Podcasts about humanness

BOSSes Anne Ganguza and Andy Roth delve into the nuances of voice acting from the perspective of a seasoned casting director. They explore strategies for success in auditions, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and making genuine choices. Listeners will gain insights into the casting process, understanding the client's vision, and the significance of following instructions. The episode addresses the impact of AI on the industry while reinforcing the irreplaceable value of human connection and unique interpretation. Anne and Andy also discuss practical advice for creating compelling auditions, handling limited information, and cultivating a resilient mindset in the face of industry challenges.   00:04 - Anne (Host) Hey, what's up bosses? Join our VI peeps today and gain access to over 350 hours of pre-recorded workshops designed to enhance your voiceover skills. From industry insights to practical techniques, our workshops cover a wide range of topics. As a VI peeps member, you'll also receive a 15% discount on current workshops and free monthly workshops to keep your skills sharp. Don't miss out on this opportunity. Sign up for VI Peeps membership now at vopeeps.com    00:39 - Speaker 2 (Announcement) It's time to take your business to the next level, the boss level. These are the premier business owner strategies and successes being utilized by the industry's top talent today. Rock your business like a boss, a VO boss. Now let's welcome your host, Anne Ganguza.    00:58 - Anne (Host) Hey, hey everyone. Welcome to the VO Boss Podcast. I'm your host, Anne Ganguza, and today I am so excited to have a very special guest Andy Roth with me here today. Andy has a career that has spAnned three decades and he is an award-winning casting director, voice director, producer and writer and is known for you Would Do it Too, too Hot to Handle Valeria, the Animal People, the Forest, my gosh this list Andy is going on and the Peculiar Adventures of Willoughby Starr. He's also served as casting director on over a thousand commercials. That is a lot of commercials. So welcome to the podcast, Andy. It's so wonderful to have you.    01:40 - Andy (Host) Thanks, I'm excited to be here. Thank you.    01:43 - Anne (Host) Gosh, I met you not so long ago and I'm not quite sure why it took so long for me to meet you, but I thank Jessica Blue for introducing us because I feel like I've known you forever and you're just amazing and I want the bosses to know how amazing you are as well. And so let's talk about you and your long, spanning career of gosh over a thousand commercials and all these productions. It's amazing. How did you get started?    02:11 - Andy (Host) Honestly and yes, I think I have worked on more commercials than any human being should probably ever really be exposed to. I got started in this business actually back in 1994. A friend of a friend heard about an opening for an assistant at a talent agency which was called CED at the time. Now it's called CESD and it was in the voiceover department and so I became an assistant there, did that for several years, then became their in-house casting director and did that till 2007 and then left on my own and I actually I didn't even know when I started that voiceover was its own thing.    02:49 - Anne (Host) I was going to ask you, did you get the experience on the job as you were casting?    02:53 - Andy (Host) Yeah, like I mean, of course I always knew about commercial voiceover and animation and things like that, but I didn't know how vast it was until I was really in the heart of it and I just I fell in love with it.    03:05 - Anne (Host) I can't imagine. I mean and so how has the industry changed and evolved over the years?    03:10 - Andy (Host) for you, Well, it's gotten bigger. So many changes I mean, it's been 30 years since I went through a couple of strikes. It was the explosion of the non-union entity, which has become a whole other thing, of the non-union entity, which has become a whole other thing. Yeah, it's become its own area of the business. I've discovered that voiceover is anytime there's something new. Voiceover is the first thing there. Oh, how interesting. Anytime there's a new piece of technology, somebody wants to put a voice on it. Siri's a voiceover. Yeah, Alexa is a voiceover. Holograms have voiceovers. Augmented reality, virtual reality. When I started in this business, it was basically 13 chAnnels and people really mostly only cared about four of them. Yes, yes.    03:58 - Anne (Host) I hear you on that.    04:00 - Andy (Host) And then cable became a thing and you had this box with three numbers on it so you could have 999 chAnnels. And now with streaming, it's just icons. I mean it's unlimited. It goes on forever. And people have discovered content from other countries that's exploded and become a thing and voices are everywhere. We are the first area of the business to adapt and change and we're sticky Once we're in a place voiceover is just going to be there.    04:32 - Anne (Host) I love that. I love that, and especially because you've been in the industry for so long and we talked about, you know, the explosion, like the technology explosion too, I mean, with first it was all union, then non-union kind of came aboard, because of the pay to place, I'm sure, and the online casting, and now we're under the threat of AI. But I guess I'd love to hear your thoughts on that, because here you are with all these wonderful, hopeful things that you're saying about voiceover, which I love and I like to tell my bosses out there as well. I mean, I think there's always a place for human voiceover.    05:00 - Andy (Host) What are your?    05:00 - Anne (Host) thoughts on that.    05:02 - Andy (Host) I think there are certain areas of the business that may be a little safer from AI, especially animation. People love to go to cons to meet the voice of their character. You can't really replace that with AI. Is it 100% safe? Maybe not, but there are people dealing with it, fortunately, and AI does a lot of good things for the world too. I mean, I've seen programs where people who have no ability to speak can speak because AI helps them. It helps search engines. I mean there is definitely a place for AI. But as far as the possibility of replacing humans in this business, there are people out there that are concerned about it, that are helping, and fortunately they've been on it since it really became apparent it could be a thing. I'm optimistic. I'm realistic in that there will be some areas where AI is going to be there. It already is, but I'm very, very optimistic about protections.    06:02 - Anne (Host) Me too, me too.    06:03 I really am. There's a lot of people fighting and, with the strike going on, which you know, fingers crossed, people are listening. I mean, I think what it is is we have voices and hopefully they're being heard, because a lot of people out there, like back in the beginning, when I got into voiceover, like what is that? Even, and even when you said you started, like what is that? Even. I think bringing awareness to the global community about voiceover and what we do as creatives and how important the creative process is, I think is really impactful in helping get us protections as we move forward. And I am a tech girl and I believe there is a lot of space for AI in the world, but I also believe there's a lot of space for human and human engagement and human creativity and I think that people crave that, no matter how good. And let's talk about this because an AI voice is perfect, and so you and I also with my students, we talk a lot about like I don't want a perfect voice when I'm directing my students.    07:02 I mean I want to hear that imperfection because that makes it real and that makes me engage and connect with it. Let's talk a little bit about that, about really, what should voice actors be doing now to really separate themselves from the crowd and also from AI?    07:19 - Andy (Host) Well, honestly, being a presence having a discussion, you don't connect to AI the way you connect to another human when it reaches its pinnacle and it's really ready to go, which it's not totally now. But the good thing about AI is it's going to do whatever you ask it to do whenever you ask it to do it. The bad thing about AI is it's going to do whatever you ask it to do whenever you ask it to do it. There are some moments that have come out of projects I've worked on. I mean, I've voice directed I think like 22 shows now that are on the air. The great thing is you give a direction and the human being interprets it their way, and sometimes you're right on the money and you're really simpatico and it's exactly what I asked for. Thank you. Sometimes we figure things out together. Sometimes they come up with something they thought was what I asked for but was actually a lot better.    08:13 When you get two independent minds with human experience, with a life, with a history of interacting with other human beings, there's a thought process there that, at least at the moment and honestly, in my opinion, for the foreseeable future, can't really be duplicated. I mean, ai is intelligence, but it is artificial and we cast based on human interaction. We connect with roles we direct. This whole industry is built on human interaction. So, to a certain point, yes, ai can get things going and smooth out maybe some of the bumps, but it's not really going to be the base on which this industry is built for human beings to connect to other human beings. That being said, not everybody sees it this way, so be vigilant and be aware of it. But as far as how people can stand out honestly, the best way for people to stand out is to be themselves. There are a lot of people I know that send me auditions that I can hear they're trying to be what they think the right thing is. Yes, absolutely.    09:19 And if I've asked you to audition, you're already the right thing. I don't know if you'll get the job, but I know that you can do the job. And I've had auditions that people didn't book lead to other jobs that they didn't even audition for. That actually just happened on a show I am on right now. I cast somebody and he was like did I audition for this? I'm like well, sort of you auditioned, like two shows ago.    09:43 - Anne (Host) I love that. Yeah, I think that's very encouraging for those actors out there who it's such a personal thing, right.    09:50 When you submit an audition, it's so hard not to get personally attached to it or feel like, oh gosh, like I really, really want this, and but then you don't hear anything or you may never get feedback and then ultimately that is, I think, when people are first starting out in this industry. It's something very hard for them to kind of let go of because it is such maybe a personal connection. But I love that you're talking about bringing yourself and the human element to the audition, because that's really what makes you unique. I'll even tell my students, because I do a lot of work in the long format narration like corporate and e-learning, and most people feel like that shouldn't have like a point of view or a feeling, but most absolutely it does, because I tell people to think about like okay, if you're going to do an e-learning module like what was it when you were going to school that made someone your favorite teacher?    10:37 Like did you have a subject that maybe you hated, but then all of a sudden, the teacher was amazing and then that's what made it interesting. And that's the type of voice that I want to come out. And there's always a point of view in that, believe it or not, it's a point of view that says I care about you as a student, that I care that you learn, and so that comes through in the voice and if you're just reading the words, or even if you're just reading the words in the sound in which you hear them all the time, which typically is very robotic for a lot of e-learning, I go on and on about why that happened for so many years. Because nobody chucked us on it and nobody was an actual teacher.    11:09 And I say that because I was a teacher in front of the classroom for 20, some odd years. But still, even if you think in what you hear, I have so many students that say, but I hear it on the commercial, it sounds like this and I'm like, yeah, but that might not have been what got them cast. It might be at the moment that someone directed them to be. And even you, if I ask, if you're directing someone, do you not only sometimes have to like talk to the client to see?    11:33 if that's what the client is thinking is good, and even what you might be like, this is great. This actor's got it nailed. The client might want something different.    11:41 - Andy (Host) Well, I work with the actor for the client. The actor is sort of the most profound connection artistically. That's the relationship that ultimately creates a thing. But I do work for the client and ultimately what they want.    11:57 I kind of think of it like this: this is a hive mind and there's a queen bee somewhere in an office with a checkbook and the rest of us are workers trying to make sure the hive is ready before it rains. So I very, very much listen to the client, want to do what the client says. I'm very much back and forth with the client. If it's a dubbed show that I'm directing, I am constantly because I could get a read that I'm like that's brilliant, that's amazing, I love it. And then I'm like that's brilliant, that's amazing, I love it. And then I'm like let's compare it to the original, because if it doesn't match or do the same thing, I'm like I love it, but we have to shelve it and we have to do what the client wants.    12:34 - Speaker 2 (Announcement) But at the end of the day.    12:35 - Andy (Host) The client has built a container that they want filmed with humAnness and it is my job to fill it up, and that happens just through us connecting. Part of what I listen for on an audition is do I get you? And I don't mean like, are you a Pisces? Or something like that. I mean Long walks on the beach, right exactly Pina coladas getting caught in the rain, not that I have a problem with pina coladas or getting caught in theaters, or long walks on the beach.    13:05 - Anne (Host) Long walks on the beach.    13:06 - Andy (Host) Let's be fair, but I do feel like I want to feel like there's a human there, because that makes me feel like I know what's going to happen in the studio, and I don't want any of us to do more work than we absolutely have to do. I want us to connect, do something, play with it, do it again, move on, and it needs to be within the container that the client has given me to fill. Does that make sense?    13:29 - Anne (Host) Yeah, absolutely so. Then if there are casting specs, and someone is paying attention to the casting specs, which a lot of times. Casting specs sometimes seem fairly generic and sometimes not. How much should they be paying attention to that and trying to like create that versus bringing their most human self to that read?    13:49 - Andy (Host) Well, I will say this about casting specs and yeah, sometimes they kind of suck and I'm sorry about that, but they are designed to help you. They are coming from somebody's mind to kind of get you to the place where you can be you in the relevant context. Sometimes they're just not actable, sometimes they are a little generic, sometimes they're not understandable, but more often I think they are. And even if we don't realize every nuance, just reading them often will get us to an emotional place where we can be ourselves, because happy you is very different than sarcastic you or sad you or angry you. I say, always pay attention to them, always read them. But If you can't make a choice based on them, then maybe sort through or throw them away, but they are always there to help you.    14:42 I mean, I do know some people that are like, oh, I never read the specs. I don't think that's the best way to go. Sure, yeah, always. But I mean again, you don't have to be beyond completely throwing them away. They're garbage or they're just completely not you, but they weren't paying attention to. Also, sometimes we put things in there like naming conventions, if I say I want the file named role underscore full name.    15:12 And I get something that's named a different way Well before I've even listened to it. You've told me you don't really care what I have to say. So yeah, I would say, always pay attention to them.    15:21 - Anne (Host) I like how you turned that into the message right.    