Podcasts about Braided

With stunning lyricism, Somia Sadiq's Gajarah (GFB, 2025) tells the story of a fearless woman torn between two worlds-Pakistan and Canada-whose life is upended by sexual violence. Emahn is big haired, mischievous, and larger than life. Born in the Arabian Gulf, she spends extended summers with her grandparents, aunties, and cousins on the rooftops of Lahore. But tucked away beneath her spirited exterior, Emahn carries the weight of childhood trauma. When she marries and moves to Canada, she quickly learns the art of navigating multiple realities and compartmentalizing memories of the world she left behind, even as she clings to the stories of her home. She is resilient; she is driven; she is unbreakable. Almost. When tragedy strikes, Emahn must draw upon the deepest wells of her ancestral strength to survive, even if it means revisiting her gutting past. Braided together with prose, poetry, and mythical parables, Gajarah confronts the realities of forgiveness and justice, and asks what it means to belong to a land that so forcefully pushes one away. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

With stunning lyricism, Somia Sadiq's Gajarah (GFB, 2025) tells the story of a fearless woman torn between two worlds-Pakistan and Canada-whose life is upended by sexual violence. Emahn is big haired, mischievous, and larger than life. Born in the Arabian Gulf, she spends extended summers with her grandparents, aunties, and cousins on the rooftops of Lahore. But tucked away beneath her spirited exterior, Emahn carries the weight of childhood trauma. When she marries and moves to Canada, she quickly learns the art of navigating multiple realities and compartmentalizing memories of the world she left behind, even as she clings to the stories of her home. She is resilient; she is driven; she is unbreakable. Almost. When tragedy strikes, Emahn must draw upon the deepest wells of her ancestral strength to survive, even if it means revisiting her gutting past. Braided together with prose, poetry, and mythical parables, Gajarah confronts the realities of forgiveness and justice, and asks what it means to belong to a land that so forcefully pushes one away. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literature

There are books that feel like confession and books that feel like prayer—and then there are books like Ring of Salt, which feel like stepping into someone's storm and finding, somehow, that the wind has shifted in your favor. From the first page, Betsy Cornwell brings listeners into a life carved by longing, survival, and the quiet bravery of beginning again. In this episode, Betsy joins us from the wild coast of Ireland, where she rebuilt her life as a single mother after an emotionally abusive marriage—one she entered with an open heart and left with a baby on her hip and a new truth taking shape inside her.Ring of Salt is her memoir of that unraveling and rebirth. Braided through her story are the landscapes that held her—green cliffs, ancient tides, a historic knitting factory that became her refuge—and the ghosts that tried to follow her from childhood trauma into adulthood. The book reads like a long, lyrical poem: part survival narrative, part love letter to Ireland, part reckoning with the ways emotional abuse distorts a woman's sense of self. It is a story of leaving, of coming home to one's own body, and of discovering that single motherhood, though terrifying, can also be expansive and sacred. Betsy writes with a steadiness that tells the truth without flinching, and a tenderness that reminds every survivor to inhale, to rest, to trust that life can love you again.What emerges from our conversation is a portrait of a woman who has turned pain into offering. Betsy talks about the fear of publishing her own wounds, the responsibility of writing for other survivors, and the hope she pours into the residency space she is building for single mothers in Ireland. Ring of Salt matters because it names what so many live but cannot articulate. It matters because it says: you are not imagining it, you are not weak, and you are not alone. And for anyone standing at the edge of a life transition—unsure, afraid, half-dreaming of something freer—this is the book you reach for in the middle of the night.

Send us a textStephanie Oswald chats with author, Lindsay Rice, about her book Birdenwheel:"BIRDENWHEEL features an ensemble cast of Deadheads in the 1990s who follow the iconic rock band, The Grateful Dead on their summer tour." You can find the full book description on Lindsay Rice's website here. It was such a fun conversation. Stephanie first met Lindsay at her book release party in Salida, CO because the Grateful Dead cover band, Roundhouse Assembly, was playing and since following the Grateful Dead is the foundation of the book it had piqued Stephanie's curiosity. Lindsay describes her novel as a braided narrative that weaves together the lives of her characters as they follow the Grateful Dead. You'll have to listen to discover a unique poetry technique Lindsay used to creatively weave the music of the Grateful Dead into her novel. There's a lot packed into this episode from what inspired her characters to how she decided to self-publish. At the end of the conversation, Lindsay offers great advice for new writers with the encouragement to keep writing:" Keep writing, keep writing, keep writing, keep writing. I think writing is a practice and however it works for you, whether it is isolating yourself or it's doing it every single day in a journal, just develop your own practice of writing and be in a community too. I've also had a lot of writing dates with people. I had writing partners over the years where we would just meet and we would either write for 10, 15 minutes and then check in and then we do it again." Welcome to the Inspired Writer Collective podcast. If you've ever felt the pull to write your truth, to shape the chaos of real life into something meaningful and to share your journey with the world, you're in the right place. We're your hosts, Elizabeth and Stephanie, writers, coaches, and entrepreneurs who believe in you and know how important it is to find a writing community to guide you on your path to self-publishing. You're invited to connect with us by joining our Embodied Writing Experience where you'll get a writer's retreat directly to your inbox on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays each week. Whether you're working on a memoir, a novel, or journaling for yourself, this is an invitation to slow down, tune in, and write with embodied intention. Join our Embodied Writing Experience where you'll get a writer's retreat directly to your inbox on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays each week. This is an invitation to slow down, tune in, and write with embodied intention. Get on the waitlist for the Memoir Master Plan cohort here. If you prefer to watch our conversations, you can find all of them on our YouTube channel. You can find us on Instagram and Threads

The Rev. Robert Fruehwirth preaches on the twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost.

I've wanted to get Brian Flechsig of Mad River Outfitters [49:59] on the podcast for quite a while and we finally made it happen. Brian is the star of many great YouTube videos and he loves to get into the details of tackle rigging. He's a knotted leader expert and he explains his simple three-part system for tying saltwater and bass leaders. He also talks about his use of furled leaders and the now-extinct Orvis Braided Leaders. Brian and I also discuss our favorite knots and a philosophy for choosing your own knots—always a hot topic.    In the Fly Box this week we have these questions and tips: When does it make more sense to modify a fly instead of changing flies? If you don't see any bug activity, can you still catch fish on dry flies? Why would you ever use a strike indicator when you can use a dry dropper rig? I live on a trout stream that hardly anyone else fishes. How long should I rest the river in between trips?  Will the fish move out if I fish it too hard? I saw a bunch of dead and struggling rainbows in the shallows. What do you think caused this? How can I get my Comparaduns to fan out when I tie them? When wouldn't you substitute CDC, rabbit's foot, or a synthetic when tying Comparaduns? What are your thoughts on winding foam around a hook to make flies float better? What is your favorite cricket pattern? If modern graphite rods are so stiff, why design a 5-weight rod that is really a 6-weight? How should I orient my rod when I cast to make sure I take advantage of the spine properly? I have heard that you should fish a small stream downstream so the fish doesn't see your fly line. Is this correct? A tip from a listener on how to keep fly boxes dry when wading deep. Do you ever take backpacking/fishing trips?

