Podcasts about This I Believe

This I Believe 19xx.xx.xx Floyd Cramer

Eleanor Vincent joins Let's Talk Memoir for a conversation about trying to save her challenging high conflict marriage, autism in adults and Cassandra Syndrome, what to leave out of a book, self-revelation and honest grappling, the toll of masking autism, emotional abuse, careful framing of those we write about, using a sensitivity reader, support groups for neurodiverse spouses, our narrating personas, writing fearless first drafts, disguising identities and biographical details to protect those we write about, and her new memoir Disconnected.    Ronit's upcoming memoir course: https://www.pce.uw.edu/courses/memoir-writing-finding-your-story   Also in this episode: -complex trauma -hyperfocus -reading unceasingly   Books mentioned in this episode: -The Situation and the Story by Vivian Gornick -Blow Your House Down by Gina Frangello -You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith -This American Ex-Wife by Liz Lenz -Liars by Sarah Manguso -Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset  -22 Things a Woman Must Know If She Loves a Man with Asperger's Syndrome by Rudy Simone  -Books by Anne Patchett   Eleanor Vincent's new memoir Disconnected: Portrait of a Neurodiverse Marriage is forthcoming from Vine Leaves Press. It tells the story of her gradual discovery that her husband was on the autism spectrum, and of how she tried to save a challenging high-conflict marriage. Her previous memoir, Swimming with Maya: A Mother's Story (Dream of Things, 2013) has twice been on the New York Times bestseller list and was nominated for the Independent Publisher of the Year award. Her essays have appeared in anthologies by Creative Nonfiction and This I Believe, the literary magazines 580 Split and Dorothy Parker's Ashes, as well as shorter pieces in the San Francisco Chronicle, the Sacramento Bee, and Generations Today. She has an MFA in creative writing from Mills College and is a member of the San Francisco Writers Grotto, Left Margin Lit, and the Author's Guild. She has taught creative nonfiction seminars at Mills College as a visiting writer and been awarded residencies at Hedgebrook, the Vermont Studio Center, and Writing Between the Vines. She lives in Walnut Creek, California. Connect with Eleanor: Website: https://www.eleanorvincent.com/ Book: https://vineleavespress.myshopify.com/products/disconnected-portrait-of-a-neurodiverse-marriage-by-eleanor-vincent X: https://x.com/eleanorpvincent Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eleanor.vincent/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eleanor.vincent/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanorpvincent/ Writing the real world Substack: https://eleanorvincent.substack.com/   – Ronit's writing has appeared in The Atlantic, The Rumpus, The New York Times, Poets & Writers, The Iowa Review, Hippocampus, The Washington Post, Writer's Digest, American Literary Review, and elsewhere. Her memoir WHEN SHE COMES BACK about the loss of her mother to the guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and their eventual reconciliation was named Finalist in the 2021 Housatonic Awards Awards, the 2021 Indie Excellence Awards, and was a 2021 Book Riot Best True Crime Book. Her short story collection HOME IS A MADE-UP PLACE won Hidden River Arts' 2020 Eludia Award and the 2023 Page Turner Awards for Short Stories.  She earned an MFA in Nonfiction Writing at Pacific University, is Creative Nonfiction Editor at The Citron Review, and teaches memoir through the University of Washington's Online Continuum Program and also independently. She launched Let's Talk Memoir in 2022, lives in Seattle with her family of people and dogs, and is at work on her next book. More about Ronit: https://ronitplank.com Subscribe to Ronit's Substack: https://substack.com/@ronitplank Follow Ronit: https://www.instagram.com/ronitplank/ https://www.facebook.com/RonitPlank https://bsky.app/profile/ronitplank.bsky.social   Background photo credit: Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash Headshot photo credit: Sarah Anne Photography Theme music: Isaac Joel, Dead Moll's Fingers

This week on The Sound Kitchen you'll hear a “This I Believe” essay from RFI Listeners Club member Helmut Matt from Herbolzheim, Germany. Just click the “Play” button above and enjoy! Hello everyone! Welcome to The Sound Kitchen weekly podcast, published every Saturday. This week, you'll hear what Helmut Matt, your fellow RFI English listener, has found to be true in his life. Don't miss it!Here's the music you heard on this week's program: “Butterfly Lovers” by He Zhanhao and Chen Gang, performed by the National Cinema Symphony Orchestra.Next week, be sure and tune in for a special program featuring your New Year Resolutions and Wishes for 2025.    

In this edition, we learn about the woman who was named one of the most important people of the 20th Century. Helen Keller was an American author, disability rights advocate, feminist, political activist and humanitarian. The Alabama native, lost her sight and her hearing due to illness when she was just 19 months old. However, Keller later learned to speak and write with the help of her first teacher and life-long companion Anne Sullivan. Keller was the first deaf-blind person in the United States to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. She became a global superstar, and a long time supporter of the NAACP and the ACLU. We will hear Helen Keller in her own words on the CBS Radio Show, This I Believe with Edward R. Murrow in the early 1950s. And on the Rudy Vallee variety show on NBC Radio in 1936. More at KRobCollection.com

Jay Allison is host and producer of The Moth Radio Hour,  host, curator, and producer of This I Believe on NPR, and creator/producer of hundreds of documentaries, essays, and special series for national and international broadcast. Jay has won virtually every major industry award for his productions and collaborations, including six Peabodys.  He was also the 1996 recipient of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's Edward R. Murrow Award for outstanding contributions to public radio, the industry's highest honor.  Jay is also a founder of the Association of Independents in Radio and founder of The Public Radio Exchange (or PRX), which is how many Public Radio shows and other content are shared with stations like WGCU…it's a recipient of the MacArthur Foundation's “Genius Organization” Award.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Sound Kitchen, a special treat: RFI English listener's musical requests. Just click on the “Play” button above and enjoy! Hello everyone! Welcome to The Sound Kitchen weekly podcast, published every Saturday. This week, you'll hear musical requests from your fellow listeners Hossen Abed Ali, Karuna Kanta Pal, and Jayanta Chakrabarty.Be sure you send in your music requests! Write to me at thesoundkitchen@rfi.frHere's the music you heard on this week's program: “How Long”, written and performed by Jackson Browne; “Top of the World” by John Bettis and Richard Carpenter, performed by The Carpenters, and “Mademoiselle Chante le Blues” by Didier Barbelivien, sung by Patricia Kaas.Be sure and tune in next week for a “This I Believe” essay written by RFI Listeners Club member Rodrigo Hunrichse.   

