Podcasts about Pilgrimage

How do you build a creative life that spans music, writing, film, and spiritual practice? Alicia Jo Rabins talks about weaving multiple creative strands into a sustainable career and why the best advice for any creator might simply be: just make the thing. In the intro, backlist promotion strategy [Written Word Media]; Successful author business [Novel Marketing Podcast]; Alliance of Independent Authors Indie Author Bookstore; Bones of the Deep – J.F. Penn This podcast is sponsored by Kobo Writing Life, which helps authors self-publish and reach readers in global markets through the Kobo eco-system. You can also subscribe to the Kobo Writing Life podcast for interviews with successful indie authors. This show is also supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn Alicia Jo Rabins is an award-winning writer, musician, performer, as well as a Torah teacher and ritualist. She's the creator of Girls In Trouble, a feminist indie-folk song cycle about biblical women, and the award-winning film, A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff. Her latest book is a memoir, When We Are Born We Forget Everything. You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights, and the full transcript is below. Show Notes Building a sustainable multi-disciplinary creative career through teaching, performance, grants, and donations Trusting instinct in the early generative stages of creativity and separating generation from editing Adapting and reimagining religious and cultural source material through music, writing, and performance The challenges of transitioning from poetry to long-form prose memoir, including choosing a lens for your story Making an independent film on a shoestring budget without waiting for Hollywood's permission Finding your creative voice and building confidence by leaning into vulnerability and returning to the practice of making You can find Alicia at AliciaJo.com. Transcript of the interview with Alicia Jo Rabins Joanna: Alicia Jo Rabins is an award-winning writer, musician, performer, as well as a Torah teacher and ritualist. She's the creator of Girls In Trouble, a feminist indie-folk song cycle about biblical women, and the award-winning film, A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff. Her latest book is a memoir, When We Are Born We Forget Everything. So welcome to the show, Alicia. Alicia: Thank you so much. I'm delighted to be here. Joanna: There is so much we could talk about. But first up— Tell us a bit more about you and how you've woven so many strands of creativity into your life and career. Alicia: Yes, well, I am a maximalist. What happened in terms of my early life is that I started writing on my own, just extremely young. I'm one of those people who always loved writing, always processed the world and managed my emotions and came to understand myself through writing. So from a very young age, I felt really committed to writing. Then I had the good fortune that my mother saw a talk show about the Suzuki method of learning violin—when you start really young and learn by ear, which is modelled after language learning. It's so much less intellectual and much more instinctual, learning by copying. She was like, that looks like a cool thing. I was three years old at the time and she found out that there was a little local branch of our music conservatory that had a Suzuki violin programme. So when I was three and a half, getting close to four, she took me down and I started playing an extremely tiny violin. Joanna: Oh, cute! Alicia: Yes, and because it was part of this conservatory that was downtown, and we were just starting at the suburban branch where we lived, there was this path that I was able to follow. As I got more and more interested in violin, I could continue basically up through the conservatory level during high school. So I had a really fantastic music education without any pressure, without any expectations or professional goals. I just kept taking these classes and one thing led to another. I grew up being very immersed in both creative writing and music, and I think just having the gift of those two parts of my brain trained and stimulated and delighted so young really changed my brain in some ways. I'll always see the world through this creative lens, which I think I'm also just set up to do personally. Then the last step of my multi-practice career is that in college I got very interested in Jewish spirituality. I'm Jewish, but I didn't grow up very religious. I didn't grow up in a Jewish community really. So I knew some basics, but not a ton. In college I started to study it and also informally learned from other people I met. I ended up going on a pretty intense spiritual quest, going to Jerusalem and immersing myself after college for two years in traditional Jewish study and practice. So that became the third strand of the braid that had already been started with music and writing. Torah study, spiritual study, and teaching became the third, and they all interweave. The last thing I'll say is that because I work in both words and music, and naturally performance because of music, it began to branch a little bit into plays, theatre, and film, just because that's where the intersection of words, performance, and music is. So that's really what brought me into that, as opposed to any specific desire to work in film. It all happened very organically. Joanna: I love this. This is so cool. We are going to circle back to a lot of this, but I have to ask you— What about work for money at any point? How did this turn into more than just hobbies and lifestyle? Alicia: Yes, absolutely. Well, I'm very fortunate that I did not graduate college with loans because my parents were able to pay for college. That was a big privilege that I just want to name, because in the States that's often not the case. So that allowed me to need to support myself, but not also pay loans, which was a real gift. What happened was I went straight from college to that school in Jerusalem, and there I was on loans and scholarship, so I didn't have to worry yet about supporting myself. Then when I came back to the States, I actually found on Craigslist a job teaching remedial Hebrew. It was essentially teaching kids at a Jewish elementary school who either had learning differences or had just entered the school late and needed to be in a different Hebrew class than the other kids in their grade. That was my first experience of really teaching, and I just absolutely fell in love with it. Although in the end, my passion is much more for teaching the text and rituals and the wrestling with the concepts, as opposed to teaching language. So all these years, while doing performance and writing and all these things, I have been teaching Jewish studies. That has essentially supported me, I would say, between 50 and 70 per cent. Then the rest has been paid gigs as a musician, whether as a front person leading a project or as what we call a sideman, playing in someone else's band. Sometimes doing theatre performances, sometimes teaching workshops. That's how I've cobbled it together. I have not had a full-time job all these years and I have supported myself through both earned income and also grants and donations. I've really tried to cultivate a little bit of a donor base, and I took some workshops early on about how to welcome donations. So I definitely try to always welcome that as well. Joanna: That is so interesting that you took a workshop on how to welcome donations. Way back in, I think 2013, I said on this show, I just don't know if I can accept people giving to support the show. Then someone on the podcast challenged me and said, but people want to support creatives. That's when I started Patreon in 2014. It was when The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer came out and— It was this realisation that people do want to support people. So I love that you said that. Alicia: It's not easy. It's still not easy for me, and I have to grit my teeth every time I even put in my end-of-year newsletter. I just say, just a reminder that part of what makes this possible is your generous donations, and I'm so grateful to you. It's not easy. I think some people enjoy fundraising. I certainly don't instinctively enjoy it, but I have learned to think of it exactly the way that you're saying. I mean, I love donating to support other people's projects. Sometimes it's the highlight of my day. If I'm having a bad day and someone asks for help, either to feed a family or to complete a creative project, I just feel like, okay, at least I can give $36 or $25 and feel like I did something positive in the last hour, even if my project is going terribly and I'm in a fight with my kid or something. So I have to keep in mind that it is actually a privilege to give as well as a privilege to receive. Joanna: Absolutely. So let's get back into your various creative projects. The first thing I wanted to ask you, because you do have so many different formats and forms of your creativity—how do you know when an idea that comes to you should be a song, or something you want to do as a performance, or written, or a film? Tell us a bit about your creative process. Because a lot of your projects are also longer-term. Alicia: Yes. It's funny, I love planning and in some ways I'm an extreme planner. I really drive people in my family bonkers with planning, like family vacations a year in advance. In terms of my creativity, I'm very planful towards goals, but in that early generative state, I am actually pure instinct. I don't think I ever sit down and say, “I have this idea, which genre would it match with?” It's more like I sit on my bed and pick up my guitar, which is where I love to do songwriting, just sitting on my bed cross-legged, and I pick up my guitar and something starts coming out. Then I just work with that kernel. So it's very nebulous at first, very innate, and I just follow that creative spirit. Often I don't even know what a project is, sometimes if it's a larger project, until a year or two in. Once things emerge and take shape, then my planning brain and my strategy brain can jump on it and say, “Okay, we need three more songs to fill out the album, and we need to plan the fundraising and the scheduling.” Then I might take more of an outside-in approach. At the beginning it's just all instinct. Joanna: So if you pick up your guitar, does that mean it always starts in music and then goes into writing? Or is that you only pick up a guitar if it's going to be musical? Alicia: I think I'm responding to what's inside me. It's almost like a need, as opposed to, “I'm going to sit down and work.” I mean, obviously I sit down and work a lot, but I think in that early stage of anything, it's more like my fingers are itching to play something, and so I sit down and pick up my guitar. Sometimes nothing comes out and sometimes the kernel of a song comes out. Or I'm at a café, and I often like to write when I'm feeling a little bit discombobulated, just to go into the complexity of things or use challenging emotions as fuel. I really do use it as a—I don't know if therapeutic is the word, but I think it maybe is. I write often, as I always have, as I said before, to understand what I'm thinking. Like Joan Didion said—to process difficult emotions, to let go of stuck places. So I think I create almost more out of a sense of just what I need in the moment. Sometimes it's just for fun. Sometimes picking up a guitar, I just have a moment so I sit down and mess around. Sometimes it's to help me struggle with something. It doesn't always start in music. That was a random example. I might sit down to write because I have an hour and I think, I haven't written in a while. Or I do have an informal daily writing thing where I'll try to generate one loose draft of something a day, even if it's only ten pages. I mean, sorry, ten words. Joanna: I was going to say! Alicia: No, no. Ten words. I'm sorry. It's often poetry, so it feels like a lot when it's ten words. I'll just sit down with no pressure, no goal, no intention to make anything specific. Just open the floodgates and see what comes out. That's where every single project of mine has started. Joanna: Yes, I do love that. Obviously, I'm a discovery writer and intuitive, same as you. I think very much this idea of, especially when you said you feel discombobulated, that's when you write. I almost feel like I need that. I'm not someone who writes every day. I don't do ten lines or whatever. It's that I'll feel that sense of pressure building up into “this is going to be something.” I will really only write or journal when that spills over into— “I now need to write and figure out what this is.” Alicia: Yes. It's almost a form of hunger. It feels to me similar to when you eat a great meal and then you're good for a while. You're not really thinking of it, and then it builds up, like you said, and then there's a need—at least the first half of creativity. I really separate my generation and my editing. So my generative practice is all openness, no critique, just this maybe therapeutic, maybe curious, wandering and seeing what happens. Then once I have a draft, my incisive editing mind is welcome back in, which has been shut out from that early process. So that's a really different experience. Those early stages of creativity are almost out of need more than obligation. Joanna: Well, just staying with that generative practice. Obviously you've mentioned your study of and practice of Jewish tradition and Jewish spirituality. Steven Pressfield in his books has talked about his prayer to the muse, and I've got on my wall here—I don't talk about this very often, actually — I have a muse picture, a painting of what I think of as a muse spirit in some form. So do you have any spiritual practices around your generative practice and that phase of coming up with ideas? Alicia: I love that question, and I wish I had a beautiful, intentional answer. My answer is no. I think I experience creativity as its own spiritual practice itself. I do love individual prayer and meditation and things like that, but for me those are more to address my specifically spiritual health and happiness and connectedness. I'm just a dive-in kind of person. As a musician, I have friends who have elaborate backstage rituals. I have to do certain things to take care of my voice, but even that, it's mostly vocal rest as opposed to actively doing things. There's a bit of an on/off switch for me. Joanna: That's interesting. Well, I do want to ask you about one of your projects, this collaboration with a high school on a musical performance, I Was a Desert: Songs of the Matriarchs, and also your Girls in Trouble songs about women in the Torah. On your website, I had a look at the school, the high school, and the musical performance. It was extraordinary. I was watching you in the school there and it's just such extraordinary work. It very much inspired me—not to do it myself, but it was just so wonderful. I do urge people to go to your website and just watch a few minutes of it. I'm inspired by elements of religion, Christian and Jewish, but I wondered if you've come up against any issues with adaptation—respecting your heritage but also reinventing it. How has this gone for you. Any advice for people who want to incorporate aspects of religion they love but are worried about responses? Alicia: Well, I have to say, coming from the Jewish tradition, that is a core practice of Judaism—reinterpreting our texts and traditions, wrestling with them, arguing with them, reimagining them. I don't know if you're familiar with Midrash, but just in case some of your listeners aren't sure I'll explain it. There's essentially an ancient form of fanfic called Midrash, which was the ancient rabbis, and we still do it today, taking a biblical story that seems to have some kind of gap or inconsistency or question in it and writing a story to fill that gap or recast the story in an interestingly different light. So we have this whole body of literature over thousands of years that are these alternate or added-on adventures, side quests of the biblical characters. What I'm doing from a Jewish perspective is very much in line with a traditional way of interacting with text. I've certainly never gotten any pushback, especially as I work in progressive Jewish communities. I think if I were in an extremely fundamentalist community, there would be a lot of different issues around gender and things like that. The interpretive process, even in those communities, is part of how we show respect for the text. When I was working with the high school—and I just want to call out the choir director, Ethan Chen, who has an incredible project where he brings in a different artist every two years to work with the choir, and they tend to have a different cultural focus each time. He invited me specifically to integrate my songwriting about biblical women with his amazing high school choir. I was really worried at first because most of them are not Jewish—very few of them, if any. I wanted to respect their spiritual paths and their religious heritages and not impose mine on them. So I spent a lot of time at the beginning saying, this project has religious source material, but essentially it is a creative reinterpretive project. I am not coming to you to bring the religious material to you. I'm coming to take the shared Hebrew Bible myths and then reinterpret those myths through a lens of how they might reflect our own personal struggles, because that's always my approach to these ancient stories. I wanted to really make that clear to the students. It was such a joy to work with them. Joanna: It's such an interesting project. Also, I find with musicians in general this idea of performance. You've written this thing—or this thing specifically with the school—and it doesn't exist again, right? You're not selling CDs of that, I presume. Whereas compared to a book, when we write a book, we can sell it forever. It doesn't exist as a performance generally for an author of a memoir or a novel. It carries on existing. So how does that feel, the performance idea versus the longer-lasting thing? I mean, I guess the video's there, but the performance itself happened. Alicia: I do know what you mean. Absolutely. We did, for that reason, record it professionally. We had the sound person record it and mix it, so it is available to stream. I'm not selling CDs, but it's out there on all the streaming services, if people want to listen. I do also have the scores, so if a choir wanted to sing it. The main point that you're making is so true. I think there's actually something very sacred about live performance—that we're all in the moment together and then the moment is over. I love the artefacts of the writing life. I love writing books. I love buying and reading books and having them around, and there's piles of them everywhere in this room I'm standing in. I feel like being on stage, or even teaching, is a very spiritual practice for me, because it's in some ways the most in-the-moment I ever am. The only thing that matters is what's happening right then in that room. It's fleeting as it goes. I'm working with the energy in the room while we're there. It's different every time because I'm different, the atmosphere is different, the people are different. There's no way to plan it. The kind of micro precision that we all try to bring to our editing—you can't do that. You can practice all you want and you should, but in the moment, who knows? A string breaks or there's loud sound coming from the other room. It is just one of those things. I love being reminded over and over again of the truth