BRAIDED WAY PEACE COLLECTIVE MARK LEITZEL, MATT TRT: 14:40 ***NOV 22 – DAYS OF 1000 CRANES/SELF DEVELOPMENT/TWO RIVERS AIKIDO

Now that Judge David S. Tatel has retired from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, he feels freer to warn us all: the Supreme Court is threatening America's democracy by inventing spurious legal doctrines and grabbing more power for itself. There are also lighter moments in this revealing interview, as David pulls the curtain aside and tells us how the judges on this powerful court really do their work. Spoiler alert #1: It used to involve a red children's sand pail. Spoiler alert #2: Because David is blind, he used to hire "readers" who rattled off every word of laws, books and briefs out loud to him, at such mind-boggling speeds that most people couldn't understand them. 

In this moving episode, David Tatel, who retired last year from the U.S. Court of Appeals, describes with his wife Edie how he gradually went blind - and struggled to hide it from friends and colleagues alike. David tells about tricks he would use, like counting rows and seats in a movie theater and following the clicks of high heels down sidewalks; Edie shares, among other things, why David's denial  caused tension at home. David became an accomplished lawyer who fought landmark civil rights cases - and an inspirational father. You can read their full story in David's book, Vision: A Memoir of Blindness and Justice. David will return in Part 2 to take us behind the scenes of the second most important court in the nation - and to warn how the Supreme Court threatens "the integrity of our democracy."

Discover the sweeping story of how Indigenous, European, and African traditions intertwined to form an entirely new cuisine, with over 90 recipes for the modern home cook—from the James Beard Cookbook Hall of Famer and star of the Netflix docuseries High on the Hog. One of our preeminent culinary historians, Dr. Jessica B. Harris has conducted decades of research throughout the Americas, the Caribbean, and Africa. In this telling of the origins of American food, though, she gets more personal. As heritage is history, she intertwines the larger sweeping past with stories and recipes from friends she's made over the years—people whose family dishes go back to the crucial era when Native peoples encountered Europeans and the enslaved Africans they brought with them. Through this mix, we learn that Clear Broth Clam Chowder has both Indigenous and European roots; the same, too, with Enchiladas Suizas, tomatillo-smothered tortillas made “Swiss” with cheese and dairy; and that the hallmarks of African American food through the centuries have been evolution based on region, migration, and innovation, resulting in classics like Red Beans and Rice and Peach Bread Pudding Cupcakes with Bourbon Glaze. With recipes ranging from everyday meals to festive spreads, Braided Heritage: Recipes and Stories on the Origin of American Cuisine (Clarkson Potter, 2025) offers a new, in-depth, delicious look at American culinary history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/african-american-studies

Discover the sweeping story of how Indigenous, European, and African traditions intertwined to form an entirely new cuisine, with over 90 recipes for the modern home cook—from the James Beard Cookbook Hall of Famer and star of the Netflix docuseries High on the Hog. One of our preeminent culinary historians, Dr. Jessica B. Harris has conducted decades of research throughout the Americas, the Caribbean, and Africa. In this telling of the origins of American food, though, she gets more personal. As heritage is history, she intertwines the larger sweeping past with stories and recipes from friends she's made over the years—people whose family dishes go back to the crucial era when Native peoples encountered Europeans and the enslaved Africans they brought with them. Through this mix, we learn that Clear Broth Clam Chowder has both Indigenous and European roots; the same, too, with Enchiladas Suizas, tomatillo-smothered tortillas made “Swiss” with cheese and dairy; and that the hallmarks of African American food through the centuries have been evolution based on region, migration, and innovation, resulting in classics like Red Beans and Rice and Peach Bread Pudding Cupcakes with Bourbon Glaze. With recipes ranging from everyday meals to festive spreads, Braided Heritage: Recipes and Stories on the Origin of American Cuisine (Clarkson Potter, 2025) offers a new, in-depth, delicious look at American culinary history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Discover the sweeping story of how Indigenous, European, and African traditions intertwined to form an entirely new cuisine, with over 90 recipes for the modern home cook—from the James Beard Cookbook Hall of Famer and star of the Netflix docuseries High on the Hog. One of our preeminent culinary historians, Dr. Jessica B. Harris has conducted decades of research throughout the Americas, the Caribbean, and Africa. In this telling of the origins of American food, though, she gets more personal. As heritage is history, she intertwines the larger sweeping past with stories and recipes from friends she's made over the years—people whose family dishes go back to the crucial era when Native peoples encountered Europeans and the enslaved Africans they brought with them. Through this mix, we learn that Clear Broth Clam Chowder has both Indigenous and European roots; the same, too, with Enchiladas Suizas, tomatillo-smothered tortillas made “Swiss” with cheese and dairy; and that the hallmarks of African American food through the centuries have been evolution based on region, migration, and innovation, resulting in classics like Red Beans and Rice and Peach Bread Pudding Cupcakes with Bourbon Glaze. With recipes ranging from everyday meals to festive spreads, Braided Heritage: Recipes and Stories on the Origin of American Cuisine (Clarkson Potter, 2025) offers a new, in-depth, delicious look at American culinary history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

Discover the sweeping story of how Indigenous, European, and African traditions intertwined to form an entirely new cuisine, with over 90 recipes for the modern home cook—from the James Beard Cookbook Hall of Famer and star of the Netflix docuseries High on the Hog. One of our preeminent culinary historians, Dr. Jessica B. Harris has conducted decades of research throughout the Americas, the Caribbean, and Africa. In this telling of the origins of American food, though, she gets more personal. As heritage is history, she intertwines the larger sweeping past with stories and recipes from friends she's made over the years—people whose family dishes go back to the crucial era when Native peoples encountered Europeans and the enslaved Africans they brought with them. Through this mix, we learn that Clear Broth Clam Chowder has both Indigenous and European roots; the same, too, with Enchiladas Suizas, tomatillo-smothered tortillas made “Swiss” with cheese and dairy; and that the hallmarks of African American food through the centuries have been evolution based on region, migration, and innovation, resulting in classics like Red Beans and Rice and Peach Bread Pudding Cupcakes with Bourbon Glaze. With recipes ranging from everyday meals to festive spreads, Braided Heritage: Recipes and Stories on the Origin of American Cuisine (Clarkson Potter, 2025) offers a new, in-depth, delicious look at American culinary history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/native-american-studies

