Episode 157 Kate Holby, co-founder of Ajiri Tea
Release Date: 03/15/2021
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....
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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!
info_outline
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!
info_outline
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
Episode 418 Death and Life
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this weeks episode, I reflect on how intimately intertwined death and life are. One informs and impacts the other. From my childhood to late teens and early adulthood memories, to recent experiences of facing the death of people I love, I have learned to be present, feel the depth of emotions and look for opportunities for acceptance and personal reflection. Nature teaches us about how natural, organic and integrated death is in life. Perhaps, we can envision that our death will inspire new life for others, as the dead trees in the woods give life to 100s of microorganisms. May...
info_outline
Episode 417 Musician Dena DeRose
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
My guest today is Dena DeRose. Dena Is a compelling, innovative jazz singer and pianist. In addition to her busy international touring schedule, Dena has been a professor of Jazz Voice at the in Graz, Austria for the past 20 years. Dena has led clinics and workshops around the world. Her passionate ability to embody the heart and soul of music as a performer and educator is remarkable. She describes her students as inspiring her, I can only imagine how profoundly Dena inspires her students. Check out the Show Notes for links to Dena’s website, tour schedule and booking manager,...
info_outline
Episode 416 Invigorated by Yosemite
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I share how invigorated I was after 6 days of hiking in Yosemite National Park. I’ve had Yosemite hiking on my bucket list for 50 years and am delighted I finally experienced a section of it’s profound peace and awesome beauty. I felt healthy, strong and empowered walking in the high altitudes, through shaded forests, over sunny granite, and up and down rocky switchbacks. I was so uplifted and inspired by the mountains, meadows and lakes and trust that this intimate communion with nature will live in me forever. May you find refreshment this summer in lakes,...
info_outline
Episode 415 Evening Strolls
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I describe my appreciation for evening strolls. In addition to the physical benefits of walking after dinner, evening strolls provide an opportunity to process our day, enjoy our surroundings and nurture an easeful, gentle unwinding of the day. When my kids were young, we took evening strolls, that later turned into adventure walks but it has been about 25 years so I am happy to return to this simple practice. I am grateful that my husband and I are carving out time 4-5 days per week to add evening strolls to our self care routine. May you try out an evening...
info_outline My guest today is Kate Holby. Kate, together with her sister, Sara, and the appreciated support of their parents, started a small business 12 years ago, called Ajiri Tea Company. The Swahili translation of the word “Ajiri” means ‘to employ’ and that is exactly what the Holby sisters have done. Ajiri sources tea from small-scale farms in Western Kenya and employs 60 women in the Kenyan region to hand make all the packaging, using dried bark from banana trees. Ajiri asked the tea farmers and women where the profits should go, and they all agreed they wanted profits to be invested in education for the orphans in their community. 100% of profits goes directly to Orphan Education. Ajiri then hired two exceptional Kenyan social workers, who identify vulnerable orphans, providing the concrete financial support of school fees and living supplies, while also providing the emotional and psychological support to address their difficult living situations.
Ajiri cares about the quality of their relationships, from their empowering relationship to the farmers and women making packages, to their social workers and Ajiri scholars, to their phenomenal, loyal customer base who believe in the mission of this truly Kenyan company. And to think that the simple act of sipping a cup of Kenyan tea could have such a positive ripple effect on the lives of so many!
Check out the show notes for links to the Ajiri Tea website and their Instagram & Twitter accounts. Explore ways you can help support the inspiring work for this great company. Enjoy the podcast!
Links:
ajiritea.com
IG: @ajiritea
Twitter: @AjiriTea