that we really don't control what happens. The best that we can do is ride it, surf it, be in it, appreciate it, and then let it go. Joanna: I think maybe I get a glimpse of that when I speak professionally, but I'm far more in control in that situation than I guess you were with—I don't know how many—was it a hundred kids in that choir? It looked pretty big. Alicia: It was amazing. It was 130 kids. Yes. Joanna: 130 kids! I mean, it was magic listening to it. And yes, of course, showing my age there with buying a CD, aren't I? Alicia: Well, I do still sell some CDs of Girls in Trouble on tour, because I have a bunch of them and people still buy them. I'm always so grateful because it was an easier life for touring musicians when we could just bring CDs. Now we have to be very creative about our merch. Joanna: Yes, that's a good point because people are like, “Oh yes, I'll scan your QR code and stream it,” but you might not get the money for that for ages, and it might just be five cents or whatever. Alicia: Streaming is terrible for live musicians. I mean, I don't know if you know the site Bandcamp, but it's essentially self-publishing for musicians. Bandcamp is a great way around that, and a lot of independent musicians use it because that's a place you can upload your music and people can pay $8 for an album. They can stream it on there if they want, or they can download it and have it. But, yes, it's hard out there for touring musicians. Joanna: Yes, for sure. Well, let's come to the book then. Your memoir, When We Are Born We Forget Everything. Tell us about some of the challenges of a book as opposed to these other types of performances. Alicia: Well, I come out of poetry, so that was my first love. That's what I majored in in college. That's what my MFA is in. Poetry is famously short, and I'm not one of those long-form poets. I have been trained for many years to think in terms of a one-page arc, if at all. Arc isn't even really a word that we use in poetry. So to write a full-length prose book was really an incredible education. Writing it basically took ten years from writing to publication, so probably seven years of writing and editing. I felt like there was an MFA-equivalent process in the number of classes I took, books I read, and work that went into it. So that was one of my main joys and challenges, really learning on the job to write long-form prose coming out of poetry. How to keep the engine going, how to think about ending one chapter in a way that leaves you with some torque or momentum so that you want to go into the next chapter. How many characters is too many? Who gets names and who doesn't? Some of these things that are probably pretty basic for fiction writers were all very new to me. That was a big part of my process. Then, of course, poets don't usually have agents. So once it was done, I began to query agents. It was the normal sort of 39 rejections and then one agent who really understood what I was trying to do. She's incredible, and she was able to sell the book. The longevity of just working on something for that long—I have a lot of joy in that longevity—but it does sometimes feel like, is this ever going to happen, or am I on a fool's errand? Joanna: I guess, again, the difference with performance is you have a date for the performance and it's done then. I suppose once you get a contract, then for sure it has to be done. But memoir in particular, you do have to set boundaries, because of course your life continues, doesn't it? So what were the challenges in curating what went into the book? Because many people listening know memoir is very challenging in terms of how personal it can be. Alicia: Yes, and one thing I think is so fascinating about memoir is choosing which lens to put on your story, on your own story. I heard early on that the difference between autobiography and memoir is that autobiography tries to give a really comprehensive view of a life, and memoir is choosing one lens and telling the story of a life through that lens, which is such a beautiful creative concept. I knew early on that I wanted this to be primarily a spiritual memoir, and also somewhat of an artistic memoir, because my creativity and my spirituality are so intertwined. It started off being spiritual, and also about my musical life, and also about my writing life. In the end, I edited out the part about my writing life, because writing about writing was just too navel-gazing. So there's nothing in there about me coming of age as a writer, which used to be in there, but that whole thing got taken out. Now it's spiritual and musical. For me, it really helped to start with those focuses, because I knew there may be things that were hugely important in my life, absolutely foundational, that were not really going to be either mentioned or gone deeply into in the book. For example, my husband teases me a lot about how few pages and words he gets. He's very important in my life, but I actually met him when I was 29, and this book really mainly takes place in the years leading up to that. There's a little bit of winding down in the first few years of my thirties, but this is not a book about my life with him. He is mentioned in it. That story is in there. Having those kinds of limitations around the canvas—there's a quote, I forget if it was Miranda July, but somebody said something like, basically when you put a limitation on your project, that's when it starts to be a work of art. Whatever it is, if you say, “I'm taking this canvas and I'm using these colours,” that's when it really begins, that initial limitation. That was very helpful. Joanna: It's also the beauty of memoir, because of course you can write different memoirs at different times. You can write something about your writing life. You can write something else about your marriage and your family later on. That doesn't all have to be in one book. I think that's actually something I found interesting. And I would also say in my memoir, Pilgrimage, my husband is barely mentioned either. Alicia: Does he tease you too? Joanna: No, I think he's grateful. He is grateful for the privacy. Alicia: That's why I keep saying, you should be grateful! Joanna: Yes. You really should. Like, maybe stop talking now. Alicia: Yes, exactly. I know. Marriage, memoir—those words should strike fear into his heart. Joanna: They definitely should. But let's just come back. When I look at your career— You just seem such an independent creative, and so I wondered why you decided to work with a traditional publisher instead of being an independent. How are you finding it as someone who's not in charge of everything? Alicia: It's a great question. The origin story for this memoir is that I was actually reading poetry at a writing conference called Bread Loaf in the States. This was 16 years ago or something. I was giving a poetry reading and afterwards an agent, not my agent, came up to me and said, you know, you have a voice. You should try writing nonfiction because you could probably sell it. Back to your question about how I support myself, I am always really hustling to make a living. It's not like I have some separate well-paying job and the writing has no pressure on it. So my ears kind of perked up. I thought, wait, getting paid for writing? Because poetry is literally not in the world. It's just not a concept for poets. That's not why we write and it's not a possibility. So a little light turned on in my brain. I thought, wow, that could be a really interesting element to add to my income stream, and it would be flexible and it would be meaningful. For a few years I thought, what nonfiction could I write? And I came up with the idea of writing a book about biblical women from a more scholarly perspective, because I teach that material and I've studied it. I went to speak to another agent and she said, well, you could do that, but if you actually want to sell a book, it's going to have to be more of a trade book. So if you don't want an academic press, which wouldn't pay very much, you would have to have some kind of memoir-like stories in there to just sweeten it so it doesn't feel academic. So then I began writing a little bit of spiritual memoir. I thought, okay, well, I'll write about a few moments. Then once I started writing, I couldn't stop. The floodgates really opened. That's how it ended up being a spiritual memoir with interwoven stories of biblical women. It became a hybrid in that sense. I knew from the beginning that this project—for all my saying earlier that I never plan anything and only work on instinct, I was thinking as I said that, that cannot be true. This time, I actually thought, what if, instead of coming from this pure, heart-focused place of poetry, I began writing with the intention of potentially selling a book? The way my fiction writer friends talked about selling their books. So that was always in my mind. I knew I would continue writing poetry, continue publishing with small presses, continue putting my own music out there independently, but this was a bit of an experiment. What if I try to interface with the publishing world, in part for financial sustainability? And because I had a full draft before I queried, I never felt like anyone was telling me what to write. I can't imagine personally selling a book on proposal, because I do need that full capacity to just swerve, change directions, be responsive to what the project is teaching me. I can't imagine promising that I'll write something, because I never know what I'll write. But writing at least a very solid draft first, I'm always delighted to get notes and make polish and rewrite and make things better. I took care of that freedom in the first seven years of writing and then I interfaced with the agent and publisher. Joanna: I was going to say, given that it's taken you seven to ten years to do this and I can't imagine that you're suddenly a multimillionaire from this book. It probably hasn't fulfilled the hourly rate that perhaps you were thinking of in terms of being paid for your work. I think some people think that everyone's going to end up with the massive book deal that pays for the rest of their life. I guess this book does just fit into the rest of your portfolio career. Alicia: Yes. One of the benefits of these long arcs that I like to work on is, one of them—and probably the primary one—is that the project gets to unfold on its own time. I don't think I could have rushed it if I wanted. The other is that it never really stopped me from doing any of my other work. Joanna: Mm-hmm. Alicia: So it's not like, oh, I gave up months of my life and all I got was this advance or something. It's like, I was living my life and then when I had a little bit of writing time—and I will say, it impacted my poetry. I haven't written as much poetry because I was working on this. So it wasn't like I just added it on top of everything I was already doing, but it was a pleasure to just switch to prose for a while. It was just woven into my life. I appreciated having this side project where no one was waiting for it. There were no deadlines, there was no stress around it, because I always have performances to promote and due dates for all kinds of work. It was just this really lovely arena of slow growth and play. When I wanted a reader, I could do a swap with a writer friend, but no one was ever waiting for it on deadline. So there's actually a lot of pleasure in that. Then I will say, I think I've made more from selling this than my poetry. Probably close to ten times more than I've ever made from any of my poetry. So on a poetry scale, it's certainly not going to pay for my life, but it actually does make a true financial difference in a way that much of my other work is a little more bit by bit by bit. It's actually a different scale. Joanna: Well, that's really good. I'm glad to hear that. I also want to ask you, because you've done so many things, and— I'm fascinated by your independent film, A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff. I have only watched the trailer. You are in it, you wrote it, directed it, and it's also obviously got other people in, and it's fascinating. It's about this particular point in history. I've written quite a lot of screenplay adaptations of my novels, and I've had some various amounts of interest, but the whole film industry to me is just a complete nightmare, far bigger nightmare than the book industry. So I wonder if you could maybe talk about this, because it just seems like you made a film, which is so cool. Alicia: Oh yes, thank you. Joanna: And it won awards, yes, we should say. Alicia: Did we win awards? Yes. It really, for an extremely low-budget indie film, went far further than my team and I could ever have imagined. I will say I never intended to make a film. Like most of the best things in my life, it really happened by accident. When I was living in New York— I lived there for many years—the 2008 financial collapse happened and I happened to have an arts grant that gave a bunch of artists workspace, studio space, in essentially an abandoned building in the financial district. It was an empty floor of a building. The floor had been left by the previous tenant, and there's a nonprofit that takes unused real estate in the financial district and lets artists work in it for a while. So I was on Wall Street, which was very rare for me, but for this year I was working on Wall Street. Even though I was working on poems, the financial collapse happened around me, and I did get inspired by that to create a one-woman show, which was more of a theatre show. That was already a huge leap for me because I had no real theatre experience, but it was experimental and growing out of my poetry practice and my music. It was a musical one-woman show about the financial collapse from a spiritual perspective, apparently. So I performed that. I documented it, and then a friend who lives in Portland, Oregon, where I now live, said, “I'm a theatre producer, I'd like to produce it here.” So then I rewrote it and did a run here in Portland of that show. Essentially, I started to tour it a little bit, but I got tired of it. It was too much work and it never really paid very much, and I thought, this is impacting my life negatively. I just want to do a really good documentation of the show. So I wanted to hire a theatre documentarian to just document the show so that it didn't disappear, like you were saying before about live performance. But one of the people I talked to actually ended up being an artistic filmmaker, as opposed to a documentarian. She watched the archival footage, just a single camera of the show, and said, “I don't think you should do this again and film it with three cameras. I think you should make it into a feature film. And in fact, I think maybe I should direct it, because there's all this music in it and I also direct music videos.” We had this kind of mind meld. Joanna: Mm. Alicia: I never intended to make a film, but she is a visionary director and I had this piece of IP essentially, and all the music and the writing. We adapted it together. We did it here in Portland. We did all the fundraising ourselves. We did not interface with Hollywood really. I think that would be, I just can't imagine. I love Hollywood, but I'm not really connected, and I can't imagine waiting for someone to give us permission or a green light to make this. It was experimental and indie, so we just really did it on the cheap. We had an amazing producer who helped us figure out how to do it with the budget that we had. We worked really hard fundraising, crowdfunding, asking for donations, having parties to raise money, and then we just did it and put it out there. I think my main advice—and I hear this a lot on screenwriting podcasts—is just make the thing. Make something, as opposed to trying to get permission to make something. Because unless you're already in that system, it's going to be really hard to get permission to make it. Once you make something, that leads to something else, which leads to something else. So even if it's a very short thing, or even if it's filmed on your phone, just actually make the thing. That turned out to be the right thing for us. Joanna: Yes, I mean, I feel like that is what underpins us as independent creatives in general. As an independent author, I feel the same way. I'm never asking permission to put a book in the world. No, thank you. Alicia: Exactly. We have a vision and we do it. It's harder in some ways, but that liberation of being able to really fully create our vision without having to compromise it or wait for permission, I think it's such a beautiful thing. Joanna: Well, we're almost out of time, but I do want to ask you about creative confidence. Alicia: Hmm. Joanna: I feel I'm getting a lot of sense about this at the moment, with all the AI stuff that's happening. When you've been creating a long time, like you and I have, we know our voice and we can lean into our voice. We are creatively confident. We'll fail a lot, but we'll just push on and try things and see what happens. Newer creators are struggling with this kind of confidence. How do I know what is my voice? How do I know what I like? How do I lean into this? So give us some thoughts about how to find your voice and how to find that creative confidence if you don't feel you have it. Alicia: I love that. One thing I will say is that I always think whatever is arising is powerful material to create from. So if a lack of confidence is arising, that's a really powerful feeling to directly explore and not just try to ignore. Although sometimes one has to just ignore those feelings. But to actually explore that feeling, because AI can't have that, right? AI can't really feel a crisis of confidence, and humans can. So that's a gift that we have, those kinds of sensitivities. I think to go really deep into whatever is arising, including the sense that we don't have the right to be creating, or we're not good enough, or whatever it is. Then I always do come back to a quote. I think it might have been John Berryman, but I'm forgetting which poet said it. A younger poet said, “How will I ever know if I'm any good?” And this famous poet said something like—I'm paraphrasing—”You'll never know if you're any good. If you have to know, don't write.” That has been really liberating to me, actually. It sounds a little harsh, but it's been really liberating to just let go of a sense of “good enough.” There is no good enough. The great writers never know if they're good enough. Coming back to this idea of just making without permission—the practice of doing the thing is being a writer. Caring and trying to improve our craft, that's the best that we can have. There's never going to be a moment where we're like, yes, I've nailed this. I am truly a hundred per cent a writer and I have found my voice. Everything's always changing anyway. I would say, either go into those feelings or let those feelings be there. Give them a little tea. Tell them, okay, you're welcome to be here, but you don't get to drive the boat. And then return to the practice of making. Joanna: Absolutely. Great. So where can people find you and your books and everything you do online? Alicia: Everything is on my website, which is AliciaJo.com, and also on Instagram at @ohaliciajo. I'd love to say hello to anyone who's interested in similar topics. Joanna: Brilliant. Well, thanks so much for your time, Alicia. That was great. Alicia: Thank you. I love your podcast. I'm so grateful for all that you've given the writing world, Jo.The post Creative Confidence, Portfolio Careers, And Making Without Permission with Alicia Jo Rabins first appeared on The Creative Penn.

