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In this episode of Everyday Conversations on Race, Simma Lieberman, The Inclusionist, is joined by two incredible global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion experts: Michaël Stuber, the European DEI Engineer, and Nene Molefi, founder of Mandate Molefi HR Consultants in South Africa. While the focus of this episode is on the global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion landscape, it's also a deeply personal conversation about their journeys, the challenges they've faced, and how their backgrounds have shaped their approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion. As we explore how Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives differ across countries, Michaël and Nene share their unique personal experiences—from Michaël's upbringing in a family where cultural diversity was the norm, to Nene's harrowing memories of growing up in the midst of apartheid in South Africa. These personal stories are woven into the conversation, bringing a human element to the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion discussion that goes beyond theories and strategies. Detailed Time Stamps: [00:00] Introduction to Simma and the guests [04:30] Michael Stuber shares how his diverse upbringing shaped his perspective on DEI [07:00] Nene talks about growing up during apartheid in South Africa and the 1976 uprisings [12:00] The impact of apartheid on Nene's personal and professional journey [16:00] Michaël's early experiences with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work and the importance of a European context [21:45] The role of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in shaping Michaël's understanding of DEI [26:30] Nene discusses her experience in developing South Africa's Employment Equity Act and its legacy [32:15] Challenges and growth in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work across South Africa and Europe [37:00] Michaël reflects on the global DEI landscape and adapting U.S.-based DEI concepts for Europe [42:00] The importance of systemic change in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: addressing structures, not just attitudes [47:15] Current challenges in DEI: nationalistic movements and the regression of progress [52:30] The personal impact of the global political climate on DEI work [57:00] Nene and Michaël discuss the shifting attitudes towards Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and the need for integrity and truth-telling [01:02:30] Closing remarks: The importance of global perspectives in DEI and continuing the conversation This isn't just about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; it's about understanding the deep-rooted histories that influence how we work, relate, and view one another today. Michaël and Nene's personal stories and shared wisdom will help you see Diversity, Equity and Inclusion not just as a corporate or political issue, but a human one. Key Takeaways: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is about more than just policies—it's about understanding personal and cultural histories that shape our worldviews. Real change in DEI requires confronting deep-rooted systems of oppression, as demonstrated by Nene's experience in apartheid and Michaël's work in Europe. Effective DEI strategies must be rooted in listening, respect, and understanding of the complex histories that shape people's lives. Guest Information: Michaël Stuber – Described as “Germany's diversity pioneer” (ManagerMagazin), Michael Stuber is known for his evidence-based, internationally experienced and critically reflective D&I approaches—beyond mainstream ‘good' practice. Combining deep expertise with systemic thinking, he designs diversity strategies that are differentiated, holistic and therefore effective. Nene Molefi is a globally recognized consultant, keynote speaker, coach and author with over 25 years of experience shaping leadership, organizational transformation, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) across industries. Born and raised in Soweto, Johannesburg, she has built an esteemed career advocating for values-driven leadership, high-performing teams, and systemic change in organizations worldwide. As the Founder and CEO of Mandate Molefi HR Consultants, Nene has advised multinational corporations, governments, and nonprofit organizations. Her expertise spans Whole System Culture Change, Executive Leadership Development, DEI Strategy and High-Stakes Facilitation—guiding courageous, results-driven conversations that tackle complex organizational and societal challenges. She has led and steered intricate, long-term cultural transformation and leadership initiatives, working with multi-disciplinary and specialist teams. Click here to DONATE and support our podcast All donations are tax deductible through Fractured Atlas. Simma Lieberman, The Inclusionist, helps leaders create inclusive cultures. She is a consultant, speaker, and facilitator. Simma is the creator and host of the podcast, Everyday Conversations on Race. Contact Simma@SimmaLieberman.com to get more information, book her as a speaker for your next event, help you become a more inclusive leader, or facilitate dialogues across differences. Go to www.simmalieberman.com and www.raceconvo.com for more information Simma is a member of and inspired by the global organization IAC (Inclusion Allies Coalition) Connect with me: Instagram Facebook YouTube Twitter LinkedIn Tiktok Website Previous Episodes Navigating Race, Mental Health and Well-being in Corporate America How Racist Competency Checks Prevent Merit-Based Hiring Can Descendants of the Enslaved Reconcile with the Enslavers? Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating
Send us a textPsychic medium and tarot master Elaine Ireland has spent over sixty years walking the intuitive path, beginning in rural Texas where spiritual sensitivity was simply a way of life. Born in 1944, her gifts were nurtured early by grandparents attuned to nature and subtle energies. In this powerful conversation, Elaine reflects on her first reading at 17, the evolution of her career, and the deep ethics that have shaped her work. She speaks to the sacred exchange of energy in readings, sharing why sometimes asking for non-monetary "payment" helps preserve integrity and balance. Elaine's wisdom extends into the realm of ancestral trauma and spiritual sovereignty, offering empowering insight into how fear—when met with love—can become our greatest teacher.With warmth, wit, and the clarity of someone who's seen it all, Elaine paints a vivid portrait of how the intuitive arts have changed over the decades.To learn more about Elaine or to work with her:Visit: www.elaineirelandtarotmaster.comClairvoyaging is now a fiscally sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a 501(c)(3) charity, so any donations are now tax deductible. If you'd like to support our projects that aim to foster understanding for diverse spiritual belief systems, visit www.clairvoyaging.com/support. Support the show-- DONATE to the Clairvoyaging Documentary (it's tax-deductible!)-- SUBSCRIBE in your preferred podcast app! -- Follow @clairvoyagingpodcast on Instagram.-- Send us an email: clairvoyagingpodcast@gmail.com-- Become a Clairvoyager on Patreon and get access to exclusive extras!
Send us a textBig change can feel exhilarating—and terrifying. In this personal episode, Lauren and Frank step away from their usual interview format to share the emotional rollercoaster of preparing for a major move. As they unpack their own resistance to change, they explore a powerful truth: even the most welcome transformations can stir up deep fears and old patterns.Through honest storytelling and intuitive reflection, they dive into why we sometimes cling to familiar discomfort, whether in jobs, relationships, or physical spaces. Lauren opens up about her tendency to “bottleneck for control,” while Frank reflects on staying too long in a misaligned job. Together, they examine how childhood experiences and parental fears shape our reactions to uncertainty—especially when guiding young children through big transitions.Clairvoyaging is now a fiscally sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a 501(c)(3) charity, so any donations are now tax deductible. If you'd like to support our projects that aim to foster understanding for diverse spiritual belief systems, visit www.clairvoyaging.com/support. Support the show-- DONATE to the Clairvoyaging Documentary (it's tax-deductible!)-- SUBSCRIBE in your preferred podcast app! -- Follow @clairvoyagingpodcast on Instagram.-- Send us an email: clairvoyagingpodcast@gmail.com-- Become a Clairvoyager on Patreon and get access to exclusive extras!
Send us a textIn this moving episode of Clairvoyaging, we sit down with Jamie Lee Silver, a passionate EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) tapping expert whose life was forever changed after the tragic loss of her son, Ben, to suicide. Rather than being consumed by grief, Jamie found a lifeline in tapping—a simple yet powerful practice that blends acupressure with emotional acknowledgment. Through this technique, she not only processed her own pain but also discovered a way to remain spiritually connected with her son while helping others heal from trauma, anxiety, and grief.Jamie shares how EFT taps into the body's energy system, offering a direct route to emotional release and nervous system regulation. Backed by science and accessible to people of all ages—including children—her method allows emotions to move through the body rather than become stuck. With stories that are both heart-wrenching and hopeful, Jamie's presence is like a burst of healing energy, reminding us that emotional freedom is possible, even after unimaginable loss.To learn more or to work with Jamie: Visit: tapforhappiness.com Clairvoyaging is now a fiscally sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a 501(c)(3) charity, so any donations are now tax deductible. If you'd like to support our projects that aim to foster understanding for diverse spiritual belief systems, visit www.clairvoyaging.com/support. Support the show-- DONATE to the Clairvoyaging Documentary (it's tax-deductible!)-- SUBSCRIBE in your preferred podcast app! -- Follow @clairvoyagingpodcast on Instagram.-- Send us an email: clairvoyagingpodcast@gmail.com-- Become a Clairvoyager on Patreon and get access to exclusive extras!
Send us a textWhat if your most traumatic experience became the doorway to your life's purpose? For Jules Davis, a devastating car accident at age 30 transformed her from a punk rock concert promoter into a respected Reiki Master Teacher. Though she'd experienced psychic phenomena since childhood, it wasn't until spinal injuries and major surgery that a spiritual awakening truly began—guided by an intuitive message that Reiki would help her heal.In this episode, Jules shares how that moment launched her into mastering thirteen Reiki systems, healing chronic sciatica without surgery, and even performing Reiki inside Egypt's Great Pyramid. She also opens up about connecting with her mother in spirit and how healing continues after death—offering hope for anyone carrying unresolved pain.Whether you're exploring energy healing, developing your intuition, or grieving a loved one, Jules' story is filled with wisdom, warmth, and the powerful reminder that none of us is ever truly alone.To learn more about Jules or to book a session with her:Visit: HealingWithJules.comFollow her on InstagramClairvoyaging is now a fiscally sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a 501(c)(3) charity, so any donations are now tax deductible. If you'd like to support our projects that aim to foster understanding for diverse spiritual belief systems, visit www.clairvoyaging.com/support. Support the show-- DONATE to the Clairvoyaging Documentary (it's tax-deductible!)-- SUBSCRIBE in your preferred podcast app! -- Follow @clairvoyagingpodcast on Instagram.-- Send us an email: clairvoyagingpodcast@gmail.com-- Become a Clairvoyager on Patreon and get access to exclusive extras!
Send us a textWhat happens when you completely surrender to your intuition? Banah Winn shares his remarkable journey from stoic indie rock musician to intuitive healer and creator of transformative "Harmony" events.During the isolated days of the pandemic, Banah developed a pragmatic system for testing and trusting his intuition. By methodically tracking the physical sensations accompanying his impulses and their outcomes, he discovered his body was offering guidance about future events, not just reacting to past experiences. This revelation led him to fundamentally restructure his life around intuitive flow.After years performing with an indie rock band, Banah now leads "Harmony" events – holistic, intuitive concerts where audience intentions guide the entire experience. These gatherings transform into collective flow states where, as Banah describes, "the whole crowd turns into a flock of birds and you can't really tell who's leading."Whether you're curious about developing your intuition, breaking free from limiting patterns, or finding more authenticity in your creative expression, this conversation offers practical wisdom from someone living these principles daily. To learn more about Banah or to book a session with him:Visit: https://linktr.ee/banahwinnClairvoyaging is now a fiscally sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a 501(c)(3) charity, so any donations are now tax deductible. If you'd like to support our projects that aim to foster understanding for diverse spiritual belief systems, visit www.clairvoyaging.com/support. Support the show-- DONATE to the Clairvoyaging Documentary (it's tax-deductible!)-- SUBSCRIBE in your preferred podcast app! -- Follow @clairvoyagingpodcast on Instagram.-- Send us an email: clairvoyagingpodcast@gmail.com-- Become a Clairvoyager on Patreon and get access to exclusive extras!
Send us a textWalking away from a lifelong religious belief system is rarely a simple process. Josh Gaines knows this firsthand, having spent 26 years deeply immersed in evangelical Christianity before embarking on a spiritual journey that would transform his understanding of reality.In this profound conversation, Josh shares how he navigated the complex terrain of religious deprogramming. When the foundations of his Christian faith began to crumble, he found himself asking the fundamental question: "If this isn't true, then what is?" This curiosity launched him into exploring practices he once dismissed as "for crazy people"—Western ceremonial magic, Vedanta teachings, Kriya yoga, and Kabbalah among them. In this episode, we discuss angelic communication, third eye awakening, and the physical sensations of spiritual development. What makes Josh's perspective particularly valuable is his ability to recognize common threads across seemingly disparate spiritual traditions. Rather than rejecting Christianity entirely, his explorations gave him a newfound appreciation for Christian mysticism and the teachings of Christ viewed through a non-dogmatic lens. Through his Deprogramming Christianity workshops and one-on-one coaching, Josh now helps others navigate this challenging transition, creating safe spaces for questions that many religious environments don't allow.To learn more about Josh or to book a coaching session with him:Visit: www.doctor-gaines.comFollow him on TikTokClairvoyaging is now a fiscally sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a 501(c)(3) charity, so any donations are now tax deductible. If you'd like to support our projects that aim to foster understanding for diverse spiritual belief systems, visit www.clairvoyaging.com/support. She Leads with CAREShe Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show-- DONATE to the Clairvoyaging Documentary (it's tax-deductible!)-- SUBSCRIBE in your preferred podcast app! -- Follow @clairvoyagingpodcast on Instagram.-- Send us an email: clairvoyagingpodcast@gmail.com-- Become a Clairvoyager on Patreon and get access to exclusive extras!
Send us a textWhen a medical misdiagnosis shattered Erin Brown's trust in the system she had worked in for 25 years, it sparked an unexpected spiritual awakening. A former nurse and medical instructor, Erin's journey from science to spirituality began with meditation—and led her to powerful visions and a new path as an energy alchemist. In this inspiring conversation, Erin shares how she bridges the worlds of medicine and mysticism, explaining the Schumann Resonance and how Earth's electromagnetic frequencies impact our bodies, moods, and creativity. Erin breaks down how energy patterns mirror emotional cycles, and how tuning into these natural rhythms can support our healing and growth. We also explore timeline shifts, quantum jumps, and the deeper meaning of ascension—not as escape, but as an evolving consciousness. Whether you're grounded in science or drawn to spirit, Erin's insights offer a grounded, transformative lens for navigating life with more awareness.To learn more about Erin or to book a session with her:Visit: www.consciouslyerin.comFollow her on TikTokClairvoyaging is now a fiscally sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a 501(c)(3) charity, so any donations are now tax deductible. If you'd like to support our projects that aim to foster understanding for diverse spiritual belief systems, visit www.clairvoyaging.com/support. She Leads with CAREShe Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show-- DONATE to the Clairvoyaging Documentary (it's tax-deductible!)-- SUBSCRIBE in your preferred podcast app! -- Follow @clairvoyagingpodcast on Instagram.-- Send us an email: clairvoyagingpodcast@gmail.com-- Become a Clairvoyager on Patreon and get access to exclusive extras!
Send us a textApril Thacker joins us to share her extraordinary journey from childhood spiritual encounters to becoming a professional psychic medium. Having experienced near-death moments as a young child, April recalls seeing a crystal village and feeling surrounded by love – early glimpses into the spiritual realm that would later become her calling.Most fascinating is April's account of the "Hat Man" – a shadowy figure in a hat and trench coat that visited her as a child. This wasn't just imagination; the Hat Man is a documented phenomenon reported by people worldwide, though his purpose remains mysterious. These early encounters initially frightened April into shutting down her abilities until divine timing intervened when she met her future mother-in-law – a woman raised by gypsies who practiced tarot reading.The conversation takes an illuminating turn as April describes how trauma healing unlocked her mediumship abilities. Courageously sharing her experiences with childhood abuse, alcoholism in her family, and sexual trauma, April demonstrates how these painful experiences became tools for helping others. Whether you're curious about developing your own intuitive abilities or seeking inspiration in healing past wounds, April's story offers both practical guidance and profound hope. To learn more about April or to work with her:Visit her website: sacreddreamer.simdif.comFollow her on TikTokClairvoyaging is now a fiscally sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a 501(c)(3) charity, so any donations are now tax deductible. If you'd like to support our projects that aim to foster understanding for diverse spiritual belief systems, visit www.clairvoyaging.com/support. She Leads with CAREShe Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show-- DONATE to the Clairvoyaging Documentary (it's tax-deductible!)-- SUBSCRIBE in your preferred podcast app! -- Follow @clairvoyagingpodcast on Instagram.-- Send us an email: clairvoyagingpodcast@gmail.com-- Become a Clairvoyager on Patreon and get access to exclusive extras!
How can Black professionals address the mental, physical and emotional toll of success in corporate America? Join Simma Lieberman, the Inclusionist, in this insightful episode of Everyday Conversations on Race with guests Shaniqua McClendon and Justin Grant. Shaniqua, VP of Politics at Crooked Media, and Justin, an executive at JP Morgan Chase, share their personal stories and experiences about the significance of discussing race in society and corporate environments. They also delve into the intricacies of mental, physical and emotional health, especially for Black individuals in corporate America. Listen in to hear their personal stories and how they had to learn and practice self-care strategies for their mental, physical and emotional health. How can developing and being part of a supportive community help maintain healthy blood pressure, prevent heart attacks and build a strong immune system? How does meditation, deep breathing, walking and other exercise reduce stress, and anxiety and support success? Discover practical advice, inspirational stories, and engaging discussions that highlight the importance of community, self-care, and systemic change. The techniques, practices and actions they share as Black people in corporate America should be used by anyone who cares about their own mental, physical and emotional well-being in our society today. Don't miss this thought-provoking conversation and learn how to navigate these critical issues effectively. Get 45% off the Magic Mind bundle or 20% off a one-time purchase with Simma's exclusive link: magicmind.com/SimmaL20 (Support mental health services for the homeless and low-income communities.) 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview 00:41 Meet the Guests: Shaniqua McClendon and Justin Grant 02:15 The Importance of Discussing Race 02:33 Historical Context and Systemic Issues 07:36 Personal Stories: Shaniqua McClendon 11:45 Personal Stories: Justin Grant 15:48 Mental Health and Corporate America 29:15 The Importance of Mental Health Support 30:55 Stigma Around Therapy in the Black Community 32:43 Ethno Therapy and Cultural Considerations 35:15 Navigating Corporate America as a Black Professional 41:42 Strategies for Self-Care and Community Building 52:22 Final Thoughts and Parting Advice Guests Bio: Justin Grant is an accomplished writer, marketer, community development and corporate communications leader with more than a decade of experience leading high-profile campaigns in the asset management and financial services industries. He serves as a mentor to numerous students and young professionals of varying backgrounds, both in the United States and Brazil, and sits on the Board of Trustees at Long Island University, where he has taught journalism. Grant is the author of the new book, “Company Men: A Wellness Guide for Black Men in Corporate America” (Wordeee, Feb. 12, 2025). Links for Justin -- Website LinkedIn Goodreads Amazon Bookshop Shaniqua McClendon is the Vice President of Politics for Crooked Media (home to the popular podcast, Pod Save America), a political strategist and sought-after speaker and commentator on media, politics, voting, and race. At Crooked Media, she leads their political strategy and civic engagement program (Vote Save America), and also created their successful 2020 volunteer engagement and fundraising program Links for Shaniqua -- Website Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Click here to DONATE and support our podcast All donations are tax deductible through Fractured Atlas. Simma Lieberman, The Inclusionist, helps leaders create inclusive cultures. She is a consultant, speaker, and facilitator. Simma is the creator and host of the podcast, Everyday Conversations on Race. Contact Simma@SimmaLieberman.com to get more information, book her as a speaker for your next event, help you become a more inclusive leader, or facilitate dialogues across differences. Go to www.simmalieberman.com and www.raceconvo.com for more information Simma is a member of and inspired by the global organization IAC (Inclusion Allies Coalition) Connect with me: Instagram Facebook YouTube Twitter LinkedIn Tiktok Website Previous Episodes How Racist Competency Checks Prevent Merit-Based Hiring Can Descendants of the Enslaved Reconcile with the Enslavers? Can Individuals Really End Racism? Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating
Send us a textDeeDee Hawk, an incredible psychic medium and team member of Austin's MetaphysicalU takes us on a mesmerizing journey through the unseen world of elementals, spirit communication, and animal telepathy. A healer with Navajo roots, DeeDee shares how her deep connection with nature blossomed into extraordinary psychic gifts.The conversation reveals fascinating insights into how trees communicate, and her descriptions of fairies offer a rare glimpse into this hidden dimension of our natural world. Her approach to spirit communication emphasizes respect, permission-asking, and reciprocity—a framework that has served her well across all her metaphysical work.Ready to discover the elemental beings in your own backyard? Join us for this enchanting conversation that will forever change how you perceive the natural world around you. To learn more or to book a session with Dee Dee:Visit: www.hawkhealinghands.com Follow on InstagramClairvoyaging is now a fiscally sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a 501(c)(3) charity, so any donations are now tax deductible. If you'd like to support our projects that aim to foster understanding for diverse spiritual belief systems, visit www.clairvoyaging.com/support. Support the show-- DONATE to the Clairvoyaging Documentary (it's tax-deductible!)-- SUBSCRIBE in your preferred podcast app! -- Follow @clairvoyagingpodcast on Instagram.-- Send us an email: clairvoyagingpodcast@gmail.com-- Become a Clairvoyager on Patreon and get access to exclusive extras!
Send us a textEver trusted someone who claimed special spiritual insight, only to find yourself feeling manipulated, diminished, or confused afterward? You're not alone. In this personal episode, Lauren and Frank share lessons learned in the raw aftermath of an interview gone wrong with a self-proclaimed psychic business coach who crossed ethical boundaries and targeted their deepest insecurities.What began as a conversation about bringing spirituality into business quickly devolved into an uncomfortable reading that left both hosts questioning themselves. The experience became a powerful catalyst for developing clear spiritual discernment—the ability to distinguish between authentic guidance and predatory tactics.From this difficult experience emerged the Clairvoyaging tenets: sovereignty over obedience, empowerment over dependency, do no harm, and take no shit (with the unofficial fifth tenet: "suck a bag of trash"). These principles serve as guardrails for maintaining personal power while remaining open to spiritual growth and connection.Whether you're navigating psychic readings, spiritual teachers, or self-proclaimed gurus, this episode offers practical wisdom for trusting your intuition and protecting your energy without closing yourself to genuine spiritual expansion. Have you learned to trust your "sacral no" when something feels off? Your journey of discernment and spiritual sovereignty starts here.Clairvoyaging is now a fiscally sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a 501(c)(3) charity, so any donations are now tax deductible. If you'd like to support our projects that aim to foster understanding for diverse spiritual belief systems, visit www.clairvoyaging.com/support. Support the show-- DONATE to the Clairvoyaging Documentary (it's tax-deductible!)-- SUBSCRIBE in your preferred podcast app! -- Follow @clairvoyagingpodcast on Instagram.-- Send us an email: clairvoyagingpodcast@gmail.com-- Become a Clairvoyager on Patreon and get access to exclusive extras!
