This week we talked with Trent Norman and Rebecca Brown Adelman the co-founders of Affinity Arts Consulting (AAC) where their mission is to improve human connections with theater and dialogue.

Affinity Arts Consulting uses theatre to advocate for social equity and justice, encourage civil discourse and energize the development of community and organizational leadership. In a world that is in constant change, AAC creates healthy pathways to examine, dissect and engage issues that impact community.

Read about Trent and Rebecca  HERE

Your hosts of Are You Waiting for Permission? are Meridith Grundei and Joseph Bennett. They're friends, co-hosts, actors, improvisers and coaches. She lives in NYC and coaches actors, business professionals and presenters to fully engage with their audience, and themselves. She also mentors young actors and directors. He lives in San Miguel de Allende, México and  coaches artists and other creative beings about the beautiful business of art — and life. 

You can find Meridith...

Meridith Grundei the performer artist gal 

Meridith Grundei Coaching

You can find Joseph...

Joseph Bennett the artist/coach extraordinaire

*Special thanks to Amy Shelley and Gary Grundei of  High Fiction for letting us use their music for the Are You Waiting for Permission? podcast.

And... while the podcast is free, it's not cheap. We'd be thrilled to have your support on PATREON

Thank you. 

Your hosts of Are You Waiting for Permission? are Meridith Grundei and Joseph Bennett. They're friends, co-hosts, actors, improvisers, and coaches. She lives in NYC and coaches actors, business professionals, and presenters to fully engage with their audience, and themselves. She also mentors young actors and directors. He lives in San Miguel de Allende, México, and coaches artists and other creative beings about the beautiful business of art — and life. 

You can find Meridith: Meridith Grundei the performer artist gal. Or if you are looking to be a more confident and credible speaker, please reach out to Meridith here at Meridith Grundei Coaching

You can find Joseph at Joseph Bennett the artist/coach extraordinaire

*Special thanks to Amy Shelley and Gary Grundei of high fiction for letting us use their music for the Are You Waiting for Permission? podcast.

And... while the podcast is free, it's not cheap. We'd be thrilled to have your support on PATREON

Thank you. 

Ed grew up in Houston, Texas and for more than 30 years, he was the CEO of a Private Corporation, manufacturing Valves for the petrochemical industry. This business was sold in the late 90s and Ed decided to devote his time and money to humanitarian work that would benefit children in critical conditions. He travels with his wife and co-founder of the Bridge of Life, Tatjana Trickovic. 

Tatjana Trickovic is the Project Manager for all Bridge of Life Projects. Tanja grew up in Belgrade, Serbia and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering. Tanja joined The Bridge of Life in 2006. Since then, Tanja has traveled with Ed to more than 50 countries. Tanja has supervised the construction of all Bridge of Life projects in Serbia, Thailand, Nepal, and Myanmar.

The mission statement of The Bridge of Life is quite simple. We try every day to make a difference in the lives of children. Our goal is for children to be allowed to be children. We want to preserve this magic time of life. The Bridge of Life helps children of all color, religion, ethnicity.

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Your hosts of Are You Waiting for Permission? are Meridith Grundei and Joseph Bennett. They're friends, co-hosts, actors, improvisers and coaches. She lives in NYC and coaches actors, business professionals and presenters to fully engage with their audience, and themselves. She also mentors young actors and directors. He lives in San Miguel de Allende, México and  coaches artists and other creative beings about the beautiful business of art — and life. 

http://www.meridithgrundei.com/

https://www.grundeicoaching.com/

https://www.artbybennett.com/

*Special thanks to Amy Shelley and Gary Grundei of  High Fiction for letting us use their music for the Are You Waiting for Permission? podcast.

And... while the podcast is free, it's not cheap. We'd be thrilled to have your support at https://www.patreon.com/areyouwaitingforpermission

Your hosts of Are You Waiting for Permission? are Meridith Grundei and Joseph Bennett. They're friends, co-hosts, actors, improvisers, and coaches. She lives in NYC and coaches actors, business professionals, and presenters to fully engage with their audience, and themselves. She also mentors young actors and directors. He lives in San Miguel de Allende, México, and coaches artists and other creative beings about the beautiful business of art — and life. 

You can find Meridith: Meridith Grundei the performer artist gal. Or if you are looking to be a more confident and credible speaker, please reach out to Meridith here at Meridith Grundei Coaching

You can find Joseph at Joseph Bennett the artist/coach extraordinaire

*Special thanks to Amy Shelley and Gary Grundei of high fiction for letting us use their music for the Are You Waiting for Permission? podcast.

And... while the podcast is free, it's not cheap. We'd be thrilled to have your support on PATREON

Thank you. 