This week, Judaism Unbound is thrilled to feature the 3rd episode of Door to Door: A Pilgrimage Across Generations -- another podcast in Judaism Unbound's family of podcasts! ------------------------- Head to JudaismUnbound.com/classes to check out our up upcoming courses in the UnYeshiva! This time around we are offering courses on an Intro to Judaism (Judaism Inbound), the book of Genesis, the Magic & Medicine of Psalms, Jews and Revolution, and a Jewish embrace of Fatness! -------------------------- Door to Door is a deeply personal, five-part podcast series tracing one Jewish family's multigenerational pilgrimage from a once-lost home in Wachenbuchen, Germany, to the present-day echoes of inherited memory, trauma, and resilience. Told through archival recordings, family reflections, and emotional returns to ancestral ground, this podcast chronicles the survival of Simon—a Holocaust survivor taken to Buchenwald Concentration Camp during Kristallnacht—and the generations that followed him. It's a story shaped by suffering, but defined by rebuilding, remembrance, and an enduring commitment to legacy. Door to Door invites listeners to witness what it means to reclaim identity from the wreckage—and to carry forward the names, the stories, and the truths nearly erased. If you've ever felt the weight of inherited memory, or the pull to understand where you come from — subscribe to Door to Door wherever you get your podcasts. Let this be part of your story, too. We'd love to hear from you, so you can email us at miriam@judaismunbound.com or find us at: www.judaismunbound.com/door-to-door

