I'm Frickin' Lonely...Tell Me Your Story! (Staying Connected Through Conversation)

In our latest episode, we return to the world of art, specifically photography…although in our guest’s view, the medium is just a conduit for life experience.

Our guest is Ricardo Barros, a renowned photographer, artist, writer, filmmaker, curator, and lecturer.

Having experienced the power of art as a teenager – Ricardo’s knees shook upon first exposure to Paul Strand’s photographs – he identified his passion early on. The clarity of his purpose notwithstanding, his path forward remained a mystery. This led him to change course in search of fulfillment several times over. From a military school education to an Art History student in college, he switched majors to earn a graduate engineering degree. Sixteen years into the profession and with a wife and family to support, he left engineering to become a full-time professional photographer. Eight years later, he published his first book. Now his work is in the permanent collections of eleven museums, including the Smithsonian Museum of American Art.

Ricardo is a photographer who speaks from the platform of art, yet what he says has much broader implications. His truths apply to all of us. Addressing art as a discipline and metaphor, he advocates that we declare, “I am the audience for my artwork!” Only then are we truly free to create. He says, “Don’t be a salesman, peddling a product,” in marketing your services, “attract people to you. Be the interesting thing.” And “Forcing yourself to be different is a false goal. Find yourself, know yourself, and then you will be unique.”

Listen in and learn the difference between approaching a problem with an empty mind versus an open mind, and how Ricardo applies this in his art. Intriguing!

As Ricardo beautifully puts it,

“Photography can be so much more than exposure, content, and composition. A photographer who understands this joins the artist rank. Artists know that their medium is a neutral conduit for expression. The artwork, what they say with their media, is what matters. Whether visual, verbal, or other, artists with vision engage with ideas.”

We can only share this artist’s voice and ideas in this podcast. Ricardo’s work is also visual. So, treat yourself to his website. See his wonderful work and get inspired by even more of his ideas!

https://ricardobarros.com/

In this episode, I was delighted to speak with Earnest James, family man, minister, mentor, speaker, and author. He is also the host of the popular podcast “Deal to Heal with E. James Podcast”, the thrust of which is to help people heal by connecting them with experts in therapy, mentoring and guidance… from suicide to self-love to domestic violence… you name it, he’s covering it.

Earnest tells us how early failure taught him to always strive for achievement. (How many of us have been on the receiving end of that parental “I’m disappointed in you” look? Ouch!) He advises us to “Fail fast, fail first and rebound”.

Earnest’s inspiration for his community support work comes from his own life experiences. He developed a campaign called Friend 2 Fatherless Daughters and also mentors dads and sons with his M.A.N.U.P. (Men Activating Newly Untapped Potential) male mentoring program. He has also developed a series of workshops on forgiveness; forgiveness of one’s self to allow forgiveness of others, as well as workshops on bereavement.

We also learn of Earnest’s love of acronyms! Listen in to find out the meaning of S.E.L.F. and F.U.N. (I spilled the beans on M.A.N.U.P. already.)

To learn more about Earnest or to hear his podcast go to the following:

www.dealhealfulfill.org

Earnest James- Speaker, Podcaster, and Author 's Flowpage (flowcode.com)

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj4CU0HH0VJbSZr0DCDM83g

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dealtoheal

Tik Tok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMRV8t6kd

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deal2healpodcast/

Tee- Shirts: https://deal-2-heal-tees.myshopify.com/

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/dealtohealpodcast

Books: https://ebooksbyejames.com/

Welcome to the latest episode of “I’m Frickin’ Lonely…”.

In this episode, my guest, Valerie McKinney shares her story of how life as she knew it was completely upended two years ago! We hear about Val’s path through life…her love of manufacturing and assembly lines and how it parlayed into a pharma career, her wonderful family, and zest for living.

But Valerie bravely shares with us the horrible diagnosis she received during the pandemic and how she’s doggedly coping.

She tells of how quarantining during the pandemic was actually a help to her, allowing her to gradually come to grips with, and then share with others, her diagnosis of ALS.

I am humbled and honored that she has shared her story here on this podcast. I am also in awe of how she continues to think of the feelings of others, how she finds joy in giving to others, and how she still feels and expresses gratitude for her life, family, friends and love.

Please listen and learn…particularly to Valerie’s advice to live each day to the fullest and don’t put off following your dreams.

Today’s episode is one helluva story! Glenn Morton, the founder of “Father to the Fatherless Generation” shares the colorful and heart-rending story of his own troubled, very difficult childhood and how a single act of kindness totally changed his life.

