Curiosity Invited

David speaks with Carole Bell, a therapist from Northwestern Wyoming, about her unique background growing up on a ranch, the romanticized notions of ranch life, and the realities of community interdependence. 

They delve into the cowboy culture's emphasis on independence and the stigma surrounding mental health, which often prevents individuals from seeking help. Carol shares her journey to becoming a therapist, influenced by her personal experiences with mental illness in her family, particularly the loss of her son, Luke Bell. 

Carol shares her journey through grief after losing her husband and the importance of therapy in navigating her emotions. She discusses the establishment of the Luke Bell Memorial Affordable Counseling Program, aimed at providing affordable counseling to those in need. The conversation emphasizes the significance of community support and the necessity of professional help in dealing with grief and mental health challenges.

In this conversation, David Bryan speaks with author and scholar Omar Imady, who shares his insights on the complex history of Syria, the impact of the Assad regime, and the effects of the Arab Spring. Imady discusses the shift in power dynamics during the Syrian civil war, the rise of rebel groups, and their governance. He expresses cautious optimism about Syria's future, highlighting the need for economic recovery and the importance of international relations. The conversation concludes with Imady's personal reflections and aspirations for returning to Syria.

Omar Imady is an uncommon collection of many things – Syrian, American, exile, javaphile, gastronome, and aerophobe – all of which find expression in his growing repertoire of eclectic fiction. He is the author of multiple books, including Erasures (Literary Titan Gold Award), Catfishing Caitlyn, The Celeste Experiment (both recipients of the Literary Titan Silver Award), Transference (nominated for the Pushcart Prize by Litro Magazine), When Her Hand Moves, a collection of three controversial, thought-provoking novellas, and The Gospel of Damascus, a 2012 Book of the Year Award finalist. His forthcoming novels dig ever deeper into the human experience of alienation and the quest for meaning in a world increasingly hostile to answers.

​Born in Damascus to an American mother and Syrian father, Omar grew up in a world of constant and vibrant contrasts. Omar has lived in America, the Middle East, and now resides in the UK in the company of his cat, Sabrina. He loves to walk in remote and unexplored places, traveling by trains and boats (he does everything he can to avoid planes!), and is addicted to genealogy research. He writes daily as he listens to jazz and overdoses on coffee.

Pippa Jarvis serves as the Managing Director of TLC and Embrace Village, nestled in the vibrant community of Walkerville, Southern Johannesburg. For the past thirty years, she has been privileged to walk alongside the noble mission of TLC, a haven for abandoned babies and children in need.

Pippa holds a bachelor's degree in education and has a heart brimming with compassion. Her journey has been guided by a simple desire to ensure that every child finds a place to call home. Her role at TLC has been a labor of love, advocating tirelessly for the placement of over 900 children into loving families, a cause that resonates deeply with her. Fun fact: Pippa has adopted 14 children, four of whom have HIV and some with complex learning difficulties.

In 2010, Pippa was recognized as one of the top 200 young South Africans by the Mail and Guardian. Her commitment to continuous learning has been a cornerstone of her journey, reflected in programs like the Common Purpose Navigator and a Certificate in SocialEntrepreneurship from the Gordon School of Business.

Pippa's latest endeavor, Embrace Village, is a testament to her belief in the power of community and support. With a heart full of hope, she is working to create a space where families can find solace and resilience in times of need. Embrace Village currently operates as a community center for the children of Walkerville. Every weekend, she hosts 30+ kids at her home for activities, food, and fun. She also leads parenting workshops and other classes for families at risk.

As the founder of Blink Consulting, Alison Park has partnered with over 100 independent schools, as well as public districts, community-based organizations and nonprofits to advance their commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion. In addition to her work with clients, Alison has facilitated and keynoted at numerous conferences, including the Asian Educators’ Alliance, Bay Area Directors of Admission Symposium, California Association of Independent Schools, East Bay Independent Schools Association, National Association of Independent Schools’ Annual and POCC, Northwest Association of Independent Schools’ Fall Educators and Institutional Leadership and the White Privilege Conferences. Alison has also served on Park Day School's Board of Trustees and the Advisory Board of the Mosaic Project, and currently serves on the SMART program's Board of Directors. Before Blink, Alison taught for thirteen years in the public, non-profit and private sectors, including Marin Academy and Head-Royce Middle School. Alison earned her B.A. in African Studies at Yale University and two Master's degrees at Harvard's Graduate School of Education. Originally from the Philadelphia area, Alison has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area over 25 years.   
https://www.rethinkingdiversity.com/