In this episode, Jenna and Beth reflect on Lent as a pilgrimage, not a performance. Together they explore what it means to “settle in” with the Lord, to pray like you would meet a friend for coffee, and to allow God to love every part of your story...even the parts you'd rather throw away. From learning how to be still, to noticing tension in our bodies, to encountering the Father who comes to meet us in the mud, this conversation is an invitation to walk with Jesus right where you are. If you feel like you don't know how to pray, if Lent feels confusing, or if you're discovering that becoming who God made you to be is a lifelong journey, you're in good company here. Wherever you are on the road, He is already with you.

Week 1 – Conceived in the Dark  Apprentice: Nicodemus Text: John 3:1–8 Nicodemus comes at night. Curious. Confused. Reputable but searching. Apprenticeship begins in questions, not certainty. New birth cannot be mastered. Following Jesus means entering mystery. Practice: Ten minutes of silence each night. Let questions surface.

Recorded live at Heights Yoga Collective in Tampa, FL. The physical focus was binds & the spiritual focus was on beginnings.

Dr. Thomas Harmon talks about a million dollar grant to strengthen Catholic engagement in America civil life. Dr. Matthew Bunson and Fr. Thomas Petri highlight the La Dolce Fede: In the Footsteps of the Pope's pilgrimage with T. Joan Lewis check in from Assisi and shares her experience with St. Francis' relics. Plus, Dr. Scott Hefelfinger from the Augustine Institute shares about a new retreat style Lenten series.

Send a textGuru Amar Das Ji begins the sacred construction of Baoli Sahib at Goindwal—not as a ritual site, but as a center of Naam, Seva, and equality.Why build a stepwell near the River Beas, and what do the 84 steps truly represent?Discover how the first Sikh pilgrimage redefined liberation—and why this story still speaks to us today.Music—Puratan shabad kirtan, instrumental rabab, and indian classical musichttps://www.instagram.com/sikh_history_sakhi/ https://www.sikhhistorysakhi.com/

