#117 “Surviving COVID with Girlfriends” with Jen Donovan, Ilissa Viviani, Michelle Renar, Kristen Uhl and Nellie Hill

Today I catch up with 5 women whose work and lives have been affected by the global pause. They share where they are at both personally and professionally, what’s been a challenge, what’s changed for the better or the worse, how they envision going back to work, what they’re grateful for, what they miss, and how they’ve leaned on each other to get through it all. Thanks for joining ladies! I hope y’all get to hug each other soon too!

Jennifer Donovan is back for a COVID catch up. Founder of Le Shag a full service hair and beauty salon based out of Kingston, NY. Jen has continuously evolved and innovated her business model to expand into Glo Spa, the Le Shag Capsule soon to be opening into Stone Ridge, Le Shag Weddings, Le Shag Academy and the Hudson Valley Beauty Collective. Today, she’s gathered some of her gal pals to talk with me about life during quarantine and after juggling the business pivots, childcare and loan paperwork, Jen is looking forward to a real vacation once this is over.

Ilissa Viviani, Le Shag Salon Coordinator, is currently working from home and fielding the numerous calls by clients eagerly awaiting their hair appointments. Le Shag has been offering color kits and Zoom consults in order to temporarily support their clients patiently awaiting their re-opening. She is also excitingly going to be partnering on the new Le Shag Capsule in Stone Ridge. Seven months pregnant, Ilissa has enjoyed the slowing down and connecting with local Kelder Farms for her fresh local veggies each week.

Michelle Renar, Owner of Hudson Valley Body Works, opened her small private practice in the historic stockade district of uptown Kingston in 2004. Prior to that Michelle interned at the Caprini Pain Treatment Center and the Ronald McDonald House in Manhattan and helped facilitate the first massage therapy program for the Kingston Hospital, working for 4 years in the hospital setting providing massage therapy for OB patients. She is certified in cancer and terminal illness massage, she is also a Certified Educator of Infant Massage and a Registered Diagnostic Ultrasonographer. Michelle has been connecting with others in the massage community to build best practices and share thoughts and plans for moving forward once things re-open, but is also hoping to maintain the balance that she’s achieved with this forced slow down of her life.

Nellie Hill, is the Owner of Nellie Hill Events, a boutique wedding design and production company for creative couples planning a destination wedding in the Hudson Valley, Catskills and beyond. Nellie has been producing and designing events for the past 10 years in the Hudson Valley. She has had a passion for parties and events from the time she could walk and talk. Nellie graduated from Marist College with a bachelor’s degree in Communications and has a background in the service industry. Nellie just had her second child during COVID and shares how she’s most looking forward to celebrating her new baby and connecting with family when we’re out of quarantine.

Kristen Uhl, is the Director of the Very Little Red Schoolhouse, a NY licensed day care center that is located in Hurley, NY. They are an infant and toddler program that offers care for children six weeks to three years of age who strives to provide a fun and safe learning environment for the children to grow every single day. Kristen struggled with whether to stay opened or closed and eventually made the difficult decision to protect herself and her staff and close for the remainder of the NY PAUSE. Kristen is grateful to her girlfriends for their support during the challenges of the past few months, and looks forward to the return of big, messy family dinners with her many siblings.

Thank YOU Ladies!

Today’s show was engineered by Manuel Blas of Radio Kingston, www.radiokingston.org.

We heard music from our fave, Shana Falana, http://www.shanafalana.com/

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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#116 “Happy Earth Day!” with Jaysa Hunter-Mellers, Youth Climate Advocate and Lynne Cherry of Young Voices for the Planet

Big Day, Happy Earth Day! Today on the show…

Jaysa Hunter-Mellers’ dynamic speeches at rallies and her testimony at City Hall helped shut down the coal-fired power plant that was causing her asthma. Jaysa has become a passionate advocate for environmental justice and for national school civic education so that kids—and adults, too—can learn how to participate in their own governance, take action, and speak to power like she did. At 14 years old, Jaysa continues to galvanize audiences with a courage and wisdom. She has been a Youth Leadership Panel Participant at​ ​OMEGA’s 2019 Drawdown Conference​ and co-led YVFP’s Civic Engagement and Democracy workshop at the Ashokan Center’s 2020​ ​Youth Empowerment & Sustainability Summit (YESS!)​.

Jaysa won admission to the ​Fairchild Wheeler Interdistrict Multi-Magnet Campus​ where she attends the Information Technology and Software Engineering School. Its mission is to create a culture for passionate investigators to develop solutions for the global community that lead to fulfilling careers. Jaysa is active in her school’s Debate Team where she’s frequently won 1st place. In addition to her school Drama Club, Jaysa’s been lead singer and performer for several theatrical productions at the 80-year-old, Broadway-sized ​Klein Memorial Auditorium​. Jaysa’s other pursuits include Vex Robotics Team, Gender and Sexuality Alliance Club, and Student Council. She’s participated in the Girls Leadership Summit at Fairfield University and the STEM Girls Who Code Summit at Bridgeport University. Jaysa is also a TIME Kid Hero for the Planet.