Discover the sweeping story of how Indigenous, European, and African traditions intertwined to form an entirely new cuisine, with over 90 recipes for the modern home cook—from the James Beard Cookbook Hall of Famer and star of the Netflix docuseries High on the Hog. One of our preeminent culinary historians, Dr. Jessica B. Harris has conducted decades of research throughout the Americas, the Caribbean, and Africa. In this telling of the origins of American food, though, she gets more personal. As heritage is history, she intertwines the larger sweeping past with stories and recipes from friends she's made over the years—people whose family dishes go back to the crucial era when Native peoples encountered Europeans and the enslaved Africans they brought with them. Through this mix, we learn that Clear Broth Clam Chowder has both Indigenous and European roots; the same, too, with Enchiladas Suizas, tomatillo-smothered tortillas made “Swiss” with cheese and dairy; and that the hallmarks of African American food through the centuries have been evolution based on region, migration, and innovation, resulting in classics like Red Beans and Rice and Peach Bread Pudding Cupcakes with Bourbon Glaze. With recipes ranging from everyday meals to festive spreads, Braided Heritage: Recipes and Stories on the Origin of American Cuisine (Clarkson Potter, 2025) offers a new, in-depth, delicious look at American culinary history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/food

Discover the sweeping story of how Indigenous, European, and African traditions intertwined to form an entirely new cuisine, with over 90 recipes for the modern home cook—from the James Beard Cookbook Hall of Famer and star of the Netflix docuseries High on the Hog. One of our preeminent culinary historians, Dr. Jessica B. Harris has conducted decades of research throughout the Americas, the Caribbean, and Africa. In this telling of the origins of American food, though, she gets more personal. As heritage is history, she intertwines the larger sweeping past with stories and recipes from friends she's made over the years—people whose family dishes go back to the crucial era when Native peoples encountered Europeans and the enslaved Africans they brought with them. Through this mix, we learn that Clear Broth Clam Chowder has both Indigenous and European roots; the same, too, with Enchiladas Suizas, tomatillo-smothered tortillas made “Swiss” with cheese and dairy; and that the hallmarks of African American food through the centuries have been evolution based on region, migration, and innovation, resulting in classics like Red Beans and Rice and Peach Bread Pudding Cupcakes with Bourbon Glaze. With recipes ranging from everyday meals to festive spreads, Braided Heritage: Recipes and Stories on the Origin of American Cuisine (Clarkson Potter, 2025) offers a new, in-depth, delicious look at American culinary history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

Discover the sweeping story of how Indigenous, European, and African traditions intertwined to form an entirely new cuisine, with over 90 recipes for the modern home cook—from the James Beard Cookbook Hall of Famer and star of the Netflix docuseries High on the Hog. One of our preeminent culinary historians, Dr. Jessica B. Harris has conducted decades of research throughout the Americas, the Caribbean, and Africa. In this telling of the origins of American food, though, she gets more personal. As heritage is history, she intertwines the larger sweeping past with stories and recipes from friends she's made over the years—people whose family dishes go back to the crucial era when Native peoples encountered Europeans and the enslaved Africans they brought with them. Through this mix, we learn that Clear Broth Clam Chowder has both Indigenous and European roots; the same, too, with Enchiladas Suizas, tomatillo-smothered tortillas made “Swiss” with cheese and dairy; and that the hallmarks of African American food through the centuries have been evolution based on region, migration, and innovation, resulting in classics like Red Beans and Rice and Peach Bread Pudding Cupcakes with Bourbon Glaze. With recipes ranging from everyday meals to festive spreads, Braided Heritage: Recipes and Stories on the Origin of American Cuisine (Clarkson Potter, 2025) offers a new, in-depth, delicious look at American culinary history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/popular-culture

Discover the sweeping story of how Indigenous, European, and African traditions intertwined to form an entirely new cuisine, with over 90 recipes for the modern home cook—from the James Beard Cookbook Hall of Famer and star of the Netflix docuseries High on the Hog. One of our preeminent culinary historians, Dr. Jessica B. Harris has conducted decades of research throughout the Americas, the Caribbean, and Africa. In this telling of the origins of American food, though, she gets more personal. As heritage is history, she intertwines the larger sweeping past with stories and recipes from friends she's made over the years—people whose family dishes go back to the crucial era when Native peoples encountered Europeans and the enslaved Africans they brought with them. Through this mix, we learn that Clear Broth Clam Chowder has both Indigenous and European roots; the same, too, with Enchiladas Suizas, tomatillo-smothered tortillas made “Swiss” with cheese and dairy; and that the hallmarks of African American food through the centuries have been evolution based on region, migration, and innovation, resulting in classics like Red Beans and Rice and Peach Bread Pudding Cupcakes with Bourbon Glaze. With recipes ranging from everyday meals to festive spreads, Braided Heritage: Recipes and Stories on the Origin of American Cuisine (Clarkson Potter, 2025) offers a new, in-depth, delicious look at American culinary history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/book-of-the-day

Welcome back to Sea Stories from the CoastWatchers Club! On this episode, we join our friends for the Mobile Tiki Week Kickoff Party 2025 at Braided River Brewing.Ben meets with friends Justo, sister Sarah, Lydia, Raf, Andrew and Roy joins to finish up the episode talking about his quick stunt as guest bartender for the party. Everyone talks about what they are looking forward to at Mobile Tiki Week, as well as their favorite things about Tiki Bars, Cocktails, and a great bad date story from Raf. Great party at Braided River! You can visit Braided River at www.braidedriverbrewing.com.Highlighted Drink was Tiki to the Limit Sour Ale from Braided River, and beer cocktail Aku Aku Punch from Roy.Follow us on Instagram @coastwatchersclub to get more info.Music provided by the Hula Girls. Find them on IG @hulagirls and see the lead singer's show called Spike's Breezeway Cocktail Hour.Podcast artwork by Matt Vogtner. Check out his t-shirts and merch at thenutriarodeo.com. Visit us online at coastwatchersclub.com.For sponsorship inquiries, email us at info@coastwatchersclub.com.

"Would it be appropriate for a person to get baptized while living with someone and not being married?" Pastors John and Wes offer Bible answers to this question and more in episode 3 of season 9. 

