here are some resources that explain what happened:https://www.wsj.com/articles/north-carolinas-gop-drawn-map-is-struck-down-as-improper-gerrymander-11567552915 (The Wall Street Journal is a right leaning newspaper specializing in financial/economic reporting.)https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/under-the-dome/article193814154.html https://www.reuters.com/article/us-north-carolina-gerrymandering/north-carolina-court-strikes-down-state-legislative-map-as-unconstitutional-gerrymander-idUSKCN1VO2MDwww.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Tom Johnson has had an interesting career.  Starting out at a local newspaper in Macon, Georgia to working for President Lyndon B. Johnson to heading up CNN in its early years. (Full bio below)In this interview - writer Charu Kumarhia talks to Johnson about his career, his thoughts on politics and journalism today - and why everyone should have a dog.  Tom Johnson is also candid about his struggles with depression.Follow @thestorywithcharu on IG for photos from Johnson's life.He also shared these tips:The most important "rules" I was taught in my news career1. GET IT RIGHT! (Aka BE ACCURATE).  My first editor at THE MACON TELEGRAPH (Sam Glassman, sports editor)2. TELL THE TRUTH (Helen Thomas, UPI, on my first day as a White House press officer)3. DEMAND EXCELLENCE (in yourself and those who work with you). Otis Chandler, publisher of L.A. TIMES4. BE FAIR!  (Ted Turner)5. NEVER COMPROMISE ON YOUR PRINCIPLES! Integrity is critically needed in all professions! (Bill Moyers)6. HAVING TWO OR MORE SOURCES DOES NOT ASSURE THAT YOU HAVE THE TRUTH (Cardinal Bernadin story; TAILWIND story; Richard Jewell/Olympic park bomber story---all false)7. ADMIT MISTAKES. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY! PUBLISH THE CORRECTION WITH SAME VISIBILITY AS INITIAL MISTAKE---NOT IN A CORRECTIONS BOX ON BOTTOM OF PAGE 3.8.  NEVER USE YOUR POWER AS A JOURNALIST IRRESPONSIBLY. The day you protect a family member or a friend from truthful reporting is the day you should resign. Be a watchdog, not an attack dog or a lap dog?Johnson asked us to share his email - he doesn't want anyone struggling with mental illness to not get the help they need.  It's:  tom.johnson.atl@gmail.comJohnson retired in 2001 at age 60, after having served as chairman and CEO of CNN,  publisher of Los Angeles Times, editor and publisher of The Dallas Times Herald, assistant to President Lyndon B. Johnson, a White House Fellow and a reporter on The Macon (Ga.) Telegraph. He and Edwina divide their time between Georgia and California where their son Wyatt, their daughter Mrs. William (Christa) Shaffer, their son-in-law Bill Shaffer, and their two granddaughters Brynn Shaffer (19) and Julene Shaffer (18) live.  www.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

As a young child, MacLeod would experience premonitions then be stunned that they would come true.  He says he would also see spirits.  Later, after years of being an atheist and non believer (and after a rather in your face encounter with a deceased relative at a Borders bookstore)  he embraced his talent for communicating with “spirit guides”.MacLeod embraces the concept of reincarnation - the idea that your soul is born and born again in different ways (an idea prevelant in eastern religions like Hinduism and Buddhism).In this episode he and Charu Kumarhia discuss why those who consider themselves old souls cannot ignore what happens in the political sphere. You can find more about MacLeod and his work here:https://ainsliemacleod.com/Membership - https://soulworld.com/ Books - https://ainsliemacleod.com/about/books/Soul World Sunday: http://soulworldsunday.com/Some  favorite blog posts related to the intersection of politics and spirtuality:https://ainsliemacleod.com/a-few-thoughts-on-the-us-january-2021-insurrection/https://ainsliemacleod.com/soul-ages-and-politics-the-spiritual-source-of-the-left-right-divide/https://ainsliemacleod.com/reincarnation-and-politics/https://ainsliemacleod.com/speaking-your-truth-in-the-age-of-trump/https://ainsliemacleod.com/trumpenstein/Also head to @thestorywithcharu on instagram to see pictures of Ainslie MacLeod and link to his profile.www.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Brittany Kelly's family has been part of the Rock Hill, South Carolina community for generations - the good and bad parts of its past.Rock Hill is the small southern town were civil rights icon and former Georgia congressman John Lewis was beaten and bloodied by members of the KKK.Kelly returned to her hometown and married another local.  In 2018 they opened The Mercantile, a local retailer that sells all sorts of cute goodies - and a dose of history.  The store and the Kellys have become a source of activism, organzining and building community.  The shop features a community fridge where locals in need can get a meal and will soon take part in a series of dinners where two diametrically opposed diners will sit and talk it out.While some stores have been closing down due to Covid, The Mercantile has had their  best year - a testament to supporting the community you live in.You can find more about the store here:https://cdmercantile.com/www.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