Chris Thinnes, Ed.D., is a veteran independent school leader, an experienced educational consultant and facilitator, a skilled DEI practitioner, and a seasoned collaborator with education leaders from the public and private sectors. Throughout his service in schools, he has promoted a fuller understanding of the fact that deeper learning in our classrooms is dependent on diversity, equity, and social justice in our schools. He has also promoted a wide range of initiatives to transform teaching and learning by integrating technology and research-based practice, systematizing professional learning and collaboration, enriching school partnerships with other educational organizations, and engaging student, teacher, and parent voices in strategic institutional decision making—actively collaborating, all the while, with national education thought leaders, researchers, and activists from the public and private sectors to promote the transformation of teaching and learning for all our nation's children.
      Thinnes has regular presented workshops and facilitated sessions at national conferences such as the NAIS People of Color Conference, the NAIS Annual Conference, the Progressive Education Network national conference, and the EdLeader21 national conference. His writing about education issues has appeared in Independent School Magazine, GOOD, Living in Dialogue (Education Week), and a variety of other publications and blogs. Thinnes currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Progressive Education Network and EduColor. He received his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership for Social Justice from LMU.

In this conversation, David speaks with Lindsey Marie Greeley about her life-journey in bodybuilding and fitness.  Lindsey speaks about  the impact of drug use on competitors as well as the toll the sport takes on competitors: the pressures of competition, and the distortions those pressures can put on ordinary habits of eating, sleeping, and relationships. Lindsey is very candid about the mental health challenges that can arise within bodybuilding culture. 

In addition, Lindsey Marie discusses the profound effects of social media on body image, particularly in the fitness and bodybuilding communities. She shares her personal journey of overcoming insecurities through fitness, emphasizing the importance of discipline and accountability. Lindsey also addresses misconceptions about women in bodybuilding and critiques the body positivity movement, advocating for a balanced approach to health and fitness. 

Ultimately, despite its many pressures and  resulting distortions, Lindsey is grateful to have gone through her bodybuilding experiences that led her to a life of health, wholeness, and wellbeing.

In Lindsey's own words:
"I did my first show and I LOVED it and decided to keep going and growing more with the sport. As years went on, my love for competing declined. I realized it wasn’t for me because of personal reasons, but what I DID realize was for me, was impacting hundreds of people and showing people that it’s okay to be you." 

"I’m fun, I’m loud, I probably talk too much and I LOVE being a goof ball. If you follow me on social media, you know I’m notorious for my big ol’ pineapple bun, picking my favorite song, sipping my coffee, using a snap chat filter and singing like an idiot to start my day. It's important to love who you are and that’s what I’ve learned over the years: loving yourself, no matter what, no matter what happens. Fitness changed my life emotionally, mentally, and physically. It was the best thing that could have ever happened in my life and that’s the message I want to spread. I want to make a difference in this world."  

"I was always afraid to show my true self. It wasn’t until 2017 that I really decided to let those walls down and get more personal. When I was first public about my body dysmorphia, which  a LOT of people in the fitness industry have but are scared to talk about, the messages I got were so touching It showed me not to care what others think and say, but to care about the people I COULD help and change. It’s not an easy process to go through but knowing that I’m helping and impacting other men and women, really gave me my calling. Having people message me on social media saying thank you and that I give them hope, really changed my mindset to be better, to do better and to be better at helping people." 

"Being a trainer, I get personal with my clients. I think it’s important to get to know people and WHY they are how they are and HOW I can help them change their life. Once you can figure out what got you to this place, you can change. It’s all about your mindset, and once I can get inside people’s heads and motivate them, their lives go uphill from there. What also motivates me, is me. I don’t like to settle. I always want to better myself as a person. It took me a whole year to go from a miserable insecure girl, to a bad ass, independent, strong woman. And I couldn’t have done any of that without the people that motivate me."

