318 Martha Williams “BreakBread”

Today on the show I am joined by Martha Williams who has spent her life as a serial creative firebrand. She is an award winning filmmaker, writer, and choreographer, and kept the lights on with creative direction, video production, consulting, coaching and training. After 20 years of following her calling Martha realized that even though she was lucky (or crazy) enough to be making art she was still not making the difference she set out to make. While her art was activist in nature, squeezing out work in a world where people are choking on “content” and mindlessly consuming life, didn’t seem aligned with her greater mission to help communities reclaim and restore soulful connection to self, other and the world around them. This is when her work as a conversation activist began. Martha and her partner run Culture Shift Agency and BreakBread World, working to reweave our common humanity through the art of conversation and the power of soulful gathering.

Our conversation weaves through the meaning of conversation activism, how Martha found this work, the patriarchy, the embodiment of the masculine and the feminine and so much more.

BreakBread is hosting an Embodied Conversation Workshop at GWI on April 14th.

As mentioned, Engather is co-hosting a special happening this Friday, March 29th at ASK for creative connection and community. You can learn more here!

Here’s the Moon Report that inspired our moon chat.

Today’s show was engineered by Ian Seda from Radiokingston.org.

Our show music is from Shana Falana!

Feel free to email me, say hello: she@iwantwhatshehas.org

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310 Imbolc, Archetypes and Writing

WOAH! Starting season 7!?!!!!!

Today’s show dives into the many benefits of handwriting. Hint: It clarifies thinking; improves understanding, memory, and application; and improves communication.

https://www.inc.com/justin-bariso/neuroscience-says-1-simple-habit-boosts-brain-connectivity-learning-memory.html

https://www.inc.com/justin-bariso/how-to-write-amazon-jeff-bezos-memos-meetings-clear-writing-clear-thinking-rule-of-writing.html

Then we pivot to a Imbolc/Candlemas discussion. If you’re local, you can join the Center for Symbolic Studies folks to celebrate this weekend.

I share from a favorite publication, We’Moon to expand the conversation on Imbolc.

In preparation for the Imbolc holiday, I pull three Archetype cards and discuss their meanings: The Ring, The Thread and Aletheia.

Inspired by a doc about the first ladies of hip hop, I play some music in their honor.

Finally, I conclude with my self-care diary. Still jogging, even if it’s super slow!

Today’s show was engineered by Ian Seda from Radiokingston.org.

Our show music is from Shana Falana!

Feel free to email me, say hello: she@iwantwhatshehas.org

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279 Juneteenth, New Moon, and Solstice Celebration

Today I celebrate Juneteenth by paying homage to the contributions of African Americans which have significantly impacted me, that being their music. There’s no greater medicine for me than music. I consume A LOT OF IT, so I am grateful to all of those who’ve enhanced my life, helped me through crisis, uplifted my spirit, and moved me to dance through their creative work. Here’s the playlist from today’s show.

In between songs, I share and speak about the recent New Moon and the upcoming Summer Solstice inspired by the work of Tanaaz and Kim Krans‘ archetype guidebook.

Here’s the New Moon info. Here’s the Solstice info. All from Tanaaz at Forever Conscious

And here’s that NPR article about the cusk eels who mate during the New Moon.

Here’s the info on Citizen Action’s campaign to end slavery in the NY penal system.

Today’s show was engineered by Ian Seda from Radiokingston.org.

Our show music is from Shana Falana!

Feel free to email me, say hello: she@iwantwhatshehas.org

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275 “The Goddess Party”

Today is about The Goddess Party, a new project spearheaded from long time Hudson Valley musician Shana Falana in collaboration with Erica Quitzow and Sarah Perrotta. Featuring a choir of 30+ local singers, a rock band, and a willingness to interpret the likes of Kate Bush, Panda Bear, and PJ Harvey. “A cult worth joining.”

I am joined by Beth Carestia a member of the Choir like myself, and we hear from several of our co-creators by way of voice memo describing in some way what The Goddess Party means to them… magic, mystery, heart healing, collaboration, trust, creation, fun, true-self, singing, connection, the feminine, The Goddess…

We’re performing Friday at 7:30pm. Doors open at 6:30pm and the movie Midsommer will follow our performance. You can get tickets ($12-$15) via Opus 40.

