Voices In My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast) Episode 459: Christy Staats Ukrainian Refugees and Beyond

Episode 459: Christy Staats - Ukrainian Refugees and Beyond

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Voices In My Head (the Rick Lee James Podcast)
Episode 546: Plan Toys VP Rudy Valenta

 


 
About PLAN TOYS:

 


 
Plan Toys Is More ThanJust A Toys Manufacturer.
Back in 1981, seven university graduates came together with a shared mission of infusing the world with positivity. Vitool Viraponsavan , one of the strongest voices of the group, went on to establish PlanToys and has been inspiring children and families worldwide ever since. Today, PlanToys has branched out to Asia, America, Europe and Australia – bringing optimism, creativity and a passion for sustainability to communities all over. The fusion of these three things is also known as our “Sustainable Way,” which further includes our use of sustainable materials, manufacturing methods and mindset.
Child Development is Our Focus.
Enhance development for children.
At PlanToys, sustainability and child development are our top priorities. By focusing on child safety and age milestones during design and production, our wooden toys enhance both physical and cognitive development.

 


Green BusinessPractices areOur Forte.
" We use leftover sawdust tocreate a new materialcalled PlanWood ”

 


Sustainable world
With a strong mission to create a sustainable world, PlanToys intentionally considers every single step of production in order to minimize environmental impact. This mission is implemented through the three pillars of PlanToys business, also known as our “Sustainable Way.” This includes Sustainable Material, Sustainable Manufacturing and Sustainable Mind.
We are Passionate About Bettering Our Communities and Children.
Nearly four decades of mindful business practices and close attention to product design makes PlanToys an unrivaled manufacturer of developmental toys. It is our hope that your little one not only grows in their ability to imagine and create with our wooden toys, but that they also grow closer to nature, better understand the importance of a green lifestyle and successfully develop along the way.

 


Learn more at https://www.plantoys.com
 
 

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10% Off Everything Rick Lee James on Band camp
Instructions

Visit

https://rickleejames.bandcamp.com

At checkout use code: 10off

Advent Hymn (Watching, Waiting, Longing)
This song appeared on over 80 Spotify playlists this Advent Season. I want to thank everyone for listening and sharing it this year.

 



Official Music Video:


 


Web Site:

https://rickleejames.com
 

PURCHASE ALBUM: www.RickLeeJames.Bandcamp.com


SongSelect: https://songselect.ccli.com/Songs/6152291/advent-hymn-watching-waiting-longing


Downloadable Charts and More available from LIFEWAYWORSHIP.COM: https://worship.lifeway.com/findAndBuy/songPage/AdventHymn(Watching%2CWaiting%2CLonging)?versionId=93901&rowNum=0&searchString=Advent%20Hymn%20(watching,%20Waiting,%20Longing)#song-Parts


Loop Community: https://loopcommunity.com/en-us/songs/advent-hymn-(watching%2C-waiting%2C-longing)-by-rick-lee-james-3892 

Endorsements:
“A perfect and needed addition to any Christmas playlist this year. Rick Lee James bringing home the Advent Message.”
-CCM Magazine https://www.ccmmagazine.com/music-video/rick-lee-james-advent-hymn-watching-waiting-longing/
“I love Advent Hymn (Watching, Waiting, Longing), which gives newness to the phrases of Isaiah. Watching, waiting, and longing is what we do now, and these songs help us do that in confidence. I anticipate that this album will be received as a great gift by many who will find their faith nourished and awakened by it.”
–Walter Brueggemann (Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary)
"I've watched Rick grow as an artist and songwriter for many years. Congratulations brother on an excellent independent release."
-Paul Baloche (Dove Award Winning Songwriter)
"Rick Lee James is a poet and singer. You will not only enjoy listening, you'll be drawn into the source –Jesus."
-Mike Harland
RICK LEE JAMES INFO
Web Sites:
https://www.rickleejames.co

