Full Spirals

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Kim Weitkamp grew up in Amish Country as the middle child of exhausted parents. Labeled by teachers as high-spirited and too talkative, Kim took those comments and channeled them into a lifetime of high-energy, heartfelt and hilarious artistry and we are better for it!!

She is an award-winning storyteller, speaker, singer-songwriter and humorist. After using applied storytelling in her work with adjudicated and at-risk youth for 12 years, Kim took a turn onto a different avenue that led her down the path of full-time touring for the last 17 years where she gathered an armload of awards.

She has advised and coached companies nationwide to access story as a tool for connection and understanding.

We sat down in early November to talk about how she became a storyteller, her innovative program “The Science of Story” and how story can be used to enlighten and persuade folks for the Good.

Kim's Storytelling Website
Keynote, Corporate Consulting, Non-Profit Coaching, and Team Training

Purchase the Delve Deck

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A Spiral Notebook Episode featuring "Letters From Love"
These "Spiral Notebook Moment" episodes are a  treasure trove of introspection and storytelling, where we crack open the pages of my ongoing spiral notebook project.

This episode focuses on the art and craft of writing a letter to myself from unconditional love.  This project is the brain child of writer and artist Elizabeth Gilbert!

ANYONE can participate in this practice and my belief is that everyone can benefit from it!  This practice has been a game changer for me as this year wound to a close.

Learn more about how YOU can join the Letters From Love Community.

https://elizabethgilbert.substack.com/
 

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My affection for the film "It's a Wonderful Life" is well known.  This episode is the  quintessential "Full Spiral Moment", as it features an interview with THE Zuzu Bailey, actor Karolyn Grimes!

It's a Wonderful Life Museum
Karolyn Grimes Website

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Sarah Snyder is a writer, editor, and conservationist whose passion is helping others connect spiritually to the outdoors, nature, and science. She has been writing professionally since 1991.

One of her books “The Value of Your Soul” is on my table every morning, because I still use it to meditate to, and her DIY Retreat book, is what I’m reading right now.  Her use of Rumi's work in her books is a big part of what makes them so meaningful and so full of soul.

This time of year women tend to give and give and give and give.  In this episode we’re talking about how we can learn to give OURSELVES the gift of receiving. 

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

Rumi

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Help Support Full Spirals and give the Arts a Voice!

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Denise Medved is an Author, Speaker, Creator AND Founder of the Ageless Grace® Brain Health program.  A preventative, restorative and developmental practice focusing on cognitive function for people of all ages, but particularly active older adults–for whom memory and brain function has begun to top their list of health concerns. 

A self proclaimed “Brain Nerd”, she graduated from The Neuroscience Academy in Sydney, Australia, and studied Gerontology in a Graduate program at Western North Carolina University. 

Her TEDx talk is titled “Changing Your Brain Can Be As Simple As Child’s Play” and she’s led tens of thousands of students at such prestigious institutions as Harvard Medical School and the International Council on Active Aging. 

I met Denise in 2008 while she was beta testing what is now her world renowned Ageless Grace program, and I credit her as the person who led me to discover that it truly is safe to inhabit my own body and how to really SENSE embodiment. 

I trained with Denise in 2009 to become an Ageless Grace educator and have been helping to carry out the mission of this work since then–teaching weekly Ageless Grace classes here in the Fox Cities.

Links for Denise Episode:

Website: https://agelessgrace.com/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AgelessGrace

Ted Talk: https://youtu.be/cXTpLgtH60Y?si=DGsmlhdnL7edkCEz

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June Millington is a pioneer in the truest sense of the word.  She and her sister Jean co-founded the all-female rock band FANNY in the early 70’s—a time when women weren’t “supposed” to rock.  Fanny was the FIRST all girl rock group to be signed to a major label—and David Bowie was one of their biggest fans.

"Co-founded in California 50 years ago by these Filipina American and queer teenagers, FANNY made history as the first all women band to release an album with a major record label (Warner/Reprise, 1970). As young women who expertly played their own instruments, Fanny bandmates penned original songs that were ahead of their time, with lyrics exploring themes of sexual freedom, war, relationships and identity. "  (PBS Documentary)

As the lead guitarist of the band, June took a lot of hits—but she always found a way to rise above.

After surviving heartbreak and disillusionment, she and her partner Ann Hackler co-founded the nonprofit Institute for the Musical Arts (IMA) where she serves as Artistic Director.

The story of the band FANNY, can be seen in the PBS documentary—”Fanny: “The Right to Rock”.    The film is a comprehensive piece about the band’s formation and their many ups and downs, but the story of JUNE is a lovely full spiral story beginning and ending with the healing power of music.

We sat down recently to talk about her journey through love, music, spirituality and Spirals.

Links:
June Info: https://www.ima.org/playlikeagirl.info/solo.html

Institute of the Musical Arts:  https://www.ima.org/

Fanny Website: https://fannyrocks.com/

PBS Doc: https://www.pbs.org/show/fanny-right-rock/

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In today's episode, we're diving into a heartwarming story of belief, serendipity, and the enchanting world of storytelling.  Together we go  on a magical journey to Jonesborough, Tennessee, where we'll discover that magic is more than just child's play – it's a lifeline.

Show Note Links

Stacy's Storytelling Link:
https://www.stacyparish.com/

City of Jonesborough:
https://jonesborough.com/

National Storytelling Festival:
https://www.storytellingcenter.net/festival/main/

The Crystal Raven (Jonesborough):
https://www.facebook.com/crystalravenrocks/

Ethereal Craft Chocolate
https://etherealconfections.com/products/scorpion-chile-bourbon-smoked-sea-salt-caramel-pecans?_pos=1&_sid=a2b7168c0&_ss=r

Mainstreet Cafe Jonesborough
|https://mainstreetcatering.net/

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Introducing Helen Klebesadel:
Helen Klebesadel, our guest today, has graced our podcast before, but this time, she brings decades of lived experience as an artist and a wealth of wisdom in the arts.

We're privileged to have Helen as a recurring guest.

• Artists and ADHD:
  • Today we delve into a topic that's close to my heart, artists and ADHD. As someone who has recently come to terms with my lifelong struggle with ADHD, I was eager to explore the subject with Helen and understand the benefits of this unique wiring
  • Helen enlightens us with her perspective on individuals with ADHD who can achieve deep, focused experiences through their art. It's akin to active meditation, a fascinating concept that sheds light on how art helps us find our center in a world not always designed for us.
• The Magic of Active Meditation:
  • We discuss the concept of active meditation through art. It's the perfect solution for minds that tend to wander. For both of us, art offers a way to stay present.
• Cabin Fever Creative Community:
  • Helen opens up about her initiative, the Cabin Fever Creative Community, born in the midst of the pandemic. This platform was designed to combat the isolation and anxiety that many people experienced during those uncertain times.
• Helen shares her inspiration behind the community, highlighting the importance of nurturing creativity during difficult moments. It was a lifeline for many, including an 80-year-old woman facing isolation and uncertainty.
• Inclusivity and Diverse Perspectives:
  • We delve into the values of inclusivity and diverse perspectives within the community. Helen emphasizes that while promoting art and creativity, it's essential to create an environment where everyone's voice is heard and valued.
• Art as a Creator of Reality:
  • Helen's perspective on art is profound; she believes that art doesn't merely reflect the world, but it actively shapes it. Excluding the art of a significant portion of the population limits our understanding of the world.

• Show Links:
  Study with Helen Klebesadel
  Purchase "This is Your Brain on Art"
  Join the Cabin Fever Creative Community

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Help Support Full Spirals and give the Arts a Voice!

• Buy me a coffee HERE
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Unearthing Stories from the Spiral: A Journey of Reflection
These "Spiral Notebook Moment" episodes are a  treasure trove of introspection and storytelling, where we crack open the pages of my year-long spiral notebook project. Brace yourselves for a deep dive into moments, musings, and reflections that sprang forth from the time I committed to filling an entire notebook each month.

“Spiral Notebook Moments”
Series Highlights:

• Themes that Resonate: As I revisit the pages of my notebooks, I'll unearth pieces that resonate with the core themes of our podcast. Delve into the transformative power of the arts as tools of healing, explore the intricate process of embracing the concept of "coming full spiral" to deepen the lessons life teaches us, and contemplate the beautiful interconnectedness that threads through our vast universe
  .
• Crafting Stories: Ever wondered how to transform fleeting moments into captivating tales? Join me as I share a profound lesson from a storytelling workshop. Unveil the three pivotal questions that guide the creation of any compelling narrative: What's the surface story? What hides beneath, driving the heart of the tale? And most intriguingly, what's the profound, underlying essence of the story?

Episode Highlights:

The Fifth Step:

• The fifth step is a critical step in the 12-step program, involving sharing a fearless moral inventory with another person.
• Here Stacy recounts sitting with her sponsor Kat on a blanket in the woods, a serene setting for this intimate and vulnerable moment.
• They describe the emotional weight of revealing their deepest, darkest secrets, something they had never done before.

Spirituality and Life's Purpose:

• The episode delves into evolving spirituality, emphasizing the belief that everything in life happens for a purpose, not to us but for us.
• The notion that challenges and experiences are meant to be faced and embraced is a central theme.
• As Stacy and Kat conclude the fifth step, they experience a beautiful and symbolic moment.

A Journey of Transformation:

• Stacy reflects on the significance of this fifth step experience.
• It's not only a story of personal growth but also a testament to the profound impact that Kat had on her life.

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Born in the heart of the industrial midlands in England, Jennifer Munro is a natural born storyteller. Since moving to the USA, she’s been working as a  professional storyteller for more than twenty-five years, garnering numerous awards:
National Storytelling Network’s prestigious Circle of Excellence Award, winner in Storytelling World Magazine for her three recordings and short story collection, Aunty Lily and other Delightfully Perverse Stories. She has been featured at major festivals across the nation, most notably the National Storytelling Festival, TN, and the Timpanogos Festival, UT.

Stacy sat down with Jen shortly  after she returned from a residency at the International Storytelling Center  in Jonesboro, TN to talk about the creative process, trusting in the Universe, and the gift that is story.

Support the show

Help Support Full Spirals and give the Arts a Voice!

• Buy me a coffee HERE
• Join the community of "Spinners" on Patreon and contribute to the production of our impactful content HERE!