Send us a textNot every message we receive aligns with our truth. In this episode, we reflect on a recent conversation that challenged us in unexpected ways, highlighting the importance of discernment, intuition, and staying grounded in our own knowing. Join us as we explore the lessons we took from this experience and how we're moving forward with greater clarity.Clairvoyaging is now a fiscally sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a 501(c)(3) charity, so any donations are now tax deductible. If you'd like to support our projects that aim to foster understanding for diverse spiritual belief systems, visit www.clairvoyaging.com/support. Support the show-- DONATE to the Clairvoyaging Documentary (it's tax-deductible!)-- SUBSCRIBE in your preferred podcast app! -- Follow @clairvoyagingpodcast on Instagram.-- Send us an email: clairvoyagingpodcast@gmail.com-- Become a Clairvoyager on Patreon and get access to exclusive extras!
Have you ever felt challenged or questioned because of your race? In this episode of Everyday Conversations on Race, Simma Lieberman welcomes Shari Dunn, author of Qualified: How Competency Checking and Race Collide at Work. Explore how race affects perceptions of competence and the real-world impacts of systemic racism in the workplace. You'll understand how racist competency checks can impede merit-based hiring. With personal anecdotes and historical insights, Shari Dunn sheds light on how people of color, especially Black women, face unfair scrutiny and bias in their professional lives. Discover why it's crucial to talk about race, debunk myths of a colorblind society, and take actionable steps toward creating inclusive work cultures. Tune in for a heartfelt and informative cross-race discussion and hear what we can do to unite and bring people together across differences. Learn more about this important topic and share this episode to help grow the conversation. 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast 00:53 Meet Shari Dunn: Author of 'Qualified' 02:05 Shari Dunn's Varied Career Background 03:19 The Concept of Competency Checking 03:58 The Importance of Discussing Race 04:26 Historical Context and Colorblindness 06:51 Merit-Based Society: Fact or Fiction? 08:39 Personal Experiences and Systemic Barriers 19:40 The Toll of Racism on Health 22:20 Examples of Competency Checking 29:03 The Cost of White Supremacy 30:29 The Exercise: Labels and Leadership 32:13 The Great Man Theory of Leadership 33:56 Imposter Syndrome and Workplace Dynamics 35:13 The Danger of Misplaced Leadership 38:13 White Supremacy's Impact on White People 39:52 Stories of Competency Checking 47:31 The Concept of Whiteness and Blackness 50:51 Actions to Combat Competency Checking 54:14 Conclusion and Contact Information Get 45% off the Magic Mind bundle or 20% off a one-time purchase with Simma's exclusive link: magicmind.com/SimmaL20 (Support mental health services for the homeless and low-income communities.) Guests Bio: Shari Dunn is a polymath, an accomplished journalist, and a former attorney, news anchor, CEO, and university professor. She is an American Leadership Forum Fellow and has been awarded the prestigious Executive of the Year Award in 2018, the 2019 Women of Influence Award (Portland Business Journal), the Associated Press Award for Best Spot News, and the Wisconsin Broadcasting Association Award for Best Morning News Show. Her work has been cited in the Wall Street Journal and quoted in TIME and Fast Company among others. Shari is also a sought-after speaker. She holds a BA in philosophy from Marquette University and a JD from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. Click here to DONATE and support our podcast All donations are tax deductible through Fractured Atlas. Simma Lieberman, The Inclusionist, helps leaders create inclusive cultures. She is a consultant, speaker, and facilitator. Simma is the creator and host of the podcast, Everyday Conversations on Race. Contact Simma@SimmaLieberman.com to get more information, book her as a speaker for your next event, help you become a more inclusive leader, or facilitate dialogues across differences. Go to www.simmalieberman.com and www.raceconvo.com for more information Simma is a member of and inspired by the global organization IAC (Inclusion Allies Coalition) Connect with me: Instagram Facebook YouTube Twitter LinkedIn Tiktok Website Previous Episodes Can Descendants of the Enslaved Reconcile with the Enslavers? Can Individuals Really End Racism? How Can Art Eliminate Racism? Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating
Send us a textWe had an amazing conversation with Sage Lewis, a gifted intuitive who connects with both humans and animals in profound ways. Sage shares her remarkable journey, illuminated by personal experiences that ignited her spiritual path and led her to embrace her intuitive abilities. In this episode, we explore the intricate dynamics of communication between pets and their humans, including how animals convey their fears, anxieties, and even messages from beyond. With warmth and insight, Sage discusses her shamanic practices, offering listeners a window into the spiritual realms where she helps transition both animals and people in hospice care. Listeners will discover practical ways to enhance their connections with their pets, learn how to better understand their needs, and foster deeper empathy in their relationships. As we peel back the layers of intuition and animal communication, the episode proves to be a blend of humor, emotion, and valuable lessons that remind us just how interconnected we are with the animal kingdom. Join us for this enlightening exploration and consider how you might engage more deeply with your own furry companions! Remember to subscribe, share, and leave a review to help spread the word about this transformative episode.Clairvoyaging is now a fiscally sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a 501(c)(3) charity, so any donations are now tax deductible. If you'd like to support our projects that aim to foster understanding for diverse spiritual belief systems, visit www.clairvoyaging.com/support. Support the show-- DONATE to the Clairvoyaging Documentary (it's tax-deductible!)-- SUBSCRIBE in your preferred podcast app! -- Follow @clairvoyagingpodcast on Instagram.-- Send us an email: clairvoyagingpodcast@gmail.com-- Become a Clairvoyager on Patreon and get access to exclusive extras!
Send us a textIn this episode, we talked with Kelsey Anderson, a gifted intuitive energy healer who transitioned from the corporate world to spiritual healing. Kelsey shares her profound journey, one that led her to rediscover her intuitive powers and embrace her true self. Throughout our conversation, we explore the challenges she faced, the pivotal moments that triggered her awakening, and the unique healing modalities she now incorporates into her practice.Kelsey's approach is deeply intuitive and fluid, allowing her to tailor her offerings to meet the needs of those she works with. She emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with one's inner voice and nurturing it amidst life's distractions. By encouraging self-exploration through journaling, meditating, and listening to intuition, Kelsey encourages practical tools to find your own path of healing.We discuss how societal pressures often lead individuals away from alignment with their true purposes, emphasizing the necessity of personal empowerment to break free from conformity. Kelsey's insights resonate with anyone seeking clarity and alignment in their lives. To work with Kelsey or learn more about her:Visit: www.kelseyandersonintuitive.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/kelseyandersonintuitiveClairvoyaging is now a fiscally sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a 501(c)(3) charity, so any donations are now tax deductible. If you'd like to support our projects that aim to foster understanding for diverse spiritual belief systems, visit www.clairvoyaging.com/support. Heart to Heart Parents: Mindful Tools for Raising Spiritual and Conscious KidsMindful tools for raising gifted, spiritual, and sensitive kids with heart-led parenting.Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show-- DONATE to the Clairvoyaging Documentary (it's tax-deductible!)-- SUBSCRIBE in your preferred podcast app! -- Follow @clairvoyagingpodcast on Instagram.-- Send us an email: clairvoyagingpodcast@gmail.com-- Become a Clairvoyager and get access to exclusive extras!Looking to book a distance Reiki session with Lauren?https://www.hellolaurenleon.com/
Music may come from the imagination – but there must be funding if anyone is ever going to hear it. Bill and Jeff have an honest conversation about the money that makes music heard. They discuss the importance of creating a community of supporters who support the music-making, especially for the recordings of Presbybop Music. A special shout-out to Fractured Atlas, our fiscal sponsor. They make donations possible for our work.Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton© Presbybop Music.Support the show
Magic Mind Bundle: Get 45% off the Magic Mind bundle with Simma's exclusive link: https://magicmind.com/SimmaLJAN (Support mental health services for the homeless and low-income communities) Are you ready to explore the challenging topics of race and reconciliation? In this episode of 'Everyday Conversations on Race,' hosted by Simma Lieberman, we dive deep into the initiatives of the Descendants Truth and Reconciliation Foundation. Guests Monique Trusclair Maddox and Fr. Tim Kesicki, SJ, share their compelling stories and the foundation's mission to address the historical injustices of Jesuit-owned enslavement at Georgetown University. Discover how the foundation's work—ranging from educational scholarships to elder care and racial healing programs—aims to reduce racial tensions and promote a more just and equitable future. Tune in for an enlightening conversation on historical accountability and the ongoing journey towards racial equity. 01:00 Introducing Today's Guests 03:13 Monique's Story: Discovering Her Ancestry 07:04 Father Tim's Perspective and Historical Context 18:11 Addressing Racial Tensions and Self-Care 20:36 The Work of the Descendants Truth and Reconciliation Foundation 28:43 The Importance of Truth and Reconciliation 29:01 Building Relationships and Generational Knowledge 29:29 The Foundation's Pillars and Initiatives 31:31 Historical Context of the 1838 Sale 33:42 Addressing Specific Needs and Equity 35:26 Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation 38:14 Personal Reflections and Proximity 45:18 The Role of the Church in Addressing Racism 46:44 Formation of the Descendants Association 52:15 Conclusion and Further Resources Guests Bio: Father Timothy P. Kesicki, S.J., is the President of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Jesuit Conference promotes common goals and oversees international projects for the Society of Jesus. As Conference President, Fr. Kesicki works with the Jesuit Provincials of the United States and Canada in implementing programs, represents the Conference internationally and serves as the religious superior of the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry and the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University in Berkeley, California. He serves on the boards of Jesuit Refugee Service/USA and America Magazine. Monique Trusclair Maddox is the CEO of the Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Foundation as well as chair of the board of directors. She is a fifth- and sixth-generation granddaughter of Isaac Hawkins and a fourth-generation granddaughter of Nace Butler, two of the 272 men, women, and children who were enslaved by the Maryland Jesuits and eventually sold in 1838 in an effort to save Georgetown University from financial ruin. Click here to DONATE and support our podcast All donations are tax deductible through Fractured Atlas. Simma Lieberman, The Inclusionist helps leaders create inclusive cultures. She is a consultant, speaker, and facilitator. Simma is the creator and host of the podcast, “Everyday Conversations on Race.” Contact Simma@SimmaLieberman.com to get more information, book her as a speaker for your next event, help you become a more inclusive leader, or facilitate dialogues across differences. Go to www.simmalieberman.com and www.raceconvo.com for more information Simma is a member of and inspired by the global organization IAC (Inclusion Allies Coalition) Connect with me: Instagram Facebook YouTube Twitter LinkedIn Tiktok Website Previous Episodes Can Individuals Really End Racism? How Can Art Eliminate Racism? Growing Up Biracial in a White World: Desiree Chang's Journey of Identity and Race Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating
Summary: In this episode of Everyday Conversations on Race, Simma Lieberman is joined by Dr. Joe-Joe McManus and Juan Lopez, two individuals who share their experiences and insights into anti-racism and building true, meaningful interracial relationships. The conversation focuses on the importance of talking about race, the difference between being "non-racist" and "anti-racist," and how everyone can take small actions to fight racism. The episode highlights the need for intentional relationships across cultures and races, the significance of sharing personal stories, and the long-term process of working together to advance freedom and dismantle racism. What can you do today to actively challenge racism in your own life? Keep listening to discover how small, intentional actions can make a difference. Show Notes: [00:00] Introduction Simma introduces her guests, Dr. Jojo McManus, an anti-racist educator and diversity and inclusion practitioner, and Juan Lopez, a consultant focused on leadership, organizational development, and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion). The trio shares their personal connections and the powerful community they're part of, which focuses on building interracial, multicultural, and interfaith communities. [04:30] Why It's Important to Talk About Race Simma asks Jojo and Juan if it's still important to talk about race in a world that sometimes claims we are "post-racial." Jojo and Juan explain how racism is alive and resurging and why ongoing conversations about race and racism are crucial. [08:15] The Founding of Diversity 2000 (D2K) Juan shares how he co-founded the Diversity 2000 (D2K) community in 1993, a group designed to bring diversity professionals together to collaborate rather than compete. This community has grown into a 32-year-long initiative supporting DEI professionals globally. [14:00] The Importance of Real Interactions The discussion turns to the value of truly interacting with people who are different from us, not just having "diverse friends." Jojo and Simma emphasize that building anti-racist habits involves more than just proximity—it requires intentional relationships and actions. [20:30] Jojo's Book: A Brother's Insight Jojo discusses his book, A Brother's Insight: Guidance on Defeating Racism and Advancing Freedom. He shares how the book was inspired by the death of his brother and the powerful lessons he's learned about racism, systemic oppression, and the importance of being actively anti-racist. [26:00] Small Actions Against Racism Jojo and Juan discuss small, intentional actions that can make a difference in fighting racism—like inviting someone different to join your group or calling out racism when you see it. Simma highlights how these actions can become part of your daily life when anti-racism is treated as a core value. [31:00] The Complexity of Racism and Mental Health The conversation touches on how racism impacts mental health, including how internalized racism can affect communities. Jojo talks about how his brother's death, which was influenced by racism, deeply shaped his work in anti-racism. [36:00] The Importance of Self-Care in the Fight Against Racism Simma and her guests discuss the importance of self-care to prevent burnout, especially when doing the long, hard work of anti-racism. Simma shares how she uses Magic Mind, an elixir designed to reduce stress, improve cognition, and support mental health. [39:00] Taking Action and Creating Change Jojo emphasizes that everyone's voice has the power to make a difference in the fight against racism. Whether it's through lending your talent or raising your voice, each person can contribute to making the world more just. [42:30] Closing Remarks and Call to Action The episode wraps up with Simma encouraging listeners to continue the conversation and engage in meaningful action against racism. She reminds everyone of the importance of real relationships and community in this ongoing journey. Resources: ● Magic Mind Bundle: Get 45% off the Magic Mind bundle with Simma's exclusive link: magicmind.com/SimmaLJAN (Support mental health services for the homeless and low-income communities). ● Book: A Brother's Insight: Guidance on Defeating Racism and Advancing Freedom by Dr. Jojo McManus is available online and in local bookstores. ________________________________________ The episode provides actionable ways to learn from, interact with, and support people from different races, ethnicities, and cultures. Listeners are encouraged to move beyond passive support and take small, meaningful steps to stand against racism in their everyday lives. Guests Bio: Dr. Joe-Joe McManus serves as an Executive Advisor on antiracism and inclusive excellence. He consults, writes, and speaks widely on topics at the intersections of antiracism, diversity and inclusion, and leadership development. His new book, A Brother's Insight, offers guidance on living an impactful antiracist life. Over the past three decades, Dr. Joe-Joe's work has been largely behind the scenes, focused on developing programs and policy, and advising leaders on promoting systemic change toward inclusive excellence. McManus has held faculty, staff, and executive roles in higher education, including Chief Diversity Officer. He has served at an HBCU, an international university, an Ivy League institution, and at the university system level. He has also lectured, served on panels, presented, and consulted across the U.S. and internationally for more than three decades. Mr. Juan Lopez co-founded Amistad Associates in 1982 in Oakland, California, with Ms. Giselle Sanchez and a small group of human resource professionals who were working with non-profits, educational institutions and government. In 1987, Mr. Lopez became the CEO of Amistad Associates. In 1988, Amistad Associates relocated to Sebastopol, California. Juan was the primary consultant for Johnson and Johnson's Global Multicultural Leadership Program for eight years. In this role he was responsible for designing organizational leadership competencies, using 360's for professional development, mentoring and developing career strategies for fast track advancement. He worked closely with executive management to evaluate and track progress. His program was recognized nationally and was benchmarked as a best in the field model. Mr. Lopez was a member of the Global Diversity and Inclusion Governance Council with PepsiCo for 5 years and his role was to focus on strategic insight on diversity management, organizational change, leadership development and innovation. Click here to DONATE and support our podcast All donations are tax deductible through Fractured Atlas. Simma Lieberman, The Inclusionist helps leaders create inclusive cultures. She is a consultant, speaker, and facilitator. Simma is the creator and host of the podcast, “Everyday Conversations on Race.” Contact Simma@SimmaLieberman.com to get more information, book her as a speaker for your next event, help you become a more inclusive leader, or facilitate dialogues across differences. Go to www.simmalieberman.com and www.raceconvo.com for more information Simma is a member of and inspired by the global organization IAC (Inclusion Allies Coalition) Connect with me: Instagram Facebook YouTube Twitter LinkedIn Tiktok Website Previous Episodes How Can Art Eliminate Racism? Growing Up Biracial in a White World: Desiree Chang's Journey of Identity and Race Will Music Transcend Racial Divides? Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating
Hey fuckbuddies! It's a little amuse bouche from your fab fat besties! We've been busy getting Maiden Mother Crone ready for its off-Broadway run, but we're here to invite you to play with us this Sunday, January 19th, for some riotously fun Jackbox Games! If that doesn't work for you, you can always donate to our Fractured Atlas, or come to the show this February at The Flea!
In this exciting episode of Everyday Conversations on Race, host Simma Lieberman brings together Karen Waukazoo, a Rosebud Sioux tribe member and advocate for American Indians, and Jennifer Ngure, a Kenyan-born wellness coach, to discuss the profound ways culture connects and heals communities. Karen and Jennifer share their personal journeys of overcoming addiction, mental health challenges, and cultural shocks. They reveal surprising commonalities between Native American and Kenyan cultures, emphasizing the importance of community, traditional healing practices, and the role of cultural festivals. Tune in to learn how these two diverse backgrounds converge in their mission to foster resilience and well-being. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introductions 01:37 Karen Waukazu's Journey and Cultural Advocacy 08:05 Jennifer Ngure's Story and Wellness Advocacy 15:00 Cultural Healing and Community Importance 18:48 Challenges and Similarities in Cultural Practices 26:33 Youth Leadership and Cultural Revival 28:40 Connecting Cultures and Shared Experiences 31:02 Understanding the Mission District 32:12 Exploring Carnival and Its Origins 33:38 The Importance of Cultural Awareness 34:50 Personal Experiences with Cultural Differences 40:54 Challenges and Support in Immigrant Communities 44:46 Addressing Mental Health and Substance Abuse 47:42 The Issue of Missing Persons 51:54 Final Thoughts and Recommendations Guests Bio: Karen Waukazoo (Lakota) is the Interim Project Director of the CRDP Project at Friendship House. Influenced by her parents' dedication to the Native American Health Center and the Friendship House Association of American Indians programs and the local community, she chose to follow in their footsteps by serving the Bay Area's American Indian population in her own way. Knowledgeable of both sides of treatment and recovery, Karen has worked in many capacities at the Friendship House program – from a youth volunteer, to the Director of the Oakland Lodge Program, Intake Coordinator to her current position. In her over 15 years of service, she has made it her goal to advocate for quality treatment services for American Indian men, women and children affected by substance abuse and alcoholism. Respect and compassion, as well as knowledge all remaining at the forefront. Jennifer is a seasoned wellness coach, registered nurse, and advocate for culturally informed self-care, with over 18 years of experience in the healthcare field. As the founder of Nimo Wellness LLC based in Boston, she dedicates her work to empowering middle-aged women in the African diaspora as they navigate pivotal life transitions. Born and raised in Kenya, Jennifer brings a unique blend of medical expertise and cultural heritage to her practice, helping women manage stress, build resilience, and reconnect with their true selves. Her signature programs, including the RenewHER Essence Wellness Retreat, dynamic workshops, and the forthcoming Mid-Life Transitions Coaching Program, are designed to create inclusive, nurturing spaces where women feel seen, heard, and supported. Jennifer's holistic, evidence-based approach celebrates the richness of cultural identity and community, promoting emotional, mental, and social well-being. Click here to DONATE and support our podcast All donations are tax deductible through Fractured Atlas. Simma Lieberman, The Inclusionist helps leaders create inclusive cultures. She is a consultant, speaker, and facilitator. Simma is the creator and host of the podcast, “Everyday Conversations on Race.” Contact Simma@SimmaLieberman.com to get more information, book her as a speaker for your next event, help you become a more inclusive leader, or facilitate dialogues across differences. Go to www.simmalieberman.com and www.raceconvo.com for more information Simma is a member of and inspired by the global organization IAC (Inclusion Allies Coalition) Connect with me: Instagram Facebook YouTube Twitter LinkedIn Tiktok Website Previous Episodes Breaking Bias with Anu Gupta How Can Art Eliminate Racism? Growing Up Biracial in a White World: Desiree Chang's Journey of Identity and Race Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating
Video link: https://youtu.be/Ovl9HbcTuUIThis is a discussion about the documentary 'City of Joel', with the filmmaker Jesse Sweet. It's a documentary about a turf war in the insular Hasidic Village of Kiryas Joel. Kiryas Joel is a Satmar village in Orange County New York, and it's where I lived for the first twenty-five years of my life. The documentary includes amazing footage of the village I grew up in, with shots of several very close male contacts. It was a fun experience to watch it and to discuss the film with the filmmaker.Click here for the City of Joel documentary: https://amzn.to/4fsl5NSAnd here is Jesse's latest project, Nature of the Crime: https://www.docnyc.net/film/nature-of-the-crime/Please consider supporting my work by making a tax-deductible donation through Fractured Atlas fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/frieda-vizel-brooklyn-youtube-channel or sending a contribution via Paypal: paypal.com/paypalme/friedavizel This helps me to continue to bring to you more Jewish content, which requires a considerable investment on my part.
