Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire

I decided to re-release an episode that originally came out on January 29th, 2018, our 6th episode, with my dear friend, David Holcenberg. Today calls for an encore performance, 4 1/2 years after its original release. You see, David is nominated for a Tony Award for Best Orchestrations and Arrangements for MJ The Musical. With the Tony Awards this Sunday June 12th, we wanted to celebrate Dave and encourage you to get to know this hard-working, talented man who we are so very proud of. Dave graciously invited Paul and me to the Opening Night of MJ The Musical - it was MAGICAL! Despite my own hesitancy to see a show that might glorify Michael Jackson, I was blown away and deeply moved by the entire production. Jackson was portrayed accurately as both troubled and a genius, more flawed and nuanced than any one- dimensional character. The music was phenomenal and I have never seen better dancing on a Broadway stage. I even went to see this spectacular show a second time and no doubt will go again. We had dinner with David recently and he spoke so sincerely about the honor of being Tony-nominated. He felt deeply touched by the outpouring of well wishes and congratulatory notes he has already received from so many people, that he is savoring all the loving support, right here, right now. Even if you heard my conversation with Dave back in 2018, listen again. And by all means, join me in cheering for David Holcenberg at the Tony's. Enjoy the podcast! Links: Tony Awards IG: David IG: Michael Heitzman IG: MJ The Musical

My guest today is Dr. Andy Krikun. Andy is a professor at Bergen Community College's Music Department. He teaches songwriting, world music and music business, while collaborating with his colleagues to develop and implement innovative, creative arts programs. Andy shares his journey from folk singer/songwriter to punk rock band leader to lab technician, to web developer, to world music researcher and music educator. Andy earned his Masters in Ethnomusicology at UCLA and his Ph.D. in Music Education at NYU and has been devoted to educating and advocating for the diverse students on the community college level. Honoring the many mentors he had along the way and having learned where he doesn't fit in, Andy is honored to be a mentor to those who society deems misfits. Check out the show notes for links to Andy's work and BCC programs. May we all value the the heart, humility and integrity of Andy and other dedicated Community College professors. Enjoy the podcast! Links: Andy Krikun/BCC Bergen Community College IG: Andy & The Rattlesnakes Between the World and Me, by Ta-Nahesi Coates IG: Vaneese Thomas Eddie Brigati

After seeing last week's episode summary that acknowledged the strange timing of women's reproductive health being threatened on the same week we celebrate Mother's Day, a friend shared Heather Cox Richardson's newsletter written on the eve of Mother's Day. I felt compelled to share the history of the original Mothers' Day and Julia Ward Howe's conviction that women must make their voices heard. May we all continue to promote women's right to have a say in American government. May we honor Howe's strong belief that women, as mothers, have a special role to perform in the world. May the mothers of mankind have the courage to interfere in the madness. May I, and all mothers, continue to teach our children charity, mercy, and patience. May I and all mothers, be too tender of those of another country to allow our children to be trained to injure people from another country. May Mama Bears throughout the world be inspired by Julia Ward Howe's devotion to creating the next great development in human history, a lasting Women's Peace Movement! Enjoy the podcast! Links: Heather Cox Richardson/Substack Letters From An American/May 7, 2022 Wikipedia/HCR HCR on Twitter

On this week's episode, I admit that my Mama Bear instincts have been ignited. That maternal instinct of wanting to protect my cubs from any threat of danger. Whether the threat of danger concerns my own adult children, concerns women if the Supreme Court Justices overturn Roe v. Wade, or the threat impacts all marginalized people. It's striking that this assault on women, their bodies and their choices regarding reproductive health, occurs the same week as Mother's Day. May we truly honor mothers. My Mama Bear feels outraged, yet learning patience, trust and a focus on love. I share excerpts of Annie Lamott's Ted Talk, highlighting that need to refrain from rescuing others, to look within for serenity and peace of mind. Lamott describes radical self care as quantum. For years, I've been teaching the Mama Bear in me to refrain from fixing, saving and rescuing. My Mama Bear is learning to pause even in the threat of danger. I am working on trusting that we as a country will find our own way. May we all practice radical self care. May our radical self care be a gift to the world. Happy Mother's Day! Enjoy the podcast. RBG quote: "The decision whether or not to bear a child is central to a woman's life, to her well-being and dignity. It is a decision she must make for herself. When government controls that decision for her, she is being treated less than a fully adult human responsible for her own choices." Links: Anne Lamott's Ted Talk

