Bowing To Elephants Podcast: Recent Episodes
Mag Dimond
In her international bestseller, Bowing To Elephants, Mag Dimond travelled the world in search of timeless wisdom to find healing, connection & meaning. In the Bowing To Elephants podcast, she brings that wisdom to you. Join Mag in conversation with masters of all kinds to help you live a mindful, meaningful life.
Welcome to the final episode of the Bowing to Elephants Podcast. It is with bittersweet feelings that I announce I'm discontinuing the podcast, just for the time being. Life is calling me to address different creative work right now. I appreciate all of you who have steadfastly listened to the show. Here today to help me reflect on the last six months and discuss my next adventure is my friend and cohort, Ben Gioia.
What You Hear/Learn/Discover [1:40] Mag explains why she started the podcast in the first place.
[03:08] Mag talks about her successes and disappointments with the podcast and what she learned along the way.
[4:48] Ben and Mag discuss the array of guests that joined the show.
[8:53] Mag shares her next steps now that the podcast is on pause.
[11:16] Mag answers the question, “If you could have one more person on your podcast, alive or deceased, who would it be?”
[13:05] Ben and Mag discuss the recent death of Thich Nhat Hanh, his life, his legacy, and his poetry.
[14:46] Mag talks about her food memoir and how she’ll now have the time to complete it.
[15:42] Mag invites her listeners to stay in contact with her.
[17:19] Ben talks about the bittersweetness of ending the podcast and his anticipation for Mag’s upcoming book.
Quotes “I wanted to showcase human beings’ sense of adventure and curiosity, their endurance, and their innate wisdom. So I went looking for wise, compassionate, interesting, and creative souls to join me in the conversation.”
“I'm pausing [the podcast] so that I can read more books, and more importantly, so I can complete my food memoir,…so I can travel,…and complete an intensive training to be a meditation leader.”
Resources https://magdimond.com/
Appreciation From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for being here. If you haven't already, come join the community!
Instagram: https://instagram.com/magdimondauthor
Website: https://bowingtoelephantspodcast.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to rate and review this podcast.
Jill Mott is a “cultural lens shapeshifter,” photographer, and photojournalist who brings a unique, sparkling energy to everything she does. Armed with only her camera and imagination, she once traveled the world from England to Zimbabwe… with a stop in Italy for art school! Today, Jill teaches and shares her understanding of communication and storytelling — across a myriad of forms — particularly with the camera.
Jill lives in beautiful Fort Collins, Colorado with her husband and family. Her work has been recognized by the National Press Photographers Association. She’s exhibited her work in solo shows and group exhibitions around the country.
What You Hear/Learn/Discover [0:22] Guest introduction
[2:38] Jill explains why she qualifies herself as a “cultural lens shapeshifter.”
[6:07] Jill shares insights from her experiences as a teacher.
[10:00] Jill talks about her charity work with the Fort Collins Museum of Art.
[21:07] Mag and Jill discuss Jill’s years living in Zimbabwe and how it impacted her art long-term.
[25:45] Discover how Jill met her husband while working on a joint project in Africa.
[28:36] Jill talks about art forms, storytelling, and encouraging her students in their work.
[31:25] Mag talks about how journalism has evolved over the last several decades.
[33:21] Jill answers the question, “If an autobiography or biography was going to be written about your life, what would the title be?”
Quotes “I began my journey in Zimbabwe after working in newspapers for two decades. I'd always wanted to go to Africa, and of course, I was influenced by those National Geographic covers…Africa always seemed to be a distant place that I was attracted to, and I thought, “Well, what if my prince charming isn't in America?”
Connect with Jill Mott http://www.jillpmottphotography.com/
Social media:
https://www.instagram.com/jillpmottphotography/
https://twitter.com/JillPMott
https://www.facebook.com/jillpmottphotography/
Appreciation From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for being here. If you haven't already, come join the community!
Instagram: https://instagram.com/magdimondauthor
Website: https://bowingtoelephantspodcast.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to rate and review this podcast.
Andrew and Liya Truong are stunningly talented chefs. They own and run Terrapin Creek Cafe & Restaurant in the sleepy, small town of Bodega Bay, California. Their fantastic menu garnered them a Michelin Star in 2011. And they have the love and devotion of Bodega Bay citizens and all those traveling along the coast who happen to stop by for a bite.
Liya and Andrew met at culinary school in the early 2000s. Each went on to work at high-end San Francisco restaurants before marrying in 2007 and opening Terrapin Creek Cafe in 2008 (And succeeding, during a recession!). When not working at Terrapin Creek, you can find the Truongs caring for their three children.
What You Hear/Learn/Discover [2:38] Andrew & Liya share how they bought their restaurant, Terrapin Creek Cafe.
[04:14] Learn how Bodega Bay has embraced their cafe.
[7:24] Liya explains how growing up around her family’s restaurant influenced her culinary tastes.
[9:04] Andrew and Liya discuss how hard it is to make it in the restaurant world.
[11:02] Mag, Andrew, and Liya talk about how the restaurant grew and expanded.
[13:38] Leah and Andrew explain how their college degrees in economics and computer science help them run their business.
[17:14] The guests share their favorite items on their restaurant menu.
[19:54] Andrew & Liya talk about their Michelin star.
[23:49] Liya and Andrew answer the question, “If you were going to invite fellow chefs to have dinner with you, who would you invite? And what would you make?”
[30:00] Andrew & Liya talk about balancing work and home life.
Quotes “I love how fresh we keep everything and how the food that we serve is actually helpful, whole food. We try to prepare it minimally. And I can eat it every day and feel good. You know, it's not loaded with fats or starch. It's balanced.” “For the longest time, it was just Andrew and me. I was in the kitchen. He was in the kitchen, and then when the restaurant was open, he would be on the floor serving, and I'd be cooking.” Connect with Andrew & Liya https://www.terrapincreekcafe.com/
Appreciation From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for being here. If you haven't already, come join the community!
Instagram: https://instagram.com/magdimondauthor
Website: https://bowingtoelephantspodcast.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to rate and review this podcast.
An author, a poet, and phenomenal woman, Bella Mahaya Carter is a writing teacher and coach who promotes self-awareness and mindfulness. Bella believes in the power of writing to heal and transform lives. She sees publishing one’s work as an opportunity to deepen self-awareness, nourish meaningful connections, and delight in peak experiences while being of service. Her latest book, Where Do You Hang Your Hammock? is a delightful, funny, and deadly serious book that reminds the reader over and over how far self-awareness can take you. She’s also the author of her memoir, Raw: My Journey From Anxiety to Joy, and a book of poetry, Secrets of My Sex. What You Hear/Learn/Discover [2:47] Bella explains how her blog inspired her latest book.
[05:13] Bella answers the question, “What’s the key takeaway you want readers to get from your book?”
[9:33] Bella talks about her memoir.
[12:07] Bella shares how she didn’t even realize she struggled with anxiety, not until it was a full-blown problem.
[15:02] Discover why Bella sees a snow globe as a metaphor for anxiety and disordered thinking.
[18:06] Mag and Bella discuss their childhoods.
[22:48] Bella talks about how Pablo Neruda and Jon Kabat-Zinn have influenced her.
[27:08] Bella explains how a back injury ended her professional dancing career, but she still loves dancing and moving her body.
[29:24] Mag and Bella discuss the difference between “knowing in the mind and knowing in the body.”
Quotes “Of course, the only reason to read a memoir…is that we're looking for our own experience, right? We're looking to see our own lives reflected so that we get a sense of how to navigate our own lives.”