Fluent Fiction - Norwegian: Winter Reverie: A Pilgrimage to Peace in Trondheim Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/no/episode/2026-02-23-23-34-02-no Story Transcript:No: Lars sto stille utenfor Nidarosdomen.En: Lars stood still outside Nidarosdomen.No: Det var vinter, og snøen lå tungt over Trondheim.En: It was winter, and the snow lay heavily over Trondheim.No: Den gamle katedralen strakte seg mot en grå himmel, og lyset fra gatelysene kastet lange skygger over kirkegården.En: The old cathedral stretched towards a gray sky, and the light from the street lamps cast long shadows over the cemetery.No: Hver pust laget små skyer av damp i den kalde luften.En: Each breath created small clouds of steam in the cold air.No: Han hadde reist fra Oslo, i håp om å finne noe her.En: He had traveled from Oslo, hoping to find something here.No: Ro?En: Peace?No: Mening?En: Meaning?No: Han visste ikke helt.En: He wasn't quite sure.No: Inni katedralen var det varmt og stille.En: Inside the cathedral, it was warm and quiet.No: Turistenes hvisking var som en fjern hvislende vind.En: The whispering of tourists was like a distant, hissing wind.No: Lars gikk sakte mellom de høye steinsøylene, betraktet detaljene i de fargerike glassvinduene.En: Lars walked slowly between the tall stone columns, observing the details in the colorful stained glass windows.No: Lyset fra dem malte gulvet i gull, rødt og blått.En: The light from them painted the floor in gold, red, and blue.No: En kvinne, Ingrid, satte seg på en benk nærme ham og smilte kort før hun vendte tilbake til sin egen stille bønn.En: A woman, Ingrid, sat on a bench near him and gave a brief smile before returning to her own silent prayer.No: Lars satte seg også.En: Lars sat down as well.No: Hånden hans kjente den glatte, kalde overflaten av benken.En: His hand felt the smooth, cold surface of the bench.No: Han så besøket som en pilegrimsreise.En: He saw the visit as a pilgrimage.No: Han lette etter noe.En: He was searching for something.No: Noen ganger var det vanskelig å forstå hva som drev ham.En: Sometimes it was difficult to understand what drove him.No: De siste månedene hadde vært krevende.En: The past few months had been challenging.No: Jobben hadde blitt borte.En: The job was gone.No: Forholdet til en gammel venn, Oskar, hadde kjølnet.En: His relationship with an old friend, Oskar, had cooled.No: Kanskje det var dette som førte ham hit.En: Maybe this was what led him here.No: En eldre mann, en ansatt i katedralen, gikk forsiktig forbi med en lyseslukker.En: An older man, an employee of the cathedral, walked carefully by with a candle snuffer.No: Han så mot Lars, kanskje med en forståelse i blikket.En: He looked at Lars, perhaps with an understanding in his gaze.No: Lars reiste seg og gikk for å tenne et lys.En: Lars stood up and went to light a candle.No: Han hadde aldri vært veldig religiøs, men det var noe beroligende med denne enkle handlingen.En: He had never been very religious, but there was something calming about this simple act.No: Lyset blafret til liv, kastet et varmt skjær mot de kalde steinveggene.En: The light flickered to life, casting a warm glow against the cold stone walls.No: Mens han sto der, følte han en plutselig lettelse.En: As he stood there, he felt a sudden relief.No: En stråle av vintersolen brøt gjennom skyene og fylte rommet med et klart, strålende lys gjennom de fargede glassvinduene.En: A beam of winter sun broke through the clouds and filled the room with a clear, brilliant light through the colored glass windows.No: Han lukket øynene og tok et dypt pust.En: He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.No: Et øyeblikk kjente han bare fred.En: For a moment, he felt only peace.No: En slags forståelse.En: A kind of understanding.No: En visshet om at alt han lette etter ikke egentlig var så langt unna.En: A certainty that everything he was looking for was not really so far away.No: Da han åpnet øynene igjen og så rundt seg, virket verden litt mer forståelig.En: When he opened his eyes again and looked around, the world seemed a little more comprehensible.No: Sorgen føltes lettere.En: The sorrow felt lighter.No: Forandringer i livet hans hadde en mening.En: Changes in his life had a meaning.No: Han visste at veien fremover var lang, men kanskje ikke så ensom som han tidligere hadde fryktet.En: He knew the road ahead was long, but perhaps not as lonely as he had previously feared.No: Lars forlot Nidarosdomen med et smil.En: Lars left Nidarosdomen with a smile.No: Snøen knirket under støvlene når han gikk ut, og den kalde luften klemte forsiktig mot kinnene hans.En: The snow creaked under his boots as he walked out, and the cold air pressed gently against his cheeks.No: Han kjente seg lettere, og hans skritt var fylt med ny energi.En: He felt lighter, and his steps were filled with new energy.No: Trondheim og alt rundt ham føltes friskere, som om noe hadde blitt renset bort.En: Trondheim and everything around him felt fresher, as if something had been cleansed away.No: Hans pilegrimsreise var ikke over, men nå føltes den mindre alene.En: His pilgrimage was not over, but now it felt less lonely.No: Han så rundt seg på byen og de snødekte takene.En: He looked around at the city and the snow-covered roofs.No: Kanskje, tenkte han, var livet nettopp dette -- å vandre med åpent hjerte, klar for både det man ser og det man ennå ikke har funnet.En: Maybe, he thought, life was precisely this -- to walk with an open heart, ready for both what one sees and what one has yet to find.No: Og så, med en stille avgjørelse, tok han de første skrittene i retning det nye kapitlet i livet sitt.En: And so, with a quiet decision, he took the first steps toward the new chapter in his life. Vocabulary Words:cathedral: katedralwhispering: hviskinggraveyard: kirkegårdsteam: dampstained glass: farget glasspilgrimage: pilegrimsreiseflickered: blafretshadow: skyggebeam: strålebrilliant: strålendecomprehensible: forståeligsorrow: sorgchallenging: krevendeemployee: ansattsnuffer: lyseslukkercandle: lysquiet: stillecertainty: visshetrelief: lettelseroofs: takcleansed: rensetdecision: avgjørelseflickered: blafretgaze: blikkunderstanding: forståelselonely: ensomfresh: friskprayer: bønnbench: benksteps: skritt

Philip Clark digs into literary inspired holiday destinations with Travel writer Sarah Rodriguez on Nightlife Travel. 

In this week's message, Pastor Bob shares his heartfelt announcement about transitioning to the role of Pastor Emeritus after 20 years as Lead Pastor, emphasizing the importance of a smooth leadership succession and encouraging the congregation to support the incoming Lead Pastor, Don Heindel, as they embark on a new chapter together.

The Practice of Hearing the Call and Responding, with Rev. Dr. Ken Hood. Series: Life as Pilgrimage, Lent 2026 A Spacious Christianity, First Presbyterian Church of Bend, Oregon. Scripture: Genesis 3:14-24.Curious about where you are in your own journey? Join Rev. Dr. Ken Hood this Sunday (online or in person) as we explore starting “close in,” rethinking Adam and Eve's story, and navigating life's seasons of change. Come as you are, bring your questions, and see what this bigger, messier, beautiful life might hold for you.About the Series, Life as Pilgrimage, Lent 2026: Our sacred stories are filled with journeys from the familiar into the unknown. This season invites us to become pilgrims, open to being changed along the way. Through shared workshops, contemplative practices, creative expression, and time on the trail, we will make space to listen deeply and be gently transformed by the spacious love of God.Join us each Sunday, 10AM at bendfp.org, or 11AM KTVZ-CW Channel 612/12 in Bend.  Subscribe/Follow, and click the bell for alerts.At First Presbyterian, you will meet people at many different places theologically and spiritually. And we love it that way. We want to be a place where our diversity brings us together and where conversation takes us all deeper in our understanding of God.We call this kind of faith “Spacious Christianity.” We don't ask anyone to sign creeds or statements of belief. The life of faith is about a way of being in the world and a faith that shows itself in love.Thank you for your support of the mission of the First Presbyterian Church of Bend. Visit https://bendfp.org/giving/ for more information.Keywords:David Whyte, start close in, be present, perfectionist, Adam and Eve, transition, growth, cycle of renewal, passion, doldrums, mini transitions, cocooning, getting ready, self-discovery, pilgrimage., presbyterian, church, online worship, bend, oregonFeaturing:Rev. Dr. Steven Koski, Rev. Sharon Edwards, Becca Ellis, Brave of Heart, GuestsSupport the show

Talk by HG Vishnugada Dasa: (0:00:0 -0:22:0) Talk by HG Vaisesika Dasa: (0:22:0- end) I was thinking about consistency in relationship to ants, and I noticed that in any discipline that I'm practicing, consistency is the key. For instance, I notice in writing that it's better if I have a daily approach. In fact, I got this advice from His Grace Bhūrijana Prabhu, who's an author. When I was writing my first book—or I should say, when I was not writing my first book—he called me over and he said, “Listen, I have some advice for you, kid. I will tell you what I am going to do for you.” He said, “Just write one sentence every day.” That changed my approach to writing because as soon as he said that, I thought, “Well, I can try to write one sentence a day.” When I started doing that, I realized his trick: I couldn't write just one sentence. I wrote a sentence, then I thought I would write one more, and then one more. Pretty soon, I noticed Nirākulā saying, “Where are you? You were supposed to be here half an hour ago! I told you prasādam was at nine o'clock!”—and look, she's laughing. I noticed that I had crossed over from taking the "consistent approach" (that's the topic) and I had slipped into absorption. Therefore, I took from the ants this mantra—and I thank them to this day—which is: “Don't let the trail go cold.” There's a way in which, as soon as you stop using a trail, it grows over again. In writing, I notice also that if I wait for even three days, then I can't remember where I finished. Even if I mark it copiously, I think, “Was it yellow or green that I was supposed to start with?” And if I wait three weeks or three months, then who knows what might happen? I might even forget where my computer is or how to turn it on! So, consistency is helpful. This concept comes into our practice in the song by Śrīnivāsa Ācārya: 'saṅkhyā-pūrvaka-nāma-gāna-natibhiḥ.' The very fact that Śrīnivāsa Ācārya mentions that the Goswāmīs counted their rounds, as well as other things, and that it was daily, what Prabhupāda called “numerical strength.” Another way of being consistent is to find a number that you'll never go lower than, in whatever you do. Oftentimes, people are starting to chant and they wonder, “How will I get to 16 rounds?” One of the ways is to pick a number that you will not neglect to do. Even if there's a flood, a national emergency, or a personal emergency, you'll keep that number and never decrease. Another thought I had—and I forget where I got it—was: you'll never be thrown off the bus, so don't get off the bus yourself. Nobody kicks you off the bus of chanting or bhakti, so we shouldn't step off. There is a slight caveat: it's important to not be offensive, because if we are offensive, we won't feel like chanting. You just lose your taste for it. (0:33:04) (excerpt from the talk by HG Vaisesika Dasa) ----------------------------------------------------------- To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://vaisesikadasayatra.blogspot.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://thefourquestionsbook.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 ------------------------------------------------------------ Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/

The Krewe wraps up Season 6 with an episode looking back at the highs, the lows, & what's to come! Join Doug & Jenn for listener feedback and behind-the-scenes stories as they put a bow on the 6th chapter of KOJ Podcast! ------ About the Krewe ------ The Krewe of Japan Podcast is a weekly episodic podcast sponsored by the Japan Society of New Orleans. Check them out every Friday afternoon around noon CST on Apple, Google, Spotify, Amazon, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.  Want to share your experiences with the Krewe? Or perhaps you have ideas for episodes, feedback, comments, or questions? Let the Krewe know by e-mail at kreweofjapanpodcast@gmail.com or on social media (Twitter: @kreweofjapan, Instagram: @kreweofjapanpodcast, Facebook: Krewe of Japan Podcast Page, TikTok: @kreweofjapanpodcast, LinkedIn: Krewe of Japan LinkedIn Page, Blue Sky Social: @kreweofjapan.bsky.social, Threads: @kreweofjapanpodcast & the Krewe of Japan Youtube Channel). Until next time, enjoy! ------ Support the Krewe! Offer Links for Affiliates ------ Use the referral links below & our promo code from the episode! Support your favorite NFL Team AND podcast! Shop NFLShop to gear up for football season! Zencastr Offer Link - Use my special link to save 30% off your 1st month of any Zencastr paid plan!  ------ JSNO Upcoming Events ------ JSNO Event Calendar Join JSNO Today!

