In the finale of our first season Arielle chats with Thomasina Williams.  Arielle first met Thomasina while attending the Purposeful Planning Institution's Annual Conference in Denver.  Thomasina presented to the whole conference about the twists and turns of her journey.  Arielle was so inspired by her that she reached out to start up a dialogue with her. Thomasina is powerhouse, she practiced law in Miami Florida for nearly 20 years where she became a partner in one of the largest law firms in the state in 3 years. In her spare time into working on voting rights. She then spent six years in New York City serving as a philanthropic strategist at the Ford Foundation. She was a first consultant hired by Wells Fargo Private Bank to go in house and play a leadership role in building a new internal group to support its ultra-high net worth clients in navigating the family side of wealth.  She also serves on several boards and advisory councils runs her own company Sankofa legacy advisors and still manages to make time for rich spiritual and extended family life

Thomasina Williams Transcript | The Belonging Series (belongingintheusa.com)

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Show Notes:

Thomasina's Book Rec: 

Discover the Power Within You

The Gift of Change

To learn more about Thomasina and her amazing work, contact her [email protected] or https://www.sankofalegacyadvisors.com

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In this episode Arielle chat's with an old friend from way back Jon Runnfeldt.

At the start of COVID, Jon started to cohost and produce his own podcast, The Jonny Spot which we'll link to in the show notes, of which I was an early guest. I have spent many an hour over the past year and a half walking and absorbing the reverent, absurd, and often laugh out loud hilarious show.

Jon has been seen on stages all throughout the Chicagoland area. He currently serves as Creative Director at Books of Life in my hometown of Wilmette, that specializes in preserving personal histories through photography

To read to transcript: Jon Runnfeldt Transcript | The Belonging Series (belongingintheusa.com)

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Show Notes:

To learn more about Jon and his amazing work, contact him at The Jonny Spot

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Jon's Book Rec:

East Square by Pam Grout

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In this episode Arielle chat's with, Diane Quon produce the Kartemquin Films Oscar an Emmy nominated Peabody and Sundance award winning film “Minding the Gap”. Additional documentaries she has produced include Finding Yingying and The Dilemma of Desire, and For the Left Hand and Wuhan Wuhan.  Diane is an Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences member, a PGA member and serves on the Chicago International Film Festival Board. She is a recipient of the 2020 Cinereach Producer Award, and is a Sundance Creative Producing Fellow, an IFP Cannes Producer Fellow and a Film Independent Fellow.

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Show Notes:

To learn more about Diane and her amazing work, contact her QuonCo Productions (dianequon.com)

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In this episode Arielle chat's with Carla Vega. Carla is a multidisciplinary performing artist to assert her talents live on stages on TV and on national and international award-winning films as an actor, voiceover artist, writer, poet, solo show creator, theater, director, and ensemble creator, singer, martial artists, dancer, yogi, and teaching artists.  Arielle found their conversation inspiring, and we hope you will come away from this episode feeling moved and inspired.

To read transcript: Carla Vega Transcript | The Belonging Series (belongingintheusa.com)

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Show Notes:

To learn more about Carla and her amazing work, contact her at IMDb

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Carla's Book Rec:

2020: The Year That Changed America

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In this episode Arielle's conversation, felt like the soul medicine, that was much needed. Arielle could listen to Beverly Bushyhead’s, beautiful voice, all day. She is one of the most empathetic, curious, and truly powerful centered individuals Arielle ever had the privilege to speak with part of her mission in life is to map humanity.  This is the first one on one conversation Arielle and Beverly have ever had, and she love's to share it with you.  We hope that you leave this episode feeling incredibly inspired and more connected with yourself and the world around you.