“I started creating choreography. I loved that because I was interested in telling stories, and it didn't really matter the form that my storytelling took. I was telling stories through dance.”
Resources Bella’s books:
Where Do You Hang Your Hammock?: Finding Peace of Mind While You Write, Publish, and Promote Your Book
Raw: My Journey from Anxiety to Joy
Secrets of My Sex
Connect with Bella Mahaya Carter https://www.bellamahayacarter.com/
Social media:
https://www.facebook.com/BellaMahayaCarter/
https://twitter.com/BellaMahaya
https://www.instagram.com/bellamahayacarter/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bella-mahaya-carter-18570914/
Appreciation From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for being here. If you haven't already, come join the community!
Instagram: https://instagram.com/magdimondauthor
Website: https://bowingtoelephantspodcast.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to rate and review this podcast.
A creative soul and lifelong scholar, Sands Hall is a blessing to everyone who meets her. She shares her brilliant spark in many ways: as a teacher, musician, actor, and writer. And today, she joins us to talk about her moving memoir, Reclaiming My Decade Lost in Scientology. In her memoir, Sands shares what first led her to Scientology, the darker undercurrents of Ron L. Hubbard’s leadership, and how she eventually disentangled herself from the Church.
Sands is also the author of a novel, Catching Heaven, and a writer’s handbook, Tools of The Writer’s Craft. She has extensive theater experience as a playwright, actor, and director. A woman of many talents, Sands is also a singer and songwriter. She currently resides in California, where she teaches at Franklin University and Marshall College.
What You Hear/Learn/Discover [0:26] Guest introduction
[03:00] Sands explains why she loves to teach.
[6:16] Sands shares how her brother’s injury drove her to Scientology.
[10:00] Find out why studying the sacred works is an integral part of any religion.
[12:16] Mag and Sands talk about how we cope with chaos in our lives.
[13:17] Sands explains why she considers Scientology to be a cult.
[16:37] Mag and Sands discuss the commonalities between all major religions.
[28:56] Sands talks about the difference between our individual purpose and constructed belief systems.
[32:55] Discover why Sands didn’t get hung up on whether her memoir would be published or not.
[37:19] Sands answers the question, “What three creative geniuses would you invite to dinner if time and place weren’t a constraint?”
Quotes “What attracted me so deeply to Scientology (and what I think attracts a great many people) is that it is so orderly. Everything in life is a big, messy thing. We're always confronting stuff. We're always facing stuff. We think we've got stuff sorted out, and then something else pops up to be a problem. And Scientology appears to offer this tremendous order in the way that it approaches life.”
Resources Sands’ books:
https://sandshall.com/catching-heaven/
https://sandshall.com/tools-of-the-writers-craft/
https://www.amazon.com/Flunk-Start-Reclaiming-Decade-Scientology
Connect with Sands Hall https://sandshall.com/
Social media:
https://www.facebook.com/SandsHall.Writer/
https://www.instagram.com/sands.hall/
https://twitter.com/sands_hall
Appreciation From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for being here. If you haven't already, come join the community!
Instagram: https://instagram.com/magdimondauthor
Website: https://bowingtoelephantspodcast.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to rate and review this podcast.
Meet Author Gretchen Cherington, who, after many years of silence, chose to share her story of abuse. Sexually molested by her father, Richard Eberhardt, a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, Gretchen broke decades of silence to share what life with him was really like. Her memoir, Poetic License, is an authentic, brave piece of work that details what it was like growing up around literary geniuses such as Robert Frost and Allen Ginsberg.
It wasn’t until Gretchen chose to share what happened that she could finally start to heal and discover the incredible freedom found in forgiveness: not for the forgiven, but for the person who makes the choice to forgive.
Gretchen worked as an executive management consultant for 35 years, gaining powerful insights into what makes powerful men tick. Poetic License has won multiple awards, and Gretchen’s essays appear in multiple literary publications. When she’s not writing, Gretchen loves being outdoors.
What You Hear/Learn/Discover [0:26] Guest introduction
[3:01] Gretchen explains how she first started her memoir, Poetic License.
[11:18] Gretchen shares how her father sexually molested her when she was 17.
[12:18] Mag and Gretchen discuss how writing a memoir forces you to face your deepest traumas and finally deal with them once and for all.
[13:00] Mag and Gretchen talk about their grandmothers’ significant influence on their lives growing up.
[25:07] Gretchen shares details from her childhood and how her father left a “legacy of narcissism.”
[30:30] Her famous father dominated her home growing up, but Gretchen was also profoundly impacted by her mother’s severe epilepsy. Gretchen opens up about how she never felt safe sharing her molestation with her mother.
[44:00] Gretchen and Mag discuss how the pandemic gave writers and artists more time to focus on their work.
Quotes From Mag:
“Forgiveness is for the person who's doing the forgiving. It is not for the person who has been forgiven.”
From Gretchen:
“I will say that there was great value placed on success in my family. It was literary success…money didn't really matter. I mean, you know, he [my father] wanted enough to live on, but it didn't really matter.”
“I'm hopeful that as a culture, we can sort of stop mythologizing famous men and know them for who they actually are.”
Connect with Gretchen Cherington https://www.gretchencherington.com/
Social media:
https://www.facebook.com/gretchencheringtonauthor
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gretchen-cherington-612b3b7/
Appreciation From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for being here. If you haven't already, come join the community!
Instagram: https://instagram.com/magdimondauthor
Website: https://bowingtoelephantspodcast.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to rate and review this podcast.
Tania Casselle calls herself a book doctor, a spiritual follower, a therapist, and a teacher. This multi-talented woman emigrated from England to the United States, where she now lives in Taos, New Mexico. She’s received multiple awards for her writing and been published in books, magazines, newspapers, and online media worldwide.
Tania has a rich spiritual practice rooted in Zen Buddhism and Christian contemplative traditions. A writer and an editor for over 20 years, Tania also holds a master’s in Transpersonal Psychotherapy.With her husband, Sean, she’s helped build such wonderful groups as the Sage Institute for Creativity and Consciousness.
What You Hear/Learn/Discover [0:25] Guest introduction
[3:14] Tania explains how the idea for her book came from papers she brought with her from England almost 25 years ago.
[06:45] Tania expands on the ebb and flow of life and talks about how each season relates to our lives.
[13:21] Tania shares how she met her husband and discovered her current home in Taos, New Mexico.
[18:15] Tania talks about the most influential mentors in her life.
[22:34] Discover Tania’s favorite female authors.
[26:14] Tania shares that helping others is her biggest motivation.
[31:54] Tania shares how her rocky childhood and being on her own at sixteen led to her current spiritual practice and interest in psychology.
Quotes “We are held by the seasons from the moment we're born. If I said to you tell me an important memory of your life, … you will know the season, if not the actual month. We know that this happened in our life in the frigid, blank white cold of winter. We know that this happened in the lush ripening of August. We live in the seasons and yet there are so many ways we get disconnected from those natural cycles.”
Connect with Tania Casselle Website: TCwriter.com
Social media:
https://www.facebook.com/tania.casselle
https://twitter.com/taniacasselle
https://www.linkedin.com/in/taniacasselle/
https://www.instagram.com/tania_casselle/
Appreciation From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for being here. If you haven't already, come join the community!
Instagram: https://instagram.com/magdimondauthor
Website: https://bowingtoelephantspodcast.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to rate and review this podcast.