15:24 So a lot of people I'll be like I don't understand why I will have my students name files a particular way, because they submit their homework via Dropbox and they have to name it a certain way. And if they don't, I spend half of their session looking for their file and what happens is they seem to think I'm insane for asking them to name it a certain way. And I'm like, in reality, there's a method to my madness here. I mean because if you audition, you're going to have to name that file specifically the way they're asking, otherwise it's going to get tossed to the side. I like how you mentioned that. Yeah, you've already shown that you have respect for the process by naming the file correctly, and it shouldn't be a task to do that. And if it is a task, then I think maybe you should get some computer training that can help you to do that task and to pay attention, because that's part of our job when we're submitting.    16:14 - Andy (Host) I mean, you're going to name it something.    16:16 - Anne (Host) Yeah, exactly, why not name it what we're asked?    16:19 - Andy (Host) You're not just going to send me a file with nothingmp3. Also, I find that some of these rules, although they may not be the creative process, they may not be the most fun thing, they actually do help their creative process. I was talking to somebody who is an on-camera person. They're working on their own project and it's great. And I said have you ever interned or worked at a studio? You know, it's California, there's no shortage of them. If you can't intern, well, I think that that would get in the way of my creativity and I don't want to. And it's like okay, I understand that, because you'll be in their world with their creativity, but nobody writes a screenplay and says I can't wait to gaff this.    17:08 I'm so excited to hire security and craft services. Working at a place where all of these things are just laid out, where, okay, I have to get security, I have to get craft services, I have to go file permits, I have to do all this. Working at a place that's going to make the part you don't really want to do easy, is going to free you up to focus on the creative and it's actually going to make you creatively freer because, whether it's a horror movie or a romance or a comedy, getting a permit is getting a permit. It's the same and getting used to saying, okay, I know how they want to do this. It's the reason I have people name certain things is because often I want all characters grouped together.    17:44 - Anne (Host) Yeah, absolutely yeah. There's a good reason for that, yeah.    17:47 - Andy (Host) Right, and if yeah, like you said, if I have to go searching through it, you made my job harder finding you than it was for you. To just name it what I asked you.    17:55 - Anne (Host) Don't give you homework, like I shouldn't be giving you homework.    17:58 - Andy (Host) If I'm submitting an audition, it should not be homework for you to find it and to listen to it, and yeah, absolutely, and I just may not do it.    18:06 - Anne (Host) Yeah, exactly Because you know you're that student that sits in the back of the class. I mean, I already know this about you, having met you briefly, but those are the most fun students.    18:18 Those are the creative ones that usually you know they're geniuses in the back because they're causing all kinds of trouble, but you don't want to give your talent agent or your casting director or whoever it is you're submitting your audition to. You don't want to give them homework. So what other things would you recommend are strategies for maybe creating a great audition or getting to the humAnness and the point of view that you're looking for in terms of this is the actor I want to cast.    18:45 - Andy (Host) Don't try to get it right. Don't deliberately get it wrong, like if the role obviously needs you laughing. Don't cry uncontrollably to stand out, because you will stand out.    18:55 - Anne (Host) It's got to make sense.    18:56 - Andy (Host) Yeah, you will stand out, just not necessarily in the way that you want to, but being free. So many people hang so much on every audition it's like, oh, this is the job, and if I don't get this job I failed. And that's not true. Every audition can get you more auditions. An audition is really a way to establish or reaffirm a relationship, and you'll get opportunities and jobs in this business. For one reason Somebody wants you to have that opportunity, or that job.    19:30 It's not who you know in this business, it's who knows you. Ah, I like that in an audition. I mean there's nothing anybody can teach you that's going to guarantee you're going to book everything. But being yourself making simple choices, Okay, the first line is oh my God, I'm so happy, I'm going to make a simple choice, I'm going to smile, I'm going to be happy, I'm going to listen back to it, see if it needs more or less, maybe something else, but trying to be like what did they mean by? You know, let me stand out, let me get? You don't know enough at the audition point to stand out. You haven't heard the other auditions. You don't know about the conversations the casting director's having with the client. You don't know who else is cast. You don't know. You don't know any of the parameters. Sometimes somebody wants somebody who's done a million jobs because of a time frame or there's a relationship.    20:22 Sometimes we specifically don't want that person because that person has been heard on eight other projects. You don't know any of that. What you can know is that if we've reached out to you with an audition, it's because there's already something there that lets us at least believe we know who you are. I don't need some weird ethereal happy, I just need your happy. It's also not about not needing to be directed. It's about us getting you so we can ask can you be?    20:52 - Anne (Host) happier. Can you be less happy?    20:53 - Andy (Host) Yeah, keep it simple, there's a thing.    20:57 I call the four disagreements yeah, if you want to serve the script, don't worry about serving the script. If you want to get it right, don't worry about getting it right. If you want to play the moments, don't worry about playing the moments. And if you want to make the casting director happy, don't worry about making the casting director happy. Make the choice or choices that you feel are right for the script, for the context and any other information you may have.    21:23 Was somebody that I felt was really, really right for a role. I thought they were great, they were perfect for it. I read them, I gave my little write-up about why I thought they were terrific, sent it off. The director really, really liked them and it came down to that person and one other and the other person ultimately got it. That's what the director was feeling and it was a great person. I mean, the person who got it was terrific and I liked them and I worked with them all the time. But I was like, not the way I would have gone, but fine. So season two.    22:08 I ended up directing season two and I called this actor and I said do you mind if I submit you? And they said sure, what do you want me to read? I said I don't. I want to resubmit your audition from last season. And they said but it didn't get me the job. I said no, but there's different brains involved now and we'll see. And the person who booked it last time can't do it again because they did it last time and it's a different role. And I resubmitted it with the same write-up and they ended up getting a lead role. So we hang so much on everything that we micromanage, we microanalyze. Don't look for information you don't have and not going to have. Say this is what I feel is right. I'm not an idiot. I know the business, I know my choices are right. I sometimes book. I get asked to audition again. Do them, and I'm not going to say forget about it, because that's not always how brains work.    23:03 - Anne (Host) Try to forget about it. Yeah, exactly, don't let it mentally hassle with your yeah yeah, don't schedule an extra therapy session for it or anything. Yeah, exactly.    23:12 - Andy (Host) Yeah, I mean it'll be in your head and it's fine, but know that your audition is out there working for you. Just be you. Make simple choices, things you know you can do, things you feel are right and do them.    23:24 - Anne (Host) Now here's a question which I know is on a lot of people that are just getting into the industry, or students that are just getting into the industry. It's about the lack of. They're like the words are on the page and they don't make sense to the student, because they're talking about some visual that's probably already been done or it's in the process, or the person that wrote the copy knew what visuals were going to be along with it. But yet here's the copy, but yet no storyboard. There's no other information except for maybe like casting specs about oh, we want female age, blah, blah, blah, blah. And so then they're like well, how do I interpret this? How do I even because I'll okay, who are you? Who are you talking to? You know, create that scene. And when I'm just like well, look, as long as you're committed right, you're committed to those words and they make sense, you can make up whatever scene you want that allows you to be authentic and genuine with it.    24:15 And sometimes I'm very surprised at stuff that I've done. When I look at what comes out afterwards, I'm like whoa, okay, I didn't expect that. So why is that? Are we a step in the process where we don't get fed more information, like is there a reason why there's not more storyboards or there's not more you know what I mean information given at the time of the audition, or just curious?    24:36 - Andy (Host) I never asked anybody this and I will say this. It sometimes is as frustrating for me. I would love for the actor to have everything the actor needs, but sometimes you can't. Sometimes projects are secretive. Sometimes there actually is a storyboard. I'm just not allowed to tell you. Sometimes there's information about what show it is or what the product is. I remember when Apple first started advertising the iPhones and we were casting in person because it was a long time ago and we weren't even allowed to put iPhone on the door. We weren't even allowed. It would be secret product, you know, and people would be like oh, a phone that does stuff.    25:17 - Anne (Host) But we weren't allowed to say it.    25:19 - Andy (Host) So there'd be like on the door it would say like jet plane or freezer burn or just some random word, so you would know where you should go. I worked on a show recently where there were these athletes going to this really important game and one of them is looking out the window and it's starting to rain and he's nervous and he's like, wow, it's raining out there. And the coach looks at him and goes, yeah, but it's raining for the other team too. Whatever information you don't have, neither does anybody else.    25:54 Whatever problems you have, everybody else it's raining for the other team too Sure.    25:59 - Anne (Host) Sure, I love that. It's so nice for you to validate that you know, what.    26:03 - Speaker 2 (Announcement) I mean.    26:03 - Anne (Host) Because I think a lot of times people are like but why, how? Come I don't know anymore. Why can't?    26:07 - Speaker 2 (Announcement) I.    26:08 - Anne (Host) I said it's very rare in any of my jobs in all these years that I've ever gotten a storyboard. I mean after. I get it maybe I'll get a storyboard. There'll be times I'll get storyboards with a commercial audition, but I think it's gotten less over the years. Yeah.    26:23 - Andy (Host) You get what people feel you need, and they're not always right.    26:26 - Anne (Host) And a lot of times they change again. Yeah.    26:30 - Andy (Host) And it's very much. You get what you get. You don't get upset, but you will always have everything you need to do your job. You may not feel it, it may not be as much as you want, but it is enough to get you to a place where you can come up with specifics. Even if you make them up, you can come up with a.    26:50 - Anne (Host) I'm happy, I'm sad. I'm a wise ass.    26:53 - Andy (Host) This business. We do everything we can to give you everything you need to do your job and only be as specific as you can. Don't go to a place where you're making up a whole scenario so you can feel more complete as a performer that I'm not going to get. Does that make sense?    27:12 - Anne (Host) Yeah.    27:13 - Andy (Host) Know that when we send this out, we are ready to fill in these blanks in the job Right.    27:19 - Anne (Host) And usually, if I'm not mistaken, the voiceover is probably one of the tail end of the things to be filling in, or no Is? That not a correct Like. Usually the media is finished, the things have been written. Usually there's visuals somewhere along the line that have been made and then the last thing to be cast is a voice, but maybe not when we're talking on camera. I mean, that could be. That's a different part of the process.    27:40 - Andy (Host) Yeah, well, I mean, I would say probably, I mean anytime there's an actor involved. A lot of work has been done before. Yeah, before we even start talking to actors, and a lot of work's going to be done after the actors are gone. So, yeah, on camera, yeah, of course you're on set for a little bit longer probably than voiceover, but, yeah, often things are in place and we do our best to ask is that what you're saying? Yeah, yeah, absolutely yeah, yeah, but there's a lot that happens before anybody asked me to do anything.    28:12 - Anne (Host) There's a lot that happens before the mixer's involved or anything yeah, yeah, I think it's good to know that we're only one tiny piece of like an entire project and sometimes, I think, in our own little worlds. We tend to forget that in our booths right. We're like oh the voiceover is like front and center and in reality there's so many other components to probably creating this project or commercial or movie or whatever it is.    28:38 There's so many other parts and we get so wrapped up in just our part of it that I think we have to realize that we're just a cog in the wheel so to speak, it's an important cog I mean, the machine won't work without it. Exactly.    28:50 - Andy (Host) But we do mesh. It's a great analogy, metaphor simile, simile, it's a great simile. Yeah, right, I thought I was an English teacher. There you go, simile, there you go. Oh, I love it. I love it, it's a great, yeah, simile.    29:10 Yeah, because, like I said, we're all worker bees yes, yeah, I know that we have a lot of the same issues too. There's stuff I can't know, there are things I'm not allowed to be a part of, and there's a lot of processes. So, yeah, just do your job. Don't worry about what we want or what somebody else is looking for or somebody else is hiding. We're not, we're not hiding anything. We just need you to be you, to know what that cog is.    29:26 And again, I have anxiety attacks when I get a job, sometimes because there's just so much stuff I haven't gotten to sit down with it yet. I haven't seen a script, I don't have a cast. Sometimes I don't have all the episodes of a show or all the spots in the commercial campaign. There's a lot I don't know either. And I understand it can be isolating. It could feel lonely, you know, when you're alone in your booth it could feel like everybody's working more than you, everybody's auditioning more than you, everybody in the industry does have that. It's been a few weeks. Am I ever going to work again?    30:02 - Anne (Host) Do I belong in this industry? It just becomes very dramatic sometimes.    30:06 - Andy (Host) I state something. I offered a potato chip. Did that offend somebody? And we spiral out. Every single person involved does it. Oh, nice to know, I'm not alone, right, I mean, because even after all these, years.    30:20 - Anne (Host) Sometimes it's so hard not to get those thoughts in the way. I swear that, like everything that we do, sometimes it's so hard not to get those thoughts in the way I swear that, like everything that we do, is sometimes it's not a God given talent.    30:28 Well it is, but it's the most important thing, is our mental state about it all, because it can affect so much I mean the fact is is that we can just like let those feelings and ideas spin around in our head and be like oh my God, did I do something to offend? Am I good enough? Am I? You know all that talk in your head is the stuff that I think is probably some of the most dangerous talk and things that you could have as a voice actor.    