390 Eliza Swann “The Alchemical Imagination”

Eliza Swann, also known as Emerald, is a writer, artist, alchemist and scholar based in New York. Swann’s formative years cultivated a deep interest in the intertwined studies of mysticism and fine art, which remain central to their work as both artist and educator. Swann received a BA in Painting from the San Francisco Art Institute (2004) and an MFA from Central St. Martins in London (2012). Additionally, Swann is an initiate in Gnostic and Hermetic orders, has studied Vedic cosmology with Dr. Vagsish Shastri, trained in mindfulness meditation at the Insight Meditation Society, and studied herbalism and gardening under the guidance of their witch aunt. These studies inform their expansive approach to esoteric and ecological practices.

Swann teaches art and mysticism as a unified practice and, in 2014, founded Golden Dome, an artist-in-residence program rooted in queer intersectional mysticism. Since its inception, Golden Dome has expanded to offer nationwide exhibitions, residencies, publications, and educational programming. Swann is currently faculty at Pratt Institute, where they teach “The Alchemical Imagination”, a course they created to introduce alchemical concepts to contemporary creative practice. In 2025, Swann transitioned from directing Golden Dome to launch a new initiative: Emerald School, which explores alchemy as a living, transdisciplinary practice.

As a visual artist, Swann has exhibited internationally, most recently at the University of California Santa Cruz and the Feminist Center for Creative Work in Los Angeles. They are the author of The Anatomy of the Aura, Green Mary, and The Alchemical Imagination, and have contributed to numerous publications. Their work has been supported by PEN America, the Foundation for Contemporary Art, the Author’s League Fund, the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, the Pratt Faculty Development Fund, the Feminist Center for Creative Work, the Hemera Fellowship for Contemplative Practice, and the Wassaic Project.

Today Eliza shares about their roots, literally, the gardens of their aunt and a return to them after living and traveling beyond. We talk about alchemy and how it folds many disciplines, prayer, devotion, poetry, intuition… into its being. Eliza recalls teachers both direct and indirect and what they’re work surfaced. We discuss grief and how alchemy has supported them in navigating both the personal and the global. The Emerald School is the container for their work where they guide folks through the stages of alchemy including a freeing of self and specialty, to move into deeper collaboration with all. “The school becomes a crucible: a space where diverse elements converge, disciplinary boundaries blur, and new ways of knowing can take shape.”

We talk about their upcoming 9 week online course, “The Alchemical Imagination,” Sept. 14-Nov. 16, and their upcoming offering as a part of the O+ Festival, “The Star Inside: Alchemy and the Power of Plants” and why mugwort became a part of the conversation.

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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330 Sheila Dvorak Galione “Painted Pathways”

Sheila Dvorak Galione is a writer, artist, singer, mother, healer, and intuitive coach who seeks to bring her insight and passion for the power of story to every aspect of her work. For years, Sheila supported non-profit and community organizations through grant writing and other responsibilities, but she stepped into the void to first process the passing of her sister and then clear the way for her to pursue her own work that allowed her a greater balance between work, motherhood and her health. She created Painted Pathways, a healing practice combining artistic expression, reflection, and conversation. Throughout the process, she assists others in creating a visual representation of your life, allowing you to see your strengths more clearly, and identify where you can visualize growth and change. When she’s not doing this work, she’s directing school plays, writing music, and performing as Sheila Dee with the band Sheila & The Deep End.

The band formed in 2014 and quickly grew from performing originals and covers during dinner theater shows, to opening sets for rockabilly band Lara Hope and the Ark-tones, to headlining historic venues and clubs around the Hudson Valley, including the Rosendale Theater and Live at The Falcon, among others. She writes and performs original, evocative, old-school rock-n-roll, and her debut album “Has to Be Real” is available on all streaming platforms and features melodies that take hold in the heart, funk that moves your feet and dynamic harmonies that fill your ears.

