Stop the Earth

Today John and Melynda speak with John Gregory Hancock. We talk about what it’s like to be a creator and deal with the good folks on the internet leaving comments, and overall just have a good conversation with a great storyteller.   Hancock, Born near St. Louis, spent over 25 years as a newspaper graphic artist, winning multiple national and international design awards.   Ever since a child, he has been blessed (or cursed) with the ability to dream entire storylines in color. When he wakes, he remembers those plots for another story. He wrote and illustrated his first cross-genre anthology In the Dreamwood Tales series, “A Plague of Dreams”, which has garnered high reviews. Currently, he is working on Vol. 2, as well as an epic fantasy series and a paranormal adventure series. A new short story will appear in an upcoming DeadPixel Publications Anthology.   He lives with his wife and son in Ohio.   Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/John-Gregory-Hancock/e/B00B8ECQMW/   Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6876119.John_Gregory_Hancock   Dreamwood Tales Blog: http://dreamwoodtales.wordpress.com   Twitter handle: Grokdad Illustration page: http://www.artsprocket.com  

John and Melynda are joined by their most famous guest yet, Chef Sterling Wright, “MR. 100” and former Hell’s Kitchen contestant. They talk about how Sterling can stay so positive despite coming up from a rough part of Nashville and facing struggles in his life. He is one of the inspirations for the podcast and shows how in his own way, he can spread positivity and joy to everyone who comes in contact with him.

As a Nashville native, Sterling Wright is the real-deal – our very own home town inspiration and a missionary of hope and possibility to everyone who he meets. But life for Sterling hasn’t always been so easy. Born and raised in the rough area of J.C Napier homes of Nashville, But God was just starting to work his plan for Sterling.

After his recovery, Sterling began turning his life around, working in restaurants and anywhere that he could to both support himself and help those around him learn about his life lessons and God’s love for them. He shared his story to all who would listen in hopes of turning around just one person from the criminal lifestyle he had lead before. For the young boys he ministers to, Sterling share with them his life philosophy: Your Attitude + Your Choices = Your Life. For the young women, he has a different philosophy: the “7 B’s” – Books Before Boys Because Boys Bring Babies.

It’s hard to say what drove his success more … his conviction of spreading God’s loves to others or his passion for cooking. Sterling attended the Johnson Wales University Culinary School where he began perfecting his craft. Over the years as a professional chef, Sterling has served Presidents and CEO’s, music legends and celebrities, and appeared on Hell’s Kitchen where he and Chef Ramsey remain close friends. He’s a regular in the kitchen at the Nashville Mission and a favorite of all who visit there for nourishment, both of the heart and body.

Sterling’s involvement in the community are never-ending. He walks children home from school each week, through predatory neighborhood to the safety of their homes while ministering to them and sharing stories of hope. He produces community event for single mothers, inspiring them to believe in themselves. He supports Papa Joe’s ministries or Elijah Heart’s and weekly can be found delivering free food to those in high risk neighborhoods and the shut-ins. He organized clothing drives to support families in need.

Last year, Sterling voluntarily donated his bone marrow to a young woman diagnosed with cancer who he did not know, ultimately saving her life through this selfless act. And most recently, he took a trip to Haiti with the Hands & Feet Ministries team where he taught cooking and ministered to the orphans and citizens of Haiti.

Sterling is a mason with Prince Hall and a member of Southside Community Church in Nashville. He is married to Shancey Wright, and has two children, a son, Sterling Jr., and a daughter, Diamond. He is also the step-father to Shancey’s children, Latasha and Danshea.

Social change agents have a particular and rare set of skills for inspiring the community around them to be and do better. This is Sterling Wright.

Other websites you might be interested in:

http://www.wattsvoice.com

Join us on our social media:
http://www.instagram.com/STEPodcast
http://www.twitter.com/STEPodcast
http://www.facebook.com/STEPodcast

Contact the show at: [email protected]

Stop The Earth
October 26 – That’s How We Bend.

John and Melynda are joined by guest, Janel McLaughlin, Yoga Instructor. This is the first time on the show where the hosts are challenged by someone who has different ideas. The discussion flows from goat yoga to alternative medicine vs western medicine. An example of how people with some opposing viewpoints can have a respectful dialogue and come out still friendly.

Janel - Yoga Instructor I grew up on a farm approximately 25 miles north of a midwestern town in South Dakota. When I was a kid I don't even think I had ever heard of the word Yoga. One thing that I was very familiar with, even with a small class of 10, was body shaming and bullying. I was teased terribly about my body as a kid. I had no control over any of it and there was no one around to stop it. I was the oldest of 3 and I was left to fend for myself. This caused many problems in my childhood. I was angry and aggressive. I couldn't build bonds or friendships with people. I was a loner for most of my youth. As adulthood came for me I tried many dangerous and unhealthy ways to try and lose weight. Pills, drugs, diets, concoctions, that would maybe help me lose a few pounds but the weight would never stay off. This lead me down a very slippery slope that almost took my life. In 2014 Yoga came in to my life. It was by accident. I hadn't signed up for a class to go and "check it out." It came to me in a women’s retreat as one of the last activities of the day. The experience I had on my mat changed the course of events that have led up to today.