Today's guest is Savanna Washington from Harlem, NYC. In addition to being a super FUN and fabulous human, Savanna is a documentary filmmaker (including the celebrated Playing Frisbee in North Korea) activist and educator. Please join us as we learn about her work, life and motivation behind  bravely bringing her work into the World. Learn more about Savanna at https://aardvarkalleyfilms.com/

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Your hosts of Are You Waiting for Permission? are Meridith Grundei and Joseph Bennett. They're friends, co-hosts, actors, improvisers and coaches. She lives in NYC and coaches actors, business professionals and presenters to fully engage with their audience, and themselves. She also mentors young actors and directors. He lives in San Miguel de Allende, México and  coaches artists and other creative beings about the beautiful business of art — and life. 

http://www.meridithgrundei.com/

https://www.grundeicoaching.com/

https://www.artbybennett.com/

*Special thanks to Amy Shelley and Gary Grundei of  high fiction for letting us use their music for Are You Waiting for Permission? 

Your hosts of Are You Waiting for Permission? are Meridith Grundei and Joseph Bennett. They're friends, co-hosts, actors, improvisers, and coaches. She lives in NYC and coaches actors, business professionals, and presenters to fully engage with their audience, and themselves. She also mentors young actors and directors. He lives in San Miguel de Allende, México, and coaches artists and other creative beings about the beautiful business of art — and life. 

You can find Meridith: Meridith Grundei the performer artist gal. Or if you are looking to be a more confident and credible speaker, please reach out to Meridith here at Meridith Grundei Coaching

You can find Joseph at Joseph Bennett the artist/coach extraordinaire

*Special thanks to Amy Shelley and Gary Grundei of high fiction for letting us use their music for the Are You Waiting for Permission? podcast.

And... while the podcast is free, it's not cheap. We'd be thrilled to have your support on PATREON

Thank you. 

Feel free to join us for a heartfelt and meaningful conversation with Lauren, and hear take on giving permission to Jennifer, a fictional character who is unsure of how and when to give herself permission. We promise you a healthy dose of inspiration — and perhaps a bit of a kick in the pants to get you started on your way to your dreams! You'll LOVE seeing her work at  https://laurencarrera.com/

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And... while the podcast is free, it's not cheap. We'd be thrilled to have your support at https://www.patreon.com/areyouwaitingforpermission

Meridith and Joseph are friends, co-hosts, actors, improvisers and artists. She lives in NYC and coaches actors, business professionals and presenters to fully engage with their audience, and themselves. She also mentors young actors and directors. He lives in San Miguel de Allende, México and  coaches artists and other creative beings about the beautiful business of art — and life. 

http://www.meridithgrundei.com/

https://www.grundeicoaching.com/

https://www.artbybennett.com/

Special thanks to Amy Shelly and Gary Grundei of high fiction for permission to use their original music.

Your hosts of Are You Waiting for Permission? are Meridith Grundei and Joseph Bennett. They're friends, co-hosts, actors, improvisers, and coaches. She lives in NYC and coaches actors, business professionals, and presenters to fully engage with their audience, and themselves. She also mentors young actors and directors. He lives in San Miguel de Allende, México, and coaches artists and other creative beings about the beautiful business of art — and life. 

You can find Meridith: Meridith Grundei the performer artist gal. Or if you are looking to be a more confident and credible speaker, please reach out to Meridith here at Meridith Grundei Coaching

You can find Joseph at Joseph Bennett the artist/coach extraordinaire

*Special thanks to Amy Shelley and Gary Grundei of high fiction for letting us use their music for the Are You Waiting for Permission? podcast.

And... while the podcast is free, it's not cheap. We'd be thrilled to have your support on PATREON

Thank you. 

Jeff has performed frequently as a stand up and storyteller, hosting Moth Story Slams in Los Angeles and New York, and performing with “Nights of Our Lives” and “Risk!” as well as their solo storytelling show, “Grief Bacon”.

Jeff is married to artist Neil Goldberg and is the parent to a beautiful, bouncing cat named Beverly. Before moving to New York, Jeff was a social worker in Denver, Colorado working with homeless youth and HIV prevention.

Jeff has appeared in guest roles on television in “30Rock” (twice), “Ugly Betty”, “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend“, “Broad City”, “Difficult People”, “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”, “The McCarthy’s”, “Community”, and a lot of shows that no one remembers. Jeff has played crime solving computer geniuses on both “Law and Order: Criminal Intent” and “Psych“. Jeff was a regular on Ali Wentworth’s series Nightcap,  played Antoine Donner in “The Real Hotwives…“, and Maggie’s new work friend on the third season of “Playing House“. Jeff sang an impromptu musical with Ann Curry and Improv Everywhere on NBC’s “Today Show”. At the movies, Jeff a snooty waiter to Hugh Dancy and Rose Byrne in “Adam”, a pissed off waiter in the Netflix comedy, Set It Up and got fancy as the head waiter opposite Chloe Grace Moretz and Isabelle Huppert in “Greta”. Jeff also played the Naked Ghost opposite Ricky Gervais in “Ghost Town”.