Daniel Thorson (@dthorson) interviews Tasshin about his pilgrimage, his vow, The Service Guild, Asheville, Brooklyn, San Francisco, Earth, Vito Corleone, and his plans for the future.Help TasshinHire TasshinThe Service GuildU can sign up for Tasshin's newsletter here.If U enjoyed this episode, consider supporting Tasshin and the Reach Truth Podcast on Patreon.

A single pasuk sparks a revolution: “Build Me a sanctuary so I may dwell among them.” We take that line seriously and ask sharper questions. What does it mean to build a house for the unhousable? Why did the Torah devote so much space to the Mishkan, the Beis HaMikdash, and the avodah? And most importantly, what does the mitzvah do to us?We explore the bigger picture with clear steps. First, the mandate and its scope: an unexpected portion of the 613 mitzvos revolves around the Temple, from offerings to purity laws to vessels. Then, the two main purposes highlighted by the Sefer HaChinuch: centralizing korbanos and uniting the nation through Aliyah L'Regel. We trace the story from Betzalel's portable Mishkan to Solomon's grandeur and the rebuilt Second Temple, anchoring it all in Jerusalem's permanent location. We also examine the classic debate on the future: Rambam's human-led construction under Mashiach versus Rashi and Tosafot's vision of a heavenly structure descending in fire.But the core of our discussion is the why. Using the Sefer HaChinuch and Ramban, we consider the Temple as a training ground where action shapes the soul. Pilgrimage becomes a form of education: long journeys, guarded gates, rising smoke, and hands on the offering—all designed to transform regret into renewal. We challenge a countercultural idea: mitzvos are the workout of the spirit, a precise regimen you can't outsource. Replace, don't repair, in a house of dignity; do, don't just study, when growth needs effort; and embrace the friction that shapes you—yes, even in the humble choice to hand-wrap mishloach manos rather than swipe a card.If you've ever wondered when we can rebuild, who must be present in the Land, what counts as “building,” or how the Ark fits into it all, this episode guides you through sources, history, and lived practice in one clear path. Listen, reflect, and then choose one mitzvah to “lift” with intention this week. If this resonated, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review—what part of the Temple's purpose most surprised you?Support the showJoin The Motivation Congregation WhatsApp community for daily motivational Torah content!------------------Check out our other Torah Podcasts and content! SUBSCRIBE to The Motivation Congregation Podcast for daily motivational Mussar! Listen on Spotify or 24six! Find all Torah talks and listen to featured episodes on our website, themotivationcongregation.org Questions or Comments? Please email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

Hour 2 for 2/19/26 Guest-Host John Harper prays the Chaplet with Elizabeth Simutis (1:00). Then, Brian O'Neel covers making a pilgrimage in the US (28:38). Listeners share their recent pilgrimages: St. Joseph's in Jasper, IN (39:52), Bl. Stanley Rother (41:17), Lourdes Grotto in San Diego (43:24), and Our Lady of La Leche (47:14). Links: RelevantRadio.com/Shrines saintstombs.com

Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: My dear King, the chanting of the holy name of the Lord is able to uproot even the reactions of the greatest sins. Therefore the chanting of the saṅkīrtana movement is the most auspicious activity in the entire universe. Please try to understand this so that others will take it seriously SB 6.3.31 To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://vaisesikadasayatra.blogspot.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://thefourquestionsbook.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 ------------------------------------------------------------ Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/ Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-bhakti/id1132423868 For the latest videos, subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@FanTheSpark For the latest in SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fan-the-spark ------------------------------------------------------------ #pilgrimageoftheheart #spiritualawakening #soul #spiritualexperience #spiritualpurposeoflife #spiritualgrowthlessons #secretsofspirituality #vaisesikaprabhu #vaisesikadasa #vaisesikaprabhulectures #spirituality #bhaktiyoga #krishna #spiritualpurposeoflife #krishnaspirituality #spiritualusachannel #whybhaktiisimportant #whyspiritualityisimportant #vaisesika #spiritualconnection #thepowerofspiritualstudy #selfrealization #spirituallectures #spiritualstudy #spiritualquestions #spiritualquestionsanswered #trendingspiritualtopics #fanthespark #spiritualpowerofmeditation #spiritualteachersonyoutube #spiritualhabits #spiritualclarity #bhagavadgita #srimadbhagavatam #spiritualbeings #kttvg #keepthetranscendentalvibrationgoing #spiritualpurpose

nārada muni, bājāy vīṇā 'rādhikā-ramaṇa'-nāme nāma amani, udita haya, bhakata-gītā-sāme When the great soul Nārada Muni plays his vina, the holy name, Radhika-raman, descends and immediately appears amidst the kirtan of the Lord's devotees. (Translation verse 1) ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/ https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/ https://thefourquestionsbook.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/ Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-bhakti/id1132423868 For the latest videos, subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@FanTheSpark For the latest in SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fan-the-spark ------------------------------------------------------------ #vaisesikaprabhu #vaisesikadasa #vaisesikaprabhulectures #spirituality #bhaktiyoga #krishna #spiritualpurposeoflife #krishnaspirituality #spiritualusachannel #whybhaktiisimportant #whyspiritualityisimportant #vaisesika #spiritualconnection #thepowerofspiritualstudy #selfrealization #spirituallectures #spiritualstudy #spiritualexperience #spiritualpurposeoflife #spiritualquestions #spiritualquestionsanswered #trendingspiritualtopics #fanthespark #spiritualpowerofmeditation #spiritualgrowthlessons #secretsofspirituality #spiritualteachersonyoutube #spiritualhabits #spiritualclarity #bhagavadgita #srimadbhagavatam #spiritualbeings #kttvg #keepthetranscendentalvibrationgoing #spiritualpurpose

We're joined by Josh Noem, author of the book What Wondrous Love: Daily Prayers for Lent and Holy Week 2026. Jordan Tabor with Rain Will Bring Flowers Foundation, talks about their upcoming event, Planting Seeds of Hope. Steve Ray, Catholic convert and pilgrimage leader, talks about upcoming pilgrimage opportunities.

WHAT DO THE CAMINO AND THE KUMANO KODO PILGRIMAGES HAVE IN COMMON? Let's find out! If you are looking for your next big trip and you love the spiritual practice of pilgrimage, then you are going to love this episode of the podcast. But it's not about the Camino, per se. It's Camino-adjacent, but about something that, turns out, is totally different. Chris from episode 142 is back! It feels like the blink of an eye since I talked with Chris the last time, but in the interim, he has completed the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage in Japan, which is no small thing. So we are going to be taking a look at the similarities and differences between the Camino and the Kumano Kodo through the lens of pilgrimage. Here is some information about this pilgrimage: https://www.kumano-travel.com/en https://www.tb-kumano.jp/en/kumano-kodo/    #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

We see the beautiful faith of the Portuguese people in the second volume of The Whole Truth About Fatima.Please support the Our Lady of Fatima Podcast:http://buymeacoffee.com/TerenceMStantonLike and subscribe on YouTube:https://m.youtube.com/@OurLadyOfFatimaPodcastFollow us on X:@FatimaPodcastSubscribe to our Substack:https://terencemstanton.substack.comThank you!

The Myth Pilgrim goes on pilgrimage! In this special episode, I reflect on the graces of my journey to India—an ancient land steeped in civilisation, spirituality, and wonder. 

We conclude the Novena to the Holy Face of Jesus and begin chapter 2 from the “Second Part of the Secret” section in the second volume of The Whole Truth About Fatima.Please support the Our Lady of Fatima Podcast:http://buymeacoffee.com/TerenceMStantonLike and subscribe on YouTube:https://m.youtube.com/@OurLadyOfFatimaPodcastFollow us on X:@FatimaPodcastSubscribe to our Substack:https://terencemstanton.substack.comThank you!

