"…if someone can own their vulnerability and know they're going to be okay, just try to step in a little, to be curious about the things that are holding them back, there's going to be answers on the other side." -Jen Aks Meet Jen. Mother, dancer, performance artist and educator. She's an embodiment coach who leads folks in an empowering, mindset shifting somatic practice through movement and gesture that facilitates inner healing called the Power of Gesture. Check out this beautiful conversation on vulnerability and the many ways we learn, heal and connect with others through movement and story. In this episode we discuss:

• Kinesthetic learning
• Communicating through dance
• The Power of Gesture
• Moving through shame and trauma
• Somatic movement
• The power of being witnessed
• Connect with Jen on her website, www.jenaks.com or www.thepowerofgesture.com to find out more about the Power of Gesture, Herstory galleries, and workshops. She's also on Instagram @thepowerofgesture and on Facebook, Herstories_told

#jenaks #nationaldanceinstitute #healingdance #somaticmovement #powerofgesture #kinecticlearning

"I feel that where my healing has come from is the ability to love every iteration of who I am and who I have been." -Natasha L. Robinson, Esquire

Meet Natasha, criminal defense attorney, public defender, a professor, writer, educator, a social justice activist. She's a speaker, she's a big sister and a mommy who has created a beautiful online platform called Legaleaze Please, that empowers the development of the comprehension of law through liberating language. She also describes herself as an evolution, a maker of excellence and errors with a ridiculous sense of humor. She can cry her eyes out. She can conduct choirs and still do the percolator. She embraces all of her love languages, she's healing, she's aware and she's here.

Join us in this full, open, vulnerable, life giving conversation about learning, healing and loving ourselves through transition and finding the best love there is…the one that resides within.

In this conversation we chat about:

Self healing, intuition and love languages Looking back to retrieve what you need to go forward Authenticity Motherhood Tools for self discovery Career change and entrepreneurship the Law

Note from Chanda - "I'm so happy to share this conversation with you. We had a few audio issues, but there were too many gens not to share it anyway. I hope you are inspired as much as I am by this episode with Natasha. Enjoy!" Get in touch with Natasha and the Legaleaze Please community through linktree via Natasha L Robinson, Esquire. You can also find more info at www.legaleazeplease.com or on, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn, @legaleazeplease

#selfhealing #sankofa #publicdefender #chicagopublicschools #careerchange #selfawareness

"I also have something in mind to bring change into this world in any way I can with my music…I don't know where I see myself in five years, but I would like to keep doing music and writing and, and putting out songs and hopefully I can create a change, even a small one."

- Emma Robatjazy

The following episode with Persian singer, songwriter Emma Robatjazy was recorded in February of this year 2023. At that time people around the world were taking the streets in protest against the Iranian regime, demanding justice, freedom and civil rights for women after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini who was arrested in Tehran for "improperly" wearing her hijab and then beaten to death while she was in prison in September 2022.

This episode is about awareness. And it is also about hope and a desire to use art and music for change. Since the beginning of this revolution, hundreds have been killed, thousands arrested and even executed. Despite these circumstances there are women like Emma, who continue to speak out, engaging in creative dissent to spread the word, rally the international community and build solidarity.

You can connect with Emma on Instagram @iweirddo and listen to her music on all music platforms. Check her out on YouTube @ErikEmma to hear "Woman Life Freedom" which is mentioned in this episode. Links to her new single "Run Away with You" are in her Instagram bio.

"...the goal is not to write the greatest thing that's ever been created, which maybe my goal was that for a while, but now it's like a more realistic present goal of like, let me just create something that is right now that is helping me get to the next level.Because if I don't do that, I'm never gonna move, I'm never gonna evolve.." - Ike Sturm Meet Ike Sturm, critically acclaimed bassist, composer, band leader, father, a visionary, world traveler and cross country ski racer. Listen in on this life giving conversation on creative evolution, developing new projects, and building supportive communities. Connect with Ike on his website, ikesturm.com. There you can find links to music, video, Instagram, Facebook, Spotify, Bandcamp and iTunes.

"...In order to be our most fruitful, productive, selves that we were created to be, we have to be authentic artistically to those things that were placed in us." - Hamilton Hardin

Meet Hamilton - musician, producer, composer, multi-instrumentalist.. A man of faith, a father, and a musical genius. Join us in this open, and honest chat about authenticity through vulnerability, honesty, prayer and self-awareness.

In this episode we discuss: - Going beyond expectation - Authenticity, honesty and self-awareness - Developing your own sound - Focusing on Feeling - Faith and the artistic journey

Check out Hamilton's latest releases, "Just Wanna Say" and "Pray," both available on all the digital distributors and follow him on Instagram, @HamiltonHarden.

"How is anyone ever going to know about all the things you do if you don't share it?"