Feast your ears on listener Ashik Eqbal Tokon's “Transformative Journey” essay. All it takes is a little click on the “Play” button above! Hello everyone!This week on The Sound Kitchen, you'll hear an essay by listener Ashik Eqbal Tokon from Rajshahi, Bangladesh.  I hope you'll be inspired to write an essay for us, too!If your essay goes on the air, you'll find a package in the mail from The Sound Kitchen. Write in about your “ordinary” heroes – the people in your community who are doing extraordinarily good work, quietly working to make the world a better place, in whatever way they can. As listener Pramod Maheshwari said: “Just as small drops of water can fill a pitcher, small drops of kindness can change the world.”I am still looking for your “This I Believe” essays, too. Tell us about the principles that guide your life … what you have found to be true from yourvery own personalexperience. Or write about a book that changed your perspective on life, a person who you admire, festivals in your community, your most memorable moment, and/or your proudest achievement. If your essay is chosen to go on the air – read by you–you'll win a special prize!Send your essays to thesoundkitchen@rfi.frOr by postal mail, to:Susan OwensbyRFI – The Sound Kitchen80, rue Camille Desmoulins92130 Issy-les-MoulineauxFranceI look forward to hearing from you soon!Here's Ashik Eqbal Tokon's essay:The Transformative Journey, Inspired by Pather Panchali As a child growing up in the bustling megacity of the 1980s, I was accustomed to the constant hum of trains, the clanging of trams, the honking of buses, and the rhythmic peddling of rickshaws. My world was a mosaic of concrete, electricity, radio broadcasts, and black-and-white television screens. It was a life saturated with modern conveniences and rapid movement, where nature seemed distant, relegated to small parks and occasional glimpses of the sky between towering buildings. However, this perception shifted dramatically when I encountered a short story extracted from the novel Pather Panchali by Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay. The tale of Apu and Durga's discovery of the train in their remote Bengali village captured my imagination with its vivid descriptions and emotional depth. The scene where they run through lush fields, their eyes widening in awe at the sight of the train, resonated deeply within me. This moment became etched in my mind, igniting a spark of curiosity and longing for a world beyond the urban sprawl.My First Journey to the Village Shortly after reading the story, I had the opportunity to visit my ancestral village, a place starkly different from my city life. The journey began with a train ride that mirrored Apu's wonder and excitement. As the train chugged through the countryside, I gazed out of the window, mesmerized by the passing landscapes. Rivers snaked through the green fields, and orchards of mangoes, lychees, and jackfruits painted the scenery with vibrant colors. It was as if I had stepped into Apu's world, experiencing the same unmeasurable happiness he felt. The bus journey that followed took me deeper into the heart of nature. The scent of fresh earth and blooming flowers filled the air. The sight of villagers working in the fields, children playing under the shade of trees, and the serene flow of rivers created a permanent visual in my mind. This experience was a revelation, a tactile encounter with the natural world that Apu had introduced me to.Discovering Pather Panchali in My Teenage Years As a teenager, I read the full novel Pather Panchali and felt an even stronger connection to Apu's journey. The book opened my eyes to the beauty of nature, the simplicity of rural life, and the profound emotions tied to family and survival. It made me realize that true happiness and fulfillment could be found in the simplest of experiences and the purest of surroundings. This realization shaped my life's journey and passions. I developed a deep love for travel, seeking out places where I could immerse myself in nature's embrace. The novel's influence led me to explore diverse landscapes, from the golden deserts of Rajasthan, India, to the lush hills of Bhutan. I found joy in the contrasting environments—the tranquil charm of Thailand's beaches, the cultural richness of Bali, the waves of the Bay of Bengal, and the expansive horizons of the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Thailand, and Java Sea.Embracing My Home Country, Bangladesh One of the most profound impacts of Pather Panchali was how it deepened my appreciation for my own beautiful country, Bangladesh. After my teenage years, I have had the privilege to explore all 64 districts of Bangladesh, each with its unique natural beauty and cultural heritage. From the verdant hills of Sylhet to the serene beaches of Cox's Bazar, the majestic Sundarbans mangrove forest to the vibrant cultural tapestry of Dhaka, every corner of Bangladesh offered a new discovery and a deeper connection to my roots. The green landscapes, the winding rivers, and the warmth of the people in Bangladesh constantly reminded me of Apu's world. This profound connection to my homeland enriched my life and reinforced my love for travel and exploration. Bangladesh, with its rich history and diverse natural beauty, continues to be a source of inspiration and joy.Embracing Nature and the Love of Travel Pather Panchali taught me to appreciate the feather-light touch of nature, to find beauty and peace in its presence, even in the most unexpected places. Whether it was the arid sands of Rajasthan, where the desert winds whispered ancient tales, or the verdant hills of Jalpaiguri, where the air was thick with the scent of tea leaves, nature became my sanctuary. The novel instilled in me a sense of wonder and a desire to explore, to experience the world through the lens of its natural splendor. In Thailand and Bali, I found a different kind of charm, where the azure waters and golden sunsets painted the skies with hues of tranquility and adventure. Swimming in the waves of the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean, I felt a connection to the vastness of the world, a reminder of Apu's endless curiosity and love for discovery. The icy expanse of Mongolia, though harsh, revealed the serene and stark beauty of a world wrapped in snow and silence, expanding my understanding of nature's extremes.Final WordThe transformative power of Pather Panchali by Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay lies in its ability to transport readers into a world where nature and simplicity hold profound meaning. For me, the novel was not just a story but a catalyst for a lifelong passion for travel and an enduring love for the natural world. It taught me to seek out the beauty in every corner of the earth, to cherish the moments of awe and wonder, and to find joy in the journey itself. This timeless tale of Apu's adventures has forever changed my perspective, making every travel experience a homage to the spirit of discovery and the beauty of nature, from the warm beaches of Bali to the freezing steppes of Mongolia, and the verdant beauty of Bangladesh, my beloved homeland.The music chosen by Ashik is “Janmo Amar Dhonno Holo Mago” by Azad Rahman, sung by Sabina Yeasmin.Be sure and tune in next week for an essay written by Bidhan Chandar Sanyal.  Talk to you then!

Feast your ears on listener Bidhan Chandra Sanyal's “My Hero” essay. All it takes is a little click on the “Play” button above! Hello everyone!This week on The Sound Kitchen, you'll hear a “My Hero” essay by listener Bidhan Chandra Sanyal from West Bengal, India.  I hope you'll be inspired to write an essay for us, too!If your essay goes on the air, you'll find a package in the mail from The Sound Kitchen. Write in about your “ordinary” heroes – the people in your community who are doing extraordinarily good work, quietly working to make the world a better place, in whatever way they can. As listener Pramod Maheshwari said: “Just as small drops of water can fill a pitcher, small drops of kindness can change the world.”I am still looking for your “This I Believe” essays, too. Tell us about the principles that guide your life … what you have found to be true from your very own personal experience. Or write about a book that changed your perspective on life, a person who you admire, festivals in your community, your most memorable moment, and/or your proudest achievement. If your essay is chosen to go on-the-air – read by you– you'll win a special prize!Send your essays to thesoundkitchen@rfi.frOr by postal mail, to:Susan OwensbyRFI – The Sound Kitchen80, rue Camille Desmoulins92130 Issy-les-MoulineauxFranceI look forward to hearing from you soon!Here's Bidhan Chandra Sanyal's essay: Hello, I am Bidhan Chandra Sanyal from West Bengal, India. Today I would like to share with you the story of a man whom I greatly admire, Kailash Sharma.Kailash Sharma was born on January 11, 1954, in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, India.  He is an electrical engineer by profession, but he did not work as an engineer – instead, he engaged in social service work.Appalled by the plight of child slavery across South Asia, in 1980 Sharma founded Bachpan Bachao Andolan – the Save Childhood Movement – to fight against the evil of child labor and slavery which has been socially accepted and widely practised in the region for generations.As the saying goes: "The farmer's child or the king's potter all have work in this world."  But a child's work should be tailored to children, in the home.Far too often, harsh reality takes them on another path. Disrespect, neglect or severe rule towards children are not right. When a child is forced to take the lead in financial hardship, to meet the family's food needs, he frequently endures inhuman torture through child labor. They become the victims of malnutrition, illiteracy, and poor education. They cannot enjoy what should be a normal childhood – instead, childhood is a burden.The goal of Kailash Sharma's Bachpan Bachao Andolan movement is to create a child-friendly society, where all children are free from exploitation and receive a free and quality education. It aims to identify, liberate, rehabilitate and educate children in servitude through direct intervention, child and community participation, coalition building, consumer action, promoting ethical trade practices and mass mobilisation.It has so far freed close to 100,000 children from servitude, including bonded labourers, and helped in their re-integration, rehabilitation and education.Due to Sharma's hard work, the Child Protection Act came into effect in India in 2012.  India's Supreme Court ordered that any complaint of torture against child laborers be registered immediately.  Kailash Sharma has received many awards in recognition of his work: the Achina National Peace Prize, the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Prize, the Alfonso Comin National Prize and a medal from the Italian Senate.And then, in 2014, he received the world's highest award: The Nobel Peace Prize.There is hope: Light can come from darkness. A total of 365 villages in our 11 states in India are now child labor free.  Kailash Sharma's work has inspired and created change not just in India, but all across the globe. Kailash Sharma is my true hero.Thank you for listening.The music chosen by Bidhan is “Brishtir Gaan”, written and performed by Aditi Chakraborty.Be sure and tune in next week for a special “Music in the Kitchen”, featuring your musical requests. Talk to you then!