When Caitanya Mahāprabhu was teaching about devotional service, he presented 64 items. One of them is chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa; another is associating with devotees; and others are living in a holy Dhāma, reading Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and worshiping the Deity. He said that of all the 64, these five are so potent that even if you have a little connection with them, you'll make advancement in devotional service. And so, this "coming to the Dhāma" is noticeably prominent in his Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's teachings, of course, he said you should always live in the Dhāma—but if you can't be there physically, you should be there in your mind and heart. But how will you develop such a connection unless you come here? That's why we're here. So, in great humility, we enter this holy place. I offer my respectful obeisances to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, who introduced this Dhāma to us, as well as all the other aspects of devotional service. Not only did he introduce it, but he keeps introducing it to us through his books and through all his lectures, teachings—and also by the example he set by inviting his whole international society to come every year. Of course, there were fewer devotees at that time, but I think the invitation still holds. He relished seeing all of his fledgling disciples from various parts of the world—some of them freezing cold, others from places where no one had ever heard "Hare Kṛṣṇa"—coming into the Dhāma together: Māyāpur, Vṛndāvana, and sometimes Purī. So, we offer our respectful obeisances to Śrīla Prabhupāda and beg his permission to be in this Dhāma for a week, and to hear and chant together. While we are here as travelers—because you've already noticed—"travel" comes from the word travail. If you follow the etymology, everyone knows travail means an extreme of discomfort, but it also traces back to an instrument of torture. But it's not torture when we know we are coming to the Dhāma. Just going through security is kind of like a preparation for leaving this world: "And what do you still have on you, buddy? We'll go through it and look." We can't hide anything in this world. It all goes through an X-ray machine and a pat-down somewhere. It is best if we dispense of the useless things that we're carrying around with us before we get to the final security checkpoint. This is a good place to do it. Not that we come here just to leave our troubles or sins, but naturally, when we come here in a mood of service, we'll find that whatever material aspirations we have can be transformed into aspirations for serving Kṛṣṇa. After all, that's what's permanent. ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://vaisesikadasayatra.blogspot.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://thefourquestionsbook.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 ------------------------------------------------------------ Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/ Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-bhakti/id1132423868 For the latest videos, subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@FanTheSpark For the latest in SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fan-the-spark ------------------------------------------------------------ #spiritualawakening #soul #spiritualexperience #spiritualpurposeoflife #spiritualgrowthlessons #secretsofspirituality #vaisesikaprabhu #vaisesikadasa #vaisesikaprabhulectures #spirituality #bhaktiyoga #krishna #spiritualpurposeoflife #krishnaspirituality #spiritu

Recorded live at Heights Yoga Collective in Tampa, FL.

Recorded live at Heights Yoga Collective in Tampa, FL.

Recorded live at Heights Yoga Collective in Tampa, FL.

Recorded live at Heights Yoga Collective in Tampa, FL.

Recorded live at Heights Yoga Collective in Tampa, FL.

Recorded live at Heights Yoga Collective in Tampa, FL.

Recorded live at Heights Yoga Collective in Tampa, FL.

Recorded live at Heights Yoga Collective in Tampa, FL.

Recorded live at Heights Yoga Collective in Tampa, FL.

Recorded live at Heights Yoga Collective in Tampa, FL.

Show Notes  Today we are chatting with Brian Muldoon, author of the fascinating book, The Luminous One, a fictional speculation on the young adult years of Jesus. Brian Muldoon is an attorney with deep insights into the non-objective truths of Scripture and the life of the Christ. Let's find out more as we bring Brian Muldoon on the show! LINKS Please look into Brian's most recent book, The Luminous One, right HERE.

What happens when we listen to a call we don't fully understand?In this first interview episode of Room to Evolve, Jessica Goulding sits down with Jill Geoffrion, one of the world's leading voices on labyrinth prayer, pilgrimage, and Chartres Cathedral. Together, they explore pilgrimage not as tourism, but as transformation—an outer journey with an inner purpose.Jill shares her origin story: how a simple paper labyrinth traced with her finger revealed her life story back to her, and how that moment led her into decades of walking, studying, and teaching labyrinth prayer across the world. From Chartres to the Camino, from sacred geometry to modern thresholds, this conversation gently unfolds what it means to say yes to a call—especially when we don't yet know where it leads.You'll hear reflections on:What defines a pilgrimage (and what doesn't)Why the labyrinth is a practice of trust and surrenderChartres Cathedral as a “tuning fork” for the soulThreshold moments—when to step in, when to step outHospitality as a spiritual pathHow beauty itself becomes a form of prayerLiving at the threshold with love in uncertain timesThis episode is an invitation to slow down, listen deeply, and consider where your next threshold may be waiting.As you listen, notice:Is there a place, practice, or path that keeps calling you back?Where might you be standing at a threshold—ready, or almost ready, to step in?You don't need to know the destination.Sometimes, the pilgrimage begins the moment you say yes.Join Jessica and Jill October 3-10, 2026Hidden Things: Pilgrimage to Chartres Cathedralhttps://roomtoevolve.substack.com/p/goSubscribe and enjoy Room to Evolve: A spiritual sanctuary for pilgrims, seekers, mystics, and creatives to move, breathe, and walk together through the labyrinth of life. http://roomtoevolve.comJessica Goulding, C-IAYT, E-RYT500, Labyrinth FacilitatorJessica Goulding is a yoga therapist, labyrinth facilitator, and retreat leader—a pilgrim of the inner life whose teaching and writing accompany others through thresholds of change, weaving yoga, contemplation, and sacred practice.https://roomtoevolve.comSubscribe on Substack: https://substack.com/@roomtoevolve?The Rev. Jill Kimberly Hartwell Geoffrion, PhD, DD, is a world-renowned expert on labyrinths, labyrinth prayer, and the Chartres Cathedral. She has published seven books and numerous scholarly and popular articles on labyrinths. Her most recent work, Visions of Mary, Art, Devotion, and Beauty at Chartres Cathedral, combines stunning images and historical insights. As a professional photographer, Jill's visual work points to the unique character and inspiration of labyrinth prayer, the Chartres Cathedral, and sacred sites around the world. In her global ministry on four continents, Jill installs large-scale, Chartres-style labyrinths, often working in places of violence and acute suffering. When serving as a guide, workshop leader, and retreat facilitator, she enjoys connecting the spiritual needs of others with God's bountiful love. Jill's writing, art, and leadership style are inspiring, encouraging, and experience-based.Learn more about Jill athttps://jillgeoffrion.com/Browse Jill's books athttps://jillgeoffrion.com/writings/books/Book mentioned in this episode: Visions of Mary: Art, Devotion, and Beauty at Chartres Cathedral Brewster, MA: Mount Tabor Press, 2017Tags:PilgrimageLabyrinthChartres CathedralSacred Journey

Love isn't just a feeling; it's a sacrifice that costs you comfort and convenience. Jesus calls us to be the light of the world, but like an oil lamp, we can only give light by being willing to burn.#FULLTANKwithBroBo​ #FULLTANKwithBroBo2026​ #BoSanchez​ #BeTheLight​ #SaltAndLight​ #SacrificialLove​ #FaithInAction​ #Mark5​ #Matthew5​ #SpiritualMaturity​ #TrulyRichMindset​ #GodsGlory​--- P.S. If your spirit has been whispering for a break, listen. Join me on a transformative journey: The "Mary's Comfort" Pilgrimage to Guadalupe, Mexico from March 16 to 25, 2026. The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is not just a destination; it is a spiritual home. It is where Mary made her tender promise to care for all her children. Just click here to learn more: bosanchez.ph/pilgrims/guadalupeSupport this podcast. Help me reach others by supporting this podcast.To support my mission work, click this link now! http://BuyMeACoffee.com/brotherbosanchez

Life often leaves us feeling spiritually lost and disconnected, like we're living in a desert. As believers, we are pilgrims on a journey toward spiritual growth, but this requires honest self-assessment of our spiritual condition. We must ask ourselves difficult questions about whether we're connected or isolated, authentic or fake, growing or stagnant. Modern culture's emphasis on instant gratification makes spiritual growth more challenging, as it requires patience and delayed rewards. Psalm 120 shows us that spiritual journeys often begin in distress, not comfort. The key is bringing our honest struggles to God in prayer, remembering His past faithfulness, and choosing to keep moving forward spiritually regardless of circumstances.

This week on ‘The Write Question,' host Lauren Korn speaks with Joanna Pocock, author of ‘Greyhound' (Soft Skull Press).

Get ready for something brand new on the Considering Catholicism Podcast! On Sunday, February 15 at 7:00 PM Eastern, we're launching our first-ever live livestream webinar — and you're invited. Here's the link: https://www.patreon.com/ConsideringCatholicism/events/150105481 In this exclusive Patron-only event, we'll follow Egeria, the incredible 4th-century Spanish woman who crossed empires to pray at Mount Sinai, the burning bush site, and Holy Week in Jerusalem. Her diary reveals a hierarchical, sacramental, fully Catholic Church — long before anyone claims it “changed.” 45 minutes of maps, photos, history, and apologetic fire + 15 minutes of live Q&A with your questions. This livestream is exclusive to Partner and Provider tier patrons. Join now and secure your spot:

SHOW NOTES:Acts 17:16-34, Acts 18, 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 Pilgrimage to Greece & Turkey: April 7-17, 2027https://www.signaturetours.com/PMoses27

The ancient pilgrimage road, the road on which Jews, after purifying themselves at the Siloam spring pools, would ascend up to the Temple Mount 2,000 years ago, has now been opened to the general public after 13 years of excavations. Tour guide and archaeologist Danny “The Digger” Herman tells reporter Arieh O’Sullivan about the history of the road and what to expect to see in Jerusalem’s newest attraction. (photo: Yonatan Sindel/flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're tracing the life of Mansa Musa, the King of the Mali Empire, from his ascent to the throne to the mind-boggling scale of his wealth. We'll follow his legendary Pilgrimage to Mecca, the boom in culture and learning with the rise of Timbuktu, and analyze the incredible power he held! Welcome to HISTORY CAMP!