To listen to Jack Kornfield is to be brought close to his heart and exquisite mind. Come hear him speak about his love for Burma. Listen to his thoughts on renunciation and the spiritual effects of the pandemic.
Since 1974, Jack has taught meditation internationally. He trained as a Buddhist monk in the monasteries of Thailand, India, and Burma. Over the years, Jack taught in centers and universities worldwide and worked with many of the great teachers of our time. He holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and is a father, husband, and grandfather. He’s the author of several books which have been translated into over 20 languages and sold more than a million copies.
What You Hear/Learn/Discover [3:02] Jack shares his Bodhisattva vow and explains how vows can recenter you when you lose track of your deepest intentions.
[08:37] Jack talks about his love for Burma and what he learned in the monasteries there.
[13:01] Mag and Jack discuss why people should still travel to Burma and other oppressed places to “bear witness.”
[15:55] Mag and Jack expand on their mutual love of elephants.
[21:02] Jack explains that food, music, and art can be expressions of love and part of your Buddhist practice as long as you practice non-attachment.
[25:48] Jack shares how the pandemic affected his spiritual practice.
[31:57] Mag and Jack discuss how the pandemic deepened their appreciation of life and refocused their intentions.
[34:37] Jack tells us how becoming a grandfather changed his life.
[37:30] Mag talks about the wonder and innocence of little children.
Quotes “When we quiet ourselves, one of the most beautiful things we can do is be present in a moment, … take a breath, and ask, ‘What's my best intention?’ And often, it will change our tone of voice or shift our perspective.”
“It's great to have mindfulness and practice compassion for yourself because the goal is not to perfect yourself. That's foolish. If anything, the goal is to perfect your love… [for] yourself.”
Connect with Jack Kornfield Website: https://jackkornfield.com/
Social media:
https://www.facebook.com/jkornfield
https://www.instagram.com/jack_kornfield/
https://twitter.com/JackKornfield
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5JayBKk-Bynk6XnUnU7vLA
Jack’s podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heart-wisdom-with-jack-kornfield/id923017416
Appreciation From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for being here. If you haven't already, come join the community!
Instagram: https://instagram.com/magdimondauthor
Website: https://bowingtoelephantspodcast.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to rate and review this podcast.
There’s nothing more captivating than a story that grabs your attention, speaks to your heart, and elicits deep belly laughs. And a good story is nothing without a talented storyteller!
Today, my honored guest is Michael Katz, a professional storyteller who performs and works with children in the Santa Barbara area and teaches mindfulness in elementary schools. Michael has worked as a storyteller since 1985 and was the host of a radio show dubbed The Katz Pajamas. He also performs at elementary schools, festivals, and illustrious events like the opening of the Disney Concert Hall. Michael’s recording of folktales from around the world, “Far Away and Close to Home,” received the Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Award.
What You Hear/Learn/Discover [2:23] Michael shares how he first developed his love of storytelling.
[08:24] Michael explains how his first big break came hosting a local radio show.
[10:19] Find out why mindfulness is essential to the art of storytelling, and learn how Michael teaches mindfulness to kindergarteners and first graders.
[16:48] Michael discusses all he’s learned working with children.
[27:52] Michael explains his aversion to screen time and why he chooses not to promote his business on social media.
[33:35] Michael talks about his father’s death and how he reconciled his feelings about his father’s absence from his life.
[42:00] Michael and Mag discuss what we can learn from our loved ones at the end of their life.
Quotes “When I was about 30, I just quit the job I had. I said, “I’m going for it.” I’m going for it for a year. Let’s see if I can make it as a professional storyteller. And here I am 30 years later, still doing it.”
“I grew up in LA, so I never wanted to get into that rat race. I just don’t have a strong enough ego for it. The competition’s crazy … I’m much happier being a big fish in a small pond than being a small fish in a big pond.”
“My love of story was there at an early age…. My grandmother, she grew up on an Ohio farm, but I grew up in Los Angeles. So, I didn’t know anything about a farm. She would tell me stories from the farm. And some of them, my mouth would just be wide open. Because it might be something as gruesome as how you would kill a chicken.”
Connect with Michael Katz www.storytellermichael.com
Appreciation From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for being here. If you haven’t already, come join the community!
Instagram: https://instagram.com/magdimondauthor
Website: https://bowingtoelephantspodcast.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to rate and review this podcast.
If anyone could light up a room or a person's heart, it’s Allison Post. An integrative health coach and somatic educator, Allison is a healer and a lover of all life. Over the last four decades, Allison taught courses in many massage modalities plus breath and bodywork.
Allison has helped thousands of people deal with chronic illness, digestive discomfort, and other physical challenges. She works with people from all stages of life. She guides them through pregnancy, birth, menopause, aging, grief, and trauma from injury, surgery, or personal crisis. If I had to sum up her gifts and offerings, it’s that Allison feeds, heals, and loves the soul.
What You Hear/Learn/Discover [3:31] Allison talks about her love affair with food and shares some of her favorite dishes.
[08:10] Mag discusses the book she’s writing about food and how it influences us.
[11:14] Learn how Western culture discourages us from feeling our emotions and sets us up to use food as a coping mechanism.
[18:13] Allison explains how she helps people truly feel and process their grief.
[24:07] Allison shares her gifts with us and discusses the lost art of listening.
[29:40] Discover why traditional Chinese medicine places such importance on the stomach and spleen.
[38:30] Mag discusses how healthy food choices help us take care of our bodies.
[40:00] Allison explains how her cats teach her about love.
[43:24] Allison shares how she transitioned from a life in theater to a life built around serving others.
Quotes “I think one of my gifts is that I'm really curious. I don't want to know things necessarily. I want to experience. I want to understand. And I deeply, deeply want to listen. I think [listening] it's an art, and that it's a lost art. People don't listen. I notice often that people are thinking about their responses while they're listening.”
“Curries and Italian food...just have such a deep sensual sensation in the nose. And then, before you even eat them, your mouth is watering. You know how lucky you are, and how great you are, to be able to have it. And then it just kind of slides down, fills you, warms you, greets you, and makes you feel happy and blissful. That's how much I love food.”
Connect with Allison Post Website: https://www.allisonpost.com/
Social media:
https://www.instagram.com/allisonpost_healingartist/
https://www.facebook.com/allison.post.7/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allison-post-22012338/
Appreciation From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for being here. If you haven't already, come join the community!
Instagram: https://instagram.com/magdimondauthor
Website: https://bowingtoelephantspodcast.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to rate and review this podcast.
Come listen to this infectious, brave young woman who brings babies into the world! Britt Fohrman is multi-talented with an amazing gift: she weaves the power of relaxation and healing into everything that she does.
Britt spent the past two decades working in San Francisco as a yoga teacher, doula, birth educator, photographer, and women's retreat facilitator. In addition to classes, workshops, retreats, and one-on-one sessions, she also offers Rite of Passage ceremonies.
In a world that seeks to lessen our true power and cage our femininity, she shares the wisdom she’s found on her journey. She shares her path out of suffering, how she began to listen to her body, and how she learned to trust in the deep well of her own inner strength.
What You Hear/Learn/Discover [2:12] Britt explains why she describes herself as “wild and free.”
[04:50] Britt talks about her long battle with Lyme disease and how yoga, Buddhism, and Chinese medicine finally helped her heal.
[7:19] Learn about Britt’s experiences as a doula and how different women respond to childbirth based on their mindset.
[10:09] Britt shares how her parents influenced her.
[13:25] Britt talks about her experiences growing up in the Jewish community.