Over the past several years, fear and anger have become the dominant forces in American politics. For Japanese elders, who were unjustly imprisoned during World War II because of their race, this political climate feels all too familiar. To satisfy their mission, the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation is committed to not only educate about the past, but also help shape the kind of leaders we need for the future.

The Mineta-Simpson Institute is a dedicated retreat space at the center, a home for workshops and programming specifically designed to foster empathy, courage, and cooperation in the next generation of leaders. The Institute has expanded the Foundation’s capacity for digital outreach, allowing us to carry the message of the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation's message all over the world. 

Aura Sunada Newlin is a fourth-generation Wyomingite, fourth-generation Japanese American, and Executive Director for the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation (HMWF). Her heritage involves intertwined stories of imprisonment at Heart Mountain and Tule Lake; segregated military service; and hardships suffered by railroaders who were fired because of their Japanese ancestry. Aura was elected to the HMWF board of directors in 2013 and served as board secretary for eight years. She is also on the board of directors for the National Consortium on Racial and Ethnic Fairness in the Courts and was a founding member of the National Steering Committee for Tsuru for Solidarity. She previously taught Asian American Studies courses at the University of Wyoming and was a tenured faculty member in sociology and anthropology at Wyoming’s Northwest College.

Aura earned a BA in ethnomusicology from the University of Wyoming and an MA in medical anthropology from Case Western Reserve University. Now focusing on the anthropology of law, she is a PhD candidate at Case Western Reserve University. Aura’s work has been profiled by the Women in Wyoming podcast and gallery exhibit; the University of Wyoming’s Featured Alumni series; and Wyoming PBS. She was named statewide Faculty Member of the Year by the Wyoming Association of Community College Trustees in 2018 and received the Community Member Award of the Shepard Symposium on Social Justice in 2021.

Roy S. Whitehurst is a former CIA analyst and instructor. He spent 30+ years evaluating written information, photos, videos, and other media collected by the CIA and then taught media literacy skills to new CIA analysts. He is the author of the new book, “Teaching Media Literacy with Social Media News: Practical Techniques for Middle and High School Classrooms.” The book, which shows middle and high school educators in civics, English language arts, and social studies how to teach the skills to their students, can in fact teach all of us.

In this conversation, David interviews Roy Whitehurst, a former CIA analyst and author of 'Teaching Media Literacy with Social Media News.' They discuss the importance of media literacy in today's digital age, the role of disinformation and misinformation, and how skills learned in intelligence analysis can be applied to social media. Whitehurst emphasizes the need for critical thinking, understanding cognitive biases, and the importance of teaching young people how to navigate the complexities of information in a polarized world.

• Media literacy is essential for understanding today's information   
        landscape.
• CIA analysts focus on foreign media and require extensive training.
• Disinformation campaigns are prevalent and often intentional.
• Social media has changed the way we consume and share information.
• Critical thinking skills are crucial for analyzing media content.
• Young people are often more adept at accessing media than analyzing
        it.
• Cognitive biases can cloud our judgment and understanding of
        information.
• Emotional responses can influence how we perceive media.
• Evidence is key in discerning truth from misinformation.
• Teaching media literacy can empower individuals to engage responsibly.

Book:
Teaching Media Literacy With Social Media News - Practical Techniques for Middle and High School Classrooms.
Available at https://www.routledge.com/Teaching-Me...
or
https://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Media...

Roy's Website   www.medialiteracysleuth.com/

John Brantingham and Jane Edberg published a unique and delightful book entitled MYDEAD. John's beautiful poetry is accompanied by Jane's vivid art. Neither an illustration nor and illumination, Jane's art adds additional meaning - perhaps even another perspective - to John's words. Their unique collaboration provided the ground for this spirited conversation.

John Brantingham is currently and always thinking about radical wonder. He was Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks’ first poet laureate. His work has appeared in hundreds of magazines including Writer’s Almanac, The North America Review, The Journal, Tears in the Fence, and Confrontation. He has been nominated for ten Pushcart Prizes and won a spot in The Best Small Fictions 2016 and 2022 and was a semifinalist in The Best Small Fictions 2018.  He has written twenty-two books of poetry and fiction including The L.A. Fiction Anthology(Red Hen Press), Crossing the High 
Sierra (https://www.chollaneedles.com/), and California Continuum: Migrations and Amalgamations (http://www.pelekinesis.com/catalog.html) co-written with Grant Hier. His newest work is My Dead, created with the artist Jane Edberg. He lives with his wife and dog in a little house in Jamestown, New York where he spends most of his time in the basement where he’s set up a writing studio next to a washing machine. He teaches all 
around the country at festivals and workshops and at Collins Correctional Facility.