Beth Lipman is an American artist whose sculptural practice generates from the Still Life genre, symbolically representing the splendor and excess of the Anthropocene and the stratigraphic layer humanity will leave on earth. Assemblages of inanimate objects and domestic interiors, inspired by private spaces and public collections, propose portraits of individuals, institutions, and societies.  Through works in glass, wood, metal, photography, and video, Lipman presents a meditation on our relationship to Deep Time, a monumental time scale based on geologic events that minimizes human lives. Each installation is a reimagining of history, created by placing cycles often separated by millenia in proximity, from the ancient botanical to the cultural. The incorporation of prehistoric flora alludes to the impermanence of the present and the persistence of life. The ephemera of the Anthropocene becomes a symbol of fragility as the human species is placed on a continuum where time eradicates hierarchy. Lipman has exhibited her work internationally at such institutions as the Ringling Museum of Art (FL), ICA/MECA (ME), RISD Museum (RI), Milwaukee Art Museum (WI), Gustavsbergs Konsthall(Sweden) and the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum (DC). Her work has been acquired by numerous museums including the North Carolina Museum of Art, Brooklyn Museum of Art (NY), Kemper Museum for Contemporary Art (MO), Smithsonian American Art Museum (DC), Jewish Museum (NY), Norton Museum of Art, (FL), and the Corning Museum of Glass (NY).  Lipman has received numerous awards including a USA Berman Bloch Fellowship, Pollock Krasner Grant, Virginia Groot Foundation Grant, and a Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Grant. She has been an Artist in Residence at the Alturas Foundation, the John Michael Kohler Arts Center's Arts/Industry Program, and the Smithsonian Artist Research Fellowship. Recent works include Living History, a large-scale site-specific commission for the Wichita Art Museum (KS) that investigates the nature of time and place and Belonging(s), a sculptural response to the life of Abigail Levy Franks for the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (AR). Lipman's work is on view now in three independent installations including: Hive Mind at Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa; ReGift at the Toledo Museum of Art (TMA), Toledo, Ohio; and the permanent installation One's-Self I Sing at theMuskegon Museum of Art (MMA), Muskegon, Michigan. To celebrate the official unveiling of One's-Self I Sing, the MMA is hosting an Artist Talk and Unveiling Reception this Thursday, July 17 at 7 p.m. The event is open to the public and free to attend. Find out more at www.muskegonartmuseum.org Suspended in the museum's central atrium, the sculpture explores the interconnectedness of time, culture, and nature through materials such as glass, wood, metal and gypsum. Measuring approximately 240 x 120 x 60 inches, One's-Self I Sing functions as an “exploded” still life – an expansive, suspended constellation of objects that invites viewers to reflect on humanity's place within Deep Time and the Anthropocene. Says Lipman: “The marriage of transparent and opaque forms alludes to what is seen and known juxtaposed with what is concealed and lost over time.” The sculpture spans both floors of the museum, encouraging viewers to encounter it from multiple vantage points. Braided suspension cables carry the piece vertically through space, suggesting both ascent and descent, growth and entropy. Lipman incorporates subtle visual references to the Muskegon Museum of Art's permanent collection, binding the sculpture to the museum's history while extending its meaning outward across time. “One's Self I Sing is a showstopping first impression when visitors walk into the museum,” says Kirk Hallman, Executive Director of the Muskegon Museum of Art. “It's a powerful and visually stunning complement to the museum's new Bennett Schmidt Pavilion and a bold reflection of the MMA's ongoing commitment to celebrating women artists.” Enjoy this conversation with Lipman about current installations, artistic motivations and the behind the scenes challenges of creating site-specific work that communicates to viewers.    

Braided Heritage by Dr. Jessica B. Harris is a sweeping account of food, home and culture featuring stories and recipes from the acclaimed culinary historian. Dr. Harris joins us to talk about travel writing, language, the evolution of American cuisine, cookbooks and more with host Miwa Messer. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.                     New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): Braided Heritage by Dr. Jessica B. Harris High on the Hog by Dr. Jessica B. Harris Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child Provence, 1970 by Luke Barr Featured Books (TBR Top Off): Braided Heritage by Dr. Jessica B. Harris Black Food by Bryant Terry The Encyclopedia of Spices and Herbs by Padma Lakshmi

Amanda DeBoer Bartlett has reached beyond her training in opera to write and produce music from her own aesthetic experiences. Loki and Amanda chat about her upbringing in "classical", the notion of genre, and her new album, "Braided Together". Loki reflects on his time at the American Composers Orchestra as he begins his new journey with the American Composers Forum. Amanda DeBoer Bartlett/'Braided Together""Braided Together" (track)"Cherry Blossom"American Composers Forum ★ Support this podcast ★

Across the country, workforce development systems are under pressure to deliver better outcomes in an economy that demands speed, flexibility, and equity. Traditional pathways, such as community college without clear career prospects, no longer serve enough people well. A report by the Center for Community College Student Engagement found that 42% of community college students reported their colleges taught them “very little” or “not at all” about in-demand jobs in their regions, highlighting a disconnect between education and workforce needs. As employers seek adaptable, job-ready candidates, there is growing demand for more agile and inclusive talent development strategies.How can cities and regions build smarter, more inclusive systems to prepare people for jobs that exist right now and those emerging tomorrow?On DisruptED, host Ron Stefanski features Sandy Mead, the Vice President of Workforce Development at Skilltrade, and Tracey Carey, CEO of Midwest Urban Strategies. Together, they unpack how innovative partnerships, braided funding models, and career-aligned education are reshaping workforce and talent development in Detroit and beyond.Key Points from the Episode:Braided funding and employer partnerships create practical pathways: Programs involving partners like Focus Hope show how aligning training with employer needs leads to stronger outcomes.Stackable credentials build career agility: Carey emphasizes the importance of enabling workers to grow across sectors, especially in fast-changing fields like healthcare.Innovation must be community-centered: The episode highlights how regional collaboration across states like Missouri, Kansas, and Georgia fuels scalable, inclusive workforce solutions.Sandy Mead is a seasoned workforce development strategist with over two decades of experience designing training programs in healthcare and IT. She has held leadership roles at Skilltrade, Metrix Learning, and MedCerts, where she focused on aligning employer needs with online and hybrid learning solutions that lead to nationally recognized certifications. Her expertise lies in building strategic partnerships and expanding access to career-aligned training for underrepresented and unemployed populations across the U.S.Tracey Carey is the CEO of Midwest Urban Strategies, where she leads multi-state workforce collaborations focused on innovation, funding, and inclusive career pathways. She brings over two decades of expertise in strategic planning, organizational leadership, and program development across workforce, education, and youth services. As founder of People Capital, Inc., Carey has supported public-private initiatives that align training systems with labor market needs in healthcare and beyond.