Check out more about Jeff, HERE

And... while the podcast is free, it's not cheap. We'd be thrilled to have your support at https://www.patreon.com/areyouwaitingforpermission

A little about your hosts: Meridith and Joseph are friends, co-hosts, actors, improvisers and artists. She lives in NYC and coaches actors, business professionals and presenters to fully engage with their audience, and themselves. She also mentors young actors and directors. He lives in San Miguel de Allende, México and  coaches artists and other creative beings about the beautiful business of art — and life. 

More about Meridith:

http://www.meridithgrundei.com/

https://www.grundeicoaching.com/

More about Joseph:

https://www.artbybennett.com/

https://www.josephbennett.org/

*Special thanks to Amy Shelley and Gary Grundei of  high fiction for letting us use their music for the Are You Waiting for Permission? podcast. 

Your hosts of Are You Waiting for Permission? are Meridith Grundei and Joseph Bennett. They're friends, co-hosts, actors, improvisers, and coaches. She lives in NYC and coaches actors, business professionals, and presenters to fully engage with their audience, and themselves. She also mentors young actors and directors. He lives in San Miguel de Allende, México, and coaches artists and other creative beings about the beautiful business of art — and life. 

You can find Meridith: Meridith Grundei the performer artist gal. Or if you are looking to be a more confident and credible speaker, please reach out to Meridith here at Meridith Grundei Coaching

You can find Joseph at Joseph Bennett the artist/coach extraordinaire

*Special thanks to Amy Shelley and Gary Grundei of high fiction for letting us use their music for the Are You Waiting for Permission? podcast.

And... while the podcast is free, it's not cheap. We'd be thrilled to have your support on PATREON

Thank you. 

Barbara helps non-profits and people build a positive future through consultancies and coaching for individuals and groups. She has 25+ years of experience in leadership, planning, marketing and fundraising - and  strongly advocates for developing sustainable non-profits and fulfilling lives for leaders.

You can find Barbara here: https://www.wnyhappiness.com/

And... while the podcast is free, it's not cheap. We'd be thrilled to have your support at https://www.patreon.com/areyouwaitingforpermission

A little about your hosts: Meridith and Joseph are friends, co-hosts, actors, improvisers and artists. She lives in NYC and coaches actors, business professionals and presenters to fully engage with their audience, and themselves. She also mentors young actors and directors. He lives in San Miguel de Allende, México and  coaches artists and other creative beings about the beautiful business of art — and life. 

More about Meridith:

http://www.meridithgrundei.com/

https://www.grundeicoaching.com/

More about Joseph:

https://www.artbybennett.com/

https://www.josephbennett.org/

*Special thanks to Amy Shelley and Gary Grundei of  High Fiction for letting us use their music for the Are You Waiting for Permission? podcast. 

Your hosts of Are You Waiting for Permission? are Meridith Grundei and Joseph Bennett. They're friends, co-hosts, actors, improvisers, and coaches. She lives in NYC and coaches actors, business professionals, and presenters to fully engage with their audience, and themselves. She also mentors young actors and directors. He lives in San Miguel de Allende, México, and coaches artists and other creative beings about the beautiful business of art — and life. 

You can find Meridith: Meridith Grundei the performer artist gal. Or if you are looking to be a more confident and credible speaker, please reach out to Meridith here at Meridith Grundei Coaching

You can find Joseph at Joseph Bennett the artist/coach extraordinaire

*Special thanks to Amy Shelley and Gary Grundei of high fiction for letting us use their music for the Are You Waiting for Permission? podcast.

And... while the podcast is free, it's not cheap. We'd be thrilled to have your support on PATREON

Thank you. 

Make sure to listen towards the end when Amy, Joseph and Meridith leave you with some actionable steps towards achieving your dreams. 

You can find and follow Amy on Instagram: @walkwithrafa

Please join us next week when we talk with Barbara Leggett, a life & leadership coach and founder of the Happiness Center of Western New York.

Are You Waiting For Permission? A podcast for those who don't want to wait any longer... is co-hosted by Meridith Grundei and Joseph Bennett — friends, actors, improvisers and artists. She lives in NYC and coaches actors, business professionals and presenters to fully engage with their audience, and themselves. She also mentors young actors and directors. 

He lives in San Miguel de Allende, México and  coaches artists and other creative beings about the beautiful business of art — and life. 

>>If you, or someone you know is looking for a mentor or coach, you're welcome to visit the following resources:

npr.org

http://www.meridithgrundei.com/

https://www.grundeicoaching.com/

https://www.artbybennett.com/coaching-for-creatives

*Special thanks to Amy Shelley and Gary Grundei of  High Fiction for letting us use their music for Are You Waiting for Permission. 