Find out more about him and buy his books at https://www.johnbrantingham.com/
Chief Editor at The Journal of Radical Wonder: https://medium.com/the-journal-of-radical-wonder.

Jane Bio: 
Jane Edberg holds a Master of Fine Arts from the University of California, Davis with an emphasis on photography and performance art. She teaches writing at California State University at Monterey Bay. She is a writing coach and offers writing workshops. She serves as the arts editor and a contributing editor at The Journal of Radical Wonder. Her writing is featured in the books, Death, and its Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Beautiful Lessons: Field Notes from The Death Dialogues Project; My Dead; BAM 42 Stories (to be released in 2024); and in many journals, including Cholla Needles, and Gyroscope Review. She is a Community of Writers alumna (Squaw Valley). 
Jane has an illustrated memoir titled The Fine Art of Grieving to be published in 2024 by Linen Press
https://www.janeedberg.com/

https://www.thefineartofgrieving.com/

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/thefineartofgrieving/

Chris Thinnes, career educator and education consultant speaks at length about public versus private education, progressive education, when and why schools fail or succeed in meeting the needs of children and society.
‬
‭ Chris‬‭ Thinnes,‬‭ Ed.D.‬‭ is‬‭ a‬‭ veteran‬‭ independent‬‭ school‬‭ division‬‭ head,‬‭ experienced‬‭ DEI‬‭ consultant‬‭ and‬‭ facilitator,‬‭ former‬‭ English‬‭ teacher,‬‭ and‬‭ long-term‬‭ collaborator‬‭ with‬‭ education‬‭ leaders‬‭ from‬‭ the‬‭ public‬‭ and‬‭ private‬‭ sectors.‬‭ He‬‭ has‬‭ served‬ ‭ as‬‭ a‬‭ Head‬‭ of‬‭ Lower‬‭ School‬‭ (K-5),‬‭ Academic‬‭ Dean‬‭ (K-6),‬‭ Head‬‭ of‬‭ Upper‬‭ Elementary‬‭ School‬‭ (3-6),‬‭ Head‬‭ of‬‭ Upper‬‭ School‬‭ (7-8),‬‭ and‬‭ Dean‬‭ of‬‭ Upper‬‭ School‬‭ (7-8)‬‭ in‬‭ Los‬‭ Angeles-area‬‭ independent‬‭ schools.‬‭ In‬‭ all‬‭ of‬‭ these‬‭ settings,‬‭ as‬‭ in‬‭ his‬‭ consultation‬‭ and‬‭ facilitation,‬‭ he‬‭ has‬‭ championed‬‭ systemic‬‭ DEI‬‭ work,‬‭ progressive‬‭ pedagogy,‬‭ student‬‭ agency‬‭ and‬‭ voice,‬‭ faculty‬‭ collaboration,‬‭ home-school‬‭ communication,‬‭ and‬‭ public-private‬‭ partnerships.‬‭ He‬‭ has‬‭ been‬‭ affiliated‬‭ with‬‭ EduColor‬‭ since‬‭ 2015,‬‭ and‬‭ has‬‭ co-chaired‬‭ its‬‭ board‬‭ since‬‭ 2020.‬‭ Chris‬‭ also‬‭ serves‬‭ on‬‭ the‬‭ board‬‭ of‬‭ the‬‭ Progressive‬
‭ Education‬‭ Network,‬‭ and‬‭ has‬‭ been‬‭ a‬‭ member‬‭ of‬‭ NAIS‘s‬‭ DEI‬‭ advisory‬‭ council‬‭ (“Call‬‭ to‬‭ Action”),‬‭ EdLeader21's‬‭ Advisory‬‭ Group,‬‭ and‬‭ a‬‭ variety‬‭ of‬‭ local‬‭ school‬‭ boards‬‭ and‬‭ advisory‬‭ groups.‬‭ He‬‭ has‬‭ facilitated‬‭ workshops‬‭ at‬‭ national‬‭ conferences‬‭ for‬‭ NAIS‬‭ (PoCC‬‭ and‬‭ Annual),‬‭ ASCD,‬‭ the‬‭ Progressive‬‭ Education‬‭ Network,‬‭ and‬‭ EdLeader21,‬‭ and‬‭ is‬‭ a‬‭ founding‬‭ member‬‭ of‬‭ the‬‭ design‬‭ and‬‭ facilitation‬‭ team‬‭ of‬‭ The‬‭ Equity‬‭ Exchange,‬‭ a‬‭ week-long‬‭ annual‬‭ institute‬‭ for‬‭ DEI‬‭ practitioners‬‭ in‬‭ the‬‭ public‬‭ and‬‭ private‬‭ school‬‭ sectors.‬‭ He‬‭ has‬‭ been‬‭ honored‬‭ as‬‭ a‬‭ Fellow‬‭ of‬‭ the‬‭ Martin‬‭ Institute‬‭ for‬‭ Teaching‬‭ Excellence,‬‭ named‬