In this conversation on race, Anu Gupta talks about race, bias, and solutions. Anu Gupta thinks we are all biased, and that we all need to be "Breaking Bias," every day. In this episode, he shares his story of how other people's bias almost caused him to take his life. Anu Gupta is a renowned meditation teacher, human rights lawyer, scientist, and author of the book "Breaking Bias.'" The discussion centers around the profound impact of biases, including Anu's personal experiences with racial 'othering' and post-9/11 Islamophobia, which led to his severe mental health struggles. He introduces the PRISM framework (Perspective-taking, Prosocial behavior, Individuation, Stereotype replacement, and Mindfulness) as a set of tools for fostering systemic change and understanding. Anu's initiative, Be More With Anu, and his call to action for greater awareness and inclusive practices highlight the steps people can take to break through their biases. Our society is experiencing a mental health crisis where too many people are "othered" because of skin color, and other differences and feel like they don't belong. By "Breaking Bias," we can increase empathy, connection, and reduce fear of differences. Listen to this episode or watch it on YouTube, but don't miss this conversation on race. 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview 01:06 Guest Introduction: Anu Gupta 02:18 The Importance of Discussing Race 04:39 Anu Gupta's Personal Journey 10:57 Understanding Bias and Its Impact 27:35 The Prism Toolkit for Reducing Bias 33:49 Understanding Systemic Racial Issues in Policing 34:58 The Historical Roots of Racial Bias 36:53 Kamala Harris and the Intersection of Bias 40:39 Introducing PRISM: A Toolkit for Bias Reduction 43:57 Personal Stories of Overcoming Bias 46:37 Engaging in Conversations About Bias 54:47 Final Thoughts and Resources Guests Bio: Anu Gupta is an educator, lawyer, scientist, and the founder and CEO of BE MORE with Anu, an education technology benefit corporation that trains professionals across corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors to advance DEIB and wellness by breaking bias. His work has reached 300+ organizations training more than 80,000 professionals impacting over 30 million lives. As a gay immigrant of color, he came to the work of breaking bias after almost ending his life due to lifelong experiences with racism, homophobia, and Islamophobia. The realization that bias can be unlearned helped lead him out of that dark point and inspired a lifelong mission to build a global movement for social healing based on principles of mindfulness and compassion. A peer-reviewed author, he has written and spoken extensively, including on the TED stage, the Oprah Conversation, Fast Company, Newsweek, and Vogue Business. Click here to DONATE and support our podcast All donations are tax deductible through Fractured Atlas. Simma Lieberman, The Inclusionist helps leaders create inclusive cultures. She is a consultant, speaker, and facilitator. Simma is the creator and host of the podcast, “Everyday Conversations on Race.” Contact Simma@SimmaLieberman.com to get more information, book her as a speaker for your next event, help you become a more inclusive leader, or facilitate dialogues across differences. Go to www.simmalieberman.com and www.raceconvo.com for more information Simma is a member of and inspired by the global organization IAC (Inclusion Allies Coalition) Connect with me: Instagram Facebook YouTube Twitter LinkedIn Tiktok Website Previous Episodes How Can Art Eliminate Racism? Growing Up Biracial in a White World: Desiree Chang's Journey of Identity and Race Will Music Transcend Racial Divides? Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating
We're releasing this magical episode again to remind our steady listeners and to engage our new listeners around the amazing songs and monologues we call Elderland.When this episode was initially published, things were looking good and we thought we were on our way to a 2023 presentation of Elderland, but we encountered so many obstacles along the way that a year has passed and it hasn't happened yet...but it WILL!Dan Martin and Michael Biello are committed to creating something beautiful to share with the world but we need your help! We are fundraising for the project and we could really use all hands on deck!Here's the link to making contributions to ELDERLAND via the non-profit umbrella,Fractured Atlas: https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/elderlandEnjoy this episode, and then would you please share share share?! With so much gratitude, Rachael and Elizabeth
February 29, 2024 In honor of the 2024 Black History Month theme of African Americans and The Arts, Vernon interviews Lauren Ruffin, Director and Lead Strategist of the Art Program at Michigan Central. Vernon and Lauren will discuss her cooperative journey, and her feelings about how "African Americans and The Arts" impacts lives and history. Lauren Ruffin is Director and Lead Strategist of the Art Program at Michigan Central, a 32-acre Innovation Campus in the heart of Detroit. She is also Associate Professor of Worldbuilding and Visualizing Futures at Arizona State University where she explores the unprecedented and rapid political and social changes taking place in every facet of our lives, largely due to advances in technology. Her research centers on the best practices organizations and companies should embed to ensure that their platforms are safe, equitable, profitable, and joyful for all users, and particularly users from Black and Indigenous, disabled, and queer communities. Prior to these roles, Lauren co-founded CRUX, an immersive storytelling cooperative that collaborates with Black artists as they create content in virtual reality and augmented reality (XR). She also served as co-CEO of Fractured Atlas, the largest association of independent artists in the United States. In 2017, she started Artist Campaign School, a new educational program that has trained 74 artists to run for political office to date. Lauren has served on the governing boards of Black Innovation Alliance, Black Girls Code, and Main Street Phoenix Cooperative; and is on the advisory boards of ArtUp and Black Girl Ventures. She graduated from Mount Holyoke College with a degree in Political Science and obtained a J.D. from the Howard University School of Law.
In this episode of Transposition, poet and playwright Zachary Guerra sits down with host Laura Rensing and Experimental Editor Rebecca Luxton. Zachary's experimental piece “What Are You Looking for?” was published in our Vol. VII: “Flux” issue (2022). In this discussion, we explore how online communities, such as Reddit, have become vital spaces for individuals to connect, share stories, and find solace amidst their grief. From subreddits dedicated to supporting individuals coping with loss to niche communities like those for cat owners taking care of cats with kidney disease, the internet has facilitated unprecedented avenues for collective mourning and support. As traditional forms of mourning adapt to online platforms, questions arise about the future of literature and its capacity to capture the essence of loss in an increasingly digitized world. We hope you'll enjoy! About Zachary Guerra Zachary C. Guerra is a poet and playwright from Berkley, Michigan. His work, "What Are You Looking For" was featured in Exposition Review's 'Flux' issue and is a 2022 'Best of the Net' nominee. His play 'Captcha' will be premiering November 4th at The Soop to Nuts Short Play Festival. His poem 'This is It' will be featured in the upcoming edition of Filter Coffee Zine. About Rebecca Luxton Rebecca Luxton is the Experimental Editor of Exposition Review and worked on the Southern California Review while completing her Master of Professional Writing at the University of Southern California. Now she's a marketing professional with a love for all things experimental. Favorite authors: a rotating cast that currently includes Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Mary Gaitskill, Stephen King, and the late Joe Frank for his exceptional radio storytelling work. Follow her on Instagram at @what_even.jpg. Help us spread the word! Download, review and subscribe to Transposition. Thank you to Mitchell Evenson for intro and outro music, and the generous donations from our supporters that allow us to pay our authors. Exposition Review is a fiscally sponsored project of Fractured Atlas.Transposition is the official podcast of Exposition Review literary journal. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/exposition-review/support
In this episode of Transposition, poet and artist Meg Reynolds is joined in conversation with host Laura Rensing and Visual Art Editor Brianna J.L. Smyk. Meg's comics “Placenta”, “Stay”, and “Synesthesia” were published in our Vol. VII: “Flux” issue (2022). Art, comics, poetry, and everything in between is explored as Meg shares how these pieces were a departure from her typical work, how speed was of the essence, and why motherhood has become her new literary obsession. About Meg Reynolds - Meg Reynolds is a poet, artist, and teacher from New England. An instructor in writing and humanities at Vermont Adult Learning in Burlington, her work has been published in a number of literary journals including Mid-American Review, RHINO, The Offing, Iterant, Prairie Schooner, New England Review and the Kenyon Review. A graduate of the Stonecoast MFA program, her poetry and comic work has been twice nominated for the Pushcart Prize and once for Best the Net. Her first collection of poetry comics, A Comic Year, was published in October 2021 from Finishing Line Press. Her second collection, Does the Earth, was published in May 2023 from Harpoon Books. Reynolds also serves on the Board of Sundog Poetry, a nonprofit organization committed to providing and expanding poetry programming for all Vermonters. Website: https://www.megreynoldspoetry.com/ Comic Year (2021): https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-comic-year-meg-reynolds/17679515?ean=9781646626540 Does The Earth: https://bookshop.org/p/books/does-the-earth-meg-reynolds/20077291?ean=9798218185299 About Brianna J.L. Smyk: Brianna J.L. Smyk is on the editorial board of Exposition Review, and has served multiple roles within the journal including founding co-Editor-in-Chief, social media manager, and Visual Art, Comics, and Experimental Narratives Editor. She is an art and communication consultant who holds a Master of Professional Writing (MPW/MFA) degree from the University of Southern California and a Master of Arts in Art History from San Diego State University. Her short fiction has been published or is forthcoming in The Human Touch Journal, Drunk Monkeys, The Same and FORTH. Find out more about Brianna on X (formerly Twitter): @briannasmyk. Correction: During the recording, we refer to one of Meg's professors as Amanda Johnson, but her name is Pamela Johnson. Help us spread the word! Download, review and subscribe to Transposition. Thank you to Mitchell Evenson for intro and outro music, and the generous donations from our supporters that allow us to pay our authors. Exposition Review is a fiscally sponsored project of Fractured Atlas. Transposition is the official podcast of Exposition Review literary journal. Producer: Mitchell Evenson Producer: Lauren Gorski Intro Music by Mitchell EvensonCreated & Hosted by Laura Rensing --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/exposition-review/support
In this episode of Transposition, Nonfiction editor Ramona Pilar joins in to interview author Lori Yeghiayan Friedman whose piece “How to Survive a Genocide” was published in our Vol V: Act/Break issue (2020). The Transposition Pod team dives into themes of Lori's essay which include building identity & finding one's voice as a First Generation child of Armenian immigrants, and the intimate & unique ways people who are raised in Los Angeles get to know Los Angeles. They also explore the “creative” aspects of creative nonfiction craft including: hermit crab essays, flash nonfiction favorites, and what to do when one gets bored with one's own writing (hint: there's a party involved). About Lori Yeghiayan Friedman: Lori Yeghiayan Friedman's creative nonfiction and essays have most recently appeared in Pithead Chapel, Hippocampus Magazine, Bending Genres, Autofocus Lit, Memoir Monthly and the Los Angeles Times. "How to Survive a Genocide" appeared in Exposition Review's 2020 Act/Break issue and was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Lori has a BA and an MFA in Theatre, both from the University of California, San Diego. Follow her on Twitter: @loriyeg Los Angeles Times essay: “Finding in Little Armenia the roots my parents tried to bury” Links to other work: https://linktr.ee/loriyeg About Ramona Pilar: Ramona Pilar's artistic career spans two centuries (technically). California-born & L.A.-raised, she is a story-diviner who produces prose, plays, songs, and amalgamations. She is the current Creative Nonfiction Editor at Exposition Review, lead singer of The Raveens, and holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University, Los Angeles. Her favorite word is, “why?” Help us spread the word! Please download, review, and subscribe to Transposition. Thank you to Mitchell Evenson for intro and outro music, and the generous donations from our supporters that allow us to pay our authors. Exposition Review is a fiscally sponsored project of Fractured Atlas. Transposition is the official podcast of Exposition Review literary journal. Producer: Mitchell Evenson Producer: Lauren Gorski Intro Music by Mitchell EvensonHosted by Laura Rensing --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/exposition-review/support
I had the pleasure of meeting Teri Wellbrock a few weeks ago and almost at once asked her to be a guest on Unstoppable Mindset. As with all our guests I asked her for a biography. What I received was a story about a woman who, from the age of four years old, experienced a variety of sexual and physical abuses and later was clearly in the wrong place at the wrong time as she experienced two bank robberies. In both robbery cases her life was in danger from gun-toting robbers. She will tell us all about her early life. More important, Teri will discuss how she was able to overcome her early life and become a successful psychologist whose main goal in life is to help others. She has a great deal of experience in dealing with emotional trauma and healing. We will talk about some of the techniques she uses and which were utilized to help her. Teri is a wonderful and engaging person. I am sure you will find her worth hearing. You also can seek out her podcast which she discusses near the end of our episode. About the Guest: Teri Wellbrock is a trauma warrior, having survived and thrived after learning to cope with her C-PTSD symptoms and 25 years of severe panic attacks by utilizing EMDR therapy, personal research and learned coping skills along with a foundation of faith and positivity. She is currently writing a book, Unicorn Shadows: From Trauma to Triumph – A Healing Guide, about her multiple traumas, with the intent to help others reach their own joyous and peaceful existence via her “story of hope”. She also speaks publicly about her triumph over trauma, including guest appearances on Healing from Grief and Loss online summit and Avaiya University's Overcoming PTSD online event. Teri is mom to three beautiful children (ages 29, 27, and 17); graduated magna cum laude from the University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology; has written a children's book, The Doodle with the Noodle, with her daughter, about their Therapy Dog, Sammie the Labradoodle; has created the Sammie's Bundles of Hope project (bags filled with trinkets of hope donated to children with trauma history); and is producer and host of The Healing Place Podcast on iTunes, Pandora, Spotify, YouTube, iHeartRadio and many more audio outlets (now downloaded in 125 countries and ranked in the TOP 2% globally out of 3.1 million shows). She maintains a blog at www.unicornshadows.com and writes a monthly Hope for Healing Newsletter. Teri's professional history includes sales, managing, teaching, and case management with a mental health agency. Her life p urpose is to make a positive difference in the lives of others and shine a light of hope into dark spaces. Ways to connect with Teri: WEBSITE www.teriwellbrock.com www.unicornshadows.com FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/TheHealingPlacePodcast/ LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/teri-wellbrock/ About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us. Michael Hingson ** 01:22 Well, greetings all once again. It is time for unstoppable mindset. I'm your host, Mike Hingston. And today we get to have a lovely conversation with Teri. Wellbrock. Teri has a great story to tell. And she talks about C PTSD and other things. And I'm anxious to learn about that, but just anxious to really get to know Teri better. So we'll jump right into it. And Teri, welcome to unstoppable mindset. We're really glad you're here. Teri Wellbrock ** 01:50 Oh my gosh, thank you so much for having me. I'm very excited to be here. And yeah, I'm, I've loved our conversations that we've had beforehand. And we were laughing so hard at finding movies that we love and yeah, it's gonna be great competition. Michael Hingson ** 02:05 Yeah, still not too much better than Young Frankenstein. But, you know, it's 02:09 still one of my all time Michael Hingson ** 02:13 I have yet to find somebody who remembers though, when when I start to talk with them. When I say Dr. Franken stone. They don't say that's Frankenstein. Right. Of course, if they did that, then I go. So it's Frederick Frankenstein. Yes. And you must be Igor. No, it's I go, I go. I spelled it Igor. Are they going to Rome and didn't they? Oh, Mel Brooks. Teri Wellbrock ** 02:46 Yes. Oh my gosh. Again. I love Madeline Kahn, Madeline Michael Hingson ** 02:49 Kahn. Well, Madeline Kahn. Leachman, Terry gar all of that crowd Marty Feldman. Yes, Gene Wilder all of them. What a group Well, anyway, we're really glad you're here and well, thanks. We can talk about them on another podcast and take a whole hour and have a lot of fights right quote the whole movie and that's it. Yeah, we could just do it you know. I can take care of that hump. What what Teri Wellbrock ** 03:22 you're gonna hear me snort laughing here. Michael Hingson ** 03:26 Well, tell us a little bit about kind of the earlier Teri the young Teri and all that how you started out and kind of stuff. Teri Wellbrock ** 03:34 Yeah, all that fun stuff. So when I when I stand on stages, or when a microphone in my hand and give presentations, I say I always start with my my trauma story, because I want to paint the picture of what I had gone through, but then I get to the happy and hopeful part. So so my early life my first 22 years of life are filled with horrific trauma. And I will gladly share I don't have a problem sharing the not gory details, but just a quick painted picture. When I was for an intoxicated parent attempted to drown me and my sister in a bathtub. When I was five, I was sexually molested by a 16 year old neighbor. When I was nine, I was sexually molested by a 19 year old neighbor when my mom sent me to borrow a can of soup. When I was 14, I was sexually accosted by a religious education director. I worked in the evenings for priests in our parish, and he was he was there and that evening, when I was 16 lost my virginity to date rape. Later that same year I was attacked by a gang downtown Cincinnati and sexually accosted later when I was 17, a police officer involved in that investigation asked my parents if he could take me to dinner to celebrate the convictions for that gang attack and my parents were like, Oh, he's a police officer, of course. But he did not take me to dinner. He took me back to his apartment where he attempted to rape me. 21 I was involved in a bank robbery a gun was held to my head and my coworker was stabbed three times with a hunting knife. I switched to our main office where my 19 year old sister worked. And three months later, the same assailants who had not been caught, would come back only this time, would pull the trigger and murder my coworker. I had run from the back of the bank and came face to face with an armed the second armed assailant, and he pointed his Luger at me, but the gun misfired and my life was yet again spared. My dad was physically abusive during the first 10 years of my life. So my life, those first 22 years were filled with chaos. And I after that second bank robbery started to have horrific panic attacks, and not understanding the impact of trauma on the body, particularly for children and not being able to process trauma. And so really spent the next 25 years trying to figure out how to survive and live in this. The destruction that had happened during those early years of my life. And then on 2013 stepped onto the healing path and everything changed. So that was a. Michael Hingson ** 06:28 And as I recall, your sister was actually at the desk where your co worker was killed, but she had just gone away for a break or something. Yes, Teri Wellbrock ** 06:39 she had just asked to go on break. And the arm the gunman came in firing into the ceiling. And my sister dove under a desk. She was just walking away. And the young lady that was murdered was the one that took my sister's place on the teller line. Yeah. Michael Hingson ** 06:57 So how is your sister cope with all that? Teri Wellbrock ** 07:01 We talk quite often about how we come out, okay. You know, we say sane, and then we giggle and laugh about it. Because, you know, there's those moments we don't feel so sad. But neither of us are alcoholics. I mean, our mom was an alcoholic favorite. Neither of us turned to drugs and alcohol to cope. We, we have both done a lot of therapy and a lot of healing work. You know, I've done alternative healing, like EFT, tapping and mindfulness and meditation. And so a tremendous amount of it comes across my radar, I'm going to give it a whirl and see if it helps me along my journey. So my sister is very similar. She's certainly done a tremendous amount of healing. And she is a phenomenal artist. And so her, she releases and processes a lot through her artistry, and it's just such a gift. Michael Hingson ** 08:04 Well, yeah, that's an awful lot for anyone to go through. And I'm sitting here kind of saying to myself, and all I had to do was to get out of the World Trade Center on September 11. And my gosh, look at what you've done. It's not just been one time, but it's just been challenge after challenge. And you've obviously gone through it and been pretty successful what really turned it around, Teri Wellbrock ** 08:30 I would say my degrees in psychology. So after the second bank robbery, if you get married, had kiddos and I decided I really want to go back to school. I had gone for a year and a half and then dropped out of college. But this time I want to go and get my degree in psychology and understand. I still didn't understand trauma still didn't you know, that wasn't on the radar yet. But I wanted to understand. My mom had been through two bank robberies, and why Why was she handling it different? She didn't have panic attacks, what was going on. So I went back to school got a degree in psychology, which eventually led me to work in a mental health agency and through the school systems, and I was working with some kiddos again back in 2012 2013. And we were doing things like Kid yoga and art therapy to work through feelings that were coming up. We were doing bullying work we were doing so a lot of those things. And it was like this. I don't call it no fear. It's an angel whisper an aha moment, whatever it was, but it was just like the light bulb went off. And I remember being at home and thinking, holy moly, this stuff is helping me. And I realized in that moment like I was working with these kids, that really Little Teri's like little me was still inside there going, I need this, I need this. And so I ended up reaching out to a counselor and saying I need help with this. And after a few sessions, I think she realized that it was beyond her abilities. And she said, Teri, have you ever considered EMDR therapy and I was like, What the heck is EMDR Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. So it's a therapy that was developed by Dr. Shapiro, and she was working with soldiers returning from war. And realize that during therapy sessions, she would notice that their eyes were moving back and forth similar to REM sleep. And they were processing. The trauma is similar that we do with our, again, in REM sleep when we're dreaming. And so she developed this process where those who have been through traumas can either look at a light bar and have their eyes go back and forth, or hold on to vibrational paddles, which I did, I kept my eyes closed, because I found I was too distracted peripherally. But if I kept my eyes closed, I could hold these paddles, and they would vibrate, left right legs, back and forth, and my hand and it would create the same movement in my eyes. And and then I was able to return into traumatic events. So we would specifically go back to the first bank robbery or an event that had happened, and I would allow body memories to come back or visuals to come back whatever it was, that would surface. And then slowly, slowly, slowly over four years, 98 sessions we processed. So much of that trauma. Yeah. Michael Hingson ** 12:09 Interesting. I, I'm sort of sitting here going to myself, I wonder how that would work with a blind person. But I guess with the vibrating paddles, because we don't, especially blind from birth, eye movements are pretty foreign to me, but I know that they're there. So it would be interesting to explore that someday, Teri Wellbrock ** 12:28 I still was thinking it is it was coming out of my mouth. I thought, oh my gosh, I wonder if they've ever done EMDR with someone who's blind? Because do blind people? Did the eyes move during REM sleep is one? Michael Hingson ** 12:42 Oh, sure. I'm sure they do. You know, dreaming is dreaming. And with dreaming, we use the sensations and the senses that we have. But I think REM sleep is something that is common to everyone. So I am sure that that it would be and that it is I have never awake to know whether I exhibit it, but I'm sure it does. I would be really surprised if it if it's not. What I don't learn to do is to have control over eye movements. And maybe that's why it's not an issue, it'd be the same thing. Blind or not, because I don't know how to look up or look down. But that doesn't mean my eyes don't move. Right. So I'm sure that REM sleep is is there. And and since as you pointed out, you use the panels, which essentially allow for the same sort of thing to happen. I wonder how that would work? It would be interesting to explore that. Teri Wellbrock ** 13:43 Yeah, I had, I had one therapist or similar counselor that had tried, where I had earphones on as well. And it was like the alternating the sound, alternating ears that just again it for whatever reason. caused my eyes to go right, left, right, left just just a slight little movements. Yeah. Michael Hingson ** 14:07 But it doesn't take much to be noticed. So right. Interesting. The after researching, I think it would be an interesting thing to to explore. You know, the the reality is, is is not the only game in town, but it doesn't mean that we all really function differently. It's just that we use different techniques to get to the same place but some of these basic physiological sorts of things I think are pretty common across the board. But it would be interesting and maybe somebody who's listening to this will reach out and and have comments for us which would be fun to hear. Teri Wellbrock ** 14:40 Yes, let me know let me know let me know if you find something out. I'll let you know if I find something out. Yeah, there Michael Hingson ** 14:45 you