Today on our show, we bring you a story by Andrea Askowitz called A Numbers Game. This story was previously published in Memoirland, a curated compilation of the week's best personal essays on the internet. It was also read live on stage at the Flagstaff Festival of Science in 2024. A Numbers Game is a braided essay. So, In this episode, we will discuss the braided essay and how Andrea's came to be. Just a hint: Nicole Walker had something to do with it!More about how we became associated with the Flagstaff Festival of Science…Three years ago, we were hired by Dr. Jane Marks and Dr. Bruce Hungate, two famous ecologists from the Center for Ecosystem Science and Society (ECOSS) at Northern Arizona University. They heard our podcast and then started taking our classes which led to the idea that their students would benefit from taking our classes. So we've been doing online workshops and in-person workshops to help these scientists personalize their stories. This story was written during our second year collaborating with ECOSS. If you're looking for a writing coach to help your student with college application essays, contact Allison Langer.Writing Class Radio is hosted by Allison Langer and Andrea Askowitz. Audio production by Matt Cundill, Evan Surminski, and Aiden Glassey at the Sound Off Media Company. Theme music is by Justina Shandler.There's more writing class on our website including stories we study, editing resources, video classes, writing retreats, and live online classes. Join our writing community by following us on Patreon. If you want to write with us every week, you can join our First Draft weekly writers groups. You have the option to join Allison on Tuesdays 12-1 ET and/or Mondays with Eduardo Winck 8-9 pm ET. You'll write to a prompt and share what you wrote. If you're a business owner, community activist, group that needs healing, entrepreneur, or scientist and you want to help your team write better, check out all the classes we offer on our website, writingclassradio.com.Join the community that comes together for instruction, an excuse to write, and the support from other writers. To learn more, go to www.Patreon.com/writingclassradio. Or sign up HERE for First Draft for a FREE Zoom link.A new episode will drop the first WEDNESDAY of the month.There's no better way to understand ourselves and each other, than by writing and sharing our stories. Everyone has a story. What's yours?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We know how it feels to be invisible when mainstream beauty standards don't see us. In this heartfelt episode, Dami's The Braided Girls uses art and natural hair to turn those feelings into power. We talk about her experience with hair, straight and natural, and Dami's commitment to inspiring other women and girls to embrace the beauty of their crown. We also discuss the challenges of people with natural hair and how art can serve as a tool to change the existing negative narrative. This episode is for every Black queen who's ever felt unseen or told her hair isn't “professional” or “pretty enough.” Dami opens up about creating art that challenges beauty standards and celebrates natural hair as a form of self-love.  You'll laugh, you'll relate, and most importantly you'll feel seen. Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear this. Send us a textSend your questions about Afro-textured/coily hair to utkinhair@gmail.com.Check out your natural beauty hub, ÈYÍ DÁRA Naturals for natural hair care solutions.Follow us on instagram @utkpodcast

"Is actively trading in stocks, foreign exchange, and futures considered gambling?" Pastors John and Wes offer Bible answers to this question and more in episode 7 season 8. 

If you enjoy listening to a heartfelt, very honest and deeply emotional cleansing of the soul kind of conversation, coupled with powerful music performed live, then this clearly isn't the show for you. Kidding of course, Tyler Hilton takes us along on a wonderful journey of what is his life. Plus, how would you like to smoke pot in a movie theater? Has a stranger ever braided your hair while you slept…ON AN AIRPLANE! A Florida dude freaked out at a children's lemonade stand, plus we all find out what HOT WIFING is. It's worth your time; I promise.

New Fad Alert! Celebrities are wearing braided hair neckties. Retired Police Officer Joe Cardinale on how Illinois wants to legalize attacks on law enforcement. Rory O'Neill on how fingerprints are NOT unique!! Simon recounts his weekend with the newly commissioned USS Iowa. Jeff Monosso on the new rules on mega millions today! Your talkbacks and texts.

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It's where she was at the time that makes the story even crazier. Support the show and follow us here Twitter, Insta, Apple, Amazon, Spotify and the Edge! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The beauty of braided art will be on display at the Basement Theatre next week as part of the 'HER* A women's festival' in Auckland.

Special Guest Pastor Matt Brown joined us this month at our True North Revival. | Recorded February 9, 2025 | Thank you for listening to this podcast from The Summit Edmonton Church. We hope you're blessed and encouraged by this message. | To learn more about The Summit Church, you can visit our website at: www.thesummitchurch.ca

Special Guest Pastor Matt Brown joined us this month at our True North Revival. | Recorded February 7, 2025 | Thank you for listening to this podcast from The Summit Edmonton Church. We hope you're blessed and encouraged by this message. | To learn more about The Summit Church, you can visit our website at: www.thesummitchurch.ca

A short reflection I hope helps one of you as we come to a time of rest and reflection and planning for the future.   Braided rivers in New Zealand are unique as they change often, moving along in the same general direction, but never ever staying exactly the same. Trying to plan every aspect of your life means you'll miss out - to really see new opportunities, you have to be willing to also let directions shift, like a braided river, and go with where the water of new opportunities is flowing. https://theseeds.nz/articles/braided-river-reflection/  

Philip welcome Norman Wirzba, back to The Deep Dive for his third appearance. He's back to discuss his latest book Love's Braided Dance. In their conversation, they discuss how love factors into our ability to solve pressing problems and build richer The Drop – The segment of the show where Philip and his guest share tasty morsels of intellectual goodness and creative musings. Philip's Drop: Vichy France: Old Guard and New Guard 1940 – 1944 – Robert O. Paxton (https://cup.columbia.edu/book/vichy-france/9780231124690) Cobra (Amazon Prime) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10062652/) Norman's Drop: Playground – Richard Powers (https://www.richardpowers.net/playground/) Van der Walk (Amazon Prime/PBS Masterpiece) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9128874/) Special Guest: Norman Wirzba.

Today on the show we chat 9 years since the passing of the Legend Jonah Lomu and remember a few yearns about the big man. 

Send us a text In this episode, Brian and Ronnie dive deep into the world of home cooking and foraging. From discussing the art of preparing mushrooms to sharing stories about their culinary adventures, the duo covers it all. Brian reminisces about his experiences with a quirky mushroom forager and the challenges of using an old, temperamental oven. Meanwhile, Ronnie talks about his recent culinary experiment with a Yemeni sauce called Zhoug. Join them as they explore the joys of cooking with fresh ingredients and the importance of preserving local food traditions.Beers We DrankBrian - Olde Mecklenburg Brewery - Mecktoberfest - Märzen LagerRonnie - Edmund's Oast - Apple Cider Doughnuts