30:52 - Andy (Host) Yeah, it's. It's like Schrodinger's audition the audition is simultaneously good, bad and not submitted. There you go.    31:02 - Anne (Host) I love it. Oh my goodness. So then I would say, with the thousands of commercials that you have directed or produced, what? Would you say, is the cast that you've cast? What's the best thing a talent can do? In hopes of maybe getting cast. And what's the worst thing that you've seen a talent do that wouldn't get them cast?    31:22 - Andy (Host) Yeah, I don't know that I'm going to say the worst thing.    31:24 - Anne (Host) Or yeah, maybe not a smart thing. So yeah, that kind of tends to be pretty specific to a person.    31:30 - Andy (Host) And if it's the worst thing I've seen, it means probably only one person did it and so I'm not going to tell, I would say, the most probably impractical thing that.    31:39 I've seen people do is be like, okay, I'm going to be the person who is going to get the job. I'm going to try to fool you into thinking that I'm the person you're really going to hire, and so I'll get a read and somebody's clearly doing this and it's like well, I know it's a car commercial, but I didn't ask for that and that person is available and they work for what you work for.    32:04 If I reached out to you, I don't want an impression of that person or people that change their voice into a better version of you know, it's like if I called somebody because they have a certain depth to their voice.    32:19 - Anne (Host) This is my voiceover voice, right, yeah?    32:21 - Andy (Host) And if I haven't asked you to do that and I might I mean there are things but if I haven't asked you to do that, don't do that. It may even turn into that at the end of the day.    32:32 - Anne (Host) Isn't that the truth, right? It may turn into that at the end. That's what. I end up getting is people be like. But I listened to the commercial and it sounds just like this and I'm like but that doesn't mean that that performance got you the job.    32:43 - Andy (Host) Yeah, I've had people come up to me. Andy, I heard that spot, I could have done that. Why didn't you ask me to do that? And I'm like is it your first day in the business, have you never? It's like nobody did that. The person who booked it didn't do that and the client liked the director is directing and they call the client and the client's like can we hit this word a little bit more? And I feel like we're not pushing.    33:07 - Anne (Host) Yeah, and I always say that the person who's actually making decisions like it depends on, like what they hear in their head, right. And maybe they're a 65 year old person that's been listening to announcery commercials all their lives and that's what they hear in their head. And that's what ends up getting directed, or whatever it is. I think our voices become a product of the years and years that we've had and your musical, I know this right Of hearing things right.    33:31 And so that's why when we go in and we say this is what we think you want to hear, because we're mimicking over a period of years that's why in our head there's a certain melody Also. I think there's a certain melody also. I think there's a scientific and tell me and if you think I'm right, I think there's a scientific like reason why people, when they read words, they read them in a melody. That's very expected, because I can tell you exactly like.    33:52 Here's a paragraph, I can mimic exactly what you're going to do. If you're not thinking about like acting and you're just thinking about reading along a melody, I know that melody already and it's funny because I'm right like 99.9% of the time with that melody. And what is that? That's a scientific study that you read words in a certain melody.    34:11 - Andy (Host) Well, I'm not a neuroscientist, Damn it Andy, why? Not, you're everything else. That was my fallback, that was plan B, just in case yeah, I mean you've got that medical background. But the brain doesn't think in words, the brain doesn't think in images. The brain thinks in little synaptic flashes, billions and billions and billions of them. You're sounding like a scientist, thank you.    34:36 Thank you very much For anybody who's like questioned me on that, which, fine, by all means question. My answer is what's the word that keeps you balanced? What's the word that keeps your heart beating? What's the? Your brain doesn't need words. Your brain just does little flashy things like a microchip. Your brain's basically a macrochip, holds, I think, about 10 terabytes of information and it processes it certain ways. So when you look at a word, it doesn't actually see a word, it sees an image that sparks a whole sequence of synaptic flashes. The people that organized those words in the form of a script or a book or whatever learned the language. The way you learned the language. They learned it by hearing it. And even if it's your second language, yeah, okay, maybe there's some schooling, but at the end of the day, you're really learning it conversationally, by hearing people do it. So your brain doesn't just process. Okay, this is this sequence of words with a dot or a line at the end of it, or a squiggle or something.    35:36 It actually processes the whole thing as a rhythm. The rhythm that was born into it will probably be the rhythm that comes out. And yeah, is it 100%? No, sometimes there's typos, sometimes things are weird, but it's also why, like, there's this thing online where there's a whole paragraph and every word has first, last and middle letter in the right place, but the rest of the words are just jumbled.    36:03 - Anne (Host) Oh yeah, and we know what that.    36:04 - Andy (Host) yeah, I've seen those and you can still read them, you can still get the rhythm, you can still do all that. So acting is a physics term is one of the things I say in my class. Acting is doing something that has an effect on a receiver. You say something, it affects somebody else. It hits a series of triggers. A script is the same thing. A script is a series of things that will trigger you in most cases, which?    36:30 is why somebody leaves a word out of a line. You often may not even notice that word's not there. Your brain's just going to put it in. So, yeah, exactly like you said, you're going to be right most of the time, because it is how your brain now thinks. And sometimes you won't be. But those are flukes. Those are rare. They do happen. They're. Certainly those will be the ones that we look at and focus on, because they're messed up and we'll use them to define ourselves. Oh, I'm terrible. How could I have made that mistake? But the truth is, usually things go right, and so trust yourself. It's why one of the four disagreements if you want to get it right, don't worry about getting it right.    37:11 Yeah, don't worry about getting it right, absolutely yeah, read it listen to it and, to be honest, if it's terrible, throw it away. Nobody's going to hear it.    37:18 - Anne (Host) Right, it's so funny. I remember when I was teaching in front of the class and I would get so excited. Sometimes, like my brain, I'd be like, oh, and I want to tell them about this, and then what would come out of my mouth sometimes didn't follow, because I was so excited, but the funny thing is is that I never once had a classroom that didn't forgive me for that, do you?    37:35 - Speaker 2 (Announcement) know what I mean?    37:36 - Anne (Host) Yeah, yeah, because I was so intent on sharing, and excited and passionate that they forgave the mistakes I made, and I truly believe that that's how you need to approach your copy, because it's more about how you're making me feel really. And, like you said, it's a series of synapses or reactions or the words are there to trigger something and so the acting is reacting, kind of thing.    37:59 And so that really needs to be built into all of your auditions, all of your performances in some form or fashion. And yeah, worrying about making it perfect is spending too much time worrying about making it perfect and not enough time worrying about how are you going to make someone feel or how are you going to engage with them and tell that story.    38:17 - Andy (Host) Yeah, it's not your job to not have a problem. It's your job to have a problem in a way that nobody else thinks it's going to become their problem. It's your ability to deal with it. Yeah, exactly, we worry about so much One of the things that I tell you have to do a do you can't, do a don't. I'm going to be happy. That's a do you can do that, I'm going to talk fast.    38:39 That's a do. I'm going to talk slow. I'm going to talk with an accent. I'm going to be really big or I'm going to be really small, I'm going to whisper Any of these things. These are things you can do. You can't do a don't. I don't want to be wrong is not a choice. I don't want to mess it up is not a choice. I'm trying to not be too fast, or I'm trying to not.    38:59 Those are not choices, those are don'ts. I would rather have you be too fast and ask you to slow down which is an inevitability of our relationship as director and actor anyway than have somebody who's delivering at the perfect pace but the copy is sounding like this and there's no humAnness to it. Cool, we learn more from our successes than our mistakes. HumAnness to it. Cool, we learn more from our successes than our mistakes. Everything you're good at, you've gotten good at by doing it right over, over, over, over over and sometimes messing it up, but being able to fix it because your brain knows what the right is. So whoever's listening to it or interacting with you in an audition is going okay. When they stumble, it's not going to be a big deal.    39:44 - Anne (Host) Yeah, exactly, we'll move on yeah.    39:45 - Andy (Host) Yeah, nobody cares.    39:46 - Anne (Host) I want the intent.    39:47 - Andy (Host) Yeah, nobody cares if you screw up, I mean, and the reality of it is is.    39:50 - Anne (Host) I mean unless you're being live directed right. I mean we're all human. Everybody understands that. If you're not and you're doing it later on, I mean good Lord, we can just edit it.    40:01 - Speaker 2 (Announcement) I mean, so if you stumble on a word.    40:03 - Anne (Host) I mean, we all do it. I'd love to speak perfectly 100% of the time, but I certainly don't. And so, yeah, we all make mistakes and so it's just you fix it. And so when I'm having somebody read for me live, I don't care if they stumble, I want their acting, I want to hear their acting. And if they stumble, it's okay because inevitably they're going to get it right. If I'm paying them $10,000 for the job, I mean they're going to go do it until they get it right.    40:25 And so if you're going to stumble in front of me, that's fine. I just want to feel you and hear you.    40:30 - Andy (Host) Yeah, just don't have a meltdown in front of me about it, don't beat yourself up, don't apologize. I want to be a director. I don't want to be a therapist.    40:39 - Anne (Host) You probably are for most of the time.    40:41 - Andy (Host) I don't want to. I don't want to do that. Yeah, I mean like people can go bleh, you know, and do a pickup. I don't mind a blip, that's huge. But I've seen people really like beat themselves up and feel like they're less than or feel like they're stupid I mess up words that I'm making up.    41:00 - Anne (Host) I mess up words when I talk in everyday conversation.    41:03 - Andy (Host) Yeah, yeah, and I don't even have a script, I'm just making that up. Yeah, exactly.    41:07 - Anne (Host) That's brain to mouth.    41:09 - Andy (Host) Oh, I screwed that up, yeah there's a lot that happens between synapse and noise and there can be a problem at any step of that process, so worry less about that, bosses. Yeah, worry less. There's a phrase that I hate practice makes perfect.    41:26 - Anne (Host) I mean, I don't know, if you say it, I'm sorry if you do, I probably. No, I don't okay. Good, I mean because it's never happened.    41:30 - Andy (Host) I mean, how long does something have to not happen before we stop acting like it's going to? The purpose of practice isn't to become some theoretical idea. The purpose of practice is to make you comfortable with the inevitability of your imperfection.    41:48 - Anne (Host) Yeah, I like that.    41:49 - Andy (Host) Yeah, you'll be reading a sarcastic role, or a happy role or an angry role. You'll be selling hamburgers or beer or a car. Scripts will change, attitudes will change, voices may change, but messing up a word and dealing with it doesn't. Yeah, yeah, you know that's the same. A typo, that doesn't change you. Getting mush mouth or dry mouth, that doesn't change. So the purpose of practice to get you comfortable with the fairly limited number of ways you're going to have a problem yeah, yeah, yeah yeah so that it's not a big deal.    42:23 I like that.    42:24 - Anne (Host) I'm always saying if there's a mistake in the script, and especially well, for me it makes sense because typically long-format narration scripts go through rounds and rounds of approvals, through like corporate hands and even like your stuff, I'm quite sure, goes through many hands of approval and so like, if you're going to be that actor that's going to point out a mistake in a script, no, don't be that actor.    42:44 Be the actor that reads it exactly the way it is but makes it sound like there's no mistake you know what I mean, that's your job is to make it sound beautiful, like, even if a word's missing or I mean if it's really really obvious then you just graciously. Hey, here's an alternate take, just. But don't ever like point out the mistake. Goodness gracious, no, nobody wants to be that person.    43:03 - Andy (Host) And if you have an opportunity to ask say is there a missing word? Sure, by all means, but sometimes you just don't have that opportunity. Sometimes you don't have an answer it's raining for the other team too.    43:14 - Anne (Host) Yeah, I love that. It's like that's such a great takeaway. That's such a great takeaway, that and just not worrying right and not worrying about being perfect, and I think that that has just been a wonderful takeaway and I feel like we need to have part one, two and three of this interview.    43:30 I would love that it's so wonderful. Thank you so much for chatting with me today and imparting those words of wisdom. Are you available, Like if people want to find out more about you? I mean, do you have a website? I mean, is it one of those things that people can reach out to you?    43:47 - Andy (Host) I do have a website. I have Andyrothcasting.com.    43:51 - Anne (Host) Okay.    43:52 - Andy (Host) Yeah, that is my website. I can't really always talk about things I'm working on, Of course. I mean almost everything is NDA, but things I've done are there. If I do have a class coming up or something, it's listed there.    44:03 - Anne (Host) And speaking of though, we do have a class coming up. I'm going to have you for my VO Peeps guest director guys. So boss is coming up.    44:11 Make sure you sign up, and I will say that when I met you at Mavo, you were doing a couple of classes and people were just raving about you and so, and they were really like taking a lot away from your classes. So I can't wait, I can't wait for you to be and you're going to be in. What did we decide? It was, oh my gosh, it's like May, may, march.    44:34 - Andy (Host) April, april or April or May, I don't know.    44:36 - Anne (Host) Peeps check the calendar because he's going to be here and Andy Roth, make sure you sign up, and I'm so excited for that.    44:44 - Andy (Host) Me too, me too. I'm really excited, and every opportunity to hang out and talk with you. Yay, I will take every one of those opportunities, awesome.    44:52 - Anne (Host) Well, hey, I can't wait to do this again. Thank you so much, thank you For being with me today, and a big shout out to my sponsor, ipdtl. You too, can connect and network like bosses. Find out more at IPDTLcom. Bosses, you have an amazing week. I just sounded Jersey. I think it's because I'm talking to you, Andy. I said bosses, have an amazing week and we'll see you next week. Bye, guys.    45:16 - Speaker 2 (Announcement) Join us next week for another edition of VO Boss with your host, Anne Ganguza, and take your business to the next level. Sign up for our mailing list at vobosscom and receive exclusive content, industry revolutionizing tips and strategies and new ways to rock your business like a boss. Redistribution with permission. Coast-to-coast connectivity via IPDTL. 