go. Well, but nevertheless, you you were able to overcome all of it and be able to move forward. So you you went to college? Yeah, got your degree you got Your psychology degree Yes. Did you go to get any kind of a masters or I didn't, Teri Wellbrock ** 15:05 I was I was going to go on for my PhD in psychology, I wanted to work with kids. And I took a child abuse course. And again, it was one of those moments where it was like teary in hindsight, I say, oh, you should have known, because I just remember being so overwhelmed by the content, the videos that we were presented with the reading materials, I think that was the time I read, a boy named it or called boy called it and it was about horrific physical abuse and emotional abuse. And just remember, some crying some so much struggle with it, and I had the conversation with myself of, I don't think I can do this, because I would want to take every one of these kids home with me just show them what, you know, being protected and safe really is and I want to, you know, kill the parents, again, not understanding trauma, because it wasn't on the radar at that time. Because this was back in I graduated in 99. So it was just starting to be talked about the impacts of trauma. Michael Hingson ** 16:16 Yeah, that's the the other part about this whole concept of mental health, and, and growing is that, for the longest time, we, we never would talk about it. I was actually talking with someone, I think just yesterday on one of our podcast conversations, who said that, you know, when they grew up, which was in relatively the same kind of timeframe that I did, children were supposed to be seen and never heard. And they were discouraged from talking. And so it's only in more recent times that we start to really hear that kids and adults start to really talk about some of the things that go on in their lives. And they are the better for talking about it. But unfortunately, we see I'll still have all too many people who say, we don't want to talk about that that's not relevant. Right? Teri Wellbrock ** 17:11 Oh, gosh, talking about it. That's one of the biggest things I one of my favorite things to discuss is the importance of putting our stories out there sharing our truths. I know one of the things that I really study a lot now is aces, which are adverse childhood experiences in the impact of aces on so many things in adult lives, if children go through and they are not given the opportunity to do their processing work, which is talking about their, their traumas, or working through it, if they can't, or don't want to talk about it through other healing resources, such as tapping, and there's other somatic healing resources. But aces have an incredibly profound effect on having cancer having heart disease, I mean physical ailments, suicide ideology, you know, suicide ideation, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, these are the mental health portion of it. spiritual issues early, you know, sexual explorations, there's just it has an incredibly profound effect on kids. And so yes, it needs to be talked about 100%. Michael Hingson ** 18:33 And we discourage kids, although I think they're, obviously things need to be monitored, but we discourage kids. We did and do discourage kids from really exploring and learning and being allowed to ask questions. Yeah, way too much. And my parents were, were really pretty good about it. They they encouraged, especially me, I think, because my brother, who was two years older was able to see but for me, especially, they, they were pretty incredible. They encouraged me to ask and to explore, and they allowed that. I'm sure they want it monitored, and they watched but they encouraged it, which was pretty cool. Teri Wellbrock ** 19:21 Yeah, I certainly did with my three kids, because I wanted them to have such a different experience than I had because my dad was. He was six foot six 280 big strong guy, very violent my first 10 years of life, but my dad sought counseling. And I'll never forget when he sat me on his lap at 10 years old and said, Terry, I realized now after meeting with this therapist that I was taking my frustrations with your mother's alcoholism, girls and hitting you and I never should have hit you and I'll never hit you again and he didn't. And so he did healing work which She was incredibly impactful on my life. I was just gonna say that. Yeah, yeah, to see him and to apologize to his kid. And that was a huge lesson and forgiveness, which is a lot of work that I've done, I've done tremendous forgiveness work for all of my abusers, or the assailants that have crossed my path for myself, nor so for, not for them, but for me, you Michael Hingson ** 20:30 can't, you can't hold it in, you can't just sit there and hate. I met a person. reasonably soon after September 11. He had been a fireman. And he decided to join the New York Police Department because he wanted to kill all the terrorists that did everything or they might do anything to the United States. And I thought at the time, I appreciate your dedication, but that's a horrible reason to become a police officer. 20:57 Right? Michael Hingson ** 20:59 You know, we can't hate and I never did hate the people who did what they did on September 11. What I always thought was, you got what you deserve. You're not here anymore. And I'll bet you didn't get to go up to heaven and find 72 Virgins waiting for you either. Right? I doubt that very seriously. And I'm sure that's the case. But, you know, it wasn't a religious thing. It was a bunch of hoods a bunch of thugs who decided they wanted to try to have their way with the world, and they use the name of religion to do it. But I know that that's not what the Islamic religion is all about. Teri Wellbrock ** 21:44 Yeah, I agree. I think it was radical. Sorry. I'm moving Max. onto my lap again. Michael Hingson ** 21:52 Are we are we getting? Are we getting bored Max. Teri Wellbrock ** 21:56 He was getting he was getting I want to go run and bark at something. So Michael Hingson ** 22:02 Max is a Schnoodle. Part Schnauzer, part poodle, for those who don't know, cuz that came up before we started talking on on the recording, but that's what Max is. Yeah. Teri Wellbrock ** 22:14 So as to be my co host or my co guest right now. Michael Hingson ** 22:18 You know, Max has anything to say it's okay. But, you know, he's got to speak up. Teri Wellbrock ** 22:23 Right, right now he's just I'm rocking him in my arms. He wants to down and then he decided no, I won't back up. So there was a there was a moment where we were having a little bit of Michael Hingson ** 22:33 now what's the Labradoodles name? That Sammy, Teri Wellbrock ** 22:35 she's seeing me she was a registered therapy dog. So we used to volunteer with kids in school when we lived in Ohio. And that was, oh my God, it was so fulfilling, like, just great soul work. To be able to go into the schools, we worked through the counselor's office. And Sammy has a gift as he as I'm sure you know, there's these dogs have a way of just connecting beyond words. Alamo Michael Hingson ** 23:06 doesn't know a stranger, although he does know he's got to focus on his job. But I'm sure that if he ever changed careers, he'd be a wonderful emotional support dog or a therapy dog. But he's great at what he does. And he even likes our kitty. So that works out well. Good. And the kitty likes him. So it's fair. Teri Wellbrock ** 23:28 That's good. I keep joking and saying Sammy needs a cat. The rest of the family is not going along with me kiss. Sammy, she's just the sweetest, sweetest soul. Michael Hingson ** 23:38 Well, how old are the kids now? 23:40 The the Michael Hingson ** 23:42 your children, your grandchildren? Teri Wellbrock ** 23:44 Yeah. The human children. Those are the ones they are. So I have my son, oldest son is in Denver. He's going to be 30 This year I had around it. And then my youngest son is 27. And then we have a 17 year old daughter. So they're all great, wonderful kids. And then Sammy has got a birthday coming up. Gosh, next week, the 23rd. And Michael Hingson ** 24:11 is your daughter going to be a senior in high school? Teri Wellbrock ** 24:13 She is Yeah. I said she's headed off to take the AC T in a different city tomorrow. She just left and so yeah, all that fun stuff. We get to go touring colleges. She wants to be a pilot. Is that not crazy? I love it. Now I I'm just so blown away because I see those jets up in the air and I think how does that tube fly and that plummet to the earth and here my kid wants to wants to fly so she flew a plane at 16 for Christmas. We gave her a discovery flight and they took her up an instructor shook her up he lifted it off, but once it got into the air her, she flew it the entire time over the islands here in South Carolina, and then flew it back to Savannah international airport and he landed it. Michael Hingson ** 25:10 Wow. That's pretty cool. Well, you know, if that's what she wants to do, and she ends up being good at it, then great. Yeah, Teri Wellbrock ** 25:17 I think she'll really pursue it. So she wants to apply for Delta. Michael Hingson ** 25:22 A lot better than being a driver on the road. I'll tell you. Oh, for sure. As the I have, I still am of the opinion that we can't have autonomous vehicles any too soon, because we need to take driving out of the hands of drivers. Teri Wellbrock ** 25:36 I see it all the time. And people think I'm crazy for it. Because I say self driving vehicles, at least that will give you a better chance of surviving someone else. Yeah, you know, driving crazy. So yeah, I think it's awesome. I say we make Michael Hingson ** 25:54 sense to me. Yeah. So you have, you've obviously become much more aware of yourself, and you have you have thought about and obviously decided to move forward and not let all the stuff that happened to you. Take you down, if you will, how did how did you do that? And how? Well, let me just do that. How did how did you do that? And, you know, do you still think you have a ways to go or what? Teri Wellbrock ** 26:29 Yeah, that's a great question. And I used to ask myself that a lot. I would be like, how did I make it through all of them? What? Because people would tell me all the time, Terry, you radiate joy, you just have this light about you? And I would. And then they'd hear my story. And they would say how, how did you get through all of that, and you still just have this joyousness? And for life, one of my nicknames and I don't know, am I allowed to say a cuss word on your show, if you want. So one of my nicknames is glitter shitter. Because people were just like, you know, you're always looking at the positive, you're always just in so I didn't understand for a long time again until I started doing my my my trauma studies and understanding, resilience in importance of resilience. And so I had people in my life that helped me, not just survive, but believe in myself enough that I had built an incredible amount of resilience and ability to overcome. And my grandma Kitty was, quote, unquote, my, my babysitter, so my, my mom worked full time. And my dad would run, try to run various businesses, he struggled a lot because they would fail. And then he would start another one. But my grandma was the one that was home with me and my little sister. And she was the kindest, most loving, most gentle soul in simple things, like just peeling me an apple, or sitting me on her lap and watching general hospital together. I mean, it was just simple little gestures of love and kindness that helped me survive the chaos that was going on around me constantly. My my best friend's parents were, I would spend the night a lot at her house because it was just a gentle kind place to be her parents were very loving, kind people. And they felt safe there. And so they know Michael Hingson ** 28:45 some of the things that were going on with you. Teri Wellbrock ** 28:48 Nobody knew. Okay, no, I didn't. I didn't share any of it. And I was in my 30s. Yeah. Michael Hingson ** 28:56 But you felt safe there. You were saying? Yeah, yeah. So Teri Wellbrock ** 28:59 it just again and I had a teacher so so we talk about trauma and in particularly aces adverse childhood experiences in kids. And what it is that the kids who are going through difficult situations, you know, maybe addiction at home or physical abuse or divorce or whatever it is that's causing some chaos in their life bullying at school. And that one of my previous podcast guests, Dr. Janine conahey. She was working on a program and what it was hashtag one caring adult. And that is, that's the key. That really is the key. It's having those people in place that help a child, believe in themselves, help a child know they're loved, help a child know that. Somebody is looking out for them. Someone cares. That makes him a powerful difference. Michael Hingson ** 29:57 Yeah. You meant shinned that you wandered sometimes with your mother being an alcoholic and so on. And if you didn't take that path, did she ever change her path? Or did that ever? Did she ever get any better? Teri Wellbrock ** 30:15 Yeah. And that's such a great story. Oh my gosh. So my mom just died this year on my birthday. So March 14 of this year, but my mom was a severe alcoholic my entire life. And in her early 80s, she hit her rock bottom. I was visiting my son in Colorado, we were in Estes Park, having a beautiful vacation and the phone rang. And that was the hospital saying, Hey, your mom is here. She's been detoxing, and we need someone to come pick her up. And I was like, I'm done. I'm done. I can't do it anymore. I was always the Savior. I was always the good girl, the one that would go in and clean up the mess and make everything better. And it couldn't do anymore. It's very codependent relationship. And so I walked away from her for three months. And it was the hardest thing I've ever, ever, ever done in my life. I cried every day. I thought I was a horrible human. But it was during those three months, when my sister had walked away, the grandkids had walked away. I had walked away. My dad was had died years before. And she was left to pick herself up by herself by herself. And she was very religious, very Catholic person. So she had a talk with her Jesus picture hanging on her wall. It she, she did it. And she lived for almost three years sober. And she would talk about it though I had her on my show twice. And we talked about the trauma. We talked about her journey. And she started to understand the the role that alcohol played in helping her survive her own childhood trauma. And so we I explained to her what what childhood trauma hit was doing to her. And she finally finally started to share her horrors that she had lived with and hadn't told anyone in 80 something years. And it started to help her heal. And she wasn't needing to turn to alcohol as much. In the end. She was diagnosed with liver cancer and cirrhosis of the liver. So the algo had done its damage. And then she dove back into the bottle because she took that as God's way of saying, Well, you got cancer and cirrhosis. So mice, Well, Justin, enjoy the booze. So she did. And it was the booze that ended up killing her she fell and couldn't survive. She just had to go into hospice and just couldn't, couldn't pull out of it that last time. So it Michael Hingson ** 33:11 is it is still sad. I you know, I know there are people that drink a lot. And I'm sure that it's mostly to, to hide or cover up things, but that's what they do. But I've never never felt a need to do anything like that. For me. I got to work through it, whatever it is. Yeah, Teri Wellbrock ** 33:33 I'm the same. I didn't like that feeling. I mean, I certainly drank in high school, it was it was the 80s. And it was like the thing to do. And it was more of a party scene social thing, but not a coping thing. And so it was very easy. It was very easy for me to step away from it and realize I don't drink now it doesn't mean I can't Yeah, I just I just choose not to I will go out to dinner and I have water. It's just what I do. Michael Hingson ** 34:02 I can have a drink every so often. And I will do it to be sociable. But it is weeks between a single drink if I have one. And I only do it because I'll just try to do it tonight. And that's it. We lived up near Napa for a while and so my wife and I would buy wine and that was always fun and but again, never any excessive amount. So a glass of wine, which can be healthy, but I've just never found the need to drink. Although I do like to tease. I always tell everybody I know that I feel bad for people who don't drink because when they get up in the morning, that's as good as they're gonna feel for the rest of the day. I watch and listen to Dean Martin. I know these things. Teri Wellbrock ** 34:45 I'll be Martin. Yeah. But Michael Hingson ** 34:48 but you know, just you really can't cover up. Whatever is going on. If you don't deal with it, then it's only going to hurt you and I'm glad that at least for a while. While she was able to and here it comes again. Talk about it, which is what helped? Yes. Teri Wellbrock ** 35:06 Oh, for sure. And, and she was grateful for the opportunity that we have, we're allowing her the space to, it really helped us all on our healing journeys, because we gave her the space to talk about it, and to say, not as an excuse of why she was drinking, and why it was so difficult for us as children, but reasoning that we were at least able to take a step back from our pain and say, Oh, now we get it. Now, now we understand, again, not an excuse doesn't excuse the behavior, things that had happened. But we were, we were able to say, oh, okay, in kind of like just a real quick little segue, when I did my forgiveness work with the bank robber that had held the gun in my head, and then later pulled the trigger and murdered Marsha Berger. I remember doing healing work with him, after he had died in prison. And I wrote him a letter of forgiveness. And but what I thought to myself was, he and I were both born these innocent little creatures, these these little babies. And it was just somewhere along his journey, he chose to go down a path that would eventually across mine, but his past was, was filled with choices of drugs and booze and, you know, horrors and murder and the bad things that he chose to do. And mine wasn't. But in looking at him, as like this, this little being this little light that came into the world, I was able to, that's how I was able to do my forgiveness work with him. Again, it didn't excuse his behaviors, but I was able to say, I don't know his trauma history. I don't know what his life was, like, I don't know, the horrors that he had maybe endured? Yes, he, he made very poor choices. But I don't know his story. So it really helped me to be able to let Michael Hingson ** 37:19 him go. But at the same time, there's only so much that you can do because the bottom line is he did make choices. He did do what he did. And you can't and aren't going to fix everything yourself. People need to learn to do that for themselves. And it's too bad that the bank robber person didn't do that. But But look at you, you know, you came out of it. And I think it's absolutely appropriate to forgive him for what he did. It doesn't condone it. But again, holding grudges doesn't help either. Teri Wellbrock ** 37:55 No, that's a heavy negativity to carry around the no I, again, I'd rather enjoy life and all the beauty that surrounds us, instead of carrying him and his weight with me. Michael Hingson ** 38:12 Did you? Well, I'll ask the first part of the question this way. So when did you and your mom or when did you decide that you and your mom could be friends? Teri Wellbrock ** 38:25 She's so cute. I miss her so much every day. It was after those three months, when she had I had walked away from her. And my phone would ring on occasion. And I wouldn't answer because I was just done. And I knew it was her and it was in the evening. So I knew she had probably been drinking. In one evening, my phone rang. And for whatever reason, again, I call them Angel Angel was something said, go ahead and answer it. And I did. And it was her and she said she remember her nickname for me was Titi Hi, Titi Hey, I dropped something behind my dresser and I can't get it. And I've been trying to try and try and and I said, Mom, do you need me to come help you get it out from there. And she said, that would be wonderful. And I said, all right. I'll be right down, hopped in my car went down, got it out. And then I sat on her couch. And she proceeded to tell me, I've been seeing to therapists we've been talking about everything I went through in my childhood. I not drinking anymore. And she just and I said oh my gosh. For the first time in her life. She's trying. Yeah. And that was the moment that I said, okay, even if she fails, even if she falls flat off on her face off that wagon. She has trying and that was it like right there that told me that she cared enough about herself about us to try. Michael Hingson ** 40:07 Yeah. And you know that that was a good start, unfortunately, something else came along that diverted her. And it's too bad that, that she allowed that to happen. But again, it's choice. And I think we all I know when I think about my life, and I spent a fair amount of time thinking about my life. And one of the things that I think about a lot is all the choices that got me to where I am, and I and I know what the choices are that I made. That led to me being where I am, and in the circumstances I am in, I know the positive ones or the negative ones, and I, I enjoy my life, I enjoy me, I know that there are things that if I had done them differently, might have left me with more money after my wife passed away. After being married for two years, but you know, it's all about, we really should understand the choices that we make. And it's important to think about that as much as we can, and use that to help ourselves grow. Teri Wellbrock ** 41:10 Oh, definitely. And, you know, I remember my mom saying that to me, she came down here to Hilton Head after we had moved and stayed for a week in her talking about that exact thing about not being not realizing that even 8485, whatever she was at that time, I think she was 85 when she was here how she was still learning in being able to grow. And I just think that's the coolest thing in the world was this 80 something year old, who was willing to do the hard work, she was willing to do the healing work. And so that's why one of my favorite hashtags long before any of this happened was always hashtag never give up. Because that was my motto in life. Never give up. Like, just keep going get back up again. And here she was in her 80s doing it. Michael Hingson ** 42:03 And I personally hope I'm always a student in five to sudden suddenly decide I'm not learning anything. I don't need to learn anything else. And I'm the bad the worst part. I won't say I was gonna say the better for it. That won't work. I'm the worst for it. Teri Wellbrock ** 42:17 Right, right. No, I love learning. Again, if it comes across my radar, especially in Trauma Recovery, I'm like, oh, let's try it. Let's see what this Michael Hingson ** 42:26 does. You mentioned tapping before what is that? So Teri Wellbrock ** 42:31 EFT or emotional freedom technique, and that that's been used that comes up a lot in Trauma Recovery conversations. And it's, it's a very what I call non invasive, meaning you don't necessarily have to go back to a traumatic event. So you can say, like, one of the remnants of mine was a fear of open spaces, because during that second bank robbery, I was trapped behind a house with an armed gunman to my right, I didn't know his gun was misfiring and an armed gunman to my left, who was firing his gun at police officers in a parking lot. And so I had to choose between death and death, like which direction do I go on? And so and I was out in the open, so it was, again, a fear of open, like being trapped in open spaces. And I so lost my train of Michael Hingson ** 43:18 thought, Well, I was asking about tapping, but go ahead. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Teri Wellbrock ** 43:23 So so we will go thank you for redirecting me. So we would go not necessarily like people can go not necessarily to that trauma that because they may not know what's come why they're having what's bringing up maybe a fear of open spaces. So you could go to oh, I'm sitting on a beach, and I'm having all of this anxiety, my legs are tingling, my I'm having the urge to run, I feel like I need to hide and I'm, you know, my eyes are darting around looking for, like, where's the danger. And so tapping with that is it's a process that you walk through, and again, I've done it. And so I'm not a practitioner, so I'm not going to do this justice, but it's a process of, of talking to yourself about that particular feeling. And then tapping on different parts of you're in, there's a whole there's a whole system to it, it's like you know, in between your eyes next next to your eye, under your under your eye, under your nose, on your chin, your collarbone like there's different like look like a monkey like under your armpit. And so and you walk through this entire process, and again, it's it's a matter of disengaging the the emotional attachment to something the event or, again, whether it's the trauma event itself, or the sitting out on the beach in a wide open space and what's coming up with that, if that makes sense. It does. Michael Hingson ** 44:59 I'm with you. I understand. It is fascinating. And it's a fascinating all the different techniques that that are developed some work better with some people than others. But we're doing so much to try to get people more engaged in. And I hope that people will do more of it because it helps a lot. Oh, Teri Wellbrock ** 45:22 I tell you what somatic healing came across my radar recently. And I was terrified to fly by myself. But my mom was so sick and in hospice, and I knew I had to hop on that flight. And I had to go, I had to go be with her. And somatic healing had come across my radar. And that was for me this particular somatic because there's various ones, I was placing my hand on a body part that I was feeling a lot of adrenaline surge and tingling. And I placed my hand and I would just say, I'm here, I recognize what are you trying to tell me, and you were safe. And so I would walk through, but it was recognizing these body parts that were very active, very alert, the energy was just, you know, tingling. And I did it when I got onto that flight. And I could feel my right arm just just for whatever reason, my right arm was just on fire, like, with energy. And I just was very gentle, very gentle with myself and just talked myself through it. And it was with me, and with the sensations, and then they just dissipated. And if they started to arise, again, I just put my hand back on and say, It's okay, I'm here with you need, what do you need? And now I, I mean, I had to go back and forth from my mom quite a bit. And now I'm just like a regular old traveler, hop on that flight and go. So it was awesome. But But again, I love what you say, there's so many different modalities and some work some days and but fill that toolbox. People feel that toolbox. Michael Hingson ** 47:06 Yeah, that's what it's about. I mentioned and ask you about your mom being your friend. And if you guys got to be friends, tell me more about what you think about friendship in connecting with with other people and soul connections and so on. Teri Wellbrock ** 47:20 Yeah, that goes back to what we were talking about before of sharing our truths of authenticity, which I think you are certainly an incredibly authentic person, when you come across. There's just the soul connection that happens when you when you just meet that person that's authentic. And I certainly put my truths out there and try to be like, Hey, this is me, this is what you get. And there's incredible power in being brave enough to be vulnerable, to be brave enough to put our truths out there and say, This is what's happened to me, or this is what I believe, or this is who I am. And when that happens in you're brave enough to do that. It's incredible. The gifts that will come to you through connection, and the people that will come across your path. And it'd be I don't know, moved inspired to connect with you. Yeah, it's a gift. Truly, it's a gift for yourself, but it's a gift for others, because it allows them then the opportunity to say, oh my gosh, me too. When I started putting my truths out in Facebook world, when I first started to say, I can't do this anymore, I have to set it free. And I started to put tidbits out about what I experienced in my childhood and my early life, I would get private messages or texts or phone calls from people that would say, I've never told anyone before, but and then they would open up and they would talk and they would share. And so it gives people it gives other people the opportunity to to share their truths, Michael Hingson ** 49:08 which helps you be able to say, which we've talked about a little bit, I get it or me to hashtag me too. And why that is clearly so important. Because if you can create that kind of a connection. And the issue, of course, is it's got to be genuine. Right? And and I think it's pretty easy for most people to tell if you're really sincere or not, but it's so important to be able to do that. Yes, Teri Wellbrock ** 49:36 well, that's that authentic piece. So you know, it's just again, I've become such a fan of energy and energy exchange, and there's just the certain people that you meet it's more often than not I meet beautiful souls, but every now and then you just meet the person that I am now I'm just like, nope, nope, that not this is going to be a big hold no for me and just gently walk away because it's not there. It's not real. And maybe that's, you know, a gardening thing that they, they've been through trauma, and they have up these walls, and they're trying to be something that they're not. But I just know enough for me to walk away from it. So, yeah, Michael Hingson ** 50:20 yeah. Well, what if I think you've talked about this some, but you've obviously adopted some strategies and coping skills that really help you. And you also talk about them, which is great. So you're, you're a great storyteller, which is important. But what are your favorite coping strategies and strategies that you use, that you also do share with others about? Hopefully helping them to move forward? Teri Wellbrock ** 50:47 Yes, well, I would say my biggest is mindfulness. But I've also incorporate that. So it's practice I literally put it on my calendar, when he first started doing it. On my to do list, it was like, whatever it was edit podcasts and write a chapter and what whatever it was, and then it would, I would literally put mindfulness practice on my to do list for the day on my calendar. Because practicing it, then it was it was creating a new habit, it just became such a, such a part of my daily life that I just do it now without even thinking. But with that, it was one of my favorites is 54321 mindfulness, and that is using your senses to be in The Now. So not in the traumas of the past, and not in the worries of the future that are usually triggered by the traumas of the past. But right here in the now like, what can I appreciate the beauty right here right now. And so the five senses are so I'm trying to remember the order of them. But oh, gosh, listen for or look for five things. Now I realize I'm talking to someone that's cannot see with your eyes. But Michael Hingson ** 52:09 let's remember the dictionary says to see is to perceive there's more to it. It's not the only game in town. It's fair to use. That's right, Teri Wellbrock ** 52:17 right. All right, good. Because once we get past five, which is the using your eyes, to look for things, it's using your ears to listen. And that one I love. That's my favorite. So it's sitting very quiet in really closing my eyes and trying to find the bird. That's the farthest away and see how far I can stretch my ears to hear something or listen to what's truly going on. Oh, I hear someone is mowing their grass, however many streets away and I hear a dog barking. And then three is touch in just using it to describe it in tremendous detail. Like, oh, I'm touching this leaf and it's got some bumps on it. And it's it's soft on the underside, though. And so it's really just using mindfulness to bring ourselves into this moment. And being able to then use some breath work to calm our bodies and just really just be here in the now. Nature. I use nature baths a lot. And so I incorporate all of that together. And then those are three things right there mindfulness, Nature Bath. And the other one that just flew out of my head. But but those are those are three of my favorites. Nature's of nature is very healing for me. I do have a story to tell you. That's very powerful. And so meditation and mindfulness, I was gone up to the little beach in our neighborhood. And I was very, very, very sick with mycotoxin poisoning. After moving into this house. The house had been filled with toxic mold and been condemned, but they lied on the disclosure and didn't tell us in the House have been rehabbed. So it looked gorgeous. But lurking behind the walls was a lot of mold. And it made me very, very ill and so I was I had lost 58 pounds. I had a rash all over my body and my throat was closing up with foods like it was very bad. So I gone up to sit on the speech and was praying and crying. Prayer is another one that I use in really meditating in meditative prayer and asking God universe angels, Holy Spirit, whoever's listening, whoever's here and around listening. If you could please, please, please give me a sign that I am on the right path with this healing journey, and that I'm going to make it through this. And I, my eyes were closed and I said, if you could just send me some big news neon sign like some dolphin would be great. Some, they'll call them dolphin of hope. And if you could just just send them across my path. And so I said, Alright, Dolphin, I'm ready for you. And I opened my eyes. And when I did what I think was 20 Dolphin fin popped out of the water right in front of me, it was probably for a dolphin that just kept, you know, coming up and going back under again, but, and I stopped crying. Because to me, it was so powerful in being connected in that moment and just allowing this. I had a no miracle this, this answer to come to me in welcoming it. And it did. And I knew in that moment that I was going to be okay. And that. Yeah, somebody was listening. Michael Hingson ** 55:51 Well, there you go. And you got your sign, which is all you can ask for. What do you mean by mindfulness? Teri Wellbrock ** 55:59 Mindfulness is, to me, I don't know if it's the definition that the practitioners use. But for me, mindfulness is being mindful. So very purposefully connected with the now meaning this moment. So if I were, like, I could say, oh, I'm looking at this blue light on my camera. And I love the color of the blue. And I would, and I would be very attentive about that particular blue, and then say, oh, my gosh, Max is in my lap. And he keeps trying to lick my hand, and it's tickling my fingers. And so, and it's funny. And so I'm rubbing his little belly, and then like, Oh, I love his little soft belly. So I'm talking to you. But meanwhile, I'm being very attentive to the fact of all of these things that are happening right here in the now. And so for me, that is mindfulness and being very present. Your awareness moment, this very beautiful moment, I'm having a wonderful conversation with another beautiful soul. And, again, holding Maxie on my lap. Michael Hingson ** 57:14 Well, and I told you about our cat, and I have not heard my cat once yell at me during all this. So she must be fed up for the moment anyway. All right, which is a good thing, which is a good thing. If you could reach as many people in the world as you wanted, who would you want to reach most? Teri Wellbrock ** 57:34 Oh, gosh, I would say trauma survivors that have gone through. Not that, not that it's a trauma race, I, you know, I want to say if four or more have an ACE score of four or more, which the ACES its adverse childhood experiences. You can you can do a score. So it's like, where your parents divorced? Did you experience physical abuse? Did you experience sexual abuse, so you give yourself a point for each of these different things on the score of zero to 10. But those who do have a four or higher there, they just tend to struggle that much more with so many different things, from addictions to again, physical ailments, and so forth. So that's my, that's my target audience, really, because I've lived it. And I want to tell all of them, no matter what you've been through, no matter what you've been through, you can reach this beautiful place of joy and tranquility, and be happy and love life. And yeah, no matter what you've been through, it's okay. So Michael Hingson ** 58:54 as a person who has been very involved in psychology, and also podcasting, and so on, do you work with people all over? Or what do you do these days? Teri Wellbrock ** 59:03 Yes, well, my show, which I know is podcasts, you you probably watch these things, too. It's been downloaded in 125 countries, top 2% globally by listen score out of 3.1 million shows. And I so that's my sole work is to put these beautiful conversations out with healers from all over the world. I recently did a healer to Hilton Head series, with 20 Different healers in this area on island just to show even though it's a global audience that look within your own community, and you'll be amazed at how many options are available for healing and again, from somatic to, I did a salt cave, which was a lot of fun, you know, you sit in a salt game and so that was doing something here We work on my body. And, again, it's fun to learn all of this and all of the different things that are available. I'm continuing to write my book, which is my memoir, but it's teaching memoir. So it's about lessons I learned along the way. And I've been writing that for 10 years, it's been a work in progress. And I think my mom passing was that last little bit I was holding on. So it's about 90%, complete. But she gave me her stamp of approval and said, Terry, it's time. It's time to put it out there. So I'm like, okay, good. I will, I will finish that up for you, Mama. So doing that I put out a monthly hope for healing newsletter. Yeah, so my, my, my mission really, is to just put messages of hope and healing out into the universe and share my story. I, I go on other shows. And we wrote a little children's book called The doodle with the noodle about Sammy our therapy dog. And, yeah, that's what I do. Michael Hingson ** 1:01:01 Do you do any coaching or create courses or anything like that? Yeah, I Teri Wellbrock ** 1:01:06 have some courses available. They're still they're out there, but still works in progress of working on those I've contemplated doing coaching. So yeah, that's on my radar as well. monetizing the podcast. So there's a lot of, I don't know, I struggle with that one. Because I think, and again, I getting a lot of messages from other podcasters, who say, of course, you're allowed to monetize your podcast. And it's been Yeah, it's a gift. But I don't know, I still, that's another work. I think that's impostor syndrome, that's one of the lingering things that I still still working through with all of the trauma remnants that I had worked through is thinking that my message is worthy. Michael Hingson ** 1:01:56 Let me let me tell you my view, as a speaker, as a keynote speaker, since the World Trade Center, and so on, I find that people who are willing to pay you for what you do, and who are not as interested in nickel and diming, you as really paying you and getting the benefit of what you have to offer are also much more likely to take seriously what you say I've had situations where people say, Oh, we only have like $1,000, we just can't pay more, no matter how famous or how good or how intelligent you are, we're just not ever gonna pay more than that. And they're always the ones that are the hardest to work with, for a variety of reasons, because they don't take it seriously. And even some of the times that I've agreed to donate my time, it can be a challenge. And they end up being more of a challenge than anything else. Because they think that you should be obligated to do this, as opposed to, they really appreciate and are willing to do what's necessary to bring your knowledge and wisdom into whatever it is that they're about. So, so much sense, I think there's a lot of value in charging Well, or coming up with some monetization scheme for the podcast. It doesn't need to be grossly hugely expensive. A person who does a podcast for just primarily about blindness and blind people, a gentleman in New Zealand named Jonathan mosun, has a podcast called Living blindly. And what he created was a subscription. And if you don't subscribe, then you might get a podcast, you can actually get the podcast on a Wednesday, but if you want to get it earlier, then you subscribe by donating 99 cents, or $1 or $5, or whatever you choose. And I think he has a minimum for the year. It's not expensive or anything, but then you get the podcasts the Sunday before everybody else does, which was clever, which is pretty clever. So he might you know, something to think about. Teri Wellbrock ** 1:04:11 I did. I did. Fractured Atlas is a sponsor. And it's a fiscal sponsorship and you have to apply for it. Well, the healing grace podcast was accepted into it. And so it helps with fundraising and all of that. And so I did a fundraising campaign for the show because they said hey, you know, I pay for this out of pocket. I've been doing it five years. It's not just a fluke that I'm out here doing this. And I was able to raise about $4,000 which was awesome because I bought a new nice nicer microphone and nicer camera, nice a laptop and so I was able to do some things to help Yeah, help make it that much better. Michael Hingson ** 1:04:52 See, there you go. Well, if people want to reach out and find you, how do they do that? Teri Wellbrock ** 1:04:57 They can connect through my website with says Teri Wellbrock.comand can you spell? Yeah,T E R, I just one R W E L L B R O C K, I always want to do the little rock symbol and I Michael Hingson ** 1:05:12 like.com.com Teri Wellbrock ** 1:05:18 Yes, yeah. And then the healing place podcasts you can find on Spotify and Apple and all your favorite audio outlets and YouTube. So very cool. Michael Hingson ** 1:05:28 Well, I hope people will reach out. I really appreciate your time and all of the valuable and invaluable insights that you've given today. It's been a great story. And I very much really appreciate you being here and value. All that we've had a chance to do and we need to do it again. Teri Wellbrock ** 1:05:47 Oh, for sure is it's just been such a joy again, I just I love you and your energy. And I appreciate you welcoming me into your space. So thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my story. Well, Michael Hingson ** 1:05:59 thank you and I hope all of you out there liked what we did today. Please give us a five star rating wherever you're listening and I would love it and I'm really appreciated. If you would reach out to me and give me your thoughts. Feel free to email me at Michaelhi at accessiBe.com. That's Michael mi c h a e l h i at accessibe A C C E S S I B E.com. We're going to our podcast page www dot Michael hingson.com/podcast. And Michael Hingson, of course is mi c h a e l h i n g s o n.com/podcast. But we'd love to hear from you. We value it. If you know anyone else who ought to come on unstoppable mindset please let us know or give us an introduction. Teri, same for you. We would really appreciate any people that you can think of we ought to have on and again, I just want to thank you for being with us today. And let's do it again soon. Teri Wellbrock ** 1:06:53 Absolutely. Thank you Thank you sending big hugs your way **Michael Hingson ** 1:07:01 You have been listening to the Unstoppable Mindset podcast. Thanks for dropping by. I hope that you'll join us again next week, and in future weeks for upcoming episodes. To subscribe to our podcast and to learn about upcoming episodes, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com slash podcast. Michael Hingson is spelled m i c h a e l h i n g s o n. While you're on the site., please use the form there to recommend people who we ought to interview in upcoming editions of the show. And also, we ask you and urge you to invite your friends to join us in the future. If you know of any one or any organization needing a speaker for an event, please email me at speaker at Michael hingson.com. I appreciate it very much. To learn more about the concept of blinded by fear, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com forward slash blinded by fear and while you're there, feel free to pick up a copy of my free eBook entitled blinded by fear. The unstoppable mindset podcast is provided by access cast an initiative of accessiBe and is sponsored by accessiBe. Please visit www.accessibe.com. accessiBe is spelled a c c e s s i b e. There you can learn all about how you can make your website inclusive for all persons with disabilities and how you can help make the internet fully inclusive by 2025. Thanks again for listening. Please come back and visit us again next week.
Rob Lee is a Baltimore-based journalist and podcaster who hosts The Truth in this Art podcast. The podcast explores contemporary art and cultural preservation through conversations with artists, curators, and cultural leaders. The podcast also occasionally interviews friends in other industries such as acting, music, and journalism. The Truth In This Art explores Baltimore and beyond including Washington DC, Philadelphia, New Orleans and more. Visit the website for the entire archive - https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/ Visit our Youtube Channel for the video experience - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC55X_osEdwOUU2sQwRBFI1w -- Join us on The Truth in This Art Podcast
Rob Lee is a Baltimore-based journalist and podcaster who hosts The Truth in this Art podcast. The podcast explores contemporary art and cultural preservation through conversations with artists, curators, and cultural leaders. The podcast also occasionally interviews friends in other industries such as acting, music, and journalism. The Truth In This Art explores Baltimore and beyond including Washington DC, Philadelphia, New Orleans and more. Visit the website for the entire archive - https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/ Visit our Youtube Channel for the video experience - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC55X_osEdwOUU2sQwRBFI1w -- Join us on The Truth in This Art Podcast
Rob Lee is a Baltimore-based journalist and podcaster who hosts The Truth in this Art podcast. The podcast explores contemporary art and cultural preservation through conversations with artists, curators, and cultural leaders. The podcast also occasionally interviews friends in other industries such as acting, music, and journalism. The Truth In This Art explores Baltimore and beyond including Washington DC, Philadelphia, New Orleans and more. Visit the website for the entire archive - https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/ Visit our Youtube Channel for the video experience - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC55X_osEdwOUU2sQwRBFI1w -- Join us on The Truth in This Art Podcast
In this episode of Transposition, we recap our wonderful Association of Writers and Publisher's panel discussion on the challenges and strategies for maintaining longevity in independent literary journals. Mellinda Hensley, moderator, reminisces on the event with panelist CD Eskilson. They also discuss the importance of community in building and sustaining a literary journal. Tune in to hear the insights and advice from this panel of experienced and passionate independent literary journal editors. At the end, we hear from other lit journal editors on maintaining longevity as a lit journal. Click through for more information about: The Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP), and the annual AWP Conference. Viva Padilla's literary ventures sin/cesar Literary Journal and re/arte centro literario Door=Jar Magazine (Maxwell Bauman, EIC) Defunct Magazine and Porterhouse Review (Diamond Braxton, EIC & Copy Editor) Calyx Press (Brenda Crotty, Senior Editor) Exposition Review and our latest issue LINES About Mellinda Hensley: Mellinda Hensley is the co-editor of Exposition Review and has worked with the journal since its inception in 2015. She is an Emmy-nominated and Writers Guild Award-winning writer who helped craft more than 130 episodes of The Young And The Restless (and got to tell people at her high school reunion that she switched babies for a living). Additionally a director and producer, her two comedy shorts Across The Room and Apeulogy have screened at more than 60 festivals worldwide. In case of emergency, she can be used as a flotation device. About CD Eskilson: CD Eskilson is a trans poet, editor, and translator living in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Their work appears in the Offing, Ninth Letter, Florida Review, Washington Square Review, and they have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net. CD is assistant poetry editor at Split Lip Magazine and outreach coordinator for the Open Mouth Literary Center. They are an MFA candidate at the University of Arkansas where they received the Walton Family Fellowship in Poetry and Lily Peter Fellowship in Translation. Help us spread the word! Please download, review, and subscribe to Transposition. Thank you to Mitchell Evenson for intro and outro music, and the generous donations from our supporters that allow us to pay our authors. Exposition Review is a fiscally sponsored project of Fractured Atlas. Transposition is the official podcast of Exposition Review literary journal. Associate Producer: Mitchell Evenson Intro Music by Mitchell Evenson Hosted by Laura Rensing --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/exposition-review/support
In this episode, we explore unlimited paid time off policies: what they are, what they aren't, and items to consider when implementing this type of approach to PTO.Katrina Donald takes over hosting duties and turns the interviewee's microphone unusually in Tim Cynova's direction as they discuss Paid Time Off and his experience transitioning an organization to an Unlimited Paid vacation day policy.Katrina Donald based in Treaty 7 Territory, Katrina (she/her) is the principal consultant at ever-so-curious. She believes that listening and sensemaking practices bring us into community, reveal pathways forward, encourage and embolden us, and allow for greater impact. Her approach is relational and developmental; she works in partnership with people and organizations to co-design inclusive, collaborative and continuously emerging evaluation and HR strategies.She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Manitoba and a Masters Certificate in Organization Development and Change from the Canadian Organization Development Institute (CODI) and the Schulich Executive and Education Centre (SEEC) at York University. She is a mother, wife, daughter, sister, systems thinker, developmental evaluator, program designer, and a Registered Professional Recruiter (RPR). She's committed to showing up for her own ongoing learning and to building workplaces that are actively anti-racist, praxis-centered and humble as they work through the prickly bramble of change. Learn more on LinkedIn.Tim Cynova, SPHR (he/him) is the Principal of Work. Shouldn't. Suck., an HR and org design consultancy helping to reimagine workplaces where everyone can thrive. He is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and a trained mediator, and has served on the faculty of Minneapolis College of Art & Design, the Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity (Banff, Canada) and The New School (New York City) teaching courses in People-Centric Organizational Design, and Strategic HR. In 2021, he concluded a 12-year tenure leading Fractured Atlas, a $30M, entirely virtual non-profit technology company and the largest association of independent artists in the U.S., where he served in both the Chief Operating Officer and Co-CEO roles (part of a four-person, shared, non-hierarchical leadership team), and was deeply involved in its work to become an anti-racist, anti-oppressive organization since they made that commitment in 2013. Earlier in his career, Tim was the Executive Director of The Parsons Dance Company and of High 5 Tickets to the Arts in New York City, had a memorable stint with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, was a one-time classical trombonist, musicologist, and for five years in his youth he delivered newspapers for the Evansville, Indiana Courier-Press. Learn more on LinkedIn.
In this episode, podcast co-hosts Tim Cynova and Lauren Ruffin discuss recent pay transparency law changes that require companies to disclose pay ranges, as well as the laws' potential to shift power and information sharing in workplaces. They explore the importance of clearly defining job requirements and the benefits of fixed-tier compensation to ensure equal – if not entirely *equitable* – pay. Lauren addresses the issues of location-based pay adjustments and speculates that increased transparency may lead to more organizations unionizing. Tim highlights the ongoing reevaluation of work's value and the need for businesses to adapt to Long COVID by creating more inclusive and equitable environments. They end the episode with a cliffhanger and agree to revisit this topic as the laws' effects become clearer.Lauren Ruffin (she/her) is a thinker, designer, & leader interested in building strong, sustainable, anti-racist systems & organizations. She's into exploring how we can leverage new technologies to combat racial and economic injustice. She frequently participates in conversations on circular economies, social impact financing, solidarity movements, and innovative, non-extractive financing mechanisms. Lauren is an Associate Professor of Worldbuilding and Visualizing Futures at Arizona State University and a co-founder of CRUX, an immersive storytelling cooperative that collaborates with Black artists as they create content in virtual reality and augmented reality (XR). Lauren was co-CEO of Fractured Atlas, the largest association of independent artists in the United States. In 2017, she started Artist Campaign School, a new educational program that has trained 74 artists to run for political office to date. Lauren has served on the governing boards of Black Innovation Alliance, Black Girls Code, and Main Street Phoenix Cooperative, and on the advisory boards of ArtUp and Black Girl Ventures. She graduated from Mount Holyoke College with a degree in Political Science and obtained a J.D. from the Howard University School of Law. Learn more on LinkedIn.Tim Cynova (he/him) is the Principal of Work Shouldn't Suck, an HR and org design consultancy helping to reimagine workplaces where everyone can thrive. He is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and a trained mediator, and has served on the faculty of Minneapolis College of Art & Design, the Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity (Banff, Canada) and The New School (New York City) teaching courses in People-Centric Organizational Design, and Strategic HR. In 2021, he concluded a 12-year tenure leading Fractured Atlas, a $30M, entirely virtual non-profit technology company and the largest association of independent artists in the U.S., where he served in both the Chief Operating Officer and Co-CEO roles (part of a four-person, shared, non-hierarchical leadership team), and was deeply involved in its work to become an anti-racist,...