[16:51] Discover who Britt considers to be the most influential teacher in her life.
[28:26] Britt explains how she brings the gift of healing to her yoga practice, photography, and work as a doula.
[37:08] Mag and Britt discuss why self-care is vital to those in healing professions.
[38:48] Britt explains how she’s been a “student of grief” and learned to be present to grief.
Quotes “[I’ve realized] that there is this drive for people to help others. There's a lot of cruelty and awfulness, but there's also this immense amount of kindness that we can witness out there, whether it's somebody helping somebody across the street or giving some food to a homeless man.”
“It just feels like something that's very instinctual and primal in me that I chose to have a life that was devoted to helping others because that wasn't exactly how I was conditioned. And it wasn't how I was educated. And it isn't one of the best ways to make money, but it definitely feels like there's no choice for me than to have a life that is devoted to helping others.”
Connect with Britt Fohrman http://brittfohrman.com/
https://www.instagram.com/brittfohto/
Appreciation From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for being here. If you haven't already, come join the community!
Instagram: https://instagram.com/magdimondauthor
Website: https://bowingtoelephantspodcast.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to rate and review this podcast.
Today, a master of memoir joins the show. Laura Davis is the author of seven groundbreaking books, including The Courage To Heal. In addition to her own writing, Laura helps people tell their stories and hone their craft. She loves creating communities where writers can inspire and support each other.
Laura’s brand new memoir, The Burning Light of Two Stars, explores her complicated relationship with her mother. I highly recommend you take a taste of this beautiful, moving book. The first five chapters are available on her website.
More than any other relationship, our relationship with our mothers defines us. Available on November 9th, Laura’s latest memoir chronicles Laura’s story of caring for her mother in the final years of her life.
What You Hear/Learn/Discover [2:55] Laura shares how her writing helps her process, cope, and explore her innermost feelings.
[7:14] Learn how Laura worked through her feelings about her mother in her most recent book, The Burning Light of Two Stars.
[8:41] Mag and Laura discuss Laura’s journey as a childhood incest survivor.
[13:58] Laura talks about her work as a writing teacher.
[18:05] Mag and Laura discuss why writing helps us understand people on a deeper level.
[22:30] Laura explains tactics to help remember repressed memories.
[29:54] Laura identifies her relationship with her mother as one of the “core issues” in her life. She shares how it took ten years to complete her book chronicling their relationship.
[33:31] Laura gives tips for aspiring memoir writers.
[37:09] Mag explains why memoirs require complete honesty and openness.
Quotes “I've always used writing as a tool for self-discovery, self-exploration, processing painful experiences, confronting people, or making decisions. Just in every way, it's my go-to tool.”
“[As a writing teacher,] I always feel incredibly honored to hold that kind of space where people are able to remember things that maybe they've never remembered before or reshape a story that's plagued them for a long time…[and] really tell the truth.”
Resources Read the first few chapters of Laura’s newest book: https://lauradavis.net/the-burning-light-of-two-stars/
Find Laura’s other books here.
Website: https://lauradavis.net/
Social media:
https://www.facebook.com/thewritersjourney
https://www.pinterest.com/laurasaridavis
https://twitter.com/laurasaridavis
https://www.instagram.com/laurasaridavis/
Appreciation From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for being here. If you haven't already, come join the community!
Instagram: https://instagram.com/magdimondauthor
Website: https://bowingtoelephantspodcast.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to rate and review this podcast.
Ready for a new book series to devour? Then, dive into the smoky dance halls of 1930’s Chicago with Henrietta & Inspector Howard. I'm happy to welcome to the podcast the award-winning author, Michelle Cox. I’m currently reading the fifth book in her series, A Child Lost, and loving it! I literally have to tear myself away from it to get other things done.
Michelle also writes a weekly blog dedicated to Chicago’s forgotten residents, “Novel Notes of Local Lore.” Her books have won over 40 international awards and have received raving reviews from Kirkus, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and more.
What You Hear/Learn/Discover [0:24] Guest introduction
[2:50] Mag and Michelle talk about the lure of historical fiction and reading as an escape.
[08:19] Michelle talks about her book series and where she sees her characters going from here.
[11:33] Michelle debates whether to end her current series or start a new one.
[16:33] Mag explains how she outsources her PR work so she can stay focused on writing.
[19:13] Mag and Michelle discuss scheduling time into their days for writing.
[22:41] Michelle talks about outlining and structure in her writing versus divine inspiration.
[27:37] Mag and Michelle compare hybrid, traditional, and self-publishing.
[35:54] Michelle reveals that she would love to see her series adapted for film.
Quotes On why people love reading about different worlds:
“I think it's because people just like to escape their reality and go into some other world...In sci-fi or fantasy, that's putting yourself in a completely different reality. And then other people prefer historical fiction because they can sort of go back in time and just live in that reality for a little while.”
“But I think that’s the fun, that sort of beauty or the divine sort of spark...I'm writing along, and then something will come to me which just fits so perfectly. And so I weave that in or layer that in. [When you’re writing], I do think there's something that you're channeling, and it comes out whether you're just freeform or you're applying it to an outline.”
Resources
A Girl Like You (A Henrietta and Inspector Howard Novel Book 1)
A Ring of Truth (A Henrietta and Inspector Howard Novel Book 2)
A Promise Given (A Henrietta and Inspector Howard Series Book 3)
A Veil Removed (A Henrietta and Inspector Howard Novel Book 4)
A Child Lost (A Henrietta and Inspector Howard Novel Book 5)
Connect with Michelle Cox Website: https://michellecoxauthor.com/
Social Media:
https://www.facebook.com/michellecoxauthor
https://twitter.com/michellecox33
https://www.instagram.com/michellecoxwrites/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-cox-ab8700193/
Appreciation From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for being here. If you haven't already, come join the community!
Instagram: https://instagram.com/magdimondauthor
Website: https://bowingtoelephantspodcast.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to rate and review this podcast.
What defines us? What shapes us and molds us into the people we are? In this episode, Buddhist teacher Sean Feit Oakes joins me as we explore these important questions. We discuss social injustice and what we, as Buddhists, can do to enact change.
A Buddhist and Yoga teacher with a Ph.D. in Performance Studies, Sean integrates Somatic Experiencing (SE) and Organic Intelligence (OI) into his approach.
Among the deeper questions, we discuss how music moves us and how deeply the Dharma affects us. And as we are both so grateful for the perpetual gift of the Dharma, we also celebrate Vesak, a day to honor the Buddha and his teachings and celebrate the Buddha’s enlightenment.
I invite you to get your favorite beverage, get comfortable, and join us on this journey!
What You Will Hear/Learn/Discover
[3:31] Sean expands on how difficult it is to describe music in words.
[7:03] Mag and Sean discuss how music and art are different for each person.
[14:30] Learn Sean’s answer to Mag’s question, “Who is the most unlikely or unique teacher you’ve had in your life?”
[23:21] Sean talks about white privilege, the heteropatriarchy, and applying his Buddhist practice to social justice.
[32:18] Sean explains the different types of karma.
[37:00] Mag and Sean discuss the collective power behind movements like Black Lives Matter.
[41:13] Discover Sean’s take on karma and rebirth.
[47:15] Sean responds to Mag’s question, “How has parenthood changed you?”
[51:40] Sean talks about his relationship with his son.
Quotes
“And so what I think successful music writing does is that it doesn't tell me in some absolute way what that music sounds like. It couldn't. What it tells me, hopefully, in a really deep way is what this person or this writer feels when they're in the presence of that music.”