‭ one‬‭ of‬‭ Carney‬‭ Sandoe’s‬‭“8‬‭ Thought‬‭ Leaders‬‭ to‬‭ Follow‬‭ Now,”‬‭ and‬‭ featured‬‭ as‬‭ a‬‭ panelist‬‭ for‬‭ the‬‭ ASCD‬‭ Whole‬‭ Child‬‭ Town‬‭ Hall.‬‭ Chris‬‭ has‬‭ been‬‭ a‬‭ Senior‬‭ DEI‬‭ Consultant‬‭ with‬‭ Blink‬‭ Strategic‬‭ Consulting‬‭ since‬‭ 2021,‬‭ and‬‭ he‬‭ completed‬‭ his‬‭ doctorate‬‭ in‬‭ Educational‬‭ Leadership‬‭ for‬‭ Social‬‭ Justice‬‭ at‬‭ LMU‬‭ in‬‭ 2022.‬‭ His‬‭ writing‬‭ about‬‭ education‬‭ issues‬‭ has‬‭ appeared‬‭ in‬‭ Education‬‭ Week‬‭ ,‬‭ Inndependent‬‭ School‬‭ Magazine‬‭ ,‬‭ GOOD‬‭ ,‬‭ and‬‭ a‬‭ variety‬‭ of‬‭ other‬‭ blogs‬‭ and‬‭ publications.‬‭ Throughout‬‭ his‬‭ service‬‭ in‬‭ schools,‬‭ Thinnes‬‭ has‬‭ promoted‬‭ an‬‭ understanding‬‭ that‬‭“deeper‬‭ learning”‬‭ for‬‭ our‬‭ students‬‭ depends‬‭ on‬‭ diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice in our schools.‬
‭

David speaks with George Nickle, a candidate for City Council in West Hollywood, CA.

A West Hollywood Public Safety Commissioner  George fought for the rehiring of Sworn Deputies, who had previously been cut by Council majority, at his very first commission meeting. He continues to push for a fully funded and fully staffed West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station to meet the city's growing public safety needs. 

George’s goal is to make West Hollywood more Affordable, to get us Back to the Basics, and redirect our focus on Community Livability and Safety. He understands that the issues we face are complex and that simple black and white thinking does not solve problems — it usually makes them worse, while dividing the community. 

A 19-year resident of West Hollywood, George is originally from a small town in rural Pennsylvania (near Gettysburg). He has a BFA in Filmmaking from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, the first public arts conservatory in America.

George trained as a talent agent, has been a manager for actors and Japanese visual artists, worked in home video distribution, and is now Director of Sales & Business Development for an Over-The-Counter pharmaceuticals company specializing in international distribution. His extensive professional experience working with governments and regulatory agencies around the world has given him a deep understanding of how government works and how to get the necessary done.

Public safety and resilience are important to George. In addition George started a neighborhood watch group on the east side of West Hollywood

George is building a true grassroots campaign, and he is not taking money from big developers. He is running to serve on the West Hollywood City Council, not as a steppingstone to higher office, or to impose his personal ideology on anyone. George simply loves West Hollywood.