In this episode writer, speaker and preformer Hannah Hasan talks about how the last part of 2020 is still affecting most of us and how we all go forward from here, especially since we may not be able to find common ground.  Hasan feels one of the most actionable things we can do is find joy in everyday activities and in small random acts that bring joy to others we love.You can find out more about her here:https://www.facebook.com/epochtribe/and on Instagram:@iamhannahhasan@epochtribewww.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Kelly Rowe was a comic booking emcee and hosting gigs across the country when she met and married the love of her life, Terran Walker.  Then they received the news of his cancer diagnosis.  The next several years she dropped out of an extroverted life to help him manage until his death in March of 2019.  Rowe who never believed much in spirtual things says she started receiving signs through the process that haven't stopped.  She took up sky diving to help heal her heart and mind and is working on a book about PTSD and healing through extreme sports.In this interview she shares her story.See pictures of Kelly Rowe and Terran Walker on Instagram @thestorywithcharuwww.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Journalist Charu Kumarhia talks about how the lofty goals many of us set at the beginning of each new year might be kept more in check at the start of 2021.For great mental health care tips Kumarhia recommends:https://www.nedratawwab.com/https://www.instagram.com/dr.marielbuque/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/southasiantherapists/?hl=enhttps://www.sylvestermcnutt.net/www.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Season 5 of The Story with Charu podcast wraps up with the host's thoughts on the oddest year in most people's lives.www.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Journalist Charu Kumarhia talks to Tammy Gibson who works to fund her travel passion.  She uses those travels to educate those who follow her about Black and African culture.Find out more about Sankofa TravelHer here:Tammy Gibson, Entrepreneur, Travel Historian & AuthorPurchase my book:  https://www.sankofatravelher.com/book-honoring-the-legacySankofa TravelHerBlack History Traveler & Blogger"Black History Is More Than 28 Days"Website:  http://www.sankofatravelher.comFacebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SankofaTravelher/Twitter:  https://twitter.com/1BlessedCEOLinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tammy-gibson/Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/sankofatravelher/www.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Archna Malhotra Becker grew a passion for home cooked, authentic Indian meals into a family business, and then a personal business.Her restaurant Bhojanic is wildly popular in the Atlanta area - and has grown to include cooking classes, a food truck and other avenues.  Find more about the chef here:https://www.bhojanic.com/www.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Filmmaker, documentarian and friend Frederick Murphy and Charu Kumarhia talked about the killing  of George Floyd - here is that conversation.More information about Murphy's project- History Before Us can be found here:https://www.historybeforeus.com/At History Before Us, we understand the importance of history to our collective humanity and we are committed to collecting and preserving it. We are born from many years of family research and a passion for preserving the oral stories taken from the people before us who were part of certain periods of history. With careful attention to historical events came a burning desire to share the knowledge gained via various modalities of education. Our goal is to preserve for future generations, these valuable stories, and experiences that will never return. We are committed to making sure that the masses have insight into historical events with the firm belief historical knowledge provides a background for making solid decisions in the future. As the old saying goes, “he who refuses to learn from the past is doomed to repeat it.” History Before Us understands that history is the lens through which we can put our present experiences into perspective. It is the one thing that shows us who we truly are, and how we arrived to our present state of being. Since 2016, we have played a constant role in the collection and preservation of history while being committed to advocating how history influences the future. We firmly believe not collecting and sharing historical information would be doing a disservice to mankind.www.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Filmmaker and amateur historian Frederick Murphy talks about how black and brown people can find peace of mind moving forward after a divisive election.Find more about Murphy, including a link to his latest documentary here:https://www.historybeforeus.com/www.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Charu talks with Diana Moscoso, a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate (LCMHCA) about how her own experiences in childhood shaped her career choice.She grew up in Columbia, South American which at the time had a huge problem with narcotics trafficking.  She also is a survivor of child abuse.Moscoso works at Sanctuary Counseling Group.  You can find more information about their practice here:https://www.sanctuarycounselinggroup.org/More on her therapy work can be found here:https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/diana-c-moscoso-davidson-nc/704744 www.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