Episode 546: Plan Toys VP Rudy Valenta

Voices In My Head (the Rick Lee James Podcast)
Episode 545: Mark D. Conklin

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK BRINGSSCRIPTURE TO LIFE WITH MUSIC’S TOP NAMESGloria Gaynor, Rita Wilson, The Fisk Jubilee Singers, Rhonda Vincent and Ernie Haase & Signature Sound Among Star-Studded Guests
 Uniting a veritable who’s who of Gospel, soul and country music luminaries for a uniquely inspired collection of song and spoken word, The Gospel According to Mark is set for release May 17 from StowTown Records. Created by and featuring acclaimed singer/songwriter Mark D. Conklin, the project’s 12 standout musical collaborations are interwoven with 12 Scripture vignettes voiced by iconic songstress Gloria Gaynor.   Produced by Conklin who also wrote or co-penned each musical selection and GRAMMY winner Mark Prentice, the project offers fresh perspective on the New Testament book of Mark, chronologically conveying the account of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. With Gaynor’s narrations anchoring every song, The Gospel According to Mark showcases musical contributions from renowned actress and singer Rita Wilson; internationally revered collegiate ensemble The Fisk Jubilee Singers; Gospel trailblazers The Fairfield Four; the “Queen of Bluegrass” Rhonda Vincent; Southern Gospel leaders Ernie Haase & Signature Sound; GRAMMY-winning recording artist John Berry; and ‘80s country hitmaker T. Graham Brown, among many others.   “While serving as the director of the GRAMMY Museum Experience at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, I had the privilege of sitting down with the legendary recording artist Gloria Gaynor in 2020,” Conklin recalls. “After spending time with her album and speaking with her about her unwavering dedication to the Lord, an awakening occurred within me. It ignited a long-dormant desire to embark on my own worship project dream I had put off for years.” “Later, as I edited the audio of my interview with Gloria for a podcast, it hit me like a bolt of lightning,” he adds. “I knew THAT voice, HER voice, was the one! To my great delight and surprise, she graciously agreed to join me on my musical journey, and I will be forever grateful.”  “I’m so honored to have been asked to narrate The Gospel According to Mark and lend my voice to such an uplifting project that Mark D. Conklin has brought to life,” Gaynor shares. “To be part of such an amazing gathering of talent to share the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is truly a blessing for me.” The Gospel According to Mark is highlighted by lead single “The Greatest is Love,” which is now available on digital platforms. Featuring acclaimed recording artist Wendy Moten, a runner-up on NBC’s “The Voice," the retro rock 'n soul track embodies the nostalgic sounds of Memphis and Muscle Shoals.  Additional album standouts include the Rita Wilson spotlight “Through the Storm”; “Oh, Lonely Day,” a stirring Good Friday anthem with vocal contributions from John Berry and Rhonda Vincent; and the soulful “Take This Cup” with The Fairfield Four, an emotive musical rendering of Jesus’ struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane. Conklin has also authored an exclusive devotional companion for The Gospel According to Mark. Unpacking scripturally-rooted insight behind each of the album’s 12 songs, the devotions present encouragement for daily living, reflective questions and directed prayers.  ABOUT MARK D. CONKLINA genre-spanning music executive, recording artist, songwriter and producer, Mark D. Conklin’s music has appeared on Billboard’s country, blues and bluegrass charts, as well as on such hit TV shows as “Grey’s Anatomy” and in various national advertising campaigns. He served as host of the GRAMMY Museum Experience Prudential Center's three online conversation series: "Off the Record,” “Behind the Songs” and “Mini Masterclass." In this role, Conklin interviewed more than 200 artists, including Mary Wilson of the Supremes; Earth, Wind & Fire’s Philip Bailey; DJ Khaled; BTS; El

Episode 545: Mark D. Conklin

Voices In My Head (the Rick Lee James Podcast)
Episode 544: Chris Wall - Wingfeather Saga Show Runner and Executive Producer

 
CHRIS WALL BIO:
Chris is an influential creator of kids-and-family, redemptive content. He is Executive Producer and Showrunner of The Wingfeather Saga Animated Series. Before creating Shining Isle Productions in 2016 to develop and produce family content with an entertainment first strategy, Chris spent over a decade collaborating with industry leaders at Dreamworks Animation and Big Idea producing the direct-to-video VeggieTales CG animated movies. That included the wildly successful “Wonderful Wizard of Ha’s,” “Saint Nicholas,” “Noah’s Ark” and 13 other productions. He is also creator of the acclaimed “Slugs & Bugs Show” with Brentwood Studios and RightNow Media. Chris is passionate about creating stories that will serve families with stories of truth and beauty. He lives in Franklin, TN with his wife Heather and their six children.

Series Synopsis:
The Wingfeather Saga chronicles the adventures and transformations of the Igiby family as they discover secrets of their family history, flee the evil Fangs of Dang, seek their place in the world, and make a stand against the mysterious ruler, Gnag the Nameless. They will need their special gifts and all the love of their noble mother and ex-pirate grandfather to survive the venomous Fangs, sea dragons, flabbits, and (gulp) toothy cows!
 
 
Fast Facts:
The Wingfeather Saga is the largest crowdfunded animated family series of all time with over $7M raised from fans
Producers J. Chris Wall and Andrew Peterson met while Chris was working with VeggieTales and Andrew was contracted to write Silly Songs!
The Wingfeather Saga books have sold over 1.5 million copies
Jodi Benson, the voice of Nia Wingfeather, is the original Ariel in The Little Mermaid
Kevin McNally, the voice of the ex-pirate Podo Helmer, also played the pirate Gibbs in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies
The Wingfeather Saga's animation studio has developed a complete production pipeline with proprietary tools allowing this animated series to be created with cutting edge game-engine technology from Unreal Engine, while still delivering a rich and authentic “paint-motion” experience.
 