Feast your ears on listener Ashik Eqbal Tokon's “Transformative Journey” essay. All it takes is a little click on the “Play” button above! Hello everyone!This week on The Sound Kitchen, you'll hear an essay by listener Ashik Eqbal Tokon from Rajshahi, Bangladesh. I hope you'll be inspired to write an essay for us, too!If your essay goes on the air, you'll find a package in the mail from The Sound Kitchen. Write in about your “ordinary” heroes – the people in your community who are doing extraordinarily good work, quietly working to make the world a better place, in whatever way they can. As listener Pramod Maheshwari said: “Just as small drops of water can fill a pitcher, small drops of kindness can change the world.”I am still looking for your “This I Believe” essays, too. Tell us about the principles that guide your life … what you have found to be true from your very own personal experience. Or write about a book that changed your perspective on life, a person who you admire, festivals in your community, your most memorable moment, and/or your proudest achievement. If your essay is chosen to go on the air – read by you – you'll win a special prize!Send your essays to thesoundkitchen@rfi.frOr by postal mail, to:Susan OwensbyRFI – The Sound Kitchen80, rue Camille Desmoulins92130 Issy-les-MoulineauxFranceI look forward to hearing from you soon!Here's Ashik Eqbal Tokon's essay:The Transformative Journey, Inspired by Pather Panchali As a child growing up in the bustling megacity of the 1980s, I was accustomed to the constant hum of trains, the clanging of trams, the honking of buses, and the rhythmic peddling of rickshaws. My world was a mosaic of concrete, electricity, radio broadcasts, and black-and-white television screens. It was a life saturated with modern conveniences and rapid movement, where nature seemed distant, relegated to small parks and occasional glimpses of the sky between towering buildings. However, this perception shifted dramatically when I encountered a short story extracted from the novel Pather Panchali by Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay. The tale of Apu and Durga's discovery of the train in their remote Bengali village captured my imagination with its vivid descriptions and emotional depth. The scene where they run through lush fields, their eyes widening in awe at the sight of the train, resonated deeply within me. This moment became etched in my mind, igniting a spark of curiosity and longing for a world beyond the urban sprawl.My First Journey to the Village Shortly after reading the story, I had the opportunity to visit my ancestral village, a place starkly different from my city life. The journey began with a train ride that mirrored Apu's wonder and excitement. As the train chugged through the countryside, I gazed out of the window, mesmerised by the passing landscapes. Rivers snaked through the green fields, and orchards of mangoes, lychees, and jackfruits painted the scenery with vibrant colours. It was as if I had stepped into Apu's world, experiencing the same unmeasurable happiness he felt. The bus journey that followed took me deeper into the heart of nature. The scent of fresh earth and blooming flowers filled the air. The sight of villagers working in the fields, children playing under the shade of trees, and the serene flow of rivers created a permanent visual in my mind. This experience was a revelation, a tactile encounter with the natural world that Apu had introduced me to.Discovering Pather Panchali in My Teenage Years As a teenager, I read the full novel Pather Panchali and felt an even stronger connection to Apu's journey. The book opened my eyes to the beauty of nature, the simplicity of rural life, and the profound emotions tied to family and survival. It made me realise that true happiness and fulfilment could be found in the simplest of experiences and the purest of surroundings. This realisation shaped my life's journey and passions. I developed a deep love for travel, seeking out places where I could immerse myself in nature's embrace. The novel's influence led me to explore diverse landscapes, from the golden deserts of Rajasthan, India, to the lush hills of Bhutan. I found joy in the contrasting environments—the tranquil charm of Thailand's beaches, the cultural richness of Bali, the waves of the Bay of Bengal, and the expansive horizons of the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Thailand, and Java Sea.Embracing My Home Country, Bangladesh One of the most profound impacts of Pather Panchali was how it deepened my appreciation for my own beautiful country, Bangladesh. After my teenage years, I have had the privilege to explore all 64 districts of Bangladesh, each with its unique natural beauty and cultural heritage. From the verdant hills of Sylhet to the serene beaches of Cox's Bazar, the majestic Sundarbans mangrove forest to the vibrant cultural tapestry of Dhaka, every corner of Bangladesh offered a new discovery and a deeper connection to my roots. The green landscapes, the winding rivers, and the warmth of the people in Bangladesh constantly reminded me of Apu's world. This profound connection to my homeland enriched my life and reinforced my love for travel and exploration. Bangladesh, with its rich history and diverse natural beauty, continues to be a source of inspiration and joy.Embracing Nature and the Love of Travel Pather Panchali taught me to appreciate the feather-light touch of nature, to find beauty and peace in its presence, even in the most unexpected places. Whether it was the arid sands of Rajasthan, where the desert winds whispered ancient tales, or the verdant hills of Jalpaiguri, where the air was thick with the scent of tea leaves, nature became my sanctuary. The novel instilled in me a sense of wonder and a desire to explore, to experience the world through the lens of its natural splendour. In Thailand and Bali, I found a different kind of charm, where the azure waters and golden sunsets painted the skies with hues of tranquility and adventure. Swimming in the waves of the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean, I felt a connection to the vastness of the world, a reminder of Apu's endless curiosity and love for discovery. The icy expanse of Mongolia, though harsh, revealed the serene and stark beauty of a world wrapped in snow and silence, expanding my understanding of nature's extremes.Final WordThe transformative power of Pather Panchali by Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay lies in its ability to transport readers into a world where nature and simplicity hold profound meaning. For me, the novel was not just a story but a catalyst for a lifelong passion for travel and an enduring love for the natural world. It taught me to seek out the beauty in every corner of the earth, to cherish the moments of awe and wonder, and to find joy in the journey itself. This timeless tale of Apu's adventures has forever changed my perspective, making every travel experience a homage to the spirit of discovery and the beauty of nature, from the warm beaches of Bali to the freezing steppes of Mongolia, and the verdant beauty of Bangladesh, my beloved homeland.The music chosen by Ashik is “Janmo Amar Dhonno Holo Mago” by Azad Rahman, sung by Sabina Yeasmin.Be sure and tune in next week for an essay written by Bidhan Chandar Sanyal. Talk to you then!

Feast your ears on listener Rodrigo Hunriche's “My Ordinary Hero” essay. All it takes is a little click on the “Play” button above! Hello everyone!This week on The Sound Kitchen, you'll hear a “My Ordinary Hero” essay by listener Rodrigo Hunrichse from Chile. I hope you'll be inspired to write an essay for us, too!If your essay goes on the air, you'll find a package in the mail from The Sound Kitchen. Write in about your “ordinary” heroes – the people in your community who are doing extraordinarily good work, quietly striving to make the world a better place, in whatever way they can. As listener Pramod Maheshwari said: “Just as small drops of water can fill a pitcher, small drops of kindness can change the world.”I am still looking for your “This I Believe” essays too. Tell us about the principles that guide your life … what you have found to be true from your very own personal experience. Or write in with your most memorable moment, and/or your proudest achievement. If your essay is chosen to go on the air – read by you – you'll win a special prize!Send in your musical requests, your secret “guilty” pleasure (mine's chocolate!), your tricks for remembering things, your favourite quotations and proverbs, descriptions of the local festivals you participate in, your weirdest dream, the book you are reading and what you think about it, or just your general all-around thoughts to thesoundkitchen@rfi.frOr by postal mail, to:Susan OwensbyRFI – The Sound Kitchen80, rue Camille Desmoulins92130 Issy-les-MoulineauxFranceI look forward to hearing from you soon!Here's Rodrigo Hunrichse's essay: “My friend Jorge "Tito" Vargas Rocha is my ordinary hero, because he's been accepting me (I'm hard to handle) for counseling/ following my advice for 15 years (he's a little stubborn as well), but after my perseverance he's been delivering now as senior. We are examples and we help each other: I even took him in for nine months after a fire burnt his home. I consider him my brother. In his youth, he was a good athlete (rowing, weightlifting, skiing, etc) and student (three careers at the University), reader, and builder... and the reason I'm learning French in my middle age: he attended Alliance Française in his childhood, was referred to as a "bonne homme", was an exchange student in Michigan, USA, where he certified in High School too! My Hero!His French is better than his Spanish but his English is good too (mine are better excepting my so-far-poor French). I've been insisting he practices his French by talking/ listening to the radio/ watching TV5 Monde and affiliates, and by buying him books. A trip to France is out of our pockets, but I drive him to the countryside, to museums, beaches, as well as long bus rides to his childhood home of Port of Lebu, which is three hours away. He deserves better, but lately lacks effort as a senior, although he is staying in good shape. My Hero!”The music chosen by Rodrigo is "Father and Son" by Cat Stevens, performed by the composer. The quiz will be back next week, 1 June 2024. Talk to you then!

Sermon series: This I Believe -- the Apostles' Creed In Jesus, God can mercifully forgive our sins without compromising His justice, and so be perfectly merciful and perfectly just at the same time (Exodus 34:6-7). He is just, because sin has been punished in Jesus. And he is merciful, because He can now freely forgive. This forgiveness cannot be earned, but can only be received humbly as a free gift. Knowing a forgiveness that doesn't compromise justice enables us to truly rejoice that we are forgiven (Psalm 32:1-2), and helps us to create a safe space for sinners in our church (Matthew 18:21-22, Colossians 3:13). Preacher: Tan Huai Tze Date: 19 May 2024

TITLE: Gritty Grace // Part 9 (11:30AM) DESCRIPTION: SNATCHING GAIN FROM THE JAWS OF PAIN //Todays message continues to unpack what Peter writes about the local church and how to fulfill its purpose. Join us as we continue to dig into the book of 1 Peter and see how God's grace for us can show up even in the worst circumstances MUSIC SETLIST:This is Amazing GraceFirm Foundation (He Won't)This I Believe http://StonyCreek.Church

Sermon series: This I Believe, The Apostles' Creed The Apostles' Creed, which gives us a summarised picture of the Gospel, begins by telling us who is this very God that Christians believe in. He is our Father Almighty and the Creator of all things. Those who trust in Jesus are adopted into God's family, and God becomes their ever-present help. Preacher: Joel Sim Date: 7 April 2024

Last in the Series, This I Believe?

Last in the Series, This I Believe?

Last in the Series, This I Believe?

Fifth in the Series, "This I Believe?"

Fourth in the Series, "This I Believe?"

Third in the Series, "This I Believe?"

Third in the series, This I Believe?

Third in the series, This I Believe?

Second in a Series, This I Believe?

Second in the Series, "This I Believe?"

Second in the Series, This I Believe?