What a strange trip it's been.In today's episode actor, writer and novelist J. Shawn Durham and Charu Kumarhia discuss the 2020 election results and what we know thus far.It's a lighthearted talk that promises to make you laugh and think.Check out Durham's latest work The Great Recession Podcast - more information can be found here:https://thegreatrecessionpodcast.com/story/Attention-craving​ ​billionaire​ ​Richard​ ​J.​ ​Spade,​ ​a​ ​man​ ​known​ ​for​ ​“speaking​ ​first​ ​and​ ​thinking​ ​later”​ ​launches a​ ​bid​ ​for​ ​the​ ​U.S.​ ​presidency​ ​and​ ​plays​ ​to​ ​Americans'​ ​lowest​ ​and​ ​most​ ​base​ ​impulses​ ​by​ ​being​ ​crude,​ ​racist, sexist​ ​and​ ​boorish.​ ​He​ ​wins​ ​the​ ​office.​ ​What​ ​happens​ ​next​ ​is​ ​​The​ ​Great​ ​Recession​.​ ​The​ ​Recession,​ ​which​ ​is usually​ ​used​ ​to​ ​describe​ ​economic​ ​downturns,​ ​will​ ​define​ ​the​ ​downturn​ ​and​ ​reversal​ ​of​ ​progressive​ ​society. Can​ ​our​ ​heroes​ ​​ ​prevent​ ​the​ ​decline​ ​of​ ​America​ ​while​ ​enduring​ ​scores​ ​of​ ​plot​ ​twists,​ ​turns​ ​and​ ​(more importantly)​ ​jokes?​ ​You​ ​have​ ​to tune in to​ ​find​ ​out!www.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Journalist and writer Charu Kumarhia talks to her sister - Pooja Kumarhia Patel about her efforts to become a mother.  Patel was selected to contribute to this year's Brown Girl Magazine's published anthology.  She talks openly about her journey thru infertility, miscarraige, losing a son born through an emergency c-section - and the birth of her daughter through a surrogate earlier this year.More information about the anthology can be found here:www.browngirlmagazine.comwww.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Charu and guest Sarah Hosseini talk about what it means to be a good wife and a good daughter how that often tears at one's inner psyche.  They also talk about what it means to break free.  Sarah Hosseini is a writer and speaker. She delivered the powerful Tedx Talk "Not Sorry" about women finding and harnessing their unapologetic voices. She has written reported features and essays published in/on CNN, Harper's Bazaar, The Washington Post, VICE, HuffPost and many more. Sarah is also a journal therapist who helps women gain clarity, identify blocks, and be empowered through guided prompts and 1:1 coaching sessions.http://www.sarahhosseini.com/CNN, Harper's BAZAAR, The Washington Post, VICE, HuffPost Instagram @SarahHosseiniWriterTwitter @SarahHosseiniUSwww.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Journalist and writer Charu Kumarhia talks to Chavi Khanna Koneru and Olivia Zalecki about their efforts with NCAA Together.  The non profit works to create an inclusive democracy built by drawing on the strength of diverse traditions, common values and community togetherness. Find more information here: https://ncaatogether.org/Chavi Khanna KoneruExecutive Director, Chavi@ncaatogether.orgChavi Khanna Koneru is co-founder and Executive Director of North Carolina Asian Americans Together (NCAAT). Koneru moved to North Carolina in 1989 and has spent the majority of her life living in the state, including attending college and law school locally at the University of North Carolina. This has allowed her to gain a deep, personal understanding of what it means to be AAPI in the South. Additionally, her legal background in voting rights law has given her the opportunity to interpret and enforce laws impacting the AAPI community, including during her time in the Voting Section at the U.S. Department of Justice, where she focused on language access for AAPI voters.Olivia ZaleckiYouth Engagement Coordinator, Olivia@ncaatogether.orgOlivia grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, and attended North Carolina State University where she double majored in Political Science and Foreign Languages and Literature with a concentration in Mandarin. Olivia's passion for advocacy started when she had the opportunity to work with various AAPI organizations including the Triangle Asian American Student Conference and OCA National-Asian Pacific American Advocates. Doing so gave her insight into the collective power of community. In her free time, Olivia loves trying all the amazing restaurants the Triangle area has to offer!0pwww.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

In today's show, Charu talks to Gunjani Patel - a Licensed Mental Health Counselor  who works with adults, children, couples, and families. She received post-graduate training at The Village Family Service Center, a community mental health counseling center in Grand Forks, ND, where she worked with adults, couples, families, and children. Trained in both psychodynamic as well as family systems psychotherapy, she worked with families to identify overall family dynamics, including healthy and unhealthy patterns of interacting, roles, various communication styles, boundaries, and power structures. Gunjani was able to help couples and families by building on their existing strengths, raising awareness about their maladaptive patterns, and teaching them new ways of communicating and interacting.Gunjani has spent several years working with women and children survivors of domestic and sexual abuse at a Community Violence Intervention center where she provided crisis counseling, suicide helpline and support for victims of rape, sexual abuse. Thus giving her exposure to a wide range of social, emotional, and mental health issues from sexual abuse, and domestic abuse, to depression, anxiety, PTSD and C-PTSD which led her to specialize in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing). Find out more about her practice here: https://www.lifesynergywellness.com/@gpatelcounseling on Instagramwww.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com

Russ Green is a DC area based comic, writer, husband and father.  He's written for B.E.T.  and other publications.  His work aims to make us all think and laugh.  Find out more about Green on his Instagram @russ_jokes and here:http://russjokes.com/www.charukumarhia.com www.charukumarhia.com