The Goddess Party band is Erica Quitzow, Sarah Perrotta, Betsy Wright, Sarah Carlson, Shana Falana, Lysa Opfer and Jenn Anderson.

Here’s a link to the Rosendale Ukulele Group that Beth and I gush about. Another mental health activity for us.

Today’s show was engineered by Ian Seda from Radiokingston.org.

Our show music is from Shana Falana!

Feel free to email me, say hello: she@iwantwhatshehas.org

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271 Heather Duke “Center for Symbolic Studies” and Daphne Fiori-Wood “St. Baldrick’s”

Today I enjoyed speaking with Heather Duke – who is one of the sparkly beings and co-creators over at the Center for Symbolic Studies. A non-profit with a mission to inspire nature-based spirituality, leading to personal growth and communal awareness. Founded by Drs. Robin and Stephen Larsen, inspired by the works of friend and mentor Joseph Campbell- The Center for Symbolic Studies has been offering a window into the Mythic Imagination for over 30 years through seasonal festivals, Dream Workshops, sacred teaching by Shamans from around the world, lectures, and celebrations of art and dance surrounded and inspired by nature.

Register for their Beltane Festival on May 20th, rain date, May 21st.

Heather talks about her own work in neurofeedback, dreams, Beltane and the Center’s other happenings, Vanaver Caravan, Wild Arts, nature and community. You can follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Later in the show I share my conversation with Daphne Fiori-Wood who is shaving her hair on April 29th to raise money for childhood cancer research with St. Baldrick’s. Research is hope for kids with cancer, but donations to find cures have been down since 2020. She will also be donating her hair to Wigs forKids!, wigsforkids.org, at the end of the event. Your gift will give kids hope, supporting the best research across the country, through the largest charitable funder of childhood cancer research grants. Cancer kills more of our kids than any other disease. Can you help? Thank you!

Here’s the link to Earthday tips to living more sustainably, and here’s the show with Kevin Ann Jordan talking about sustainable style.

Today’s show was engineered by Ian Seda of Radio Kingston.

Our show music is from Shana Falana !!!

Feel free to email me, say hello: she@iwantwhatshehas.org

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245 The Art of Pau

PAU Quintanajornet doesn‘t paint pictures. Pau creates worlds – open invitations to a journey into the beauty of Latin American influences and into the spheres of an artist, who with brushes, paint, ink, paper and wood, playfully turns her world inside out. The cleavage between cultures loosens up. From the friction between her Chilean roots and her German home she draws her own symbolism in bright colors and shapes which grows out of the ground like plants rising to the sky. Birds also occupy a large space in Pau‘s World: in her „cosmovision“ they symbolize free spirits of wisdom and peace, spreading their wings and coping with highs and lows of life.

Born in Chile and raised in the former DDR, Pau moved to Berlin at the age of 15 to broaden her horizons and find a creative outlet. She studied communication-design and illustration at the FHTW before taking off to South America. In Valparaiso, Chile, she recharged her batteries and set the course for her future. Falling in love with the Urban Art Movement and Artivism, Pau started to create her first wall pieces down South.  Although she eventually returned to Germany, Pau would frequently revisit Latin America – her Motherland – her emotional home. During these returns, she might discover something new about her self or her art, socialize with other artists or improve her techniques. In the collective of the Artivists, Muralistas and Street Artists, Pau found birds of the same feather.

Over the last couple of years Pau has participated in numerous festivals and art projects around the world. These travels and interactions with the people around helped her to find a deeper meaning in her work and get more sensitive for different global realties. Inspired by the words of Pablo Neruda, “The murals are the books of the people “ she started a long term art project called PROJECT WALLFLOWERS in 2013. Her work is found on walls in Egypt, Tunisia, Spain, France, The Netherlands, Germany, United States, China, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Chile … . While Pau‘s walls are on display in public spaces, they are created with the permission of the communities. Her interest lies in sharing her art with people, not creating notoriety for her self.