Problem-solving the crises of the modern world is often characterized by an economy and architecture of exploitation and instrumentalization, viewing relationships as transactional, efficient, and calculative. But this sort of thinking leaves a remainder of emptiness.Finding hope in a time of crises requires a more human work of covenant and commitment. Based in agrarian principles of stability, place, connection, dependence, interwoven relatedness, and a rooted economy, we can find hope in “Love's Braided Dance” of telling the truth, keeping our promises, showing mercy, and bearing with one another.In this episode, Evan Rosa welcomes Norman Wirzba, the Gilbert T. Rowe Distinguished Professor of Christian Theology at Duke Divinity School, to discuss his recent book Love's Braided Dance: Hope in a Time of Crisis.Together they discuss love and hope through the agrarian principles that acknowledge our physiology and materiality; how the crises of the moment boil down to one factor: whether young people want to have kids of their own; God's love as erotic and how that impacts our sense of self-worth; the “sympathetic attunement” that comes from being loved by a community, a place, and a land; transactional versus covenantal relationships; the meaning of giving and receiving forgiveness in an economy of mercy; and finally the difficult truth that transformation or moral perfection can never replace reconciliation.About Norman WirzbaNorman Wirzba is the Gilbert T. Rowe Distinguished Professor of Christian Theology at Duke Divinity School, as well as director of research at Duke University's Office of Climate and Sustainability. His books include Love's Braided Dance: Hope in a Time of Crisis, Agrarian Spirit: Cultivating Faith, Community, and the Land;This Sacred Life: Humanity's Place in a Wounded World; and Food & Faith.Listen to Norman Wirzba on Food & Faith in Episode 49: "God's Love Made Delicious"Show NotesNorman Wirzba, Love's Braided Dance: Hope in a Time of CrisisHow the crises of the moment boil down to one expression: whether young people want to have kids of their own.How Norman Wirzba became friends with Wendell BerryWendell Berry, The Unsettling of America“Love's Braided Dance” from “In Rain”, a poem by Wendell Berry“You shouldn't forget the land, and you shouldn't forget your grandfather.”Return to agricultural practicesSacred gifts“An agricultural life can afford doesn't guarantee, I think, but it affords the opportunity for you to really handle the fundamentals of life, air, water, soil, plant, tactile  connection that has to, at the same time, be  a practical connection, which means you have to to bring into your handling of things the attempt to understand what you're handling.”AnonymityNorman Wirzba reads Wendell Berry's “In Rain”Hyperconnectivity and the meaning of being “braided together”Love as Erotic Hope—”the first of God's love is an erotic love, which is an outbound love that wants  something other than God to be and to  flourish. And that outbound movement is generated by God's desire for For others to be beautiful, to be good, and I think that's the basis of our lives, right?”Audre Lorde and patriarchyAffirming the goodness of ourselves and the world as created and loved by GodHow the pornographic gaze distorts the meaning of erotic loveDancing as a metaphor for God's erotic loveDeep sympathy and anticipation, and the improvisational movement of danceWoodworking: taking time and negotiation“Sympathetic attunement” and improvisationManaging the unpredictable nature of our worldRevelation of who you are and who the other is—it's hard to reveal ourselves to each otherHonesty and depth that is missing from relationshipsLearning the skill of self-revealingBelonging and Robin Wall Kimmerer's sense that a people could be “loved by the land”Physiological, material reality of our dependence on each other, from womb to tomb“The illusion that we could ever be alone or stand alone or survive alone is so dishonest about our living.”Denying our needs, acknowledging our needs, and inhabiting trust to work through struggle together“It's not about solutions.”“Some of the needs  are profound and deep and they take time and they are  never fully resolved. But it's this experience of knowing that you're not alone, that you're in a context where you are going to be cared for, you'll be nurtured, and you'll be forgiven when you make mistakes means that you can carry on together. And that's often enough.”Transactional vs covenantal approach to relationshipsGranting forgiveness and receiving forgivenessTransformation is not a replacement for reconciliationRather than denying wrongdoing or seeking to eliminate it, focusing on a renewed effort to be merciful with each other.Economy and architecture“So how is the land supposed to love you back if it has in fact been turned into a toxic dumping zone?”“Think about how much fear is in our architecture.”Building was vernacular—people were involved in the development of physical structuresJ. R. R. Tolkein, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers: Ents vs Saruman, natural agrarianism vs technological dominationJoy Clarkson, You Are a TreeRooted economy“Is anything worthy of our care?”When a parent chooses a phone and loses a moment of presence with children“Go to some one and tell them, ‘I want to try to be better at being in the presence of those around me.'”Be deliberateProduction NotesThis podcast featured Norman WirzbaEdited and Produced by Evan RosaHosted by Evan RosaProduction Assistance by Alexa Rollow, Kacie Barrett, Emily Brookfield, and Zoë HalabanA Production of the Yale Center for Faith & Culture at Yale Divinity School https://faith.yale.edu/aboutSupport For the Life of the World podcast by giving to the Yale Center for Faith & Culture: https://faith.yale.edu/give

Hey y'all this episode we will be covering hot topics with my girlfriend chiming in to see what is up on my side of the internet. Hope you enjoy

Braided Seal Gut – Qiluryaq Taugkut qiluryat ekllinartut. – Those braided seal gut look delicious.

We're kicking off the second season of the Curl Code by sharing a vulnerable, illuminating, sometimes hilarious and alwways incredible conversation from the launch party of the show last year. This live event brought together curlies and non-curlies of different generations and backgrounds to discuss lived experiences of having curly hair. Regardless of what else we might not have in common, we discovered funny and not-so-funny stories of hair trauma, struggle, and finally, embrace that revealed to us the things we share, and helped us learn about what's changed--and still needs to change--to allow all of us to live as our most authentic selves and embrace our curly crowns. Our non-curly allies helped us understand their own experiences and limitations, and even our wavy and swavy friends got a little reassurance that there is a place for them in the the curl universe too!  This conversation exemplifies the openness, authenticity and healing we stand for in this show, and at the Curly Oasis salon and education platform. We hope you'll find solidarity, companionship, and discovery in this show, and realize that whatever you hair trauma or curl experience may be, you are not alone! Continue your curly hair styling and education journey on our Instagram! Links/more: The CROWN Act: The CROWN Act, which stands for “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair,” is currently being adopted on a state by state basis to ban hair-based discrimination at schools and workplaces. Braided twists or locs, “as long as style is neat in appearance” are allowed for women–but not men–in the military. Environmental working groupINCI app: On Apple and AndroidOn personal products disrupting the endocrine system: https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrinehttps://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2024/09/09/nx-s1-5099419/hair-and-skin-care-products-expose-kids-to-hormone-disrupting-chemicals-study-finds#:~:text=A%20new%20study%20links%20the%20recent%20use%20of%20personal%20care,of%20exposure%20to%20these%20chemicals. https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/cosmetics/cosmetic-products-specific-topics/endocrine-disruptors_enOn levels of cancer in brown and Black communities:https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/health-equity/african-american.html#:~:text=Black%20people%20have%20the%20highest,cancers%20at%20a%20late%20stage. https://www.cancer.org/about-us/what-we-do/health-equity/cancer-disparities-in-the-black-community.htmlMeet some of our guests: SydneiSusan and Ashira, Thrive Yoga Luby Ismail, Connecting CulturesCHAPTER MARKERS00:00 Welcome to Season Two of the Curl Code01:49 Personal Stories of Hair Struggles09:13 Cultural and Generational Perspectives on Curly Hair13:47 Workplace Discrimination and the Crown Act31:57 The Importance of Authenticity37:34 Closing Remarks and Gratitude