While not all artists feel like entrepreneurs, many creatives would jump at the chance to earn a paycheck from their passion. Despite the benefits of a bigger payday, few artists invest in a basic business skill set. While budding entrepreneurs have a seemingly endless array of tools and resources at their fingertips, very few support systems are designed for the specific challenges that artists face today. Enter nonprofit Fractured Atlas. On today's podcast episode, host and NOT REAL ART founder Scott “Sourdough” Power sits down with Fractured Atlas CEO Theresa Hubbard to discuss the organization's mission and purpose in the arts sector. Founded in 1998 as a performing arts production company, Fractured Atlas has since evolved into a service-based organization that provides artists with the tools, skills, and guidance they need to thrive in their chosen field. Serving both individual artists and arts organizations at every level of the cultural ecosystem, Fractured Atlas also provides funds, educational resources, and personalized support.“There is generally a dearth of resources for artists out there, for promotional purposes, for fundraising purposes,” Theresa tells Scott. “There are a lot of tools that are created that can be used by artists, but there are very few [that are] designed specifically for artists.” Tuning in you'll also learn about the benefits of fiscal sponsorship, how the contemporary labor movement affects artists, and why artists should view each other as resources rather than competition. “One of the things that I think is the most toxic in the art world, in general, is this sense of competition when, really, we are a community,” Theresa says. “We are a community who can work together, who can learn from one another.”Fractured Atlas makes the journey “from inspiration to living practice” an accessible goal for artists, allowing them to turn their passion for art into a viable career. They're all about empowering artists, which is a mission NOT REAL ART wholeheartedly supports. Listen to our conversation with Fractured Atlas CEO Theresa Hubbard below. For more information, please visit http://notrealart.com/fractured-atlas
Art and culture are essential elements that keep communities healthy, vibrant, and connected. Artsville founder Louise Glickman even thinks of art as the glue that holds communities together. With this in mind, artists in Biltmore Lake, Candler, NC, have partnered with Artsville to produce a studio tour with a twist! Introducing BLISS, the first-ever Biltmore Lake's Imaginative Studio Stroll, where 25 artists plus several guest artists will show and sell their art from their Biltmore Lake homes on Saturday, May 6th, 2023. In today's episode of the Artsville Podcast, co-hosts Louise and Scott “Sourdough” Power are joined by fellow art enthusiast and BLISS volunteer team member, Elaine Scherer, to talk about the important role this world-class event plays in positioning Candler as a creative outpost and how it will broaden, strengthen, and acknowledge creative networks within the surrounding communities. To learn more about how you can join Biltmore Lake's artists for their first annual studio tour, what you can expect to see on the day, and what you can do to contribute, be sure to tune in today!Key Points From This Episode:Louise offers some context for this “fun, different, and imaginative” event.How the action-oriented Elaine became involved in BLISS.Why art is fundamental for any well-connected community, functioning like a glue.A look at what art means to Elaine as a registered nurse.Visitor attractions and the artists that are participating in BLISS.What makes BLISS a studio tour with a twist (and how we came up with the name).The spirit of service that drives Elaine's unique style of leadership.Louise explains what attracts people to Biltmore Lake, including professional talent.How you can contribute to BLISS and become one of our volunteers.Some of the small and local businesses that are getting involved in the event.Why BLISS is a family-friendly event and an excellent learning opportunity for kids.Links Mentioned in Today's Episode:BLISS: Biltmore Lake's Imaginative Studio Stroll — https://www.biltmorelakeartists.com/BLISS on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/BLArtStroll/Elaine Scherer on Twitter — https://twitter.com/AVLRNElaine Scherer Email — emscherer828@gmail.comKatrina Chenevert Gallery — https://www.katrinachenevertgallery.com/Fractured Atlas — https://www.fracturedatlas.org/Artsville — https://www.artsvilleusa.com/Artsville Podcast — https://www.artsvilleusa.com/tag/podcast/Scott “Sourdough” Power — https://www.notarealartist.com/Louise Glickman — https://www.louiseglickman.com/Daryl Slaton — http://www.tailsofwhimsy.com/Crewest Studio —
Why Make Podcast, Wendy Maruyama Episode Part 1 Transcript Time Code00:00 Robb HelmkampHello and welcome to Why Make, where we talk to makers from different disciplines about what inspires them to make.With your hosts Robb Helmkamp and, Erik Wolken Erik Wolken. If you would like to learn more about the makers we interview on Why Make please go our website why-make.comRobb HelmkampAnd please help support the Why Make podcast and Why Make productions by making a tax refundable donation to us on Fractured Atlas.Erik WolkenFractured Atlas is our new non profit fiscal sponsor which allows us to access a wide range of funding possibilities including funding available only for non-profits Robb HelmkampVisit https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/the-why-make-project or go to the donate to Why Make page on Why-Make.com 01:01 Robb HelmkampWelcome to our first podcast of the 2023 season of Why Make. This episode is part one of our in depth conversation with the artist Wendy Maruyama.Erik Wolken Wendy Maruyama is a furniture maker, sculptor and retired educator who resides in San Diego California. Wendy's work has tackled a wide scope topics from traditional furniture forms to exploring her Japanese heritage and the imprisonment of Japanese Americans during WW2 to the issue of endangered species.Robb HelmkampAs we discuss later in the podcast Wendy was born with significant hearing loss and cerebral palsy and at her request, to aid our listeners, we have included a full transcript of our conversation on our web page for this episode which can be found on the podcast page of why-make.com It can also be found in the episode notes on Apple podcastsErik WolkenPlease join us and take a listen to our wide ranging discussion with one of the more amazing artists in the woodworking field, Wendy Maruyama.02:03 Erik Wolken Okay, are we ready to have a very serious conversation about nothing?Wendy MaruyamaOh, yeah that will be fine by my book.Erik Wolken We'd like to welcome Wendy Maruyama to the Why Make? Podcast.Robb Helmkamp Welcome Wendy. Welcome to Why Make!Wendy MaruyamaThank you! Thank you for having me, you guys.Erik Wolken The question we always start the podcast with is: What is your first memory of making something?02:00 Wendy MaruyamaWell, you know, I can remember when I was maybe four or five years old, my mom used to bring home these little art kits, craft kits, maybe not coloring books. But things that you had to like put together. And I remember very distinctly a paper cutout book where we had to fold them and they were sort of kinetic. I remember I was more interested in the whole fabrication process verses drawing and painting. Although I did draw and paint when I was little, but I preferred punching holes in paper and you know that sort of thing. So I would say that would be my earliest recollection of making stuff.Erik Wolken Right. So you are an active maker. You liked to be involved in the making. You weren't a passive maker.03:47 Wendy Maruyama Right. Got to be more than just a piece of paper and crayons. I want to ...Even if it meant crumpling paper up or stabbing a piece of paper with a dowel rod, or...Robb Helmkamp Not just making marks but making holes in things too, changing the shape of it.Wendy MaruyamaRipping things apart. I remember needle craft stuff too. Like working with yarn and string. And of course you know back in the 50s the kinds of toys one would get would be very much based on gender and I never got the little hammers and the screwdriver kits for kids, you know. I got the sewing kit and the dolls and that kind of thing. So hopefully that changed a little bit now, but I do remember that pretty clearly because I would go to my cousin's house. I had male cousins and they all had the really cool cars (coins?). That wasn't made available to me because I guess mom felt like I needed more of a Homemaking Type Kit.Erik Wolken What was your first introduction and attraction to furniture and woodworking when did that come?05:12 Wendy MaruyamaWell, you… if you want the earliest: I remember in 6th grade camp, we got sent away to some mountain retreat. When we were all in 6th grade and I really kind of hated it because I hate camping and I hate hiking. I am just not into the outdoor scene. But the most fun things I remember… we had to find a piece of wood in the woods and bring it back to craft room and sand it. Make it all pretty and put oil on it. And I remember the transformation of the wood once I sanded it and made it all pretty and put oil on it, kind of magical. I think my mom still has this piece of wood somewhere. I think I saw it on her dresser a couple of years ago. But anyway, so that would be my earliest memory. But then my first piece of furniture happened when I was 19. I was taking a craft class at a junior college that was in San Diego called Southwestern College and they had an excellent craft program. And this would be the 70s and craft was really enjoying a huge revival at that time and so I was taking jewelry and ceramics. The craft class, we didn't really have a woodworking program, but we had a craft class, which introduced us to all sorts of things, like batik and textiles. And so that we did a little bit of ceramics and weaving and then woodworking was the final project and I was really intrigued by the fact that, you know, I was able to use the machines. And the other good thing was that the woman that was teaching class also made furniture. So kind of like wow, you know, Joanne can work in wood! You know, I'm going to learn how to work in wood. So anyway... I made a three legged chair that was really kind of organic, kind of poorly made, but I didn't know what I was doing. We didn't have any machines for doing mortise and tenon and she (Joanne) didn't use joinery in her work. It was kind of a California thing. We used a lot of dowels you know, and I think that was inspired by Sam Maloof who used a lot of dowels to fabricate his furniture and the dowels were decorative of course too. You know were you use contrasting woods with dowels. And back in those days, we were using a lot of leather so I had leather seat and it was uh pretty hippy influenced work. And its funny because I have the chair in my studio now and I want to replace the seat and maybe clean it up a little bit, you know. But anyway, that was my first piece of furniture. That would be 1971 maybe seven? Yeah '71.Robb Helmkamp That's great that you still have it.Erik WolkenYou'll have to send us a picture of that piece. And if it was truly hippie Wendy, you would have macramé the seatWendy MaruyamaOh, maybe.09:26 Erik Wolken Did you know who Sam Maloof was when you were 1909:30 Wendy MaruyamaUm. No I didn't actually. But you know looking back, I remember thinking, "Why did I use dowels?" Oh and it was screwed together. Screws and the dowels were really there too hide the screw head. Anyway, I didn't know Sam's work until I went to San Diego State. I transferred from Southwestern to San Diego State. Now Larry Hunter was my teacher there and he was the one who kind of exposed me to a lot of makers at the time. Wendell (Castle) well, of course, was a biggie and he had a huge Influence on California woodworkers and we had some really amazing woodworkers in California too. Larry Hunter being one of them and Jack Rogers Hopkins who I think is greatly under appreciated for his work. He did some massive stack lamination pieces. Personally I think that he I think he was really the first person to really incorporate stack lamination into furniture. And I think that Wendell started using the same techniques, around the same time, but my feeling is that Jack was really the early pioneer for that method of working.One day I remember seeing a movie not a video, but it was a movie, you know we he had a movie of him building a music stand from start to finish. It was a much different method of construction and stack lamination. That movie was probably made in the late 60's, 67 maybe. B ut my main influence at that time was Tommy Simpson. I was really just wowed by Tommy's work at that time, you know? So sculptural. And it wasn't merely about woodworking, it was more about fantasy forms that one could make. I think all of his work was made with wood. But, I think could have been interpreted into Paper Mache, plaster, with the kind of forms he was creating with wood. And of course it was all painted. So my first piece of furniture that I did for Larry Hunter was a desk that was very inspired by Tommy Simpson. But it's all made out of chicken wire, plywood and Paper Mache.Erik WolkenAnd this was in a woodworking class you did that? 12:40 Wendy MaruyamaYeah this was a woodworking class. And so I think maybe it was like an introduction and maybe I showed this piece and Larry might have said well it would be faster if you made it out of chicken wire and plywood. You know, you might be able to achieve the form more quickly. So maybe he was trying to you know encourage me to create that form with the little knowledge that I had in woodworking. It was beginning class so it's interesting how he let me do that. If I was teaching a beginning class, I probably would not have said, "Oh make it out of Paper Mache." But uh in hindsight, I wish maybe I could have encouraged that. But, I think I was to deprogramed by the time I started teaching out. I had too many educators that, you know, dictated what woodworking should be and how it should be taught.Erik WolkenSo what were those first what pieces you actually created for him like?14:02 Wendy MaruyamaWell let me tell you, the assignments that I got were so totally different from what most of us are familiar with. And you have to remember this is the early 70's! One assignment was to go out into the woods and be with nature, look around and find something beautiful that was natural. And thinking about it now sounds so crazy. But anyway, so I found a seedpod out in the woods and decided to make a carved hand mirror that was inspired by this seedpod. But that was one assignment. And the second one, was um, I decided to make a music stand or a book stand and I wanted it to emulate a whales tail. You know, when a whale breaches in the ocean and it dives you see that beautiful tail coming out. Well the upper part of my bookstand had a lamp and the tail was really part of that lamp. You know, looking back I'm kind of glad I had those kinds of experiences when I was more naive and perhaps a little more open minded about what furniture could be. There were fewer limitations, if I remember, back in those days.Robb Helmkamp It's really neat to see you incorporating nature into your work already with the whale. I mean, how prescient is that about work that we're going to talk about later in the podcast. But, I think that was one of my most favorite things about living in California was being able to see the whales out in the ocean and go whale watching.16:08 Wendy MaruyamaI agree. Talking about California after having been on the east coast for a while. And then coming back to California the plants are so different here, you know, just sort of otherworldly. The cactus, you know, even the more tropical looking plants that you see, the colors are so different. And I think that had a profound effect on my work. When I returned to California in the in the 80's I really started splashing that paint around. Well, you know, I was free from the indoctrination of the east coast woodworking scene.Robb Helmkamp Ha ha ha haErik WolkenLet's keep on moving on. And let's talk about Mickey Mackintosh. I think that's the first piece that I saw. Was that the first piece you saw Robb?Robb Helmkamp I think it was. When I started at Haywood Community College. My teacher Wayne Rabb talked about and presented some of your work in his slideshows. I remember seeing Mickey Macintosh and just being blown away. You know, not initially, not knowing what to think, but then reading into it and finding out the story behind it. And, you know, I think I tried to make up my own story about it when I first saw it, Erik WolkenSo what is the story behind Mickey Mackintosh?17:37 Wendy MaruyamaThat was made in 1980 or 1981 and I had just graduated from RIT, Rochester Institute of Technology. And I was free, gleefully, free from school and from assignments and the watchfull eyes of Bill Keyser and Doug Sigler. I felt like I could do anything I really wanted. So I decided that I have always loved Charles Rennie Mackintosh chairs. I love the tall back chairs, and I loved Disneyland as a kid. Any opportunity I could get to and get Mom and Dad to take me to Disneyland was just heaven and one of my favorite memories was having one of those Mickey Mouse hats where you would have the big black mouse ears. I think I have an old picture of me wearing that. I thought to myself that would interesting to mash up the two things into one piece. So I said why not and I wanted to take two iconic images and put it into one piece. And that's how Mickey Mackintosh was born. I know a lot of people didn't love it, think of it back in the 80's. I showed that piece at Pritam and Eames in '82 or '83 and it never sold and then it went to another gallery. 30 years later now there has been a lot of interest in the chairs and I have sold so many of them just in the last 10 years. And so I had established there would be an edition of 25 starting in 1981 and so slowly have been pumping out the chairs over the last 40 years, and I just finished the last 10 of the edition which is now in New York City at R and Company Gallery.Robb HelmkampWhen you first came up with the idea were you trying to achieve a mash up?20:20 Wendy MaruyamaI hate making chairs okay. I really hate them. Even now I've tried to make chairs and I keep coming up with the same shtick for years. You know it just is hard to break out of that ubiquitous chair form, with 4 legs and slats and a seat and I kept drawing it over and over and over again and I just couldn't make any progress. And then I was drinking coffee and I put the coffee cup down and it made like a ring on top of my drawing and I thought oh my God that is perfect. So I am going to put those ears and that is how that happened you know. Robb HelmkampThat's perfect!Wendy MaruyamaIt just worked out, it just looked so good, it was the first time I can say oh I loved that piece. I usually don't brag a lot about my work and say oh this is a piece I made I love it's an amazing piece it's the Mickey Mackintosh Chair. That doesn't happen very often you know. Erik Wolken Do you have the original drawing with a coffee cup stain? Erik Wolken One more question about the Mickey Mackintosh chair. You use that industrial Zolotone finish? Was that inspired by the coffee stain as well?21:45 Wendy MaruyamaYou Know, there's not a lot of resources in Smithville Tennessee, there was an auto body supply store on the main drag there, that's the first time I saw a can of um I guess it's called Zolotone. I think it was called splatter paint or truck paint. I think it was made by Napa and it was black with little red and blue speckles. And thought it was the perfect color combination for Mickey Mackintosh. You stepped back and you saw that basically a black chair but if you walked up very close to it you not only saw the red and the blue but you felt the texture. It was smooth. That is how I came up with that surface. It was just serendipity that I came across that paint. Interestingly around the same time one of my colleagues at that time who was Ed Zucca had also discovered that same paint but he was using it in a very different way.Erik Wolken Actually, one more thing about the I lied, I'm gonna ask one more question about the Mickey Mackintosh chair. Why do you think the chair wasn't accepted in the 80s but was much was accepted much later?23:25 Wendy MaruyamaI don't really know. I mean, I wish I knew because it was the coolest thing I thought, but it wasn't the price I remember how cheap it was, I sold the first few ones for 500 bucks that's basically almost the cost of materials. But you know, nowadays, but I guess maybe because it sort of had a vintage reference to it, it just became iconic over the years. I think it took a couple of museums to highlight it. I think um it really helps when a museum supports your work and that more people would notice it. I think one of the first museums to acquire this piece was the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and Glenn Adamson was the curator back then and he was creating a show about post modernism which of course this took place in the 80's. And so it was just sheer luck that Glenn wanted to utilize that chair for the collection and pushed it. Actually he pushed it from somebody else who bought it for hardly anything, and then like sold it for like a butt load of money. But I finally got my due after a bunch of... I was able to sell those chairs at a fair price, shortly after that. I hate talking about money, anyway.Robb Helmkamp It's kind of neat to see that they have a life that is now on to almost 42 plus years. Wendy MaruyamaYeah. Robb Helmkamp So you said you just made 10 More of them for the fall? What's it like making a piece after 42 years and I know you have made them, you know, on the way but 42 years after the first one. That's great.25:50 Wendy MaruyamaYeah. It's interesting because I've been invited to participate in a chair show here in San Diego. I was, oh God... I don't even know why I said yes. But I said yes. And I was back at the same place drawing the same stick chair over and over and over again. So finally just out of necessity I had to stop and I started ripping from three quarter inch square cherry stock and started making what looks like a ladder making a ladder but it's actually a ladder with the a little chair stuck on the bottom and the foot rail I made what looks like little mouse ears sitting at the top just because I needed to get it done you know, but it came out kind of cute. I mean it's cute. So I call it Matador because it looks like a little matador hat you know those little hats that bullfighters wear. That's kind of like a offshoot of Mickey Mackintosh in a way. Maybe I am doomed to that kind of chair design?Robb HelmkampI wouldn't call it doom. I mean, it's almost iconic now that you... you know, you know that you can incorporate that shape to your chairs.Wendy MaruyamaIt's doom, It's doom, I'm doomed. Robb HelmkampAh it's not Doom!Wendy MaruyamaI love that word "DOOMEDRobb HelmkampIt's a good word. Erik WolkenI think your next piece ought to be called "Mickey Macintosh Doomed" And you can riff off of that ideWendy MaruyamaYeah. Erik WolkenMaybe Mickey's ears fall off? So moving along past Mickey and through time. There is a wonderful episode of you on the Craft in America Series on PBS. And it is the Identity episode. And I think you do a wonderful job in that episode of explaining all of your different identities. And I was just sort of hoping that you would go back and sort of rehash that little piece for us?28:03 Wendy MaruyamaWell you know... I was born with a hearing deficiency, I am about 80% deaf and I also have cerebral palsy, which has not really limited me too much, but it does affect my motor control. So you know, as much as I didn't like that identity over the years, in the last 10 years maybe, I started to learn to embrace that identity. In the past I tried to ignore it. And not think about it so much. Then I realized maybe it was not a good idea because people may find it noticeable and I should be up front about it so that people maybe would feel less uncomfortable with hearing me or seeing me for the first time. And if I can embrace that I think it makes it easier for other people to embrace it as well. That is my theory anyway. And then there's the Asian identity. I probably didn't even know I was Asian until grade school. When people were asking me if I was Chinese or Japanese. I would go home and ask Mom, "Are we Chinese or Japanese?" or they would ask me if Dad knew how to do Judo. And you know that kind of thing and that's when I realized they were kind of, being Asian was, was a thing. And then of course I identify as being a maker that's a huge one for me. I am very proud to be a maker, I am very proud to be a crafts person and I am fortunate that I have that too. I guess it's kind of a form of therapy, maybe? I don't know what I would do without that skill. You know? Anyway, so those are my identities that you know some are less obvious than others, and oh being a woman, that's another oneRobb Helmkamp And so on being a woman, you were one of the very first women to graduate with a master's in furniture and design from RIT.30:54 Wendy MaruyamaKind of hard to believe! I can't even believe that's the big deal now, you know, but yeah I guess. There are plenty of other students female students in the program, but they were undergrads. And when they said, you know, you and Gail Smith (Gail Fredell) are going to be the first MFA students to graduate from RIT. I was like wow, you know, ok.Robb Helmkamp So what does this mean? Wendy MaruyamaI don't know. Who cares anyway? Robb HelmkampYeah, that's… a that's a great attitude to have about it. Yeah, it's like you are being an iconoclast without knowing it.31:48 Wendy MaruyamaMaybe that's a good way to put it. No, I was not really aware of that. And it was really funny because after I graduated there was kind of a slew of exhibitions that were called "woman woodworkers" and "women in wood". I guess that was a good thing? I know that a lot of other woman woodworkers feel kind of ambivalent about that, and I could understand that. I mean you want to be accepted as a woodworker regardless of whether your male or female. On the other hand you want to sort of prove something. I'm happy to be able to represent to put it that way. But I don't want it to be the only thing that kind of identifies my work I want to be acknowledged for what I can do and what I like to do. I suppose that would be a hard discussion in itself?Erik WolkenThis is the end of part 1 of our discussion with Wendy Maruyama. Please make sure to listen to part 2 as well