Lynne Cherry, Author, Illustrator, originator, producer and director of the Young Voices for the Planet films, is well-known for her popular children’s books especially her rain forest classic, The Great Kapok Tree and her environmental history A River Ran Wild. Lynne Cherry is the founder of YVFP and currently a Visiting Scholar at the Benjamin Center @ SUNY New Paltz. Lynne is collaborating with a variety of interdisciplinary partners to bring the YVFP film series and curriculum into NY schools and working with the Mid-Hudson Teacher Center on a professional development series for educators interested in integrating civic engagement, climate education and environmental justice into their classrooms.

Young Voices for the Planet made a short doc film about Jaysa’s story, Words Have Power. The film educates people about climate change and its effects upon humans, social justice in relation to climate justice, and environmental racism. Jaysa and Lynne have spoken after film screenings including the ​Belmont World Film Festival​ and the ​Climate Action Film Festival​. Here’s the Words Have Power lesson plan.

The mission of the Young Voices for the Planet film series is to to limit the magnitude of climate change and its impacts by empowering children and youth, through uplifting and inspiring success stories, to take an essential role in informing their communities — and society at large, challenging decision-makers, and catalyzing change. They document youth speaking out, creating solutions and leading the change. These youth solutions to the climate crisis include stories of California kids banning plastic bags, Florida students saving their school $53,000 in energy costs, an 11-year-old German boy planting millions of trees and other young people changing laws, changing minds and changing society as they reduce the carbon footprint of their homes, schools and communities.

Some vital YVFP partners:

YVFP also supports these state and federal initiatives:

  • New York State Senator Todd Kaminsky has introduced Senate Bill S6837that establishes a climate change education grant program. In 2016, thanks to a campaign by ACE and Global Kids, the NYC Council passed Resolution 0375-2014calling on the New York State Department of Education to include climate change lessons in the State’s K-12 curriculum.
  • Spurred by youth climate strikersCalifornia Congresswoman, Barbara Lee, introduced a House resolution – H.Res 574 – in September 2019, supporting the teaching of climate change in U.S. schools.

And last but not least, here are a few links showing the relationship between Air Pollution & Corona Virus

For the Full Mystic Mamma report you can jump over here! And Divine Harmony! And Theresa’s New Moon Meditation tonight via Zoom!

Today’s show was engineered by Ida Hakkila of Radio Kingston, www.radiokingston.org.

We heard music from our fave, Shana Falana, http://www.shanafalana.com/ and “East Side West Side” the third single from The Mammals soon to be released album Nonet.

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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#115 “Thriving and Surviving During a Quarantine” with Ana Gioia, Romany Rose Pope, Andréa Staskowska, Jennifer Dignon and Yukari Ogawa

Heya friends! Today I am joined by ALL of the ladies I co-create with over at Anahata. Allow me to introduce:

Ana Gioia, has been a practicing yogini since 2005. She studied traditional Hatha Yoga for 7 years before encountering and eventually training in Kundalini. Some of her specialties include Children’s Yoga, Pre & Post-Natal Yoga and Mommy & Me. Ana feels very drawn to serving Women, Families and Children as she feels there is so much healing to be done among these groups and the way society views family roles. She is the mother of two children and enjoys writing, philosophy, design and connecting with the Earth. Ana has a B.A. in Philosophy from Boston College and an M.A. in Eastern Classics from St. John’s College (Santa Fe). She teaches Saturdays at 10am Eastern with Anahata via IG Live. You can connect with her on Instagram @anagioiayoga

Romany Rose Pope, an ocean-born Aussie, is a kundalini yoga and meditation teacher, herbalist, reiki practitioner and cacao ceremonialist. She creates the most delicious @medicinaldesserts and is also one half of the loving duo @couplescacao serving up Cacao to couples and others as a way of connecting more intimately with their heart space. She teaches on Tuesdays at [6:30] Eastern with Anahata via Zoom. Connect with her on Instagram @romanyrose where she shares her adventures with plant alchemy, food medicine and the daily practice of love!

Andréa Staskowska, is a former professor of communication and cultural studies turned yoga, meditation teacher, energy worker and astrologer who’s been offering uplifting and prosperity initiating yogic and meditative practices with Anahata daily at 8:00am Eastern on Facebook Live and also at 7am on Thursdays.

Jennifer Dignon, has dedicated her life’s work to the children of this planet, and to the adults that are blessed to serve them. She is the founder of Heart Child Yoga and Conscious Support Therapy (CST). As a Yoga for the Special Child Practitioner and Radiant Child trained professional, Jennifer has studied with children’s yoga Gurus Sonia Sumnar (Integral Yoga) and Shakta Kaur Kalsa (Kundalini Yoga). She’s also a sound healer working with both singing bowls and tuning forks and has been offering her gifts via Facebook Live with Anahata on Wednesdays at 5:30pm Eastern and also at varying other times via her personal page. Jennifer was a guest on the show in early 2019 for Episode #51.