To read to transcript: Beverly Bushyhead Transcript | The Belonging Series (belongingintheusa.com)

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Show Notes:

To learn more about Beverly and her amazing work, contact her at Beverly Bushyhead

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Beverly's Book Rec:

Heart Berries

Author Louise Eldrich 

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In this next episode Arielle had the gift of speaking with New York Times bestselling author Laura Munson in February, a week before the paperback version of her novel, Willa’s Grove came out. We will share the link to all things Laura in the show notes, but this is one of Arielle's all-time favorite conversations. Because Laura has an incredible way with words that feels so nurturing and nourishing to me, and we hope that this conversation feeds your soul as it did Arielle's. At the end, Laura mentions a weekly free journal writing practice she was offering but is no longer offering. But we will share the links to all that she does offer and highly recommend subscribing to her newsletter so you can get a regular dose of her wisdom.

To read the transcript: Laura Munson Transcript | The Belonging Series (belongingintheusa.com)

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Show Notes:

To learn more about Laura and her amazing work, contact her at Laura Munson

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Laura's Book Rec:

The Untethered Soul

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In this very special episode Arielle gets the chance to catch up with Michael D McCarty, the subject of the first film in the Belonging in the USA: Stories From Our Neighbors Documentary Series, The Story of Michael D McCarty. Catch the trailer to watch, link will in the show notes or on our website www.belongingintheusa.com. This conversation goes all over the place but hopefully lands right in your heart and feeds your soul. 

As with nearly every conversation they have Arielle admits she learned more about Michael and herself to the act of honest, vulnerable, share a heartfelt communication conversation, or what the Zulu called "deep talk".

To read the transcript:  Michael D. McCarty Transcript | The Belonging Series (belongingintheusa.com)

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Show Notes:

Michael's Book Rec:

The Belonging Series Resource Guide

To learn more about Michael and his amazing work, contact him Michael D. McCarty - Have Mouth. Will Run It! (havemouthwillrunit.com)

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In this episode Arielle chat's with Sarah Bendix a lifelong friends and confidante.  They have spent many a long night chatting it up on the phone until Arielle's mother demand she hang up. Sarah is now a trauma therapist, with additional expertise in Somatic Experiencing. She works at a special clinic at Northwestern University in Chicago, as well as in a private practice.

To read the transcript: Sarah Bendix Transcript | The Belonging Series (belongingintheusa.com)

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Show Notes:

Sarah's Book Rec:

The Politics of Trauma

To learn more about Sarah and her amazing work, contact her https://labyrinthcounseling.com/ or https://life-care-wellness.com/counseling-services/ 

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In this episode Arielle chat's with Peter Hostrawser, he is a well-known national speaker across the United States on strategies to improve education and teaches business courses at Stanford High School in Palo Alto, Illinois. He hosts the Disrupt Education podcast, cohosts the Teaching What's Not There podcast, and he is a Cofounder of HallPass Education specializing in Gap Year and Transition programs.

To read transcript: Peter Hostrawser Transcript | The Belonging Series (belongingintheusa.com)

Please make a tax deductible donation to support our series here.

Show Notes:

To learn more about Peter and his amazing work, contact him at https://www.peterhostrawser.com/ www.getahallpass.com or [email protected]

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Kevin's Book Rec:

The Unlearning Leader, Indistractable, Hooked, Creative Schools

Disrupt Education Podcast

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In this episode Arielle chats with Jesus Nebot, who went from being homeless to financial freedom in 10 years by building a real estate company that provides housing to those most in need. He's also the winner of 26 international awards for his work as writer, director, producer and star of the immigration feature film, No Turning Back, which has been sold to 92 countries already. Jesus’ latest film is American nightmare about the unfair criminalization of undocumented immigrants.

To read the transcript: Jesus Nebot Transcript | The Belonging Series (belongingintheusa.com)

Please make a tax deductible donation to support our series here.

Show Notes:

To learn more about Jesus and his amazing work, contact him at http://www.jesusnebot.com/ or  [email protected]

To watch his latest film American Nightmare 

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Season One Sponsors: Koplin Consulting and Graddha