Podcasts about blooms

In this special in-person Blooms interview, I'm so excited to welcome my friend, Miss Layne to the podcast! She's going to inspire you just like she continually inspires me. A mix of life circumstances and a major mindset shift led her to start prioritizing her health and become the best version of herself. With simple habits, solid accountability, and the support of like-minded friends in Blooms, Layne brings an energy and joy you're sure to feel through this conversation. Her wisdom, maturity, and deep faith in the Lord guide her in caring for the body He's entrusted to her—and you'll find her story both relatable and uplifting.Season 5 Episode 10Are you eligible for Blooms? https://southernandhealthycoaching.com/blooms-1Please visit my website to check out the health and wellness coaching opportunities I have currently and coming up: https://southernandhealthycoaching.com/

It's been a very good year for spring blossoms, but most of them have faded, and now it's time for other flowers to step into the spotlight.

Hey Neighbor,Zinnias are one of the easiest and most rewarding flowers to grow in any garden—perfect for beginners and seasoned gardeners alike! In this video, we'll walk you through everything you need to know to grow zinnias successfully, from choosing the right variety to planting, watering, and keeping them blooming all season long.Whether you're looking for a cutting garden, pollinator-friendly plants, or just a pop of color, zinnias are a must-have.

On this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, we take a sun-dappled stroll through the life and work of Stephanie Hubbard —landscape architect, abstract expressionist, and one of the newest members of the Ojai Studio Artists. Fresh off a prestigious nine-month residency at the Taft Gardens, Stephanie shares how Ojai's wild beauty has rooted itself in her art — and her soul.We talk childhood in the Transcendentalist center of Concord, Massachusetts, apprenticing with a ceramicist painting flowers for Evelyn & Crabtree, and what it was like to work as on-screen talent with the classic show "This Old House." We get into the tangled garden of her creative process, where soil meets soul, and brush meets instinct.Stephanie's story is one of elegant reinvention — from shaping landscapes to letting landscapes shape her. If you like stories about artistic breakthroughs, garden epiphanies, or what happens when a designer trades blueprints for brushstrokes, don't miss this one.We did not talk about when Shohei Ohtani was going to next take the mound, David Hockney's camera obscura or the short-lived Korean Empire.Pull up a seat — or better yet, take us on a walk — and enjoy the view. You can learn more about Stephanie and her work at her artist website, Stephanie-Hubbard.com, or her landscape architectural firm, Site-Creative.com

Dharma talk given by Acharya Yeshi Sergio, May 4, 2025. Music by Barefoot Bran Music.

In this episode, Ken and Lisa of Watters Garden Center in Prescott discuss the best flowers for non-stop blooms. These flowers can bring some gorgeous blooms to the garden. With their bright colors and ability to attract pollinators like hummingbirds, these flowers are perfect. Learn about incredible plants like the Suncredible sunflower, So Cool Pale Blue salvia, foxglove, and more!Listen to Mountain Gardener on Cast11: https://cast11.com/mountain-gardener-with-ken-lain-gardening-podcast/Follow Cast11 on Facebook: https://Facebook.com/CAST11AZFollow Cast11 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cast11_podcast_network/

In this episode of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, we are joined by Debra Prinzing, founder of the Slow Flowers Movement and co-author of The Flower Farmers: Inspiration and Advice from Expert Growers. Debra shares her journey from writing The 50 Mile Bouquet to founding the Slow Flowers Movement—a movement that champions local, seasonal, and sustainable flowers.In this inspiring conversation, Debra talks about the importance of supporting local flower farmers, how storytelling is transforming the floral industry, and the lessons she's learned from interviewing flower farmers across North America. Whether you're a flower lover, a backyard gardener, or aspiring flower farmer, this episode is full of valuable insights on how to embrace the beauty and purpose of local blooms.Tune in to learn: What the Slow Flowers Movement is and how it's changing the way we source flowers The stories behind The Flower Farmers book and how it highlights the lives of flower growers How the power of local flowers extends beyond beauty to healing and community-building Practical advice for new and experienced flower farmersJoin us for an insightful discussion that will leave you inspired to support local flowers and consider the bigger picture behind every bloom.Show Notes: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/2025/05/13/ep-58-the-slow-flowers-movement/Learn More: Slow Flowers Society: https://www.slowflowerssociety.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slowflowerssociety/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debraprinzing/ Purchase The Flower Farmers Book: https://store.abramsbooks.com/products/the-flower-farmers***Rate, Review, & Follow The Backyard Bouquet***If you enjoyed this episode, will you please consider leaving the podcast a review? Your review helps make the podcast more discoverable to others and allows me to continue creating more episodes. I'd love to know what you enjoyed most about the episode.New episodes every week to help keep your garden blooming!

Today's episode features my sweet Blooms group client, Olivia—and y'all, she is an absolute gem! Olivia is fully embracing her Trim Healthy journey, and this time, it's for life. Her transformation goes far beyond the scale: her mindset has shifted, her confidence has soared, and she's seeing the ripple effect in her home, her marriage, and her children. She looks back at her “before THM” self with gratitude and clarity, knowing just how far she's come. Olivia is shining bright, and I'm so excited she joined me to share her joy and encouragement with you today!Season 5 Episode 9

From death valleys to divine beauty - this message is for anyone waiting on God to bring life from dry ground. “God never wastes a tear, a trial, or a hidden seed. What feels buried might actually be planted.” Share this message with someone who needs hope!

Rebecca and Megan Lovell, sisters and leaders of blues group Larkin Poe, celebrate their new album in the KNKX studios.

Today, at long last, I am revealing my favorite fact about witches' flying ointment.

Slate writer Scaachi Koul unpacks her latest book of essays Sucker Punch, in which she delves into her unexpected birth, the dissolution of her marriage, and how her friends have come to know her as "the divorce doula." Multidisciplinary artist Emma Ruth Rundle explains how she crafted her debut poetry collection The Bella Vista – which touches on love lost, addiction, and discovering oneself – while traveling on tour, then performs “Blooms of Oblivion” from her album Engine of Hell. 

This spring, as we look forward to harvesting homegrown produce and gifting fresh flowers for Mother’s Day, horticulturalist Erica Jo Schaffer joined The Spark to share her expert advice on everything from planning your first vegetable patch to reviving cut blooms.Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Larry Weber talks about the rather warm opening to the month of May

It’s a Red-Letter Week here at Slow Flowers, as my longtime collaborator, Robin Avni, and I celebrate the May 6th publication of The Flower Farmers, our beautiful and informative new book featuring 29 growers across North America. You've heard a bit from some of the experts profiled in The Flower Farmers, and you'll continue to […] The post Episode 715: From Farmers' Market to Elevated Retail, with Abby Matson of Diddle and Zen and Julie Rémy of Fleuris Orchard and Blooms appeared first on Slow Flowers Podcast with Debra Prinzing.

Welcome to the Bob Tanem In The Garden with Edie Tanem radio show podcast; our show was live on 810 KSFO and is presented here with commercials and music redacted.Our guests were Cynthia and Alison (last names not provided) of the Blooms wholesale nursery. While listeners cannot generally buy direct from the wholesaler, Blooms does supply retail nurseries throughout the Bay Area and can be specified when shopping. Our topic centered around growing your own "cutting garden;" a flower garden designed to supply cut flowers, but conversations ranged across gardening concerns including those of listeners who called in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the Bob Tanem In The Garden with Edie Tanem radio show podcast; our show was live on 810 KSFO and is presented here with commercials and music redacted.Our guests were Cynthia and Alison (last names not provided) of the Blooms wholesale nursery. While listeners cannot generally buy direct from the wholesaler, Blooms does supply retail nurseries throughout the Bay Area and can be specified when shopping. Our topic centered around growing your own "cutting garden;" a flower garden designed to supply cut flowers, but conversations ranged across gardening concerns including those of listeners who called in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to your Postcard from Paris!Welcome to Spring Into Presence — A Gentle Digital Reset Experiment.This month, I'll be sharing brief invitations to pause, reflect, and bring awareness to our digital habits.Each postcard features a photo taken this spring in Paris — moments that capture light, nature, and presence to inspire your journey.Let's explore how small pauses, time in nature, and mindful awareness can help reset the nervous system and create space for clarity and calm.These brief episodes will be released every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I invite you to take a mindful breath and let this be your small step into presence today.Are you ready to explore?

The Insomnia Project – Episode: Loonies, Blooms & AncestryWelcome to a double episode of The Insomnia Project! Since we missed last week, today's show is extra-long—perfect for those who need a little more time to drift off.Join your hosts Marco and Amanda as they ease you into relaxation with a calming conversation about some charming Canadian shortcut sayings, including the iconic “Loonie” and “Toonie.” From there, they delve into the subtle (and soothing) difference between a canteen and a cafeteria—yes, they are different, and yes, we're going there.As the flowers start to bloom, so too does one of our favourite themes—nature. We revisit poetry, a recurring and gentle thread on the show, and explore Amanda's ancestry in a way that's thoughtful, quiet, and curiosity-driven.All this and much more, softly delivered to help guide you into rest.Sweet dreams.Follow us on social media for updates and more relaxing content:Instagram: @theinsomniaprojectTwitter: @listenandsleep Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/the-insomnia-project. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's episode we explore the Taurus-Scorpio axis in astrology and ground it into the context of seasonal cycles, creativity, the houses in the birth chart, and personal lived experiences. I am delighted to have Bronwyn Simons Astrology back for our ongoing conversation of the Lunar Currents series! Learn about the interplay between "roots" (Taurus) and "blooms" (Scorpio), and how these are not separate entities but parts of a continuous process of fertility and growth related to creative practices, personal journeys, and the cyclical nature of life. We both give examples of the alchemical experience of integrating these seemingly opposing forces and how this also relates to the houses in the birth chart.Bronwyn and I also discuss the challenges of harmonizing seemingly opposing forces, particularly in relation to health, spirituality, daily life, family, and creative pursuits — and why every full moon plays a big role in the alchemical process.This episode explores themes that we will personalize and go deeper with in our upcoming workshop: Stars and Roses: Astrology and Creativity for MaytideWORKSHOP LINKFriday, May 2, 1 -2:30 Pacific Time and by replay.You can join us by registering here: https://astrologygoddess.mykajabi.com/offers/gLqLsZoL/checkoutOr, the workshop is FREE for all our beloved paid subscribers on Substack. Become a paid subscriber today and you'll automatically be registered for the workshop!We would love you to join us for this hands-on exploration to celebrate the Taurus cross-quarter holiday (known to some as Beltane or May Day), one of the most fertile and creative points in the Wheel of the Year.Bring a journal, your birthchart, and something to write and draw with.If you love this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or refer a friend - thanks so much for listening!Links and Mentions* Upcoming workshop: Stars and Roses: Astrology and Creativity for Maytidehttps://astrologygoddess.mykajabi.com/offers/gLqLsZoL/checkout* Book of Houses by Robert Cole and Paul Williams* Bronwyn Simons and the Esoteric Zodiac on substack * Previous episode about the Harvest Cycle and the Lunar Cyclehttps://themoonismycalendar.substack.com/p/10-decoding-the-lunar-and-harvest-78cThanks for reading Between the Moon! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themoonismycalendar.substack.com/subscribe

When Ruth Ann Majauskas first launched her flower farm in 2020, she tried a little bit of everything—farmers markets, retail, subscriptions. But the magic happened when she shifted her focus entirely to wholesale… selling flowers directly to florists. What started as trial and error quickly evolved into a streamlined system with loyal buyers, consistent orders, and a workflow she could count on. Now, Ruth Ann runs a thriving wholesale flower farm business—and she's helping other flower farmers learn how to do the same. In today's episode, she shares how she built her florist-focused business model, what makes the wholesale florist buyer tick, how she finds and communicates with them, what software she uses to manage weekly orders, and more. She even reveals how she uses the same marketing framework I teach inside Farm Marketing School—tailored specifically to florists.

