True Fiction Project
True Fiction Project is a podcast series that explores the origins of fiction. Join host Reenita Hora as she conducts interviews with guests from all walks of life. The premise of this show is to conduct a non-fiction interview and then have a fiction writer define a main character based upon something s/he picked up or was inspired by, having listened to the interview. The writer will then create a piece of short fiction around it. The reader will feel captivated by the storytelling of the short fiction pieces as they are read aloud. More about your host Reenita Reenita is a story-teller, public speaker, and wellness expert. In addition to being an Ayurveda clinician and author, Reenita is also an on-air personality, blogger, writer and producer. She spent years preparing award-winning shows for Asian Threads on RTHK Radio 3 and stimulating financial news audiences with Money For Nothing on RTHK Radio 3 and Daybreak Asia on Bloomberg Radio or producing content for a range of media outlets like the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, CNN, South China Morning Post, Asian Investor, Times of India, Highlights for Children and National Geographic Kids, Cartoon Network Asia and Disney. Reenita has transitioned from a long-standing career in broadcasting, journalism, and content production into supervising content strategy and operations for Otto Radio, a tech company in the audio media space. To continue the conversation, please visit our website at www.truefictionproject.com where you can leave comments on the episode. Make sure you follow our podcast if you haven’t already. And, if you’d like to learn more about The True Fiction Project, sign up for our newsletter at www.truefictionproject.com.
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EP 14 - Janet Blue
06/21/2022
EP 14 - Janet Blue
In today’s episode, Heather Vickery is here to talk about her life journey from fear-based to limitless! Heather is an award-winning business owner, global leader, entrepreneur, and published author. We talk about embracing fear and the unhelpful and unrealistic pursuit of being fearless. Heather shares her story of coming out at the age of 38 and how she rebuilt her life by taking risks and manifestation. Later in the episode, we hear a fictional story by Michael Kobzik about a woman who takes a chance and a brave step toward her dream. IN THIS EPISODE: [02:15] Why authenticity matters [04:30] Heather’s coming out experience at the age of 38 [10:50] Fear and bravery [18:29] Heather’s latest book on bravery: F*ck Fearless [23:34] The Brave Files Podcast and Heather’s fictional writing prompt [29:08] Fiction Story: “Janet Blue” by Michael Kobzik KEY TAKEAWAYS: Authenticity is an important part for building the life you truly want. But being authentic and being vulnerable don’t mean turning yourself inside out for people to pick you apart. There is no such thing as being fearless. Fear is a part of life. Fear is actually here for us. It either owns us or empowers us and we gain our power when we're honest about our fear, surrender to it, and learn from it. Manifestation is different than just relying on luck. It comes from declaring something and then changing it. Sometimes it's blind luck, but usually we make choices. We embrace, we show up, we walk through the door, and we start the conversation. Fiction Credits: Fiction piece narrated by: Regina Williams - Fiction piece written by: Michael Kobzik BIO: Heather Vickery is an award-winning business owner and global leader with over 20 years as an entrepreneur. She leverages her entrepreneurial skills and expertise to coach individuals towards greater personal and professional fulfillment by helping them leverage their fear into intentional bravery. Heather says,“When we choose bravely, on purpose, we choose bigger, win successes, and it’s contagious.” A celebrated public speaker, Heather inspires audiences and provides attendees with the tools they need to live bold and successful lives on their own terms. Heather is a single mom of four (all girls!) who left a decade-long marriage and came out (yes, of the closet) personally and professionally. She’s on a mission to create a global “everyday brave” revolution. She’s the author of F*CK FEARLESS: Making The Brave Leap, Gratitude Journal: Shift Your Focus, and Grow Grateful: A Gratitude Journal for Kids and Families. Heather is also the host and executive producer of The Brave Files, a top 1.5% global podcast, and Co-host and producer of Was It Chance? podcast (released in November, 2021). When Heather’s not coaching, podcasting, volunteering, or hanging out with her family, you’ll probably find her reading, at the theater, on a long walk with a good friend, or playing around on Twitter.
