In this episode, I invited Kayla L. Hernandez Friend. She writes, directs and make things happen. 

We talked about... 

- Integrating Art in the Corporate/Private/Public sectors;  Importance of integrating storytelling to training, HR work and team building.

- More than Grants;  Importance of investing in developmental projects & nurturing the artists and their work.

- Innovation in Theatre; Developing new works FOR Hybrid space at Moxie Arts NYC

Guest Bio 

I am a creative at heart and a problem-solver. NY Notary Public. Paralegal. I play ukulele. I cook. I have two international rescue cats. And I'm passionate about serving people.

www.khernandezfriend.com/

www.moxiearts.org/

Show notes

00:53 - What is a fun fact that most people don’t know about you?

03:27 - Your work involve art, corporate, humanitarian… did you ever feel like you have to choose one or the other?

04:39 - *Quote* “It sounds strange to say, but I’ve never done only art full time. I’ve always had a full time job and full time art. “ 

05:12 - What does it like to be in a corporate sector as someone who identify as an artist?

10:12 -  *Quote* “This is a learning space. As much as theatre as learning space to bring into corporate space.  Corporate space can also be a learning space to bring into the theatre space. “ 

11:13 - Do you think there are more opportunities for the art & culture sector and the Private and Public Corporate sectors to partner up moving forward?

14:55 - Can you tell me a little bit about your personal practice in creative work?

20:20  - *Quote* “Everything is work in progress. I think it needs to be on its feet, instead of being inside my brain. 

20:40 - Can you tell me how you started Moxie Arts NYC?

25:06 - * Quote* - It shouldn’t be unique, but at the time, it was unique that this was not only featured an all female cast and all female creative.

34:15 - How can people connect with you and your work?

36:16 - What’s a call to action you want to share with the audience?

“To really consciously look at where you are investing. “ - Kayla

Thank you everyone for listening to this episode. Visit my website [ www.yukoislovelivelife.com ] and I’d love to connect with you there. You can sign up to my weekly newsletter or join my Patreon community [www.patreon.com/YUKOISLOVELIVELIFE ] and discuss more about Art + People and Social good.

Till next story, let's stay connected.

Yuko

In this Episode, we have Omar Lawrence as a guest. He's a poet, entrepreneur and author of "Omar; Man of Words".

He talked about his journey of

-  finding passion for writing,

-  self-discovery as a son of Immigrant,

-  having a healthy dose of audacity.

"Humans are storytelling Animal". So he found opportunities in the power of Storytelling.

Guest Bio 

Karl “Omar Lawrence" is a poet and entrepreneur from the Bronx, New York. He developed a passion for words at an early age, falling in love with the art of poetry when he was only 11 years old. Inspired by the stories of great cultural and business innovators who came before him. he decided that he too would use his creative gifts to make a unique mark on the world.

Not wanting to wait for a publisher or record label to discover him, he published his first book at the age of 18 and in the years following would go on to sell over 1000 copies building the following one person at a time having to learn first-hand how to build an enterprise from the ground up.

With the release of his first album “Omar: Man of Words” through his company Rich Radical, he aims to use music as a platform to impact people through authentic stories and insightful truths. Not for the faint of heart, close-minded, or easily offended, listen at your own risk of being transformed.

Omar: Man of Words (Album): smarturl.it/manofwords

Love, Omar: EP: smarturl.it/loveomar

Website: richradical.com

Show Note

00:30 - What is a fun fact that most people don’t know about you?

02:50 - When did you start writing poems?

*Quote* 04:50 - “Human beings are storytelling animals” - Omar

09:54 - You started sharing your work around what age?

15:07 - Can you expand on the impact that the trip to Thailand made in your life?

21:45 - Can you tell me about the letter from the White House that was mentioned in your book “Omar; Man of Words”?

*Quote* 24:09 - “It taught me that a healthy dose of audacity can take you places in life.” - Omar

27:04 - What does it mean for you to challenge yourself and your own mind?

32:50 - What’s next for you?

39:45 - How can people learn more about your work?

40:40 - What’s a call to action you want to share with the world today?