- Brenda Earle Stokes Welcome to Season 2 of The Courageous Voice Podcast! This episode, with musician, mom, composer, educator, and business owner Brenda EarleStokes, is brimming with inspiration and tips. In this episode we chat about:

• The process and creation of Brenda's latest album, Solo Sessions, Volume 1
• Stepping out of hiding
• Choosing what is important
• Starting a new business
• Owning your expertise
• Value in self-educating
• Her new music: The Motherhood Project

Check out Brenda's music at brendaearle.com, and her library of music education videos at pianoandvoicewithbrenda.com. You can also keep in touch with her on Instagram and Facebook @brendaearlestokes, or Youtube @pianoandvoicewithbrenda.

"...It is my hope that something that is said in these interviews will inspire you. I come across so many people...that have so much on their hearts that they want to share with the world. And there's always so many things that give the illusion of standing in the way of getting those things accomplished. And so, I hope that this can be an inspiration to someone to start to push through and navigate through to do it anyway..." - Chanda Rule The first season on The Courageous Voice podcast is wrapped up with a short chat with show host, Chanda Rule. Tune in to hear what inspired her to begin the podcast and a few life experiences she calls Courageous. Stay in touch with Chanda on Instagram or Facebook, @iamchandarule, or visit her on the web at www.chandarule.com or www.thecourageousvoice.com

"...when you exercise courage, you also open up lanes and spaces for other people to feel safe as well." -Dr. Sarah Webb

Meet Dr. Sarah Webb, colorism expert, writer, media creator. A world traveler, an Auntie, and the founder and owner of Colorism Healing llc, which is a global leader in raising awareness, shifting attitudes, and taking action to dismantle colorism. Enjoy our conversation on bravery, healing, and choosing to share our personal truths and values with the world. In this episode we chat about:

-Colorism

-Healing trauma and relationships

-Writing and the Healing process

-Exercising bravery and choosing to go against the grain

-Setting boundaries and dealing with push back

-Navigating the "spiral staircase" of the Healing journey

-How to spread awareness about colorism

Get more content on colorism and be in touch with Dr. Webb on LinkedIn, Instagram, or YouTube at colorismhealing. You can also find more information about her organization and about colorism on her website, www.colorismhealing.com.

"...the truth is that I do write music for one person only to please. I always tell that to everybody....because the art I'm creating is for me, and I hope other people enjoy it." - Gene Pritsker

Enjoy this frank, honest, sometimes humorous, always inspiring conversation with composer, guitarist, rapper, teacher, producer Gene Pritkser. He's also known as a mischief-maker and a cultural blender who has written over 800 compositions. Listen in as Gene opens up about his early life and inspirations, his musical journey as a new music composer, and staying grounded in his artistic vision.

In this episode we chat about:

• Doing what you love
• Becoming a "finisher" of projects
• Inspirations for music creation
• Pushing artistic boundaries
• Music making as a model for human relations
• Creating art for yourself first
• Film orchestration

You can find Gene, his music, and lots of videos online at www.genepritsker.com or on Spotify and Facebook. If you want to learn more about traditional and folk music from around the world, check out the website Gene mentioned in this episode -www.folkcloud.com.

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Today is the day you vow to follow your heart and not your fear. If only it were that easy! The Courageous Voice podcast chronicles international artists, creatives, plus a handful of scientists, and their stories of fear, courageousness and creativity. Hosted by singer, storyteller and self-proclaimed joy spreader, Chanda Rule, The Courageous Voice inspires us to share our voices courageously in spite of our fears through courageous conversation and community.

CW: Sexual abuse

"Someone has to do something. And so I started devoting all my time to try to understand what causes this, how prevalent is this, how do people heal from this? And most importantly, how can we stop this? So my entry before I even got to sacred sexuality, spirituality, and sexuality, I was actually focused primarily on the side of sexual abuse, awareness, and prevention..."

- DeShannon Bowens Fall into this beautiful conversation with DeShannon Barnes-Bowens, author, psychotherapist, Ifa priestess, interfaith minister, and founder of ILERA, an organization that focuses on sexuality and spirituality, intimate partner violence, vicarious trauma, and wellness. Join us as we talk about how she found her life-work and how she brings all of herself to it's expression. In this episode we discuss: -African indigenous wisdom -Sacred sexuality -Intimate partner violence -Healing sexual trauma -Revisiting and revising previously completed projects -Interfaith dialogue -Vicarious trauma We also shouted out a few great books: Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good, by adrienne maree brown; Push, by Sapphire; and Hush Hush: An African American Family Breaks Their Silence on Sexuality & Sexual Abuse, by DeShannon Bowens You can find DeShannon at www.ilera.com, on Facebook @ilera_ny or on Twitter @OmiFasina