Why Make Podcast, Wendy Maruyama Episode Part II TranscriptTime Code00:00 Robb HelmkampHello and welcome to Why Make, where we talk to makers from different disciplines about what inspires them to make.With your hosts Robb Helmkamp and. Erik Wolken Erik Wolken. If you would like to learn more about the makers we interview on Why Make please go our website why-make.comRobb HelmkampAnd please help support the Why Make podcast and Why Make productions by making a tax refundable donation to us on Fractured Atlas.Erik WolkenFractured Atlas is our new non profit fiscal sponsor which allows us to access a wide range of funding possibilities including funding available only for non-profits Robb HelmkampVisit https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/the-why-make-project or go to the donate to Why Make page on Why-Make.com 01:03 Robb HelmkampWelcome to our first podcast of the 2023 season of Why Make. This episode is part two of our in depth conversation with the artist Wendy Maruyama.Erik Wolken Wendy Maruyama is a furniture maker, sculptor and retired educator who resides in San Diego California. Wendy's work has tackled a wide scope topics from traditional furniture forms to exploring her Japanese heritage and the imprisonment of Japanese Americans during WW2 to the issue of endangered speciesRobb HelmkampAs we discuss later in the podcast Wendy was born with significant hearing loss and cerebral palsy and at her request, to aid our listeners, we have included a full transcript of our conversation on our web page for this episode which can be found on the podcast page of why-make.com It can also be found in the episode notes on Apple podcastsErik WolkenPlease join us and take a listen to our wide ranging discussion with one of the more amazing artists in the woodworking field, Wendy Maruyama.02:06 Erik Wolken Moving along Wendy, let's talk about the next phase of your work. Because the next phase of your work use do start to tackle some of your identities in your bodies of work in Turning Japanese, Simple Pleasures and Indulgences & Men in Kimonos you do start to sort of not only address your heritage, but really start to use narrative in your work. What was what was behind all of that? I mean, what do you think was the inspiration behind that? The whole thing that started with Turning Japanese and Men in Kimonos exploring your cultural identity.02:42 Wendy MaruyamaI think the Turning Japanese series the Men in Kimono riff came from my first trip to Japan could be in '92 maybe I can't remember but I'd never been to Japan until the early 90's and like anybody else I was just amazed by what I was seeing over there especially the craft scene. There is such a strong craft heritage in Japan not only with woodworking, ceramics of different styles at the same time some of the fields like textiles really evolved into the modern times to use the unusual fibers and metal in weaving. And then of course, going to downtown Tokyo in the Shibuya District dominated with all this neon stuff, it was very much like Blade Runner if you've seen the movie Blade Runner? It was clearly based on Tokyo. And so there are these two very different aspects of Japan, the old and the very, very, very new high tech side of it. There is a little bit of conflict to you know, I'd be riding on the subway and you can see these Japanese business men reading these pornographic cartoons it was called Manga. I think it was it all these lady with big boobs, it's all cartoons. It was such a flurry of images and so I think some of that was mostly my personal response to what I saw in Japan and I realized that I didn't fit even though I was Japanese American. Japanese descent. I did not fit into that whole culture, I mean, even if I tried. I mean, I'm kind of proud of it from a distance but I realized I don't think like that. So, maybe that was kind of a mixture of sadness and relief in a way. It is a very patriarchal society so there was that and it was kinda just a response to my experiences going to Japan.05:44 Erik WolkenAnd the other interesting thing about that body of work is you begin to introduce using video and still images into it too. And you're really starting to truly experiment with your craft and and I thought that was absolutely wonderful. You know, you reached outside the box, which I think is what we all aim to do as artists. When you first started using video and still images? And where did that come from?06:11 Wendy MaruyamaI'm trying to think. Trying to remember if the Tasmanian Tiger piece was first, I think it was. But anyway, in the Turning Japanese series I started using photo's because I went to a flea market in Kyoto. It's one best thing about Japan! It's amazing what you can find at the flea market. Some love it. If you ever go to Japan, make sure that you go into a big flea market either in Kyoto or Tokyo. The stuff that you find is amazing, but anyway, I came across a box of old black and white photographs of Kabuki actors. And I found out later that in Kabuki theater, women were not allowed to perform. I don't know if that is the case now? But women were not allowed to perform in Kabuki and so the female characters in a Kabuki play were always played by men who were expert at mimicking the feminine movement of women in the story. So all these men I mean all these women in kimono were actually men and they were quite beautiful and alluring and I was just kind of fascinated by that, how these beautiful, these men were. And they were prettier than I was and I thought it be kinda fun to use some of these images. At the same time, I'm a big Japanese sci-fi fan I think that was because that was the first time I saw Japanese people in a movie. It was in a Godzilla movie where you see all these Japanese people running from Godzilla. In one of the Godzilla movies there's these twin fairies (the Shobijin). I don't know if you remember they were sidekicks to Mothra, who was another monster. So I wanted to create this sort of these twin geisha women in the image of this. Oh I don't know, it's amazing about Photoshop, I was taking Photoshop class, and it's amazing how you can make fantastical images using Photoshop. So that was an opportunity to experiment with different media. I tend to jump around from, you know, from subject to subject cause that's the way my life goes. I'm not one to stay with one idea for 40 years, I think I would be bored to death. So it's important for me to just kind of reflect my life through my work. And so hopefully you get an idea what I've been going through by seeing my work in a linear pattern.09:41 Erik Wolken Yes, you definitely see a progression of your work, because then the next body of work you move on to is Executive Order 9066. And the Tag Project. And of course this is referring to, and I'm going to use the correct terminology. This is referring to the incarceration and or imprisonment of the Japanese people on the West Coast of America during World War Two. Just to give you an idea of the scope of this project, and Wendy you can go on to talk about it more, but there were 120,000 Japanese, people of Japanese heritage, imprisoned during EO 9066. And the Tag Project, you printed out a replica of the original tags, these people wore as they were sent to their prison camps. 120,000 tags, that is a mind boggling number.10:38 Wendy MaruyamaThat's a lot of tags. I started this the body of work when I was an artist in residency at SUNY New York, SUNY Purchase that is State University of New York Purchase. I knew that I needed to do this work, but I wasn't really ready until then. I mean it's a really hard topic because my mother's side of the family was deeply impacted by Executive Order 9066 because they were in Los Angeles at the time when Pearl Harbor was bombed and all that happen. But what struck me and kind of made me sort of angry was I was really surprised at how many people didn't even know about this episode in American history, especially on the East Coast and in the south and even now sometimes you run into people who don't even know about it. I think people know, more people know about it now. But even 15 years ago, when I started this project I was running across a lot of people who didn't know, they kind of knew but they didn't really know. And when you tell them how many people were sent away to these prison camps but it's daunting to think about. And so I also thought a lot about the Holocaust too. It doesn't hold a candle to what happened here, but still the fact that Executive Order 9066 happened in this country, this country of freedom and all that. I just really wanted to bring that to the forefront with my work. And I also wanted to get to know more of the Japanese American community. And so one of the first things I did was that I reached out to the local San Diego Japanese American historical society to learn more about Executive Order 9066. And I started talking to a lot of other people who were sent to prison in Poston, which was in Arizona. Most people from San Diego were sent to prison camp in Arizona. And that's when I started to make it into a community project and I would host these tag writing parties we would have different chores people would stamp tags, they would write the names, they would tie, tie them together, there were a lot of processes in for each tag and the only way I was going to be able to do 120,000 tags was to make it a community project. But hopefully make it an educational project, but also social advocacy project. So that people can learn about what happened. And I would show a slide show before we would start working on the tags. I was going to temples and churches and high school classrooms, and college classes, and galleries and museums. So it was kind of a broad outreach and it took 4 years but we did manage to finish all the tags in time for the 70th anniversary of Executive Order 9066.Erik WolkenThat was a massive undertaking, what led you I mean, what led you at the beginning to first think of producing these 120,000 tags?14:54 Wendy Maruyama I must have been crazy, you know. I started out by making just a few tags of people that my family knew. And I was incorporating them into cabinet pieces and for instance this one cabinet had the image of a young Japanese American girl in the back. And the tags were all showed they were under the age of 10 and were sent to camp in 1942. But then a friend of mine, Christine Lee came to visit me in NY and she said, you know, it would be amazing if you could do all 120,000 tags. Now, Christine, kind of, she does this kind of work, you know that that very labor intensive. And at first I thought she was crazy. but then, you know, I thought about it and the impact it would have would be so much more powerful than just seeing a couple of tags here and there. And um I like the idea of art reaching in... You know, I am kind of a shy person and so it is really hard for me to like reach out to strangers and just interact. I think it has a lot to do with my hearing disability,, it kind of forced me to do that. 16:44 Erik Wolken Right. And, and I mean, we'll have pictures of all this up on our website. But um just to paint a picture. So there's two pieces to the Tag Project in EO 9066. So there is the Tag Project, which represents all 120,000 people that were imprisoned, and then... Robb HelmkampIn 10 camps I correct?17:03 Erik WolkenRight. Memorializes, the 10 camps that were mostly over the Southwest, and just amazing images of these places where people were housed for three, four years, and it's an equally intense part of the piece. You know, I would I would encourage people to look into it further. And also there is a great website called www.densho.org, which will help better inform you about the incarceration and imprisonment of people of Japanese, Japanese Americans remember these were Americans, Japanese Americans during World War Two.Robb HelmkampAnd then there's also you've kept quite a blog about the process of the project on your website.17:50 Wendy MaruyamaI did and I feel bad that I haven't really kept it up to date, but it was really to follow the whole process of the tag project. At the same time I wanted to share relevant news articles that were not only about the Executive Order 9066, but just discrimination. I remember working on the tags and this whole outcry with a woman at the UCLA library posted a video of herself complaining about Asian students in the library and she was making fun of the way they talked, shing shong chi chong. But video went viral, and it kind of backfired on her. Discrimination on that level is still alive and well, most people know now. Erik Wolken So moving on to your next advocacy project, because this really is a phase of your life where you're taking on a very much the role of an advocate is the Wildlife Project. Do you want to describe the Wildlife Project a little bit?19:07 Wendy MaruyamaLike I have said before, and I think you know this, I love animals more than people, who are just awful. I started reading too many articles about the demise of the elephant in particular. Poaching for the ivory and it's not only just the elephants, but rhinoceros and tigers, all for the sake of being able to show off someone's wealth. The elephant population was really precariously dropping to the point the danger of becoming extinct. So I wanted to do a whole series of work, kind of highlight this issue. And at the same time, I meet somebody, Elizabeth Kozlowski, who was an independent curator and she wanted me to do an exhibition at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, which is where she was working at the time. And so that was the incentive to make a whole body of work about wildlife. Again, you know elephants are big and I wanted to be able make these huge pieces and I had to figure out a way to make them big without making them heavy and difficult to manage. At the time, I was working in a very small studio. And so I came up with the idea of making them out of very thin pieces of wood and sewing them together. When I was in high school, I loved to sew and the fabrication of making a dress or an article of clothing, is very three dimensional and it could be applied very easily to other materials like cardboard and wood and paper. I guess it's like a form of origami, creating volume with these very flat surfaces. So that was how that work came about and then it was accompanied with a bunch of other pieces.Erik WolkenThe other thing that fascinated me about that show is that the other pieces were in different mediums. You did a huge rhinoceros in plaster and then you did a pangolin which I'm not really familiar with what a pangolin is, in rattan It was you still continue to experiment and I just find that wonderful.22:06 Wendy Maruyama It's fun, you know like I said I think wood working just doing woodworking would really bore me to death. Just some materials they have a different capacity to express a different idea. The thing about glass is that I was able to, I was offered a residency at Pilchuck so it is kind of funny how these opportunities come together and make it possible to integrate projects and so I was able to spend I think it was two weeks or three weeks at Pilchuck and I was given two amazing glass blowers to help me make these tusks and I mean obviously glass was the perfect medium. And it was kind of tricky because you know William Morris, William Morris was a hot glass blower, he's still blowing glass he became known for the very large blown primitive forms. But he also did elephant tusks but it was a different context. He presented them a just large sculptures of beautiful tusks and I wanted to portray the tusks as being bloody and taken from a living animal. So the glassblowers and I had a conversation about that you know I said I don't want to do it if you feel like it treads too closely to other glass blowers work. But my message is completely different and they agreed that it would work with kind of presentation that I was using. The tusks were created through the help of Dan Friday and Nancy Callan who are amazing glass blowers in the Seattle area.Erik Wolken Right and then of course there's the life size and burlap rhinoceros!Wendy MaruyamaWhat was I thinking, right um.24:38 Robb Helmkamp You were thinking about that old desk that you made a long long time ago with chicken wire and Paper Mache?Wendy MaruyamaI learned a lot from that Paper Mache piece, you know I thought about that Paper Mache piece when I was doing the plaster rhino. It's kind of funny how that comes around again. The rhino was necessary to make because I wanted to have I wanted to have that scale and I wanted it be made out of plaster because it was white and fragile and it was like a ghost. But now I need to find someone who needs a plaster rhino, so if you know anybody that wants it, and if you can pay for shipping you're welcome to have it.Erik Wolken I would take the plaster Rhino. But Robb will have to pay for the shipping!25:31 Robb HelmkampWe might be able to work something out. I mean, I could put it behind me here in my office but...Wendy MaruyamaIt's the size of the small Volkswagen bug that's how big it is. Robb HelmkampAll right, we're coming out to San Diego to get that.25:41 Erik Wolken Well speaking of the Wildlife Project one of the pictures will post on the website is a wonderful picture of Robb and I and Tommy Simpson in front of one of the elephant masks when we were filming the Tommy Simpson documentary and we didn't end up using it in the documentary but it's it was it was just a wonderfully sweet moment of talking about, about your piece Wendy with Tommy Simpson. As we were as we were filming for the Tommy Simpson documentary.Wendy MaruyamaTommy Simpson, like I said, you know he was a huge inspiration back in 1970-71. I still have the very first book that he did that got torn up from years of flipping through it and sharing with my students.Robb HelmkampIts well loved and well used.Wendy MaruyamaThat really makes me happyErik Wolken The was the book was published I think...Wendy MaruyamaI would never have known that I would cross paths with Tommy Simpson back then. I mean he was like a movie star back then in the 70's and then we he came to visit San Diego one year. Oh ahhhh He stayed at my house!27:06 Erik WolkenSo let's talk about your most recent bodies of work the Color Field pieces and Memory because you're sort of leaving advocacy and going back to your roots in color. I love the Color Field pieces there, you know you're just really exploring the basics of color which is I just find incredibly appealing and almost a 2D sense as opposed to a three dimensional sense although there's texture.27:34 Wendy MaruyamaI um, you know, after doing Executive Order 9066 and the Elephant Project I was kind of beat up emotionally. It was really tough working on those pieces and it was even tougher for me to talk about those pieces after being asked to give talks during shows, it was kind of difficult to hold myself together. but anyway I'm getting better at it now. I can start talking about these things without breaking out in tears, but I needed to do something that was not heavy I needed to go back to using color again in a very pleasant way. It was an invitation to show that got me started on the Color Field pieces. Somebody in Colorado was having an exhibition of Bauhaus inspired furniture. because I think it was like 100th anniversary of Bauhaus and there is a Bauhaus Institute in Aspen so they wanted to do an exhibition of furniture but the problem was I hated Bauhaus furniture it wasn't really my thing. all that metal tubing and whatever. But I loved Annie Albers, who was a weaver with the Bauhaus movement, and she had a wonderful use of color and so I modeled my work after Annie Albers. It was kind of down my alley in terms of exploring color again. That's why they became two dimensional because of the weavings they were inspired by.29:41 Robb Helmkamp Were the pieces that you created where they kind of modeled after tambours? Like on a piece of furniture...Wendy MaruyamaYeah that's true I forgot that... I'm glad you mentioned that because tambour pieces were one of my favorite things to make actually. I've made a lot of carcass pieces that have tambours and I love the textural qualities of tambours. Yeah, for sure that was an inspiration.Robb Helmkamp Your use of more muted colors. From the Bauhaus movement I guess Annie's kind of take on it is really nice. It's nice to see that side of Bauhaus.30:26 Wendy MaruyamaI usually like punch colors but I wanted to experiment with a different tone of colors.Robb HelmkampVery beautiful. So let's talk about a little bit about Memory, one of the last bodies of work that you've, you've completed. 30:43 Wendy MaruyamaLets see in 2018 my uncle died... I have an aunt and uncle I am very close to they were kind of like second mom and dad and my uncle had severe dementia and he finally passed. I think it was 2018. I'm trying to remember but so my aunt was living alone and turned out that she had dementia as well. She was such a brilliant women and was such a role model for me it was really tough to see her decline. So we made the decision at the end of 2019 put her into a memory care facility, and so... and then of course Covid hit so right after we put her there we weren't even able to visit her for about 6 months. There was a lot of guilt and concern and so that was kind of tough. Like I said your getting older and you go through these phases and then go through things with your parents. Some of your friends may die. You know some of this stuff that you're going through at my age anyway. So the memory series was first about her loosing her memory but it's also about memories that people keep and I think it's a very powerful thing. Memories kind of get reused in a way there kind of special after a while, you start thinking about dreams that you've had and they're very similar to many different things that are kind of not intangible things that you think about. In short the work of trying to make these intangible things tangible, relatable in a very tactile way. So the memory piece I did about my aunt has a black lacquered mirror that goes from completely reflective to becomes very distorted at the very end to where you don't recognize yourself anymore, and the case that it is in has a kind of Asian aesthetic to it, being Japanese American. But there is a dysfunctional door on the left side it moves but it really doesn't function to any degree. That was referencing lack of memory, her inability to solve problems. I think that black mirrors have a lot of meaning, you know the iPhone is a black mirror, a black mirror to technology. And in Japan, this is interesting because I think I need a black mirror, the geisha woman in Japan as they aged began to use black lacquer as a mirror because the black lacquer kind of made your wrinkles go away. So you couldn't see your wrinkles so the process of aging is sort of disguised in a black mirror. Yeah, anyway, so the whole black mirror series is about conveying depth. So deep looking into that black lacquer. It looks like you're looking into a deep dark hole. Well you're looking at a reflection. It's been a lot of fun working with you with the black lacquer and I've been really lucky, because um... I don't know if you know Greg Johnson? He's a finisher in upstate New York he has been doing the black lacquer mirrors for me and he does such a beautiful job.35:11Erik Wolken The Black Mirror is just an incredible metaphor. That's just incredibly powerful.35:16 Wendy MaruyamaIt's so rich you know it's interesting how the many things you think about when you look at it. Plus I love the TV series I've seen the Black Mirror. I love that TV show.Robb Helmkamp Isn't it great? I've watched it through and through. It makes you think!Erik Wolken So and starting to wrap this up, Wendy. What are you working on now? What's your what's your what's your next body of work or what are you what are you moving forward with now?35:48 Wendy MaruyamaI am still finishing up the Black Mirror (Memory) series and wrapping up that little chair (Matador) I was telling you about earlier. But I don't really know now what I am going to be making next but hopefully I have been talking to Tom Loeser about doing something together. We were talking about maybe showing together again? No, we haven't looked at the details yet. But it is always kind of fun to show with a good old friend.Erik Wolken Well, Wendy, I just want to wrap this up because this has been an absolutely wonderful conversation with you.Wendy MaruyamaOh, good. I'm glad I hope you can get at least 10 minutes out of it.Robb HelmkampOh, I think we can at least do 15. No Wendy it's been an absolute pleasure talking with youErik Wolken Right and we always end… by saying Why MakeRobb HelmkampWhy Make36:47 Wendy MaruyamaThank you very much. Why Make
Welcome to part 2 of our "Black Women in the Arts" podcast series. Leatrice shares her story of life through the arts. Leatrice Ellzy is a seasoned arts leader, curator, producer, thinker, and fan of disruption. She is currently the Sr. Director of Programming at the Apollo Theater where she serves as a primary steward of Apollo's artistic vision and helps shape the strategic program direction of one of New York City's most vital performing arts centers, and one of the world's most recognized and celebrated artistic brands. Her unique skill set has developed over 32 years of experience in nonprofit management and development, broadcast, media relations, arts presenting & technology. Her arts management and administration experience developed through work at Woodruff Arts Center and the National Black Arts Festival (NBAF). She produced for NBAF from 2002-2005. In 2005 she was hired to manage the organization's artistic programming and later became the organization's 5th Artistic Director. Prior to joining the Apollo staff, she served as Executive Director of Atlanta's Hammonds House Museum where she was charged with reimagining the organization for the 21st century in terms of strategies for institutional sustainability and artistic focus. Leatrice is active in the field, serving on panels, and advisory committees and participating in conversations about the state of the arts nationally, regionally, and locally. Her past and present professional affiliations include the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, Fractured Atlas, Women of Color in the Arts, the Contemporary African Arts Consortium, C4 Atlanta, Idea Capital, Fulton County Arts Council, LANE National Advisory Committee, and the National Performance Network Board of Directors. Learn more about the Apollo Theater https://www.apollotheater.org/Enjoy and take a moment to share this with your tribe. Our stories are inspiring and deserve to her heard. Peace and Love, Monica Wisdom, Host, Black Women Amplified Podia is an all in one platform. Everything you need to sell courses, webinars, downloads, and community. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Thank you for listening! Please share with your tribe and leave us a great review. Appreciate it!Join our waitlist for the Power Story Formula. An incredible course designed to help you choose, build and monetize an impactful story. www.monicawisdomHQ.com to sign up. Join our private community. Women EmergedEnjoy your day, Monica Wisdom
Today we are excited to share an except of the closing plenary facilitated by Ontario, California based arts administrator and professor, Elena Marie Muslar. Elena is the Founder and Chief Empowerment Officer of Confide Creative, a coaching and consulting practice dedicated to the collective cultural and economic progress of pre-professionals and working professionals. She is also Associate Director of Programs at Fractured Atlas, a national nonprofit arts service organization that helps artists and creative businesses thrive and a Lecturer at Loyola Marymount University teaching “Introduction to Business in the Arts.” honored by L.A. County for her leadership in the arts & creative economy, commitment to cultural equity & inclusion, and dedication to community affairs & civic pride.Joining Elena in this Closing Plenary conversation, titled Money, Mindset, and Motivation: Where Artist Meets Enterprise are: New York City-based artist, Antuan Byers, Boston, MA - based artist Indira Goodwine, Durham, NC-based artist jumatatu m. poe, and Miami, FL-based artist Rosie Herrera.