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EP 13 - The Queen of Teacups
06/07/2022
EP 13 - The Queen of Teacups
Today I’m speaking with the Queen of Teacups, Lissi Kaplan, about her journey to becoming an internationally recognized fine artist. Lissi’s hand-painted porcelains are in the collections of dignitaries, heads of state, and private collectors around the world. We talk about her unique calling to porcelain art following the passing of her mother. More than her skill with a brush, Lissi also has a beautiful gift of capturing the essence and spirit of a client through her artwork. Listen in as she explains the emotional process behind her art and hear a fictional story by Michael Colucci inspired by Lissi’s story. [ADD MEDIUM LINK HERE] IN THIS EPISODE: [02:08] The Queen of Teacups, the big dream and the hummingbird [09:41] Learning the artform and her first hotel collection [15:35] Painting for dignitaries [18:55] The emotional process behind her art [21:56] Would you do things differently if given the chance [28:15] Fiction Story: The Queen of Teacups by Michael Colucci KEY TAKEAWAYS: The teacup has a rich history of being used as an offering and a sacred vessel. It was often given as a gift to be felt by others for generations. Porcelain painting is a very difficult art form because you're painting on a slippery surface. Lissi describes porcelain artists as part mineralogist and part alchemist. What makes Lissi’s teacups so unique is how she paints a signature essence of flowers based on who the client is and what she perceives and feels about them. Fiction Credits: Fiction piece written by: Michael Colucci Voice Over by: AmyScanlonContact Information: [email protected]: IG: BIO: Lissi Kaplan is a fine artist whose hand-painted porcelains are in the collections of dignitaries, heads of state, and private collectors around the world. Her watercolor paintings have been collected internationally. She also designs fabric and wallpaper. Lissi is a popular guest speaker on the subject of the unique history of China painting which dates back to 1400 A.D. Lissi also incorporates into her presentation the art of exploring and finding one's passion at any age. Lissi is the author and illustrator of The Power of a Teacup: A Story of Art, Love, and Sacred Gardens, published by ReganBooks in 2003. She is also the author and illustrator of her newly released book, Light as a Feather, published by Little Finch Press.
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EP 12 - ENCORE - Wiseguy Charming
05/31/2022
EP 12 - ENCORE - Wiseguy Charming
I want to tell you about a show I think you'll enjoy: -- epic audio adventures that reimagine Shakespeare’s timeless tales, featuring original music composition and the voices of award-winning actors. Each episode explores plays from Macbeth to A Midsummer Night’s Dream, in a way that you can actually understand it and created specifically for the podcast form by some of America’s most exciting playwrights, directors and composers, and performed by stage and screen’s best. Check out their current season of King Lear that stars Emmy-winner Keith David and Severance star Tramell Tillman. Hear Shakespeare like you've never heard before. Subscribe to Play On Podcasts wherever you get your podcasts. I am re-releasing this episode with guest Ethan Hershenfeld. In this episode, I’m speaking with accomplished standup comedian and actor, Ethan Hershenfeld. We talk about his most recent projects and his experience with often being typecast as the villain. We also discuss the nuances of diversity and cultural appropriation for entertainers. The latter part of the episode features a fictional story – written and read by Parker James – and inspired by Ethan’s one and only time playing Prince Charming. Listen as we touch on the complexities of the entertainment industry and hear a new fictional narrative inspired by Ethan’s acting experience. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:01] Ethan Herschenfeld introduced [00:59] From Opera Singer to Comedian/Actor [02:38] Thug Thug Jew [04:10] Typecasting [08:09] Diversity in the entertainment industry [12:16] Cultural appropriations in entertainment [16:40] Addressing cultural issues in comedy [20:30] Upcoming projects [22:59] Ethan’s writing prompt [26:39] Wiseguy Charming [30:09] A disinterest in the family business and dream of acting [31:06] Acting classes while working for the family business [32:23] Dream role as Prince Charming [33:37] A surprise confrontation KEY TAKEAWAYS: Ethan spent the better part of two decades as an opera singer, before transitioning to stand up, where he enjoys the spontaneous laughter and the release of energy from the audience. Although there has been a push for diversity in theater and TV, racism is still woven in storylines in how villains are written as certain ethnicities. There is still an infinite appetite from audiences for cliche and offensive storylines related to certain ethnicities and religions. Comedy is a different world where you're getting laughs and allowing people to unload baggage around topics that are very charged. The beauty of theater and performing arts in general, is it opens up a world of empathy for the audience and for the performer to explore things that they don't get to explore in their real lives. There has to be, however, a push to diversify roles and casting and be cognisant of cultural appropriation. BIO: Ethan Herschenfeld: Actor and comedian His album Thug Thug Jew was #1 on iTunes and Amazon and the special is on YouTube: https://youtu.be/AUA8wel23qI High Maintenance (hbo): Boardwalk Empire (hbo): https://youtu.be/vqUuys6pJCE Red Notice on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/watch/81161626?trackId=259607612&tctx=6%2C1%2C5a5fe77d-2b17-41ef-94a4-13a67831e188-448571224%2C6c29447b-cdcd-48f3-afeb-832d0026d654_63186441X101XX1637761873650%2C%2C 2020 reel: https://youtu.be/a6TXfWrxckk WEBSITE: ethanherschenfeld.com TWITTER: @ethanherschenfeld INSTAGRAM: @eherschenfeld LINKS: His album Thug Thug Jew was #1 on iTunes and Amazon and the special is on YouTube: https://youtu.be/AUA8wel23qI David Feldman Show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/david-feldman-show/id321997239