Mother in the Wild reads a beloved classic for the one year anniversary of Blooms and Branches .You can support us and the author by purchasing your very own copy of the book here: https://amzn.to/3Yqn0weAs Amazon Influencers we are eligible to earn on qualifying orders.Become a Premium Monthly Subscriber to get* a 20% discount on Requests + Dedications *OPT-IN for EMAILS!* have your child greeted in the other episodes we publish* be invited to attend a monthly livestream Storytime on zoom with Mother in the Wild *OPT-IN for EMAILS! (These have been such beautiful, connective events…a wonderful way for listeners to meet us one-one-one!) Your support means the WORLD to us!)Click on the link below being sure to "opt-in" for emails so we can contact you to learn your children's names, offer you the discount code + send you the zoom link.https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mother-in-the-wild/subscribeWe appreciate you so much!

If you would like all this lovely content without the adverts then follow the link https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/calming-anxiety--4110266/supportBook your one on one hypnotherapy with Martin - https://calendar.app.google/rXHMt8sRYft5iWma8Take back control over your negative thoughts and calm pain and anxiety with this beautiful course in conjunction with The Physio Crew - https://offers.thephysiocrew.co.uk/home-pain Don't forget the app and now all our podcasts are also on YouTube.Gift the app to a loved one, friend or colleague - https://www.martinhewlett.co.uk/shop/calming-anxiety-gift-subscription/Try out the new , beautiful and simple breathing challenge to help you relax.https://www.martinhewlett.co.uk/breathing-challenge/Don't forget to download app....Calming Anxiety for IOS - https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/calming-anxiety/id1576159331Calming Anxiety for Android - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=digital.waterfront.calming.anxiety&hl=en-GBPlease download and enjoy.If you have found benefit from my podcast I do have a "buy me a coffee" page which helps to fund the hosting costs and all the time. :)https://www.buymeacoffee.com/calminganxietyI am always open to requests and tips as I try to help as many people as possible .My email is calminganxiety@martinhewlett.co.ukFor those younger listeners struggling with the stress of social media, do check out this amazing website. https://www.icanhelp.net/If you have found benefit in any of our podcasts then it would really help if you could subscribe as well to our YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/c/martinhewlett?sub_confirmation=1Backing Music by Chris Collins============Affiliate links to the gear I use the items that give me a more tranquil life.Rode Podmic - https://amzn.to/3LN1JEdZoom Livetrak L8 - https://amzn.to/36UCIbySony ZV 1 - https://amzn.to/3JvDUPTGoPro Hero 8 Black - https://amzn.to/372rzFlDJI Mini 2 - https://amzn.to/3NQfMdY=============================Items I use for a more relaxed way of life :)Organic Pure Hemp CBD Capsules - https://amzn.to/3

Kari and Don and joined yet again by Shan and Greg to provide the full spectrum of updates for the early season.PS Extension Spring Orchard Meetings: https://extension.psu.edu/spring-orchard-meetingsHosts: Don Seifrit, Kari PeterSpeakers: Shan Kumar, Greg KrawczykPhoto Credit: K. Peter, PSU ExtensionMusic Credit: “The Raven and the Swan” by Josh Woodward is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License. Courtesy of FreeMusicArchive.orgMake sure you sign up to get notified of future Extension events for tree fruit growers! Sign UpFlight Seasonalities of Main Fruit Pests During the Growing Season

Drone racing takes flight, Tom Isern reflects on the pasque flower, Dave reviews the news, and Matt dives into The Ballad of Wallis Island.

Join us for a delightful recap of the 2025 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival on this episode of The DIZPod! Cory and Lawrence reflect on the highlights, surprises, and unforgettable moments from this year's festival.We'll take you on a journey through the stunning floral displays, creative topiaries, and vibrant gardens that transformed Epcot into a blooming paradise. Hear about our favorite food and beverage offerings from the festival's outdoor kitchens, and get the inside scoop on the best events, entertainment, and activities that made this year's festival truly special.From new experiences to cherished traditions, we'll share our personal stories, festival tips, and listener feedback to celebrate the magic of the 2025 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival. Tune in to relive the beauty, creativity, and joy of this spectacular event with The DIZPod!

Deadheading spent booms on plants is important, especially with perennials.  Many modern annuals have been bred so that the plant will keep blooming without deadheading. Wave petunia was the first annual where breeders managed to achieve this, but now it is rare for any type of petunias to need deadheading.  However, this is not the case with perennials, where deadheading makes the plants bloom longer. Otherwise, many perennials will waste their energy producing seeds. After a main stem has finished flowering, cut it down to the base. Many plants will then send up a second smaller set of flower stems.  With plants that have many flowers on one stem, pinch off individual flowers as they fade.  With fall flowers, such as asters, you can cut off clusters of the faded flowers so that the plant can produce more.  With plants that produce just one plume per stem, such as Shasta daisies, cut off each spent flower stem at ground level. With flowers that produce large numbers of tiny flowers, such as wood asters, shear off all spent blooms with shears or scissors after the main flush of flowers is spent. Dead flowers turn into seeds, and unless you are collecting seeds, don't allow your perennials to waste their energy producing them.  This is Moya Andrews and today we focused on deadheading.  

Fluent Fiction - Spanish: Love Blooms and Earth Awakens in Central Park's Springtime Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/es/episode/2025-04-18-22-34-02-es Story Transcript:Es: Central Park estaba más vivo que nunca.En: Central Park was more alive than ever.Es: Los cerezos en flor se alzaban, creando un hermoso dosel rosa bajo el cielo azul.En: The cherry blossoms stood tall, creating a beautiful pink canopy under the blue sky.Es: La primavera llenaba el aire con su fragancia, y las personas deambulaban entre los puestos del festival, disfrutando del día perfecto en la ciudad de Nueva York.En: Spring filled the air with its fragrance, and people wandered among the festival stalls, enjoying the perfect day in la ciudad de Nueva York.Es: Mateo, un joven apasionado por el medio ambiente, caminaba entre la multitud, sus ojos buscando a Alejandra.En: Mateo, a young man passionate about the environment, walked through the crowd, his eyes searching for Alejandra.Es: Ella era su amigo cercana, su confidente, pero Mateo guardaba un secreto: su amor por ella.En: She was his close friend, his confidant, but Mateo had a secret: his love for her.Es: Hoy, en el Festival del Cerezo en el Día de la Tierra, quería decirle todo.En: Today, at the Cherry Blossom Festival on Earth Day, he wanted to tell her everything.Es: Alejandra, por su parte, estaba preocupada.En: Alejandra, for her part, was worried.Es: La Tierra necesitaba ayuda, pensamientos que frecuentemente compartía con Mateo.En: The Earth needed help, thoughts she frequently shared with Mateo.Es: Ella admiraba su pasión por vivir de manera sostenible, pero hoy su mente estaba absorta en el problema mayor: el futuro del planeta.En: She admired his passion for living sustainably, but today her mind was absorbed in the larger issue: the future of the planet.Es: En medio de la música y las risas, un escenario estaba preparado para las presentaciones del Día de la Tierra.En: Amid the music and laughter, a stage was set for Earth Day presentations.Es: Mateo había pasado semanas preparando una.En: Mateo had spent weeks preparing one.Es: Su corazón latía rápido, no solo por hablar ante el público, sino porque sabía que Alejandra estaría escuchando.En: His heart was racing, not only because he was speaking in front of the public but because he knew Alejandra would be listening.Es: Él se subió al escenario, respiró hondo y comenzó a hablar.En: He climbed onto the stage, took a deep breath, and began to speak.Es: “Amigos, hoy estamos aquí no solo para celebrar la belleza de la naturaleza, sino para comprometernos a protegerla.En: "Friends, today we are here not only to celebrate the beauty of nature but to commit to protecting it.Es: Cada pequeño cambio en nuestras vidas puede generar un gran impacto”.En: Every small change in our lives can make a big impact."Es: Sus ojos se encontraron con los de Alejandra en el público.En: His eyes met Alejandra's in the audience.Es: Ella le sonrió, una sonrisa que le dio valor.En: She smiled at him, a smile that gave him courage.Es: “Juntos”, continuó Mateo, “podemos hacer del mundo un lugar mejor, no solo para nosotros sino para las generaciones futuras”.En: "Together," Mateo continued, "we can make the world a better place, not just for us but for future generations."Es: El público aplaudió, y Mateo sonrió, sintiendo que había pasado la prueba más difícil de su vida.En: The audience applauded, and Mateo smiled, feeling he had passed the most difficult test of his life.Es: Cuando la presentación terminó, Alejandra se acercó a él.En: When the presentation ended, Alejandra approached him.Es: “Mateo, tus palabras me han inspirado”, dijo ella con emoción.En: "Mateo, your words have inspired me," she said with emotion.Es: “Comparto tu visión, y me alegra que seamos parte de esta causa juntos”.En: "I share your vision, and I'm glad we are part of this cause together."Es: “Hay algo más”, dijo Mateo, su corazón latiendo aún más rápido que durante su discurso.En: "There's something more," Mateo said, his heart beating even faster than during his speech.Es: “Siempre he querido decirte que… me importas mucho, Alejandra, más de lo que sabes”.En: "I've always wanted to tell you that... you mean a lot to me, Alejandra, more than you know."Es: Ella lo miró, sorprendida pero feliz.En: She looked at him, surprised but happy.Es: “Mateo, yo también me siento así”, admitió.En: "Mateo, I feel the same way," she admitted.Es: “Siempre admiré tu dedicación y ahora más que nunca”.En: "I've always admired your dedication, and now more than ever."Es: El festival continuó a su alrededor, los cerezos en flor meciéndose suavemente con el viento.En: The festival continued around them, the cherry blossoms gently swaying in the wind.Es: Mateo ya no sentía temor, había ganado en confianza.En: Mateo no longer felt fear; he had gained confidence.Es: Y mientras él y Alejandra caminaban juntos, un nuevo capítulo en su relación y su misión comenzaban, uno lleno de esperanza y amor por el planeta que ambos querían proteger.En: And as he and Alejandra walked together, a new chapter in their relationship and mission began, one filled with hope and love for the planet they both wanted to protect.Es: En la primavera de Central Park, sus sueños y sentimientos florecieron.En: In the spring of Central Park, their dreams and feelings blossomed. Vocabulary Words:to blossom: florecerthe crowd: la multitudthe secret: el secretoto wander: deambularthe canopy: el doselthe fragrance: la fraganciathe stage: el escenariothe presentation: la presentaciónto commit: comprometersethe impact: el impactothe courage: el valorthe applause: el aplausoto approach: acercarsethe confidence: la confianzathe vision: la visiónthe emotion: la emociónthe dedication: la dedicaciónthe fear: el temorto protect: protegerthe generation: la generaciónsustainably: de manera sostenibleto admire: admirarthe future: el futuroto inspire: inspirarthe laughter: las risasto prepare: prepararthe breath: el alientoto gain: ganarto sway: mecerthe hope: la esperanza