On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with Dr. Beth Ricanati, author of “Braided: A Journey of a Thousand Challahs.”   More than 15 years ago, Ricanati started baking challah on Fridays as a self-care ritual. Now, she gives challah workshops–both in person and digitally–around the country to people of all faiths, and speaks about the teachings in her book.   “When you're mixing flour and sugar and watching the yeast bubble, you can't be doing anything else,” Ricanati explains. “I wasn't worrying about my patients, I wasn't worrying about my kids.”    Ricanati says the experience was utterly transformative. Before she knew it, she rearranged her schedule, so she could continue her Friday challah practice. A board-certified internist, Dr. Ricanati now sees patients at the Venice Family Clinic in Los Angeles.    “Particularly since October 7, it has been so meaningful, so resonant, to be able to build community [around] this beautiful ancient ritual,” she says. “When you're standing next to someone and your hands are literally in a bowl of dough, you can really come together and talk.”   Ricanati talks about her challah origin story, the impact of baking challah, and so much more. She also shares her challah recipe, which you can find at JewishJournal.com/podcasts.    Learn more at BethRicanatiMD.com and follow @BethRicanatiMD on Instagram. For more from Taste Buds, subscribe on iTunes and YouTube, and follow @TheDEBMethod on social media.

This was a fun and insightful episode of the podcast! We got to chat with the creative duo behind the beloved "Princess in Black" book series, Shannon and Dean Hale. They shared the backstory on how they came up with the idea - it all started when their young daughter made a comment about princesses not wearing black. Shannon and Dean saw an opportunity to create a superhero princess who protects her kingdom, and the rest is history!  The Hales have such a great collaborative process, bouncing ideas off each other and letting their creativity flow. They emphasized the importance of making reading fun and engaging for kids, especially in that tricky transition from early readers to chapter books. Shannon and Dean wanted to fill that gap with a series that would captivate both younger and older readers through vibrant illustrations and compelling stories. We also heard from author Leah Cypess, who is putting her own spin on classic fairy tales in her "Sisters Ever After" series. Her latest book, "Braided," is a retelling of the Rapunzel story, but from the perspective of Rapunzel's little sister. Leah shared how she loves taking these timeless tales and infusing them with new characters and magical elements, like the sisters' ability to cast spells through their hair braiding. We end the show with a chat with musician turned children's author Carol Selic. Her new book, Play For Me Peter, reminds kids, and adults, that learning to play music is so much fun, but it takes time and practice to learn how to play an instrument. Click here to visit our website – www.ReadingWithYourKids.com Follow Us On Social Media Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/readingwithyourkids Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/readingwithyourkids/ X - https://x.com/jedliemagic LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/reading-with-your-kids-podcast/ Please consider leaving a review of this episode and the podcast on whatever app you are listening on, it really helps!

(Note, this episode is a replay that originally aired in February.) In this final installment of my talk with author and essayist Minda Honey, we cover: * The insights–on double consciousness, omniscience, and overlapping timelines–she got at a recent conference * How Andre 3000's new flute album is cracking open possibilities in her mind * The concept of a braided essay, and how it's like making a charcuterie board * The book Minda could not put down (and that made her cry) For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Big thanks to our sponsor, AquaTru.com. Use promo code KATE to save 20% off a reverse osmosis water filter and support this podcast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we're covering: 

This week we're bringing you stories that question and expand our national identity. A content warning, this episode contains racial slurs, racism, and violence so please listen with care. The Ocean and the Desert Flower In our first story, Zeinab shares the things she loves about her home, and ruminates on the various contradictions involved within the so-called Australian identity. This story was produced by Zeinab Mourad as part of Season 1 of Braided, a project by Artful Dodgers Studios in Naarm. The supervising producer was Bethany Atkinson-Quinton. You can listen to more stories by Braided by visiting www.braidedpodcast.com Navigating the Shire Our next story explores the legacy of the 2005 Cronulla Race Riots - where over 5000 people spread across suburbs descended upon Cronulla to spout Anti-Arab and Anti-Immigration sentiment. While this story was recorded in 2018, parts still feel relevant today. This story was written by Rohan Simpson. The supervising producer was Allison Chan. The story was originally published in the USYD student paper, Honi Soit All The Best Credits Executive Producer: Phoebe Adler-Ryan Editorial Producer: Melanie Bakewell Host: Madhuraa Prakash Mixed by Emma Higgins  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Premium! Ready for an ad-free meditation experience? Join Premium now and get every episode from ALL of our podcasts completely ad-free now! Just a few clicks makes it easy for you to listen on your favorite podcast player.  Become a PREMIUM member today by going to --> https://WomensMeditationNetwork.com/premium Relax. Simply relax. Letting go of All the tension  In your muscles, And any aches and pains. Just let them go. LONG PAUSE Take a deep breath, A cleansing, purifying breath, A breath that releases tension, And brings calm to you. LONG PAUSE Now, imagine if you can, Sitting on the ground, With a beautiful, statuesque older woman. PAUSE The woman has hair, Braided in mazes, On top of her head. Her eyes are like shiny onyx, And her skin glows, In the sun.  PAUSE Together, you sit cross-legged on the ground. The woman weaves a basket With black, brown and golden strands. PAUSE Several minutes pass in silence. Then the woman, Shows you the basket, With a magnificent spider design woven into it. “The spider knows balance,” she says. “Close your eyes, breathe, And feel balance in your life.” PAUSE After a moment, You feel a calmness, A centeredness, A balance, Like the nimble spider. The woman smiles. PAUSE The woman sets the Spider basket aside, And takes out another basket. After weaving for a few minutes, She shows you a basket with  a beautiful flower design. PAUSE She gives you the basket to hold, And you run your fingers over the strands.  They're surprisingly soft. PAUSE After moments of silence, The basket weaver speaks again. “The flower knows natural beauty,” she says. “Close your eyes, breathe, “And see your natural beauty.” PAUSE After a moment of closing your eyes, And going inward, You see light around yourself, Light that shines from the inside out. And you recognize and embrace Your natural beauty. The woman smiles. PAUSE The woman sets the flower basket aside, And reaches for another. This basket is different, though. It is completed, but there are no colors,  no designs. Just simple golden strands. PAUSE After a moment, The woman speaks. “This basket carries food, Nourishment for our people. It understands what the Self needs to sustain.” PAUSE Holding the basket, You close your eyes And are flooded  With images of ways  To care for yourself.  Ways you've either ignored or not known. PAUSE As you open your eyes, The basket changes. Designs of spiders, flowers, Houses, trees, patterns, and more, Appear on the basket. PAUSE After a moment, The basket weaver speaks. “The basket is yours,” she says. “It will come with you always. When you need to care for yourself, Just look into it. What you need will appear.” PAUSE Imagine, gingerly, running your fingers Over the designs, Knowing that they were created Just for you. Knowing that they hold the keys To your well-being. PAUSE Now, envision closing your eyes again,  Breathing deeply, peacefully, And seeing the basket Weave its way into your consciousness, So it is there, With its contents, Whenever you need or want it. NAMASTE, BEAUTIFUL