And... while the podcast is free, it's not cheap. We'd be thrilled to have your support at https://www.patreon.com/areyouwaitingforpermission

Your hosts of Are You Waiting for Permission? are Meridith Grundei and Joseph Bennett. They're friends, co-hosts, actors, improvisers, and coaches. She lives in NYC and coaches actors, business professionals, and presenters to fully engage with their audience, and themselves. She also mentors young actors and directors. He lives in San Miguel de Allende, México, and coaches artists and other creative beings about the beautiful business of art — and life. 

You can find Meridith: Meridith Grundei the performer artist gal. Or if you are looking to be a more confident and credible speaker, please reach out to Meridith here at Meridith Grundei Coaching

You can find Joseph at Joseph Bennett the artist/coach extraordinaire

*Special thanks to Amy Shelley and Gary Grundei of high fiction for letting us use their music for the Are You Waiting for Permission? podcast.

And... while the podcast is free, it's not cheap. We'd be thrilled to have your support on PATREON

Thank you. 

Meridith and Joseph are friends, co-hosts, actors, improvisers and artists. She lives in NYC and coaches actors, business professionals and presenters to fully engage with their audience, and themselves. She also mentors young actors and directors. He lives in San Miguel de Allende, México and  coaches artists and other creative beings about the beautiful business of art — and life. 

And... while the podcast is free, it's not cheap. We'd be thrilled to have your support at https://www.patreon.com/areyouwaitingforpermission

More about Meridith:

http://www.meridithgrundei.com/

https://www.grundeicoaching.com/

More about Joseph:

https://www.artbybennett.com/

https://www.josephbennett.org/

*Special thanks to Amy Shelley and Gary Grundei of  High Fiction for letting us use their music for Are You Waiting for Permission. 

Your hosts of Are You Waiting for Permission? are Meridith Grundei and Joseph Bennett. They're friends, co-hosts, actors, improvisers, and coaches. She lives in NYC and coaches actors, business professionals, and presenters to fully engage with their audience, and themselves. She also mentors young actors and directors. He lives in San Miguel de Allende, México, and coaches artists and other creative beings about the beautiful business of art — and life. 

You can find Meridith: Meridith Grundei the performer artist gal. Or if you are looking to be a more confident and credible speaker, please reach out to Meridith here at Meridith Grundei Coaching

You can find Joseph at Joseph Bennett the artist/coach extraordinaire

*Special thanks to Amy Shelley and Gary Grundei of high fiction for letting us use their music for the Are You Waiting for Permission? podcast.

And... while the podcast is free, it's not cheap. We'd be thrilled to have your support on PATREON

Thank you. 

Our first episode is an inspiring and delightful interview with Gary Grundei, an amazing human who is married to co-host Meridith — he's also a composer, director, sound designer + musician. 

Gary is the founder of The Friday Afternoon Songwriting Club and co-founder of golden lotus studio.  Listen and learn how Gary delightfully and safely gives his students permission to find their voice! 

https://garygrundei.com/ 

https://goldenlotusstudio.com/fasc/

And... while the podcast is free, it's not cheap. We'd be thrilled to have your support at https://www.patreon.com/areyouwaitingforpermission

Meridith and Joseph are friends, co-hosts, actors, improvisers and artists. She lives in NYC and coaches actors, business professionals and presenters to fully engage with their audience, and themselves. She also mentors young actors and directors. He lives in San Miguel de Allende, México and  coaches artists and other creative beings about the beautiful business of art — and life. 

More about Meridith:

http://www.meridithgrundei.com/

https://www.grundeicoaching.com/

More about Joseph:

https://www.artbybennett.com/

https://www.josephbennett.org/

*Special thanks to Amy Shelley and Gary Grundei of  High Fiction for letting us use their music for Are You Waiting for Permission. 

Your hosts of Are You Waiting for Permission? are Meridith Grundei and Joseph Bennett. They're friends, co-hosts, actors, improvisers, and coaches. She lives in NYC and coaches actors, business professionals, and presenters to fully engage with their audience, and themselves. She also mentors young actors and directors. He lives in San Miguel de Allende, México, and coaches artists and other creative beings about the beautiful business of art — and life. 

You can find Meridith: Meridith Grundei the performer artist gal. Or if you are looking to be a more confident and credible speaker, please reach out to Meridith here at Meridith Grundei Coaching

You can find Joseph at Joseph Bennett the artist/coach extraordinaire

*Special thanks to Amy Shelley and Gary Grundei of high fiction for letting us use their music for the Are You Waiting for Permission? podcast.

And... while the podcast is free, it's not cheap. We'd be thrilled to have your support on PATREON

Thank you.