The Daily Trudge! We go LIVE everyday and bring you a new recovery topic. Our videos are UNCUT and UNEDITED. We make hard topics a little bit more fun. We have over 90 podcasts about recovery. CHECK IT OUTwww.trudgingtogether.com/podcast OR Subscribe to our YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNSPdpo3MFeHbpBstRbjAmw

Art of Letting Go ::: March 2025 Episode by Devotees from New Zealand

Hey, friends! Grab your coffee and settle in because we're getting real today. You ever feel like people expect healers, helpers, and guides to have it all together? Like once you step into that role, suddenly you're supposed to be immune to life's chaos? Yeah, we're calling BS on that.In this episode, we're peeling back the layers of what it really means to be a healer—whether you're a therapist, coach, teacher, or just the person everyone comes to for advice. The truth? Healers are human, too. We struggle, we break down, we question ourselves, and we still have a place in this world.We're talking about:

High Five to Holistic Fitness ::: February 2025 Episode by Sonal Chandok Ji; Dhruva Vishwanathan Ji from Singapore

John 8:31–47

In this episode we sat down with music artist, songwriter and actress, Madison Grace, for an incredible conversation. We discuss everything from her music journey to preforming live and why good equipment makes a huge difference. She even brought her dog Malachi to hangout with us throughout the episode. Tons of free game and funny moments in this one that you don't want to miss! Follow Madison's journey on social media @madisongracemusic and stream her music everywhere PATREON LINK: patreon.com/ogsessions SHOP: ogsessions.com FOLLOW US: Instagram: @ogsessionspod X: @ogsessionspod TikTok: @ogsessions

Dedication Discipline and The Disciple ::: January 2025 Episode

#339 In this compelling podcast episode, Guy engaged with guest Gregg Braden, a renowned author and researcher, on the critical issues of our time, particularly the impact of technology on human potential and divinity. Gregg discussed the rapid advancements in technology such as AI, computer chips, and medical sensors and how these innovations are being integrated into human biology. He stressed the importance of recognizing and preserving human divinity—the innate ability to transcend perceived limitations—amidst a growing movement towards transhumanism. The conversation spans topics like the implications of editing human genes, the challenges posed by unresolved emotional hurt manifesting as societal hate, and the urgency of confronting these changes before potentially irreversible shifts by 2030. The episode underscores the need for a balanced, thoughtful approach to technology that respects and enhances human life rather than diminishing its innate power and divinity. About Gregg: From 1979 to 1990 Gregg worked for Fortune 500 companies as a problem solver during times of crisis. He continues problem-solving today as he weaves modern science, and the wisdom preserved in remote monasteries and forgotten texts into real world solutions.  His discoveries have led to 12 award-winning books now published in over 40 languages. Gregg has shared his presentations with The United Nations, Fortune 500 companies, indigenous elders, religious leaders, diplomats and the U. S. military, and he is now featured in media specials airing on major networks throughout the world. Key Points Discussed:  (00:00) - 2030 Prophecy! WHY Humanity Faces Its Greatest Challenge Today (00:55) - Podcast Overview and Guest Introduction (03:56) - Personal Reflections and Spiritual Awakening (04:47) - The Human Potential and Divinity (08:57) - The Transhuman Movement and Technological Threats (11:33) - The Power of Human Biology (24:16) - The Ancient Battle: Good vs. Evil (27:05) - The 2030 Agenda and Global Policies (29:35) - The Future of Technology and Human Evolution (30:58) - The Ethical Dilemma of Neuralink (32:29) - The Science Behind Brain Cells and Technology (33:21) - The Impact of Technology on Human Biology (37:24) - The Role of Divinity and Human Potential (44:21) - The Emergence of Parallel Societies (48:57) - The Choice Between Technology and Humanness (50:42) - Final Thoughts and Gratitude How to Contact Gregg Braden:www.greggbraden.com   About me:My Instagram: www.instagram.com/guyhlawrence/?hl=en Guy's websites:www.guylawrence.com.au www.liveinflow.co

https://itsvucamax.com/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/schindler1 INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/opmilfam TWITTER: https://twitter.com/itsvuca LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjschindler/ WEBSITES: https://www.opmilfam.com & https://www.itsvuca.com What if today's AI world is just a mere fraction of the earth-shattering technologies that will shake up your future world? What if every major industry on earth were on the verge of reinvention, and those changes are coming at you at warp speed? What if there were a program to take you beyond the cloak of chaos, uncertainty, and fear so that you thrive, achieve and lead in the 21st century? Edward O. Wilson wrote, “The real problem of humanity now is – we have paleolithic brains, medieval systems, and godlike technology.” Mike Schindler is a renowned keynote speaker, US Navy veteran, the national podcast host of The Military Wire and author of three top books. His new co-authored book titled, The Rise of Humanness, The VUCA MAX system for expanding Human Value in the Age of AI, takes readers through the gateway of doubt to doing, and failure to flourishing in the 21st century. As CEO of Operation Military Family, Mike is an expert on leadership development, negotiation secrets, and veteran transition issues. He is also the Co-Executive Producer with 3 times Emmy Award winning recipient Chris Nolan of IT'S VUCA: The Secret to Living in the 21st Century. This full-length documentary film highlights 17 of our nation's top experts on how to navigate and flourish in a chaotic and changing world. Mike has been featured on USA Today, CBS Radio, Entrepreneur Radio, the Lars Larson Show, and others. Since 2012, he has collaborated with large companies, training employees on conscious leadership, antifragile resilience and confidence coaching to flip the script on their old life story. Mike has helped over 10,000 individuals realize their true mission, purpose, and identity in life.

https://itsvucamax.com/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/schindler1 INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/opmilfam TWITTER: https://twitter.com/itsvuca LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjschindler/ WEBSITES: https://www.opmilfam.com & https://www.itsvuca.com What if today's AI world is just a mere fraction of the earth-shattering technologies that will shake up your future world? What if every major industry on earth were on the verge of reinvention, and those changes are coming at you at warp speed? What if there were a program to take you beyond the cloak of chaos, uncertainty, and fear so that you thrive, achieve and lead in the 21st century? Edward O. Wilson wrote, “The real problem of humanity now is – we have paleolithic brains, medieval systems, and godlike technology.” Mike Schindler is a renowned keynote speaker, US Navy veteran, the national podcast host of The Military Wire and author of three top books. His new co-authored book titled, The Rise of Humanness, The VUCA MAX system for expanding Human Value in the Age of AI, takes readers through the gateway of doubt to doing, and failure to flourishing in the 21st century. As CEO of Operation Military Family, Mike is an expert on leadership development, negotiation secrets, and veteran transition issues. He is also the Co-Executive Producer with 3 times Emmy Award winning recipient Chris Nolan of IT'S VUCA: The Secret to Living in the 21st Century. This full-length documentary film highlights 17 of our nation's top experts on how to navigate and flourish in a chaotic and changing world. Mike has been featured on USA Today, CBS Radio, Entrepreneur Radio, the Lars Larson Show, and others. Since 2012, he has collaborated with large companies, training employees on conscious leadership, antifragile resilience and confidence coaching to flip the script on their old life story. Mike has helped over 10,000 individuals realize their true mission, purpose, and identity in life.

Gifts Beyond Wrapping ::: December 2024 Episode

In this episode, Kehla sits down with Leah, a women's empowerment and embodiment mentor who supports conscious female entrepreneurs in healing emotional and ancestral wounds, expanding their nervous system capacity, shifting their mindset, and stepping into heart-led leadership. As the host of the Mindful Evolution and Call Her Forward podcasts, Leah brings her passionate, playful, and soulful personality to her work, blending trauma-informed and somatic approaches to help women heal relationship wounds, rise confidently in their feminine power, and expand their impact in life and business. Together, Kehla and Leah dive into the beauty of embracing one's messiness and humanness as a leader, letting go of perfectionism and the need for external validation. They discuss how true leadership comes from accepting every part of your experience—your emotions, conflicts, and challenges—so you can lead yourself powerfully instead of shrinking or seeking approval from others. Leah offers insights on connecting with the inner self, integrating emotions, and navigating feelings without fear, illustrating how this deep self-connection builds authentic relationships and leadership. The conversation also explores the healing interplay between masculine and feminine energies, highlighting the importance of radical responsibility. Leah emphasizes that by recognizing how we perpetuate old pain patterns, we empower ourselves to release the past and grow—expanding not just as entrepreneurs but as women in leadership, fully embracing wholeness and authenticity.   Follow Leah on IG Leah's website Grab her Freebie: Resistance to Receiving Leah's Podcast Recommended books: Authentic Relating: A Guide to Rich, Meaningful, Nourishing Relationships  The Untethered Soul: A Journey Beyond Yourself   Work with Kehla: The Edge Mastermind ft. Signature Program by Design Get the Gene Keys Podcast Compendium   Check out Kehla's website Grab Kehla's Freebies Follow Kehla on IG Follow Kehla on Insight Timer

In this episode, Tara Lee dives deep into the paradox of life—the balance between joy and pain, love and loss, laughter and tears. Life doesn't always go as planned. There are storms, breakdowns, traumas, and moments of doubt. Yet, amidst it all, there is choice. We can choose what we hold on to and what we let go. Tara opens up about her own personal journey—family breakdowns, the ending of her marriage, solo parenting, and the storms she's weathered—and reflects on how we often carry our pain like a heavy weight, forgetting that love, light, and laughter are also available to us.Through heartfelt stories and deep reflection, this episode explores how we can choose to feed our lives with joy, connection, and the love of those who show up for us. It's about taking responsibility for what we allow to consume our energy and choosing, instead, to embrace the love that's right in front of us. If you've been stuck in cycles of suffering or weighed down by the past, this episode will inspire you to shift your perspective and start choosing joy and love instead.Check in with yourself. What are you feeding? What are you giving life to in your own heart? And when the time comes, will you choose the love that's there, the joy, the laughter, the living that's waiting for you?Tune in, and let Tara remind you that laughter, connection, and love are your birthright—even in the midst of life's messiest moments.Connect with Tara:FacebookInstagram

In this episode of Muse Haus, we explore the profound impact of our subconscious beliefs on our lives. These hidden thoughts, shaped by past traumas and experiences, influence our actions, self-worth, and perceptions. Tara shared her personal story and how she confronted deeply entrenched beliefs formed during her teenage years. She emphasized the importance of recognizing, understanding, and healing these beliefs through self-awareness, body connection, and self-compassion. By identifying, challenging, and reframing these narratives, we can rewrite our stories and step into a more empowered and authentic self. Practical steps for this journey include recognizing the stories we tell ourselves, practicing breathwork, challenging and reframing beliefs, and nurturing self-compassion.Follow Tara on Instagram @taraleemuses or TikTok @musehauswithtaralee for more inspiration, and if you need further support, her 1:1 sessions are open to help guide you deeper on your healing journey.Connect with Tara:FacebookInstagram

What is the field? Why did you decide to create it? Who is it for? How does it work?...I cover all of these questions in this episode and I am so excited for you to dive in. Join the field here - https://www.felicitydavies.com.au/thefield And to connect with me go to:  https://www.felicitydavies.com.au/offerings https://www.instagram.com/felicitydavies_/ https://www.facebook.com/felicitydavieshorsemanship Enjoy :)  Felicity x

