Reflections with Raja

“When intuition hits you that loudly and clearly, it’s definitely not something to ignore." - Cheryl Furer

Cheryl and I met at a vegan restaurant in Salt Lake City years ago and became friends while sharing dessert. We are still in contact and I continue to be amazed by her story, wisdom and talents. In this episode, we talk about everything from the importance of learning accurate histories of race in America, rediscovering her own sexuality and sensuality through pole dancing and her journey to becoming a midwife as part of her justice and healing work.

For over 20 years Cheryl has studied nutrition, herbs, supplements, coaching and wellness.  She is a Certified Professional Midwife, Certified Homeopath, and Integrative Health Coach. And my friend!

Taped in Dec 2020

We kick off Season 2 with a very special guest: Snehal Desai. Snehal is a brilliant director, playwright, producer and community leader.  He is the Producing Artistic Director of East West Players, the US's largest Asian-American theater company and the longest running theater of color in the country.  

In this episode, we talk about nurturing a life-long desire for effecting change, using art to reflect our current moment, tackle taboo topics and increase representation for Asian, Pacific Islander, Desi American artists and identities. 

“All our lives are intersectional. Art reflects this life back to us.” - Snehal Desai

More about Snehal:

Snehal Desai is the Producing Artistic Director of East West Players, the US's largest Asian-American theater company and the longest running theater of color in the country. Before this time, Snehal was a freelance director working across the United States and the UK.  He is a member of the Asian Pacific American Media Coalition (APAMC) and serves on the boards of the Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists (CAATA) and Theater Communications Group (TCG).  Snehal found a home at East West Players because he found it to uniquely stand at the intersection of artistry and social justice. As an artistic leader, he has sought to raise awareness on social issues that affect Angelenos by personalizing them through storytelling.

Episode Taped Nov. 2020

Napoleon Tavale is an artist, teacher and story-teller. We talk about learning how to tell stories from watching children and our families, the need for connecting with others (especially in a pandemic), being a “drunk baby” and the power of prayer.

Napoleon Tavale (he/him) is a storyteller who was born in American Samoa and raised in St. Paul, MN.   He is most known for his acting roles on primetime television shows such as: Hawaii Five-O, American Horror Story, General Hospital, Criminal Minds, NCIS: Los Angeles, Grey’s Anatomy, and more. 

Tavale’s education includes a BA in Theatre Arts from Whittier College and an MFA in Acting from the University of Virginia.  Tavale is a multi-passionate artist as an actor, writer, producer, singer, dancer, and he teaches Drama at East West Players theatre in Los Angeles. His favorite sport to play and watch is basketball and he is currently enjoying the Midwest autumn season quarantining with his family. 

Taped September 2020

Dr. Janett I. Cordovés and I speak about being a first-generation Cubana, STEM student who pursued a career in higher education, now working on supporting interfaith movement work at IFYC. We chat about how she is harnessing her spiritual gifts of humility, faith and joy to thrive during the pandemic. Janett speaks about the badass women that inspire her and the the importance of Marie Kondo-ing your community (surrounding yourself with people that espouse joy). She also speaks about three important questions she asks her self at various critical moments in her life:

- "What brings me joy?"

- "Does the world need me to do it?"

- "Am I any good at it?”

Janett I. Cordovés is an interfaith scholar, higher education consultant and digital pedagogy specialist. She is the Director of Higher Education Partnerships for Interfaith Youth Core, working to equip and empower campus professional staff and faculty to be interfaith leaders. Before joining the IFYC team, Janett worked in higher education for over a decade, elevating the importance of engaging worldview identity and creating religious and spiritual accommodations and policies to support students' holistic development and retention and success efforts. Janett has a bachelor's in applied mathematics, a master's in higher education, and a doctorate in ethical leadership. Her research interests include first-generation, #digitalfaith, leadership development, and spirituality. In her spare time, Janett travels to spend time with family and friends, volunteers with Beyond Hunger, the Chicago Food Pantry, and at her place of worship - City Church Chicago.

https://www.janetticordoves.com

@joyful_makingadifference

@JanettIsabel

Mia Yamamoto is a badass. In this conversation, she speaks about finding purpose through the process of undoing shame in the form of overachievement, attending law school, coming out as transgender and using her roles to advocate for and uplift our communities. She asks, "What would MLK, Jr. do if he were alive today? How can we enhance the Black Lives Matter movement? And, how can we mobilize our communities to vote in this critical election?