*Quote* “DEFINE the Blueprint of your life”. - Omar

Thank you everyone for listening to this episode. Visit my website [ www.yukoislovelivelife.com ] and I’d love to connect with you there. You can sign up to my weekly newsletter or join my Patreon community [www.patreon.com/YUKOISLOVELIVELIFE ] and discuss more about Art + People and Social good.

Till next story, let's stay connected.

Yuko

In this Episode, I invited Maya Koshaba, She's an actress and a Founder of Do Good Media. 

Guest Bio 

Maya is a half Mexican and half Middle Eastern actress. Maya is the founder of Mountain Productions, a cinema company devoted to producing films that promote international peace and cooperation with forward, inclusive and inspirational content. Maya is also the Founder and President of DO Good Media, a media company that seeks to use PR and social media in a responsible way with a refreshingly straight-forward, honest approach to PR.

Visit website : www.mayakoshaba.com 

Thank you everyone for listening to this episode. Visit my website [ www.yukoislovelivelife.com ] and I’d love to connect with you there. You can sign up to my weekly newsletter or join my Patreon community [www.patreon.com/YUKOISLOVELIVELIFE ] and discuss more about Art + People and Social good. 

Till next story, let's stay connected.

In this episode, I invited Rev. Connie Habash MA, LMFT. We talked about Nature, Spirituality, and Community. 

Guest Bio

Rev. Connie L. Habash, MA, LMFT, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, yoga & meditation teacher, interfaith minister, and author of Awakening from Anxiety: A Spiritual Guide to Living a More Calm, Confident, and Courageous Life.

Enjoyed this Episode? I'd love it if you can subscribe and share this with your friends. If you have a story that you want to share on this podcast, visit www.yukoislovelivelife.com and send me a message.

Till next story, let's stay connected.

xoxo Yuko

In this episode, I invited Zlaikha Y. Samad, co-author of "The Unseen Blossom" & "The Unseen Path". 

Bio & Message from Zlaikha, Zizi

Over the years, I was encouraged to write a book. I attempted countless times, but to no avail. The day I met my friend, I sensed an internal shift within me. A certain awareness or intuition, if you will, gave rise to specific scenes, ideas, and words. Soon after my unexpected connection with L’mere, he posed a question to me: “Have you ever seen a fig tree bloom?” He proceeded to tell me about the idea of the blossomless fig tree and his wish to write a book surrounding it. Intuitively, I knew that I was meant to co-write this book with him, but it seemed impossible because I was not an author. Unbeknownst to me, there was a novel waiting to be poured out of me onto blank pages. Hence, our first novel, The Unseen Blossom was born between us.

I am an Afghan-American born in Kabul, Afghanistan, and I came to the USA as a political refugee in 1981. I am lucky to be from an intellectual family of diplomats, writers, professors, physicians, travel enthusiasts, and peacemakers. 

I am pleased to say The Unseen Path is my second venture into visionary fiction writing, as I am one of the authors of The Unseen Blossom. For the past two years, I worked heavily on the novel’s publicity process so that it can truly soar, and, all the while, wrote this gem of a book. It is somewhat difficult to explain, but the soul connection between L’mere and I is the driving force behind the creation of both books.

Our story can be passed down to awaken and strengthen one’s sense of humanity. This novel detail an invasion that led to chaos both in Afghanistan and in our world, weaved within a love story of two young souls.

Throughout this experience, I am most proud to be the mother of my wonderful daughter and brilliant editor, Madee. She is my heart.

To purchase her book, visit 

https://www.amazon.com/Unseen-Blossom-Zlaikha-Y-Samad/dp/0998103659/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1618335936&sr=8-1

Social Media 

FB @TheUnseenBloosomBook

IG @theunseenblossom

Twitter @UnseenBlossom

Enjoyed this Episode? I'd love it if you can subscribe and share this with your friends. If you have a story that you want to share on this podcast, visit www.yukoislovelivelife.com and send me a message.

Till next story, let's stay connected.

xoxo Yuko

In this episode I invited Crissa Constantine. She's a classical pianist, a cancer survivor and an author of "Love and Accept Yourself Now". 