First in the series, This I Believe

First in the series, This I Believe

First in the Series, "This I Believe"

Rupal M Patel, PT, PhD is an Associate Professor in the School of Physical Therapy at Texas Woman's University (TWU) in Houston, Texas. Dr. Patel received her PhD in Health Promotion and Wellness from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in Provo, Utah in 2016, her MS in PT from TWU in Houston in 1991 and her BS in PT and biology from TWU in Denton in 1990. Her research streams include reduce risk factors for diabetes among an at-risk population, social and structural determinants of health and their impact on rehabilitation outcomes, factors influencing health behaviors among populations, and issues related to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in physical therapy. Besides her DPT teaching responsibilities, Dr. Patel also mentors PhD students during their didactic and dissertation phases. Service is part of Dr. Patel's life work and passion. She has been an active member of the APTA since 1988 and has served in various roles at the component and national level over the past 30 years.  She was elected to national office to the APTA Nominating Committee in 2017 and served a chair in her final year (2020). Dr. Patel is a founding and current member of the APTA's Council on Prevention, Health Promotion, and Wellness, the Academy of Prevention and Health Promotion Therapies (APHPT), a board member and DEI Committee Co-Chair of the Physical Therapy Learning Institute (2018-present) and a board member of Empowering Women as Leaders, Inc. Houston Chapter (2023 – present). Dr. Patel currently serves as: the Federal Advocacy Liaison (FAL) for the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy (ANPT), the co-chair of the APTA Academy of Leadership and Innovation (ALI) Research Committee, a member of the ACAPT NEDIC PT Education and Advancement Pathway Task Force. She was recently elected to serve as chief delegate for Texas to the APTA House of Delegates (2024 – 2027) and has been appointed as the FAL for the APTA Academy of Education (2024). Leadership is a verb - defined by your actions, rather than a noun - defined by your title is a philosophy that Dr. Patel lives by in her ongoing  service and leadership journey. Dr. Patel has presented at national and state physical therapy, public health, and rehabilitation conferences, has delivered one of the This I Believe speeches for The Graham Sessions, and also has appeared on numerous podcasts and national panels. 

Reading from the book “ This I Believe!” --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fernando-montes-de-oca/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fernando-montes-de-oca/support

This I Believe 19xx.xx.xx Floyd Cramer

It's one of our biggest problems in 2023, and it can feel distinctly human. But it's not. All sorts of animals deal with all sorts of misinformation every day, including some of our oldest ancestors — like the humble fish. This week on Things That Go Boom, we exit the human world entirely to see what we can learn. Special thanks this week to Christina Stella for pinch-hitting for our engineer, Robin Wise! GUESTS: Ashkaan Fahimipour, Florida Atlantic University; Jimmy Liao, The University of Florida ADDITIONAL READING: Wild Animals Suppress the Spread of Socially Transmitted Misinformation, Ashkaan K. Fahimipour, Michael A. Gil, Maria Rosa Celis, and Andrew M. Hein, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Navigating Turbulent Waters, Jimmy Liao, This I Believe

The Barbie movie is taking over the world. Have you seen it yet? Back in 2006, I did an essay about Barbie for NPR's This I Believe series, titled A Grown-Up Barbie.  Like many girls, I learned to sew so I could make clothes for my Barbie. The essay is about how the blond-haired, blue eyed Malibu Barbie affected my red-haired, freckled self -- and my career as a fashion designer. An excerpt: "I consider myself a feminist and I feel like a moron admitting it, but it's true: I believe in Barbie. For me, as a kid, Barbie was about cool clothes, a cool job, cool friends and cool accessories: the airplane, the apartment building and the camper. I learned to sew so I could make outfits for Barbie and her friends, who took turns being the airplane pilot, the doctor, the fashion designer. Barbie was never about Ken. He was always a little dusty and in the corner." Show Notes & Links:  https://fashionbrainacademy.com/barbie/ The original NPR essay recording:  https://www.npr.org/2006/05/22/5419659/a-grown-up-barbie This I Believe book:  https://thisibelieve.org/store/this-i-believe-paperback/

Worship Setlist:Awake My Soul by Hillsong WorshipLiving Hope by Bethel Trust in God by Elevation WorshipThis I Believe by Hillsong Worship