A weekly magazine-style radio show featuring the voices and stories of Asians and Pacific Islanders from all corners of our community. The show is produced by a collective of media makers, deejays, and activists. Important Links [URGENT] ICE Is targeting Nepali-speaking Bhutanese Americans: Learn more Asian Refugees United: Website  |  Instagram Hamro Katha: When the Lotus Blooms:  Instagram  | Spotify |  Youtube Minjoona Music instagram | spotify Transcript: Cheryl Truong: Hey everyone. You're tuned into APEX Express at 94.1 KPFA, 89.3 KPFB Berkeley, 88.1 KFCF Fresno, and online at kpfa.org. This is your host, Cheryl, here. Before we dive into today's episode, I want to start with some important context. This conversation was recorded a few months ago before the recent and deeply distressing wave of ice [00:01:00] enforcement targeting the Nepali speaking Bhutanese community. Since March 26, over 20 Nepali Bhutanese refugees have been deported. Many without legal representation and some moved between detention centers so quickly that they couldn't even contact their family or attorneys. The fear, disruption and trauma that is being inflicted is real and ongoing and raises serious concerns about due process. This is part of a larger ICE operation that is already detained over 60 Bhutanese Americans. This is a rapidly unfolding crisis, and the numbers continue to shift as more people are detained and more impacted families come forward to share their stories. Asian Refugees united is calling for justice, demanding an end to these deportations and immediate protections for their communities. For the latest data and development, or to learn more and take action, please visit Asian Refugees United's website. It will be linked in our show notes.  Now onto today's show. I had the joy and privilege of sitting down with the youth podcast team behind Hamro Katha: When the Lotus Blooms, [00:02:00] a show created by young leaders from Asian refugees United. Asian Refugees united or ARU is a grassroots art and healing leadership center led by and for Asian refugees. We'll hear more about their powerful work later on in the show. One of their programs, the Camp for Emerging Leaders, brings together refugee youth to build community, explore their histories, and grow into their leadership. That's where this podcast team first came together, and they'll of course share more about that as well. They've created something really special and I'm so excited for you all to hear from them. So let's get started. Do you all mind just going around and introducing yourselves? Nawal Rai: Yeah, for sure. Hello, everyone. I'm Nawal Rai. My pronouns are he, him, and I currently live in the East Coast in New Jersey. I'm currently a student studying environmental and urban studies. And right now I currently volunteer and do some work with Asian Refugees United here in the Harrisburg area, and I'm also from the Nepali speaking Bhutanese Refugee community.   Manju Gurung: Hi everyone, I am [00:03:00] Manju Gurung My pronouns are she and hers. I also live and work here in Harrisburg. I work full time as a home care manager but I also do some work with AARU, Asian Refugee United. So glad to be here.  Susmita Tamang: Hi everyone. My name is Susmita Tamang. I am a sophomore majoring in chemistry and I'm from Harrisburg. I interned over the summer at Asian Refugees United and that's how I'm connected. I learned a lot of new skills and got to meet new people. Today we're here mostly to talk about our podcast, Hamro Katha: When the Lotus Blooms, which is under Asian Refugees United.  Sarada Tamang: Hi, everyone. My name is Sarada Tamang. My pronouns are she and her. I currently live in Charlottesville, Virginia, and I'm a student taking classes to enter the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program. And first met my podcast team members through Asian Refugee United's Camp for [00:04:00] Emerging Leadership Program.  Cheryl Truong: Awesome. And our listeners out there, I'm sure you're wondering, what is Asian Refugees United? Nawal, do you want to give us a little introduction on what ARU is about? .  Nawal Rai: Yeah, of course. Again, Cheryl, thank you for having us tonight. Asian Refugees United was born in 2016 in the Bay Area. There was a big influx of Nepali speaking Bhutanese refugees after the third resettlement started for our community.  We had a bunch of community members that resided in Bay Area. And when you look at Bay Area, Bay Area is very diverse. And when you look at the history of Bay Area, there's a lot of social movement and activism that has happened throughout the history. And that kind of gave birth to this organization to unite refugees from different parts of Asia. We as Asian Refugees United here in Harrisburg currently work specifically with Nepali speaking Bhutanese community here since a lot of our population has now moved here. Asian Refugee United started with the focus on connecting our stories with the land that we now [00:05:00] live on and also acknowledging the stolen land that we stand on and also focusing on healing our communities and highlighting the stories of many refugees communities that are often overlooked by the medias and different political agenda. It was a way to find solidarity across communities and also how do we heal. And with that, we use art as a tool to heal and through storytelling where we come together to write stories and perform that stories in front of audience and community members. So we do various different work through Asian Refugees United. Our podcast hamro Katha When the Lotus Bloom is also under Asian Refugees United. So you can tell, there's different things that happens with our org. Cheryl Truong: Thank you so much for sharing all of that. It's so clear how much storytelling and healing are at the heart of ARU work. And one of the ways that it really shows I think that really shows up is through one of ARU's community building projects. Camp for emerging leaders, which brings together refugee youth from all [00:06:00] over and it's actually where this amazing podcast team first met. Can you all share what that space was like for you? What do you remember feeling or learning during that time?  Susmita Tamang: I can go ahead. By the way, I think the first time we all met each other was way before CAMP for Emerging Leaders, but that's when our idea grew. But Camp for Emerging Leaders is a program that Asian Refugees United organized. It was for the Bhutanese Nepali speaking youth in Harrisburg area, but then it also branched to basically across the states, whoever was available because we met virtually, on Zoom every week or so, and we talked about what it means to have our identity as Bhutanese Nepali, our journey from Nepal to America, we talked about our experiences, acceptance, and then ways of connecting to each other. Anything else that you guys want to mention?  Nawal Rai: Yeah. And with the leadership camp, we also focus on different factors that is focused on our, community health and wellness [00:07:00] and also, identity, belonging and um, education. Manju Gurung: Yeah. We had three groups within camp called wellness, education, and identity and belonging, and then. Under identity and belonging there was also storytelling who did more of art and performance, but we divided into those three groups and we created activities to share with each other when we met in person in August.  That was Camp for Emerging Leaders. We got to learn new skills, such as working with each other, being compassionate towards each other, open minded. Yeah,, it was great.   Cheryl Truong: Oh, whoa. I didn't know that camp was mostly virtual apart from that last in-person session, but that makes a lot of sense now, how Sarada could join from Virginia. Nawal from New Jersey. That's so cool. It really shows just how spread out the Nepali Bhutanese refugee community is and how something like camp can bring folks together across distance, and it makes me think about what that means to feel connected. Do you feel like camp was the first [00:08:00] space where you got to meet other people from your community in that kind of way? Or have you felt that sense of community where you're from, even before camp?  Sarada Tamang: When I first moved to America, within a few years, in the city that I live in right now, we had a bigger population of Bhutanese Nepali people compared to now. Back then we did have a strong community to the point where we would host Losar programs which, can someone explain what that is? Susmita Tamang: Oh yeah, Losar means New Year in Nepali but also in our ethnic language. So in Tamang as well as Gurung and maybe other languages in Nepal. It's somewhat like the Chinese Lunar New Year because it's connected to the, lunar calendar. I'm actually also from Charlottesville. We used to live in the same neighborhood, Sarada and me. And back then, we did have a large community, but then people started moving to Ohio, Harrisburg, and then those areas became more of the [00:09:00] hub for Bhutanese Nepali people. And so, now, I do have some family there, Sarada lives there, some of my cousins live there, but compared to 2011, it's very, very low in terms of population, so they don't really have large events compared to Harrisburg.  Cheryl Truong: What was that like for all of you growing up in such conservative states as refugees? I,  Manju Gurung: Yeah, I can share one. So I moved to Concord, New Hampshire back in 2012 from Nepal. And, even back then when we were talking about communities, we did have a lot of Bhutanese refugees living there by the time that my family moved and settled there.  Unfortunately, one of the incidents that happened to my family was some sort of like… Hate crime? It's like,  Nawal Rai: definitely racial, racial racial hatred.  Sarada Tamang: We just received this in a very hateful letter saying, go back to your country. You don't belong here. All of that. We don't really know exactly what we did to make that [00:10:00] person very upset about us being there. So that was one thing that I had to deal with as a young teenage girl who had just moved into a new city, new country with my family and who barely spoke English back then as well. So that was a very difficult experience to go through. But, with that incident, what came was our community showed up, not just the Bhutanese community back then, but other communities that were from different part of the world, basically, you know. They really showed up and let us know that we were in the right place. We're welcome. And there's no space for hate for anybody. That was really nice. After joining ARU and storytelling group, I was actually able to share that story through performance alongside Nawal, which definitely helped me heal some of those traumas that I had to experience back then. So, yeah, very grateful.  Susmita Tamang: Their performance was amazing. They did it in person during the ARU camp In person [00:11:00] summit. We also had people from our community, like uncles and community leaders there and they were all moved by her performance. Surada and I, we were crying. It was so good. So I'm really glad that one day you were able to share your story. As well as everyone else who performed. Manju Gurung: No, we had cried a lot. I think Nawal knows how many times I cried when we were practicing and rehearsing before. Because we started a couple months before we were meeting up in August for the Emerging Leaders camp session.  I remember being in this room and just sharing my stories and not being able to share all of it because I was just crying and I had to let that emotion out. So I think that really helped me get over that traumatic past. I think that I was holding it on for so long. So that's something. I was very grateful for the storytelling group that, you know, that ARU has created. Nawal Rai: Yeah, the talking circle is part of the process of our storytelling and identity and belonging, so we try to focus on sharing each other's [00:12:00] story and trying to create that space to be vulnerable. And I think that's the work that we're also trying to do with our podcast that is kind of extending toward our community and not just us youth and highlighting a lot of personal stories and our community stories. Cheryl Truong: Thank you for sharing that. I love what you said that in telling our stories, especially when it carries themes of pain, it doesn't just help the audience understand and relate, but it also helps you process and heal too.  We are going to take a quick music break, don't go anywhere  Cheryl Truong: More on the power of storytelling when we return. Next up, you're listening to a track called “Juniper” by Minjoona, a project led by Korean American musician, Jackson Wright. This track features Ari Statler on bass, josh Qiyan on drums, and Ryan Fu producing. Juniper is the lead single from Minjoona's newest release, the Juniper EP, a five track p roject rooted in indie rock, 60 throwback vibes, and lyric forward storytelling. You can follow Minjoona on Instagram [00:13:00] at @minjoonamusic or find them on Spotify to keep up with upcoming releases. We'll drop the links in our show notes. Enjoy the track and we'll be right back. [00:14:00] [00:15:00] [00:16:00] [00:17:00] [00:18:00]  Welcome back. You're tuning in to Apex Express at 94.1 KPFA 89.3 KPFB, 88.1 KFCF Fresno, and online@kpfa.org. Before the break, we were talking about the power of personal storytelling and how sharing our own experiences, especially around identity, can be both healing and powerful. Now I want to dig into how that turned into Hamro Katha: when the Lotus Blooms, what inspired you all to start a podcast? Susmita Tamang: So within our Identity and Belonging group, we divided again to different groups. One was podcast, one was an identity wheel activity we had to do in front of everyone in the summit. So that was when the idea initiated, but then, after we were done with our summit we talked again [00:19:00] altogether. Sarada brought up the idea of podcast because her inspiration drew from the Moth podcast. Sarada Tamang: Yeah. Thank you for filling it in. I was in the subdivision of the podcast from Identity and Belonging, and I thought, we should do something. And I was really moved by the Moth podcast, which I was first introduced to in freshman year of high school. I thought maybe this would be a great way for each person in our community to share their individual stories and experiences so that, you know, it's out there for people to hear and in a way it's preserved because of lack of media coverage in our history,  Susmita Tamang: I agree. Bhutanese Nepali people, not a lot of people even know who we are. And usually when people are like, Oh, where are you from? We say Nepal, but we never explain or go into depth. We're actually not really from Nepal, but at the same time we are. Our parents were born in Bhutan, but then they fled, and therefore, blah, blah, blah. There's not a lot of coverage, so that was definitely one of the main ideas that all of us agreed on. [00:20:00] We want to speak about our issues, about our history, our story, so that people know that we do exist, and acknowledge, us. Cheryl Truong: That's such a great point on the lack of representation and coverage. Sarada, I would love to know more about the Moth and what that is for our listeners out there who don't know what the Moth is.  The moth is where they have stories from thousands of people and it's recorded live. You can hear the audience's reaction to the storyteller as they talk about their journey or talk about a core memory. The stories, they don't have to be serious all the time. Sometimes they're just a funny moment from your life or a little snippet of a journey from your life. I, wanted to incorporate that into our podcast. And one of our team members suggested that maybe we should also have a conversational type of podcast that we all listen to nowadays where we cover important topics in our community that are often overlooked. I hope that, from talking about these issues [00:21:00] as a community, we can grow and connect with each other.  Thank you so much for sharing that. I also wanna take a moment to talk about the history that shaped so many of these stories. For folks who may not know, can you, can one of you share a little bit about the history of the Nepali Bhutanese refugee community?  Nawal Rai: Yeah. We were forced to leave our country, basically stripping our citizenship overnight by the Bhutanese government, and obviously it was not overnight, but it was a progress through putting in policies like one people, one nation act which kind enforced one language, one religion, one cultural costume, one way of practicing and worshipping. That became an issue. A lot of Nepali speaking community, a majority who are Hindu, started to resist toward that policies. Then the people were started to labeled as terrorists and anti nationalist. And so a lot of those caused for us to leave. Some families were given notice to leave by certain dates. And if you're not, then you're either going to be evicted or your house are burned [00:22:00] down or you're forced through violence. Some folks left because of scared of this violence from the government, but also some people after seeing those violence that was perpetuated against the people that resisted. Right. So that kind of became mass migration toward Nepal and that's where we ended up. Some people stayed in India, got stuck in India and in between borders with Bhutan and India and then more than 100, 000 people then resettled in the Seven Refugees Camp in Eastern Nepal.  Cheryl Truong: Yeah. This is a really dark and painful history one that often doesn't get told and, and it really pushes back against that popular narrative of Bhutan being the quote unquote happiest country in the world. You all have touched on how important storytelling is not just for healing, but also for connecting with others and building understanding. So I'm curious when you're all recording, when the Lotus blooms. Who do you imagine listening? Who is the audience you have in mind when you share these stories?  Manju Gurung: I think it is for everybody from our [00:23:00] community or the elders who have not been able to share their stories and struggles that they had to go through. And for our parents people our age and younger than us, the next generation. Anybody who wants to share their stories. It doesn't have to be only about their struggles, if they have something funny or happy stories or anything that they want to write and share, we have created the space for them to use and amplify their voices so we can inspire more people or at least their stories can kind of let others know that, Oh, there are people who have gone through similar stuff like I have, or they have, so yes, it's. I would say it's for everybody.  Susmita Tamang: Yeah, I would say our primary audience is definitely our own community. But also outside of our community, people who support us or don't know about us so that again, our main message that our stories are heard and we are acknowledged. Our identity is Shown and talked about. I think that's also [00:24:00] definitely our target.  Cheryl Truong: And your podcast name is Hamro Kata, When the Lotus Blooms. I totally butchered that. Now, could you tell me the symbolism? What, where does this name come from? Susmita Tamang: We actually made a post on Instagram about our name– when the lotus blooms is our username. We couldn't fit the whole entire podcast name because it was too long. So, yeah, please follow us. Hamro Katha, by the way, means our story in Nepali. That's the direct translation. Our name signifies the perseverance of the Bhutanese Nepali refugees. The lotus. I think many know, it's a symbol of how a lotus prospers from muddy waters. Despite our adverse origins, we continue to flourish by learning and sharing our experiences, trying to inspire others along the way.  Cheryl Truong: What are the kind of stories that you're able [00:25:00] to hear from your elders? Are they open to sharing?  Nawal Rai: Yeah, that's a really good question. And are they open to sharing? I think our community is pretty open to sharing those stories. And I think that also comes from not having anyone to listen for them before, right? At least my grandparents are always like ask me questions. I grew up listening to a lot of the stories from Bhutan and of growing up in Bhutan and the impact of migration. So I have had a lot of those conversations with my grandparents, so they always, at least my grandpa, he can be really buggy with our family because some of our family members doesn't ask him questions like that. Not everyone is interested in the political and the social world like I am in the family. So he's always upset that our uncles or our family members is not asking him enough questions. So from my understanding, there's that part of them that wants to share their stories, because of their struggles that has never been really spoken on and I feel they have never been able to share those stories with anyone. I see that in my family coming out in the structural where he started to be upset with us you know, you guys are [00:26:00] not even trying to learn anything about our stories and blah, blah, blah. And I was like, I got you, grandpa.   