Bio and Message from Crissa Constantine 

I was born in 1951 in Vancouver, BC, and was an only child. My parents were both refugees from Europe, and they needed me for emotional support just as much as I needed them. Mom fled from Estonia in 1944 and couldn't go back home for 47 years, until 1991, when the Soviet empire started dissolving. Dad was born in Smyrna (Izmir) in the Greek enclave on the Turkish coast, and had to flee to mainland Greece when he was only two because the Greeks lost the war against the Turks. 

I was interested in many different subjects, so I got several degrees over the years, a BA and BMus from UBC, an MA in music from CWRU in Cleveland, and a BEd and M.Ed from LSU in Shreveport. 

A lifetime of observations of human nature and history combined with my education has convinced me that there is not quite enough love in the world to create a happy and safe existence for us all. Most of us suffer from feelings of inadequacy and there is a profound desire for territory built into our genome. Stephen Hawking said he was worried about our future because of the greed and aggression in our genome, and Jane Goodall says there is a disconnect between our brains and our hearts. 

What is an artist/musician supposed to do when faced with a world like this? I'm grateful I lived long enough to create my own style of piano music that is inspired by the beauty of Nature and I love to give benefit concerts for good causes. I gave a series of concerts in 2016 on Vancouver Island to encourage the scientists in Victoria at the Trev Deeley cancer research center as they do immunology research to help the body fight cancer with its own resources. I gave a concert in 2019 to raise awareness and funds for a Pakistani refugee family. My last book, Love and Accept Yourself Now, was written to help other people stand in front of a mirror and say, "I love you," to themselves. According to all the wise and learned people, including Wayne Dyer, you can't love others well until you learn to love yourself.

I hope to record my latest nature-inspired piano pieces and get them out online for free for anyone who needs to be uplifted. I would also like to make the last book available for free as an e-book.

Website http://www.crissa-constantine.com

Enjoyed this Episode? I'd love it if you can subscribe and share this with your friends. If you have a story that you want to share on this podcast, visit www.yukoislovelivelife.com and send me a message.

Till next story, let's stay connected.

xoxo Yuko

In this episode, I invited Zafi Dimitropoulou Del Angel (Artistic Dir.) & Aya Esther Hayashi (Development Manager) of People's Theatre Project. 

< Guest Bios > 

Zafi Dimitropoulou Del Angel (Artistic Director) is a Mexican Greek theatre-maker and educator. As a performer, she has developed work with European ensembles including the Troubleyn/Jan Fabre company in Belgium. As an educator, she piloted a program with the Department of Education in Athens that brought theatre to schools across the city. At PTP, her duties include program development and management of the PTP Academy and PTP’s 18 Partnerships. BS, Political Science and Public Administration, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens; Acting, Greek Art Theatre Karolos Koun; MFA, Physical Theatre, Dell’Arte International.

Aya Esther Hayashi is a Japanese American arts administrator, musicologist, and theatre artist. She previously served as Development Associate at Pan Asian Repertory Theatre and Assistant Director/Choreographer for the Children and Teen Theatre Programs at the Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance on Roosevelt Island. She has had essays and interviews published by Routledge, Intellect/University of Chicago Press, and Transformative Works and Cultures, and presented talks at regional, national, and international academic conferences. Currently, she works as the Development Director at the People’s Theatre Project. She keeps her creativity active by producing intimate musical theatre productions through her company Okaeri Productions and by performing and directing with AfterWork Theater. BM, Music Performance, University of North Carolina; MA, MPhil, and PhD, Music, The Graduate Center, CUNY.

Website:  https://peoplestheatreproject.org/

Join PTP's  GALA May 27th, 7pm EST! Honoring the teaching artists, Katori Hall and Nelson Cruz. 

Enjoyed this Episode? I'd love it if you can subscribe and share this with your friends. If you have a story that you want to share on this podcast, visit www.yukoislovelivelife.com and send me a message.