“Black Americans Talking About Us” with Michael Obel-Omia, Donald Cunnigen, Denise Mendez, and Roy Hamilton   Interviewer info Lyssa Rome is a speech-language pathologist in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is on staff at the Aphasia Center of California, where she facilitates groups for people with aphasia and their care partners. She owns an LPAA-focused private practice and specializes in working with people with aphasia, dysarthria, and other neurogenic communication impairments. She has worked in acute hospital, skilled nursing, and continuum of care settings. Prior to becoming an SLP, Lyssa was a public radio journalist, editor, and podcast producer. Michael Obel-Omia Michael Obel-Omia is a public speaker, writer, and educator who has aphasia due to a stroke in 2016. In his tireless efforts to improve, he has found poetry allows him to express himself in ways that speech cannot. An avid advocate for people with aphasia, Michael has published essays about experiences in the journal “Blood and Thunder: Musings the Art of Medicine; The Boston Globe; the Providence Journal; and Rhode Island NPR's This I Believe. Michael lives with his family in the beautiful town of Barrington, Rhode Island.   Links: Boston Globe article about Michael Obel-Omia A Black Father Wonders: Is ‘The Talk' Enough? by Michael Obel-Omia (Boston Globe article about disability and race) Finding My Words: Aphasia Poetry by Michael Obel-Omia (book) Ask the Expert with Michael and Carolyn Obel-Omia (National Aphasia Association video)   Roy Hamilton Roy Hamilton, MD, MS, FAAN, FANA is a professor in the departments of Neurology, Psychiatry, and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Pennsylvania, where he is the director of both Penn's Laboratory for Cognition and Neural Stimulation (LCNS) and the Penn Brain Science, Translation, Innovation and Modulation Center (brainSTIM). His research uses noninvasive electrical and magnetic brain stimulation to better understand the neural basis of language and to enhance aphasia recovery. Dr. Hamilton has also been recognized nationally for his work in diversity in neurology and academic medicine. He served as the inaugural Assistant Dean for Cultural Affairs and Diversity at the Perelman School of Medicine and is the inaugural Vice Chair for Diversity and Inclusion in Penn's Department of Neurology.   Links brainSTIM Laboratory for Cognition and Neural Stimulation Instagram Twitter: PennbrainSTIM   Donald Cunnigen Dr. Donald (Doc) Cunnigen is Professor emeritus of Sociology at the University Rhode Island, where he was the first Black full professor of sociology with tenure since the founding of the university in 1892. He was a member of the steering committee that started the Black Americans with Aphasia Conversation group and continues to be an active member of the group.   Doc Cunnigen videos 2011 Harlem Book Fair panel on the Obama Administration Hands in Harmony: Aphasia Clefs Denise Mendez Dr. Denise Mendez is an educator who worked for 29 years as a teacher, administrator, and curriculum coordinator. In 2017, she suffered the first of four hemorrhagic brain bleeds (from an AVM) and was never able to return to her job. Her life-long passion for teaching and advocacy is still there. Aphasia just changed who she serves. She has a website, More Than Aphasia.com and a podcast called Still Something To Say. Denise is one of the leaders of the Mid Atlantic Aphasia Conference, and a facilitator of the Penn State Alumni Aphasia Group. She also participates in multiple aphasia groups, including San Francisco State's Black conversation group NAA's Black Americans with Aphasia Conversation Group. Denise's motto is “I have aphasia, but aphasia does not have me!”   Links: https://morethanaphasia.com/ Twitter: MoreThanAphasia Podcast: Still Something 2 Say Podcast on Spotify     Additional Notes: Aphasia Access Aphasia Conversations Episode 102: Researching Health Disparities in Minority Stroke Survivors with Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson     EDITED TRANSCRIPT Lyssa Rome  Welcome to the Aphasia Access Aphasia Conversations Podcast. I'm Lyssa Rome. I'm a speech language pathologist on staff at the Aphasia Center of California, and I see clients with aphasia and other neurogenic communication impairments in my LPAA-focused private practice. I'm also a member of the Aphasia Access Podcast Working Group. Aphasia Access strives to provide members with information, inspiration and ideas that support their aphasia care through a variety of educational materials and resources.   June is Aphasia Awareness Month, and I'm excited to be today's host for an episode that will feature the National Aphasia Association's Black Americans with Aphasia Conversation Group. I'll be talking first with Michael Obel-Omia, a co-founder and co-host of the group. Michael is a public speaker, writer, and educator who has aphasia due to a stroke in 2016. In his tireless efforts to improve he has found poetry allows him to express himself in ways that speech cannot. An avid advocate for people with aphasia, Michael has published essays about experiences in the journal Blood and Thunder: Musings on The Art of Medicine, the Boston Globe, the Providence Journal, and Rhode Island NPR's This I Believe. Michael lives with his family in the beautiful town of Barrington, Rhode Island. Michael, welcome to Aphasia Access Conversations Podcast, I'm really glad to be talking with you today.   Michael Obel-Omia    Thank you so much. I'm blessed to be on this opportunity. Thank you so much.   Lyssa Rome  I wanted to start by asking you why you wanted to start an aphasia group for Black Americans.   Michael Obel-Omia  Thank you, Lyssa. I had a stroke on 21 May, 2016. And I worked very hard to be able to talk first. But no one had talked about being a Black person, about the ideas we had. So I talked to Darlene Williamson. And I said, this is great. I know so many wonderful people. Aphasia Resource Center is so plentiful, so wonderful. I've been creative writing, I've done Toastmasters, everything like that. But I still haven't spoken to Black Americans.   There are 2 million people who have aphasia. And probably about 10% of the population is a Black person. So I said to Darlene—I said, “Is it possible I could talk to people about being Black with aphasia, to talk about what's going on?” And she was very excited. She called Roy Hamilton. I spoke with him, from the University of Pennsylvania. I talked to him for a while. And it started, we started doing it. I started thinking about what we could do. We called a few people together, emailed. All of a sudden, I think in January 2022, we had people on the Black Americans with Aphasia Conversation Group, four or five people at first. But now, we have meetings twice a month in April, in May, etc. with 19 participants. It's a wonderful thing now. It's really great.   Lyssa Rome Wow. So it's grown from this, this need that you felt, and that you saw, to have a space for Black Americans with aphasia, to… it sounds like a really thriving group.   Michael Obel-Omia Yes. Yes, that's true. And again, please remember, there are dozens or hundreds of people with aphasia, and it's wonderful. It really is great—to hear from different people is wonderful. But this is a chance for a few Black people to talk about being Black.   Lyssa Rome When the group came together for the first time, what did you think? Or what was your reaction when you were among other Black people with aphasia? What did that feel like for you?   Michael Obel-Omia Well, of course, I'm an educator—28 years teaching English and everything and preparing for education, everything, English. So I was very nervous. The first time I said, “What am I gonna do?” I sat down and wrote out the outline of what I was going to do. I had to have all the ideas. I went on the internet for ideas—what's happening here, what's happening there. I'm very nervous about things. I'm nervous about everything now, with the stroke, with everything, I'm nervous. But I was already prepared with an outline. I had it written down, ready to go. And I was ready to do that.   We started talking about, “Well, what are you doing? What's going on? How's it happening? What do you do that's so much fun?” So we started talking about things and talking about ourselves. And just chatting about things. I had my outlines so precise, written down, for conversations—being an English teacher. But now I just go in and I go in, I'm smiling and laughing about “What's going on. How are you doing? How is it, having aphasia? How is it, talking about what's happening? What's getting in the way?” And that is one hour. That's what it is: Black Americans talking about us.   Lyssa Rome  Sounds like a really meaningful experience. And when we first spoke about doing this podcast, you described the feeling of relief that you felt, being in a room with other people who shared this experience with you.   Michael Obel-Omia Yes, I have great relief. I have a great feeling. I'm so relaxed, is what I am. When I'm talking to someone right now about podcasts, obviously, my senses are tense right now. My shoulders are high. I'm nervous. I'm worried about what I should say. But when I call the Black Aphasia Conversation Group, my shoulders drop down. There's great relief. Great relaxing, I'm smiling. I'm laughing. It's a lot of fun just to see what's going on.   There are serious issues too. One time, a woman wrote about fear and anxiety. What was going to happen, what I'm worried about, I think being anxious, having a stroke on 21 May, 2016. I'm really anxious about things now. Really, anxiety. I'm very worried things will happen. It's very silly. I mean, when I think about it, it's very silly, but I'm anxious about things.   So a woman asked us, “What about aphasia? What about anxiety?” And we talked about that. Dr. Gadson—Dr. Davetrina Gadson— talked about fear or flight. And of course, for me, Fate—Native Son by Richard Wright. Fear, flight, fate. So we talked about that very seriously, about what it is to be so anxious about things. So there are things that are fun and laughing and great relief and comfort, but fear and flight and fate. Yeah, that's there too.   Lyssa Rome  So it sounds like you are able to talk about a wide range of experiences that you have—both the joyful experiences, and then also the harder experiences and the anxiety and the other emotions that can go along with aphasia. You mentioned Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson, who was recently on our podcast. The episode with her will be linked in our show notes. I'm wondering if you could describe how the group works a little bit more. What's Dr. Seles Gadson's role? What's your role? You mentioned that you meet twice a month? Tell us a little bit more about the nuts and bolts of it.   Michael Obel-Omia  And so we're all on here on the Zoom 12 of us, 14, 19 participants, and we can talk about it. What makes us tick? What's happening? So everyone can talk about something. Everything—we can talk about it. We talked for about an hour—what's happening, what's going on. And it's wonderful.   Twice, or three or four times, we've had Black Jeopardy, which is Jeopardy with Black people. And she asks great questions. It's a lot of fun to hear. And we can laugh about that as well. It's great. And it's a lot of fun to ask great questions. It's just fun to talk about that. And people feel really good about ourselves.   But we stop for a few seconds to talk about: “How can I get prescriptions? How can I find about someone [to answer] questions or ideas or opportunities or issues? I mean, how do I get somebody? How do I find somebody in Philadelphia? How to find somebody near Maryland about this question? How do I find this out? How do I find speech therapy? How do I find that?” And sometimes it's pretty frustrating. It's like, “Well, I don't know how to do this anymore. I used to meet with a speech therapist, and now they say, ‘No—no more anymore.' What can I do?” And so we talked about that.   Lyssa Rome  Yeah, yeah. So many frustrations and obstacles that aphasia can cause for people and I think it sounds like what you're describing is people with Aphasia in the group helping one another to find some solutions. Is that one of the functions of the group?   Michael Obel-Omia    Yes, I have the idea. I have aphasia. I have ideas of what I'm supposed to say, but sometimes I can hear people say something. And—excuse me, I try to be humble—I'm a pretty smart guy for years with aphasia. I was a teacher at Roxbury Latin, at William Penn Charter, University School. I was the head of school at Paul Cuffee School. I'm pretty smart. I can do that. Now, I got aphasia in 2016. I have the idea now, but I can't do it just right.   About a month ago with the Boston Globe—I just did an article in the Boston Globe about a time I was in North Carolina with Aphasia Access that day. Aphasia Access was wonderful with Stroke Across America. It was a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful night—Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. It was great.   I was at the airport in Durham, to get on at North Carolina at Charlotte. And I was anxious because I couldn't do something that the security officer asked of me and I froze. I was frightened. And I was very lucky—a very kind, very young Black man reached out to me, and said, “Come on, follow me. Come on.” And I followed him. And very simple, all of about 25 seconds. But I was very afraid. I was very worried about what I was supposed to do. What am I supposed to do right now? What do you want me to do right now? I was froze. But I walked easily—walked through very easily, very comfortably, very quietly. But yeah, I have aphasia. It's really hard. I can't imagine—I just can't imagine how hard life is sometimes.   Lyssa Rome  Yeah, yeah. And I mean, I think what you're describing are some of those moments where aphasia can really get in the way. And I can imagine that as a Black man in America, feeling frozen when someone has asked someone, say like a TSA agent in the airport, is asking you to do something, and you're not sure what they're asking you, there's an extra layer, or many extra layers, of experience, of history, of fear that goes along with that, that I'm not sure—as much as, say a white person who has aphasia can understand the experience of not knowing exactly how to respond to someone, not fully understanding what they're saying. I'm not sure that they can understand that, or it might be harder for them to understand that second level of your experience as a Black man with aphasia.   Michael Obel-Omia Yeah, being a Black man. It is very hard. I don't think on a podcast you can see my face, but I write things the way I look at things. I can look very serious and very angry. But you know, my face is angry and frustrated, and I have to deal with that sometimes. And I can't do anything about it. Sometimes, I look very angry, but it is what it is. And I understand that sometimes I can be looked at this way. It's one of the chances of life.   Lyssa Rome  Michael, you told us about the origins of the National aphasia Association's Black Americans with Aphasia Conversation Group, and talked a little bit about how that group works. I know that there are some other similar groups out there. And one of them is San Francisco State's Gray Matter Lab, which also has a Black Conversation Group. There are some Spanish-language aphasia groups as well. I'm wondering, what should people know about identity-based aphasia groups? What advice would you have for people who want to start a group like yours?   Michael Obel-Omia Every single lives have aphasia, 24 hours, seven days a week. Always aphasia. Always. When this ends, I have to go back to my house, or my apartment, my home, wherever, and I have to think about aphasia. I'm always thinking about having aphasia. So it's wonderful to think about aphasia for one hour, twice a month, I can relax. I can say what I feel about things. I can laugh. I can stumble and fall over words. And it's okay. That's all right. It's fine. It's wonderful. And that's what this opportunity does every time. We can talk among ourselves, with other Black people, smile, laugh, be comfortable, relax. We can be worried about things sometimes. We can be anxious about fear and anxiety. Mostly we can laugh, what we're doing. And it feels right. It feels good for one hour, once every twice a month. So yeah.   Lyssa Rome So I also had the chance to speak with some other members of the National Aphasia Association's Black Americans with Aphasia Conversation Group. And here's what they had to say about it.   [music]   My next guest is Dr. Roy Hamilton, professor in the departments of neurology, psychiatry and physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Pennsylvania, where he's the director of both Penn's Laboratory for Cognition and Neural Stimulation, and the Penn Brain Science, Translation, Innovation and Modulation Center. Dr. Hamilton also serves on the board of the National Aphasia Association. Dr. Hamilton, welcome to Aphasia Access Conversations.   Roy Hamilton  Thank you. It's such a pleasure to be here.   Lyssa Rome   So tell me a little bit about why you think it's important for Black people for people of color, maybe more generally, with aphasia to have a space to meet with other people who identify in the same way.   Roy Hamilton    Well, first, I want to take a step back and talk about aphasia as it occurs in individuals who identify as Black or African American, you have to understand that aphasia has a couple of principal causes. For many individuals, it's on the basis of having had a stroke. For others, their aphasia arises from having a neurodegenerative condition, something called primary progressive aphasia. But for both of those causes, whether it be neurodegenerative conditions like underlying Alzheimer's pathology, or whether it's vascular disease like stroke, it turns out that individuals who are African American are at substantively higher risk than the rest of the population. And because aphasia is the most common cognitive manifestation of stroke, if we understand that conditions like stroke are much more prevalent in this population, we're also talking about a population that is substantively more burdened by aphasia or challenged by aphasia. So just on the basis of what causes the condition, we understand that we're talking about a population that is at greater risk.   Now, having said that, in addition to the incidence and the prevalence of the condition itself, there are also many, many barriers that prevent individuals who are Black in this country from obtaining all manner of care, and amongst that care, ways to address, or ways to help with their aphasia. And so, targeted efforts are especially important when you're trying to overcome these kinds of barriers.   And then thirdly, in instances where individuals are able to access care, it's often the case that they're treated differently. They receive a different level or a different kind of care than the rest of the population. So that's another reason why it is important to be focused and intentional and to think about creating venues, creating spaces, where we can focus on the needs of individuals who are Black, who are living with aphasia.   Lyssa Rome   So then, tell me about what you think this group is doing for the people who are part of it?   Roy Hamilton   Well, I think one thing that's important about the group is that it provides a sense of community, a level of comfort. I think that that comes through in the kinds of things that are discussed, the kinds of conversations that are had. They often range towards topics that are culturally relevant, that feel comfortable to the group. And here again, I want to draw a distinction or perhaps point to another aspect of having a focused, intentional group that makes it valuable. Groups of individuals who are brought together to have conversations have an easier time having conversations when they are comfortable with each other, when they're comfortable with the setting, and when you're talking about topics that seem relevant to them. So I think bringing all those elements to a conversation group is a particular value. And I think it's a particular value to this group.   Lyssa Rome    You mentioned earlier about the incidence and prevalence of aphasia for Black people in this country. So is there anything else that you want to add that you think is important to have in here, from your perspective?   Roy Hamilton When we're talking about aphasia, and how it affects Black communities, I think the thing that I would emphasize is that this is not an issue that should only be of interest to individuals and communities who are Black, or persons who care for and work with persons with aphasia, who are themselves marginalized, or minoritized individuals. Health equity, and equity around aphasia is everyone's responsibility. And so I think it is perhaps as important, if not more important, that everyone be aware of disparities as they exist in aphasia, for individuals who are Black and other populations as well. And so I'm really glad that we are having this opportunity to have this conversation.   Lyssa Rome  Thank you. I think that that's an important note to end on. And I appreciate it. Thanks so much for taking the time to talk with me today, Dr. Hamilton.   Roy Hamilton Really, it's my pleasure. Thank you.   [music]   Lyssa Rome  My next guest is Dr. Donald Cunnigen, Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the University of Rhode Island, where he was the first Black full professor of sociology with tenure since the founding of the university in 1892. He was a member of the steering committee that started the Black Americans with Aphasia Conversation Group and continues to be an active member of the group. Doc, welcome to the show.   Doc Cunnigen  Thank you. What has it meant to me? It has been an important place where I can feel comfortable in sharing my experiences as a person who, well, basically suffers from dysarthria.   Once I was in another group, and I mentioned our group. And one of the members turned around and asked, “Why do you need an all-Black group?” And I had to say, “The fact that you asked that question is an indication of why we need the group!”   People feel comfortable in groups where they can express themselves the way they are, and not feel somewhat intimidated if they don't speak proper English or people are making fun of their dialect. You may not feel free to say things the way you feel like saying them. So we explore issues on a regular basis that deal with our daily lives. And a lot of people don't fully appreciate that we have a different journey through life as people of color. And we all have different racialized experiences.   There are some commonalities. But the one commonality is that we are Black in America, and that is a special thing in and of itself. And since we have aphasia, it somewhat colors all of our experiences, like negotiating the racism that one might find in institutionalized medicine. Sometimes it's subtle and other times it's blatant. But we often encounter it. And this group helps you to deal with it.   Lyssa Rome Yeah, yeah. It sounds like you're describing a space in which you can both be yourself and then also connect with others who have an experience that people who aren't Black—people with Aphasia who don't have that experience of being Black in America—just might have a very hard time understanding. And so to have that space seems like a very important thing.   Doc Cunnigen    Well it helps us to get through the day, but it also helps not only with those institutional things I referenced, but little experiential things that we have, that people with aphasia, dysarthria, or TBI only know. That we have to deal with. People bring up, “Oh I have this problem, or I have that problem.” And we can share those types of things. So this is a very comforting place, where people share with each other the good times and the bad times.   Lyssa Rome What advice would you have for people who are interested in starting identity-based aphasia groups?   Doc Cunnigen   Well, it helps to have someone who is sensitive to one's cultural or linguistic abilities. That awareness is helpful. It will also help if there is someone who is culturally or linguistically identified with the group, but it's not necessary, if you have the sensitivity. I think it is important not only for one to be sensitive, but to become a bit knowledgeable. Reciprocity, being able to exchange with the stroke survivor, is critical. Listen. Listening is very difficult for anybody, whether they have aphasia or not. Now that I have difficulty with my speech, I appreciate the ability to listen and have patience. Lyssa Rome Doc Cunnigen, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts about the group. I really appreciate it.   Doc Cunnigen  Thank you for having such a nice program.   [music]   Lyssa Rome    My next guest is Dr. Denise Mendez. Denise is an educator who worked for 29 years as a teacher, administrator, and curriculum coordinator. She has a website: morethanaphasia.com, and a podcast called Still Something to Say. Denise is one of the leaders of the Mid Atlantic Aphasia Conference and the facilitator of the Penn State Alumni Aphasia Group. She also participates in multiple aphasia groups, including San Francisco State's Black Conversation Group, and the NAA's Black Americans with Aphasia Conversation Group. Denise, welcome to the podcast.   Denise Mendez    Thank you so much, Lyssa.   Lyssa Rome   Denise, what has the NAA's Black Americans with Aphasia group meant to you?   Denise Mendez    Well, you know what? The conversation group, it's sort of like—this sounds corny—but it's family, you know. It's a comfortable, safe place for us to check with one another, “How are you? How's everything going?” It's very familial. I don't know, it sounds weird. But like I call some of the folks there, different ones, I'll say like, “Oh, that's my cousin.” You know what I mean? Like, you've got all these cousins down this family line, but aphasia is what made us connected.   So we encourage one another, we teach each other, we just share information from other people. The beautiful thing is, people are all over the United States. It's not just a little group out of Philadelphia, or out of the New England area, because that's where our leaders are, but we're all over the United States. And we're connected. It's very comfortable, where sometimes, different things that happen in the United States, I mean, come on, let's not even go into the whole history of the United States and all of that, but you're going to get different perspectives when it's a group with all African Americans there. You have different perspectives than, say, your general population. What's very good about the groups are the groups are aphasia-friendly. Nobody's talking up here. Nobody's talking underneath anyone. It's just a conversation. It reminds me of how we used to have in the summer, and your whole family would be there. What are those called when your family…   Lyssa Rome    Like a family reunion?   Denise Mendez     Reunion, thank you, when everybody's there. So you've got some young people there, you've got some of the seniors there, you've got the middle group there. But everybody's having a conversation, and everybody's putting a little bit of this on, we're sharing some music, we're sharing some games. And guess what, when people have a bad day, or a rough time, or they just need to vent, it's a space for them to do that as well.   Lyssa Rome    Yeah. That brings me to my next question for you, which is, you know, you've been part of these two groups plus many others. What advice would you have for other people with aphasia who are interested in starting an identity-based aphasia group?   Denise Mendez    You got to have trust, if people don't trust that this is a safe place, that this is a place that I can just say what I want to say, the way I say it, I don't have to measure my words, or people are going to judge me, because I'm using double negatives, or dropping off the INGs and things like that off your words, then it's just a more free conversation.   So I applaud anyone who would like to start an identity-based group. But just know, you can't just wake up and say, you know, I'm gonna do that tomorrow. You've got some homework to do. So do some homework, find out what the need is for the group. And just remember, you've got to be authentic, you may not be a part of the identity group. That doesn't mean you still can't be effective facilitating that group.   Lyssa Rome   I think that's great advice. And I really appreciate hearing from you about what this group has meant to you and also your thoughts about these kinds of identity-based groups in general.   Denise Mendez Yeah.   Lyssa Rome Dr. Denise Mendez, thank you so much for being part of this podcast.   [music]   Lyssa Rome Michael, I know you brought in the mission statement that you wrote, when you were starting the Black Americans with Aphasia Conversation Group. Would you like to share that with us?   Michael Obel-Omia    Yes. The Black American Aphasia Conversation Group is a place for Black people, the patient to share their stories, provide support, encourage meditative reflection, and brainstorm ways to advocate for relevant policies. This diverse, inclusive, aphasia-friendly group will discuss the unique challenges and gifts we share due to our experiences with disability and race. And it's open to all who support its mission of creating an emotional refuge for Black persons living with aphasia.   Lyssa Rome     I think that that mission statement is such an important summary of what you've been talking about, of the kind of space that it sounds like you've been able to create with this group.   Michael Obel-Omia     Well, thank you, thank you so much. With being this part, it's great for you to hear about it.   Lyssa Rome     It sounds like you've found, in that hard work and the advocacy that you've done, you found another way to make a meaningful difference for other Black people with aphasia, who are part of this group.   Michael Obel-Omia     Absolutely. Yes.   Lyssa Rome     Thank you so much for talking with us, for sharing about your group—about the National Aphasia Association's Black Americans with Aphasia Conversation Group. Michael Obel-Omia, it has been such a pleasure talking with you.   Michael Obel-Omia     Thank you very much.   Lyssa Rome     And thanks to Dr. Roy Hamilton, Doc Cunnigen, Denise Mendez and Darlene Williamson of the National Aphasia Association.   Thank you also to our listeners. For references and resources mentioned in today's show, please see our show notes. They're available on our website, www.aphasiaaccess.org. There you can also become a member of our organization, browse our growing library of materials and find out about the Aphasia Access Academy. If you have an idea for a future podcast episode, email us at info@aphasiaaccess.org Thanks again for your ongoing support of Aphasia Access. For Aphasia Access Conversations, I'm Lyssa Rome.