“The feeling of helplessness is conditioned to trauma, but it's never actually true. You know there's always something that can be done.”
“The love that I have with my son is… I never had anything like that before in my life. It's a wholly different kind of relationship. I totally feel its holiness.”
Connect with Sean Feit Oakes Website: https://www.seanfeitoakes.com/
https://www.facebook.com/sean.feit.oakes
https://twitter.com/SeanFeitOakes
https://www.instagram.com/seanfeitoakes/
Appreciation From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for being here. If you haven’t already, come join the community!
Instagram: https://instagram.com/magdimondauthor
Website: https://bowingtoelephantspodcast.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to rate and review this podcast.
Today, we have a guest with a true heart for service. Book writing expert and author Ben Gioia has an unrelenting drive to help people make a bigger impact with their story and message. Using strategies from his book, The Influence With A Heart Method, Ben Gioia helps coaches, consultants, speakers, and solopreneurs write high-quality books and get clients before they’re published.
Ben’s proven method helps aspiring authors get unstuck and get their books done fast! His method opens the door for people enables coaches, consultants, and entrepreneurs of all kinds to create the life they want and a business they love…... so they can make a difference with their message.
Ben and I met as volunteers at Zen Hospice Project in San Francisco, and it’s been such a wonderful friendship and collaboration!
What You Hear/Learn/Discover [2:52] Ben and Mag discuss the importance of family while Ben shares a story about his great grandfather.
[05:20] Ben explains how he helps others minimize their suffering and live a more fulfilled life.
[8:00] Find out how Ben wrote his second book in a mere three and a half weeks!
[9:05] Ben discusses his transition from traditional marketing to inspiring others to make lasting, positive changes in the world.
[13:25] Mag and Ben discuss their spirituality, and Ben shares why he dislikes labeling his beliefs.
[22:05] Ben talks about his five-week book writing program and the mindfulness techniques he uses.
[29:12] Learn what Ben thinks is his most defining characteristic.
[33:39] Ben explains why he’s “consistently inconsistent” but never gives up.
[37:56] Ben shares his struggles with substance abuse.
[40:00] Mag talks about positive and negative addictions.
Quotes “By using the tools of meditation, … I can really relax into the feelings and the experience I’m having even the really uncomfortable, unpleasant … feelings because again that’s the pain coming up. But I can [relax] if I don’t get hooked on it, right? If I don’t constrict around it [the unpleasant feeling], if I don’t push it away from me, if I don’t grab on to it, but just relax into it and literally smile into it, then I have an opportunity to just be with that pain as pain. And then let it go, and not let it multiply into suffering.”
“We’re born into a world that has pain as part of the deal. It’s in the contract. Things are gonna hurt physically, emotionally, spiritually … they’re gonna hurt. But I came to understand from my own experiences that the suffering part of it is very often a choice, right? Suffering is what we add on … when we bring other things into the mix beyond just the pain.”
Resources Free testimonial templates for your book: bookreviews.cc
Connect with Ben Gioia Website: www.influencewithaheart.com
Social media:
https://www.facebook.com/influencewithaheart
https://twitter.com/bengioia
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bengioia
https://www.instagram.com/bengioia/
https://speakerhub.com/speaker/ben-gioia
Appreciation From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for being here. If you haven't already, come join the community!
Instagram: https://instagram.com/magdimondauthor
Website: https://bowingtoelephantspodcast.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to rate and review this podcast.
In today’s episode, we learn about the ancient wisdom of Chinese medicine and the healing art of acupuncture. Acupuncturist and registered nurse Gary Pelzner joins me today. He’s practiced five-element acupuncture since 1991 and happens to be my acupuncturist, too. A man of many talents, Gary also makes jewelry and grows the most amazing roses! I admire Gary’s enormous heart and his commitment to the truth. We share a love of nature and a respect for nature’s ability to teach us and soothe us.
What You Hear/Learn/Discover [0:20] Guest introduction
[2:21] Gary explains acupuncture and talks about its transformative healing powers.
[07:29] Learn about the five elements and how they relate to acupuncture therapy.
[14:43] Gary explains how he became a nurse and an acupuncturist.
[21:24] Gary talks about the thinkers and teachers who most influenced him.
[28:80] Mag and Gary discuss the joys of grandparenthood.
[32:56] Gary talks about the resiliency of youth and his time working with adolescent cancer patients.
[38:33] Mag and Gary discuss how difficult it is to separate home and work life. They discuss how this struggle is very real for medical professionals, therapists, and law enforcement.
[40:00] Mag and Gary explore objectivity and talk about how to stick to your “own truth.”
Quotes
“And we're learning so much lately about the fact that we've imbalanced the world so dramatically that, you know, we are seeing horrible things happening to various parts of the planet. It's actually not dissimilar to what we're also seeing happening with people...living through a pandemic that's affecting the entire world. It all makes sense from the perspective of the philosophy underlying Chinese medicine — that the more out of balance you get, there's a price to pay.”
“Anyone who's in the medical world, or working with people has to learn [to separate their work from their personal life]. And it's not something you just walk in and are able to do...where you can really be intimate with another and not take it home.”
Connect with Gary Pelzner Email: gpelzner@mac.com
Appreciation From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for being here. If you haven't already, come join the community!
Instagram: https://instagram.com/magdimondauthor
Website: https://bowingtoelephantspodcast.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to rate and review this podcast.
If you have a deep love of classical music (especially Baroque), then join this lively and affectionate conversation with Jeffrey Thomas, the musical director of American Bach Soloists. Jeffrey has led over 25 cantata recordings with ABS, a group dedicated to producing historically informed performances. Today, Jeffrey shares his journey from singer to conductor and his passion for guiding young musicians into musical careers.
What You Hear/Learn/Discover
[3:21] Jeffrey talks about his job as conductor of American Bach Soloists.
[07:31] Jeffrey explains how his past as a performer helps him be a better conductor.
[10:08] Mag and Jeffrey discuss the collaboration between orchestra musicians.
[14:31] Jeffrey explains why American Bach Soloists use authentic, early instruments.
[20:15] Learn about the religious meaning behind Bach’s music.
[24:18] Jeffrey explains how Bach always stayed true to his musical style.
[26:52] Jeffrey shares the sense of solace he gets from listening to Bach.
[30:02] Mag and Jeffrey debate whether classical music will endure.
[35:58] They discuss how music has the power to transport you to a different place and time.
[40:21] Jeffrey and Mag discuss the commonality that connects us all and how the pandemic emphasized that connection.
Quotes
“You don't need to understand it [music]. It's just lovely to listen to. It can be freeing. It can be inspiring...It can be evocative and generate emotions, you know, on a moment's notice. It’s amazing how many people will be moved to tears by a certain combination of notes and not have any idea why that happened.”
“And so the way that music can just suddenly take someone out of their thoughts at the moment, out of their realities, and suddenly just pull them into something very, very different – that's very powerful.”
“I was drawn backward in time to try to imagine what it was like when people heard these words for the first time or heard these works of music for the first time. And that kind of got me interested in the historical aspect of arts.”
Connect with Jeffrey Thomas & The American Bach Soloists www.americanbach.org
https://twitter.com/americanbach
https://www.facebook.com/americanbach
https://www.instagram.com/americanbach/
https://www.youtube.com/americanbachsoloists
Appreciation From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for being here. If you haven't already, come join the community!
Instagram: https://instagram.com/magdimondauthor
Website: https://bowingtoelephantspodcast.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to rate and review this podcast.
