Episode 412 Jocelyn Jane Cox, Author
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
My guest today is Jocelyn Jane Cox. Jocelyn is a former competitive figure skater, coach and current writer. I was very moved by her recent book “Motion Dazzle: A Memoir of Motherhood, Loss and Skating on Thin Ice”, which was described as “a tribute to her mother, a love letter to her son and a testament to resilience as a caregiver.” Jocelyn’s beautifully written memoir captures her vulnerability, humor and relate-ability. We discuss how the book came about, her focus on one day that embodied both suffering and celebration, as well as the lessons learned when we take a leap of...
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Episode 411 Evolving Retirement
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I acknowledge my retirement from 47 years of my professional career. I’ve had various roles, responsibilities and titles. It has been an honor to work with children, teens, adults, policy makers, teachers, parents, researchers and social workers from all backgrounds. As I bring my private practice to a close, I am humbled from all that I have learned. I am filled with gratitude as my clients process a wide range of emotions and co-create a healthy, intentional goodbye. I embrace all the ways I will evolve in this next chapter of my life. Enjoy the podcast! ...
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Episode 410 Cait Conley
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
My guest today is Cait Conley. Cait is running for Congress in NY District 17, determined to stop Donald Trump and cowards like Mike Lawler who enable him. Cait was born and raised in the Hudson Valley, graduated at the top of her class at West Point, served 16 years as an Army officer, and broke barriers as one of the first and only women in Special Operations leadership and was awarded three Bronze Stars. Cait’s career as a public servant continued at home, protecting security and democracy while serving as Director of Counter-Terrorism on the National Security Council at the White...
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Episode 409 Andrew Kravatz
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
My guest today is Andrew Kravatz. Andrew recently completed his junior year at Fordham University, majoring in Political Science. Andrew is an intern for Cait Conley who is running to win the Democratic primary for Congress to flip NY District 17. With so many people complaining that young people are not politically involved, I was impressed with Andrew’s passion to be the change he wants to see. He describes his confidence in Cait’s background, service to our country, as well as the values and policies that she stands for. Andrew appreciates the loving examples from his...
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Episode 408 Peonies For Alma
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I share my giddiness in the birth of Alma (a dear friend’s baby) as her arrival coincides with the blossoming of our first peony. As these magnificent buds blossom and expand, I offer blessings to sweet Alma as she expands the hearts of all who are in her life. Welcome to the world, sweet Alma! You are in good company with the blossoming of the peonies! May we all be blessed by your presence. May we honor your beauty, your vibrancy and your healing energy. May we celebrate all of the known and to-be-discovered ways you make this world a better...
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Episode 407 Jean Wine
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
My guest today is Jean Wine. Jean is a thoughtful, engaged, inspiring women, who at age 97, happens to be the oldest guest I have had on my podcast! Jean grew up in Worcester, MA, attended college in Maine, where she met her husband, Buddy, before settling in Westchester County, NY. Jean combined her gifts in art, education and enriching lives with her career at American Field Service (AFS). She cultivated lasting friendships with people around the world and traveled extensively. Jean is proud of her beloved children, Linda, Buzzy and Judith, their partners, her four grandchildren and 2...
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Episode 406 Graduation Hugs
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, in this season of college graduations, I highlight something that struck me at my niece’s graduation from Skidmore College. In addition to the love and pride I feel toward my niece, and the inspiring speeches given, I was deeply moved by hugs. Not just the typical hugs after the graduation ceremony, offered from proud parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and siblings. Those hugs are magnificent! I melted when I watched student after student embrace their college president. Without words these hugs from countless students, spoke volumes of the values,...
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Episode 405 Jay Nachowitz
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
My guest to today is Jay Nachowitz. Jay began his career as a professional trumpet player, then integrated his business skills as an entertainment agent and later became a financial manager. Jay’s passion for music and his genuine respect for musicians has allowed him to be both a music manager and financial manager, sometimes both for the same people. Jay has always earned his own income and has been driven by integrity and being a help to others, in a variety of ways. We discussed his positive attitude even in the face of adversity, and what it took for him to get out of his own way, to...
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Episode 404 What Love Does
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I highlight what love does. Whether we pay attention with love, interact with love or infuse love into ourselves, into our plants, pets, people or the planet, love makes a positive impact. Using the simple examples of plants, I marvel at what love does to my relationship to these sentient beings. What love does!! Love reminds us that we have more love in us than we realize. Love stretches and expands our hearts. Love stimulates the giving and receiving partnership. Love generates more love. What love does is nourish us, heal us and helps us grow. May we all...
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Episode 403 Be Present
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I share my experience of being present to two friends in hospice. Being present slows me down, drops me into a quieting center that allows me to align with the Divine. It is a deep honor to be invited into the dying process. I take that invitation very seriously and am grateful for the richness and blessings that unfold. I share two of the meditations that I say silently and aloud when gently massaging the feet of each of my friends. May we all allow ourselves to be a conduit of light, compassion, comfort and love. May we all know the power of being...
info_outline My guest today is Gail Hovey. Gail is an inspiring author, editor, and activist who I recently met when she was invited to my book group. We had just read her newly published memoir: “She Said God Blessed Us: A Life Marked by Childhood Sexual Abuse in the Church” and we were thrilled to get to know the author. What a beautifully written memoir that sheds light on a largely invisible issue of sexual abuse by women.
Georgia, a seminary-trained Christian Education Director was brilliant, charismatic and used the language of faith to seduce 16 year-old Gail and other teenage girls in the church. Nearly a 40 year process, Gail found the language to understand what happened to her, the courage to express her experience and finally put in writing the impact her relationship with Georgia had over her.
Gail understands the importance of truth telling not just through her personal memoir, but what a crucial time it is in our country, in the world, for us to be telling the truth, facing the truth and taking responsibility for the truth, individually and collectively. Gail’s story poignantly embodies the more accurate, complicated, nuanced layers of life, of trauma, of sexuality, of love. She breaks through the false narratives of dichotomous thinking, demonstrating that our experiences are not one-dimensional: either/or; gay/straight; male/female; right/wrong. Gail’s life provides a rich history, from the 1950’s of the perceptions around religion, sexuality, feminism, activism, race, culture, the healing power of therapy and writing.
Check out these links for Gail’s website www.hoveygail.com and to order her book online, if you are not able to purchase it at your local, independent bookstore. Enjoy the podcast and I encourage you to read her book!
Have you heard? We launched a fundraiser! Tarik Greene and Toney Earl, Jr. co-founded MADE, a grassroots organization to address the needs of formerly incarcerated people. MADE stands for Making A Difference Everyday. Our bass playing daughter, her drummer husband and a circle of their talented musician friends recorded an album last year, thanks to the generosity of Matt and Margaret Balitsaris, to raise money for Tarik and Toney’s program. Please join us in making a difference for an easily forgotten, marginalized group of people.
We’re happy to announce that along with the digital downloads that are available at TheMadeProject.BandCamp.com, MADE Transitions is offering physical CDs for purchase. The CDs contain 3 additional bonus tracks not available at TheMadeProject.BandCamp.com. Thanks for your continued support.
Links:
Gail's web site
Indie Bound Books
The MADE Project/GLOW album:
themadeproject.bandcamp.com (Digital Downloads)
GLOW Music Videos/YouTube channel
M.A.D.E. Transitions (Glow CD orders)