Susmita Tamang: Without even asking my dad usually when there's a family gathering of any sort, they're always talking about how their life was back in Bhutan. So from their anecdotes and narratives, I'm always able to listen to what happened. I think usually most of the people I've asked about how their life was in Bhutan, or if they have anything they'd like to share, they're always open to sharing and talking more about it.  Sarada Tamang: I was a big yapper growing up when I was small, especially. So I would be like, grandma, where are you from? Oh, what is, what was that? What was this? And so, I would hear a lot of stories from her and I would also hear a lot of stories about Bhutan and even life in camp from my mom and my relatives when they're reminiscing about old times. I heard the quote when your grandparents pass away, it's like a whole library crashes down or something along the lines of [00:27:00] that. Ever since I heard that I was like, oh my goodness I need to know everything that my grandma has been through. Every time we talk on the phone i'm always asking her about Her life and her journey. Cheryl Truong: Wow. This is actually so different from my experience growing up. Like I remember growing up super ashamed. I would tell my parents don't speak Vietnamese. I don't want everyone to hear it I wanted to fit in.  Susmita Tamang: I did experience what you just talked about, trying to assimilate with the American society because early on when we first immigrated here, being in this space where everyone is Very different from you and more of like you're the one who's different from everyone else. You just wanted to hide or how do you say fall into their group so that you're not singled out as a refugee. I did have that crisis where I was ashamed of myself It was only till high school [00:28:00] When I accepted, I am Bhutanese Nepali, I am a refugee, and I'm proud of that, and that's actually when I started asking questions. So, I wasn't always very curious, but then later on learned more about myself, and that's when things actually started going. Was it like that for you guys?  Nawal Rai: Yeah, Cheryl, I was gonna say, you are definitely not alone. I think we've all been through that phase of running away from our community and everything, and we're trying to reach for that whiteness and the validation of white people. And I think even in the structural way. In college, as a freshman, and after Covid and after George Floyd, that's when those were the moments that really looking into politics and like also looking at the systematic racism and how it has embedded in us in our consciousness and the way that we go on about life. Those moments and those phase of life has definitely made me start the process of decolonization and really explore who am I? And those [00:29:00] curiosities became strong. I found ARU at a perfect moment in life and I'm still exploring and I'm still learning. ARU gave me the space and that people and that community. I'd never seen an organization like ARU in our community that really focuses on healing and talking about social and political issues that is impacting people, and not just about about it, but also how do we take action and getting our communities involved in those conversations. Obviously, we're not where we want to be and I think it's a constant everyday process and work that we're constantly trying to do and trying to build and give something back to the movement and to our people.  Cheryl Truong: Yes. Healing is such a powerful part of this work and of course everyone in this room knows that healing and storytelling is really political too, especially as racialized people. So I wanna ask, what radicalized you? Was there a moment in experience or a story that made you start to see the world differently or made you wanna speak out and organize?  Sarada Tamang: [00:30:00] For me, it was seeing other Bhutanese Nepali youth on social media embracing our culture. And I realized, wow, the clothes that we wear, the language that we speak, it's actually really beautiful. And That's when I started digging more into my culture and trying to understand why I was the way I was growing up. And so, yeah, I think seeing my community, but in different states through social media was definitely a way that moved me, pushed me to accept my culture.  After I was able to get over my insecurities or the desire to fit into certain categories in high school, I was like, Well, I had always been dancing ever since I was small and I enjoyed it even more as I grew up and I would perform if I could at school during our talent [00:31:00] show or diversity program and a lot of people complimented me and they were like, wow, you dance so well. Sarada Tamang: And when people are like, how many languages do you speak? And I say two, they're like, what? I can only speak English. And then after that, I was like, you know what? Yeah, I should embrace this because I love everything about our culture, especially the dance part of it. Cheryl Truong: And how did you get into dancing? Was that something you did with your family?  Sarada Tamang: Growing up, I would see my sister practicing with her friends. And that heavily influenced me because I was like, wow, they were so good at dancing. I want to be just like my sister. And so, I continued practicing and improved. Susmita Tamang: I actually have a story about that.  When we were very young, like when we were around eight years old. I'm pretty sure It was our first performance together, but we did dance in front of, what was it? Wasn't it, Kerelama Arubakotoma? Monks Arubakotoma?  Sarada Tamang: Oh yeah, it was [00:32:00] at a Buddhist temple.  Susmita Tamang: Yeah, and we got five dollars as our, I don't know why we got five dollars, but there was an envelope and I opened it and it was money. I was like, oh my god, maybe I could do this for life, you know? But no, no, no. And we actually performed another time too, it was during Losar, a New Year's event. This was in middle school. That was really fun. And I think that was the last time where our community actually got together. Because afterwards, Charlottesville, it became dry. But I have a lot of good memories of dancing with Sarada.  Cheryl Truong: Wow, five dollars. When you're young, five dollars is a lot. Do y'all do the red envelopes, too?  Susmita Tamang: We don't do red envelopes, but we do get money during our holidays, Dashain and Tihar.  From our last October and November GoHolidays, Dashain and Tihar. DR, I made around 800 and I saved that up and I paid my tuition with it.  So I'm always happy when it's around, you know, holiday season. [00:33:00]  Nawal Rai: Also, in our system, the man doesn't get the money.  Yeah, our family often just gives money to a woman in our family Because they often see our women often gets married and lives with husbands, right? And I think there's that respect of showing more appreciation towards that, at least that's what I heard going on, and I was  like, that's kind of cool. I  Susmita Tamang: In my family, they do get money, but obviously lesser than the girls, but for Tihar is when the guys, if they have siblings or cousins, they get gifts, and in return, the girls get money.  Manju Gurung: But  then about that too, guys, I think for in Hindu religion, there is a one goddess who kind of represents wealth and money and all of that. So people who celebrate, our practice Hinduism at least at my household, we practice both Buddhism and Hindu, like holidays and all of those. So, since there is a goddess who people actually pray for wealth and all of that, I think one of the reasons why a [00:34:00] lot of times women in households get a little bit of extra attention and money as a blessing, so. Susmita Tamang: Yeah, it's a bonus point, I guess.  The gender dynamic, I feel in Bhutanese Nepali community is like in most South Asian immigrants community, where the male kind of dominates the household and The females are the ones who are supposed to stay home, do the majority of the housework, look after the kids. So it's very traditional roles, but having come to America, I think those ideas of it being super dichotomous has been lowered because we know what it is. Susmita Tamang: Individualism is.. People are able to kind of work towards that, whether you're a male or a female or any other genders. So I think being in an American society has definitely influenced now our idea of those dynamics. It's much more [00:35:00] free. But there are definitely, communities within our community that still hold on to the older ideals. Yeah.  Nawal Rai: Yeah, like I would say in terms of a lot of gender roles, I will say like our communities pretty progressive and again, I also don't want to under undermine a lot of the violence that happens against women in our community, right? There's still that imbalance in power in different households, right? But I think when I do, look at our community as a whole, I will say like majority of it's like a more progressive learning, I would say in terms of a lot of issues as well. And if we're looking at men and women, I will say our women in our community are a little bit more progressive than men, I would say. And I think that also plays a big dynamic in our community and how women plays a role in society, even at my household, was very much of a on and off of the power dynamic with my mom and dad. I feel like there was a lot of things I knew that my mom [00:36:00] was and like, even my from my grandparents to see what's this, the oldest, daughter in law, she was, her opinion was always needed there and without her presence or without her saying, no family decision could be made. And that was respected by our grandparents and that was implemented in this. But there, I know there are also my friend's family, right, where there is that dynamic of really, uh, oppressive kind of dynamic.  Manju Gurung: I think within my family to what I've seen growing up between my parents when it comes to gender roles and all that. I think we'll just speaking from experience. I think I've had. This is not me like talking bad about my father or anything. He's a great father and husband and brother son all all, He's an amazing man. But I've had in past two, three years I've had conversations with him where he would say Oh, women should learn to cook. He would heavily focus on those words, which didn't really Sit right with me as I grew older and learned from [00:37:00] experience and around the world. And the thing is, his message was not really entirely wrong. Not just to make women be all prepared for their marriage and stuff, but he was just saying in a way as a concerned father would be like, in case if you , get married off and then go to your in laws homes, we don't want to hear your in laws making you feel bad about not knowing how to cook, clean, all of that, you know.  I always argued with him by saying I don't need to be perfect before I get married or, because I think it's a life skill that a man and women should know. The way that My parents have raised me. I would question them and be like, well, have you taught your son how to cook and clean. It's not only my responsibility to cook and clean and provide. I think after that conversation that I've had with him over and over again, he does kind of pause before he speaks to me about those things because he knows since I'm the oldest one from my home. He knows that, it's going to backfire on him. And so it's a lovely conversation to have with parents and I think even with grandparents too, about gender roles and [00:38:00] dynamics and what we are expecting of women specifically in our communities.  Susmita Tamang: By the way, what I love about what Manjutimi just said is that I feel like our generation is the one who's kind of asking them so that they're aware of what they're actually saying. And a lot of our parents are like that. But then I also realize. It's because their parents were like that and then their parents, grandparents were like that. So it's a lot of these things are passed down and I feel like we're here to break that and say, hey, stop, pause. That's not it. And then actually explain why it shouldn't be like that. Nawal Rai: Yeah, and I want to add a little bit because a lot of our listeners are going to be people who grew up in America, most likely, right? And I think I want to, and why I said that, our community is a little progressive is because I compared our community to a general conservative man of the West. And I feel like a lot [00:39:00] of those views about women and what you just mentioned about like your dad About your dad saying that right? It's not coming from like a woman should do this It is something that culturally passed down to that that's what they're used to and what's Susmita said you know, I think we are the ones To break that. And I feel like when break into those conversation, I feel like a lot of the elders often are pretty open to at least listening in my instances and I know it's not the same for everyone. Again, like the talk, speaking from my experience and with a lot of elders, I have been able to break that crack doing those conversation and I feel like they have been open to welcoming those different views and listening and I've been able to do that in my family, quite a bit. So I think that's something that, yeah, we can do.   Cheryl Truong: Yeah, that's so real. Challenging those cultural norms, especially when they've been passed down for generations, isn't easy. It takes a lot of care and courage, and you're all doing that through your stories, and I think that really shows in your first episode! So for all of our listeners out there, the first episode of [00:40:00] Ro Kata, when the Lotus Blooms is available using the links in the show notes. How was your experience recording your first episode?  Susmita Tamang: It was so nerve wracking at first because we wanted to keep it conversational, like we're just talking with our friends, but at the same time people are going to be watching this, so it's like, do we talk to the audience? How do we still retain our natural tone? It was a lot of just talking to ourselves, hey, it's gonna be okay. We can edit this out later, you know? But it was such a fun experience because everybody was on it. They had the same emotions as I did. But as we were talking about each topic, it kind of just naturally flowed. We had so much to say. Seems like all of us are big yappers so it was nice. What about you guys?  Manju Gurung: Yeah, well, definitely, we had to restart so many times just because everybody was so nervous. When we knew that it was recording, I think it really made all of us a little bit nervous, yeah. Sarada Tamang: [00:41:00] definitely a learning experience. This was a trial and error kind of, but I think overall we did great. I think as the more we do this, the more comfortable we'll get. During this process, we're doing our best to improve as we go and we've also been receiving a lot of feedback and we will definitely incorporate them on our following episodes. I  Nawal Rai: yeah, I wasn't on the podcast, but I did the editing. I think it was, it was a really good experience and I watched them while I was editing. I think overall for the first time, no one has ever done a podcast in our group, this was all like new, something new for all of us. And Yeah, putting that in mind, I think it was a very successful. I would say it was a successful first episode and, even for the edit, while I was editing too, there was a lot of things that I was learning as I was editing and there was a lot of things That are also group were incorporating that we were helping each other to produce that. So I wasn't the only editing. My groups were sharing their ideas and how we can really make that product look the way that it came out, you know? It was a lot of teamwork and [00:42:00] learned to take criticism, then how do we implement that in practice?  I think especially being virtual, it's difficult to do all the things. , it's a process. So we're trying to do a different recording in a different method next time and try, if that would make our screen much clearer or just play around with us. It's as we go, I think it's going to be an experience.  Cheryl Truong: Thanks for sharing your reflections with me, everyone. I'm glad to hear that it was overall a good experience. Well, we are at time, but before we close, I want to ask you all one last question. If you could go back and tell your younger self something, something you know now, after being part of this podcast, this community, this journey, what would you tell yourself?  Susmita Tamang: I think for me, it would be, don't try too hard to fit in, because my whole entire elementary to middle to early high school year, it was always trying to do these activities that like trying to get into musicals, and ballet, I did so many, I mean, these were actually really good opportunities, but [00:43:00] it was so that I looked like my peers, my interests and hobbies were the same as theirs, so that they took me in, kind of. They were fun though, I did get into musicals, it was fun, but that was definitely my time where I tried my hardest to be in that group. But I guess I would tell myself, don't try too hard to fit in because you will find your people. Just be yourself and that will help you move on through life.   Manju Gurung: For me, I think I would tell my younger self to be brave. I'm still telling myself to be a little bit brave and be confident. And I think that's a work in progress, but yeah Be a little brave and don't be afraid to share your voice. And I think that's something that I have struggled with, being confident in my own voice. And, thankfully enough at this age and day that I have ARU and this amazing team that we have. So that has allowed me to share my voice and not be scared.  Sarada Tamang: For me, advice I would give to [00:44:00] my younger self. Is that I would tell her to don't be afraid to speak and initiate a conversation because I feel like because I did that. Now I'm more afraid to speak to people. And embrace your culture. Nawal Rai: Yeah, for me, I would say. You didn't have to be a parent. I feel like, that's a sound depressing. I feel like I'm saying that because I feel like I had a lot of little siblings. And a lot of the time. My parent didn't force me to be, but being the oldest, I tried to put that habit of being an adult and being a parent figure. Now I'm 23 and living alone, trying to figure life out, and I'm like, I am still a child and I don't know how to be an adult. I feel like I didn't get time to be a child back then, because I was trying to be an adult so much, now I'm like, okay, I want to be a child now, so , I'm trying to figure out how do I also be a child and also [00:45:00] figure this world out, and I think that's the phase I am in life right now, trying to figure that out.  Cheryl Truong: Well, I'm so excited to see more of y'all. Thank you all so much for coming on the show for our listeners out there. Can you remind me one more time, how can we listen and tune into your podcast and how can we stay updated on all things?  Susmita Tamang: So majority of the things we're going to be posting is going to be on our Instagram, whenthelotusmoons, that is our username. And then we have a YouTube account, Spotify, as well as TikTok, where we're going to be posting more of our materials. So if you guys go there, you can check us out.  Nawal Rai: I think the best way to stay connected would be following on Instagram. That's where I feel like we'll post a lot of the things that will be , updated, and I think a lot of the announcement will come there.  Cheryl Truong: Thank you all so much for sharing your stories, your honesty, and your hearts with us today. Once again, this is the incredible team behind Asian refugees United's new podcast. It's really clear that Hamro [00:46:00] Katha isn't just a podcast. It is a space for healing, for truth telling, and for imagining something better. To our listeners. If you wanna learn more about Asian Refugees United and the work that these incredible youth leaders are doing, please check out Asian Refugees United's website.  It's currently linked in the show notes. And as always, thank you for tuning in to Apex Express. We'll catch you next time.  Cheryl Truong (she/they): Apex express is produced by Miko Lee, Paige Chung, Jalena Keane-Lee, Preeti Mangala Shekar. [00:47:00] Shekar, Anuj Vaidya, Kiki Rivera, Swati Rayasam, Nate Tan, Hien Nguyen, Nikki Chan, and Cheryl Truong   Cheryl Truong: Tonight's show was produced by me, cheryl. Thanks to the team at KPFA for all of their support. And thank you for listening! [00:48:00] [00:49:00] [00:50:00] [00:51:00] [00:52:00] [00:53:00] [00:54:00] [00:55:00] [00:56:00] [00:57:00] [00:58:00]  The post APEX Express – April 17, 2025 – When the Lotus Blooms appeared first on KPFA.

