Finding Family

Join me for this last episode this season on MUSIC.  I was so excited to walk you through my own experiences of music and family that I went fully unscripted for this (although I had a short list of talking points).  Music is part of my every day and my connection to it runs super deep. 

Take a listen and let me know what you think!

How do promises show up in your life?  What did a promise mean to you growing up?  Did your parents promise things to you or make you promise something?  If your parents or family members are no longer here, can you still make promises to them?  What promises have you made to a spouse, partner, or other important person?

I didn't think I had a lot to say about promises but something in me, after listening to the previous episodes, made me land on promises as an important part of people's family stories.  Take a list and LMK what you think.

Music credit: Teat Time - Ofshane

I know it's a big strange to say but hair played a big part of my family memories.  How we talked about it, how we styled it, what other peoples' hair looked like... join me as I explore the many facets of hair and family.  And share yours with me!

How did you get around in your family - blood or chosen?  What did you experience in a car, train, bus, plane, or something else?  How did these family memories impact you and what do those experiences mean?  This week, I reflect on transportation which wasn't something I gave a lot of attention to until I heard stories of others and how they got around.  Take a listen and let me know what you think.

In this episode, I share some experiences with family through the lens of family.  Growing up, money - whether we talked about it or not - always has a presence.  It was something that made or broke dreams, caused a flair of emotions, and even drove up into our driveway unexpectedly.  Whether we had it or not, money's presence was there.  

How about you?  How did money show up in your family experience?  How does it show up now?  

We're back for season three but we're trying something different.  Take a listen and let me know what you think.

It's been about a year or so since I recorded this session with Terry, my friend Shaun's father.  His wife, Lesley, reached out to see if I'd record a session with Terry about his life.  While I'd met Terry multiple times through the years, this was the first time I sat down with him at any length to get to know him better and learn more about his life in South Africa and in the U.S.  

For some interviewees, all it takes is a few questions and they're an open book.  This was the case with Terry.  In fact, I hardly asked him any questions at all.  He shared that he was an open book and nothing could be further from the truth.  Terry shared openly and with a lot of care for his family story.  

Terry later passed away in July of 2022, just a few months after this recording.  Since then, it's been my honor to hold this story and to share it with you today, with Terry's blessing.  Take a listen.

Paul is my oldest friend.  We met when we were three years old when we lived in the same neighborhood in Cedar Grove.  We've always been in each other's lives, through the ups and downs of coming out, losing our parents, and everything else life threw at us.  I've never known my life without this person and in so many ways, he's a brother to me.  Take a listen.

This week's episode is with Kelvin who I met more recently but now have a great friendship.  Kelvin was the prior Convention chair for ACPA the year before I held that role and gave me a lot of great advice, support, and real talk about the role.  He hasn't stopped.  In this conversation, I learn more about his life growing up and we explore our mutual love of K-Pop.  

This week's episode features Dr. Daisy Pitel, someone that I've gotten to know through ACPA, College Student Educators International.  She's been a role model leader for me in the Asian Pacific American community there but this is our first true conversation to get to know each other.  In this podcast entry, you'll hear more about her life as a Filipina/Pinay woman, her educational journey, and her life as a mom of one the cutest kids I've ever seen.  Take a listen.