What was lacking in his “upbringing” inspired him to create his organization, dedicated to helping boys and young men develop into productive and fulfilled adults. “Where fathers lack, we pick up the pace, and we make the relationship personal.” Glenn’s program focuses on teaching these 7 key principles, which if you listen, you’ll learn about!

1. Be Resourceful

Glenn is also a musician, (we learn how he picked his rap name of “Prevail” and that he opened for Destiny’s Child & Nelly!), an author and a business owner….a true renaissance man and entrepreneur!

Glenn advises each of us to have faith in yourself, that pain can make you great if you let it, and to give all you can during your life so that when you leave this world you are empty.

Please tune in to hear my conversation with yet another amazing human being!

Visit the following sites to learn more about Glenn .

http://www.glennmorton.com/

https://www.facebook.com/fatherlessgen

Also, check out his books (and other merch):

“The Ark”

“7 Magical Keys”

In this episode of “I’m Frickin’ Lonely”, I welcome Leslie Maxie, a U.S. Olympian, keynote speaker and media professional. And she’s just an all-around cool person to boot!  She even has a Wikipedia entry!

Leslie tells us the story of her background and how that led her to the Olympics. Having strong family support and great coaching didn’t hurt! We also talk about her subsequent media career and her current focus on public speaking (both doing and teaching) and her exciting newest project, “Not Your Mama’s 50” movement. It’s a great concept you’ll want to hear about! (And she also got to be involved in a project with Oprah! So, there’s that!)

Leslie shares how her successes have been the result of a combination of great mentors, nurturers, and guides along the way; an internal drive and willingness to do the work; and a belief in listening to and responding to a divine appointment.

Leslie advises us that we all exist in relationships and that as spiritual beings we are connected to one another and that we need to not only be reflective but also proactive in those relationships. That falls right in line with the theme of this podcast!

Please tune in to hear my conversation with this exceptional human being!

Visit the following site to learn more about Leslie.

https://maxiemediagroup.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Maxie

In this episode of “I’m Frickin’ Lonely”, I’m returning to the world of creative performance art; exploring how the creators were able to keep their juices flowing while in physical isolation. This week’s guest, Samantha Spriggs, a dancer, choreographer and dance educator, shares some unique insights into doing something so very physical while not physically present! Talk about creative work arounds!

Samantha shares how her choreography and teaching work emphasize the intersections between performing arts and social justice; and how dance and arts education cultivates strength, confidence, empathy and provides the tools necessary to be a good human.

She definitely infuses these tenets into the life-learning of her three kiddos. She describes the balancing act of her creative work and family life as “controlled chaos”, but that she actually functions better when handling multi-faceted challenges.

During our conversation, I had promised, but then forgot, to ask Sammy to provide a definition of “Bautanzt Here”, a dance organization in Atlanta. So I provide it here:

Bautanzt Here (translates to “building dances here”) is a site-specific dance performance company. Drawing inspiration from architecture and the ways in which humans interact with and live  their lives within the structures around them, Bautanzt Here creates multidisciplinary performances in non-traditional settings, and makes Dance accessible to audiences who otherwise might not experience live performances.

Visit the following sites for more information:

https://www.bautanzt.art

www.danceatl.org

www.samanthaspriggsdance.org

Instagram: @danceatlanta @samanthaspriggsdance

As we continue Season 2 of “I’m Frickin’ Lonely”, I’m wondering if it’s time to change the title…I’ve had such great guests, I’m definitely not lonely anymore! Yet while COVID’s no longer engraved in our thoughts, the focus of our conversations hasn’t changed. We continue to share people’s stories about their passions, drivers, evolution, resilience and of course…connections.

Today we’re talking with Elyse Pivnick, who’s focused her expertise in city planning on a 30+ year career in community service. Her role as Senior Director of Environmental Health at Isles, Inc. a community development organization based in Trenton, gives her the perfect platform to act on her love of “gritty cities”.

We hear how a stint working in communities in Africa inspired Elyse to apply city planning strategies she learned while there, here in New Jersey. She describes the myriad programs provided by Isles to support and revitalize Trenton communities, including an alternative high school, over 70 community gardens, training programs, and her specialty: healthy homes. And the bonus is getting to work toward a common goal with “kindred spirits”!

Elyse shares her personal story of loss, becoming a widow in 2019 after 38 years of a happy marriage, and how that impacted her navigation of the pandemic. (She also tells us how she bravely started dating again!)

Elyse advises us to nurture our relationships, go deep with our interests and find a way to contribute to our communities. Great advice!

Visit the following sites for more information:

Isles, Inc. - https://isles.org/

National Center for Healthy Housing - https://nchh.org/

Just some of the many books Elyse recommends:

1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created

   by Charles Mann

1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus

   by Charles Mann

Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk: A Novel

   Novel by Kathleen Rooney

The Plot Against America

   By Philip Roth

   (This is uncannily prescient of today’s situation)

After a bit of a break, here comes Season 2 of “I’m Frickin’ Lonely”. No…the pandemic isn't over…new variants abound! And while it’s become the new normal, it continues to have long term impact on most everyone’s lives.

This episode features a conversation with photographer Sandy Stolzman. After working her tail off for decades in providing products and resources to the design industry, Sandy was able to rekindle her creative fire by returning to her early love of photography. (As too often happens, artistic passions take a back seat to the need to make a living!)

And while her previous career had required her to be “on” all the time, her photography has allowed her to reconnect with herself and with nature. From landscapes to people to macro photography of flowers, insects and reptiles (to name just a few of her subjects) Sandy has found her new muse. She also shares with us how photography has connected her with wonderful volunteers and committed staff members at places such as Andalusia House, Morris Arboretum, Fort Mifflin and Chanticleer.

Sandy also tells us of how her close work with nature has strengthened her commitment to the environment. This led her to connect with OnlyOne, an organization committed to saving our oceans…one coral and one mangrove at a time. (I was inspired to join as well!)

As a child of Holocaust survivors, Sandy knows all too well about how to survive under the worst circumstances. While we may feel despair right now, she advises us all to hope for a better future!

See Sandy’s work at:

Instagram – SandyStolzmanPhotography

Website – Murals.Design -

   Here you can see installations of Sandy’s wonderful photographic murals. Projects include:

    · Weill Cornell OBGYN and Pediatrics

    · Inspira Health

    · St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital

    · Jefferson Health

    · Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center

Organizations mentioned:

  Only One – https://only.one

  Andalusia House – https://andalusiapa.org

  Fort Mifflin – http://www.fortmifflin.us

  Tyler Arboretum – https://tylerarboretum.org

  Chanticleer Garden – https://www.chanticleergarden.org

This week’s guest, Carol Markowitz is yet another remarkable person to share her stories with me! (Wow…have I been lucky to meet all these great people!!) Carol tells how as a student she discovered a passion that lead to a decades-long career in autism services (Spoiler alert…she helped a 7 year old girl to learn to speak!)

We also learn how finding packets of old letters between her mother and soldiers in WWII led to her post-retirement fulfillment…. researching and writing a book of historical stories about the war.  Her knowledge of the subject is astounding. (It helps that her husband is also a writer, leading to home-environment synergy.)

But that’s not all. Carol has also become involved in an organization that helps shelter girls in Kenya who are in danger of being sold off for early marriage. It is yet another passion project!

Carol advises us all to find our passion and pursue it in whatever way is available to us. I hope you’ll listen and be inspired to pursue your own passions.

Books:

By Carol Markowitz: “Autism Spectrum Disorders in Adolescents and Adults” Guildford Press 2014

“Yours for the Asking; a Soldier’s Letters Home” (yet to be published)

By Jeff Markowitz: “Hit or Miss” and “Motive for Murder”

Organizations of note:

Eden Autism Services - https://edenautism.org/

Organization for Autism Research - https://researchautism.org/

The National WII Museum – New Orleans, LA -https://www.nationalww2museum.org/

Military Writers Society of America - http://www.mwsadispatches.com/ (Saving history one story at a time.)

New Jersey Lawyers Assistance Program - https://www.njlap.org/

This week we circle back to the world of architecture and welcome Merilee Meacock, Architect and Partner at KSS Architects. Merilee was one of (what it’s starting to look like) a lot of people who reacted well to the isolation created by the pandemic. She likened the quietude to a “snow day”!  I loved that analogy!

There is a common thread throughout our conversation with Merilee, her passion for building communities. She does this through identifying common purpose and creating connections and giving people a voice. She describes designing for the human experience and the importance of connecting people to nature through biophilic design. This is especially important in her area of practice related to building for neurodiverse populations and people with autism.

Have you wondered what PechaKucha is? Well..now’s your chance to learn about it and how Merilee’s teams use it to help build connection and understanding within the firm. (I Googled it…)

Merilee has found that the best path to self-preservation and refueling her creative spirit is taking time for one’s self and finding balance. She’s lucky to have a haven in Maine where she can do this.

This summary just skims the surface! Listen in for much more!