During our conversation, Sheila eloquently and authentically shares her life with us, from growing up in a musical family, to being disillusioned by Hollywood after a stint with a reality show and moving to the Hudson Valley where she reconnects with her love of music. She openly shares about the unexpected loss of her sister and how she continues to move through the grief of it all including writing music with her in mind. She recommends the podcast Quit Happens to anyone else out there looking to make the leap, and she wants to bring back the Tributon to the Hudson Valley so if you too yearn to join forces with other musicians to honor music’s faves, get in touch!

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

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

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305 Alana Connelly “From Grief to Joy”

Alana Connelly has been an intuitive her whole life, and studying the healing arts for over 25 years. She struggled to find her way after her husband passed in his early 40’s. Watching someone you love more than life itself leave this world leaves an indescribable pain and loss. After allowing herself the time to feel the overwhelming sadness, she found herself in Bali in a yoga teacher training that didn’t go as planned, but it allowed her to reconnect with herself and eventually pursue a path of helping others by opening her own wellness center,  a non-profit bakery to support local women, and a women’s artisan co-op. While some projects failed, others succeeded but brought up questions about her life’s purpose, who she is, including a lot of self doubt and uncertainties. She found herself sitting with more hurt, anger, sadness and pain, but she knew it was the only way through. She’s now living a life that she enjoys and has found happiness again. As a registered vet tech for over 28 years, she’s now pursuing a PhD program in clinical psychology with a focus on mind, body and spirit with the hope that she will help others find the joy in life no matter what happens.

Today she shares about allowing herself to sit in the sadness, the hurt, and pain in order to really move through the grief, how a yoga teacher training changed her life and taught her about how the other side of fear is freedom. She’s living that freedom today despite life’s ups and downs, practicing letting go of expectations and loving herself unconditionally.

Alana recently contributed to a book titled Do More Stupid Things, a book that celebrates those who dare to live outside the lines. These stories will remind you that taking risks and self belief are the key ingredients to magic and miracles. It’s not easy to go against the grain, but as you’ll see in this book, it offers huge rewards for the brave ones willing to “do stupid things.”

Alana’s work can be found at http://www.wildrootsyogawellness.com and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/wildroots_wellness/

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

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

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276 Mental Health and Personal Freedom with Kristina Sarhadi

Kristina Sarhadi is a holistic therapist, Reiki Master, writer, and “recovering social worker.” A Hudson Valley native, she is the founder of Kingston Reiki + Holistic Therapy in Downtown Kingston, where she also runs The New Leaf Holistic Health Clinic with Dr. Ileana Tecchio and Dr. Glenn Finley. Kristina studied at Vassar College, UC Berkeley, the University of Southern California, The Institute for Integrative Nutrition and the Soma Healing Center, and received the International Health Leadership Award in 2011. Since 2012 she has lived in Kingston, where she is an ongoing Clinic Provider at The O+ Festival, an active member of several mutual aid and wellness circles, an enthusiastic punk show attendee and a published poet. She has received several awards for her writing and multiple Chronogrammies for her work with clients. Most recently, she was voted Best Mental Health Counselor in 2023. Prior to opening her private practice, Kristina spent a decade in social services as a domestic violence counselor, foster care case manager, teen mentor, women’s legal advocate, Early Intervention specialist, youth arts group director, and crisis counselor for victims of abuse, neglect and sexual assault. Because she has always been obsessed with balancing pain and joy, she has also taught preschool, run a cupcake shop, managed local bands, and written for several punk music publications.

Currently, Kristina works with clients to integrate deep trauma exploration with energy work and narrative reframing—helping folks of all ages become more mindful, empowered and joyful in their daily lives. An Iranian-Italian-American, Kristina’s philosophy centers around self-empowerment, mindfulness techniques, and consciousness engineering—a combination of ancient Eastern practices and modern Human Potential modalities. On rare days off she can be found reading in a sunspot with her tiny cat, Button, or laughing till her stomach hurts with her three sisters, two nieces, and one nephew.