Welcome to Episode 5 of the 2nd season of The R.A.C.E. Podcast. Today I am honored to be joined by Cecilia Muñoz. Cecilia is a giant before, during, and since her tenure in the Obama White House. She has navigated complex spaces where there are unimaginable pressures in high-stakes decision-making. This conversation reminds me why leaders who address racial equity and their work must look fully into the identities that the world can and cannot see.Meet Cecilia Muñoz:Cecilia Muñoz is a national leader in public policy and public interest technology with over three decades of experience in the non-profit sector and 8 years of service on President Obama's senior team. She is the author of the award-winning More Than Ready: Be Strong and Be You...and Other Lessons for Women of Color on the Rise, which shares insights from her career as well as the careers of other notable women of color. She is also a contributing author to Immigration Matters, West Wingers, What My Mother Gave Me, and This I Believe.Cecilia spent two decades at the National Council of La Raza (now UNIDOS US); winning a MacArthur Fellowship for her work on immigration and civil rights. She served in President Barack Obama's West Wing, becoming the first Latino to lead the White House Domestic Policy Council. She serves on a number of nonprofit boards, including the Kresge, MacArthur and Joyce Foundations, New America, Protect Democracy, and Civic Nation.  She also serves on the boards of Headspace Health and AdHoc. Listen in as Cecilia shares:Her identities and the role they have played in her life journey Her experience with Colorism as a “white passing” Woman of ColorThe message she would tell the younger version of herselfWhat she wants listeners to know, do, and feel when doing Racial Equity work  Learn more and connect with Cecilia Muñoz:Website: Cecilia MuñozTwitter: Cecilia MuñozHi listener! Please take our short Listener Survey HERE to give The R.A.C.E. Podcast team feedback on the show. We will use the feedback to inform how we approach conversations in the future. Upon completion, you will be entered in our quarterly drawing for a $100 Visa gift card! Your email address will only be used for this purpose. Thanks in advance - we appreciate your feedback.Connect with Keecha Harris and Associates: Website: https://khandassociates.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/keecha-harris-and-associates/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/khandassociates YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCukpgXjuOW-ok-pHtVkSajg/featured Connect with Keecha: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keechaharris/

