Episode 149 Thana Alexa, vocalist, composer, producer
Release Date: 01/18/2021
Episode 400!!
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, we celebrate our 400th episode. I acknowledge the key role as producer that my husband Paul plays. I am so grateful for all he does to help me develop, support and sustain this podcast dream of mine. I also celebrate the growing grassroots movement that rallied over 8 million people to show up for No Kings 3 Protest on March 28th. I share some of the lyrics sung in the singing resistance groups all across the land. The words capture what shores me up in these troubling times. As we celebrate 400 episodes, may we all find small and large ways to stand in solidarity...
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Episode 399 Sheri Reuveni-Ulrich
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
My guest today is Sheri Reuveni-Ulrich. Sheri had been a speech therapist for nearly 25 years with special needs individuals, primarily on the autism spectrum. She also had a love for baking and often incorporated baking as an experiential activity for her students. Her “ah ha” moment occurred when she stepped back from the kitchen and witnessed her non-verbal students humming, laughing and finding their voices, while baking cookies. That ignited her desire to create a bakery, where she could provide meaningful employment to individuals on the spectrum. Rising Above Bakery, started...
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Episode 398 3.5%
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I explain the importance of Saturday March 28th’s No Kings 3 Protest. Research says that if 3.5% of the population actively participate in sustained peaceful protest, the people can topple an authoritarian regime. And we have an authoritarian regime that desperately needs to be toppled! 3.5% of our country’s population would be 12 million people. Let’s show up and peacefully take to the streets and encourage everyone we know to come be a part of the 12 million people, gathering in solidarity to unite, resist, and restore our democracy. Check out the Show...
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Episode 397 Tenderness
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I build on the poem I shared last week titled Because by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer. The poem is about opening our hearts, even when the world around us temps us to close it or protect ourselves from all the anguish and pain. The poem encourages us to make love matter even when it is easy to fall into despair. I’ve let that poem seep into me and it inspired me to look up more pieces on heart centering and tenderness. May we sit at the altar of our heart. May we breathe deeply, listen compassionately. May we embrace the tenderness that tunes us into our truth, the...
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Episode 396 Love, As If It Matters
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
I share a deeply inspiring poem on this week’s episode. My niece shared the poem with me and her great-uncle shared it with her and he claims that the poem so beautifully captures his beloved wife who died last year. So this poem is charged with loving hands, open hearts and wisdom from this world and beyond. May we take love seriously. May we give love wildly. May we be gentle with our insufficiency. May we stay open in the face of indifference, anger, cruelty and fear. May we love as if love matters, as if the world depends on it. Enjoy the podcast! Links:
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Episode 395 Holding Onto Turquoise
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I describe how soothed I was by the shades of turquoise in the Bahamas. For twelve days on a small island in the Bahamas, these gorgeous colors evoked mystery, boldness, vibrancy and calm. I can’t explain why, but turquoise nourished and healed my body, mind and spirit. May we hold onto to colors, images and words that calm our nervous system, quiet our minds and drop us more fully into the present moment. May we envision life as joy. May we see that life is service. May we behold that service is joy. Enjoy the podcast!
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Episode 394 Arianna Injeian
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
My guest today is Arianna Injeian. And what an honor to shine light on Arianna, who is shining light on so many others; what an inspiring woman! Her background in Medical Anthropology, Sociology, and Public Health allows her to look at systemic health, particularly in the area of women’s reproductive care. In undergraduate school, she started off with a dual major in anthropology and biology. Her love for travel and learning about other people and cultures, brought her to a masters program at the University of Amsterdam, where she had another dual major: medical anthropology and public...
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Episode 393 LoraKim Joyner
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
My guest today is LoraKim Joyner, a passionate protector of parrots, who knows that the health of one is interconnected to the health of all beings. LoraKim received her B.S in Avian Sciences, her Doctorate in Veterinarian Medicine, a Masters in Preventive Veterinary Medicine, which led to meaningful work in bird conservation throughout Central and South America. Years later she saw the need to address human well-being and obtained her Masters in Divinity and was ordained a Unitarian Universalist minister and became certified in NonViolent Communication. LoraKim’s expansive...
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Episode 392 Pascale Jean-Gilles
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
My guest today is Pascale Jean-Gilles. Pascale and I bumped into each other last week at two local events: a high school student-led protest in solidarity with Minneapolis in our town and at the County Legislature Building with hundreds of people showing up to support the “Safety and Dignity for All ACT”, a bill to ensure guardrails with ICE agents in our county. Having known Pascale since she was 2 years old, it was a pure delight to reconnect with her and learn about who she is as a thoughtful, compassionate, dedicated young woman. Pascale is Chief of Staff for NY State...
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Episode 391 Mea Culpa
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I propose that mea culpa is a good place to start as we honor Black History Month. The Latin phrase mea culpa is an exclamation of apology or remorse, admitting that one has caused harm. For true racial healing to happen in this country, I long for us to own up to the threats, controls and discrimination embedded in our country’s systems. I am relieved to notice more white people expressing their own forms of mea culpa, as they are dedicated to learning, open to admitting harm, and willing to take responsibility. That feels like a meaningful way to celebrate Black...
info_outline Last week I provided the link to hear my friend, Margaret Dulaney’s story “The Age of Atrocity”, where she encourages us to let goodness, kindness, honor and love shine, even in the midst of atrocity. Well, my guest today is someone who embodies such an enlightened perspective. On the day that domestic terrorists stormed the U. S. Capitol, a dear friend of today’s guest lost their home and everything they owned in an electrical fire. Listen to how today’s guest created a relief fund for her friend, and please join me in contributing to the power of kindness and generosity.
My guest today is Thana Alexa. Thana is an extraordinarily creative vocalist, loop artist, composer and producer. Thana’s self-released, debut album “Ona”, which means “She” in her native Croatian language, has been nominated for a Grammy in the Best Jazz Vocal Album category. Thana credits her empowering experience at the 2017 Women’s March in D.C. as the inspiration for “Ona”. She was moved by the stories of women, the voices of women, particularly the maternal lineage of immigrant women. “Ona” poignantly reflects Thana’s strength and authenticity, while capturing the cross-cultural, cross-generational universal messages that women carry throughout history. This completely grassroots, independent project, with seemingly insurmountable obstacles, paved the way for astounding, surprising, beautiful things to happen.
Thana’s expansive open heart reaches beyond her musical career. Thana infuses her life with compassion, integrity and a deep belief in the human spirit. Check out the links for Thana’s website, listen to her inspiring album “Ona”, watch the beautiful music video, and please help her raise much needed funds for her dear friend with cerebral palsy, CJ Shearn. Enjoy the podcast!
Links:
Thana's Web Site
Go Fund Me : CJ Shearn Apartment Fire Relief Fundraiser
Official Music Video for GRAMMY® Nominated ONA by Thana Alexa
Instagram:
@thana_alexa
@antoniodrums1
CJ Shearn
Miama James
Downbeat Magazine
Forbes Magazine Feature
Margaret Dulaney's Listen Well: “The Age of Atrocity”