Today Kristina shares how and why she works to support other’s mental health. We talk about the difficulties people may experience on Memorial Day mourning the loss of family members/friends while others protest the day for its perceived pro-military agenda or bypass the grief with barbecues. Kristina shares some thoughts on how to navigate the days’ heaviness.

She opens up about her own process of grief and loss related to a long term relationship/friendship and how it has taught her the power of making hard decisions when they are the ones that will open you up to living authentically in your personal freedom. This wasn’t her first challenging transition in life. You can read more about the serious accident that caused the pivot in her career leading her to where she is today.

Because of her personal experiences in cutting cords that don’t serve you, Kristina supports her clients in doing the same, often helping them release and repair when needed.

I loved this conversation and related to so much of Kristina’s lived experience. She’s such an inspiration! She can be found on Instagram, Facebook or reached via phone/text (845-383-0137) for anyone interested in connecting with her and her work.

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

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

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251 Adrianne Theetge “Returning to and Taking Care of Self”

Adrianne Theetge moved to the Hudson Valley from Georgia after doing disaster relief in NYC for 9/11 in the AmeriCorps NCCC program. After several years working and serving our elections and our political system, she just recently went back to graduate school to fulfill her dream of becoming a teacher. She loves her new career as an ENL teacher serving students who are learning the English language. Experiencing grief after the loss of her brother and father she shares with us some of what has helped her through that process. She is a proud mother of two daughters. One of which, Aliza, has been a guest on the show in the past.She enjoys being outside running on the beautiful trails in the Hudson Valley, playing soccer, reading, thrift store shopping, exploring new places, and meditating (a new found invaluable tool).

I loved our talk today that actually took place at my house over tea. Adrianne is so warm and thoughtful and shares deeply from her heart space about grief, talking through the hard bits, career change, overcoming fears, letting people in, saying yes or no when that’s her truth, being a mom, and the secrets to her happy marriage.

Today’s bonus conversation with Warren is about brain health.

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

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

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249 Mental Health and Gratitude with Tara Sanders

Today, my pal Tara Sanders returns to the show to talk Mental Health and Gratitude. An Ulster County native, Tara is a trauma-informed yoga teacher and educator. She presents for a number of county-wide agencies, schools, and nonprofit organizations. She was most recently the Director of Community Outreach and PR at YWCA Ulster County, and is working with HUDSY TV on their event series, Beyond the Screen.
 

Our gal pal chat winds through the themes of capacity, comfort zone, grief, loss and mental health, somatic care and of course gratitude!

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

** 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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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

** 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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213 Caron Grossman “Heart Health and Permission to Grieve”

Caron Grossman is a Registered Nurse and Certified Transitional Life Coach. She has worked extensively with families, patients and health care providers in organ donation, critical care, health coaching and addiction. She has spent a great deal of time working with people in grief, end of life and other complex life transitions and living losses.

Caron is an inspirational speaker who offers different perspectives on grief. Topics have ranged from Self Care for Healthcare Providers when Experiencing Grief and Trauma, Learning to Communicate with your Grief, Caregiver Burnout and more…She finds great joy in creating and holding space in both large and small Grief Workshops and is looking forward to a new role as a volunteer and speaker for the American Heart Association.

Caron enjoys meditation, hiking, writing, drumming, frisbee, dancing, anything to do with water, one on one conversations over coffee, walking her favorite grand puppy, Lady Bark Ruffalo and her greatest joy is spending time with her 20 month granddaughter, Chloe, who has taught her the magic of pure play and presence.

Today Caron shares her story about losing her mom at the age of 13 to a heart attack when her mom was just 39 years old, and how her grief from that affected her life until the point that Caron decided to turn things around. She changed her eating, stopped drinking and tended to her emotional needs. A few weeks after a clear echocardiogram last year, she suffered her own heart attack. Caron shares the lessons learned and what she knows about tending to the needs of her heart, both physically and emotionally. We also talk about the importance of women understanding that we do not always present the same way as men when having a heart attack, and to trust your gut when it comes to advocating for your health.