Mia Yamamoto is nationally recognized civil rights lawyer, community organizer and transgender rights advocate. She was born in the Poston Concentration Camp and has received numerous commendations for her efforts as a member of the U.S. Army. Mia attended UCLA Law School and has a celebrated law practice in Los Angeles. She is involved in various advocacy efforts across the city and is a regular speaker on civil rights issues. She is a frequent media commentator on issues relating to criminal law and a variety of related issues for:  (print) LA Times, LA Daily Journal; (radio) KPFK, KPCC; (television) KCAL, Fox, NBC, KCET, MSNBC, CNN, Court TV and other cable and foreign media. Mia has been honored by national and international organizations, including the American Bar Association, UCLA, LA County Bar Association and Pride in London. Mia loves playing music, dancing and most of all, being with her wife, Kimberlee Tellez! 

Taped: September, 2020

This week, Heather Browning shares her affinity for change and transition, offering "life snacks" through her new podcast, creating spaces of vulnerability and unconditional love in relationships.

Heather is an educator, daughter, author, podcaster, community member, and friend. She holds 12+ years of experience working within large, complex institutions of higher education to drive their diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging efforts. Heather leads her life with intention and purpose, working towards creating spaces of vulnerability, authenticity, and personal agency for herself and others. She's excited to embark on a new journey that continues to push against societal expectations of how life *should* be in order to create spaces of meaning-making. Her podcast, I've Got Sh*t 2 Say! can be found on Spotify and Podbean. 

Taped: August 2020

Dr. Joy Hoffman reflects on her life as a transracial adoptee, the power of owning our stories, finding community in rural Minnesota and her love of Shawn T workouts. 

Dr. Joy Hoffman (she/her/hers) is an independent consultant with a focus on equity, inclusion, and socially-just practice and leadership. She served as a student affairs practitioner for 24 years, 17 of which were in multicultural affairs. She has spoken at national and regional conferences, and facilitated workshops for colleges, universities, and community organizations on topics related to inclusive and equitable practice and leadership. During her career, Dr. Hoffman served as the inaugural director of Diversity Initiatives and Resource Centers, California State University at Fullerton; director of the cultural center, Whittier College; director of multi-ethnic programs, Azusa Pacific University; and inaugural director of student leadership development, Concordia University Irvine. Most recently, she served as the interim Dean of the Center for Diversity and Inclusion at Washington University in St. Louis. She earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership at California Lutheran University in 2011.

Taped in June 2020

Dr. Joshua Moon-Johnson talks about being a multiracial educator, navigating multiple spaces but never really belonging, discerning a Christian-centered sense of purpose, and the power of empathy. 

"I think if we knew how to teach empathy, we would live in a different world.”

We also explore topics of addressing anti-Blackness in our communities, cancel culture, church-based dance teams and finding one's voice. 

Dr. Joshua Moon-Johnson (he/him) has nearly two decades of experience as a social justice focused educator, author, speaker, and consulting. He currently serves as the Dean of Student Services at American River College and is also a founder and managing partner at PMJ Consulting, LLC. Joshua has published multiple books; his first book, Beyond Surviving: From Religious Oppression to Queer Activism was a #1 Best-seller on Amazon.com for Gay & Lesbian Activism. Joshua's other books include, Authentic Leadership, which is about LGBTQ+ educational leaders, and Queer People of Color in Higher Education. Joshua previously served as the Assistant Dean/Director of the Multicultural Student Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and as the Director of the LGBT Center at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Joshua received a doctorate in higher education and LGBT studies from Northern Illinois University, a master's degree in student affairs from Binghamton University, and a master’s degree in Marketing Analysis from the University of Alabama. Joshua has served as a board member or leadership position for multiple educational and social justice organizations, including NASPA (Student Affairs in Higher Education) MultiRacial Knowledge Community and Asian Pacific Islander Knowledge Community, Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE Region V), Just Communities in Santa Barbara, the Sacramento LGBT Community Center, and the Association of California Community College. Joshua is from Mississippi, but is happy to call Sacramento, California his home.

www.joshuamoonjohnson.com

Taped: June 2020

In this episode, Surya and I speak about her journey of organizing, being a new mom and remembering 4am walks with social activist Baba Amte. 

In addition to being one of the coolest people I know, Surya Kalra is an Organizer with the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF). For the past 10 years she has developed her craft in the Bay Area, San Antonio, Texas, and Los Angeles, where she currently resides. She lives with her husband Rafael Paz Parra, And baby Kalyani Mayahuel. Surya is passionate about cooking, capacity building for local communities and finding new spaces for socially-distanced picnics in L.A.!  

Recorded in June 2020

Suresh Ramdas speaks about his journey to becoming Mr. Gay India 2019 through reflections on childhood bullying, self-acceptance and being an advocate for social change in India. We share stories of coming out, navigating family expectations and personal values, using privilege to empower others and continued work in self-love/acceptance. 

Content warning: suicide ideation, violence and trauma.