Matthias Roberts is a queer  psychotherapist (in Washington State) and the author of both "Holy Runaways:Rediscovering Faith After Being Burned by Religion" and "Beyond Shame: Creating a Healthy Sex Life on Your Own Terms". He is one of my favorite friends I met in graduate school, a human deeply committed to connection and curiosity,  and someone who I deeply admire. With Matthias, I feel a sense of belonging and openness to understanding the world and holding space for that curiosity which is so threatening elsewhere. Rebecca W. Walston is an African American lawyer, who also holds a MA Counseling, an all around boss babe. Rebecca runs a Law Practice and serves as General Legal Counsel for The Impact Movement, Inc.  She is someone who fiercely advocates for others freedom and healing. She is a dear friend and colleague, who anyone would be lucky to spend a dinner with talking about almost anything.Trigger Warning: Proceed only if you are comfortable with potentially sensitive topics.This is not psychological advice, service, or prescriptive treatment for anxiety or depression. The content related to descriptions of depression, anxiety, or despair may be upsetting or triggering, but are clearly not exhaustive. If you should feel symptoms of depression and/or anxiety, please seek professional mental health services, or contact (in Kitsap County) Kitsap Mobile Crisis Team at  1-888-910-0416. The line is staffed by professionals who are trained to determine the level of crisis services needed. Depending on the need, this may include dispatching the KMHS Mobile Crisis Outreach Team for emergency assessment. Speaker 1 (00:18):Welcome to the Rise podcast, conversations on faith, race, justice, gender, and spirituality. Today we're continuing our conversation on election humanity and politics. I have two guests today. I'm very excited about it. Matthias Roberts, who's a queer psychotherapist in Washington State, and the author of both Holy Runaways and Beyond Shame. Actually, he's one of my favorite friends I met in graduate school. I don't know if he knows that he's a human, deeply committed to connection and curiosity and someone I deeply admire with Matthias. I've always felt this sense of belonging and openness to understanding the world and holding space for that actual curiosity, which has seems so threatening elsewhere. So I want to thank Matthias for joining me and taking time out of his morning. And Rebecca Wheeler Walstead holds an MA in counseling an all around boss babe. Rebecca runs a law practice and serves as general legal counsel for the Impact movement, and she is someone who fiercely advocates for others freedom and healing. She's a dear friend, obviously she's a colleague and she's someone that anybody would be lucky to spend a dinner with talking about almost anything. So thank you, Rebecca, for joining me today.(01:40):I can say that for myself in my own experience, my anxiety is heightened overall and feelings that I can keep at bay with regular normal coping mechanisms such as exercise. It takes to me a little bit more and I have to offer myself a lot more grace in the process. I encourage you no matter where you are, to engage these topics with grace towards your own self, towards your neighbor, towards your family, and towards whoever's in your proximity. We won't get things done overnight no matter who we are, and we will get them done if we become more aligned and care more for those in our proximity, that means our neighbor. So if you're feeling or experiencing anxiety around the election or family or other triggers, I want you to encourage you to seek out and find someone to speak with. Maybe you need a mental health professional, maybe you need a spiritual advisor. Maybe it's your coach and it's something related to business. Maybe you need to go see your doctor for aches and pains you've been having. I don't know what it might be for you, but don't hesitate to reach out and get the help you need. We're going to jump into the conversation and voices from across the country. We are all different and we're not meant to be the same. I hope you find pieces of you in each of their stories. Hey, Rebecca. Hey, Matthias. Thanks for being with me today.Speaker 2 (03:06):Daniel, thanks for havingSpeaker 1 (03:07):Us. I just thought we would talk about this really amazing subject of politics and humanness because we're so good at it in the United States. Yeah, right. Y'all thoughts on that? Even as I say that, just politics and being human, what comes to mind?Speaker 2 (03:34):For me, there's almost a dual process happening. I think about my first thought was, well, politics are, but then I also thought about how when we separate institutions out from people, especially in the way that corporations tend to separate out how they become anti-human so quickly, and not that politics is necessarily a corporation, but I think there's a form of it. There's something corporate about it. And so I think about that juxtaposition and maybe the dichotomy there between, yeah, it's human, but I think it's also anti-human in the ways that it has to, I think almost by definition, separate from maybe these places of deep feeling or nuance in order to collapse all of that experience into something that people can rally on.Speaker 3 (04:51):I think there's something dehumanizing about our current politics, but I think that that is about power. I think when politics becomes about the consolidation of power or the perpetuation of power or the hanging on to it sort of desperately, then it no longer is about the people that the institutions and the country was built to serve and protect. And so I think there are all these ideals in our politics that on paper and in theory sound amazing, but when people in their humanness or maybe in the worst of our humanness step away from other people and not just people as sort of this collective generalized, but the actual person in front of you, the actual person in front of you and the story that they have and the life that they live, and how decisions and theories and ideals will impact the actual person in front of you. And when politics becomes about collecting power and maintaining that power at all costs, then it's no longer about people. It's no longer about lives. It's no longer about stories, and all those things become expendable in the name of the consolidation and the maintenance of power. And I think that at its heart is a human question. It's a question of selfishness and self-serving and maybe even self idolatry.Speaker 1 (06:49):I think that I agree, Matthias, I've been thinking a lot about, because in my family it's been a lot of comments like, well, we shouldn't talk about politics because we're family. I'm like, wait a minute, wait just a minute. Because the very politic that is being said from one angle is hurting the humanity of this other particular family member. How do we make sense of that? How do we say politics isn't a very human, the impact is meant to impact humans. The power is meant to impact humans, so the political sphere has become so toxic to us.Speaker 3 (07:40):Yeah, I think that sentence, we shouldn't talk about politics because we're family. It says more about maybe our fragility as a culture in this moment and our inability to have hard conversations without feeling like the difficulty of them fractures, relationships and familial bonds in ways that cannot be repaired or restored in any way. And I think it is also a statement about the toxicity of our politics that we have allowed it to get to a place where it actually threatens those kinds of familial bonds in some sense, you want go back to, you remember that book that was big in the nineties? All I ever learned about life I learned in kindergarten, right? All I ever needed to know, it reminds me of that because raising kids, I would raise my kids to say, there isn't anything on this earth that should fracture your bond as siblings. I raised them to believe that. I insisted that they engage the world from this vantage point that come hell or high water do or die is you and your sister. That's it. And it doesn't matter what happens in this world, there should never be a scenario in which that isn't true. And we have arrived at this place where people honestly believe that your political affiliation somehow threatens that.(09:19):That's sad and sad feels like a word that's not heavy enough to articulate. There's something wrong, really wrong if that's where we are,Speaker 2 (09:35):I think it speaks perhaps to our inability to do conflict well, and I'm the first, I don't do this all with my family at all. I'm terrible at conflict with my family, at least in the arena of politics. But I think about, I wonder if some of the fracturing that we say, I don't think it's all of it by any means, but is that reality of, because we can't have these conversations in our immediate family, it's getting projected into the wider, I mean, it has to play out somewhat. It is going to, that's the nature of it. So because we can't do it locally, it is having to play out on this grand scale. Rebecca, as you said, sad. I think it's horrifying too.Speaker 1 (10:44):It's what?Speaker 2 (10:45):Horrifying.Speaker 1 (10:46):Yes. It's very dangerous to be honest.Speaker 2 (10:54):It's very, yeah, those bonds, we have the familial bonds. Those are protective in some ways when we remove that, we remove those protections.Speaker 1 (11:11):I think we've been practicing at a society, and I'm talking particularly about the United States at ways of removing those bonds in multiple spheres of the way we've thought about life, the way we think about another person, the way we judge each other, the way we vote in past elections. I mean, the civil rights movement is pushing against that notion that family means dehumanizing someone else. And so even this idea of, I'm not even sure if I can say it right, but just how we've constructed the idea of family and what do our shared values mean. In some sense, it's been constructed on this false notion that someone is worth more than another person. Now, when that person shows up as fully human, then I think we don't know what to do with it.Speaker 3 (12:11):Yeah. I think something you said, Mathias about we don't do conflict well, right? I think rarely is any issue, black and white. Rarely is any issue. So clear cut and so definitive that you can boldly stand on one side or the other and stay there in perpetuity without ever having to wrestle or grapple with some complexity, some nuance. And I think maybe part of what we don't do well is that right? Somehow we've gotten to this space where we have maybe an oversimplified if that, I'm not even sure that's a good word, perspective on a number of issues as if there isn't any complexity and there isn't any nuance and there isn't any reason to pause and wonder if context or timing would change the way we think about something, right? And nor do we think that somehow changing your mind is no longer acceptable.(13:20):I think about, I saw a number of interviews with Kamala Harris. People talk to her about, well, why'd you change your mind about this or that? Why'd you change your perspective about this or that? And then part of the conversation was about when did we get to this place where growing and learning and changing your mind is bad for someone who is in the profession of holding public office since when can you not get in public office, learn some things differently, meet some new people, understand the issue better, and go, you know what? I need to change the way I think about this, but we are there. All of a sudden it means you're not fit for office, at least as it has been applied to Kamala Harris in this particular and even before her. The notion of a flip flopper is again to say you can't somehow change your mind.Speaker 2 (14:21):So that makes me start to then think about some of the myths, and I mean that deeper theological myth in the sense of not that it is untrue, but more in the sense of how it permeates culture. That's when I say myth and we have this idea or many people have this idea of a God that doesn't change, a God who doesn't change his mind as the ideal of there is right there is wrong, and the ideal is no change. And we have examples and scriptures, at least I believe, of a God who does change his mind, who sees what happens and change is what he does. And I think those can be compatible with maybe some ideas that maybe God doesn't change, but we also have examples of God changing his mind. But I think that has permeated our world of something unchanging is better than someone who or something who does change. And I wonder what that impact has beenSpeaker 3 (15:38):That made me pause. I certainly come out of a faith background of hold to God's unchanging hand. I mean, I can come up off the top of my head with a dozen different examples of the notion of he does not shift, he does not change. And the kind of comfort or solidity that can be found in this notion that we're not subject to the whim of his mood in any given time, but what you said causes me to think about it and to think about what does it mean to say that we live in a world where there is a God who can be persuaded by something in the human context that will cause him to respond or react differently than perhaps his original mindset is. I'm going to walk away from this conversation pondering that for a while. I think,Speaker 2 (16:30):Yeah, there are stories of that in scripture.Speaker 3 (16:36):The one that comes to my mind is the story of, and I'm not going to get all the names correct, so whoever's listening, forgive me for that. But the story that comes to my mind is the prophet of old who is pleaded with God for more time on earth, for more space to be alive and walk the earth as a human being. And God granted his request. And again, now there's a bit of a paradigm shift for me. What does it mean to say that I live in a world where there's a God who can be persuaded? I think the other thing when you said about a God who changes his mind, what comes up for me is also a God who holds extremely well the nuance and the complexity of our humanness and all that that means. And so often I find it's sort of the pharmaceutical attitude that we can have that things are rigid and there's only one way to see it and one way to do it. And if you ever watch Jesus's engagement with the Pharisees, it's always actually the problem is more complex than that. Actually the question you're asking is more than that. And so what matters less is the rule. What matters more is the impact of that rule. And if we need to change the rule in order for the appropriate impact, then let's do that.Speaker 1 (18:08):It's kind of gets back to something I've been learning in consultation, talking about this idea. I think we're talking about very young spaces collectively for our society. If I was to put it in that frame, the idea of as a child, a very young kid, even into your teenagers, you need to know something solid. You need to know that's not changing. That's the rule. That's what I got to do. And it's the parent's responsibility to make meaning and metabolize nuance for you and help you process through that. But one of our first developmental things is to split. This is good, this is bad, this person is safe, this person. That's a developmental process. But in somewhere we got stuck,Speaker 3 (18:54):It brings to my mind, you've heard me reference raising kids. And so I raised my kids to say this idea that you have to be respectful and thoughtful in your choices. And I always told my kid that so long as you are respectful and thoughtful in your choices, your voices will always be heard and welcomed kind of in our home. And so my daughter approached me, she's making an argument about something that I absolutely did not agree with her final conclusion. I was like, there's no version of anybody's universe where you're doing that, right? And she says to me, but you said if I was thoughtful and I was respectful that I could assert my position and I have been respectful in my tone and I've been thoughtful in my position. And she was absolutely right. Both had been true, and I found myself having to say, okay, now I sort of backed myself into a corner.(19:58):She followed me into it and the conversation ended up being about, Hey, that's true. Those are the parameters, but you're older now and the things that you're making decisions about have more impact and they're more nuanced and complex than that. So we need to add a couple more things to your rubric, and it's a hard conversation to have, but it makes me think about that developmental piece that you're saying, Danielle, that when we're younger, there's certain sort of bright line rules and the older you get and the more complex life gets, the more you need to be able to actually blur those lines a little bit and fudge them a little bit and sometimes color outside of the lines because it is the right thing to do.Speaker 2 (20:48):I think that movement from that really kind of rigid split into Rebecca what you're talking about, it requires that grappling with grief and loss, it requires that sense of even if I followed the rules, I didn't get what I wanted. And that is we have options there. We can rage against it and go back into the split, you are bad. I'm good, or actually grapple with that. I did everything I was supposed to and it still didn't work out in that words, it doesn't feel good and grieve and feel the pain of that and actually work with those parts of ourselves. And there is so much that our nation has not grieved, not repented from, and we are in the consequences of that.Speaker 1 (21:53):I was just thinking that Mathias, it's like we're asking one another to make meaning, but we're at a very base level of meaning making. We're trying to first discern, discern what is reality, and a lot of times we don't share reality, but when you're a baby, the reality is your caregiver hopefully, or even the absence of you become accustomed to that. And so I think we've become accustomed to this sense of almost this indoctrination of a certain type of religion, which I would call white evangelical Christianity, where they're telling you, I can make sense of all of this from the perspective of race. I can do that for you. Whether they talk about it explicitly or not, they're like, I can tell you what's good and bad from this perspective, but then if you add in how do you make sense of all the Christians vote for Trump and 84% of African-Americans are going to vote for Kamala Harris. I grew up thinking, are those people not Christians? I didn't know as a kid, I was raised with my father. I didn't understand, didn't make sense to me, but I thought, how could so many people as a child, I actually had this thought, how could so many people not know Jesus, but go to church and how could all these people know Jesus and say they're going to heaven? It never made sense to me.Speaker 3 (23:19):I mean, what you're saying, Danielle, is probably why there is a very clear historical and present day distinction between white evangelism and the black church. That's why those two things exist in different spaces because even from the very beginning, white evangelicalism or what became white evangelicalism advocated for slavery, and Frederick Douglass learned how to read by reading the scripture at risk to his own life and to the white slave owner who taught him how to read. And once he learned to read and absorbed the scriptures for himself, his comment is there is no greater dichotomy than the Christianity of this world and the Christianity of scripture. And so your sense that it doesn't make any sense is as old as the first enslaved African who knew how to understand the God of the Bible for him or herself and started to say out loud, we got problems, Houston.Speaker 1 (24:39):Yeah, I remember that as a young child asking that question because it just never made sense to me. And obviously I understand now, but as a kid you grow up with a certain particular family, a Mexican mom, a white father. I didn't know how to make sense of that.Speaker 3 (25:04):I mean, you say, oh, even now I understand and I want to go. You do. I don't explain that to me. I mean, there's a certain sense in which I think we're all in many ways, and I say all the country as a whole church, the American church as a whole trying to make sense of what is that, what was that and what do we do now that the modern sort of white evangelical movement is essentially the Christianity of our entire generation. And so now that that's being called into question in a way that suggests that perhaps it is white and it's religious, but it might not in fact be the Christianity of the Bible. Now what do we do? And I've spent some time in recent years with you, Danielle, in some Native American spaces in the presence of theologians who reckoned with things of God from a Native American perspective.