Today Pau shares begins by telling us how art became the tool she was drawn to as a young person to help her emotionally as her family fled Chile as political refugees and the danger they faced prior to relocating to Germany. There’s no doubt that while her childhood was traumatic, it set her up for some profound perspective on who she is and how she wants to live her life. We talked about her becoming an Artivista and how it was the first identity that she claimed as her own versus it being imposed on her by others. We talked about the masculine and the feminine and how she connected with her own inner manifestations of those as she navigated heartache and learned to cultivate love in all she does. Inspired by this quote: “You also learn that there are real priorities and imposed priorities. The beauty of this lifelong journey is that you get the tremendous opportunity to get to know the real you with all its flaws and all its magic. I gain stability when I feel centered and reflected in my work and with the people around me.” We talk about how she established her own priorities and how she works to live them each day, including how this impacted her “Art World” and how she moves through the “Art Market.” She shared about her work Project Wallflowers, the Blooming Seeds, and #staywithhumanity. We end with a quick share on how she takes care of herself with her active life and how sobremesas are a special part of that.

Today’s show was engineered by Ian Seda from Radio Kingston.

Our show music is from Shana Falana!

Feel free to email me, say hello: she@iwantwhatshehas.org

Leave me a voicemail with your thoughts or a few words about who has what you want and why! (845) 481-3429

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244 Permission to Pause with Lauree Ostrofsky

For nearly 20 years, Lauree Ostrofsky has served as a speaker, author, coach, and communications consultant with clients including IBM, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Fodors Travel, Liz Claiborne’s domestic violence awareness program Women’s Work, and the Girl Scouts of the USA. I’m also founder of Hudson Valley Women in Business in upstate New York, and the #HugTour Movement.

She returns to the show today to talk about taking a pause and the permission needed to do so. She shares an abbreviated version of an important life transition that propelled her to where she is today, and then catches us up on where she is now, as a new step-mom and someone who needs to take a break from certain work obligations in order to keep the balance in her life and the clarity in moving forward. We talk about the difficulty in saying no, or taking a pause from something important as well as how she is doing motherhood differently by keeping some of her time and her things sacred to her alone. Finally she walks us through how she finds the “permission” to do difficult things and shares ways for you to find that for yourself.

Her memoir, I’m scared & doing it anyway (2013), shares the hospital epiphany that led her to create a life and career she loves.  Her second book, Simply Leap: Seven Lessons on Facing Fear and Enjoying the Crap out of Your Life (2016), helps you forge your own path of reinvention, cupcakes and dance parties included.

Here’s Nikki Fogerty’s Tarot Report on Lust and the Princess of Discs. Quite a timely reading for us!

Today’s show was engineered by Ian Seda from Radio Kingston.

Our show music is from Shana Falana!

Feel free to email me, say hello: she@iwantwhatshehas.org

Leave me a voicemail with your thoughts or a few words about who has what you want and why! (845) 481-3429

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235 “Pollinators” with Karen Ranney

Karen Ranney taught Early Grade Science, Kindergarten, and Pre-K for more than 20 years. She now maintains a little woods in the Hudson Valley. She gardens, photographs and writes for children every day. She thanks all the young children who observe nature, show curiosity, ask questions, and inspire everyone in their world. She’s written All About Leaves and My Hear Your Heart under her pen name Lea Utsira.

Today we learn about and visit Karen’s garden, and she shares about how and why she’s cultivating pollinator plants, how’s she’s bringing her yard back into a more native state, how she manages critters and poison ivy, and the two books she’s authored for young (and old) readers. If you want to reach out to Karen and talk gardening or pollinators, you can find her at leautsira@gmail.com.

Our show music is from Shana Falana!

Feel free to email me, say hello: she@iwantwhatshehas.org

Leave me a voicemail with your thoughts or a few words about who has what you want and why! (845) 481-3429

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Female State of Mind

“So not every female human being is necessarily a woman; she must take part in this mysterious and endangered reality known as femininity. Is femininity secreted by the ovaries? Is it enshrined in a Platonic heaven? Is a frilly petticoat enough to bring it down to earth? Although some women zealously strive to embody it, the model has never been patented.” Simone de Beauvoir.

This seems like a good place to start. It may not be where we end because this is a big subject. One that has been studied and debated by many scholars and will continue to evolve as we evolve as humans and our society evolves as the collective of we humans. This discussion is not meant to reinvent the wheel or suggest that I have the answer that someone else hasn’t already shared. It’s not meant to suggest that this is the one and only definition of female, and that there can be no others. No, it’s really about establishing where my head is at so that you know where I’m coming from, so that we’re working from the same foundation in how we define the words that shape the work and the thoughts here.