Join Premium! Ready for an ad-free meditation experience? Join Premium now and get every episode from ALL of our podcasts completely ad-free now! Just a few clicks makes it easy for you to listen on your favorite podcast player.  Become a PREMIUM member today by going to --> https://WomensMeditationNetwork.com/premium Relax. Simply relax. Letting go of All the tension  In your muscles, And any aches and pains. Just let them go. LONG PAUSE Take a deep breath, A cleansing, purifying breath, A breath that releases tension, And brings calm to you. LONG PAUSE Now, imagine if you can, Sitting on the ground, With a beautiful, statuesque older woman. PAUSE The woman has hair, Braided in mazes, On top of her head. Her eyes are like shiny onyx, And her skin glows, In the sun.  PAUSE Together, you sit cross-legged on the ground. The woman weaves a basket With black, brown and golden strands. PAUSE Several minutes pass in silence. Then the woman, Shows you the basket, With a magnificent spider design woven into it. “The spider knows balance,” she says. “Close your eyes, breathe, And feel balance in your life.” PAUSE After a moment, You feel a calmness, A centeredness, A balance, Like the nimble spider. The woman smiles. PAUSE The woman sets the Spider basket aside, And takes out another basket. After weaving for a few minutes, She shows you a basket with  a beautiful flower design. PAUSE She gives you the basket to hold, And you run your fingers over the strands.  They're surprisingly soft. PAUSE After moments of silence, The basket weaver speaks again. “The flower knows natural beauty,” she says. “Close your eyes, breathe, “And see your natural beauty.” PAUSE After a moment of closing your eyes, And going inward, You see light around yourself, Light that shines from the inside out. And you recognize and embrace Your natural beauty. The woman smiles. PAUSE The woman sets the flower basket aside, And reaches for another. This basket is different, though. It is completed, but there are no colors,  no designs. Just simple golden strands. PAUSE After a moment, The woman speaks. “This basket carries food, Nourishment for our people. It understands what the Self needs to sustain.” PAUSE Holding the basket, You close your eyes And are flooded  With images of ways  To care for yourself.  Ways you've either ignored or not known. PAUSE As you open your eyes, The basket changes. Designs of spiders, flowers, Houses, trees, patterns, and more, Appear on the basket. PAUSE After a moment, The basket weaver speaks. “The basket is yours,” she says. “It will come with you always. When you need to care for yourself, Just look into it. What you need will appear.” PAUSE Imagine, gingerly, running your fingers Over the designs, Knowing that they were created Just for you. Knowing that they hold the keys To your well-being. PAUSE Now, envision closing your eyes again,  Breathing deeply, peacefully, And seeing the basket Weave its way into your consciousness, So it is there, With its contents, Whenever you need or want it. NAMASTE, BEAUTIFUL

Join Premium! Ready for an ad-free meditation experience? Join Premium now and get every episode from ALL of our podcasts completely ad-free now! Just a few clicks makes it easy for you to listen on your favorite podcast player.  Become a PREMIUM member today by going to --> https://WomensMeditationNetwork.com/premium Relax. Simply relax. Letting go of All the tension  In your muscles, And any aches and pains. Just let them go. LONG PAUSE Take a deep breath, A cleansing, purifying breath, A breath that releases tension, And brings calm to you. LONG PAUSE Now, imagine if you can, Sitting on the ground, With a beautiful, statuesque older woman. PAUSE The woman has hair, Braided in mazes, On top of her head. Her eyes are like shiny onyx, And her skin glows, In the sun.  PAUSE Together, you sit cross-legged on the ground. The woman weaves a basket With black, brown and golden strands. PAUSE Several minutes pass in silence. Then the woman, Shows you the basket, With a magnificent spider design woven into it. “The spider knows balance,” she says. “Close your eyes, breathe, And feel balance in your life.” PAUSE After a moment, You feel a calmness, A centeredness, A balance, Like the nimble spider. The woman smiles. PAUSE The woman sets the Spider basket aside, And takes out another basket. After weaving for a few minutes, She shows you a basket with  a beautiful flower design. PAUSE She gives you the basket to hold, And you run your fingers over the strands.  They're surprisingly soft. PAUSE After moments of silence, The basket weaver speaks again. “The flower knows natural beauty,” she says. “Close your eyes, breathe, “And see your natural beauty.” PAUSE After a moment of closing your eyes, And going inward, You see light around yourself, Light that shines from the inside out. And you recognize and embrace Your natural beauty. The woman smiles. PAUSE The woman sets the flower basket aside, And reaches for another. This basket is different, though. It is completed, but there are no colors,  no designs. Just simple golden strands. PAUSE After a moment, The woman speaks. “This basket carries food, Nourishment for our people. It understands what the Self needs to sustain.” PAUSE Holding the basket, You close your eyes And are flooded  With images of ways  To care for yourself.  Ways you've either ignored or not known. PAUSE As you open your eyes, The basket changes. Designs of spiders, flowers, Houses, trees, patterns, and more, Appear on the basket. PAUSE After a moment, The basket weaver speaks. “The basket is yours,” she says. “It will come with you always. When you need to care for yourself, Just look into it. What you need will appear.” PAUSE Imagine, gingerly, running your fingers Over the designs, Knowing that they were created Just for you. Knowing that they hold the keys To your well-being. PAUSE Now, envision closing your eyes again,  Breathing deeply, peacefully, And seeing the basket Weave its way into your consciousness, So it is there, With its contents, Whenever you need or want it. NAMASTE, BEAUTIFUL

Support Lorenzo on Patreon.com Guest speaker: James Fadiman PROGRAM NOTES: James FadimanPhoto source: psychedelicpress.co.uk Today we get to listen to a long-forgotten talk by one of our most important elders, James Fadiman. This is a talk that he gave at the Transpersonal Vision Convention in 1988 and in it Jim provides us with another way to think about our higher selves. He points out that the self is a collection of personalities. It is not unified and cannot be unified. “Seek out that particular mental attribute which makes you feel most deeply and vitally alive, along with which comes the inner voice which says, 'This is the real me,' and when you have found that attitude, follow it.”― William James, The Principles of Psychology