I felt absolutely wonderful on my mat. Moving and stretching in to my body felt like a whole new experience. I had zero exercise in my life before this day. After that day I made a commitment to start showing up to Yoga at least once a week. I continued on this journey and I felt changes starting to happen in my life. I felt myself coming alive for the first time. I had found a place to "let that shit go". With only a couple of years of practice under my belt I decided to take the teacher training. It was one of the best decisions of my life. I decided that even though I had lost some weight with the practice, and that was great, I was still a bigger girl, and I wanted to show the world that anybody can do yoga. ANY BODY. Since I have become a 200 HR Certified Teacher I have had the opportunity to teach people from age 9 to 90.

I have mothers bring their daughters to my classes. I have taught 90 year old great grandmothers chair Yoga at assisted living centers. I am showing the world that anyone can do Yoga. It is not just for the "bendies" or the size 2 woman that you see so much on social media and especially Instagram. Yoga is for everyone and there are modifications for everyone. I have been teaching the last two years at a non profit Yoga studio. I have recently spread my wings to my own studio space and am offering classes there on Thursday evenings from 5:30-6:30 and from 7-8. This is a Gentle Yoga class. This class is called "Let that Shit Go". I will continue to educate myself on my Yoga journey as there is much to learn and know. I have realized though that it is not the most important aspect of Yoga.

The most important aspect to me is being in community. To find a place where you are loved and accepted exactly as you are. Being in union with oneself, and teaching the student the same. Today I am ok with who I am. The struggle is over for self acceptance and self love. I have forgiven my bullies and I have forgiven myself for all the torture I put my mind and body through. It is about sharing that gift with others now. I learned to love myself again through Yoga. It's been an amazing journey so far and I can't wait to see where else it will take me.

Other websites you might be interested in:

http://www.wattsvoice.com

Join us on our social media:
http://www.instagram.com/STEPodcast
http://www.twitter.com/STEPodcast
http://www.facebook.com/STEPodcast

Contact the show at: [email protected]

John and Melynda are joined by guest, Christina Zephier, a school teacher. The conversation covers a bunch of topics like public schools vs private?, How can we teach our children how to think instead of what to think? Bullying… is it as big an issue as everyone says? Does it really take a village? Should people without kids pay taxes towards schooling?…and much more.

Christina Zephier has been working with kids ages 0-14 for 7 years. She graduated from Black Hills State in 2016 and has taught 5th grade ever since. She is married for the 2nd time and together they have a 12-year-old daughter, and two eight-year-old sons. (Mixed Family) Christina was born and raised in Rapid City, but has lived all around the Black Hills, as well as 2 years in Hawaii.

Other websites you might be interested in:

http://www.wattsvoice.com

Join us on our social media:
http://www.instagram.com/STEPodcast
http://www.twitter.com/STEPodcast
http://www.facebook.com/STEPodcast

Contact the show at: [email protected]

John and Melynda are joined by special guest, Former Miss Teen South Dakota Hunter Widvey. They discuss childhood cancer awareness and the importance of being the change you want to see in the world.

Hunter Widvey and has the goal of bringing more awareness to childhood cancer in South Dakota. She has felt a calling over the past several years to become a pediatric oncologist. She is currently a pre-med student at Augustana University majoring in Chemistry & Government/International Affairs. Hunter loves volunteering at the Sanford Children’s Hospital every week and getting to meet amazing kids who are going through battles they never should have had to face. Childhood cancer is extremely underfunded and she thinks a way to fix this problem is to raise awareness. Most people are unaware that childhood cancer only receives 4% of the National Cancer Institute funds. Many of the methods of treatment are outdated and unspecialized. With more funding, more lives will be saved and the quality of life after treatment will be much better.

Other websites you might be interested in:

http://www.wattsvoice.com

Join us on our social media:
http://www.instagram.com/STEPodcast
http://www.twitter.com/STEPodcast
http://www.facebook.com/STEPodcast

Contact the show at: [email protected]

John and Melynda discuss looking inward at our own biases. What is bias? And, how identifying our own biases will help us in our dialogue with other people. They take a look at several different bias definitions and discuss examples from the website https://yourbias.is/

Other websites you might be interested in:

http://www.wattsvoice.com

Join us on our social media:
http://www.instagram.com/STEPodcast
http://www.twitter.com/STEPodcast
http://www.facebook.com/STEPodcast

Contact the show at: [email protected]

Welcome to the Stop the Earth Podcast!

A discussion detailing inward reflection, observations of human interaction and how we can improve our world.

For our first episode we discuss exactly what the podcast is, why we are doing it and what you can expect as a listener.

You can contact the podcast by emailing [email protected]

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter!

 

————————————————————

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency of the U.S. government, State of South Dakota or other employers, friends, family, sponsors or frankly anyone other than the hosts. We are not doctors giving medical advice, or lawyers giving legal advice, also any events, characters and impersonations/voices depicted in the show are fictitious. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.