Elevated Conversations

Episode 9 is a special Valentine's Day edition of the Elevated Conversations podcast. I discuss the word "love" with my amazing wife, Mallory!

Mallory and I explore the definition of love, some Baha'i Writings about love, and the 5 Love Languages.

Action Items:
Take the 5 Love Languages Quiz:
https://www.5lovelanguages.com/quizzes/

Find an inspiring quote about love:
https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/search#q=love

Read about love, and other virtues, on the Virtues Project:
https://virtuesproject.com/

Connect with Mallory:
https://www.instagram.com/mally_q/

In episode 8, I break down my 5 tips on how to write more inspiring rap lyrics! Here is the list:

1) Find a deep sense of purpose and motivation
2) Read inspiring material connected to your song content
3) Start your writing process by brainstorming
4) Study other inspiring rappers
5) Rap about your personal experience


Action Items:
Rappers: go write a rap verse with the goal of inspiring someone

Other artists: go create something with the goal of inspiring someone

“Non” artists: go do something today with the goal of inspiring someone

Some of the artists/content referenced in today's episode:
5 Tips for Writings More Inspiring Rap (blog post)
https://www.colbyjeffers.com/5-tips-for-writing-more-inspiring-rap-lyrics/

"Treasure" music video
https://youtu.be/E9c9DGbqWQo

"Wizdome" music video
https://youtu.be/Pr6ri1E9dlY

"Release The Power" - Lyric Video Series
http://bit.ly/rtp-lyric-videos

Karim Rushdy
https://www.youtube.com/karimrushdy

A breakdown of the 5 Pillars of Creativity, as described by the legendary rapper Rakim in his new book Sweat the Technique: Revelations on Creativity from the Lyrical Genius.

Action Steps:

1) Go read "Sweat The Technique"
2) Go read a book from one of the greats in your field of interest
3) Go create something!

To learn more about Rakim:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rakim

To purchase Sweat The Technique:
https://www.amazon.com/Sweat-Technique-Lyrical-Genius-Breaks/dp/0062850237/

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2020, I share some history about Dr. King, how Dr. King inspires me in my work to contribute to positive social change, some recent tests I've had and how they helped me grow, as well as some actions steps we can all take to honor Dr. King and contribute to changing the world.

Action Steps:

1. Take some time to learn about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
2. Read some of Dr. King's inspiring quotes
3. Listen to one of Dr. King's speeches
4. Educate yourself on the social justice issues in your society
5. Go be of service and take action in your community to make a positive impact
   
   

We reached 5 episodes! To celebrate the mini-milestone, I took questions from my listeners and shared my elevated answers from the heart.

Most of the questions centered on things I love, like music, service, and family - along with some other random questions like "what's my biggest fear?!".

To submit your questions for future podcasts, message or email me at:

https://www.facebook.com/colbyjeffersmusic/

https://www.instagram.com/colbyjeffers/

[email protected]

Rap music is currently the most popular music genre. But what makes it so powerful?? I break it down in episode 4 of the Elevated Conversations podcast!

5 Magical Powers of Rap Music

1. Rap is worship
2. It tells a more elaborate story
3. It's artistic excellence
4. It's diversatility
5. It attracts and empowers youth

Action Steps:
Listen to rap music with a new lens and look for these 5 magical powers!

Get a free copy of my latest album 'Release The Power', along with some dope bonus content to dive deeper into the magical powers of rap:
https://www.colbyjeffers.com/release-the-power

In Episode 3, I take you through a history lesson of the sport of basketball and the Baha'i Faith world religion, focusing on 5 historical moments.

5 Historical Moments in Basketball and the Baha'i Faith
1) 1861 - James Naismith is born and Baha'u'llah pens the Kitab-i-Iqan (Book of Certitude)

2) 1893 - Basketball's first international matches and the Baha'i Faith is first mentioned in the United States

3) 1936/1937 - Basketball is first played as an Olympic medal sport and the Baha'i Faith has is first systematic teaching plan, the "7 Year Plan"

4) 1946 - Formation of the National Basketball Association and the Baha'i Faith has it's second "7 Year Pan"

5) 1963 - Michael Jordan is born and the supreme governing body of the Baha'i Faith, the Universal House of Justice, is first elected.

Bonus) 1996 - Formation of the Woman's National Basketball Association and the start of the "4 Year Plan" of the Baha'i Faith, one in a series of plans spanning 25 years, through 2021.

References
The Baha'i Faith
https://www.bahai.org/

The Kitab-i-Iqan
https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/kitab-i-iqan/1

The Divine Plan of the Baha'i Faith
https://bahaipedia.org/Divine_Plan

The Universal House of Justice
https://universalhouseofjustice.bahai.org/

History of Basketball
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basketball

WNBA
https://www.wnba.com/

NBA
https://www.nba.com/

Michael Jordan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jordan

Do human beings truly develop virtues, morals, and spiritual qualities through playing the sport of basketball? Or is basketball just a trivial pursuit and waste of time?

In Episode 2 of "Elevated Conversations" I explore the Baha'i Writings; the reflections of the inventor of basketball, James Naismith; as well as my own personal experience to share how we can practically develop virtuous qualities through the sport of basketball.

5 Virtues I've developed through playing basketball:

1. Excellence
2. Truthfulness/Reconciliation
3. Encouragement
4. Humility
5. Contentment

5 Virtues we can understand through the metaphor of basketball:

1. Spiritual Initiative
2. Spiritual Agility
3. Spiritual Accuracy
4. Spiritual Skill
5. Spiritual Muscle Memory

References
Basketball: It's Origin and Development by James Naismith
https://www.amazon.com/Basketball-Origin-Development-James-Naismith/dp/0803283709

Muscular Christianity
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscular_Christianity

The Virtues Project
https://virtuesproject.com/

Baha'i Quotations on Virtues
Bahá'u'lláh's Tablet of Wisdom
http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/b/TB/tb-10.html

Gleaning from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh
http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/b/GWB/gwb-134.html

Paris Talks of `Abdu’l-Bahá'
http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/ab/PT/pt-56.html

What does basketball have to do with spirituality? In the debut episode of my new "Elevated Conversations" podcast, I discuss 5 spiritual lessons we can learn from my favorite sport: basketball!

5 spiritual lessons:

1. You need to know the rules to succeed
2. Everyone has different talents and strengths
3. Cheerleaders and fans help
4. We need to have a good coach
5. Practice makes progress

References:

The Function of Sports in Life by Shoghi Effendi
https://bahai-library.com/shoghieffendi_function_sports_life

Letter from the Universal House of Justice to the President of Brazil on the eve of the 2014 World Cup: 
https://news.bahai.org/story/1008/