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...
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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...
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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,...
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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,...
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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...
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Episode 414 Grateful For Greece
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, having just returned from 12 glorious days in Greece, I am filled with gratitude. A week-long yoga retreat, plus 4 additional days on a nearby island were a fabulous way to kick off my retirement. My beloved God-daughter, Aliya runs the retreat and is a gifted, inspiring leader, who creates a very special experience for women from around the world. I am still absorbing all the magic of Greece: sparkling waters, dolphin sightings, delicious food, playful energy, hearty laughter and soul sister connections. How grateful I am to return to Greece after 45 years, to...
info_outlineFor February's Black History Month we are featuring 4 amazing African-American women. This week's guest is Melissa McMillan, a singer/songwriter, who knew since she was a child exactly what she wanted to do: be a singer. Her clear desire to pursue music led her from high school bands to study jazz vocals with Rosana Eckert at University of North Texas (UNT), where she was encouraged to match her natural talent with her musicianship. UNT is where I met Melissa, she was a classmate of my daughter Julia, and they performed their senior recital together (Melissa on vocals, Julia on bass).
Melissa describes her experience of moving from Texas to NYC, her work with Warby-Parker, singing with wedding bands and writing her original music. She completed her first CD a couple of years ago and is in the process of releasing her second one. Melissa has co-written songs with Brian Donohoe (“On your Own”) as well as Ross Pederson (“Glow”). She has performed at Sofar Sounds Concerts, numerous clubs throughout NYC, toured the US, sang the national anthem at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn and most recently performed at the Grammys at Madison Square Garden in NYC as a member of the resistance revival choir, backing up Kesha.
Melissa was born in England (her mother is British, her father American), spent her early childhood in Albuquerque, NM, before moving to Texas for high school. She shares her experience of being bi-racial and how that ignited her involvement in social justice causes like Black Lives Matter and women’s rights.
Upcoming shows:
2/13/18, Sofar Sounds Secret Show, NYC
Midtown location,
Galentine's Day, click here for tickets
2/26/18 at Three's Brewing, Brooklyn, 8pm
Find Melissa online at:
melissamcmillanmusic.com
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Links:
EP: Melissa McMillan “I Will Follow”
Brian Donohoe
Progger
Ross Pederson
David Cook
Snarky Puppy
UNT Senior Recital
featuring Melissa McMillan and Julia Adamy