My guest today is Jim Buehler. Jim, who claims that he is just a "regular guy" recently returned from a 10 day trip helping Ukrainian refugees cross the border into Poland. Jim's open-heart surgery a year ago metaphysically opened his heart to care deeply about the Ukrainian refugees, enough so to feel compelled to take action. Jim and his college roommate, friend of 50 years, Lorne Adrian, helped the incoming, weary Ukrainian women, children and elderly find warmth, food, shelter, and safe passage to wherever their new upended lives would take them. Networking with local contacts, Jim and Lorne efficiently and effectively transported families from border crossings to refugee centers and train stations. They bought urgently requested supplies, in particular 5 large generators for bombed out buildings and hospitals. Check out the show notes for links to the organizations that Jim trusts, as well as some articles written about his heart-driven experience. Enjoy the podcast! Links: Folkowisko Foundation Kosciuszko Foundation Norwescap Ukraine.Welcome.US Sean Penn Clip from Lawrence O'Donnell CORE Response URI Alumni News Article Boston Globe Article Sean Penn on ET/Canada

On this week's episode, I share my joy and gratitude for last week's Earth Day, while reminding us to care for our magnificent planet everyday. From sunrises, illuminating moon light, budding and blooming Spring flowers and trees, to the melodic chorus of birdsong, and a special encounter with a deer, nature is full of wonder. I don't tire of my surroundings. Each day I walk the Hook Mountain trail. Each day I say some version of a gratitude Mother Earth prayer and I marvel at how the same path, the same prayer can nourish me so deeply. I am truly at peace in nature, and feel she is my daily teacher. Every day, over and over and over again, I hear nature's wisdom, am comforted by her metaphors and soothed by her healing energy. Certainly honor our planet and give special gratitude for the abundance of Mother Earth, on Earth Day and everyday. Let the gratitude flow freely. We can build that intimate partnership, all year long with nature. She needs our attention, care and advocacy. And believe me what the sky, land, waters and all their miraculous wonders offers us in return, is priceless. Enjoy the podcast!

On this week's episode, I reminisce on the vision of Bob Fox, a radical Catholic priest, who was instrumental in shaping the roots of my early faith. Ignited by my brother Dan, who organized a family Zoom last week, with my siblings and our almost 92 year old Dad, we discussed the impact Bob Fox, our close family friend, had on our lives. Bob's legacy of love, creativity, compassion and courage certainly left a lasting impact on each of us. In the 1960s Bob Fox created 2 innovative, inclusive projects: Summer in the City and Thing in the Spring, bringing together artists, musicians, dancers, people of different races, ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds to re-vitalize some of New York's burnt out inner city neighborhoods. I gave it a different twist this year and although we didn't organize a collective clean-up, nor do we celebrate Easter religiously, I knew I wanted to gather with my adult children and their partners to share a meal and delight in the vibrancy of Spring. So in honor of Bob, I called our picnic in the park hang, Thing in the Spring! What does your version of Thing in the Spring look like? Mother Earth is ignited with inspiration. Be inspired! Inspire others! May your version of Thing in the Spring be a joy and delight to you and those around you. Enjoy the podcast! Links: "Fox Sight" compiled and edited by Bea McMahon

My guest today is Anne Macksoud. Anne is an educator, documentary filmmaker and by my accounts, an inspiring activist. My Aunt Hilly (Hilary Carr Jones), who was thrilled to recently reconnect with her high school friend, Anne, after 62 years, knew I would also feel a kindred spirit connection with Anne and her meaningful work. Saddened by the suffering they saw around them, Anne and her business partner, John Ankele created a film production company in 1985 called 'Old Dog Documentaries', which is still thriving. "Their films are about the subtleties of the human experience and the complexities of our collective challenges." Woven through education and activism, Anne and John's documentaries cover social justice, climate change, spirituality and aging. Check out the show notes to find links to Anne's website, films, and trailers. I am confident you too, will resonate with Anne's vitality, humility, wisdom and her compassionate, courageous heart so clearly infused in all her films. Enjoy the podcast! Links: Old Dog Documentaries Link to an 8 minute film Anne made about a BLM vigil in her hometown of Woodstock, VT Link to trailer "Grow Old Along With Me" Joanna Macy: Climate Crisis VideoJoanna Macy, "The Work That Reconnects" @AniPemaChodron (IG)

On this week's episode I explain the phowa meditation, typically done at the bedside of a dying person. In these past 15 years, I have said the phowa for loved ones as they were dying, I've said it for myself everyday as part of my spiritual practice and I have said the phowa meditation numerous times from a distance, for my mom, for friends, for friends' family members, for people in the dying process, for people soon after they have died, to help their peaceful transition. For some reason, in the past 2 weeks, the phowa meditation was in high demand. In addition to saying it for people in Ukraine who are witnessing and experiencing horrific deaths, people close to me are requesting the meditation for loved ones who are dying or struggling to let go, or who have recently died. So I felt drawn to share it with you, my listeners. Say it for yourself, say it for your loved ones, say it for your loved ones that have already died, say it for the refugees, the marginalized, the oppressed and most vulnerable. May the phowa meditation wrap you in compassion, facilitate forgiveness and deepen a true peace within you. Enjoy the podcast! Links: "The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying" by Sogyal Rinpoche