Everyday Connection

Our guest Phil Okrend has undergone tremendous changes in his life, Although he was originally on the straight and narrow path out of college and into law school and a career as an attorney, his creative and entrepreneurial urges led him on a different path.

The path began with starting and developing his own greeting card company, mixedblessing(www.mixedblessing.com), and eventually to becoming a certified life and business coach to help others live authentic and empowering lives.(www.steppingstonescoaching.com)   Along the way, he has written and performed music, recorded 2 CD's, Dinner Notes and Emergence, A Meditative Journey Through the Seasons, www.myspace.com/philokrend.   He has encouraged and watched his family blossom with their own creative talents. His wife, Elise is a wonderful pastel painter(www.eliseokrend.com),

and son, Jordan is a gifted singer/songwriter/guitarist (www.jordanokrend.com) Phil believes that life is an evolving journey, and that if you are present and pay attention, life will take you exactly where you need to go, fully alive, and contributing to others with joy.

Jason Anderson is 17 years old and lives in Elgin, Illinois right outside of Chicago. Jason is a crystal child, lightworker, natural healer, and artist. Having a strong connection with nature throughout his entire life, he’s always been an adventurer with a strong desire to help humanity and do as much as he can to change the world.

 

Jason has always been a natural artist and leader. Ever since he could talk he has created all kinds of games for his friends and classmates to play. He has been drawing and painting since a young age as well as creating all sorts of other arts and crafts. Now he paints frequently and owns a business called Celestial Wands based around crafting energy wands and other jewelry.

 

He has always given advice to his friends and strangers whether it’s a problem they are having with their relationship or something bothering them about life. Now he hopes to awaken the eyes of kids his own age and many others so they too can help awaken the entire world and raise the levels of consciousness.

 

Celestial Wands was created through a series of synchronistic events, and put in place to spread these powerful tools across the globe. These tools help bring inner knowledge and wisdom out into the world. Truly manifesting the essence of spirit into reality, with hopes to elevate the vibration of humanity and awaken all minds to the true power of their soul.

http://www.celestial-wands.com/

Justin Blackburn began expressing himself through the written word at the age of six and has not looked back.  In collaboration with Kenny Norsworthy, Blackburn created a controversial stir with the US Government with their powerful novel Gifted Disabilties (2005). This novel caused quite an uproar in the underground world especially with lead singer of the acclaimed Fat Possum Record’s band Co., Brian Hannon who published a collection of Blackburn and Norsworthy’s early poetry It’s Hard To Get There When You Are Already There which led to Justin Blackburn being voted Upstate Poet Of The Year in The Beat Magazine in 2007. In 2008 the highly acclaimed band Coma Cinema (www.comacinema.org) began using Justin Blackburn’s poems and turning them into songs. In 2009 Blackburn had two chapbooks of poetry published the hilariously wild Farting Fire by Virgogray Press and the emotional cleansing Female Human Whispers Of Strong Masculine Gentleness by Shadow Archer Press and became the highest seller for both publications.  Justin Blackburn knows his accolades do not make his existence less of a cage and prefers to show his depth and inspiration through his writing and his performing instead of the past but he appreciates everything he has been through.  

“All creative adventure whether it is art or music or poetry or filmmaking or comedy or dancing or chill waving or living simply or electron microscoping are all very similar because they are blessed creative expressions of the soul, spirit, mind, heart, and once one realizes this they all become a lot easier to do and feel completely natural while doing. I love artistic expression of all kinds.” -- Justin Blackburn  http://www.justinblackburnlovesyou.com/

Ena Vie (ee-nuh vee) and Howard Lipp are ceremonialists and sacred musicians, in service to what they believe is the truest medicine of all, love. Together for nearly 4 years, they have lifetimes of experience in the traditional and non-traditional, indigenous, spiritual and musical paths. As intuitive channels of sound and vibration for the purpose of healing mind, body and spirit, they combine science, sound, and love into a powerful, musical experience. Ena and Howard are committed to being in service to life, to music and to love. This passion is what has guided them to give up their home and the majority of their belongings so they can follow their inner guidance more clearly and to be of maximum love and support to their community. 

http://www.enavie.com

Anne Aleckson is an author and speaker. An internationally certified law of attraction coach who understands that ‘everything is energy’, she uses energy tools learned through Reiki, the Mace Energy Method and others in order to lead you toward your real self.

As an author Anne is a contributing writer in the best selling The Path to Success, she has published her first children’s book My Secret Superhero and has plans to add another 2 in the series over the coming years. The long awaited ‘The Creator Principle’ (for grown-ups) will be launched at the end of 2011.   Anne writes a monthly column – Self and Spirit – within the pages of Australia’s #1 empowering lifestyle magazine, Insight. She also entertains and guides listeners on the weekly Self and Spirit radio show on blog talk radio.  http://www.annealeckson.com

Arcie, from the Philippines is a 2010-2011 Sauve Scholar and founder and president of Silid Aralan, Inc (SAI) or “Learning Room.” SAI was established from Arcie’s experience when he lived in one of the dumpsites in the Philippines, after graduating university. He witnessed children and youth scavengers and his life became intimately intertwined with the lives of young men and women who lived in deepest poverty. It was there that he met youth who dreamed of being a jeepney driver, or a housemaid; and high school students who could not read or comprehend their textbooks. Arcie was inspired to create an advocacy and develop unique education programs. ??

