In this episode I read words from the late, great astrophysicist/astronomer Carl Sagan and then invite you into a short inquiry about living our very human lives while also being part of the ever-changing immensity and interdependence of this wild universe. Sound heavy? It's not. Listen and check it out.

The late, great astronomer Carl Sagan wrote some words that (gorgeously!)point towards the fact that we are immense, made of essential elements and inextricably woven into everything and each other. In this episode I read some of his words from Pale Blue Dot then invite you into an inquiry which then ends with me reading from one of my very early verse/lyrics.  This episode is a portion of a presentation/guided inquiry I created for some faculty and staff at our local university with the hope of us all remembering that we can widen our perspectives.

I wrote this one way back in 2000.

"Wild life, life lived wild..."  Let's celebrate it!

Hunter is a classically trained pianist who is devoted to democratizing music by replacing the concert hall with stunning landscapes and making these music experiences affordable and multi-sensory.  Hunter and his crew place a 9 foot Steinway piano on a flatbed truck and give people the experience of being in a landscape with a live soundtrack where they can move, explore and take in the beauty of our natural wonders.This episode has the added bonus of Hunter playing us in at the start and playing us out at the end. Listen to the very end so you don't miss him playing some Chopin!(There are a few moments here and there in the podcast when our zoom connection got wonky but they only last a few seconds; besides, Sparks In Action is not about perfection. All episodes are unedited.)

You can reach Hunter and learn more about him, his work and his schedule at https://inalandscape.org

 This is designed for mid -day or anytime you begin to feel brain fog, eye strain, mind overdrive or simply want a guided reset.

Do not listen while operating a car or any sort of machinery.

 You can follow this while seated at your desk or lying on the floor. As always, if you have questions or want to reach out visit my site at https://donnalsherman.com

After a few of us created a story that involved time travel, George Washington, a blue flying horse and a run in with a T Rex I asked Lisa this question this question:

 " What's the best thing about being a child?" Here is her response.

Lori Wynters interviewed me and here's the conversation. When you hear some pauses don't  think anything is off with your audio,  we allow for a few seconds of silence when silence was the honest space between questions or responses. 

 I interviewed Lori on an earlier episode of SIA so check it out.

The early Sparks In Action videos (before it became a podcast) I mention in the interview can be found by searching for Sparks In Action on You Tube. You will find three videos titled:

Women Who Walk Their Talk

Stellar Wonder

Take Me to the River

Allen Taylor, PHD and Kim Kronenberg, MPH have created an inspiring and uplifting program called STEP-GTP: Science Training Encouraging Peace- Graduate Training Program. This visionary program pairs Palestinian and Israeli Graduate Students so they can do scientific work and research together with the  aim of "reintroducing Israelis and Palestinians to each other" and cultivating enduring professional relationships built on respect and trust. 

For information visit https://STEP-GTP.org. You can contact Kim or Allen at [email protected]

https://donnalsherman.com

You know how the still small voice within ( or the loud nudging voice from within) is telling you that there is a specific goal or behavior change you deeply want/need to weave into your daily life? Take three minutes and listen to how the "Want It & Do It" series I am offering can help you move steadily from desire to action. No hype, just a lot of effective tools and steady support. Please contact me with any questions about content or registration at [email protected] or via my site https://donnalsherman.com

Jimmy shares his rich history in the world of radio and how his path led him to where he is now at the the vibrant, non- commercial Radio Kingston in Kingston, NY.  Radio Kingston (WKNY 1490 AM /107.9 FM) breaks the boundaries of commercial radio and creates a vital and diverse platform for the exchange of information, ideas, inspiration, story telling and community actions with the goal of creating a more  "just and equitable Kingston". To learn more:  https://radiokingston.org