Till next story, let's stay connected.

xoxo Yuko

In this Episode, I invited Jordan Danielle, Movement Artist•Birth worker•Curator•DJ, A founder of A Queer •Trans •Non Binary & BIPOC centered community org. “As You are”. Here's Jordan. 

Guest Bio

Jordan Danielle, sun child, nature boi, big guppie. Jersey born and raised, they found themselves invited into the state of Utah in 2017 for a dance theatre project that settled them into such a dynamic state, a place they themselves never thought they'd end up being. The blossom of acknowledging and moving forward in truth started here. A journey of finding a once suppressed voice. A multi-faceted being, Jordan is a movement artist, personal chef to themselves and friends, event curator, DJ, birth worker, and founder of As You Are; a platform that promotes and provides resources and interactive experiences across multidisciplinary mediums that benefit the BIPOC and QTGNC community. They are dedicated to creating an educational and artistrical safe and inclusive space for Queer Trans and Gender Non-conforming folx, as they have always desired a space like that for themselves as a young queer kid. An antisocial extrovert, deep lover, constant observer, lover of ramen and mac and cheese sits inside their constant awakening visionary soul. Libra sun. Scorpio moon. Aquarius Rising. A proud forever evolving black trans genderqueer boi.

https://www.instagram.com/jordir0c/

https://www.instagram.com/_asyouare.space_/

https://www.unitedinbirth.com/classes-workshops

Enjoyed this Episode? I'd love it if you can subscribe and share this with your friends. If you have a story that you want to share on this podcast, visit www.yukoislovelivelife.com and send me a message.

Till next story, let's stay connected. 

xoxo Yuko

In this Episode i invited Freedom Rivera, a radical self-love teacher, wellness consultant and psychotherapist.

Guest Bio

Freedom Rivera is a radical self-compassion teacher and psychotherapist. She is also the founder and facilitator of the well-known "Mindful We Circle" in New York city.

Freedom helps people build a strong Self-love practice so they can put their happiness first and and create a life they love.

She is known for her joyful energy and creating nourishing group experiences for people to get in touch with themselves, connect and play.

Despite a traumatic childhood, her core belief is that everyone is capable of making their dreams into a reality through self-compassion.

Freedom holds a masters degree in counseling for mental health and wellness from New York University.  She practices mindfulness living and has received different trainings in mindfulness.

When she’s not working, you can find her volunteering at her local library, or watching "When Calls The Heart."

Learn to create the best relationship with yourself by subscribing to Freedom's Love Notes at freedomrivera.com/lovenotes

Enjoyed this Episode?

I'd love it if you can subscribe and share this with your friends. If you have a story that you want to share on this podcast, visit www.yukoislovelivelife.com and send me a message.

Till next story, let's stay connected. xoxo Yuko

In this episode, I invited Kate Harvie, a storyteller and an author of Believe It and Behave It: How to Restart, Reset, and Reclaim Your Life.

Guest Bio

Kate Harvie was born to teach people how to tell their stories. She does this via writing, editing, marketing, brand strategy, and development online and offline. A graduate of law school, she is a startup founder and advocate for survivors of all kinds of trauma.

A published writer for online magazines, print publications, blogs, and the companies where she works in communications and strategy (The Vanderbilt Republic and MIDHEAVEN Network), Kate began in advertising at FutureBrand’s digital practice. She co-wrote curricula, vodcast scripts, and training dialogues at Sephora and for several cosmetic companies. As the community and content manager at The Phat Startup, she was responsible for the website’s content creation, editing, and ghostwriting. Today she is the contributing writer for the Universal Hip Hop Museum.

Kate is a survivor of a traumatic brain injury. That is the impetus for her first book, Believe It and Behave It: How to Restart, Reset, and Reclaim Your Life. She is a singer, an advocate, and the person you want in your corner and on your speed dial.

https://KateHarvie.com

https://KateHarvie.com/book

https://KateHarvie.com/media

Enjoyed this Episode? 

I'd love it if you can subscribe and share this with your friends. If you have a story that you want to share on this podcast, visit www.yukoislovelivelife.com and send me a message. 

Till next story, let's stay connected. xoxo Yuko