  During his stay here in Montreal as a Sauve Scholar, Arcie has developed a project that fused education and environment of both east and west countries called Iwastology. It aims to raise awareness and support intercultural dialogue on the issue of global waste through the lenses of schoolchildren from varying communities around the world. The project will create an interactive online education resource to be used on both educational institutions, and an immersive multimedia exhibit on the unseen ramifications of consumerism and waste to be held at Concordia and McGill University. Kids will discuss and collaborate on the problems of waste and their various solutions, while inspiring students worldwide to make commitments to take action in reducing their material footprint.   With experience and expertise in children and youth development, specifically in education, he has been invited to deliver trainings for more than one thousand public and private school teachers, government and private sector employees and managers nationwide.  http://timeanddate.com/s/276e

Dr. Terry Wahls is a clinical professor of medicine at the University of Iowa where she teaches internal medicine residents in their primary care continuity of care clinics, sees patients in a traumatic brain injury clinic and conducts clinical trials. She is also a patient with a chronic progressive neurological disorder, secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, which confined her to a tilt-recline wheelchair for four years. But thanks to the power of intensive, directed nutrition, Dr. Wahls restored her health and now pedals her bike five miles to work each day. She is the author of Minding My Mitochondria: How I Overcame Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis and Got Out of My Wheelchair and teaches the public and medical community about the healing power of intensive nutrition.

http://www.terrywahls.com/

Karin Volo is an expert in career and personal development and is known as a

Tough Transition Specialist and Dream Life Mentor and also a transformational

author. She uses her professional skills and draws from her personal experiences

to help individuals and companies thrive through difficult transitions. Her clients

say she is professional, inspiring, dedicated, persistent, and determined. Karin’s

passion is helping people better their lives through sharing all she has learned on

her own journey. Her purpose is to inspire and teach others to thrive through

tough times to discover and create their dream lives.

http://www.BringingJoyToThe World.com

http://www.InspiringYourVeryBest.com

Sharon in her own incomparable words:

So apparently a bio is supposed to be written in 3rd person, detailing your accomplishments and whatever....about as exciting as reading the side of the cereal box, which we can all admit we have done while leaning over our bowls with milk dripping off our chins.  OK, well maybe that's just me.

Anyway – I think it should give you a glimpse into that person.  A brief snapshot of what they are really like, ok, ok...let me clarify....I don't mean letting people see me when I'm lounging around the house in my footed pajamas, I mean that it should show that I have a sense of humor, or at least try to.  That I am quirky, fun and most of all ambitious. 

I won't bore you with the story of how I walked on set to be an extra in 2008 and knew right then and there what I had to be doing with my life....nor will I force you into the story of how I transitioned behind the camera with my award winning film Change For A Dollar.  Instead I think I'd like to tell you a story about a troubled girl growing up in the Midwest, who raised two kids and then decided to follow her dream and move to LA...but ya, that's boring too.

Look, if you want to know what I've done, it's all on my resume and IMDb, if you want to see what I can do then you can view my reel or other links, but if you want to know who I am and what I’m like, well then, just ask.  I'm a pretty open book, unafraid of taking risks (usually) and a fountain drink addict.  I am chronically early, occasionally boring and always happy.

That’s pretty much me...  :o)  http://www.shesalwayswright.com/

Born in Manhattan, raised in Raleigh, NC, 20 year old Jordan Okrend is a singer/songwriter who is ready to make a lasting mark. Having first picked up the guitar at the age of 7, Jordan hasn’t slowed down since with his love for his instrument and for the crafting of memorable melodies that move the body and touch the soul.

Growing up in a house where many different types of music was always on or being played, Jordan became a sponge in the musical sense. By the time he was finishing high school, Jordan was versed in Rock, Jazz, R&B,Reggae and Bluegrass, had written scores of original songs,played countless gigs in his hometown, and was accepted into the prestigious Berklee School of Music.   Having forged his own distinct sound, Jordan released his first EP, “Unpredictable” in the summer of 2010 to positive acclaim . He is currently getting ready to release his follow up EP "Rising Up", which features his pop hit "Bottled Up" and an array of thought provoking tunes and love songs. A music video for "Bottled Up" was released in Dec 2011, and brings awareness to depression and low-self esteem issues in young women. Jordan hopes his songs can bring more awareness to important issues in today's society. Jordan believes that music can uplift and touch people in a positive way. His ultimate goal through music is too spread the power of love,to heal, and unlock peoples' higher awareness. Through song, the world can be transformed for the better!  http://www.reverbnation.com/jordanokrend