Today, we discover how one woman used running to pull herself back from the brink of depression. Nita Sweeney shares how she went from being severely depressed and suicidal to running an ultramarathon and writing an award-winning book!
Her memoir, Depression Hates a Moving Target: How Running with My Dog Brought Me Back from the Brink, tells a compelling story of strength and perseverance. In this episode, Nita shares how she uses running, mindfulness, and writing to take care of her mind, body, and spirit. Prepare yourself for a story of true inspiration!
What You Hear/Learn/Discover
[2:53] Nita explains what led her to write her memoir, Depression Hates a Moving Target: How Running with My Dog Brought Me Back from the Brink.
[13:28] Nita talks about how she was self-conscious when she first started running, so she used her dog as a “decoy.”
[19:46] Mag and Nita explain why dogs are excellent role models for mindfulness.
[21:53] Learn Nita’s advice to aspiring writers.
[26:37] Nita explains the three types of literary conflict.
[29:51] Nita talks about the interesting people she met while traveling and promoting her book.
[33:38] Nita shares how numerous people now approach her for help with their depression.
[39:15] Mag and Nita discuss how humor can be both therapeutic and a way to mask your inner pain.
[44:49] Nita talks about the ultramarathon she recently ran.
Quotes
“Even though we're looking at the same thing, that lens is slightly different. And so if you can trust and open yourself to trust that the things you naturally see and the things that naturally occur to you are important...that just goes so far. Because nobody else sees the world quite the way you do. And that's what makes it fresh, even if you're writing something that has been written about again and again.”
“I realized I don't have to be an authority. The only thing I have to give authority on is my life and my recovery from these awful mental health issues I struggled with for many years. And that my message is that there's hope, you know. As long as you stay on the planet, there's hope.”
“Surround yourself with people who have audacious goals, take notes, watch, and do what they do. Eventually, you're going to do something ridiculous that you're completely and totally proud of.”
Resources Depression Hates a Moving Target: How Running with My Dog Brought Me Back from the Brink
You Should Be Writing: A Journal of Inspiration & Instruction to Keep Your Pen Moving
Connect with Nita Sweeney Website: https://nitasweeney.com/
Social Media:
https://www.facebook.com/nitasweeneyauthor/
https://twitter.com/nitasweeney
https://www.instagram.com/nitasweeney/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitasweeney/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCucD_U0uPtRTHvyryeU2_1Q?
Appreciation From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for being here. If you haven't already, come join the community!
Instagram: https://instagram.com/magdimondauthor
Website: https://bowingtoelephantspodcast.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to rate and review this podcast.
In this episode of the Bowing to Elephants Podcast, I offer my first roundtable conversation. Carol Menaker and Wayne Lee join me to discuss our respective manuscripts. We touch upon death, grief, and the racism firmly entrenched in our judicial system.
Carol, Wayne, and I bonded through our writing program, Write to the Finish. We embarked on our writing adventure during the frightening and chaotic early days of the pandemic. Over time, the three of us inevitably became close. Today, we share our works in progress and what inspired us to write them!
What You Will Hear/Learn/Discover
[0:23] Guest introductions
[2:45] Wayne answers the question, "How hard was it to separate your book content from your feelings about the pandemic?"
[7:55] Mag reveals hidden blessings she found in the pandemic.
[13:57] Carol shares details about her experience serving as a juror on a black man's murder trial.
[16:49] Mag, Carol, and Wayne discuss how the pandemic forces them to read and write more.
[26:21] Wayne talks about the painful experiences that led him to write Service Husband: A Caregiver's Journey Through Disability, Suicide, & Recovery.
[33:09] Carol explains her inspiration for The Worst Thing We've Ever Done.
[44:16] Mag discusses how writers get overly attached to particular passages and how hard it can be to let go of them.
[48:44] Wayne and Carol share things they’ve realized about themselves and their manuscripts.
Quotes
From Carol:
"I served on a jury 40 some years ago that convicted a black man of murdering a white prison warden. And it never left my mind that maybe things could have gone a different way. And at some point, before I started actually working on this project, I made up my mind that I wanted to figure out what really happened there."
From Wayne:
"[While writing my memoir], there were just so many times when it was just like reopening a wound over and over again. And there were so many times when I just wanted it to have a chance to heal more, but I felt like I just had to keep doing that work … to honor the truth of the book."
"My view is that the first draft is the time to throw all the paint on the wall."
From Mag:
"And all of us know about the awesome task of letting go and how powerful that is and how incredibly hard it is killing our darlings … You can be convinced that you need certain ways of saying things or certain anecdotes, but it turns out that you don't. And, it takes somebody else to look at it [for you to realize this]."
Connect with Carol Menaker & Wayne Lee
Wayne's website: https://wayneleepoet.com/
Carol’s email: carol.menaker@gmail.com
Appreciation
From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for being here. If you haven’t already, come join the community!
Instagram: https://instagram.com/magdimondauthor
Website: https://bowingtoelephantspodcast.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to rate and review this podcast.
I invite you to join my conversation with my dear friend, Trudy Goodman, as we explore the racism woven into our everyday experiences. As a Buddhist and psychotherapist, Trudy helps people lead more mindful, meaningful lives. Her life in the Dharma is rich, and she uses her Buddhist teachings to inspire real change in the world.
Trudy is the founding teacher of the InsightLA Meditation Center and the co-founder of the Institute of Meditation and Psychotherapy. She’s currently writing a memoir about her spiritual journey.
What You Will Hear/Learn/Discover
[2:51] Trudy describes a Buddhist practitioner’s place in the fight against racial injustice.
[7:53] Mag wants to know how InsightLA is changing with the times.
[13:12] Mag and Trudy discuss systemic racism and our country’s long history of oppressing Black Americans and other people of color.
[16:35] Trudy explains how InsightLA differs from other meditation centers.
[19:29] Trudy talks about her memoir and how joining a writing group helped.
[22:29] Trudy tells us about the most painful events in her life and how they opened her heart.
[31:39] Discover Trudy’s working title for her book and her thoughts on a subtitle.
[34:25] Trudy talks about her marriage and what it’s like being married to a successful author.
[45:55] Trudy shares her thoughts on enlightenment and how it’s an ongoing quest.
Quotes
On Enlightenment:
“Enlightenment is not a state that you've attained once and for all. It's a process. Everything is a process...There are moments of awakening, moments of presence, moments of crystal clear understanding. And, then there are moments of confusion and moments of chaos … And, if we are able to be present with them, then they just move through. They don’t have to stick.”
On Racism:
“Because [racism] is so much a part of the air. [It’s part of] our sweat, the air we breathe, the water we swim in here in America … that we don't even necessarily question some of our biases.”
“I think if anybody can add humanity to this rather frightening predicament, I think the Buddhists can. Because as Buddhist practitioners, we are all about love and compassion. We’re about witnessing and honesty.”
Resources
InsightLA: insightla.org
Connect with Trudy Goodman
Website: trudygoodman.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/trudy_goodman
Appreciation
From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for being here. If you haven’t already, come join the community!
Instagram: https://instagram.com/magdimondauthor
Website: https://bowingtoelephantspodcast.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to rate and review this podcast.
Today, we explore the benefits of meditation and why meditation is the best tool for evolving human consciousness. Award-winning author and teacher Sean Murphy joins me. Sean is a fully authorized Zen teacher in the American White Plum lineage. He's also the founder and director of the Sage Institute of Taos, New Mexico, which hosts an innovative meditation and mindfulness training program.