In this episode, Jethro explores Tulip Mania, the 17th-century Dutch financial disaster that saw people selling their homes for tulip bulbs. Yes, actual tulips. Because nothing screams economic stability like mortgaging the farm for a flower. Meanwhile, Kat saddles up for the story of the Pack Horse Libraries—badass Depression-era librarians who braved mountains, rivers, and wild animals just to make sure rural America had something to read besides old seed catalogs. From botanical bubbles to literary cowboys, it's another journey into the gloriously bizarre. Because if history teaches us anything, it's that humans will do anything—whether it's trading goats for petals or delivering Mark Twain via muleback. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the Orthodox Faith, we are taught that when we see the Cross we see our Deliverer and the instrument of our deliverance. Yes, our Lord suffered and was in agony upon the Cross. His suffering shows forth His unfathomable love for every soul. But, as St. Paul says, the Christian is to glory in the Cross of our Lord, Jesus Christ. It is the wood of Aaron's rod that budded with life. It is the tree that made the bitter and harmful waters of Marah sweet and life-giving. As the Introit of this Mass reveals, "But as for us, it behoveth us to glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom is our salvation, our life, and resurrection; by whom we were saved and obtained our freedom."

Fluent Fiction - Hindi: Love Blooms Under the Rain at the Taj Mahal Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/hi/episode/2025-04-16-22-34-02-hi Story Transcript:Hi: ताजमहल के सामने सफेद संगमरमर की चमचमाती शान के बीच, वसंत की मीठी हवा बह रही थी।En: Amidst the gleaming grandeur of the white marble in front of the Taj Mahal, the sweet spring breeze was blowing.Hi: आसमान में बादल धीरे-धीरे इकट्ठा हो रहे थे, परन्तु अभी तक सब कुछ ठीक लग रहा था।En: Clouds were slowly gathering in the sky, but everything seemed fine so far.Hi: उसी समय, ताजमहल के बगीचे में तीन दोस्त घूम रहे थे - आरव, प्रिया और कबीर।En: At that time, three friends were strolling in the gardens of the Taj Mahal - Aarav, Priya, and Kabir.Hi: आरव के दिल की धड़कनें तेज़ हो रही थीं, क्योंकि उसने आज के दिन प्रिया को शादी के लिए प्रपोज़ करने का मन बना लिया था।En: Aarav's heart was beating fast because he had decided to propose marriage to Priya that day.Hi: प्रिया दिन के हर क्षण का आनंद ले रही थी, उसे यह नहीं पता था कि आरव उसकी जिंदगी बदलने का इरादा रखता है।En: Priya was enjoying every moment of the day, unaware that Aarav intended to change her life.Hi: वहीं दूसरी ओर, कबीर उसके बेसब्री भरे उत्साह का गवाह बनने आया था, जैसे ही आरव घुटनों पर झुककर प्रिया से सवाल पूछेगा, वह इस खास पल को अपने कैमरे में कैद कर लेगा।En: Meanwhile, Kabir had come to witness the moment of excitement, intending to capture it on his camera as soon as Aarav got down on one knee to ask Priya the question.Hi: जैसे ही आरव ने प्रिया का हाथ थामा और घुटनों पर झुकने की तैयारी की, अचानक आसमान में गड़गड़ाहट गूंज उठी।En: Just as Aarav took Priya's hand and was about to kneel, suddenly, there was a rumble in the sky.Hi: एकाएक मूसलधार बारिश शुरू हो गई।En: All of a sudden, it started to rain heavily.Hi: बारिश ने ताजमहल के चारों ओर का दृश्य और भी रहस्यमय बना दिया था।En: The rain made the scene around the Taj Mahal even more mysterious.Hi: पर्यटक बगीचे में शेल्टर लेने के लिए भाग रहे थे।En: Tourists were rushing to take shelter in the garden.Hi: आरव की योजना में विघ्न आ गया, वह सोच में पड़ गया कि अब क्या करना चाहिए।En: Aarav's plan was interrupted, leaving him pondering what to do next.Hi: प्रिया ने मुस्कुराकर बारिश की ओर देखा और कहने लगी, "वही तो मौसम की खूबसूरती है, यही तो जिन्दगी है - अनियोजित और सुंदर।En: Priya smiled and looked at the rain, saying, "That's the beauty of the weather, that's life - unplanned and beautiful."Hi: " यह सुनकर आरव के चेहरे पर हल्की मुस्कान फैल गई।En: Hearing this, a slight smile spread across Aarav's face.Hi: उसने मन बनाया कि वह इस क्षण को अपने ढंग से सराहेगा।En: He decided that he would appreciate the moment in his way.Hi: आरव ने प्रिया के हाथ को और कसकर पकड़ा और बारिश की बूंदों में भीगते हुए घुटनों पर बैठ गया।En: Aarav held onto Priya's hand more tightly and, drenched in the rain, he knelt down.Hi: उसने प्रिया से कहा, "क्या तुम इस अजीब लेकिन खूबसूरत मौसम में मेरी जीवनसाथी बनोगी?En: He said to Priya, "Will you become my life partner in this strange yet beautiful weather?"Hi: " प्रिया ने अपनी आँखों में चमक लाते हुए जवाब दिया, "हाँ, बिल्कुल!En: With a sparkle in her eyes, Priya replied, "Yes, absolutely!"Hi: " कबीर ने इस खास पल को अपने कैमरे में कैद कर लिया।En: Kabir captured this special moment on his camera.Hi: बारिश की हर एक बूंद की तरह उनके चेहरे पर खुशी की चमक थी।En: Like every drop of rain, happiness sparkled on their faces.Hi: आरव ने महसूस किया कि जीवन की सुंदरता उसकी अप्रत्याशितता में है।En: Aarav realized that the beauty of life lies in its unpredictability.Hi: आरव और प्रिया बारिश में नाचने लगे, उनकी हंसी और खुशी की गूंज ताजमहल के बगीचे में भर रही थी।En: Aarav and Priya began to dance in the rain, their laughter and joy resonating throughout the gardens of the Taj Mahal.Hi: कहानी का अंत आरव के लिए एक सीख लेकर आता है कि पूरी तरह से योजना बनाने की तुलना में जीवन की अनिश्चितता को गले लगाना अधिक सुंदर है।En: The story ends with a lesson for Aarav, that embracing life's uncertainties is more beautiful than planning every detail.Hi: कबीर की तस्वीरें उस दिन की यादों को संजोए रखती हैं, जिसे कोई भी परफेक्ट प्लान नहीं बना सकता था।En: Kabir's photographs preserve the memories of that day, which no perfect plan could have created.Hi: इस तरह, ताजमहल की छाया में बारिश की एक अनोखी शानदार कहानी उनकी जिंदगी का हिस्सा बन गई।En: Thus, the unique and splendid story of rain under the shadow of the Taj Mahal became a part of their lives. Vocabulary Words:grandeur: शानgleaming: चमचमातीbreeze: हवाgathering: इकट्ठाunaware: अनजानexcitement: उत्साहrumble: गड़गड़ाहटpondering: सोच में पड़नाinterrupted: विघ्न आनाappreciate: सराहनाsparkle: चमकunpredictability: अप्रत्याशितताresonating: गूंजembracing: गले लगानाuncertainties: अनिश्चितताpreserve: संजोए रखनाmemories: यादेंsplendid: शानदारshadow: छायाsplendor: भव्यताproposal: प्रस्तावintent: इरादाscenario: दृश्यmoment: क्षणdrenched: भीगनाcapture: कैद करनाwitness: गवाहspontaneity: स्वाभाविकताmarvel: आश्चर्यmystery: रहस्य