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EP 11 - The Appointment
05/24/2022
EP 11 - The Appointment
In this episode, I’m speaking with Jess Salomon, a New York based Canadian comedian who prior to her career in comedy was a war crimes lawyer. Jess speaks to the cathartic process of her work and how “tragedy plus time equals comedy.” Jess shares about her relationship with wife, their comedy duo, and the unique perspective they bring with being Jewish and her wife being Muslim and Palestian. We also hear a comedy fiction story, written by Parker James, based on Jess’s prompt about an odd couple and their unique career choice. IN THIS EPISODE: [02:05] Jess’s interesting background as a war crimes lawyer [05:42] How humor can be cathartic and the desire to share that with others [08:13] Jess shares about her and her wife’s comedic duo [12:46] The story behind Jess and her wife meeting, their unique relationship and how they work together [20:39] Comedy As Advocacy: From war crimes lawyer to comedian, Jess shares about her career change [26:08] Jess talks about her BBC show, Comedians Versus the News [32:40] Fiction Story: Will, a therapist, and his husband, Marcus, vent about his latest counseling session with a seemingly deranged married couple [41:10] In the fiction story, Will and Marcus reveal their unique career choice as a couple KEY TAKEAWAYS: They say, “Tragedy plus time equals comedy.” When you get a bit of distance between tragedy, pain, or even annoyance and can see the humor in it, it can be very relatable and cathartic to share it with others and make people laugh. During a career change, there can be a period of time when you have lost touch of the skills used in your previous career but still lack skills for the new career you are pursuing. Comedy can be a form of advocacy. The hope is that by making people laugh, as a byproduct, you can also make them think. Jess and her wife co-host a comedy show that airs on BBC called Comedians Versus the News. The third season comes out in February. BIO: Jess Salomon is a New York based Canadian comedian, who has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Jess also performs as part of the beloved comedy duo, “The El-Salomon’s” with her wife Eman El-Husseini (@TheElSalomons). Their comedy special, “Marriage of Convenience” recorded at Just for Laughs, is available in Canada on Crave and elsewhere on Just for Laugh’s YouTube page. Fun fact: before comedy Jess used to be a U.N. war crimes lawyer. The jury is still out on whether this was a good move.
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EP 10 - Namaste Station
05/10/2022
EP 10 - Namaste Station
In this episode, I’m speaking with three members of the Kabir Café or Neeraj Arya's Kabir Café. Described as a modern mystic band, they are influenced and inspired by a 15th century poet named . We discuss how the band came to be and what Kabir’s ideology means to them and fans. They also play a beautiful piece of music that encompasses the message of Kabir and carries a central theme that we have come to better understand during the pandemic. The fictional story is written by Jean Bernard and tells the story of Kabir, a traveling poet who finds a young boy to apprentice. The young boy adopts Kabir’s melodies and continues to share them long after they have both died. IN THIS EPISODE: [02:48] How did Kabir Cafe come together? [10:41] Who is Ram? Who is Kabir? [16:32] Is Kabir simply music, or a way of life? [19:30] What is Kabir Panth? [21:50] Kabir Cafe sings and explains the meaning behind the music [25:52] The different between greed and need [27:52] What does the “Fakir” symbolize? [33:17] FICTION PIECE: Kabir stops traveling to write [35:18] Kabir meets a young boy named Neeraj [37:02] Kabir apprentices Neeraj [39:27] Kabir passes away and Neeraj carried on his music and ideology KEY TAKEAWAYS: Kabir was a poet back in the 14th century who spoke about oneness, humanity, gender equality, and love. Although he's from the 14th or 15th century, you can still connect to him as a friend because he spoke about the eternal truth. The Guru–shishya relationship is a very, very old tradition that we have from India. It’s not schooling in the traditional sense. A student sits with their guru and takes in the knowledge that the guru imparts, similar to apprenticeship. Kabir Panth is a non-denominational ideology of togetherness, equality, and humanity. It values community and helping other people. A Fakir represents contentment. They ask nothing of others. They are free to seek and achieve true happiness in life. BIO: The only band to exclusively perform the verses of Kabir. Neeraj Arya’s Kabir Café is a Mumbai based folk fusion band known for performing songs composed out of Saint Kabir’s Dohas. The band’s lineup consists of Neeraj Arya (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Raman Iyer (Mandolin), Viren Solanki (percussions and drums), Mukund Ramaswamy (violin), and Poubuanpou Britto KC (Bass Guitars, backing vocalist). Kabir Café aims to ensure that the verses of Kabir Das are accessible to the rest of the world. Not only does the band perform folk renditions of classic verses by Sant Kabir Das, but they also are known for fusing different genres of music into their compositions. The songs composed and produced by Kabir Café reflect the flavours of pop, rock, reggae, and Carnatic music occasionally. Neeraj Arya’s Kabir Café talks about Sant Kabir Das who did not believe in any sorts of boundaries, then why should they do so? Bio Source: LINKS:
