Gender inequality brings a legacy of tension and oppression to the world today. From segregated opportunities to intersectionality and predetermined roles, the struggle to grow as individuals comes with many barriers. Delilah and her mother Liz dive into the topic of feminism covering misconceptions, challenges and devaluation of human beings. We talk about bringing awareness and ideas,understanding others experiences and perspectives in the movement. People have “one-sided experiences and understandings” of their context and how they see the world. Delilah highlights how far we have come, and to not underestimate our capacity to unite and conquer inequality rather than divide our humanity.

https://youtu.be/XW--IGAfeas

Working alongside the previous episode, we were fortunate to have Sofia and Tamara on the podcast to share their experience as Ukrainians in America. Most people in North America are aware of the conflict, though distance brings challenges to aid and understanding. Our guests share how they are keeping in touch with their families, coming to terms with fear and pain and working on reaching out and cultivating support in the ways that they can. It was a blessing to have both Sofia and her mother Tamara bring incredible resilience in their vulnerability and willingness to share their insights and raise awareness to the impacts of the conflict, both locally and internationally.

What hurts our people, hurts us all. The conflict in Russia and Ukraine is a conflict between people, communities and leaders. Anna Moiseva joins the Cultures United Podcast to talk about the impact of the conflict on Russian people. Putin has been leading with violence and this affects both the Ukrainians and Russians, in very different ways. We talk about propaganda, compassion, extreme views of right and wrong, and forgotten populations in Russia who are devastated by the warring nations. At Cultures United, we focus on the value of each nation, the richness and depth they both bring and the strong ties between cultural livelihoods. Anna suggests that connecting over our humanity and talking to people you know and have a relationship with can help bridge barriers and foster compassion and understanding. Please do what you can to help those around you and spread love in these times of great hardship.

Sources:

https://twitter.com/juliaioffe/status/1503447834288402440?s=20&t=uqyUKGXlKf9SGPau-wwFig

https://twitter.com/KevinRothrock/status/1502761903046774786?s=20&t=uqyUKGXlKf9SGPau-wwFig

https://twitter.com/Activatica/status/1503003002055057416?s=20&t=uqyUKGXlKf9SGPau-wwFig

This week we were nourished with the presence of Robert Pavlik, a community leader in environmental conservation and with an admiral passion for ecosystems. In the east-coast of America he has been working with individuals of the community to spread knowledge and time spent uplifting the local ecosystems and communities alike. What incentives are there to take care of our environment and how should we consider our role in the health of the ecosystem? We learned so much in this episode from topics of urbanization, watershed and the span of pollution. The overwhelming pressure from climate change and action can be intimidating, but we come out of this episode with tools and tales to go outside, explore and be curious about the environment around us. Conscious communities are made up of informed individuals, just as large-scale changes can come from small, daily actions.

Access comes back as a theme in this episode where we welcome a new guest, Aashish, to enlighten us on the availability of resources through technology to help people learn and contribute towards informed and sustainable energy consumption. Defining sustainability proves to be a difficult task as we work through how it can be perceived versus how it can be achieved. We explore the economic and ethical routes of sustainability and balancing our usage of resources with conscious decision-making. Concluding this episode we agreed that empowerment has a more positive impact than shame and is the tool of choice when reaching for a sustainable future.

Where are the resources placed, and who has the most access to them? The quality and location of grocery stores, hospitals, and schools, etc. have a great impact on the communities that are able to use them and the well-being of the populations, closest and fathers from high-quality services and products. With Kirt (@kts_fit_life), and Mista Bee, we address the challenges of a segregated world and the legacy of impacts from past discrimination of the current health of populations. How people are treated and able to exist in communities can coincide with their access to the tool they need to be safe, healthy, and successful. Food Deserts, Malnutrition, Redlining and more are highlighted and we work to brainstorm solutions of what work could look like with equitable access and rights. Join our conversation online and tune it to hear what we think!

Moving out of the body towards what goes into it, Kirt (kts_fit_life) and your culture’s united hosts look at how nutrition impacts the body. Questions like what is nutritious, what is healthy eating and how can individuals find what works best for them? Are answered with care and detail. We walk through examples and situations to create meals that best suit individual needs and explain the importance of good digestion and wellbeing. This episode ties into all the physical work we have discussed to uncover a path and baseline for self-care and sustainable health.

What is spirituality? Some look at it through the lens of religion, some through stillness and others action. With recurring guest Kirt (@kts_fit_life) we find that spirituality lies in the practice of the beholder. He says “with spirituality, you are building mental and physical fortitude” which translates not only to fitness but navigating life as a whole. Through spirituality we talk about connection and “Ego work,” what it means to meet yourself on the other side of a challenge, and “nurse your emotions' ' as host Mista B puts it. Spirituality calls for exploration and a deeper curiosity of who you are and how your presence does and can make an impact.

We are kicking off our 5TH Season and the New Year we have Kirt (@KTS_fit_life) and Elijah (@emjgains) bringing in the tips, tricks, and why behind movement and fitness! Starting off, we ask ourselves and the audience, what is fitness, not just by definition, but to you as an individual. Finding motivation in movement is not about changing your appearance or being the best, but understanding why you are doing it for yourself and why it is an investment that is worthy of your time. Kirt and Elijah work through questions of practice and building a routine of movement that will help your growth in your overall health. Take a listen and let us know what you think @theculturesunitedpodcast!

In this episode, we hosted the lovely Gabryel Lake, Founder of Caarnosa, and “ah-ha” moments. Mista B and Gabryel spoke to the challenges and misperceptions that exist of male expression and emotions. Brought to the conversation was a thoughtful commentary on masculinity and vulnerability. As a writer, Gabryel articulates the power of self-expression through works and sharing her experiences through her web-based magazine, Caarnosa, and her upcoming poetry book. The pressure put on appropriate means of expression and self-care creates a generalized version of what should and can be valid. Come join our conversation and let us know how you are impacted by the expectation of health and how you experience it as an individual. What is your relationship with your emotions and how does that impact your relationship with others?

Resources: https://caarnosa.com/blogs/news/the-emotional-paradox-of-men

https://www.instagram.com/gabryellake/?hl=en