Episode 428 Blue Joy
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I am riding the blue joy wave of hope, relief, and a vision that moves our country forward. From intentional positive mantras, meditations, and mindsets to boots on the ground volunteering, I am joyfully celebrating all the efforts across the country that brought about the sweeping Democratic wins. Being at Cait Conley’s watch party on election night was turbo-charged with enthusiasm, solidarity and incredible joy. Even though there is hard work ahead, it feels important, for now, to enjoy the joy! Enjoy the podcast!
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Episode 427 Off The Couch
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I urge you to get off the couch and vote in tomorrow’s midterm election. Vote for healthcare, women, immigrants, people of color, for the poor, the disabled and trans kids. We are facing the greatest existential crisis in our nations’ history and it's an inside job. Vote to reign in the abuses and violence against our own neighbors. Vote for civil and human rights to be restored. Check out the show notes for IG links to John Pavlovitz, Jenifer Lewis and Amanda Gorman’s poem about the importance of voting. Hearing Amanda say her own poem is more powerful...
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Episode 426 Autumn Colors
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I share an inspiring writing by Omid Safi that moved me deeply about the magic of autumn colors. Safi who studied medicine before he became a scholar of religion, explains that the leaves don’t turn or change colors. Once what has been masking the colors die off, the magical golden, reds and oranges which have been there all along, can shine through. What might need to die off for your hidden jewels to be revealed? Literal and metaphorical deaths can illuminate colors and gifts we didn’t expect. May we all let the divine colors of compassion, kindness, mercy,...
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Episode 425 “BE RE”
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I made up a new phrase that captures my early chapter of retirement. BE RE is the easy-to-say phrase, that represents some relevant words that begin with RE, like reset, renew, realign, remind, replenish and remember. I’m learning to do less and be more, while I embrace the RE words. BE RE is helping me be present, trust my worth, and take a deep breath of gratitude. May you take time to reflect on how you can BE RE. Enjoy the podcast!
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Episode 424 Wayne’s World
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I honor my dear friend Wayne Warnecke, who died on October 6th. Wayne, affectionately called his recording studio “Wayne’s World” before Dana Carvey and Mike Myers created the Wayne’s World SNL skit that later became a 1992 comedy film. Wayne was a gifted audio engineer and music producer and in “Wayne’s World”, every musician, amateur or acclaimed professional, was treated with respect and dignity. The magic Wayne generated reached beyond his music studio; anyone in Wayne’s presence experienced his humor, positivity, and gratefulness....
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Episode 423 Absorbing The Love
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I describe the outpouring of love that was generated at my Retirement/Birthday Party on September 28th. I’ve spent the week swirling in that love, breathing in that love, and humbly absorbing that love. In addition to the abundant love that was showered on me, I was struck by the love being exchanged in interactions with everyone there. May we generate kindness, curiosity, warmth, respect and love in whatever circles we walk in, with whatever exchanges we have. Let’s fill ourselves with love, absorb more deeply that love and radiate that love out into the...
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Episode 422 Birthday Love
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I acknowledge my September 23rd birthday, which is also the Autumn Equinox. I let the themes of the Autumn Equinox: equilibrium, release, and gratitude be a spiritual reflection. Perhaps the questions I journaled about will be helpful to you as we enter this Fall season. I received and felt so much birthday love that I want to share it with all my listeners and see if we can radiate it out into the world. May this Autumn Equinox bring us into balance, help us shed all that no longer serves us and may we collectively cultivate new joy, new peace, and better...
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Episode 421 Reflections and Routines
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I reflect on the fullness of my summer and the welcome of comforting regular routines. May you take a moment to reflect on your summer and notice what fills you with gratitude. May you welcome the return to the Fall routines. Let these routines comfort and ground you this season. Enjoy the podcast!
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Episode 420 Here To Stay
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I answer the question I’ve often been asked in the past couple of months: “Now that you’ve retired, does that mean you are ending the podcast?” And my reply is “No! I am here to stay and so is the podcast!” In confirming that the podcast is here to stay, I explain what motivated me to start the podcast, what the podcast means to me and the gifts this podcast provides. I am committed to continuing to focus on the light and all that uplifts and inspires me, even through all the challenges we face. Enjoy the podcast!
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Episode 419 Love Legacy
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I join the chorus of people paying tribute to our iconic, American treasure, Dolly Parton. You can’t help but be impressed with how she lived her life, her talent and kindness. She was humble, business savvy, grounded in compassion, invested in humanitarian values, and had a fabulous sense of humor. Dolly had a positively profound impact on and off stage. May we all find ways to honor Dolly Parton by loving more deeply, giving more freely and keeping joy alive. May we all honor Dolly’s love legacy. Check out the Show Notes for links to Dolly tributes from...
info_outline As we step into the New Year, it is common for us to take a moment to reflect on this past year. I wanted to start off the year, and the beginning of our fourth year of the podcast, by thanking my guests from 2020. In the year 2020, we had a total of 28 guests; 13 guests came to my home office to record our conversation, and 15 guests were recorded via Zoom.
This past year, I shared 21 stories or guided meditations, some as short as 5 minutes, but mostly 10-20 minutes long. I told personal stories, processed currents events, focusing on the uncertainty, struggles and loss so many experienced due to Covid-19, reflected on the courageous, much needed racial justice movement, social justice advocates and grassroots efforts throughout our country. I vented about the appalling politicians that stubbornly attempted to dismantle our democracy with a blatant lack of decency, respect and empathy - particularly oppressing the marginalized and most vulnerable. Many of us are still longing for humanity to be restored, and know that will be a long road ahead. But through all the difficulties of 2020, I sought to deepen my compassion, expand my gratitude and find the spiritual lessons, the opportunities for learning and growth. The desire to see the silver linings, find the gratitude, let go of illusions, be present to what is, in fact guides us on the enlightened path. Hoping that my guests and stories this past year helped to uplift and inspire you along the way. HEARTFELT THANKS to my 2020 guests!
May we all deepen our compassion for ourselves and each other, strengthen our commitment to racial and social justice, stay safe and healthy and live more confidently into the fullness of our potential. Blessings for a refreshing, empowering, healing New Year! Enjoy the podcast!
We launched a fundraiser in late 2020! 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 in November 2019, 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. Please check out my YouTube channel to watch videos of the musicians in Matt Balitsaris’ recording studio. Thanks for your continued support.
The MADE Project/GLOW album:
themadeproject.bandcamp.com (Digital Downloads)
GLOW Music Videos/YouTube channel
M.A.D.E. Transitions (Glow CD orders)