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EP 9 - The Grape Farm Spectre
04/26/2022
EP 9 - The Grape Farm Spectre
In this episode, I’m speaking with Rajeev Samant, CEO of Sula Vineyards and the man responsible for putting wine on the map of India. When asked about his success he simply says he was “the right guy in the right place with the right background.” His friends called him crazy when he quit his job and moved to a poverty-stricken area in India to start a vineyard. But, he now has the last laugh having created one of the most visited vineyards in the world. Rajeev talks about the team he assembled to help him create Sula Vineyards, the bureaucratic obstacles he had to overcome in the beginning, and his top takeaways for entrepreneurs. Later in the episode, we hear a fictional story written by Gary Krivstov. IN THIS EPISODE: [02:20] The right guy in the right place with the right background [08:15] Acclimating to the culture of Nashik [11:52] Rajeev’s team and mentors [15:30] Challenges of an entrepreneur [20:08] Agricultural entrepreneurship in India [23:25] Takeaways from Rajeev’s experience [31:38] FICTION: Sanith grapples with tales of a ghost in his vineyard [35:35] Sanith’s father recounts seeing the Spirit and Sanith tries to understand [41:50] Sanith gets to the bottom of the ghost story KEY TAKEAWAYS: Rajeev’s success goes far beyond having established and grown a business, he essentially crafted an industry that was nonexistent in India. Rajeev turned the vineyard into one of the most visited vineyards in the world. He created a destination where people would love what they saw and experienced. Where they would leave as converts and as brand ambassadors. The Indian government has a lot of potential when it comes to agricultural progress. Rajeev explains how bringing in private buyers could balance out the larger farms that are far too politically powerful. Entrepreneurs need to be strong. They have to be mentally resilient. In your business, if you're not talking about sustainability and you're not thinking about doing business in an eco-friendly way from day one, then you should not be doing it. BIO: Rajeev Samant is the CEO of Sula Vineyards. LINKS:
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EP 8 - First Stop
04/12/2022
EP 8 - First Stop
In this episode, I’m having a timely conversation with Dr. Barry Thomas Malin, a head and neck surgeon turned art gallerist (the Malin Gallery), about switching careers and following your passions. Now more than ever people are reevaluating their careers and asking themselves the important question of am I satisfied in my work. Dr. Malin reflected on this same question when he decided to leave his career as a sought-after free flap construction surgeon and open his own art gallery. We talk about the intricacies and challenges of being a free flap surgeon and what ultimately led him to quit his job. Dr. Malin shares about his journey into the art world and what it is like to manage an art gallery. Later in the episode, we hear a fictional story written by Jared K. Chapman about a young man’s journey to living life to the fullest. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:20] Barry shares about his medical education and early career and when he decided to change careers [07:42] Why choose art as a second career and the irony of a career in free flap construction [12:35] How Barry started his art collection and the meaning behind the original art gallery name [16:31] Malin Art Gallery and the backstory on its original name [20:21] What kind of artists and art is represented at Malin Gallery and challenges of being an art gallery owner [25:00] The post-covid phenomenon of people making career changes [28:17] FICTION: A hospital visit leaves a young man grappling to honor his Papa’s death-bed bucket list [35:34] At his Papa’s funeral, this young man realizes the true meaning of his Papa’s last wishes KEY TAKEAWAYS: A career as a free flap surgeon takes years to train for but studies show the average career length, meaning the time that people spend doing this almost exclusively, is only six or seven years. It’s a young person's game, both from a physical and a mental standpoint. Following your passion and switching careers can be terrifying. Now more than ever people are reevaluating their jobs and making appropriate changes. People don’t normally reflect on their own mortality but in Barry’s previous career it was an everyday conversation. He would often shift the focus from death to living by asking questions like what is most important in life and what is most satisfying. He took his own advice when he decided to switch from medicine to art. Fiction Credits: Fiction piece narrated by: Fiction piece was written by: Jared Chapman - Los Angeles BIO: Dr. Barry Thomas Malin founded Malin Gallery in 2015. Originally named Burning in Water, Malin Gallery actively represents a diverse roster of living artists. The curatorial program combines exhibitions by roster artists with historically-oriented shows, particularly of work by previously under-recognized artists. The gallery’s progressive approach to curation has earned it a reputation in both introducing and re-introducing important artists to a NY audience. Malin Gallery exhibitions have been reviewed in multiple national publications, including The New York Times, The New Yorker, Artforum, The Wall Street Journal, ARTnews, Time Out - New York, Galerie, The San Francisco Chronicle, The London Review of Books and Artnet News. LINKS:
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EP 7 - True Fiction Favorites: A Case Study on Anna Delvey/Anna Sorokin
03/29/2022
EP 7 - True Fiction Favorites: A Case Study on Anna Delvey/Anna Sorokin
