Break The Boxes

Guitarist, Buddhist practitioner and Founder of Harvard Divinity School Movement & Spirituality Club, Alexa Klein-Mayer discuss how we break the boxes of limited thinking through the exercise of not-knowing, the role of suffering in cultivating a spiritual path, and how compassion can be birthed by humility. 

teachers mentioned: Thich Nhat Hahn, Vietnamese Monk and author of "How To Love" + many more.

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Coro Fellow, full-time Mother, SMASH Program Operations Associate and community organizer, Cindy Lora, discusses how she navigated culture shock as an undocumented immigrant, unlearning internalized racism, letting go of imposter syndrome, cultivating pockets of positivity, and the ripple effect of nurturing a growth-mindset.

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In the second to last episode of season 2 community organizer, interfaith leader and host of the new podcast Hidden Grief, Saran Sidime, discusses the value of acknowledging grief beyond death and dying, reckoning with terrible truths, coping with the voids in our lives, preserving our ability to connect across differences, and honoring our bodies unique timelines for healing. #breaktheboxes

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Resources:

The Politics of Feeling Good by Adrienne Maree brown

Love Poems, Nikki Giovani

Sister Outsider, Audre Lorde

The Melancholy of Race, Anna Chang

Of Joy and Sorrow, Kahil Gibran

In this episode Lama Aoudi interviews Azmera, spiritual practitioner, artist-educator, producer, entrepreneur and founder of Break The Boxes. They discuss the vision behind Break The Boxes Stories, the genius of consistency, non-linear pathways to purpose, how tension teaches us valuable insight about ourselves, and frameworks for pushing past ones comfort zone to evolve into the highest expression of your creativity. 

People mentioned: Mandela Sh - Foundergym.com, Iyanlavanzant.com, 

Music by: Azmera Rhymes

Learn more: azmerarhymes.com

Award winning playwright, film and video artist, and Sundance collaborative story consultant Angela Counts sits down with Azmera to discuss the delicate dance of meaning-making within her creative process, how she finds hope through her craft, and the value of honoring your unique gifts and trusting yourself enough to unapologetically be who you are. 

You can learn more about Angela here: angelacounts.com

#breaktheboxes 

Author, Researcher, black-belt Tae Kwon Do practitioner and Spiritual Companion, Dr. Preeta Banerjee, sits down with Azmera and Lynn to discuss her work as the Hindu Advisor at Tufts University Chaplaincy, her choose-your-own-adventure guide book "Life as a Mix Master", and the spiritual principles that assist folks in uncovering tools that allow one to dance in life's chances, honor the ebbs and flows of your spiritual journey and #breaktheboxes.

To learn more visit: 

https://chaplaincy.tufts.edu/hindu/

Let us know your thoughts:

breaktheboxes.org/btbstories

Educator, Entrepreneur and CEO of Trajectory of Hope Britney Foster, kicks off Season 2's theme of spirituality with Azmera in a powerful conversation about the challenges of entrepreneurship and how honest reflection can catalyze creating change from within. Operating at the intersections of faith, innovation and social justice, listen as they discuss Britney's time at Harvard Divinity School, learning to trust ones creative idea, and the transformative power of unlearning old ways of being.

Learn more: trajectoryofhope.org

Instagram: @breaktheboxes.stories

#breaktheboxes

In the final episode of our first season Azmera and guest host Dennis Ojogho sit down with Lorraine Bradley, eldest daughter of Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley and Chairman of the Tom & Ethel Bradley Foundation. Listen as they discuss her fathers legacy, her work as a public servant, and the lacuna of African American history in the American education system. Follow @breaktheboxes.stories and email: [email protected] with any feedback + questions! #breaktheboxes

Black Lives Matter Boston organizer, entrepreneur and student Daunasia Yancey calls in from Puerto Rico to chat with Azmera and Leen about the inspiration behind her company Pay A Black Woman, the importance of overcoming imposter syndrome as first-generation incoming Harvard student, and the value of practicing self-care in this current socio-political climate. 

Professional Filmmaker, Editor and Creative Hunter Bermudez sits down with Lama, Azmera and Leen to share about his journey to becoming a full-time creative, bringing his authentic self to his work as a bi-racial trans male, and the role of creative resistance in movement building. Learn more about Hunter in Voyage LA and check out one of his recent projects, Skin, a film that centers the life of a queer teenage male. #BreakTheBoxes  Follow us on IG: @breaktheboxes.stories