Sean’s the author of One Bird, One Stone: 108 Contemporary Zen Stories as well as three novels with another one in the works. He also teaches creative writing, meditation, and literature for the University of New Mexico in Taos.
[PLEASE NOTE: the starting date for Sean's 200 hour Sage Institute online/zoom
Meditation & Mindfulness Leader Program has been moved back to Sept. 7.
Spaces are still available. For more info, see www.sagetaos.com.]
What You Will Hear/Learn/Discover
[0:36] Guest introduction
[2:23] Sean answers the question, “What part of teaching brings you the most joy?”
[5:20] Mag and Sean discuss his Write to The Finish program.
[7:34] Sean talks about the Sage Institute and the work they do there.
[10:46] Discover how even children can practice mindfulness.
[16:35] Sean explains how his Zen training pulled him out of deep depression and helped him manage his anxiety.
[21:58] Learn how Zen embraces the mystery of life and lets you build your own beliefs.
[29:28] Sean talks about his upcoming fourth novel, Wilson’s Way.
[39:15] Sean explains how meditation gives you a more profound understanding of life.
Quotes
“There were points in my 20s and 30s that if … I went to a psychiatrist, I'm sure I could have gotten a clinical diagnosis for depression or anxiety. And I would have been medicated and all that. Instead, I did Zen, which as it turns out, really gave me this way to handle these things internally.”
“But finally, I have to say that it's about becoming comfortable, and I'd say, intimate with the mystery of life. We penetrate life ever more deeply through Zen practice. And we become so intimate with the mystery of life, that what naturally grows is compassion, gratitude, and appreciation for the beauty of simply living.”
Resources
The Time of New Weather
The Finished Man
The Hope Valley Hubcap King
One Bird, One Stone: 108 Contemporary Zen Stories
Connect with Sean Murphy Website: https://www.murphyzen.com/
https://www.sagetaos.com/
https://www.facebook.com/newweather
Appreciation From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for being here. If you haven’t already, come join the community!
Instagram: https://instagram.com/magdimondauthor
Website: https://bowingtoelephantspodcast.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to rate and review this podcast.
Seeing/Telling The Truth About Pelicans & Nuclear Power
In the latest episode of the Bowing to Elephants Podcast, award-winning filmmaker Judy Irving (Sundance and Emmy Awards) joins me for a conversation about everything from nuclear power to pelicans!
Judy’s groundbreaking film, Dark Circle, exposes the links between nuclear power and weapons. Over time, Judy’s films have evolved to reflect her love of nature, especially birds. The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill is a love story about a homeless street musician’s connection with a flock of wild parrots. Pelican Dreams is about California brown pelicans. Her next film, Cold Refuge, will be about swimming in San Francisco Bay. (It’s definitely not warm water.)
Listen to this episode today, and join us as we discuss:
- Judy’s powerful documentary, Dark Circle, and the dangers of nuclear power
- Prioritizing pictures over people: critical when Judy is editing her films
- The love of birds
- The one thing you must have to observe nature and its inhabitants
- How to love swimming in the San Francisco Bay!
- Her upcoming film, Cold Refuge
- What drives Judy and motivates her
Discover more about Judy Irving during her interview on the Bowing to Elephants Podcast, which you can listen to here.
Enjoy the show, and let me know what you think!
Follow, Like, and Subscribe:
iTunes : https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bowing-to-elephants-podcast/id1573055463
Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/5eeePVKE3785X02HnGHTO5
My deepest gratitude to you!
Mag
P.S.
In case you missed it, check it out at bowingtoelephantspodcast.com and follow, rate, and leave a comment!
In this episode, I introduce my lifelong friend, Susan Keegin. We explore the power of art and the intersection of emotion and creativity as we discuss her art and her evolution as an artist. Susan grew up eating her mother's Italian food and surrounded by her parents’ art. Today, Susan is an accomplished and talented painter. Join us for this lively discussion!
What You Will Hear/Learn/Discover [0:23] Mag introduces the guest, Susan Landor Keegin.
[2:00] Susan answers the question, “When did you first know you were an artist?”
[7:55] Susan talks about her transition from photographer to designer to painter.
[10:00] Susan and Mag discuss self-discipline and scheduling time to “create” each day.
[12:50] Mag and Susan explore the connection between art and emotional well-being.
[17:19] The ladies talk about how their art and writing have evolved.
[20:46] Susan answers the question, “Looking back at raising your children, what was the most important thing you wanted them to learn?”
[27:55] Susan explains her life philosophy and how it’s all about the little things for her.
[32:00] Mag and Susan discuss mindfulness and being a witness to the wonders of life.
[35:50] Susan talks about her mother who was born during the Spanish flu pandemic and how art can calm us during times of crisis.
[40:05] Susan and Mag plan an imaginary dinner party and talk about who they would invite if they could invite absolutely anyone.
Quotes
“[I had to learn] the discipline of creating work on a daily basis, and that was probably the most valuable lesson … that, you know, you get up every morning whether you feel like it or not, and you go to work. You sit down, and you do the creative work. And, that was a great discipline for me to learn, and it has really served me well.”
“Being in the studio absolutely changes my attitude. It changes my frame of mind. It changes my mood. And, it’s not about the finished product, but about the making of it. [It’s about] mixing paint and seeing it come alive.”
“My art is now just a process of exploring, and I am often doing things that I’ve never done before … But there’s no judgment about it. I always feel like it’s going to work out in the end. Because oil paint is a very forgiving medium. There’s no such thing as ruining something. You can always go over it.”
Connect with Susan Landor Keegin www.susanlandor.com
www.instagram.com/susanlandorkeegin
Appreciation From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for being here. If you haven’t already, come join the community!
Instagram: https://instagram.com/magdimondauthor
Website: https://bowingtoelephantspodcast.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to rate and review this podcast.
Today's honored guest is Barbara Linn Probst. Barbara is a fellow She Writes Press author and a bit of a Renaissance woman. I've discovered that she's a teacher, a therapist, and a researcher. She's also a serious amateur pianist and a nonprofit organizer. And, on top of that, she’s a phenomenal writer! Join us as we discuss the process of writing a novel, the relationship between novel and memoir, and the effect of music on our lives.
What You Hear/Learn
[0:24] Guest Introduction
[03:00] Barbara talks about the universality of music and the difficulty in writing about music.
[12:50] Barbara answers the question, “How would you compare playing the piano to writing a book?”
[18:30] Mag and Barbara discuss the importance of having a mentor who encourages you to push past your limitations.
[22:01] Mag and Barbara talk about how artists of all types borrow from one another’s work.
[24:15] Barbara talks about the driving force behind the protagonist in her novel, The Sound Between The Notes.
[27:58] Barbara explains how her writing has developed and what she's learned along the way.
[32:31] Find out why Barbara feels you have to let go of control to let your characters unfold.
[35:27] Mag and Barbara discuss the benefits of a hybrid publishing house.
Quotes
On Music:
“Every culture has music. Every era has music. Sound is one of the first things that a newborn responds to. I mean, it's just so universal.”
On Writing:
“What I've learned at this stage is that if you dwell with your characters … that it unfolds along the way. The more you kind of dwell, learn, and let your characters sort of breathe … the middle keeps unfolding.”
“Often you have to give up a plan or give up a scene that's not working. Give it up [even though] you've invested in it. You know, it's the whole thing when you have the car and you keep putting more and more money into repairing it, so you can't get rid of it … But, [eventually] you just have to let it go.”