In this episode, I'm speaking with Diann Wingert, psychotherapist turned business mindset coach and the host of the Driven Woman Podcast. Why are people so fascinated by Anna Delvey/Anna Sorokin, who bilked her way through the New York social scene? As a psychotherapist, Diann was particularly intrigued by her motivation – what drove this seemingly successful young woman to engage in such fraudulent behavior? Interestingly, much of Anna's motivation can be traced back to her childhood. She was always a bright and imaginative child, but she was also drawn to the finer things in life. This combination of factors likely contributed to her later sense of entitlement and her willingness to take whatever she felt she deserved – even if it meant breaking the law. Tune in as Diann Wingert explains where Anna's personality pathology starts to develop, personality of entrepreneurs vs signs of narcissism, and the real reason audiences like stories where humans are missing morals. Later in the episode, we hear a fictional story written by Parker James. IN THIS EPISODE: [03:42] Anna Sorokin's personality and what was really the driving force behind her? [10:23] Creative people need to go where creative things are happening. For Anna, that was Paris. [14:00] Diann Wingert explains Anna’s personality pathology starts to develop in New York [18:40] Someone called Anna a sociopath and she considered it a compliment. [24:00] Why do we like stories where humans are missing morals? [31:55] Diann talks about age and maturity [34:40] The common ambition shaming of women [38:18] FICTION: Shifting Weight written by Parker James [40:34] Justin James sauntered into the house [41:50] I need you to wire me $2,000, please KEY TAKEAWAYS: Celebrities who came from humble beginnings knew that their hometown was not where they belonged Most people will continue to live a lifestyle and have very close expectations to what they grew up The flaw in her psychological makeup is that she didn't have empathy for the people that she was taking advantage of People are drawn to flawed characters because every one of us has the potential to be arrogant, manipulative, to be an opportunist, to be dishonest. Although we like to watch them fall so we can be reminded that we in fact are not, reassuring us of our own morality Diann Wingert talks about age and maturity. Does it come as a result of being incarcerated or as she aged and matured We admire, applaud, support, and encourage ambition in males. But girls are supposed to be modest. We are supposed to accept what is offered to women. But men do. So why is this? BIO: Diann Wingert is a psychotherapist turned business mindset coach who serves the growing number of female solopreneurs who struggle with self-employment after successful corporate or nonprofit careers by helping them identify and eliminate the obstacles that hold them back so they can embrace their full potential for success. She is an expert in the mental health challenges of entrepreneurship and how ADHD presents in adult women and entrepreneurs. LINKS: Diann Wingert is a psychotherapist turned business mindset coach who serves the growing number of female solopreneurs. WEBSITE: http://diannwingertcoaching.com/ PODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-driven-woman/id1513039926 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/coachdiannwingert/ LINKED IN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diannwingertcoaching/
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EP 6 - White Terror
03/22/2022
EP 6 - White Terror
In this episode, I’m speaking with Steve Vines, who was a journalist based in Hong Kong for 35 years until he recently left for political reasons in 2021. Steve shares the rapid series of events that ultimately led to his departure from the country he called “home.” Steve sheds light on the current situation in Hong Kong by looking back at its history and the resilient spirit of Hong Kong, which he has studied in depth for his new book, Defying the Dragon: Hong Kong and the World's Largest Dictatorship. He discusses how there was once a high degree of liberty and low democracy in Hong Kong, but now both are non-existent. Later in the episode, we hear a fictional story about the oppression and propaganda that is prevalent in Hong Kong. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:11] Steve’s departure from Hong Kong [07:39] White Terror explained [10:20] Democracy, Liberty and the Special Administrative Region [18:30] The incredible spirit of Hong Kong [23:00] What other societies can learn from the situation in Hong Kong [30:29] FICTION: White Terror [33:33] Bob defies the warnings to stay in at night [37:00] Bob leaves Hong Kong after witnessing something terrible KEY TAKEAWAYS: White Terror refers to the suppression of the democracy movement by the Taiwanwese government after they left the main Chinese mainland and installed a regime on the island of Taiwan. It’s what is similarly happening in Hong Kong now. The Special Administrative Region claimed that Hong Kong would be a fully-fledged capitalist society until 2047. If we look back more carefully, the mainland never really saw one country or two systems applying to the political orient. The narrative that is spun in Hong Kong by the Chinese communist party is that the terrible people of Hong Kong brought all these troubles on themselves by provoking the mainland. Hong Kong survived the 1960s and came back stronger. Hong Kong has survived enormous economic recessions, and many, many things but come back stronger. So the question is, will the spirit of Hong Kong survive this? BIO: Stephen Vines was a Hong Kong based journalist, writer and businessman until 2021 when he was forced to leave for political reasons. He is the author of Defying the Dragon – Hong Kong and the World’s Largest Dictatorship. In Hong Kong, he was the founding Chief Editor of ‘Eastern Express,’ a groundbreaking daily newspaper published in Hong Kong. He was also a founder and publisher of Spike magazine. He presented a weekly current affairs television programme – The Pulse – produced by RTHK and is a frequent broadcaster and commentator on business and political affairs for newspapers and a number of international radio and TV stations. Vines combined writing with founding and running a number of companies, mainly in the food sector and this has enabled him to learn a lot more about how business really works. He is the author of a number of books including ‘Hong Kong: China’s New Colony’ and a study of the Asian financial crisis called ‘The Years of Living Dangerously’. He is also author of the multi-edition ‘Market Panic’ and ‘Food Gurus.’ Stephen Vines was the Deputy Business Editor of The Observer and has worked for The Guardian, The Independent, The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Times, and the BBC. LINKS:
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EP 5 - Emergency Ukraine Crisis episode: A Plea from Yuriy
03/09/2022
EP 5 - Emergency Ukraine Crisis episode: A Plea from Yuriy
In this Ukraine special emergency episode, I’m speaking with Yuriy, a journalist on the ground in Kyiv who has taken up arms to fight for the freedom of his country. Yuriy recalls waking up to the early morning attacks in Kyiv and shares how this unwarranted conflict has affected his family and the civilians of Ukraine. He speaks to the heroic and sacrificial patriotism of his fellow Ukrainians. Yuriy’s main concern is to appeal to Western allies to take to the streets in an effort to help convince NATO to help Ukraine by establishing a no fly zone. Later in the episode, we hear two fictional stories that give us a glimpse into the sobering realities that the people of Ukraine are facing today. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:59] Yuriy recalls the morning when the Russians first attacked Kyiv [05:36] Ukrainian neighbors become family as they fight for their freedom [08:40] Yuriy shares about the location and safety of his family and pleads for Western allies to help stop the destruction of Ukraine [14:00] Yuriy talks about his wartime duties, helping foreign journalists [15:57] An appeal for a no fly zone to be issued for Ukraine and Yuriy’s concern for Ukrainians and all of the people of the free world [19:28] Fiction Story #1: Mornings in the Kyiv Metro was written and voiced by Parker James [24:02] Fiction Story #2: Dearest Papa story was written by Anjalika Sharma and voiced by her daughter, Anika KEY TAKEAWAYS: Yuriy makes a strong plea for Ukrainian allies to do everything in their power to demand that NATO help establish a no fly zone and protect Ukrainian civilians. From Yuriy’s perspective, Russia’s attack is not a war against only Ukraine. If Russia’s agenda is not halted it may impact free people all over the world. Free speech may be another casualty of the Russia Ukraine situation as President Vladimir Putin is taking extreme steps to control what the Russian public knows about the invasion of Ukraine. He has signed a law that imposes stiff sentences on journalists who air what he deems to be false information. In “Mornings in the Kyiv Metro,” we see the loss, confusion, and hardship of Russia’s attacks through a child’s eyes. In “Dearest Papa,” a father and daughter are separated by the Ukrainian war with only memories and letters to comfort them. LINKS: Listen to Yuriy’s Fighting For Ukraine: On The Ground for daily updates Visit Change.org to petition demanding NATO to install a no fly zone of Ukraine:
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EP 4 - Spirit Bird
03/01/2022
EP 4 - Spirit Bird
In this episode, I’m speaking with Marah Arcilla, a yoga practitioner who has been teaching in Hong Kong for over 12 years, about her deep respect for yoga. Although the physical aspect drew her in, she quickly realized yoga had so much more to offer. Marah shares about the emotional and spiritual strength that is birthed through yoga and the community she helps to initiate between her students. We talk about yoga’s evolution over the years and discuss the harmful trend of elevating “performative” yoga using it as a way to prey on vulnerable people. The latter part of the episode features an original fiction narrative written and read by Anjalika Sharma and inspired by Marah’s resilience while facing challenges with her now ex-husband. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:03] Marah introduction and early career [09:18] Authenticity of yoga [18:02] Relationships and resilience [20:00] Evolution of yoga [28:21] Yoga therapy instructor training information [33:26] Spirit Bird - audio fiction story by Anjalika Sharma KEY TAKEAWAYS: Marah first started taking yoga classes when she was an aerialist for Disneyland in Hong Kong. She was in a harness every day and wanted to be proactive and prevent any serious injuries from doing the same repetitive movements every day. Marah’s yoga practice focuses on the history, the philosophy, learning the roots, and seeing herself as a practitioner, and a gatekeeper of this tradition. There is a social media trend for yoga to be more about performance and preying on vulnerable people. Marah focuses on presenting yoga in its purest essence without selling it as a quick fix to people’s problems. Some view yoga as a way to escape the stresses of life. For Marah, yoga is not an escape. It’s something that arises in you that you have to deal with. It teaches resilience on the mat that then translates to resilience and strength off the mat. BIO: Marah is a yoga practitioner and a hatha yoga teacher of 12 years. She moved to Hong Kong from Manila 16 years ago to work for Disney. The intensity of the city and physical demands of being a professional dancer led her to her yoga practice to seek balance and grounding.