(26:09):And if nothing else, I have learned there's a whole bunch. I don't know about what it means to walk with the God of the Bible and that my native brothers and sisters know some things I don't know, and I am kind of mad about it. I'm kind of angry actually about what it is they know that was kept from me that I was taught to dismiss because the author of those ideas didn't look like the white Jesus whose picture was in my Bible or on the vacation Bible school curriculum or whatever. I'm sort of angry at the wisdom they hold for what it means to be a follower of what I think in many native spaces they would refer to as creator, and that was withheld from me. That would've changed the way, enhanced the way I understand this place of faith. And something that white evangel and evangelicalism expressly said was heresy was of the devil was to be ignored or dismissed or dismantled or buried.Speaker 1 (27:31):I mean, you have Tucker Carlson referring to Trump as daddy in a recent speech. So you then have this figure that can say, Hey, little kids, don't worry. Your worldview is okay. It's still right and let me make sense of it. I can make sense of it for you with X, Y, Z policies with racist rhetoric and banter. I can do anything I want. I can show up in Madison Square Garden and replicate this horrific political rally and I can do it and everybody will be okay with it, even if they're not okay, they're not going to stop me. So we still have a meaning maker out there. I mean, he is not making my meaning, but he's making meaning. For a lot of folks.Speaker 3 (28:29):It is even worse than that. There's a couple of documentaries that are out now. One's called Bad Faith, the other one's called God and Country, and in one of them, I think it was Bad Faith, and they're talking about the rise of Christian nationalism. For me, as a person of faith, one of my biggest questions has always been, there's nothing about this man's rhetoric that remotely reflects anything I ever learned in every Sunday school class and every vacation Bible school, in every Bible study and every church service I've ever been to. He is boldly antithetical to all of it.(29:06):And he says that out loud, right back to his comments about, no, I've never asked God for forgiveness because I've never done anything that warranted forgiveness that is antithetical to the heart of evangelical Christianity that asserts that the only way to God and to heaven in the afterlife is through the person of Jesus Christ. And so every person has to admit their own sin and then accept Christ as the atonement for that sin. And he bluntly says, I don't do that. Right. So my question has always been, I don't get it right. Two plus two is now four in your world. So how are 80% of evangelicals or higher voting for this man? And in that movie, bad faith, they talk about, they make reference to the tradition of Old Testament scripture of a king who is not a follower of God, who God sort of uses anyway towards the bent of his own will.(30:18):And there's probably a number of references in Old Testament scripture if I was an Old Testament theologian, some of the people who have invested in me, I could give you names and places and dates. I can't do that. But there is a tradition of that sort of space being held and the notion what's being taught in some of these churches on Sundays and on Wednesday night Bible study is that's who he is. That's who Trump is in a religious framework. And so he gets a pass and permission to be as outlandish and as provocative and as mean spirited and as dare I say, evil or bad as he wants to be. And there is no accountability for him in this life, or the next one, which I don't even know what to say to that, except it's the genius move to gaslight an entire generation of Christians that will probably take hold and be with us for far longer than Trump is on the political landscape.Speaker 2 (31:29):I am not fully convinced it's gaslighting. On one hand it is. They're saying one thing, doing another. It absolutely is by definition. And I think growing up in white evangelicalism, there is, at least for the men, I think an implicit belief, I don't even think it's explicit. It's becoming explicit that they get that past too. It functions on those passes, those senses of we don't have to hold up to accountability. And I think we see that in all the sexual abuse scandals. We see that in the narcissism of so many white evangelical pastors. There is this sense of, as long as we're in this system, there isn't accountability. And so you can say one thing and do another, and it doesn't matter. You have God's authority over you and therefore it's okay. And so I think there's something, I'm right there with you, it doesn't make any sense, but I think it's also quite consistent with the way that authority has been structured within thoseSpeaker 1 (33:14):Spaces that you said that I felt like, I don't know if you ever get your heartbeat right in your neck, but I had it right there. Oh, yeah. I think that feels true. Yeah, it's gaslighting, but also it's meant to be that way.Speaker 3 (33:39):Do you think that that's new math or is that at the inception? What do you attribute the origin of that? And I don't disagree with you, I'm just sitting here like, damn, okay, so where does that come from and how long has it been there?Speaker 2 (34:04):I don't know. I have guesses. I think, how do you enslave an entire people without something like that and then found literal denominations that are structured on these power and authority? It goes back to what you were saying at the beginning, Rebecca, it's about power and accountability supports power.Speaker 3 (34:50):Yeah. Have you read The Color of Compromise?Speaker 2 (34:59):There's a documentary by that same name, right? The filmSpeaker 3 (35:02):There might beSpeaker 2 (35:05):See the film. Yeah.Speaker 3 (35:07):So he makes a comment in the book. He is writing this chapter about sort of the origins of the country and the country is as the colonies are being formed before it is a country, the colonists are in this sort of public debate about slavery and Christianity. And at least in tissie's research, there's sort of this group of colonists who come to the United States or what will become the US for the sake of proselytizing, evangelizing who they term savage, native and then enslaved Africans. And they're having this public conversation about does the conversion of a native or an African to Christianity remove them from slavery, essentially? Can you theologically own someone who's a profess child of God?(36:32):And Tse says that the origin of that debate has to do with an old English law that said that you can't enslave someone who is of the faith. And I remember reading that and thinking to myself, there's something wrong with the logic that you think you have the right to own any human being regardless of their faith belief system or not. There's something wrong with the premise in general that you believe as another human being, you have the right to own or exercise dominion over another human soul. So those are the things that go across my mind as I listen to you talk and propose the notion that this issue has been there, this flaw in the thinking has been there from the beginning.Speaker 1 (37:40):I was just thinking, I am reading this book by Paola Ramos about defectors and how Latinos in the US have moved to the far right, and she makes a case that the faith of the Spaniards told them that in order to achieve superiority, they should basically make babies with the indigenous peoples of the Americas. And they went about and did that. And then I know we always think popular literature, the United States, oh, India has this caste system. That's what people say, but really Latin America has a really complex caste system too. And to which after they brought over, and Rebecca and I know Matthias, you guys know this, but after they brought over stole African human bodies, a majority of them came Latin America, what we know as Latin America, they didn't come here to the United States to the continental us. And so then you have this alliance then between, and I'll bring it back to politics between these mixed Spaniards with indigenous folks also in enslaving Africans.(38:56):So then you get to our political commentary and you're recruiting Latinos then to join the Evangelical white church movement. And they've often been demonized and excluded in spaces because of citizenship, which adds its own complexity where African-Americans, now they have citizenship right now on the current day, but then you have these Latinos that it can be born or they're brought over on daca. So then you have this complexity where not only is there this historical century hating of African-Americans and black folks in Latino culture, but you also have this sense of that to get ahead, you have to align with white folks to come against African-Americans. You have all of that in the mix, and also then you also have to deny yourself and the fact that you have African heritage and indigenous heritage, so it's this huge mind fuck, right? How do you make sense of that colonial jargon in the political landscape? And then how does a Latino think, how do they actually encounter the nuance of their humanity and all of that, but complexly set up by the Spanish who said, we're going to enslave this X people group. In the meantime, we'll just mix our mix with this certain race, but the white people will be more dominant. And so you see that all comes into the United States politic and who gets to be human and who gets not to be human.Speaker 3 (40:44):I mean, in some ways, Daniel, you're pointing out that, and I think this goes back to math's point of several minutes ago, none of this is new under the sun. All of this is just current day manifestations or reenactments of a racialized dynamic that's been in play since forever, since even before maybe even the American colonies, right? Because what happened in terms of the transatlantic slave trade in Latin America predates some of that.Speaker 2 (41:18):Yeah. I mean, I think about England colonizing a huge portion of the world under the name of their faith that requires quite a distancing from accountability in humanity. Then you get an extreme fringe of those folks starting their own colonies.Speaker 3 (41:47):I mean, it does make me think, and my Pentecostalism is about the show, but it does make me think that there's something about this whole dynamic that's starting to feel really ancient and very old patterns that have been in place, and to me suggests from a spiritual standpoint, an enemy that is organized and intentional, and I have begun to wonder less than a week out from the election, what's the game plan if the election doesn't go the way I hope it does? What happens if America decides to give into its lesser urges as it has done in the past, and choose a path that is contrary and antithetical to its ideals what we're going to do? I ask that not even from a practical standpoint as much as spiritually speaking, how am I going to breathe and how am I going to make meaning of what you do with a world where that's the reality? We were talking before we got on air about the rally in Times Square and we can rail against it all we want, but there was hundreds of thousands of people there saying, yeah, let's do that.Speaker 4 (43:40):That scares me. AndSpeaker 2 (43:52):It doesn't go away. Even if Harris wins, I think your question of what do we do if Trump wins? It's a sobering question. It's a terrifying question, but I think it's also a very similar question of even if she wins, what do we do? What do we do? These people don't magically disappear.Speaker 1 (44:30):We're going to have to do no matter what. I just feel like there has to be some sort of, like you said, Mathias, just processing of the grief of our past because it's chasing us. You can hear it in each of our stories. It is just chasing us what we've been a part of, what we've been asked to give up. And I think America, well, the United States, not America, but the United States is terrified of what it would mean if it had to face that kind of grief.Speaker 3 (45:23):I don't know about that, Danielle, because for there to be terror would mean that you have had some conscious admission that something is gravely wrong. And I'm not even sure if we're there yet. I think America as a whole has a whole lot of defense mechanisms and coping mechanisms in place, so they never even have to get that far. And I don't know what you call that, what comes before the terror, right? Because terror would mean some part of you has admitted something, and I just don't know if we're there. And that's just me meandering through a thought process. ButSpeaker 1 (46:19):Oh, that's scary too, right? I think you're probably right. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I think we're going to bump up against our time. I know, Mathias, you have something coming up too, but any final thoughts? I don't expect us to solve anything or wrap it up, butSpeaker 2 (46:47):I'm just noting how I'm feeling and there's something both sobering and grounding about this conversation. I don't think we've covered really any kind of necessarily new territory, but to continue to speak these things, it's so brain, but it's also like, okay, we can ground ourselves in these things though. These things are true and it's terrible, but when we ground ourselves, we have ground just, and that feels different from some of the up in the air anxiety I was feeling before coming to this coverage, just the general anxiety of the election that is so pervasive. So that's a shift.Speaker 3 (47:53):I think I found myself looking back a lot in recent days back to the history of the story of African hyphen Americans in the United States, back to some fundamental things that I learned about my faith early on. And I have a sense of needing to return to those things as part of grounding that regardless of what happens in the next week or the next several months or even the next six months, we have been here before as a country, as a people, and we have survived it, and we will do so again. If I think about the black national anthem, God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, and I have found myself needing to return to those traditions and those truths, and I think I'll stay there for as long as my mind and my body and my emotions will allow me to as a way of breathing through the next several days. I mean, talk to me on November 6th. That might be in a very different place, or January 6th or January 20th, but for today, I find myself looking back, I have some curiosity for each of you. What are those traditions for you, in your own spaces, in your family, in your culture, in your people? What are the things that have grounded you in the past, and can they ground you again going forward?Speaker 2 (49:43):I'm sitting here finding myself wanting to come up with some beautiful answer. And the reality is I don't know that I have a beautiful answer. It's a difficult task.Speaker 1 (50:00):Yeah. I mean, no, we're wrapping up. I can't give you anything clever except I think what comes to mind is I often just tell myself just the next hour, the next day, sometimes I don't even think about tomorrow. I tell myself, don't rush too much. You don't know what's in tomorrow. Today's going to be okay. So I kind of coach myself up like stay in the moment.Speaker 3 (50:38):And in all fairness, Danielle, your people, if you will, are facing a very different kind of threat under a Trump presidency than mine are, and that is, I'm firmly of the belief if he's going to come for one of us, eventually he will come for all of us. But I'm also very aware that the most pressing existential threat is coming against people of Latinx descent people who very well may be American citizens, are facing the potential reality that won't matter. And so your sense of blackness gay through the next hour, I'm good. I have a lot of respect for what these days are requiring of you. Thank you.Speaker 1 (51:43):Thanks for hopping on here with me, guys.Speaker 2 (51:47):Thank you.   Well, first I guess I would have to believe that there was or is an actual political dialogue taking place that I could potentially be a part of. And honestly, I'm not sure that I believe that.

