Susie Brighten knew last year when she was diagnosed with breast cancer that cancer is stuck energy and she needed to discern the sources of her dis-ease. Over the last 30+ years she had been introduced to a broad array of tools for discerning causes and healing. She applied what she knew and freed the energy which reduced the cancer close to zero. We met on an Ancient Secrets zoom call recently which has given her another tool to add to her arsenal. This conversation will mention both familiar and unfamiliar ideas, all worth exploring for their value.

Brittany speaks from personal, academic, and research experience as she addresses Black infant and maternal mortality rates in the USA. She and her baby lived while her sister's daughter died. In her journey she has been an elementary school teacher and founded the Teacher of Color Support Network in Columbia, MO. Experiencing the systemic racism in healthcare institutions, she recently became certified as a Doula and is part of the Mid-Missouri Black Doula Collective. She and her husband are also involved with SALT City Church in Columbia. 

Dingani Beza and I talked about theatre, mostly. I actually was unaware of his philanthropy and foundation helping set up health clinics in Malawi, his father's home country. I was also unaware of his 8 year old daughter. Hopefully get to those at a later time. Currently Dingani is collaborating with his brother Zondwayo to produce a fictional movie his brother wrote about the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921. He is also playing Mr. Tibbs in the May production of In the Heat of the Night in Jefferson City.

Andre Grinston, Director of Alumni Services at Lincoln University, worked in the corporate world as well as state government before coming back to his alma mater to work. He is very involved in the community, serving on the boards at the YMCA and Boys and Girls Club, mentoring organization leaders, ministering to his church, acting and singing when he can, and getting up in the wee hours to work out at the Y before going to work. Andre lives his faith and generously responds to the needs of others. You'll get snippets of all that in our conversation. 

Clint Rogers was led to Dr. Naram and led to spend 10 years documenting his work. It was a mythical journey. Many have seen Clint's TEDtalk and now have his book, Ancient Secrets of a Master Healer. Clint and I developed a relationship in our first interview and the subsequent Zoom calls during the rest of 2020 that he called the Miracle Experiment Game. The opening anonymous quote in the book says, "I didn't come to teach you. I came to love you. Love will teach you." You will feel the love in this interview and in the book. You don't want to miss it.

Heather Gieck is founder & Exec. Dir.

Joe Polacco has curiosity and an abundance of love for people, plants, critters large and small, and the planet. He was so into spiders, he got the nickname "Spider Polacco." His first book, Vina--A Brooklyn Memoir, introduces his dear mom and many important people in his life. The second book, Giovanni--street urchin of Naples, is an historical novel based on the life of his great grandfather. His newest book, A Life's Rambles, is a bilingual (Spanish/English) book of poems and descriptions of places, love and loss, lab meetings, nature, and nonsense.

Joe Polacco has curiosity and an abundance of love for people, plants, critters large and small, and the planet. He was so into spiders, he got the nickname "Spider Polacco." His first book, Vina--A Brooklyn Memoir, introduces his dear mom and many important people in his life. The second book, Giovanni--street urchin of Naples, is an historical novel based on the life of his great grandfather. His newest book, A Life's Rambles, is a bilingual (Spanish/English) book of poems and descriptions of places, love and loss, lab meetings, nature, and nonsense.

I met Jim and Linda Rhodes through community theatre in Jefferson City, MO:  Jim was acting and Linda was there for support. This went on for over 15 years. Then I learned of his induction into the Karate Hall of Fame. During this interview, I learned much more about this loving couple, parents of 4 boys and 2 girls. As you'll hear, Jim has some exotic hobbies: rattlesnake hunting but not killing (he once had 18 secured in their basement); alligator hunting with a bow and arrow; swimming with sharks without a cage; and evidently a few more we didn't have time to talk about. 

Veronica Ann Smith is a keen observer and listener that does not seek the spotlight but seeks to understand both history and the present situation. Born in Akron, Ohio, her present home for many years is Sacramento where she has worked in city government and started her business, Impact Brands, Inc. renamed in 2020: Impact Community Partners to better reflect her work. This hour is a conversation about her journey, her book When Communities Disappear, and her much needed approach of revitalizing people rather than places.