In this episode, Cahner and Delaney reflect on the whirlwind launch of the Omaha Places Coffee Shop Passport, sharing behind-the-scenes stories of their hectic week filled with coffee shop visits and creative content creation. They recount the excitement of pre-orders and the overwhelming response to the passport launch, which offers 21 free beverages at local coffee shops. As they navigate the ups and downs of launching a new project, they also discuss their recent visits to Zen West and La Bo, highlighting the unique vibes and delicious offerings at these local favorites.   Listeners will hear about experiences at Snooze Mattress Factory, where Delaney tried out the innovative sleep mapping technology, and the charm of Albany and Avers, a vintage clothing store in Dundee. The duo wraps up the episode with answers to listener questions about outdoor activities and dog-friendly spots in Omaha, ensuring you have plenty of ideas for your next adventure in the city. 00:20 - Launch Week Chaos & Coffee Passport Recap 10:28 - Upcoming Passports & What's Next 11:33 - Zen Coffee West (West Location) 14:15 - Le Bouillon in Dundee 16:31 - Snooze Mattress Company (Rockbrook Village) 20:15 - Mad Hatter Auto Repair  22:32 - Albany and Avers  26:03 - The Bad Seed (New Location near Felius Cat Café) 28:14 - Kayaking Spots Around Omaha 29:30 - Dog-Friendly Spots in Omaha 33:10 - Scenic Outdoor Spots & Salted Edge in Waterloo 34:44 - First Date Ideas in Omaha 37:32 - Weekend Events (April 17–20) Earth Day at Mulhall's : https://omahaplaces.com/event/earth-day-at-mulhalls/ African Fashion Week: https://omahaplaces.com/event/african-fashion-week-omaha/ Blooms and Bubbly Spring Market: https://omahaplaces.com/event/blooms-bubbly-spring-market/ Easter Egg Hunt and Food Drive: https://omahaplaces.com/event/easter-egg-hunt-food-drive/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our first guest is Beth Nelson. She and her husband David own and operate Hoof and Harness (located in Jefferson County) a nonprofit organization that provides therapeutic equine experiences for special needs individuals. Hoof and Harness are hosting a “Cowboy Carnival” April 12, 11- 3 p.m. Our second guest is Vicki Baumgartner, Trails and Gardens Program Manager for Dogwood Arts. Vicki shares the 70 year history of the Dogwood Trails in Knoxville and Dogwood Arts Bazillion Blooms campaign that keeps the Dogwoods blooming.

Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Blossoming Into Life: Akira's Revelation Among Cherry Blooms Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2025-04-12-22-34-02-ja Story Transcript:Ja: アキラは花農場で働く勤勉な庭師です。En: Akira is a diligent gardener working at a flower farm.Ja: 毎日、色とりどりの花を丹念に世話しています。En: Every day, he carefully tends to a variety of colorful flowers.Ja: しかし、彼は時々、忙しい日々の中でその美しさを楽しむことを忘れてしまいます。En: However, sometimes in his busy days, he forgets to enjoy their beauty.Ja: 今年も春がやって来ました。En: This year, spring has come once again.Ja: 農場には色鮮やかな花がいっぱいです。En: The farm is filled with vibrant flowers.Ja: でも、アキラの気持ちはどこか沈んでいました。En: Yet, Akira's spirits felt somewhat downcast.Ja: ある日、アキラは農場の片隅で驚くべきものを発見します。En: One day, Akira discovered something amazing in a corner of the farm.Ja: それは、まだ咲いていないと思っていた桜の木々が満開になっていることでした。En: The cherry trees that he thought hadn't bloomed yet were in full bloom.Ja: この遅咲きの桜たちは、他の花々とは違って静かな魅力を放っていました。En: These late-blooming cherry blossoms radiated a quiet charm, different from all the other flowers.Ja: アキラはその景色に目を奪われました。En: Akira was captivated by the scenery.Ja: しかし、仕事が山ほどあるので、休む時間はありません。En: But with a mountain of work, he had no time to rest.Ja: 桜の季節は短い。En: The cherry blossom season is short.Ja: だからこそ、彼は迷いました。En: Because of that, he hesitated.Ja: けれども、心の中で何かがはじけ、彼は思い切って仕事を中断しました。En: However, something inside him burst forth, and he daringly paused his work.Ja: 「少しだけ、歩こう」と彼は決めました。En: "Just for a little while, I'll take a walk," he decided.Ja: 桜の並木道をゆっくりと歩くアキラ。En: Akira walked slowly along the path lined with cherry trees.Ja: 淡いピンク色の花びらが風に舞っています。En: Pale pink petals danced in the wind.Ja: 彼は立ち止まり、桜の下で静止しました。En: He stopped and stood still beneath the cherry blossoms.Ja: その瞬間、すべての音が消え、桜の美しさに包まれました。En: In that moment, all sounds vanished, and he was enveloped by the beauty of the blossoms.Ja: 「これだ」とアキラは思いました。En: "This is it," Akira thought.Ja: この瞬間こそ、彼が求めていたものです。En: This moment was what he had been seeking.Ja: 心が安らぎと喜びで満たされました。En: His heart was filled with tranquility and joy.Ja: 日が暮れ始め、アキラは再び仕事に戻りました。En: As the sun began to set, Akira returned to his work.Ja: しかし、彼は前とは違っていました。En: However, he was different from before.Ja: 彼の中には、より深い感謝の気持ちが生まれ、それが彼の仕事に新たな活力を与えていました。En: A deeper sense of gratitude was born within him, providing new energy to his work.Ja: 次の日から、アキラは毎日、ほんの少しでもいいから仕事の手を止めて、周りの美しさを感じることを忘れませんでした。En: From the next day on, Akira made sure to pause for even just a little while daily, to appreciate the beauty around him.Ja: 彼は再び、花たちとのつながりを感じ、それがまるで新しい友情のように思えました。En: He once again felt a connection with the flowers, which felt like a new friendship.Ja: 桜はやがて散るけれど、その一瞬の美しさは彼の心に永遠に残るでしょう。En: Although the cherry blossoms would eventually fall, their momentary beauty would remain in his heart forever.Ja: アキラは初めて、農場での自分の仕事に誇りを感じました。En: For the first time, Akira felt proud of his work at the farm.Ja: そして、桜のおかげで、彼はまた一歩、人生の喜びを見つけ直したのです。En: Thanks to the cherry blossoms, he rediscovered a step toward life's joys. Vocabulary Words:diligent: 勤勉なtends: 世話していますdowncast: 沈んでいましたdiscovered: 発見しますamazing: 驚くべきbloomed: 咲いてfull bloom: 満開late-blooming: 遅咲きradiated: 放っていましたcaptivated: 目を奪われましたdaringly: 思い切ってvanished: 消えenveloped: 包まれましたtranquility: 安らぎgratitude: 感謝providing: 与えてappreciate: 感じるconnection: つながりproud: 誇りをrediscovered: 見つけ直したscenery: 景色paused: 中断しましたpetals: 花びらbeneath: 下でjoy: 喜びhesitated: 迷いましたburst forth: はじけpath: 並木道temporary: 一瞬のlife's joys: 人生の喜び

Hey there and welcome to today's episode.  With Mother's Day coming up, I'm sharing some of my favorite non-toxic skincare, beauty and wellness gift guides for 2025 for Mother's Day. So whether you're shopping for your mom or tweeting yourself like I am doing a couple of both, I've got some great recommendations.  So here's a question for you. What's the best way to show your mom you care?  Through a thoughtful beauty product or wellness gift and help others extra items that keep your skin glowing and promote overall health. Personally, my mom has asked for a few specific items this year, like the Glow Skin Beauty Creams, Stay Shadow Stick and CO beauty patches but I'm also eyeing a few wellness products for myself. So stick around as I share my top gift picks in a few tips along the way.  Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing mamas out there. This episode is for you.  Stay glowy my friends! XX, Lindsey Next Steps: Book a ONE on ONE Skincare Routine coaching call with me to get you Radiant skin!  LISTEN TO EXCLUSIVE PODCAST CONTENT and Download our FREE Esthetician led Skincare app: Apple IOS  Here OR Google Play Here Download my Free 7 Day Skincare Guide: Here   If you liked this episode, you will also like this one : Discover Your Skin type: HERE Favorite Skincare Products HERE GLO SKIN BEAUTY | Cream Stay Shadow Stick ONESKIN | OS-01 FACE Topical Supplement SIO | Superlift Pack CURRENTBODY | Skin Eye Perfector And Dr. Harris Anti-Wrinkle Sleep Mask:(use code: LAPREE10 for 10% off) CURRENTBODY | Skin Led Mask Series 2 & Sauna Blanket (Worth $1: (use code: LAPREE10 for 10% off) Currentbody Skin Led Neck & Décolletage Mask: Series 1 Zelus Weighted Vest Glass Anti-Wrinkle Straw Electrolytes (Watermelon Flavor) PaleoValley Amino Acids - Kion CYMBIOTIKA H2 Molecular Hydrogen Water Tablets Pique Organic Sun Goddess Matcha Paleovalley 100% Grass Fed Bone Broth Protein Powder Seasonal Flower Arranging: Fill Your Home with Blooms, Branches, and Foraged Materials All Year Round by Ariella Chezar & Julie Michaels Natural Lip Color by Lauren Brooke Co. Glass Water Bottle Connect with me:  @lindseyrholder and @spaskinandbeauty    Leave a review and get instant access to my  48 Hour Skincare Makeover Guide: HERE Listen to related episodes: Clean Beauty Swaps: From Charlotte Tilbury to NYX Gloss Alternatives with Lauren Brooke Co. Spring Skincare Refresh – Back to Basics Goodbye Wrinkles: The Ultimate Guide to Frownies as a Natural Botox Alternative  