As someone who’s studied and worked with her own grief Caron also talks about giving ourselves permission to grieve, including how to communicate with your grief. Here’s her TEDxTalk on the subject.

Thanks to Ian Seda from Radio Kingston for engineering today’s show!

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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#196 Shulamit Elson “Grief and Sound Healing”

Today I have the honor of speaking with Shulamit Elson, and we begin the show hearing about her experience in losing her daughter to leukemia just over a year ago and how she moved through the tremendous grief of this experience. This flows into a conversation about Shulamit’s own journey into finding her soul’s purpose and the healing sounds that form the basis of her work today.  She is the creator of MediSounds Meditation, and the Director of MediSounds, as well as the founder of The Great Octave Foundation. She has taught MediSounds Meditation and vocal sound-based mindfulness practices worldwide, in places as diverse as Esalen and Omega Institutes, Tibet House in NYC, meditation workshops in Andalusia, Spain and Oxford, England, the Sri Auribindo Auroville community in India, and in Israel. Under the auspices of The Great Octave Foundation, her activities have included work throughout Israel during a particularly fraught time of conflict in 2002,  HIV positive men and women in Mexico City, and returning Iraq war veterans. In 2001 Shulamit was honored to give the keynote address in Washington, DC to introduce US Congressional Bill H. R. 808 to create a Cabinet Level Department of Peace.

Prior to creating MediSounds Meditation, Shulamit had a 20-year career in business consulting and investment banking. Her positions included Manager of Training and Development at Sandoz Inc. and Director of Organizational Communications at the public relations firm Hill & Knowlton. As President of her own independent consulting firm, Shulamit advised on issues of communication and organizational development at such corporations as Ford Motor Company, United States Lines, Nabisco Brands, and Irving Trust.

Shulamit is the author of the highly acclaimed book, Kabbalah of Prayer ~Sacred Sounds and the Soul’s Journey, and the creator of the newly-released CD MediSounds ~ The Path to Wholeness; as well as Beyond Words ~ Sacred Sounds of the Tree of Life; as well as Vibration ~ Shulamit and the Drepung Gomang Buddhist Monks.

P.S. at the end of the show I append my weekly “pre-show” banter with Warren and Manuel who share with me thoughts about being a people pleaser!

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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#152 Belinda Farrell “Find Your Friggin’ Joy”

Belinda Farrell is a Certified Master Hypnotherapist, NLP Master Practitioner, Huna Practitioner, and Reconnective Healing Practitioner. She’s had an exceptionally adventurous life, teaching third grade for five years in Puerto Rico and Los Angeles, playing the character Snow White at Disneyland, as a TV News Reporter for KABC Channel 7 in Hollywood, working on the staff of Senator Charles H. Percy (Illinois) in Washington, D.C., firewalked 18 times with Tony Robbins, swam with dolphins, was a film and stage actress and a professional Precision Stunt Car Driver for TV Commercials and films. She healed herself from a significant incapacitating spinal injury and is the author of several books including Find Your Friggin Joy.

I recorded this interview early in the year, pre-COVID. As the world seemed to change because of the pandemic, I put it on the shelf for a more appropriate time. As the year was coming to a close, I listened back to my conversation with Belinda which felt like a much needed healing session and the perfect way to end the year. Belinda shares her adventurous life story and the wisdom she learned along the way including the power of forgiveness, believing in your ability to heal, overcoming fear, releasing the programming in the unconscious mind, cutting cords, Huna and working through the grief of losing her son to a drug overdose. The challenges of the pandemic won’t end magically come January 1st, but I hope that we’ve learned ways to move through the challenges with the support of and by supporting others, to bring greater ease to all. Happy New Year to everyone! Wishing you a joyful 2021!!!

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 inspires you! (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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