Social Media Accounts:
FB: @WingfeatherSagaIG: wingfeathersagaYT: @WingfeatherSagaTikTok: wingfeathersagaTwitter: @wingfeathersaga

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10% Off Everything Rick Lee James on Band camp
Instructions

Visit

https://rickleejames.bandcamp.com

At checkout use code: 10off

Advent Hymn (Watching, Waiting, Longing)
This song appeared on over 80 Spotify playlists this Advent Season. I want to thank everyone for listening and sharing it this year.

 



Official Music Video:


 


Web Site:

https://rickleejames.com
 

PURCHASE ALBUM: www.RickLeeJames.Bandcamp.com


SongSelect: https://songselect.ccli.com/Songs/6152291/advent-hymn-watching-waiting-longing


Downloadable Charts and More available from LIFEWAYWORSHIP.COM: https://worship.lifeway.com/findAndBuy/songPage/AdventHymn(Watching%2CWaiting%2CLonging)?versionId=93901&rowNum=0&searchString=Advent%20Hymn%20(watching,%20Waiting,%20Longing)#song-Parts


Loop Community: https://loopcommunity.com/en-us/songs/advent-hymn-(watching%2C-waiting%2C-longing)-by-rick-lee-james-3892 

Endorsements:
“A perfect and needed addition to any Christmas playlist this year. Rick Lee James bringing home the Advent Message.”
-CCM Magazine https://www.ccmmagazine.com/music-video/rick-lee-james-advent-hymn-watching-waiting-longing/
“I love Advent Hymn (Watching, Waiting, Longing), which gives newness to the phrases of Isaiah. Watching, waiting, and longing is what we do now, and these songs help us do that in confidence. I anticipate that this album will be received as a great gift by many who will find their faith nourished and awakened by it.”
–Walter Brueggemann (Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary)
"I've watched Rick gro

Episode 544: Chris Wall - Wingfeather Saga Show Runner and Executive Producer

Welcome To The Neighborhood with Brad Meltzer

 
 


 

 
“Ordinary People Change The World” is the friendly, fun biography series written by Brad Meltzer that inspired the PBS Kids TV show Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum. One great role model at a time, these books encourage kids to dream big. 
In the new book, “I Am Mister Rogers,” the beloved children’s television host becomes the 31st hero in the New York Times bestselling picture book biography series for ages 5 to 9.
The book’s author, Brad Meltzer, has stopped by for a podcast visit to tell us all about this neighborly new addition to the “Ordinary People Change The World” series, and I could not be happier about that.
Get The Book:
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/711629/i-am-mister-rogers-by-brad-meltzer-illustrated-by-christopher-eliopoulos/

 


Thank you for joining us here this week in the neighborhood.
Music featured on the podcast was “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” by Rick Lee James Special Thanks to The @MisterRogersSay Community on Twitter.
Our Substack page is https://rickleejames.substack.com/s/welcome-to-the-neighborhood-a-mister.
Our Instagram page is https://www.instagram.com/misterrogerssay/
I’m your host, Rick Lee James. My Twitter account is @RickLeeJames, my website is RickLeeJames.com, My other Podcast is Voices In My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast), and I look forward to being with you again next time.
Until Then, You make each day a special day. You know how? By just your being you. There's only one person in this whole world like you. And people can like you exactly as you are.
Support This Show On PATREON
 

 
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10% Off Everything Rick Lee James on Band camp
Instructions

Visit

https://rickleejames.bandcamp.com

At checkout use code: 10off

Advent Hymn (Watching, Waiting, Longing)
This song appeared on over 80 Spotify playlists this Advent Season. I want to thank everyone for listening and sharing it this year.

 



Official Music Video:


 


Web Site:

https://rickleejames.com
 

PURCHASE ALBUM: www.RickLeeJames.Bandcamp.com


SongSelect: https://songselect.ccli.com/Songs/6152291/advent-hymn-watching-waiting-longing


Downloadable Charts and More available from LIFEWAYWORSHIP.COM: https://worship.lifeway.com/findAndBuy/songPage/AdventHymn(Watching%2CWaiting%2CLonging)?versionId=93901&rowNum=0&searchString=Advent%20Hymn%20(watching,%20Waiting,%20Longing)#song-Parts


Loop Community: https://loopcommunity.com/en-us/songs/advent-hymn-(watching%2C-waiting%2C-longing)-by-rick-lee-james-3892 