In this episode, Jethro Jones interviews Dr. Kate Anderson Foley, founder and CEO of the Education Policy and Practice Group. They discuss the integral role of special education in school improvement, the double helix approach to support systems, and the importance of tailoring instruction to student needs. Dr. Foley shares insights on the necessity of breaking down silos in education and promoting a student-centered approach that prepares learners for adult life.Tight instruction specifically for special education students. Double HelixDesigning lessons that are comprehensively situating the adults and students.Almost half a million students are identified as special education. Ban the Tiers! Nimble and responsive instruction. Not working in isolation anymore. Double Helix as a replacement for the RTI/MTSSStrength-based system - foundation of school improvement process. High expectations of staff. Accountability is measured by evidence of impact. Data that is used to inform and adjust. Shared accountability. Collaboratively working on improvement. Discussion about explicit instruction vs. non-explicit instruction. Blooms and scaffolding. The scaffolding needs to be doneHow do we scaffold that skill so they demonstrate it in novel ways? Explicit instruction is 15 minutes and then you transfer that skill. Understand the concept of AM & PM. About Dr. Foley:Kate Anderson Foley, Ph.D.Founder & CEO of the Education Policy & Practice Group, International Keynote, McLean Affiliate of Harvard Medical School Institute of Coaching Fellow, Thought Partner, Author. Kate Anderson Foley is a transformational leader with significant experience leading public school districts and states toward equitable and integrated services for all learners. Her work has been grounded in social justice and breaking down barriers for children who have historically been marginalized. She has led organizational change utilizing a strategic framework that ensured guaranteed and rigorous learning leading to college and career readiness for all students.Kate began her career as a special education teacher pioneering inclusive practices for students at risk and with disabilities. Her work focused on creating conditions that fostered high expectations of adults for students and innovation which catalyzed equitable opportunities for each learner. Kate's deep commitment to creating nimble and responsive systems that supported the whole child led her into administration where she advocated for local, state, and federal reform. That experience with large-scale reform led to improved academic and social-emotional outcomes for students, fair funding models, innovative healthcare models, and efficient operations. As a senior educational leader for the State of Illinois, Kate's vision of fulfilling the promise of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was nested within the Every Student Succeeds Act. She was an expert contributor to the State Plan where the deficit-based system was interrupted and a preventative and nimble system was created that intentionally addressed opportunity gaps of all learners, regardless of background or circumstance. Her deep understanding of equity-based school funding also contributed to a legislative reform model for the state of Illinois. As the founder and CEO of The Education Policy & Practice Group, Kate partners with local, state, national, and international organizations, education agencies, and various industries providing her expertise with the improvement process, professional learning communities, strategic planning, asset-based education policies and practices, special education, coaching, and consulting. Kate is a Roslyn Wolf Lecturer with the Levin College of Public Affairs in Urban Education. Kate teaches a graduate-level Special Education Law course to aspiring superintendents and principals. Kate works closely with senior leadership across various sectors providing executive coaching aimed at creating growth-minded organizational cultures (www.edpolicyconsulting.com). Kate is the author of numerous articles and books including Ida Finds Her Voice and Fearless Coaching. Kate's new book, Radically Excellent School Improvement: Keeping Students at the Center of it All presents a model for ambitious improvement and tireless focus that ensures every student grows, thrives, and achieves to their fullest potential. It provides district and school leaders with a bold blueprint for designing,implementing, and monitoring a comprehensive school improvement process for radical excellence (https://us.corwin.com/books/radical-excellence-289045).

Dean Richards, entertainment reporter for WGN, joins Bob Sirott to provide the latest news in entertainment. Bob and Dean talk about ‘White Lotus’ wrapping up the third season with a ratings bonanza, the ‘Happy Days’ cast reuniting, ‘Walk This Way’ turning 50, and the end of a feud between Madonna and Elton John.

Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Sakura Sketches: When Art Blooms into Friendship Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2025-04-08-22-34-01-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 春の穏やかな午後、桜が満開の公園で、暖かな風が舞い散る花びらを優しく揺らしていました。En: On a calm spring afternoon, in a park where the sakura were in full bloom, the warm wind gently swayed the falling petals.Ja: 公園はピクニックを楽しむ人々で賑わい、地面には桜の花びらの絨毯が広がっています。En: The park was bustling with people enjoying picnics, and the ground was covered with a carpet of sakura petals.Ja: 花見の季節は、皆の心を浮き立たせます。En: The season of hanami lifts everyone's spirits.Ja: 遥かはベンチに座って、スケッチブックを開きました。En: Haruka sat on a bench and opened her sketchbook.Ja: 彼女は桜の花や人々の賑やかな様子を観察し、次のイラストのインスピレーションを探していました。En: She was observing the sakura flowers and the lively people around, seeking inspiration for her next illustration.Ja: 近くでは、会社員の海斗が公園を散歩し、仕事のストレスを忘れようとしていました。En: Nearby, kaishain Kaito was walking through the park, trying to forget about the stress of work.Ja: 彼は忙しい毎日から一休みが欲しかったのです。En: He longed for a break from his busy daily life.Ja: 「すみません、ここに座ってもいいですか？」海斗がベンチの隣に座り、そっと声をかけました。En: “Excuse me, may I sit here?” Kaito gently asked as he sat next to her on the bench.Ja: 遥かは微笑んで頷きましたが、深く話すことはありませんでした。En: Haruka nodded with a smile but didn't engage in deep conversation.Ja: 時間が経つと、遥かはスケッチに夢中になり、海斗の姿を知らずに描き入れてしまいました。En: As time passed, Haruka became absorbed in her sketch and unknowingly included Kaito in her drawing.Ja: やがて海斗は、ちらりとその絵を見て興味を持ちました。En: Eventually, Kaito caught a glimpse of the sketch and took an interest.Ja: 「すごいですね、その絵は。」と、海斗が言いました。En: “That's amazing, your drawing,” Kaito said.Ja: 遥かは少し驚いた顔をしてから、心が和らぎました。En: Haruka, looking slightly surprised, then felt at ease.Ja: 「本当ですか？ありがとう、まだ練習中ですけど。」En: “Really? Thank you, I'm still practicing, though.”Ja: 二人は少しずつ話し始め、緊張が和みました。En: Gradually, they began to talk, and the tension eased.Ja: 海斗は自分のストレスについて話し始め、遥かはインスピレーションが見つからないことの悩みを共有しました。En: Kaito started to speak about his stress, and Haruka shared her worries about not finding inspiration.Ja: お互いの悩みを知り、同じ孤独を感じていることに気付いたのです。En: They realized they both felt the same loneliness knowing each other's troubles.Ja: 「また会えたらいいですね。」と海斗が言いました。En: “I hope we can meet again,” Kaito said.Ja: 遥かは嬉しそうに微笑み、「はい、きっといいアイディアが浮かぶかもしれませんね。」と応えました。En: Haruka smiled happily and replied, “Yes, perhaps a good idea will come to mind by then.”Ja: その日は、桜の花びらが二人の隙間を舞い、友情の新芽を運んでくれました。En: That day, sakura petals danced between them, carrying the buds of friendship.Ja: 遥かは新たなインスピレーションを得て、心が軽くなりました。En: Haruka gained new inspiration and felt her heart lighten.Ja: そして、海斗はリラックスして、希望を感じることができました。En: Meanwhile, Kaito was able to relax and felt a sense of hope.Ja: 約束を交わして、彼らは再び会うことを楽しみにしながら、春の空の下、別れました。En: Having made a promise to see each other again, they parted under the spring sky, each looking forward to their next meeting.Ja: それぞれの心には、次に会える日への期待が溢れていました。En: Their hearts overflowed with anticipation for the day they would meet again. Vocabulary Words:calm: 穏やかswayed: 揺らしたbustling: 賑わいpicnics: ピクニックcarpet: 絨毯spirits: 心sketchbook: スケッチブックobserving: 観察illustration: イラストlonged: 欲しかったstress: ストレスengage: 話すabsorbed: 夢中unknowingly: 知らずにsurprised: 驚いたeased: 和らぎloneliness: 孤独glimpse: ちらりconversation: 会話worries: 悩みinspiration: インスピレーションrealized: 気付いたbuds: 新芽friendship: 友情lighten: 軽くhope: 希望anticipated: 期待promise: 約束meeting: 会うanticipation: 期待

Fluent Fiction - Catalan: A Chance Encounter Among Blossoms: Love Blooms in Barcelona Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ca/episode/2025-04-06-22-34-02-ca Story Transcript:Ca: En plena primavera, el Jardí Botànic de Barcelona estava radiant.En: In the midst of spring, the Jardí Botànic de Barcelona was radiant.Ca: Les flors esclataven en colors vius, i els camins estaven plens de visitants curiosos que volien gaudir de la bellesa de la natura.En: The flowers burst into vivid colors, and the paths were full of curious visitors eager to enjoy the beauty of nature.Ca: Era Setmana Santa, i la ciutat estava plena de vida i celebracions.En: It was Holy Week, and the city was full of life and celebrations.Ca: Martí caminava pel jardí, admirant les plantes mediterrànies.En: Martí walked through the garden, admiring the Mediterranean plants.Ca: Era un apassionat de la botànica, però sovint preferia la companyia de les plantes a la de les persones.En: He was passionate about botany, but he often preferred the company of plants over people.Ca: Havia vingut per participar en una visita guiada sobre flora mediterrània.En: He had come to participate in a guided tour about Mediterranean flora.Ca: Volia aprendre més per cuidar millor el seu petit jardí a casa.En: He wanted to learn more to better care for his small garden at home.Ca: Laia, per altra banda, estava centrada en el seu projecte fotogràfic.En: Laia, on the other hand, was focused on her photography project.Ca: Tenia un termini proper per a una exposició, i les flors de primavera eren el seu objectiu principal.En: She had an upcoming deadline for an exhibition, and the spring flowers were her main focus.Ca: Amb la càmera penjada al coll, anava fent fotos a les flors que més cridaven la seva atenció.En: With the camera hanging from her neck, she took pictures of the flowers that most caught her eye.Ca: El grup va començar la seva visita guiada i Martí es va fixar en Laia, que estava capturant una espectacular camèlia.En: The group began their guided tour, and Martí noticed Laia, who was capturing a spectacular camellia.Ca: Va sentir una espurna de curiositat, però la seva habitual timidesa el va fer dubtar si acostar-s'hi.En: He felt a spark of curiosity, but his usual shyness made him hesitate to approach her.Ca: La guia explicava els secrets de cada planta i Martí escoltava atentament.En: The guide was explaining the secrets of each plant, and Martí listened attentively.Ca: Durant una pausa entre explicacions, Martí va reunir el valor per a dir: "La teva càmera sembla molt bona.En: During a pause between explanations, Martí gathered the courage to say, "Your camera seems very good.Ca: Fas fotos molt boniques".En: You take very beautiful photos."Ca: Laia va somriure, agraïda per les seves paraules, i van començar a parlar.En: Laia smiled, grateful for his words, and they began to talk.Ca: La passió de Martí per les plantes es va creuar amb l'ull artístic de Laia.En: Martí's passion for plants intertwined with Laia's artistic eye.Ca: Van descobrir que compartien un interès per la natura i l'art.En: They discovered they shared an interest in nature and art.Ca: Al cap de poc, van arribar a un arc de glicines florides.En: Before long, they arrived at an arch of blooming wisterias.Ca: Les flors penjaven com un pesant teló violeta que balandrejaven al vent lleuger.En: The flowers hung like a heavy purple curtain swaying in the light wind.Ca: Martí es va aturar a admirar una orquídia rara, completament fascinat.En: Martí stopped to admire a rare orchid, completely fascinated.Ca: Laia, captivada pel moment, va fer una foto de Martí en aquella escena.En: Laia, captivated by the moment, took a photo of Martí in that scene.Ca: Quan li ensenyà la foto, Martí es va veure a través de l'objectiu de Laia i va sentir una connexió instantània.En: When she showed him the photo, Martí saw himself through Laia's lens and felt an instant connection.Ca: Aquella imatge feia palpable la seva passió per les plantes, reflectida de manera tan artística.En: That image made his passion for plants palpable, reflected so artistically.Ca: Compartien un moment de complicitat que els feu somriure.En: They shared a moment of complicity that made them smile.Ca: Al final de la visita, van intercanviar números de telèfon.En: By the end of the tour, they exchanged phone numbers.Ca: Martí es va sentir més obert i Laia va percebre la importància de les connexions personals.En: Martí felt more open, and Laia realized the importance of personal connections.Ca: Es van comprometre a explorar més jardins i compartir l'art junts.En: They committed to exploring more gardens and sharing art together.Ca: Aquell dia, al jardí, Martí i Laia no només van trobar inspiració en les plantes, sinó també en la seva nova amistat.En: That day, in the garden, Martí and Laia not only found inspiration in the plants but also in their new friendship.Ca: La primavera no només estava al jardí, sinó també en la seva incipient relació.En: The spring was not only in the garden but also in their budding relationship.Ca: I així van començar una nova història junts, culturant la seva amistat tal com les flors del jardí.En: And so they began a new story together, cultivating their friendship just like the flowers in the garden. Vocabulary Words:the midst: el pleradiant: radiantthe path: el camíHoly Week: Setmana Santathe guide: la guiato hesitate: dubtarthe spark: l'espurnato gather: reunirto admire: admirarthe orchid: l'orquídiathe arch: l'arcblooming: floritto sway: balandrejarthe curtain: el telógrateful: agraïdato intertwine: creuarto commit: comprometrecomplicity: complicitatto capture: capturarfascinated: fascinatto perceive: percebrethe deadline: el terminiupcoming: properto cultivate: cultivarthe connection: la connexiórare: rarthe exhibition: l'exposicióthe forecast: l'objectiuthe opportunity: l'oportunitatthe conversation: la conversa

