Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire

My guest today is Emanuel Lewis. Emanuel is a steel pannist and drummer, with clear goals and a vision of where he wants to be in the music industry. Emanuel just graduated from high school, yet for his senior year he was accepted in a local community college's honors program, which provided a great foundation for learning, inspiration and confidence. Emanuel is heading off to Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA this fall with two skills he wants to gain from Berklee: 1) to perform and master his instruments and 2) learn all he can about contemporary writing and production. As my youngest guest to date, Emanuel possesses impressive maturity, insights, and ease; it truly is a joy to be in the presence of such a personable young man. Emanuel describes the profound impact of his civil rights professor, the deep influence of worship music, his recent, eye-opening trip to Israel, and his unique friendship with his older brother Gabriel (a recent guest on my podcast), that captures true brotherly love. With such a passion about becoming a musician who knows how to authentically evoke emotion, I hope you too, will be inspired to follow Emanuel's music career. Check out the links below to follow Emanuel on Instagram and Facebook. Enjoy the podcast! Links: IG: @elewis.music FB: emanuellewis FB: ekkquinox

Instead of a conversation with a guest, today we are offering a unique episode of guided meditations. Andrea Frade, who was my guest in January 2019, episode #54, recorded here in my studio a series of guided meditations for the 7 chakras, also known as energy centers in the body. Andrea graciously provides a short explanation of the elements, colors, locations and symbolism of each chakra, followed by a simple, yet profound experiential meditation that helps one feel tangibly connected to each chakra. So if you are driving, you may want to save this episode for when you are able to sit at home, close your eyes and be fully present. Each meditation is approximately 6-7 minutes long, so you are welcome to listen to them one at a time or as a full series. Andrea and I wanted to make this accessible to all my listeners; this is our gift to you for your personal practice, may it deepen your embodied wisdom. If this was helpful to you or you have questions to further your understanding of the chakras, feel free to contact Andrea directly through her website www.andreafrade.com/connect. I encourage you to explore all the healing courses, workshops and consultations she offers. Namaste from Mama A!!

My guest today is Gabriel Lewis. Gabriel is a wealth advisor associate for Morgan Stanley, a director of school partnerships with The Mentor Project, as well as a "Big" with Big Brother/Big Sister and a junior board member with the Eagle Academy Foundation. Gabe's life purpose is "to serve and add value to others in any way he can." Pretty impressive for a 22 year old!! Gabe is passionate about having people understand and be literate about their finances. He says it's not about how much money you make, it's about having a healthy mindset of abundance. Gabriel is disciplined about lining up his values, energy and desire to serve in the culture of finance. He is deeply grateful to his mother for providing such a rich, stimulating home school experience for him and his brother, which exposed them to so much, while building tremendous confidence. Gabe is fearless in reaching out to anybody he feels drawn to, forge authentic relationships and reciprocal networking. Gabriel's positive mindset, openness about therapy, dedication to adding value to people's lives, holding himself accountable to aligning his values with his actions, inspires me to encourage all my listeners to reach out to Gabe for their financial needs! Check out the links below to find Gabriel's contact info. Enjoy the podcast! Links: [email protected] [email protected] Linked in Profile

My guest today is Mayra Casales. Mayra is gifted Cuban percussionist, respected band leader and passionate mentor to young jazz musicians. Mayra was born in Havana, Cuba. Her family fled to Miami when she was about 6 years old. Music was an integral part of her family: her father played guitar, her mother was a singer and Mayra joined her older brothers to form a percussion section. In fact, Mayra says that music helped her family survive when they moved to Miami; serving as both their release and solidarity. Mayra has played with a variety of jazz and Latin artists, including: Celia Cruz, Machito, Joe Cuba, Miquelito Veldez, Tito Puente, Dizzy Gillespie, Wayne Shorter, Carmen Lundy, David Amram, Regina Carter, Sophie B. Hawkins, Regina Bell, Dave Stryker, and The O'Jays. In 2008 Mayra helped found the vibrant World Latin music group Cocomama, which she now leads. Mayra is the Director of the Toni and Ed Fallon Jazz Scholarship to honor the memory of Bill Evans, providing financial support to promising high school graduates with their formal jazz studies. Mayra's spiritual groundedness and fiery, passionate, lovable spirit infuses both her music and the focus and gratitude that colors her everyday life. Check out the show notes below for links to Mayra's website, Cocomama's website and the Rockland Community Foundation. You can hear Mayra with Cocomama at the Hopper House in Nyack, NY on Thursday July 18, from 7:30-9:30. Enjoy the podcast! Links: Mayra on Facebook www.cocomamamusic.com Rockland Community Foundation RCF Grants & Scholarships Toni & Ed Fallon Jazz Scholarship

My guest today is Tony Falco. Tony is a visionary club owner, community builder, art and music promoter, and a facilitator to support living artists. Tony began hosting house concerts in 2001, in a structure behind the Falco home that was built from all recycled materials. The intimate listening room was a remarkable space with fine acoustics, a grand piano, stage lighting and seating for nearly 100. In a couple of months Tony was providing high level musicians an intimate space to perform for enthusiastic audiences. Using a donation box and potluck meals for contributions, plus Tony, his wife Julie, and their children's gracious hospitality, musicians felt warmly welcomed, valued and respected. Bursting at the seams, four years later Tony purchased a 19th century button factory, perched over the Marlboro (NY) Falls once used to power the factory, and converted it into The Falcon, a vibrant music club. Tony's club has become the "Village Vanguard of the Hudson Valley" with artists on a regular rotation with New York City's most respected venues; a rural Mecca for the finest in multiple genres; including jazz, blues, rock, gospel, world music and contemporary chamber music. Tony's humility, philosophy and vision is captured in this Humanist Manifesto declaration written by the Humanist International general assembly: "Humanism values artistic creativity and imagination and recognizes the transforming power of art. Humanism affirms the importance of literature, music and the visual and performing arts for personal development and fulfillment." Check out the links below for The Falcon to see their rich roster of music events. I encourage you to support Tony's vision by supporting this incredible venue. Enjoy the podcast! Links: Live at The Falcon Amsterdam Declaration NY Times article on The Falcon