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EP 3 - Shadow Realm with Dr. Kanniks Kannikeswaran
01/18/2022
EP 3 - Shadow Realm with Dr. Kanniks Kannikeswaran
In this episode, I’m speaking with Dr. Kanniks Kannikeswaran, an internationally renowned music composer, educator and scholar known for his sustained contribution to music and community for the past 25 years. We talk about his incredible work on the soundtrack of Shadow Realm, a podcast project based on a young adult fantasy fiction book that I wrote. Dr. Kanniks shares how his imagination was instantly captivated by the vivid literary descriptions and how he utilized Sanskrit chants, an ancient language of India, to musically portray different characters. We also talk about the inspiration he found from his travels to the ancient village of Hampi, India. The latter part of the episode showcases Dr. Kanniks’ work as we listen to Episode 8 of Shadow Realm and hear a portion of Arya’s story. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:01] Kanniks Kannikeswaran introduced [02:02] Purpose of The True Fiction Project [03:12] His process of writing music [10:50] Explaining lyrics and Sanskrit [13:40] The Medicine Woman [16:55] Rishiji’s Theme [25:57] Where to find the music [28:30] Episode 8 of Shadow Realm [29:03] The Vanar’s theme [39:06] Rishiji’s theme KEY TAKEAWAYS: Shadow Realm is a young adult fantasy fiction story about Arya, a 15 year old boy who fell through a fault and finds himself in the land of the Ramayana. He has to fight demons in this mythical world in order to get back home to save his mom and tackle demons in his ordinary world Dr. Kanniks’ main inspiration came from his travels to the ancient village of Hampi in India The vanar represent the prehistoric people descended from old world tribes, best translated as monkeys or monkey people For the “Vanar March,” Dr. Kanniks used Sanskrit chants to create a joyful chant to go along with the vanar as they joyfully frolic and jump around For “Rishiji’s Theme,” Dr. Kanniks used the pentatonic scale, most commonly known for meditation, to create a serene humming that captures the magic and mysteriousness of the mystical mentor The Medicine Woman is a representation of a source of wisdom for us all Dr. Kanniks created a total of 14 tracks to complement the podcast project which is now available on Apple Music, Spotify, and other streaming platforms. BIO: Dr. Kanniks Kannikeswaran, an internationally renowned music composer, educator and scholar is known for his sustained contribution to music and community for the past 25 years. His recent viral video ‘Rivers of India’ featuring Bombay Jayashri and Kaushiki Chakravarti has received critical acclaim. Kanniks, is regarded as a pioneer of Indian American Choral music and for bringing together ancient chants in Indian ragas with choral and orchestral polyphony; his far reaching work in this area has personally touched the lives of over 3500 performers, has inspired the flowering of community choirs in over 12 cities in the United States, has built new audiences and collaborations. His composition ‘Mahavakya’ was performed at the historic reception accorded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Madison Square Gardens in 2014. Kanniks has been described as a renaissance personality who effortlessly traverses diverse disciplines such as music, spirituality and innovation. He is a recipient of several awards including the Distinguished Alumnus Award from IIT Madras, the McKnight Residency, the Ohio Heritage Fellowship and more. He can be reached at [email protected]. Connect on Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/kanniks/ https://twitter.com/kanniks https://www.instagram.com/kanniks_kannikeswaran/ LINKS: https://www.thearyachronicles.com/
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Ep 2 - Wiseguy Charming
01/18/2022
Ep 2 - Wiseguy Charming
In this episode, I’m speaking with accomplished standup comedian and actor, Ethan Herschenfeld. We talk about his most recent project, Thug Thug Jew, and his experience with often being typecast as the villain. We discuss diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation within the entertainment industry. As a Jewish comedian, Ethan talks about the fine line between producing comedy that is inoffensive while still being relevant – which can change quickly based on the political and cultural temperatures. The latter part of the episode features a fictional story written and read by Parker James. Parker’s story is inspired by Ethan’s comical experience of playing Prince Charming in a children’s theater and being called out by a little girl for not meeting her “princely” expectations. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:01] Ethan Herschenfeld introduced [00:59] From Opera Singer to Comedian/Actor [02:38] Thug Thug Jew [04:10] Typecasting [08:09] Diversity in the entertainment industry [12:16] Cultural appropriations in entertainment [16:40] Addressing cultural issues in comedy [20:30] Upcoming projects [22:59] Ethan’s writing prompt [26:39] Wiseguy Charming [30:09] A disinterest in the family business and dream of acting [31:06] Acting classes while working for the family business [32:23] Dream role as Prince Charming [33:37] A surprise confrontation KEY TAKEAWAYS: Ethan spent the better part of two decades as an opera singer, before transitioning to stand up, where he enjoys the spontaneous laughter and the release of energy from the audience. Although there has been a push for diversity in theater and TV, racism is still woven in storylines in how villains are written as certain ethnicities. There is still an infinite appetite from audiences for cliche and offensive storylines related to certain ethnicities and religions. Comedy is a different world where you're getting laughs and allowing people to unload baggage around topics that are very charged. The beauty of theater and performing arts in general, is it opens up a world of empathy for the audience and for the performer to explore things that they don't get to explore in their real lives. There has to be, however, a push to diversify roles and casting and be cognisant of cultural appropriation. BIO: Ethan Herschenfeld: Actor and comedian His album Thug Thug Jew was #1 on iTunes and Amazon and the special is on YouTube: https://youtu.be/AUA8wel23qI [Text Wrapping Break]High Maintenance (hbo): Boardwalk Empire (hbo): https://youtu.be/vqUuys6pJCE Red Notice on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/watch/81161626?trackId=259607612&tctx=6%2C1%2C5a5fe77d-2b17-41ef-94a4-13a67831e188-448571224%2C6c29447b-cdcd-48f3-afeb-832d0026d654_63186441X101XX1637761873650%2C%2C 2020 reel https://youtu.be/a6TXfWrxckk [Text Wrapping Break]WEBSITE: ethanherschenfeld.com[Text Wrapping Break]TWITTER: @ethanherschenfeld[Text Wrapping Break]INSTAGRAM: @eherschenfeld LINKS: His album Thug Thug Jew was #1 on iTunes and Amazon and the special is on YouTube: https://youtu.be/AUA8wel23qI David Feldman Show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/david-feldman-show/id321997239
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Ep 1 - 3 Innings
01/13/2022
Ep 1 - 3 Innings
The True Fiction Project was born from Reenita Hora’s love of fiction and how she finds it in everyday non-fiction. In the pilot episode, Reenita talks about the purpose behind the True Fiction Project which will invite amazing guests to share their unique impact on the world while also giving different fiction writers the opportunity to create new fiction narratives based on the interview. Colleague and friend, Traci DeForge, joins the conversation as Reenita shares about her many career reincarnations and her traditional Indian upbringing in Bombay. Reenita opens up about her late father and her recent decision to quit her job to pursue creative endeavors like this podcast project. The second half of the podcast features a compelling fictional story inspired by key moments in Reenita’s life and her experience of being a woman and building a career in a male-dominated culture. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:16] True Fiction explained [02:33] Podcast producer introduced [03:28] Reenita shares about her life and career history [09:40] Guests to look forward to [12:24] Reenita about her family [18:04] Women in business in traditional Indian family [22:55] Building the narrative [28:14] That’s my version of the truth [30:53] First inning - Gaia and Reenita as children [35:12] Second inning - Gaia and Reenita’s early careers [40:53] Third inning - Gaia and Reenita’s losses and gains KEY TAKEAWAYS: Reenita’s career has included several reincarnations of herself: Ayurveda clinician, freelance writing, broadcast journalism in Hong Kong, recruited as a writer by Bloomberg, and now author, podcast host, and creative content creator. She recently quit her job to pursue her creative projects, like this podcast, that marries the two things she loves: fiction and how she finds it in everyday non-fiction. Reenita shares about her father’s recent passing and the values he held as a serial entrepreneur. Reenita grew up in a traditional Indian home where women were not included in the inner workings of the family business. Only recently, after her father’s passing, has she been invited to sit on the board of the family business. Her role, if not to join the family business, was to document the stories of her father and family life and plans to turn them into a book or TV show. Looking back on her upbringing, she has learned now that it’s not about what you are or are not supposed to think about certain things, but rather what you have experienced. The purpose of this podcast is to share interviews with guests as a way to give other storytellers an opportunity to create fiction. BIO: Traci DeForge, founder of Produce Your Podcast, is recognized as an international podcast expert, sought after speaker and media contributor. She is the creator of PODHIVE.com, an online community providing education, encouragement and support for podcasters and her newest venture, My Podcast Biz .Traci is the host of the podcasts, Journey to There and Talking Finance and co-host of Ask Brien on KHTS AM 1220, Los Angeles, CA. She is the Executive Producer of The Personal Finance Podcast Network.She's been featured on all three major networks along with CNN, CTV, Fortune.com and American Express Open. Traci is a member of the Rolling Stone Culture Council, a regular contributor to RadioINK and is on the Editorial Advisory Board for the Podcast Business Journal. LINKS: LinkedIn: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracideforge/ https://www.instagram.com/produceyourpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tracideforge Twitter:
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