From Astro Boy to Gundam to real-world robots like ASIMO and Pepper, Japan's fascination with robots runs deep. This week, the Krewe is joined by author, cultural commentator, & robot enthusiast Matt Alt to explore how robots became heroes instead of threats in Japanese pop culture and how those sci-fi dreams quietly shaped Japan's modern relationship with technology, AI, and everyday automation. From giant mecha and cyborg icons to robot cafés and beyond, we dig into why Japan seems so comfortable living alongside machines in an episode that's equal parts nostalgia, culture, and future tech.------ About the Krewe ------The Krewe of Japan Podcast is a weekly episodic podcast sponsored by the Japan Society of New Orleans. Check them out every Friday afternoon around noon CST on Apple, Google, Spotify, Amazon, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.  Want to share your experiences with the Krewe? Or perhaps you have ideas for episodes, feedback, comments, or questions? Let the Krewe know by e-mail at kreweofjapanpodcast@gmail.com or on social media (Twitter: @kreweofjapan, Instagram: @kreweofjapanpodcast, Facebook: Krewe of Japan Podcast Page, TikTok: @kreweofjapanpodcast, LinkedIn: Krewe of Japan LinkedIn Page, Blue Sky Social: @kreweofjapan.bsky.social, Threads: @kreweofjapanpodcast & the Krewe of Japan Youtube Channel). Until next time, enjoy!------ Support the Krewe! Offer Links for Affiliates ------Use the referral links below & our promo code from the episode!Support your favorite NFL Team AND podcast! Shop NFLShop to gear up for football season!Zencastr Offer Link - Use my special link to save 30% off your 1st month of any Zencastr paid plan! ------ Matt Alt Links ------Matt's WebsitePure Invention - Publisher's PageMatt's NewsletterPure Tokyoscope PodcastMatt on IG------ Past Matt Alt Episodes ------Akira Toriyama: Legacy of a Legend ft. Matt Alt (S5E3)The History of Nintendo ft. Matt Alt (S4E18)How Marvel Comics Changed Tokusatsu & Japan Forever ft Gene & Ted Pelc (Guest Host, Matt Alt) (S3E13)Yokai: The Hauntings of Japan ft. Hiroko Yoda & Matt Alt (S2E5)Why Japan ft. Matt Alt (S1E1)------ Past KOJ Pop Culture Episodes ------Enjoying Shojo Anime & Manga ft. Taryn of Manga Lela (S5E18)The History & Evolution of Godzilla ft. Dr. William (Bill) Tsutsui (S5E1)Thoughts on Godzilla Minus One ft. Dr. William (Bill) Tsutsui (S4Bonus)Japanese Mascot Mania ft. Chris Carlier of Mondo Mascots (S4E8)Tokusatsu Talk with a Super Sentai ft. Sotaro Yasuda aka GekiChopper (S4E6)The Evolution of PokéMania ft Daniel Dockery [Part 2] (S4E3)The Evolution of PokéMania ft Daniel Dockery [Part 1] (S4E2)Japanese Independent Film Industry ft. Award Winning Director Eiji Uchida (S3E18)Talking Shonen Anime Series ft. Kyle Hebert (S3E10)Japanese Arcades (S2E16)How to Watch Anime: Subbed vs. Dubbed ft. Dan Woren (S2E9)Manga: Literature & An Art Form ft. Danica Davidson (S2E3)The Fantastical World of Studio Ghibli ft. Steve Alpert (S2E1)The Greatest Anime of All Time Pt. 3: Modern Day Anime  (2010's-Present) (S1E18)The Greatest Anime of All Time Pt. 2: The Golden Age  (1990's-2010's) (S1E16)The Greatest Anime of All Time Pt. 1: Nostalgia (60's-80's) (S1E5)We Love Pokemon: Celebrating 25 Years (S1E3)------ JSNO Upcoming Events ------JSNO Event CalendarJoin JSNO Today!

Hour 2 for 2/3/26 Drew and Brooke pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy (1:00). Then, Fr. Rocky covers his pilgrimage (27:46) and the amazing experience that is the Holy Land. Links: https://relevantradio.com/support/give-now/ relevantradio.com/holyland

Harrisburg is joining cities across the nation that are responding to recent events of violence and conflict. A Peace Pilgrimage is planned through the city this Wednesday, February 4th. We have a deep dive conversation with one of the organizers, Pastor Matthew Best of Harrisburg's Christ Lutheran Church. He explains how the public can participate, how he defines “peace,” and why event organizers deliberately did not include the state Capitol as a location. Governor Josh Shapiro is expected to address housing costs, energy demand, and unfinished business from prior years, when he delivers his budget address Tuesday. Lancaster County's Conestoga River is named Pennsylvania's River of the Year. And tens of thousands of people gathered for Punxsutawney Phil's annual appearance Tuesday morning, dubbed Groundhog Day. In uncertain times, our community counts on facts, not noise. Support the journalism and programming that keep you informed. Donate now at www.witf.org/givenow. And thank you. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're a worship leader, you plan services. It comes with the territory. It's part of the job. Most of the time, that comes down to picking songs. But what are we missing in our churches when service planning, programming, and worship leading is reduced to merely picking songs? W. David O. Taylor is Associate Professor of Theology & Culture at Fuller Theological Seminary as well as the director of various initiatives in worship, theology and the arts. He teaches courses in systematic theology, art and worship, art and theology, art and beauty, spiritual formation through the psalms, and theology and science fiction. He is the author of the books Glimpses of The New Creation, Prayers for the Pilgrimage, A Body of Praise, Open & Unafraid, as well as the upcoming book To Set the World Aflame: How Artists Bear Witness to the Fullness of God's Creation. David is a deep well of wisdom when it comes to worship and the arts. What I love about this conversation is he helps us see more expansive view of what worship is and can be in the church. We discuss why artists are necessary and how they help us see more of God. The value of silence in our gatherings. The kinds of songs we need to be singing today. Why the predominant worship model today isn't wrong, but inadequate. You can reach me anytime at david@beyondsundayworship.com. Thank you for listening. Topics Covered: The difference between formation and experience in worship Why our current model of worship experiences isn’t wrong, but inadequate The value of silence in our gatherings Why we need artists in the church Creative ways to introduce silence, reflection, and community in our worship spaces The kinds of songs the church needs to be singing today Resources Mentioned: Show Sponsor: Planning Center Glimpses of the New Creation by W. David O. Taylor Show Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Planning Center, an all-in-one church management software made to help churches help people. You can organize your ministries and keep everyone on your team communicating and aligned around what's going on. As a worship leader, good communication is key to building a strong worship team. You can cultivate relationships while ensuring everyone has what they need to successfully prep for your services. But why not take it up a notch using the chat feature? Built right into the Services mobile app—which, by the way, you should totally download if you haven't already—chat helps you coordinate all the service details with your team. Plus, you can have fun while doing it! No more juggling emails, group texts, and multiple apps to ensure your whole team is aligned. Chat will simplify your communication in one convenient place through the Services mobile app. And everyone can ask questions, request prayer, or join the banter in real-time with one another. The really cool part about chatting with your teams? Team members are dynamically added or removed from conversations as availability changes! So if your original bass player suddenly declines (why is it so hard to find a bass player, anyway?), your newly scheduled bass player is automatically added to the chat conversation. All of your chat conversations stay in sync. No more outdated group threads or irrelevant messages! So what are you waiting for? Download the Services app and start chatting! The post #382: Uncommon & Creative Ways to Reimagine Your Worship Services with W. David O. Taylor appeared first on Beyond Sunday Worship.

This time the party has options!Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/5YGEPY4mvbThis episode is brought to you by the generous donations of our amazing Show Sponsors: Laura Pickrahn, Irene Viorritto, Darrell DeLaney, Charles Compton, Deviouspoptart, Nastasia Raulerson, David Scrams, Elizabeth Clark, Rebekah Gowman, deviouspoptart, Eðvarð Arnór Sigurðsson, Michael Clark, Jerry Theuns, Mark Stanley, and Shelby Johnson.

As global uncertainty hums in the background, this moment in history feels both fragile and purposeful. Moving between history, theology, and lived experience, Raghunath and Kaustubha reflect on pilgrimage, mercy, and the distinct generosity of Śrī Caitanya's path. Broadcast from Śrīdhāma Māyāpur,  they explore how bhakti continues to shape culture in India and beyond and why spiritual emotion often arises not from sentimentality, but from a sudden recognition of the gift one has received. ******************************************************************** LOVE THE PODCAST? WE ARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN! Go to https://www.wisdomofthesages.com WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@WisdomoftheSages LISTEN ON ITUNES: https://podcasts/apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-the-sages/id1493055485 CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/wisdomofthesages108 *********************************************************************