Faith Over Fear -Embracing the Unknown ::: October 2024 Episode

In this episode, I share my personal struggle with my strained relationship with my daughter. Despite my efforts at healing, the grief from this disconnect is deeper than the loss of my stillborn daughter, Hayley.   I'll dive into how this pain affects me as a mother and a medium, emphasizing the importance of embracing our human experiences rather than spiritually bypassing them.   Join me as I explore: ●        My journey with my daughter and the ongoing grief I carry ●        The dangers of pretending everything is “love and light” ●        How honoring our emotions can make us more compassionate mediums   If you've ever felt weighed down by personal struggles while navigating your spiritual path, this episode is for you. Let's embrace the messy parts of our lives together.     Thank you for supporting The Connected Spirit Podcast!. SUBSCRIBE in your favorite podcast platform BOOK a private session with Courtney FOLLOW @mediumcourtneydawson on Instagram  SIGN-UP  for the Connected Spirit weekly Newsletter VISIT my website  VIP Event - Messages From Heaven (In Person Event) - November 23,2024 Bringing Heaven Home For Christmas (Online Event) - December 5,2024 Free Mediumship Video Training Course - Sign Up Now    

In this heartfelt episode of Muse Haus, we explore the profound truth that healing isn't about overcoming but rather about integrating. We dive deep into how the experiences from our childhood—whether it's the perfectionism we were conditioned to embody or the Big T's that left us feeling unsafe—shape our beliefs and emotions as adults. Our bodies store these memories, and our subconscious minds carry the impact, often without us even realizing. But healing comes when we reconnect with that inner child, allowing ourselves to grieve, feel, and express the emotions we've long suppressed.Drawing on my own experiences with childhood perfectionism and self-abandonment, I share how unlearning these patterns is key to reclaiming our wholeness. This episode is a compassionate invitation to melt the stored pain, give your inner child the love they need, and feel safe in your own skin again.Tune in for actionable steps to start this inner work, and remember—healing is messy, but it's the most beautiful thing we can give ourselves.Follow me on Instagram or TikTok for more inspiration, and if you need further support, my 1:1 sessions are open to help guide you deeper on your healing journey.Connect with Tara:FacebookInstagram

In this raw and powerful episode, Tara Lee dives deep into the pivotal moments in life that signal it's time for healing. Whether it's a quiet whisper or a gut-wrenching cry, we've all felt that internal imbalance that pushes us toward change. Tara shares her own personal journey, from the trauma she experienced at 17 to the heartbreak of her marriage ending, and how these painful moments became the greatest gifts for rediscovering herself. She also reflects on witnessing this same transformation in her clients—how exhaustion from feeling unseen, unheard, and unworthy can spark a profound journey back to self.If you're feeling that pull to heal, to stop crying yourself to sleep, and to reclaim your power, this episode will resonate deeply. Tara opens up space for real self-reflection, showing that healing is not only possible but beautifully transformative, even when it's hard to feel.Ready to dive deeper into your own healing journey? Connect with Tara Lee for 1:1 sessions where she combines root cause therapy, mind-body practices, and breathwork to help you release old patterns and reconnect with your true self - tara@taralee.coFor more insights, inspiration, and support, follow her on Instagram @taraleemuses & @muse__hausTune in, breathe deeply, and remember—you are capable of profound healing.Connect with Tara:FacebookInstagram

In this powerful episode of Muse Haus, we dive deep into the theme of “How the Body Keeps the Score.” Join Tara Lee as she explores how our life experiences, traumas, setbacks, and challenges profoundly impact our perception of ourselves and the way we carry ourselves through the world. Discover how emotional and mental well-being are stored within our bodies and how understanding this connection can lead to profound healing.Tara reflects on her own journey, sharing raw and relatable insights into how unresolved emotions can manifest physically and mentally. Drawing on the teachings of renowned authors and experts in the field, she guides listeners through a contemplative conversation that encourages self-reflection and awareness.This episode serves as a warm hug—a safe space to exhale and acknowledge the weight we all carry. With actionable steps for integrating mind-body practices into daily life, Tara empowers you to reconnect with your body and embrace your journey toward healing. Whether you're grappling with your own experiences or seeking deeper self-understanding, this episode offers the tools and encouragement to help you navigate the complexities of being human.Tune in and learn how to honor your story, transform your experiences, and step into a space of healing and wholeness.Connect with Tara:FacebookInstagram

Grow Through What You Go Through ::: September 2024 Episode

In this episode of Muse Haus, we dive deep into what it truly means to be the best version of ourselves. It's not about perfection or fitting into someone else's expectations—it's about honoring your values, owning your truth, and navigating the messiness of life with kindness and courage. I share my own experiences with life's tough moments—loss, trauma, and setbacks—and how they've shaped my understanding of what it means to rise again and again.We also explore how to peel back the layers, strip away the masks, and connect with the core of who you are. This episode features a grounding meditation to help you tune into your own depths and start releasing the external pressures we all carry. It's a raw, honest conversation about amplifying your humanity, loving who you are, and rising from every fall.If you're ready to reconnect with yourself and step into your truth, this episode is for you. Tune in, and let's rise together.Connect with Tara:FacebookInstagram

Don Ashburn preaches 'Hunger for Humanness', Piedmont Community Church, Piedmont, California.

In this heartfelt episode of Muse Haus, we dive deep into the messy, yet transformative experience of navigating fear and anxiety. Join me, Tara Lee, as I share my personal journey with anxiety — from teenagehood to my 30s — and how I've learned to embrace both the fear that freezes and the fear that fuels. This episode is for the deep feelers and dreamers who often carry more than they realize. We'll explore how to turn nervous energy into positive action, using practical mind-body techniques to support growth and healing.Whether you're just starting to understand your anxiety or you've been walking with it for years, this conversation offers a gentle reminder that you're not alone. And, when the weight feels too heavy, it's okay to reach out—whether to a therapist or a trusted friend—for the support you deserve. Let's embrace the power of vulnerability, connection, and the freedom that comes from honoring ourselves fully.Tune in, breathe, and remember—you are more than enough.Connect with Tara:FacebookInstagram

Welcome to Muse Haus with Tara LeeThis is a dedicated space crafted for deep feelers, dreamers, and women eager to connect with their truest selves. Tara Lee, a seasoned therapist and mentor, offers quick, powerful pauses for meaningful reflection through bite-sized episodes. Whether you're faith-led, breaking fears, or needing a moment of self-connection, Muse Haus aims to support you in your journey.Connect with Tara:FacebookInstagram

In this heartfelt episode of Muse Haus, we dive into the beauty of life's messiness and how it shapes us into who we're meant to be. I share my personal journey through unexpected challenges—navigating solo parenting, confronting family trauma, and overcoming failed ventures—and how each messy moment contributed to my growth and wholeness. We explore the importance of resilience, adaptability, and self-awareness as tools to navigate life's chaos. Tune in for honest reflections, practical takeaways, and a reminder that every part of your journey matters—because you matter!Connect with Tara:FacebookInstagram

In this episode, we explore the evolving landscape of friendships in our 30s and 40s, focusing on how these relationships influence our growth and healing. As we navigate these pivotal years, friendships serve as mirrors and guides, prompting questions about authenticity, honesty, and expectations. This emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and the role of friendships in our personal development. This episode offers actionable steps to foster deeper connections. It's a reflection on cultivating trust, love, and authenticity as we grow and transform in midlife.00:58 The Role of Friendships in Personal Growth01:39 Deep Questions and Reflections02:50 Self-Connection and Its Ripple Effect03:39 The Essence of Deep Friendships05:52 Actionable Steps for Navigating Friendships10:16 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsConnect with Tara:FacebookInstagram

Kim Best is a music therapist in Rochester, NY. With her private practice, she works with older adults with dementia and their caregivers, patients at the end of life on hospice, and those with mental health challenges. She supervises music therapy students at local universities and presides over the newly forming New York State Association for Music Therapy. Kim enjoys networking, development, and supporting new professionals. She loves having honest conversations, writing creatively, and jumping into new craft projects. Find Kim's resources here: Website: kimbest.com Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-your-average-music-therapist/id1538688299 Instagram: @kimberlyjanebest -- Subscribe to the Able Voice Podcast, leave us a review and connect with us (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ablevoicepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @synergymusictherapy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) to share your experiences and takeaways. We release new episodes every other Sunday between the end of January and end of August. AVP Theme Music by: Christopher Mouchette. Follow him on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Soundcloud (Chris Mouchette)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Episode edited by: Justis Krar (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@immvproductions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/able-voice-podcast/id1505215850⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Beyond The Medals ::: August 2024 Episode by Ishu Sandhu Ji; Parveen Rana Ji

'You have to care. If you don't care, it becomes a really miserable job. But that strength also means you take it home with you, and it opens you up to being spread very thin.'Dr Mike Natter is an artist and physician who, through this episode and through his work, centres the humanness of not only the patients in his care, but the peers and the medical doctors working tirelessly alongside him to ensure the people in his care are equipped to live better lives.Mike is an assistant professor of medicine and clinical endocrinologist, based in New York, and has himself been living with type 1 diabetes since the age of 9. An art enthusiast since childhood, Mike's illustrations are now an integral part of his work as a doctor. In this episode we chat about art's ability to break down barriers, and how this empowers Mike's patients by helping them to understand the physiology of their condition.Mike talks openly about overcoming imposter syndrome after moving from an arts education into medical school, the gruelling and incredibly emotional experience of being a medical doctor through Covid and the contradictions of a profession that helps people get better while making those who deliver the medicines to feel worse. We discuss the importance of compassion in treatment, what we can expect next from diabetes technology, and how support systems have helped Mike to ultimately become the doctor he is today.This is an incredible episode, and if you're anything like me Mike's empathy and insight will stay with you for days after you've heard him speak.CONNECT WITH MIKE:Follow Mike on Instagram. Follow Mike on TikTok. JOIN THE TYPE 1 ON 1 COMMUNITYWe've got an Instagram account! Come and say hi @studiotype1on1.SPONSOR MESSAGE:Thanks to my episode sponsors Dexcom.Pioneer and leader in Real-Time continuous glucose monitors, Dexcom's goal is to simplify and improve diabetes management for every possible person with diabetes.They have a choice of systems, so you can find the right one for your lifestyle at https://www.dexcom.com/

There is no traditional dynamic between the Co-Founders of Humanness, but the way the father-son duo thrive together is an extraordinary story.With a strive for purpose and contentment at their core, Quinn Stainfield-Bruce and his father, Duncan Bruce, have a unique outlook on the family business world brimming with mantras that'll change your perspective on life itself.Sounds dramatic, but from a business with Humanness in its name, you'd expect nothing less…This episode covers:Whether consciously or unconsciously, parents set their kids up to join the family firmThe formula for purposeQuinn and Duncan's response to the ‘corporate pandemic'Finding real happiness not in pleasure, but contentmentThe role of trust with non-family members in the family businessHumanness: https://wearehumanness.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearehumanness/Duncan Bruce: https://www.linkedin.com/in/duncan-d-bruce-0272975/Quinn Stainfield-Bruce: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quinn-stainfield-bruce-1522454/Liz Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/lizzielean/https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-willingham-09273a3/Leila Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/leilawillingham/https://www.linkedin.com/in/leila-willingham-821530a1/

In this five-part mini-series, Ann is talking to five artists who were selected to be included in an exhibition called 5X5, that was part of Print Austin's winter festival this year in 2024. The juror of the show is Mysczka Lewis, who is a curator at Tandem Press. Next up is Teresa Cole, an artist and printmaker from New Orleans. She has taught at Tulane University for nearly thirty years.   Teresa's interest in the humanness of pattern has been a throughline in her work and she incorporates different cultures' methods of patternmaking and storytelling in beautiful installations. In their conversation, they talk about orizome (a Japanese method of folding and dyeing paper), commissioning printed fabric for saris in India, printing on aluminum mesh, and Tulane's tuition-free master's program.   Platemark website Sign-up for Platemark emails Leave a 5-star review Support the show Get your Platemark merch Check out Platemark on Instagram Join our Platemark group on Facebook Teresa Cole (American, born 1961). Exchange. Installation shot of printed stainless steel and aluminum cylinders. Freeman School of Business, Tulane University, New Orleans. Photo: Neil Alexander. Teresa Cole (American, born 1961). Exchange. Pre-installation shot of printed stainless steel and aluminum cylinders. Freeman School of Business, Tulane University, New Orleans. Teresa Cole (American, born 1961). Cosmati, 2021. Hand-cut Washi. 26 x 18 in. Courtesy of the Artist. Teresa Cole (American, born 1961). Tessellation Entanglement, 2021. Screenprinted porcelain. 4 x 8 feet. Courtesy of the Artist. Teresa Cole (American, born 1961). Redeem, 2023. Puff paint screenprinted on digital velvet. Installation view at WhiteSpace Gallery, January–February 2023. Teresa Cole (American, born 1961). Bee Pattern, 2014. Screenprint. 25 x 16 in. Courtesy of the Artist. Teresa Cole (American, born 1961). Infusion, 2017. Dyed relief printed Washi with bamboo. 48 x 117 in. Courtesy of the Artist. Teresa Cole (American, born 1961). Saturate 2.0, 2017. Dyed relief printed Washi with bamboo. Courtesy of the Artist. Printing fabric at Kanishka, India. Hand-carved printing blocks carved for the artist at Kanishka, India. Teresa Cole (American, born 1961). Seep, 2015. Process shot. Courtesy of the Artist. Teresa Cole (American, born 1961). Seep, 2015. Relief printed and dyed Japanese paper with bamboo sticks. Installation at Artfields. Courtesy of the Artist. Teresa Cole (American, born 1961). Seep, 2015 (left). Relief printed and dyed Japanese paper with bamboo sticks. Installation at Callan Contemporary, 2025. Courtesy of the Artist. Teresa Cole (American, born 1961). Tangled Conquest, 2015. Relief printed on folded and dyed paper with sumi and walnut. 65 x 77 x 25 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

With less than 95 days until the election and all that has happened recently, the race for the presidency has shifted into high gear, already full of monumental, historic events and eliciting heightened negative emotions.  Regardless of your political affiliation, all of it is making us unhappy on top of everything that we are dealing with in our everyday lives.  According to Arthur Brooks, Professor of Management Practice at the Harvard Business School where he teaches course on leadership, happiness, and social entrepreneurship, happiness isn't a feeling or conditional, it's a direction anchored in faith, family, friendship, and work that serves others.  Now more than ever, it is so important take into account your mental and physical well-being with everything we do, with every decision we make, with every action we take, and who we support in the voting booth.  Your personal happiness depends on it.