Let’s start with some of the easier points. For our purposes, female is essentially the embodiment of the feminine. We’re using it as an adverb, not a noun. It does not mean gender although many women tend to embody female “characteristics” well, not always, but often.  However, we all have the potential for embodying both feminine and masculine qualities and many of us already do. Yes, let’s look for opportunities to recognize and honor the embodiment of the feminine in a male body hoping that one day, there will be no need to distinguish between the two. So for the purposes of this work, this philosophy, this opinion, female is the feminine regardless of what it looks like or what shape it comes in.

But what does it look like? How do we know it when we see it? This is the real work. This is where things get difficult and confusing, gender lines get blurred and challenged and emotions get triggered when identity is challenged or perceived to be judged. So let’s start with something less personal, the female in nature. From a Chinese perspective, the female is yin, and yin is described as earth, passive, docile, slow, dark, cold, soft, moist, and consuming while the male is Yang and represents the opposite. In Chinese mythology, it is believed that the world went from being formless chaos to what it is today because Yin and Yang at one point became balanced with one another allowing for creation to take form. Today, Yin is always dancing with Yang, sometimes they are balanced and in equilibrium while at other times there is more of one than the other.

Image by disoniador on Pixabay

While women and men may embody many of their respective Yin or Yang qualities, it’s more complex than that because of this dance between Yin and Yang within everything, even ourselves and how that interacts with our actions and interactions as humans. When we think of the feminine as embodied in human form it is receptive, it welcomes with open arms, it is inclusive, it is nurturing and it is love. It is community, it is the great Mother, it is the greater good over the individual, it is peace. When we see the feminine in action, we see a bountiful existence for all. We see equality for all. We see life.

Being feminine means being gentle but not necessarily weak. Being feminine means taking care of oneself in order to best serve her needs and not just the needs of others or the corporation. Being feminine means tuning into all wisdom not just that of the analytical thinking brain. Being feminine means living in harmony with our surroundings recognizing that we are all one sharing in this planet and not extracting from these surroundings in an imbalanced way. Being feminine means being capable of empathizing in order to prevent the mutual damage of otherizing. Being feminine is creating, tapping into that creative flow, in all it’s many forms.

As the Tao suggests, it’s not Yin or Yang, black or white, feminine or masculine? It’s questionable that we should even be using the words feminine and masculine because of their origin. They grew out of a need to describe the traits that were generally observed to be embodied by each respective gender or even imposed on each gender. As the world changes and the concepts of gender are becoming challenged and possibly even obsolete, we may serve ourselves better if we understand the characteristics that were once assumed to be gender specific to be gender neutral and therefore requiring of new terminology. Maybe that’s the best way forward after all. Until that time, I’ll still be talking femininity.

224 “BLOOM” with Circle Creative Collective

Today I am joined by Melissa Hewitt, Mirabai Trent, and Jenny Wonderling from Circle Creative Collective to talk about their upcoming happening, BLOOM, and their ongoing work to build on their commitment of connecting and inspiring diverse communities by sharing and preserving traditional crafts and skills.

BLOOM: the Rebirth invites you to rediscover your dreams and your most joyous and authentic you. Step upon candlelit paths through interactive dreamscapes celebrating wonder and the fullness of spring. Join our visceral journey through the woods and be both witness and player on an exuberant full sensory experience where performance meets the sacred and celebration. This is avant-garde ceremony, breaking the bounds and touching pure magic as creativity emerges from the trees and forest floor, falls from the sky, and is illuminated all around you. It’s a spectacle, an inspiration, an awakening and an offering to the earth and our collective future. This May, meet magical creatures who will share wisdom, music, dance, and even bring healing. BLOOM is living theater wrapped in a prayer.

We also talked about their offerings Sankofa, Chrysalis for teens program, and their Craft Preservation workshops. It was a lively and loving conversation about their relationships to rebirth, joy, conscious living and connecting in community.

Hope to see some of you at BLOOM on May 28th or June 4th at the Stone Ridge Orchard! Remember to reach out to them if you want to help out or would like to request a sliding scale ticket discount.

Oh, and here’s the information on this Saturday’s Together for Mental Health Community Walk.

Today’s show was engineered by Ian Seda of Radio Kingston.

Our show music is from Shana Falana !!!

Feel free to email me, say hello: she@iwantwhatshehas.org

** Please: SUBSCRIBE to the pod and leave a REVIEW wherever you are listening, it helps other users FIND IT

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