Episode SummaryWhat Do You Believe In?Afew years after I graduated college, and a few years before I launched my podcast, I spent a lot of time listening to others.A big chunk of my listening time was devoted to personal development audio programs, and one program stood out for a while: This I Believe from NPR.In this week's episode of The 5 AM Miracle Podcast I discuss an essay I submitted to NPR's show and how my belief in extremes has shaped my decision-making for nearly my entire life. Episode Show Notesjeffsanders.com/492 Learn More About The 5 AM MiracleThe 5 AM Miracle Podcast Free Productivity Resources + Email Updates!Join The 5 AM Club! The 5 AM Miracle BookAudiobook, Paperback, and Kindle Connect on Social MediaFacebook Group • Instagram • Twitter • LinkedIn • YouTube About Jeff SandersRead Jeff's Bio © Jeff Sanders Productions, LLCSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

MEET PATRICIA [TRISHA] RICKETTS:Patricia [Trisha] Ricketts received a lifelong love of music, the written word, the visual arts, and healthy arguing from her Irish Catholic family of origin. She's been penning essays, short stories, poems, and novels for most of her life as she raised three wonderful children and has watched seven grandchildren grow.However, after receiving a scholarship to the University of Edinburgh in Creative Writing, her passion for writing escalated. Since then, she has had short stories published in New Directions, The Slate, Meta, The Blue Hour Magazine, Realize Magazine, Storied Stuff , and on NPR's “This I Believe” website. Her love of writing flows into her musical lyrics.During the pandemic, she's written nearly a song a week—some better than others! Trisha has performed her own work at open mics and hosted musical events in and around Chicago with her artist and musician partner, Peter Hurley. Having recently published her second novel, Speed of Dark, she is way into working on her third novel, The End of June, due out in fall 2023.Contact:https://patriciajricketts.com/SPEED OF DARK: A NOVELSUPPORT THE SHOW BECAUSE I LOVE PUPPIES! Talia di Napoli – PIZZAClick on the title for $6.00 off your order of AMAZING pizza shipped fresh from NapoliBUY MY BOOK BECAUSE IT'S AMAZING!!!BE LEFT BEHIND: Discover Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Before Your Grandma Beats You to Ityuricataldo.comCREDITS:Our theme music is written and mixed by Chicago-based composer, engineer, and multi-instrumentalist Ryan Black of the Black's Backbone collaborative. And produced by REB Records.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Guest — Rhonda Broussard is an author, entrepreneur, and futurist. One Good Question: How Countries Prepare Youth to Lead is her first book. Broussard is an award-winning education entrepreneur and sought-after public speaker. She is the founder and CEO of Beloved Community, a national nonprofit committed to sustainable economic equity in schools, the workforce, and housing. She is a 28-year educator and researcher who founded and led a network of language immersion and international schools in the US. Broussard studied education in Cameroon, Martinique, metropolitan France, Finland, and New Zealand. Her essays have been featured in The Future of University, North American Edition; Building Bridges, One Leader at a Time; This I Believe, Personal Essays by the Women and Men of Eisenhower Fellowships; IB World magazine, and Forbes Magazine. Summary — In this episode, we touch on various reasons for our K-12 system of schooling. Is it to prepare students for a career, acquire knowledge and skills, or develop creative thinking and problem solver abilities? And what about student agency? How much voice and choice in determining what and how students want to learn should we allow? Key Discussions √ How allowing educators more time to wonder will pay dividends in terms of improved instruction. √ Why there is an inherent tension between giving educators time to wonder and the urgency to reform. √ What the role of schooling is. √ How the world of work and the expectations of a career have changed over time. √ How we can, on the one hand, respect and believe in greater student agency while reducing our tendency to limit it because it means a loss of our traditional authority. √ How global educators are grappling with the same question and coming up with different answers. Links / References For more information, visit rhondabroussard.com. IG: @RhondaBroussard_Author Twitter: @BroussardRhonda The Reluctant Creative by Dr. Caroline Brookfield Getting Unstuck Interview with Biology teacher, Nate Hassman Getting Unstuck Interview with Tennessee high school educators Getting Unstuck Interview with Michele Chen

Transom Bio: Jay Allison has been an independent public radio producer, journalist, and teacher since the 1970s. He is the founder of Transom. His work has won most of the major broadcasting awards, including six Peabodys. He produces The Moth Radio Hour and was the curator of This I Believe on NPR. He has also worked in print for the New York Times Magazine and as a solo-crew reporter for ABC News Nightline, and is a longtime proponent of building community through story. Through his non-profit organization, Atlantic Public Media, he is a founder of The Public Radio Exchange, PRX.org, and WCAI, the public radio service for Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. More about Jay, more than you'd reasonably need to know, is available at www.jayallison.org.b. 