Navigating Dilemmas ::: July 2024 Episode by Sadika Chawla Ji; Akashdeep Singh Ji

In this episode, we welcome Allyson Forseth, our Human Design guide. Growing up in the rural Midwest, Allyson shares her experiences (and culture shock) navigating life, from going away to college to living abroad in Spain. She talks about her journey through adulthood, finding peace in yoga, and the challenges she faced navigating "the system." Allyson opens up about her hardships and how they led her to the transformative power of human design. Join us as we explore Allyson's inspiring story and the insights she's gained along the way.Join us next week as we dive deep into Human Design with Allyson!Allyson (she/her) is a trauma-informed embodiment mentor, educator, Human Design guide, and transformation facilitator. Her work centers nuance and emotional safety, grounded in constant reverence for the cyclical nature of healing, humanity, and growth. She holds Human Design close to her heart, an ever-present lens through which she sees the cosmic perfection of each human's experience and highly differentiated needs.Find more from Allyson here: https://bio.site/allyson.forsethFollow Allyson on IG @allyson.forsethSubscribe to "Waking Up the Witch" for more mystical tales and enlightening conversations.Connect with us on social media, and don't forget to leave a magical review!

In this podcast Eckhart talks about bringing together the human and the being aspects of ourselves. He says we would be consigned to a miserable fate if all we were was human because being trapped by a limited identity there would be no possibility of self-transcendence. Eckhart points out even big egos have little selves and their achievements, even if considerable, often make people so unhappy, they don't help transform the world. Eckhart explains when the human and the being come together, the being shines through our humanness, reflecting the light of consciousness. He says the greatest miracle of all is that the universe is conscious. And we are a part of that. He quotes Alan Watts, a famous writer and spiritual teacher, who said: “You are a function of what the whole universe is doing, in the same way that a wave is a function of what the whole ocean is doing.”Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPodsYou can also watch Oprah's Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN  

Have you see Jesus lately? Although he is not here on the earth in bodily form, we can still see Him on a regular basis. From His ingenious creativity in nature, to the picture of His supernatural Humanness painted in the scripture, we can see visions of Him if we only look. In this message, …

Amanda talks with Jacob Sandry, CEO of Euclid Power, about the moment he grew up. Jacob explains how his mom's near dealth experience shaped him into the leader he is today. https://www.forbes.com/profile/jacob-sandry/?sh=74d404475ba1 https://www.euclidpower.com/  

Shifting Gears ::: June 2024 Episode by Arpita Nihal Ji; Rachita Vij Ji

IHP YouTube video podcast episode made available to our other IHP podcast platforms. IHP content is for people who are interested in topics, stories, & guidance for personal development, self-help, spirituality journey, the 5D mystic path, & enlightenment the human way. It's for those who choose the human love narrative, not the human suffering narrative. Don't tune in if you don't love life and humanity because this won't be for you. Don't tune in if you still believe in evil or the devil. Topic not ideal for ego-sensitive or emotionally sensitive (on any/all life - including socio-pol-eco - topics) people. Please do not tune in. Thank you! All IHP content resonates with people who want to achieve enlightenment the human way. IHP podcast host Maria Florio shares voices, stories and perspectives from her 5D mystic enlightenment functional adult life to give examples of what it's like to know emotional self-regulation skills, experience secure attachment, have functional adult conversations and experience 5D relationships (5D and beyond vibing people). You hear about how easy it is to be yourself, to pursue inner growth, to unconditionally love, to have compassion, and live your best life with outer and inner-well being in the forefront. Also explored, how to communicate and handle emotionally insecure adaptive children grown ups, the 3D or 4D vibing individuals, those who stay within insecure emotional human suffering vibration experience and mindset, or who hold drama as the go-to in relationships, or use projection due to unresolved and unaddressed trauma, attachment wounds, and inner child wounds that come up in their behavior. Since trauma is relational and intimacy necessary to heal it, through Maria's stories and perspectives people get an idea of securely attached options on how to handle projection to the best of your ability and create a safe environment for another person to heal or for you to set a healthy boundary if the person bringing the projection (3D/4D drama vibe) is not seeking to move beyond their safety behavior/unresolved trauma emotional response. All of what we do in our day-to-day relationships, conversations, and interactions can bring the potential for healing and expansion of consciousness. The content is for people who are or want to be self-aware, accountable & want to establish functional adult secure attachment emotionally mature behaviors & relationships in life. Your humanity is living a life of meaning & connection beyond the solo-self, as is the true spirituality life. We welcome all people of all walks of life to reclaim their inner child & live their inner child adult, to pursue integration of the brain & restorative embodied self-aware life in time & through healthy self-worth functional adult secure attachment 5D relationships. IHP podcast host Maria Florio shares voices, stories & perspectives from her 5D mystic enlightenment functional adult life to give examples of what it's like to know emotional self-regulation skills, experience secure attachment, have functional adult conversations & experiences & 5D relationships. This and more is what the IHP content and community is all about. Welcome and thanks for tuning in! Love, Maria, your 5D mystic enlightenment functional adult woo-woo pseudoscience lady IHP podcast host talking about the amazing journey of human evolution & consciousness♾️

Prepare yourself for a revelation: there's a war happening right now, hidden from the headlines and invisible to the masses. This war isn't about land or power; it's a battle for our very essence—the human spirit and the divine spark within each of us. In today's episode, we're unveiling this unseen conflict and empowering you with the knowledge and confidence to rise above it and create a new reality. Life Updates from Bella: Bella shares her recent journey through a 'mini dark night,' offering personal insights and growth. Understanding the Dark Night: We dive deep into what the 'dark night' truly means, with practical tips on navigating these challenging times and shifting your perspective. Nikki's Experience at Gregg Braden's Retreat: Nikki recounts her transformative experience attending Gregg Braden's four-day event in Sedona. Gregg Braden's Teachings: We explore Gregg Braden's perspectives on transhumanism and the ongoing war against our human nature. Biology vs. Technology: A critical discussion on the replacement of our biology with technology. Human Potential: Discover how limitless and powerful we truly are, and the extraordinary abilities unique to humans. Our Role in Transcendence: Practical steps and insights on what we can do to transcend this war and embrace our true potential. Join us as we uncover the hidden battles and arm ourselves with the truth and tools to overcome and embrace the divinity we hold within. JOIN THE OOOMIE GANG Follow us on social: https://www.instagram.com/ooom.pod https://www.tiktok.com/@ooom.pod https://twitter.com/ooom_pod Connect with Bella & Nikki: https://www.instagram.com/bellasolanot/ https://www.instagram.com/oathtogrowth/ https://www.tiktok.com/@thealignmenteffect https://www.tiktok.com/@oathtogrowth Work with ⁠Nikki⁠ Work with ⁠Bella⁠ BRANDS WE LOVE: Try Magic Mind for 48% off a subscription or 20% off a one time purchase: https://magicmind.com/outofourminds Or use code OOOM20 at checkout Download our FREE Essential Reading List: ⁠https://www.ooomies.com/freebie-download-the-ooomie-book-list⁠ Our Favorite 10 Day Parasite Cleanse at a Discount: https://foodoverdrugs.com/?ref=ooomies Our Favorite Cacao - Ora: https://snwbl.io/ora/OOOM Try Our Favorite Breathwork and Meditation App Try for FREE for 30 days: Use code OOOM or use link: withopen.com/OOOM --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bella-solanot--nikki-cand/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bella-solanot--nikki-cand/support

Rom 1:21-32

Rom 1:18-20

Join us on a profound journey with Nature Therapist Nick Sharp in this episode of "Drops of Gold" as we explore the transformative power of reconnecting with nature and embracing our true selves. In this deeply reflective conversation, Nick shares his personal experiences of growth, challenge, and what has led him to prioritize “being” over “doing.” Nick is the founder of This is Water, and focuses on moving mental health and wellness initiatives from offices to the outdoors. Delve into discussions about the importance of spending time in nature, core skills for life, and the journey towards authenticity. Nick's insights provide valuable guidance on living a more connected and purposeful life.  It's a must-listen for anyone looking to deepen their connection with themselves and the environment around them. You'll be inspired by Nick's journey and gain practical advice on incorporating mindfulness and nature into your daily routine for a healthier, more harmonious life. Show notes 00:01:47 - Introduction to the episode and brief meditation. 00:17:59 - Discussion on overcoming personal challenges and the concept of dualities in personal growth. 00:30:29 - Exploring the transformative power of connecting with nature and water. 00:45:12 - Breathing exercises and their significance in personal grounding. 00:53:04 - Closing thoughts on embracing one's authentic self and the journey of self-discovery. 01:05:18 - Reflections on the life lessons learned from nature, specifically from rivers and their flow. 01:31:47 - The importance of community in personal healing and growth. 01:47:33 - Emphasizing the need for moments of solitude and introspection. 01:54:38 - Final thoughts on personal authenticity and the ongoing journey of self-realization. 02:07:30 - Closing remarks and takeaways from the conversation with Nick Sharp. Nick Sharp IG This is Water Drops of Gold ⁠⁠Drops of Gold Website⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Drops of Gold Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Jeff Scult Instagram⁠⁠ This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠One Golden Thread⁠⁠⁠, the eco-chic regenerative fashion brand founded by Jeff Scult. As a special offering for Drops of Gold listeners, receive 22% off your first purchase with - dropsofgold - ⁠⁠⁠Drops of Gold⁠⁠⁠ is the NOW podcast hosted and threaded by Jeff Scult, devoted to reminding us how to release stuck stories, embrace life, and reveal our most expressive, authentic selves. Featuring fascinating conversations with luminaries from all walks of life who have discovered their own drops of gold to share with humanity.  Hosted by Jeff Scult, produced by Mark Shapiro and Josh Robertson. Community and social threaded by Victory Jones. Theme music by Josh Robertson and Shazieh.

The one thing we all share is our humanness!  Meaning, we all have emotions, self-doubts and thougths.  All of which show up in different ways, yet with (mostly) the same abilities to make choices based on them. I see our shared experiences in the funnest of places - including the show American Idol.  I talk about my observations on how they relate to you and your leadership in this episode. Take a listen! Enjoy! Links + Ways to Connect: Show Notes Episode 119 Angie Robinson Coaching Website Schedule a free Discovery Call   Angie Robinson LinkedIn Angie Robinson Coaching Instagram Angie Robinson Coaching Facebook Episode 55: Your Relationship with Comparison Episode 83: Exploring Leaders' Impact on Psychological Safety with Mary O'Connor

Ever thought that doing Reality-Based Leadership might take the humanness out of work? What Alex and Cy cover in this session is that RBL actually brings the true humanness back to work. We don't try to bring our whole self to work but instead, we invite you to bring your most evolved self to work. This means that we're not trying to take the humanness out of work we're trying to limit the effect of the human condition on us doing our best work, or at least the lack of the human condition that leads to drama. So in this episode, Alex and Cy dive deep into how to bring your most evolved self to work. We discuss a great story about what happens when the judgments are reduced, and how humans create things in the world with less judgment. Also, we give you practical tips to ensure that people are finally able to bring their most authentic, evolved self to the workplace to do their best work in a highly engaged way. We can't wait to hear your feedback from this episode and make sure to subscribe and share with others to have a conversation about bringing the humanness back to work through Reality-Based Leadership.  

In this episode, I get real with you about my own journey of learning to reconnect with my emotions after years of unintentionally shutting them out. Ever catch yourself staying busy to avoid facing tough emotions?  We've all been there! I'll talk about why that's a common defense mechanism and how it can hold us back from truly experiencing life's highs and lows.I'm all about finding inspiration everywhere, even in nature!