Endorsements:
“A perfect and needed addition to any Christmas playlist this year. Rick Lee James bringing home the Advent Message.”
-CCM Magazine https://www.ccmmagazine.com/music-video/rick-lee-james-advent-hymn-watching-waiting-longing/
“I love Advent Hymn (Watching, Waiting, Longing), which gives newness to the phrases of Isaiah. Watching, waiting, and longing is what we do now, and these songs help us do that in confidence. I anticipate that this album will be received as a great gift by many who will find their faith nourished and awakened by it.”
–Walter Brueggemann (Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary)
"I've watched Rick grow as an artist and songwriter for many years. Congratulations brother on an excellent independent release."
-Paul Baloche (Dove Award Winning Songwriter)
"Rick Lee James is a poet and singer. You will not only enjoy listening, you'll be drawn into the source –Jesus."
-Mike Harland
RICK LEE JAMES INFO
Web Sites:
https://www.rickleejames.com
Get The Single:
https://rickleejames.hearnow.com/halls

 



 

 


 


More from Rick Lee James
Shine A Light In The Darkness
Get The Single: https://rickleejames.hearnow.com/shine-a-light-in-the-darkness
Music Video:

 

Rick Lee James Playlist on Spotify:

 


https://t.co/S7nCRl0xqa

Episode 543: Brad Meltzer - Voices in my Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast)

Episode 542 - Nancy A. French - Ghosted
Voices In My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast)

 


 
Bestselling Author Pens Compelling Memoir of a Life of Poverty, Success and the Rise and Fall of Political Influence in ‘Ghosted’
Nancy French chronicles her journey from the foothills of
Appalachia to the Halls of the White House
Five-time New York Times bestselling ghostwriter Nancy French crafts the story of a journey of hardship,heartbreak and healing in Ghosted: An American Story, releasing April 16, 2024.
Nancy’s family was born in the foothills of Appalachia into a life dominated by coal mining, violence, and poverty. Some of her family were proud members of the Ku Klux Klan who lived on the mountain.
“The mountain was a playground of mischief, with its coal mines, ubiquitous guns, and plentiful dynamite. My dad described his twenty-five cousins as ‘rednecks, rough and ready,’ and they drank, fought, and stole their way honestly onto wanted posters,” writes Nancy. “Compared to how my parents grew up, we were wealthy beyond our wildest imaginations … as far as I was concerned, we were living the American dream.”
Growing up in the church, Nancy’s childhood was full of innocence and a strong faith in God until betrayal of a trusted young preacher forced her to carry a dark secret of sexual abuse, which would one day spur her to advocate for herself and other survivors. It wasn’t until her path crossed with a young Harvard Law School student named David that her faith and emotional well being was restored.
Nancy left her college career, married and settled in New York City. Feeling she had escaped the mountain, she could have never imagined the twists and turns her life would take. She supported David as he was deployed to war and became friends with Ann Romney, who asked Nancy to write her memoir at the height of her husband’s presidential campaign.
Her writing journey led her to sitting in the home of the Palin family drafting Bristol Palin’s book, which became a New York Times bestseller and set Nancy on a track of being one of the most-sought-after ghostwriters in conservative circles.
“I’d had the ‘conservative talking points’ down to a science,” Nancy writes. “I could write about American military strength, ‘family values,’ and personal responsibility and know exactly how it would be received among other
Conservatives.”
Yet, Nancy went from conservative darling to suspected traitor when she stood her ground and refused to endorse an unsuitable president. She found herself isolated in a sea of political confusion and occupational uncertainty.
“Politics felt like a battleground—where political barbs were warranted, expected, and part of the fun. Though I eschewed my family of origin’s pugilism and violence on the mountain, combativeness was in my blood. I was prone to feistiness in my approach to politics because the stakes always seemed high. I wasn’t about to let my deeply held beliefs be watered down by civility.”
Facing ridicule from Republicans, targeting from white nationalists, and alienation from her church community, Nancy weathered threats, humiliation and ostracization to discover the power of her own voice and the unlikely allies hidden among perceived enemies.
“The ‘religious right,’ which I’d defended my whole life, had abandoned the posture of ‘family values’ when they had the chance to gain a seat at the table,” writes Nancy. “It confused me to hear the values preached from the podium but ignored in real life. It was all a life, and so was the ‘lesser of two evils’ myth.”
Ghosted is not just a memoir; it’s a poignant American narrative of transformation, resilience, and the enduring pursuit of love, blending humor and personal insights into an engrossing tale of change and loss.
“Throughout my life, I desperately wanted to identify the ‘good’ people and the ‘bad’ people, so I could walk more confidently among them—befriending the good ones, avoiding the bad ones. I’d categorized people into tribes a

Episode 459: Christy Staats - Ukrainian Refugees and Beyond

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