In this episode, I chat with playwright Brian Gene White about about the process of developing a play from start to world premiere using his recent piece Future Tripping as an example. We also discuss the accessibility of producing, the benefits of a technical director, gathering a "crew" and surrounding yourself with good people. Brian also informs me of the newest (or at least for me) crowdfunding platform for the arts - Fractured Atlas. As with all my episodes, I walk away with new information and insight. I hope you learn a thing or two as well.Brian Gene White is a playwright, director, and actor based out of Los Angeles. He received his BFA at the conservatory at Webster University and is a company member at both the Great River Shakespeare Festival in Minnesota and the Ensemble Shakespeare Theatre in Pasadena, California. His play Future Tripping received its world premiere this year at the LOFT Ensemble in Los Angeles. His play Is Not That Strange? was a finalist in Screen Craft's 2020 stage play competition. Other plays included One Way Trip and Pilgrim.To view the video format of this episode, follow the link below -https://youtu.be/rphRRJTBllgSites and resources mentioned in this episode -Loft Ensemble -https://www.loftensemble.orgGreat River Shakespeare Festival -https://www.grsf.orgFractured Atlas -https://www.fracturedatlas.orgBetter Lemons - https://www.better-lemons.comSargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts -https://www.webster.edu/conservatory/index.phpBackroom Shakespeare Project -https://www.backroomshakespeare.comContact info and website for Brian Gene White - Website - www.briangenewhite.comEmail -briangenewrite@gmail.comTwitter -@briangenewritesFacebook -https://www.facebook.com/briangenewhite/IG -@briangenewhiteWebsites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's SpotlightPunk Monkey Productions - www.punkmonkeyproductions.comPLAY Noir -www.playnoir.comPLAY Noir Anthology –www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.htmlJames Elden -Twitter - @jameseldensauerIG - @alakardrakeFB - fb.com/jameseldensauerPunk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoirla IG - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoir_la FB - fb.com/playnoir - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductionsPlaywright's Spotlight -Twitter - @wrightlightpod IG - @playwrights_spotlightPlaywriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festivalwww.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.htmlSupport the show
In episode ten of the 12-part podcast series, "https://www.workshouldntsuck.co/white-men-journey (White Men & the Journey Towards Anti-Racism)," Tim interviews Kit Hughes, Co-Founder and CEO of Look Listen, a consulting company working at the intersection of creativity, data, and technology. This series was created to be a resource for white men who might be wrestling with questions like, “What's my role in anti-racism, equity, inclusion, and justice work as a white man with power and privilege?” and “How might my personal commitment to do this work manifest itself in the organization I help lead?” Are you new to the series? Check out https://www.workshouldntsuck.co/podcast2/ep54 (episode 54) where podcast co-hosts Lauren Ruffin and Tim Cynova introduce and frame the conversations. Download the accompanying https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X0Ly8CH4-AwrR8NL_mFNRVB1kKESr-vo/view?usp=sharing (study guide). And explore https://www.workshouldntsuck.co/white-men-journey (the other episodes in this series) with guests: Raphael Bemporad (Founding Partner) & Bryan Miller (Chief Financial Officer), BBMG Ted Castle (Founder & President) & Rooney Castle (Vice President), Rhino Foods Ron Carucci, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Navalent David Devan, General Director & President, Opera Philadelphia Jared Fishman, Founding Executive Director, Justice Innovation Lab Jay Coen Gilbert, Co-Founder, B Lab; CEO, Imperative21 Marc Mannella, Independent Consultant, Former CEO KIPP Philadelphia Public Schools John Orr, Executive Director, Art-Reach David Reuter, Partner, LLR Sydney Skybetter, Founder, CRCI; Associate Chair & Senior Lecturer, Theatre Arts & Performance Studies Department, Brown University Want to explore related resources primarily *not* by white guys? Check out https://www.workshouldntsuck.co/white-men-journey (our compilation of 30 books, podcasts, and films). BiosKIT HUGHES is a typical technology entrepreneur. He dropped out of college to start a company (it failed), spent a period of time homeless (by choice), and became an overnight success (slowly). Eventually, Kit returned to school as a two-time research fellow at the University of Georgia leading experimental technology research projects exploring mobile computing and connected devices. He credits his business smarts to his studies in strategy and innovation at MIT Sloan. Kit co-founded Look Listen in 2007 as a mash-up of a digital studio and a consulting company working at the intersection of creativity, data, and technology. Look Listen grew to have offices in Atlanta, Denver, and Portland with three centers of excellence: Brand Experience, Performance Media, and Marketing Automation. He has worked with a variety of B2B and B2C brands across multiple touchpoints: Anheuser-Busch, Arrow, BP, Char-Broil, Coca-Cola, Flextronics, GE, NCR, Philips, and Steve Harvey. Under Kit's leadership as CEO, Look Listen was recognized as one of the fastest growing privately held companies in the US by hitting #408 on the Inc 500 in 2015—staying on the list three years in a row—and has been in the top 100 fastest growing companies in Atlanta three years in a row, according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle Pacesetter Awards. Find out more about Kit https://www.linkedin.com/in/heykit/ (here). TIM CYNOVA (he/him) is the Principal of https://www.workshouldntsuck.co/ (Work. Shouldn't. Suck.), an HR and org design consultancy helping to reimagine workplaces where everyone can thrive. He is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and a trained mediator, and has served on the faculty of Minneapolis College of Art & Design, the Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity (Banff, Canada) and The New School (New York City) teaching courses in People-Centric Organizational Design and Strategic HR. In 2021, he concluded a 12-year tenure leading Fractured Atlas, a $30M, entirely virtual non-profit technology company and the largest
In episode nine of the 12-part podcast series, "https://www.workshouldntsuck.co/white-men-journey (White Men & the Journey Towards Anti-Racism)," Tim interviews David Reuter, Partner at https://www.llrpartners.com/ (LLR), a private equity firm based in Philadelphia investing in technology and healthcare businesses. This series was created to be a resource for white men who might be wrestling with questions like, “What's my role in anti-racism, equity, inclusion, and justice work as a white man with power and privilege?” and “How might my personal commitment to do this work manifest itself in the organization I help lead?” Are you new to the series? Check out https://www.workshouldntsuck.co/podcast2/ep54 (episode 54) where podcast co-hosts Lauren Ruffin and Tim Cynova introduce and frame the conversations. Download the accompanying https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YRj51JwoP5bsoqFZQa1rrQDj6QtOzODB/view?usp=sharing (study guide). And explore https://www.workshouldntsuck.co/white-men-journey (the other episodes in this series) with guests: Raphael Bemporad (Founding Partner) & Bryan Miller (Chief Financial Officer), BBMG Ted Castle (Founder & President) & Rooney Castle (Vice President), Rhino Foods Ron Carucci, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Navalent David Devan, General Director & President, Opera Philadelphia Jared Fishman, Founding Executive Director, Justice Innovation Lab Jay Coen Gilbert, Co-Founder, B Lab; CEO, Imperative21 Kit Hughes, Co-Founder & CEO, Look Listen Marc Mannella, Independent Consultant, Former CEO KIPP Philadelphia Public Schools John Orr, Executive Director, Art-Reach Sydney Skybetter, Founder, CRCI; Associate Chair & Senior Lecturer, Theatre Arts & Performance Studies Department, Brown University Want to explore related resources primarily *not* by white guys? Check out https://www.workshouldntsuck.co/white-men-journey (our compilation of 30 books, podcasts, and films). BiosDAVID REUTER is a senior private equity investment professional combining strong financial and strategic analysis skills, extensive transaction experience, and proven leadership and business development capabilities. He possesses an analytical mind that quickly adapts to new environments and situations, and is self-motivated and dynamic with natural business decision skills. David is a Partner with LLR Partners, a lower middle market private equity firm investing in technology and healthcare businesses. LLR collaborates with its portfolio companies to define high-impact growth initiatives, turn them into action and create long-term value. Founded in 1999 and with more than $5 billion raised, LLR is a flexible provider of equity capital for growth, recapitalizations and buyouts. Find out more about David https://www.llrpartners.com/team-member/david-reuter/ (here). TIM CYNOVA (he/him) is the Principal of https://www.workshouldntsuck.co/ (Work. Shouldn't. Suck.), an HR and org design consultancy helping to reimagine workplaces where everyone can thrive. He is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and a trained mediator, and has served on the faculty of Minneapolis College of Art & Design, the Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity (Banff, Canada) and The New School (New York City) teaching courses in People-Centric Organizational Design and Strategic HR. In 2021, he concluded a 12-year tenure leading Fractured Atlas, a $30M, entirely virtual non-profit technology company and the largest association of independent artists in the U.S., where he served in both the Chief Operating Officer and Co-CEO roles (part of a four-person, shared, non-hierarchical leadership team), and was deeply involved in its work to become an anti-racist, anti-oppressive organization since they made that commitment in 2013. Earlier in his career, Tim was the Executive Director of The Parsons Dance Company and of High 5 Tickets to the Arts in New York City, had a memorable stint...
While you're waiting for our Flux issue to drop, why not take a listen to Expo intern alums Leo Smith and Mitchell Evenson talk through the inspiration for Exposition Review's first chapbook, Rearview. Leo Smith is a Black, queer transmasculine poet from Inglewood, CA. They are a graduate of Smith College and associate editor at Exposition Review. Leo's work has been published in Arcanum Magazine, and they recently completed their first poetry chapbook, The Body's Owner Speaks. Coming Soon from Exposition Review: Donate on our Fractured Atlas page to get your copy of Exposition Review's chapbook, Rearview. Join us on June 11th, 2022 at Skylight Books for our Flux issue launch Stay tuned for Season 3 of Exposition Review's literary podcast, dropping June 2022! Help us spread the word! Please download, review, and subscribe to Transposition. Check out our website at www.ExpositionReview.com Thank you to Mitchell Evenson for intro and outro music, and the generous donations from our supporters that allow us to pay our authors. Exposition Review is a fiscally sponsored project of Fractured Atlas. Transposition is the official podcast of Exposition Review literary journal. Associate Producer: Mitchell Evenson Intro Music by Mitchell Evenson Hosted by Laura Rensing --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/exposition-review/support
In episode eight of the 12-part podcast series, "https://www.workshouldntsuck.co/white-men-journey (White Men & the Journey Towards Anti-Racism)," Tim interviews Marc Mannella formerly CEO of KIPP Philadelphia Public Schools and currently a consultant working with clients that range from professional sports teams, to charter schools, to non-profits. This series was created to be a resource for white men who might be wrestling with questions like, “What's my role in anti-racism, equity, inclusion, and justice work as a white man with power and privilege?” and “How might my personal commitment to do this work manifest itself in the organization I help lead?” Are you new to the series? Check out https://www.workshouldntsuck.co/podcast2/ep54 (episode 54) where podcast co-hosts Lauren Ruffin and Tim Cynova introduce and frame the conversations. Explore https://www.workshouldntsuck.co/white-men-journey (the other episodes in this series) with guests: Raphael Bemporad (Founding Partner) & Bryan Miller (Chief Financial Officer), BBMG Ted Castle (Founder & President) & Rooney Castle (Vice President), Rhino Foods Ron Carucci, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Navalent David Devan, General Director & President, Opera Philadelphia Jared Fishman, Founding Executive Director, Justice Innovation Lab Jay Coen Gilbert, Co-Founder, B Lab; CEO, Imperative21 Kit Hughes, Co-Founder & CEO, Look Listen John Orr, Executive Director, Art-Reach David Reuter, Partner, LLR Sydney Skybetter, Founder, CRCI; Associate Chair & Senior Lecturer, Theatre Arts & Performance Studies Department, Brown University Want to explore related resources primarily *not* by white guys? Check out https://www.workshouldntsuck.co/white-men-journey (our compilation of 30 books, podcasts, and films). Bios MARC MANNELLA is the President of Mannella Consulting Services, specializing in leadership coaching, and optimizing learning environments in schools, non-profits, and sport. Prior to his work consulting, Mannella had a 20-year career in education; first as a science teacher, then as founder and Principal of KIPP Philadelphia Charter School, a college preparatory middle school in North Philadelphia. After five years at KIPP as principal, he led KIPP Philadelphia's expansion to a five-school network serving nearly 2000 students in grades K-12, overseeing all aspects of school and network operations as KIPP Philadelphia Public Schools' CEO. He holds a B.A. in Psychology and Biology from the University of Rochester, and an M.Ed. in Education Leadership from National Louis University. Find out more about Marc https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-mannella-b86b7831/ (here). TIM CYNOVA (he/him) is the Principal of https://www.workshouldntsuck.co/ (Work. Shouldn't. Suck.), an HR and org design consultancy helping to reimagine workplaces where everyone can thrive. He is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and a trained mediator, and has served on the faculty of Minneapolis College of Art & Design, the Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity (Banff, Canada) and The New School (New York City) teaching courses in People-Centric Organizational Design, and Strategic HR. In 2021, he concluded a 12-year tenure leading Fractured Atlas, a $30M, entirely virtual non-profit technology company and the largest association of independent artists in the U.S., where he served in both the Chief Operating Officer and Co-CEO roles (part of a four-person, shared, non-hierarchical leadership team), and was deeply involved in its work to become an anti-racist, anti-oppressive organization since they made that commitment in 2013. Earlier in his career, Tim was the Executive Director of The Parsons Dance Company and of High 5 Tickets to the Arts in New York City, had a memorable stint with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, was a one-time classical trombonist, musicologist, and for five years in his youth he delivered newspapers for
In episode six of the 12-part podcast series, "https://www.workshouldntsuck.co/white-men-journey (White Men & the Journey Towards Anti-Racism)," Tim interviews Sydney Skybetter choreographer and founder of the Center for Research on Choreographic Interfaces that convenes experts in dance, performance, computer science, kinesiology, anthropology, social justice, and design to explore the relationship between bodies, movement, and emerging technologies. This series was created to be a resource for white men who might be wrestling with questions like, “What's my role in anti-racism, equity, inclusion, and justice work as a white man with power and privilege?” and “How might my personal commitment to do this work manifest itself in the organization I help lead?” Are you new to the series? Check out https://www.workshouldntsuck.co/podcast2/ep54 (episode 54) where podcast co-hosts Lauren Ruffin and Tim Cynova introduce and frame the conversations. Explore https://www.workshouldntsuck.co/white-men-journey (the other episodes in this series) with guests: Raphael Bemporad (Founding Partner) & Bryan Miller (Chief Financial Officer), BBMG Ted Castle (Founder & President) & Rooney Castle (Vice President), Rhino Foods Ron Carucci, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Navalent David Devan, General Director & President, Opera Philadelphia Jared Fishman, Founding Executive Director, Justice Innovation Lab Jay Coen Gilbert, Co-Founder, B Lab; CEO, Imperative21 Kit Hughes, Co-Founder & CEO, Look Listen Marc Mannella, Independent Consultant, Former CEO KIPP Philadelphia Public Schools John Orr, Executive Director, Art-Reach David Reuter, Partner, LLR Want to explore related resources primarily *not* by white guys? Check out https://www.workshouldntsuck.co/white-men-journey (our compilation of 30 books, podcasts, and films). Read "https://humanparts.medium.com/reflections-from-a-token-black-friend-2f1ea522d42d (Reflections From a Token Black Friend,)" mentioned in this episode. Bios SYDNEY SKYBETTER is a choreographer. Hailed by the Financial Times as “One of the world's foremost thinkers on the intersection of dance and emerging technologies,” Sydney's choreography has been performed at such venues as The Kennedy Center, Jacob's Pillow and The Joyce Theater. A sought-after speaker, he has lectured at SXSW, Yale, Mozilla, and Stanford, and consulted for The National Ballet of Canada, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Hasbro, New York University and The University of Southern California, among others. He is a https://vivo.brown.edu/display/sskybett (Public Humanities Fellow, Senior Lecturer and the Associate Chair of Theatre Arts & Performance Studies at Brown University), and an affiliate of https://metalabharvard.github.io/ (metaLAB at Harvard University) and https://www.darklaboratory.com/ (Dark Laboratory at Cornell University). He is a https://www.wired.com/search/?page=1&q=skybetter&sort=score (regular contributor to WIRED) and https://www.dancemagazine.com/search/?q=skybetter (Dance Magazine), has served as a Grant Panelist for the National Endowment of the Arts, is a founding member of the https://futurearchitects.com/ (Guild of Future Architects), and is the Founder of the https://choreographicinterfaces.org/ (Conference for Research on Choreographic Interfaces). TIM CYNOVA (he/him) is the Principal of https://www.workshouldntsuck.co/ (Work. Shouldn't. Suck.), an HR and org design consultancy helping to reimagine workplaces where everyone can thrive. He is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and a trained mediator, and has served on the faculty of Minneapolis College of Art & Design, the Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity (Banff, Canada) and The New School (New York City) teaching courses in People-Centric Organizational Design, and Strategic HR. In 2021, he concluded a 12-year tenure leading Fractured Atlas, a $30M, entirely virtual non-profit technology...
Elaine Del Valle is a Brownsville, Brooklyn bred Puerto Rican multi-hyphenate filmmaker. She is the winner of the HBO Latinx short film award, and was featured in the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) Director showcase. Her films have been supported by WarnerMedia 150, Knight Foundation, Fractured Atlas and the Sundance Institute. As a WRITER/DIRECTOR her short films, Me 3.769 and Princess Cut, went on to air on HBOmax. Her most recent project, Brownsville Bred recently won the Audience Award at the 2022 SXSW Festival in the “Episodic Pilot Competition” category Showrunner/Director/Screenwriter: Elaine Del Valle, Producers: Adrienne Lovette, Elaine Del Valle, Leslie Cohen, Debbie Esko-Gold, Eddie Frente Elaine is a Lynn Shelton award finalist and two-time Imagen Impact award nominee. Redefine Magazine and Miami New Times named her a Filmmaker to Watch. Ad Age called her short documentary, Tagged (filmed entirely on a mobile phone) “compelling.” While Elaine loves expressing emotion through her camera, she's most proud of being referred to as an “actor's director.” Her many years as an ACTOR trained by Wynn Handman at New York City's Carnegie Hall, combined with her passion to bring authentic Latina voices to entertainment is what led her to create her autobiographical one-woman stage play, Brownsville Bred. Elaine went on to perform Brownsville Bred off-Broadway, where the New York Times raved, "From Girlhood Trials To Onstage Triumph." Empowered and fulfilled by the experience, Elaine would continue to act while creating content representative of her Latina experience. Elaine's most recent acting role is as a recurring guest star in the ABC series Queens. As a WRITER/CREATOR, Elaine's original drama pilot, The System, landed a pilot order with CBS and Sutton Street Productions (Jane The Virgin). Under her banner company, Del Valle Productions and Casting, Elaine is a CSA casting director who has cast talented actors in hundreds of projects and PRODUCED over 50 film titles. Elaine spends her free time speaking at youth director & arts programs in underserved communities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode, we dive into re-imagining the hiring process, in particular, how it might be designed if we dusted off executive search to co-create a process that centers our values of equity, inclusion, anti-racism, and anti-oppression. Find out more about Work Shouldn't Suck's hiring-based offerings https://www.workshouldntsuck.co/hiring-assistance (here), including full-service executive search, our hiring process consultation, and our brand new values-based https://www.workshouldntsuck.co/courses2/inclusive-hiring-re-imagining-the-search-process (hiring course) launching this April. JAMIE GAMBLE (Guest Host) Jamie Gamble is the Principal Consultant of New Brunswick based http://www.imprintinc.ca/ (Imprint Consulting), and since 2002 has served organizations involved in the arts, climate change, environmental protection, economic development, public health, youth leadership, citizen engagement, and sport with consulting in strategy, evaluation, and organizational change. Jamie's specialization is developmental evaluation, and he has authored several publications on evaluation including https://mcconnellfoundation.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/A-Developmental-Evaluation-Primer-EN.pdf (A Developmental Evaluation Primer) and https://mcconnellfoundation.ca/developmental-evaluation/the-book/ (A Developmental Evaluation Companion). KATRINA DONALD (she/her): Based in Treaty 7 Territory, Katrina is the Principal Consultant at https://www.eversocurious.ca/ (ever-so-curious), and believes that listening and sensemaking practices bring us into community, reveal pathways forward, encourage and embolden us, and allow for greater impact. Her approach is relational and developmental; she works in partnership with people and organizations to co-design inclusive, collaborative, and continuously emerging evaluation and HR strategies. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Manitoba and a Masters Certificate in Organization Development and Change from the Canadian Organization Development Institute (CODI) and the Schulich Executive and Education Centre (SEEC) at York University. She is a mother, wife, daughter, sister, systems thinker, developmental evaluator, program designer, and a Registered Professional Recruiter (RPR). She's committed to showing up for her own ongoing learning and to building workplaces that are actively anti-racist, praxis-centered, and humble as they work through the prickly bramble of change. TIM CYNOVA (he/him) is the Principal of https://www.workshouldntsuck.co/ (Work. Shouldn't. Suck.), an HR and org design consultancy helping to reimagine workplaces where everyone can thrive. He is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and a trained mediator, and has served on the faculty of Minneapolis College of Art & Design, the Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity (Banff, Canada) and The New School (New York City) teaching courses in People-Centric Organizational Design, and Strategic HR. In 2021, he concluded a 12-year tenure leading Fractured Atlas, a $30M, entirely virtual non-profit technology company and the largest association of independent artists in the U.S., where he served in both the Chief Operating Officer and Co-CEO roles (part of a four-person, shared, non-hierarchical leadership team), and was deeply involved in its work to become an anti-racist, anti-oppressive organization since they made that commitment in 2013. Earlier in his career, Tim was the Executive Director of The Parsons Dance Company and of High 5 Tickets to the Arts in New York City, had a memorable stint with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, was a one-time classical trombonist, musicologist, and for five years in his youth he delivered newspapers for the Evansville, Indiana Courier-Press.
What does fiscal sponsorship do for you and your organization? Colleen Hughes, associate director of programming at Fractured Atlas, walks us through the broad array of opportunities they provide. She'll also shed light on fundraising trends she's seen with non-profit organizations throughout the pandemic.
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