Days Hours Minutes Seconds Sunday Worship Service 00:00 Preservice 02:20 Song – Our Saviour + Our King 06:00 Song – Glorious Day 11:00 Song – This I Believe 15:28 Welcome + Announcements 19:25 Appointing Elders in the Presbyterian Church 36:55 Bible Reading + Talk 01:17:30 Song – Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) 01:21:27 Song […] The post Eldership | 18 September 2022 appeared first on Living Church.

Patricia ‘Trisha' Ricketts  received a lifelong love of music, the written word, the visual arts, and healthy arguing from her Irish Catholic family of origin. She's been penning essays, short stories, poems, and novels for most of her life as she raised three wonderful children and has watched seven grandchildren growing. However, after receiving a scholarship to the University of Edinburgh in Creative Writing, her passion for writing escalated. Since then, she has had short stories published in New Directions, The Slate, Meta, The Blue Hour Magazine, Realize Magazine, Storied Stuff and on NPR's “This I Believe” website. Her love of writing flows into her musical lyrics. During the pandemic, she's written nearly a song a week—some better than others! Trisha has performed her own work at open mics and hosted musical events in and around Chicago with her artist and musician partner, Peter Hurley. Having recently published her second novel, Speed of Dark, she is way into working on her third novel, The End of June, due out in fall 2023.  What You Will Hear in This Episode:  Patricia's origin story Discipline and assignments.  Trisha's love of structure and focus Perfection, fear or failure Transition to songwriting and learning to play guitar Advice for aspiring writers Failure and success Quotes “If I start writing something and I think, oh, this is terrible.  I'm okay with that because I trust just down the road, something is going to emerge.” “When my emotions are completely engaged, whether it's with the lyrics or the melody first, those are some of my better songs.” “ Don't be afraid to fail because failure is not a permanent situation or perspective, it's just another trial.” “It's important to share what we have with each other, because you never know who you're going to be mentoring.” “I believe wholeheartedly that we all have talent. All of us have a talent and a dream, but we fail to acknowledge it for fear of failing.” “My philosophy is to not take talent or your time for granted each day brings an opportunity to spread your wings, try new things, be willing to stumble and learn at any age”  Mentioned: PatriciaJRicketts.com https://bonniemarcusleadership.com/ https://web.facebook.com/bonnie.marcus/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonniemarcus https://twitter.com/selfpromote https://www.instagram.com/self_promote_/ Gendered Ageism Survey Results Forbes article 5 Tips to own the superpower of your age IAMMusicGroup Purchase my book Not Done Yet on Amazon:  If you enjoyed this episode of Badass Women Podcast, then make sure to subscribe to the podcast and drop us a five-star review.  

Speed of Dark (She Writes Press, 2022) by Patricia Ricketts opens with a black man getting off Metra train in Northbrook, Illinois to search for someone who might be hiding in the woods. Mosely Albright works in a Mission house helping drug addicts, alcoholics and those who are down on their luck. The reverend has asked him to search for one of the men who isn't capable of surviving in the freezing cold. The man he finds is a different one though, and he's gone when Mosely wakes up, stiff and frozen the next morning. He's forgotten the way back to the station and knocks on Mary M. Phillips's door to ask for a glass of water and directions. Mosely has the gift of seeing when people need help, and he knows that Mary Em is desperate. He wants to help her, but the lake, (Mishigami – its Ojibwe name) wants her in its icy waters. Told by Mary Em, Mosely, and Mishigami, Speed of Dark is a story about human connection, the plight of the great lakes, and the power of kindness, friendship, and love. Patricia Ricketts inherited a lifelong love of music, the written word, the visual arts, and healthy arguing from her Irish Catholic household. While teaching English to many wonderful students, Patricia raised two fine daughters and a stand-up son and now has six beautiful grandchildren who live in the Kansas City area. Throughout her life, she penned essays, short stories, poems, and novels; however, her passion for writing escalated after being awarded a scholarship for creative writing from the University of Edinburgh. Since then, she has had short stories published in New Directions, Slate, Meta, Blue Hour, Realize Magazines, and on NPR's “This I Believe” website. The Peninsula Pulse awarded her third place among hundreds of entries in its short story contest. She is currently working on a new novel, tentatively titled The End of June. Patricia lives in Chicago with her partner, artist and photographer, Peter M. Hurley. G.P. Gottlieb is the author of the Whipped and Sipped Mystery Series and a prolific baker of healthful breads and pastries. Please contact her through her website (GPGottlieb.com). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Speed of Dark (She Writes Press, 2022) by Patricia Ricketts opens with a black man getting off Metra train in Northbrook, Illinois to search for someone who might be hiding in the woods. Mosely Albright works in a Mission house helping drug addicts, alcoholics and those who are down on their luck. The reverend has asked him to search for one of the men who isn't capable of surviving in the freezing cold. The man he finds is a different one though, and he's gone when Mosely wakes up, stiff and frozen the next morning. He's forgotten the way back to the station and knocks on Mary M. Phillips's door to ask for a glass of water and directions. Mosely has the gift of seeing when people need help, and he knows that Mary Em is desperate. He wants to help her, but the lake, (Mishigami – its Ojibwe name) wants her in its icy waters. Told by Mary Em, Mosely, and Mishigami, Speed of Dark is a story about human connection, the plight of the great lakes, and the power of kindness, friendship, and love. Patricia Ricketts inherited a lifelong love of music, the written word, the visual arts, and healthy arguing from her Irish Catholic household. While teaching English to many wonderful students, Patricia raised two fine daughters and a stand-up son and now has six beautiful grandchildren who live in the Kansas City area. Throughout her life, she penned essays, short stories, poems, and novels; however, her passion for writing escalated after being awarded a scholarship for creative writing from the University of Edinburgh. Since then, she has had short stories published in New Directions, Slate, Meta, Blue Hour, Realize Magazines, and on NPR's “This I Believe” website. The Peninsula Pulse awarded her third place among hundreds of entries in its short story contest. She is currently working on a new novel, tentatively titled The End of June. Patricia lives in Chicago with her partner, artist and photographer, Peter M. Hurley. G.P. Gottlieb is the author of the Whipped and Sipped Mystery Series and a prolific baker of healthful breads and pastries. Please contact her through her website (GPGottlieb.com). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literature

In this episode, I sit down and speak with Phuc Luu. Phuc Luu (福†刘) immigrated with his family to the United States from Vietnam when he was four. Luu is now a theologian, philosopher, and artist in Houston, Texas, creating work to narrow the divide between ideas and beauty. If theology is speaking about God, Luu seeks to give new language to what theology has not yet said. He served for seven years on the Nobel Peace Prize Committee for the American Friends Service Committee (Quakers). He holds degrees in theology (MDiv, PhD) and philosophy (MA), but has learned the most from the places where people ask difficult questions, where they live in the land between pain and hope, and where these stories are told. Phuc's work has appeared in the AmerAsian Journal, The Journal of Pastoral Care, the Truett Journal of Church and Mission, the Houston Chronicle, and NPR's This I Believe. He has published on a variety of topics such as Medieval philosophy, pastoral care, theology and culture, philosophy of religion, and art and culture. He has taught philosophy and theology at Sam Houston State University and Houston Baptist University. Phuc currently teaches Old Testament Prophets, New Testament: Gospels, and World Religions at Houston's Episcopal High School. Phuc is working on his second book, a sequel to Jesus of the East, called Spirit of Connection. https://www.phucluu.com In this episode, we talk about his book Jesus of the East and how it might help us address the contemporary issue of toxic masculinity.

What is the Bible? Who wrote the Bible? Can we trust the Bible? Why we should build our life on the Bible? Find the answers to these and other questions in week 1 of our This I Believe series.

Praise and Worship lead by Praise Team. Praise songs "This Is The Day", "Give Glory To God Saints", "This I Believe", and "Thank You Lord". Special Music by Susan Gillespie singing "What A Friend We Have In Jesus". Listen and be blessed.

Praise and Worship lead by Praise Team. Praise songs "This Is The Day", "Give Glory To God Saints", "This I Believe", and "Thank You Lord". Special Music by Susan Gillespie singing "What A Friend We Have In Jesus". Listen and be blessed.

Praise and worship lead by the Praise Team. Praise Songs are "Prayer", "O The Blood of Jesus", "This I Believe", and "Thank You Lord". Special Music by the Praise band playing "What A Friend We Have In Jesus". Be Blessed.

Praise and worship lead by the Praise Team. Praise Songs are "Prayer", "O The Blood of Jesus", "This I Believe", and "Thank You Lord". Special Music by the Praise band playing "What A Friend We Have In Jesus". Be Blessed.

Praise and worship lead by the Praise Team. Praise songs "Wonderful God", "High And Lifted Up", "This I Believe". Special Music by the Praise Team singing "At The Cross". Listen and be blessed.