Yukari Ogawa, a vet tech who traveled to the US despite only speaking enough English to introduce herself in order to attend a school that would allow her to pursue her passion, working with animals. After observing how her colleagues suffered from compassion fatigue and how the industry overall didn’t take care of the people working in it, she began a business to help those in her industry. She found “The Work” of Byron Katie to be a profound tool in helping her with her own stressful thoughts that she’s now begun facilitating the Katie Worksheets for others. Yukari is leading online classes with Anahata on Monday’s at 10am eastern via Zoom. You can also request to join her Facebook Group to discuss “The Work.” Yukari was on the show last summer, Episode #73 if you want to have a listen!

They share about how quarantine has impacted their lives, appreciating the disruption to routines that weren’t supporting their needs, what they are learning about themselves during this experience, learning to settle into the art of not “producing,” eating well to support health, honoring the sacred, the divine feminine and masculine, what they miss most (hint, HUGS), how they take care of themselves and what they are envisioning for the future.

All of their offerings are online and by donation, so please if you want to connect, do so! Or if you want to do nothing, we fully support that too 🙂

Finally here’s the information for the Ulster Immigrant Defense Network and the COVID-19 Volunteer Response Team Interest.

Today’s show was engineered by Ida Hakkila of Radio Kingston, www.radiokingston.org.

We heard music from our fave, Shana Falana, http://www.shanafalana.com/

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

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

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#114 Rebecca Horner and Karen Pardini “Marbletown First Aid Unit”

I’m BACK for a full episode! Speaking today with Rebecca Horner and Karen Pardini of the Marbletown First Aid Unit. Rebecca is a retired IBM software engineer, MFAU’s Board Chair and an EMS Volunteer. Karen is the Chief who on the side raises and deploys search and rescue dogs. Important fact, in 1961 Harriet Weber founded Marbletown First Aid, the first ambulance squad in Ulster County. Sixty years ago there was no 911, nobody trained in emergency medical care and ready to respond, no specially designed vehicles fully stocked with medical and rescue equipment; folks were largely on their own. With incredible grit and determination, Harriet Weber organized funding, a training program, an ambulance and volunteers. She put her intellect and love for community to work to create something that has saved countless lives. Today she is considered the mother of emergency medical service in all of New York State.

These ladies explain the nature of this type of work, how they got into it – Rebecca looking for ways to volunteer and Karen coming at it from a Midwife’s perspective of wanting to better serve her clients – the challenges of continuing these vital services that are severely underfunded, and how COVID19 is affecting how they do their work. We get to peek a little into the personal side of who they are and how they take care of themselves too. I have tremendous respect for all EMS workers. Thank you for your service Ladies!

Midway through I sink into a deep thought about finding gratitude amidst the pain with a little help from Alanis Morrisette’s song “Thank U.” Here’s the quote I shared on air about the song. In her VH1 Storytellers appearance, she explained: “I felt that I lived in a culture that told me that I had to consistently and constantly look outside myself to feel this elusive bliss. And I achieved a lot of what society had told me to achieve and I still didn’t feel peaceful. I started questioning everything, and I realized that actually everything was an illusion and it was scary for me because everything I had believed in was dissolving in front of me and there was a death of sorts, a really beautiful one ultimately, but at first a very scary one, and so I stopped. I stopped for the first time and I was overcome with a huge sense of compassion for myself first, and then naturally that translated into my feeling and compassion for everyone around me and a huge amount of gratitude that I had never felt before to this extent. And that’s why I had to write this song, ‘Thank U,’ because I had to express how exciting this was and how scary it was and all of these opportunities for us to define who we are.

And we finish up with with Erika Wennerstrom’s message to “Be Good To Yourself.”

Today’s show was engineered by Ida Hakkila of Radio Kingston, www.radiokingston.org.

We heard music from our fave, Shana Falana, http://www.shanafalana.com/

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

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

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#113 Leach Gooch “Four Minutes a Day”

Yay! Brainy Fox is back! Our theme music by Shana Falana rides again!!! Ida and I check in, get deep about fear and thriving and then I play an interview with Leah Gooch of Four Minutes a Day who offers Reiki, Yoga, and Meditation. Leah shares some of her journey to and through Reiki and how she does remote distant Reiki services. I attempt to analogize this phenomenon with Quantum Physics. If anyone out there really understands Quantum Physics/Mechanics, please come and be a guest on my show! Leah, otherwise known as Gooch, also shares her work in jails and prisons and talks a bit about her experience there and the profound shifts she’s seen in her students from experiencing yoga and meditation with one another. She’s been offering a daily 4 minute meditation, sent via email, to everyone on her mailing list and expects to continue throughout the physical distancing period we are going through. She has a few remaining free remote Reiki sessions available and thereafter offers her work on a sliding scale. She’s awesome and wonderful, and I am grateful for her work here on this planet. Gooch’s words of advice for what we’re going through right now…”call your Mother, be kind to others and to yourself.” Yes, yes, yes.

Today’s show was engineered by Ida Hakkila of Radio Kingston, http://www.radiokingston.org.

We heard music from our fave, Shana Falana, http://www.shanafalana.com/

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

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

http://iwantwhatshehas.org/podcast

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