If you would like all this lovely content without the adverts then follow the link https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/calming-anxiety--4110266/supportBook your one on one hypnotherapy with Martin - https://calendar.app.google/rXHMt8sRYft5iWma8Take back control over your negative thoughts and calm pain and anxiety with this beautiful course in conjunction with The Physio Crew - https://offers.thephysiocrew.co.uk/home-pain Don't forget the app and now all our podcasts are also on YouTube.Gift the app to a loved one, friend or colleague - https://www.martinhewlett.co.uk/shop/calming-anxiety-gift-subscription/Try out the new , beautiful and simple breathing challenge to help you relax.https://www.martinhewlett.co.uk/breathing-challenge/Don't forget to download app....Calming Anxiety for IOS - https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/calming-anxiety/id1576159331Calming Anxiety for Android - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=digital.waterfront.calming.anxiety&hl=en-GBPlease download and enjoy.If you have found benefit from my podcast I do have a "buy me a coffee" page which helps to fund the hosting costs and all the time. :)https://www.buymeacoffee.com/calminganxietyI am always open to requests and tips as I try to help as many people as possible .My email is calminganxiety@martinhewlett.co.ukFor those younger listeners struggling with the stress of social media, do check out this amazing website. https://www.icanhelp.net/If you have found benefit in any of our podcasts then it would really help if you could subscribe as well to our YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/c/martinhewlett?sub_confirmation=1Backing Music by Chris Collins============Affiliate links to the gear I use the items that give me a more tranquil life.Rode Podmic - https://amzn.to/3LN1JEdZoom Livetrak L8 - https://amzn.to/36UCIbySony ZV 1 - https://amzn.to/3JvDUPTGoPro Hero 8 Black - https://amzn.to/372rzFlDJI Mini 2 - https://amzn.to/3NQfMdY=============================Items I use for a more relaxed way of life :)Organic Pure Hemp CBD Capsules - https://amzn.to/3

So much to do in anticipation of the next Expedition. We all keep busy with day to day projects.

Join Joann and Allison interview Emily of Idlewild Blooms discuss how she incorporates data collection into her growing and hybridizing of dahlias to help her more effectively make growing decisions.  You can find out more about Emily and her farm and her data collection system at www.idlewildblooms.com as well as on social media @idlewildblooms. 

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Springtime Switcheroo: Love Blooms at Roma's Animal Parade Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-04-01-22-34-02-it Story Transcript:It: La primavera colorava i sobborghi di Roma in una danza di fiori e risate.En: Spring painted the suburbs of Roma in a dance of flowers and laughter.It: Gli alberi erano in fiore e le vie erano animate dal chiacchiericcio delle persone.En: The trees were in bloom and the streets buzzed with the chatter of people.It: Era il giorno della parata degli animali, un evento atteso da grandi e piccini.En: It was the day of the animal parade, an event eagerly anticipated by young and old alike.It: Luca stava sistemando il cappello, pronto a immergersi nel caos gioioso della festa.En: Luca was adjusting his hat, ready to dive into the joyful chaos of the festival.It: Era un insegnante di liceo che amava fare battute e portare il buon umore ovunque andasse.En: He was a high school teacher who loved to crack jokes and bring good cheer wherever he went.It: Ma oggi aveva una missione segreta: voleva chiedere a Giulia di uscire con lui.En: But today, he had a secret mission: he wanted to ask Giulia out.It: Giulia era lì, tra i colori sgargianti dei costumi degli animali.En: Giulia was there, among the bright colors of the animal costumes.It: Con il suo sorriso contagioso, lavorava come grafica e amava gli scherzi più di ogni altra cosa.En: With her contagious smile, she worked as a graphic designer and loved jokes more than anything.It: Non sapeva che Luca teneva a lei più di quanto lasciasse intendere.En: She didn't know that Luca cared for her more than he let on.It: Nel trambusto, successe l'impensabile: i loro telefoni si scambiarono per caso.En: In the hustle and bustle, the unthinkable happened: their phones got swapped by accident.It: Giulia, ignara dello scambio, iniziò a ricevere messaggi strani che non sembravano arrivare dai suoi amici.En: Giulia, unaware of the exchange, began receiving strange messages that didn't seem to come from her friends.It: Luca, riconoscendo l'errore, ebbe un'idea: leggere quei messaggi per capire cosa divertisse Giulia.En: Luca, recognizing the error, had an idea: read those messages to understand what amused Giulia.It: Forse, avrebbe trovato il modo giusto per conquistarla.En: Maybe, he would find the right way to win her over.It: Giulia, notando il telefono diverso, decise di giocare ancora di più con lo scherzo.En: Giulia, noticing the different phone, decided to play along with the joke even more.It: Inviò messaggi sciocchi e umoristici, osservando le reazioni di quello che pensava essere un altro amico.En: She sent silly and humorous messages, observing the reactions of what she thought was another friend.It: "Cosa farà Luca con questi messaggi?"En: "What will Luca do with these messages?"It: pensò ridendo.En: she thought, laughing.It: La situazione si complica quando Luca, cercando di inviare un messaggio diretto per Giulia, per sbaglio lo trasmette attraverso l'altoparlante della parata: "Ciao Giulia, adoro il tuo sorriso e vorrei uscire con te!"En: The situation became complicated when Luca, trying to send a direct message to Giulia, accidentally broadcast it over the parade's loudspeaker: "Hello Giulia, I adore your smile and would like to go out with you!"It: Il silenzio della sorpresa fu presto sostituito da una fragorosa risata.En: The silence of surprise was soon replaced by roaring laughter.It: Luca era rosso in viso, ma deciso a prenderla con ironia.En: Luca was red-faced but determined to take it with humor.It: Giulia scoppiò in una risata sincera, avvicinandosi a lui.En: Giulia burst into genuine laughter, approaching him.It: La folla li incitava, applaudendo e divertendosi dello spettacolo imprevisto.En: The crowd cheered them on, applauding and enjoying the unexpected show.It: "Sei coraggioso, Luca," disse Giulia ridendo, "credo che tu meritidaloo un appuntamento."En: "You're brave, Luca," Giulia said, laughing, "I think you deserve a date."It: E così, tra applausi e sorrisi, Giulia e Luca uscirono insieme, portando il loro gioco di scherzi a un nuovo livello.En: And so, amid applause and smiles, Giulia and Luca went out together, taking their game of jokes to a new level.It: Luca aveva trovato la sua voce, fiducioso e giocoso allo stesso tempo.En: Luca had found his voice, confident and playful at the same time.It: Giulia, d'altra parte, aveva scoperto che a volte era meglio essere sinceri per davvero.En: Giulia, on the other hand, discovered that sometimes it was better to be truly sincere.It: In fondo, la primavera in periferia aveva regalato più di un nuovo amore: aveva portato nuove risate e ricordi indimenticabili.En: After all, spring in the suburbs had offered more than a new love: it brought new laughter and unforgettable memories. Vocabulary Words:spring: la primaverasuburbs: i sobborghiparade: la paratabloom: il fiorechatter: il chiacchiericciohigh school: il liceoteacher: l'insegnantesecret: il segretomission: la missionecostumes: i costumigraphic designer: la graficahustle and bustle: il trambustounthinkable: l'impensabileswap: lo scambiostrange: stranoerror: l'erroresituation: la situazioneloudspeaker: l'altoparlantesilence: il silenziosurprise: la sorpresalaughter: la risatadetermined: determinatoplayful: giocososincere: sinceromemories: i ricordilaugh: la risataaccident: l'incidentebroadcast: trasmetterebrave: coraggiosoto win over: conquistare

March 27, 1912. Japan gifts the United States 3,000 cherry trees, in a gesture of friendship between two nations once at odds.Support the show! Join Into History for ad-free listening and more.History Daily is a co-production of Airship and Noiser.Go to HistoryDaily.com for more history, daily.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Ray lets Tiffany take over the microphone as host and Interviewer of their daughter, author and award-winning storyteller Juniper Ray Christian - Dickens. They talk about their journey as a writer, their new book, their Webby Award, and their perspective on personal identity.Crown of Blooms by R C Dickens, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®

Gul, meaning "flower" in Urdu, is a symbol of beauty, love, and life. Like a flower that blooms for a short time, happy and sad moments also come and go. It reminds us of hope, strength, and the quiet power of gentle things. It teaches us to enjoy the present before it fades. Even when a gul withers, its fragrance stays in the air, just like memories. No matter how harsh the winds, a gul still finds a way to bloom again. In this episode of Urdunama, we talk about gul, its meaning in poetry, and how it represents love, loss, and hope. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Intimacy Blooms Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spring is in full bloom at Walt Disney World, and we're diving into everything EPCOT's International Flower & Garden Festival has to offer this year! From March 5 to June 2, 2025, the park transforms into a vibrant celebration of nature, food, and entertainment, and we're here to break it all down.In this episode, we'll share our top festival tips, including the best places to stay, how to plan your visit, and how to make the most of your time (and budget). We'll also highlight must-try dishes, stunning topiaries—including an all-new Moana display—plus fun activities like Spike's Pollen-Nation Exploration and the Egg-Stravaganza Hunt. And of course, we can't forget the Garden Rocks concert lineup, featuring performances from Blue October, Air Supply, Simple Plan, 98 Degrees, and more!Whether you're a first-time festivalgoer or a seasoned pro, we've got everything you need to know to make this year's Flower & Garden Festival an unforgettable experience. So grab your festival passport, get ready to explore the 25+ Global Gardens, incredible topiaries, and let's dig into all the magic (and food) EPCOT has to offer!MEI-Travel – Expertise. Ease. Value.No matter where you want to go, our trusted partner MEI-Travel, will handle the planning so you can focus on the memories. They offer free vacation planning services and have nearly 20 years of experience creating memorable vacations. Visit MEI-Travel for a fee-free, no-obligation quote today!Follow Us on Social MediaFacebook GroupFacebook: @MainStMagicTwitter: @MainStMagicTikTok: @MSMPodcastInstagram: @MainStMagicVisit Us Onlinewww.MainStMagic.comwww.MainStreetShirts.comGet Dining Alerts!Find last-minute and hard-to-find Disney dining reservations with MouseDining.com! Get text and email alerts when popular theme park dining reservations open up. Get last-minute seating! Get the next table! Set your alerts now! Get the next reservation!Visit our Partnerswww.MSMFriends.comThanks to TFresh Productions for our theme song

Tonight, we'll read about gardening in window boxes, and also planning the arrangement of outdoor flower gardens, from the 1903 book “The Flower Garden” by Ida D. Bennett. Window boxes offer a way to transform an ordinary sill into a miniature garden, filling homes with color, fragrance, and seasonal beauty. Bennett provides timeless advice on selecting the right plants, arranging them for the best effect, and ensuring they thrive in their elevated, confined environment. Her work reflects the Edwardian-era enthusiasm for ornamental gardening while offering insights that remain just as relevant for modern gardeners looking to brighten their windows with living blooms. — read by 'N' — Sign up for Snoozecast+ to get expanded, ad-free access by going to snoozecast.com/plus! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices