LISTEN UP

FIRST CHAPTER FRIDAYS presents the first of fifteen short stories entitled The Master of the Minimalist written by Amy Hempel. Longlisted for the Pen/Faulkner Award, one of Time's 100 Best Books of the Year, and one of NPR's Best Books of 2019, Hempel reveals writing at her most compassionate and spirited, as she introduces characters, lonely and adrift, and searching for connection. 

Ravishing, heartbreaking, and powerfully concise, Sing to It is an “exquisite collection” (The Wall Street Journal) and a “quiet masterpiece by a true American original” (NPR).

FIRST CHAPTER FRIDAYS presents This is Not a Ghost Story by Andrea Portes, published in 2020. It is a teen paranormal mystery/thriller novel that follows Daffodil who housesits a mansion for the summer before college. The longer she is there, the more she experiences supernatural things and repressed memories come back to her which include memories of her old boyfriend Zander. It’s a story with a twist ending that you’ll just have to read yourself to find out. 

Join us for NIGHTMARE BEFORE BEDTIME a Storytime series for Adults and Teens. This installment is from an anthology of stories about witches and witchcraft by Richard Dalby aptly titled, Tales of Witchcraft.

The Yew Tree by Shamus Frazer features an abandoned valley and a loathsome yew tree with a legend. During the sixteenth century witch-mania, a Halloville woman was hanged as a black sorceress and her corpse impaled with a yew stake. On the gallows, she swore to return as a winged demon and exterminate the village, hence this half bird, half tree abomination.

Martin, a surveyor, takes a cottage on the outskirts of Halloville while he plots the course of a new reservoir. Martin takes immediate dislike to a yew tree that seemingly uproots itself at will.  Martin does his best to avoid it after dark, even if it means taking the scenic route to the cottage. Nighty night...

--Journaling our dreams can be a tool to help us achieve greater mental, emotional, psychological, and spiritual balance/well-being.

--It connects us to our creativity. Creative outlets are necessary to our overall sense of wellbeing and wellness.

--The best way to utilize our dreams, or improving dream recall, is by keeping a dream journal.

--We spend up to 30% of our lives asleep, a percentage of that time dreaming. Something all humans have in common, yet our own dreams are very unique and personal to us. Only makes sense to pay attention to this aspect of our lives - which we spend a considerable amount of time doing.

--The episode will explore tips for beginning a dream journal practice. Some quick notes on dream interpretation (mostly: that it is very individual. Dream "dictionaries" are fun but not necessarily that useful on an individual level. Pay attention to patterns, recurring themes).

--NOTE: Seek professional help if grappling with serious trauma, if having nightmares or disturbing dreams. This is not something you should work through on your own.

In this fourth episode of Passing the Mic Shawn speaks with Percell, the owner and founder of Simply Wholesome Organic Market. Listen in to learn how he took his passion for personal wellness and fitness and transformed it into one of the most significant Black Owned businesses in the city of Los Angeles. Insights include Percell’s approach to stocking the shelves as well as his sentiments on personal growth and finding one’s path in life.

FIRST CHAPTER FRIDAYS presents Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin.  This book was recommended by Robert Kingi of KingiKaju from Passing The Mic episode published on August 23rd.  

A true leader takes 100% ownership of everything in his domain, including the outcome and everything that affects it. This is the most fundamental building block of leadership that cuts across all other principles. It applies to leadership at any level, in any organization. 

Extreme Ownership teaches readers the lessons that two US Navy SEAL officers obtained during their service. These officers led the most highly decorated special operations unit of the Iraq War. In Extreme Ownership, they apply powerful leadership principles from the battlefield to business and life. Through life-threatening experiences, the two authors learned that leadership is the most important factor responsible for success.

In celebration of the first day of autumn, POETRY OUT LOUD recites a poem by Robert Lee Frost published in 1912. This poem personifies nature and the seasons but can be interpreted as love and moving forward. 

FIRST CHAPTER FRIDAY presents Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez, a Pure Belpre Award winning book, in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which is celebrated mid-September through mid-October. Listen to the first chapter of this book, where the main character, Camila wants to play fútbol and study in America but doesn’t get the support from her family. They hold on to ideas that girls don’t belong on the soccer field, but that doesn’t stop Camila from dreaming and succeeding in the sport. It is a book about holding on to your dreams despite the expectations of others.

Join us for NIGHTMARE BEFORE BEDTIME a Storytime series for Adults and Teens. This installment is a short story titled “Six Boy Coffins,” taken from the book, The Merry Spinster: Tales of Everyday Horror by Daniel Mallory Ortberg. It is a story about six brothers who are banished by their mother for their safety when their father declares they will die if the next child born is a girl. Indeed a girl is born and she goes through lengths to make up for the suffering she believes she caused her brothers. With fairytale vibes this short story may make you feel a bit creeped out. Nighty night...

This exercise is called Hello Moments and is taken from the book Mindfulness for Teens in 10 Minutes a Day: Exercises to Feel Calm, Stay Focused & Be Your Best Self by Jennie Marie Battistin published in 2019. This exercise helps you focus on the present. At times we can focus on the past or the future, and forget to be present in the now.