Resources Barbara’s books:
Queen of the Owls
The Sound Between The Notes
shewritespress.com
Seymour: An Introduction
Connect with Barbara Linn Probst Website: www.barbaralinnprobst.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/barbara_linn_probst
Facebook: facebook.com/barbaralinnprobst
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqT4f95REYKgYJPFzpU_84g
Appreciation From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for being here. If you haven’t already, come join the party over on:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/magdimondauthor
Website: https://bowingtoelephantspodcast.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to rate and review this podcast.
Today’s honored guest is Rose Gordon, an old friend and former student of mine who has dedicated her life to serving and healing others. In years past, she worked for the New Mexico office of the medical investigator. She was director and faculty member For Being with The Dying Project at the Upaya Institute and Zen Center. And, she now offers spiritual care and bereavement services to hospice families in Taos, New Mexico. She's led retreats on death, dying dreamwork, and connecting to the creative sources of our resiliency. Today, she joins us to share her wisdom and knowledge.
What You Hear/Learn [00:24] Guest Introduction
[02:26] Rose talks about the “Call and Response” pattern and how it relates to her life.
[08:32] Rose shares her thoughts about dying and her experiences tending to people as they near the end of life.
[24:02] Rose talks about equanimity and how she deals with suffering through her spiritual practice.
[34:17] Mag and Rose talk about their mothers and the gifts that they’ve received from them.
[39:45] They talk about dreams and Rose’s dream group.
[41:39] Rose shares how you can invite dreams into your life.
[50:31] Mag asks the question, “Is there anything about you that people don't know?”
Quotes “Tending people who are dying brings me into the present in a way that I treasure ... I have to be able to sit in silence. And, I'm reminded every day how precious and beautiful our life is ‒ not as something to guard and hold tightly in our hands.”
“You take the precious things in your life. You have them in your hands and then you open your palms, so that they become an offering to the world.”
“The dream is a bit like a feral cat or dog. And, you put out food for it, but you don't rush and grab it, right? A dream is not something to own or grab ahold of. But you develop a relationship with it as you coax it to come closer. And, then when it does, you respect it.”
Resources Border Healing Woman: The Story of Jewel Babb As Told to Pat Little Dog by Jewel Babb
Connect with Rose Gordon Website: http://www.circleofcompassionatecare.com/
Appreciation From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for being here. If you haven’t already, come join the party over on:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/magdimondauthor
Website: https://bowingtoelephantspodcast.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to rate and review this podcast.
Are you hoping to turn your travel adventures into captivating stories? Wondering how mindfulness relates to being a writer? In this episode, writer and editor, Lavinia Spalding, joins me as we explore these intriguing questions.
Lavinia and I have a lot in common, least of all our name. Mag is actually a nickname, while my real name is Lavinia Dimond. The two of us are also both world travelers, diehard foodies, and avid journalers. I see my fellow namesake, Lavinia, as a guide to navigating the world of the mysterious and the unknown.
What You Hear/Learn [00: 24] Guest Introduction
[02:32] Mag and Lavinia talk about having an exotic name and how they felt about their name growing up.
[09:54] Lavinia shares her thoughts on keeping a journal while travelling, how it’s a form of meditation, and how it helps her remember all of the details about her travels.
[12:53] Lavinia answers the question, “What is the most unusual thing you've learned about yourself by journaling?”
[18:03] Lavinia shares her thoughts on what it takes to write a compelling travel writing piece.
[22:00] Mag and Lavinia talk about curiosity and how it relates to travel writing.
[30:40] Mag and Lavinia discuss writing about food and the people who have influenced them and their writing.
[38: 49] Lavinia shares how the pandemic affected her reading.
[40:53] Lavinia answers the question, “When did you know you’d be a traveler?”
[47:00] Lavinia talks about her podcast, There She Goes.
Quotes “I think that having a journal with me when I travel and making a commitment to keeping it up is a way of giving deeper attention to a place. And, it goes much deeper than just taking photos. I feel like it's sort of a way for me to really slow down and have kind of a different relationship with the place in which I'm traveling.”
“When I taught writing, I always tried to remind students that you don't have to tell these big, epic things. You can just start small, because in the small is the wonderful, the rich, and everything else.”
“I feel like if this time of isolation has taught us anything, it's how important it is to feel connected. And, podcasts are a way to feel connected.”
Resources There She Goes Podcast
Books
Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
Meeting Faith: The Forest Journals of a Black Buddhist Nun by Faith Adiele
The Yellow House: A Memoir by Sarah M. Broom
The Same River Twice: A Memoir of Dirtbag Backpackers, Bomb Shelters, and Bad Travel by Pam Mandel
A Field Guide to Getting Lost by Rebecca Solnit
Connect with Lavinia Spalding Website: http://laviniaspalding.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laviniaspalding
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lavinia.spalding
Twitter: https://twitter.com/laviniaspalding/
Appreciation From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for being here. If you aren’t already, come join the party over on:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/magdimondauthor
Website: https://bowingtoelephantspodcast.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to rate and review this podcast.
Today, I have two guests: Dan Turkos and Gail Hernandez Rosa, two special young musicians who recently formed the core of a group called Beneath A Tree - Baroque to Folk.
This group is unique and inspiring because of the inventiveness with which these musicians mix and weave the classical and folk voices in their interpretations. They're about to release a groundbreaking recording called “My Cup of Tea.”
What You Hear/Learn
[01:15] Guest Introduction
[03:56] Gail talks about her experiences as a musician traveling in different countries.
[15:15] Learn how they fundraised to record their album in the midst of the pandemic.
[16:36] They share the concept of their album and how it evolved through time.
[26:50] Gail and Dan answer the question, “What are the perks and challenges of working together as a couple?”
[29:52] Dan talks about the importance of having individual identities.
[32:52] They talk about trusting the process and how avoiding perfectionism is the largest challenge as an artist.
[39:18] Find out Gail’s advice to young students who want to become a musician.
[48:54] We discuss our favorite musicians like Bach, Mozart, and Willie Nelson and how their music makes us feel.
[52:28] Dan and Gail talk about their views on improvisation and creativity.
Quotes
“It also feels to me that if you're an artist, you shouldn't have to beg. You shouldn't have to beg to be heard.”
“Recording an album just like any piece of art whether it be a book or painting is really a reflection of the time in which it's made. “
“The most beautiful thing about art is that with every single project or every piece of art that one creates, it's not only a reflection of that specific time but it's also something that evolves and changes.”
“And, it takes many, many hours to master your music, so you just have to be patient and enjoy the process of just making music at the point in time where you're at. Because in a week, you will have improved. In a year, you will have improved. And, in another 10 years, you will have improved. Every step of the way is a moment of growth.”
“To me, the root of all music is Baroque music. I don't see where the divide is. I mean, music is music. It's a language. It's a way of communicating.”
Resources
https://www.beneathatree-baroquetofolk.com/
Connect with Dan Turkos and Gail Hernandez Rosa
Website: https://www.beneathatree-baroquetofolk.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLODgNU-2IfMwhq2PxHjmSw
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beneath_a_tree_baroque_to_folk/?hl=en
Appreciation
From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for being here. If you aren’t already, come join the party over on:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/magdimondauthor
Website: https://bowingtoelephantspodcast.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to rate and review this podcast.
In this episode, I have my fellow prose writer friend, Kim Addonizio, who is a teacher and an author of a dozen books of poetry and prose. She has also won awards which include two fellowships from the NEA, a Guggenheim, two Pushcart Prizes, and other honors.
Kim’s most recent book of poems is, Now We’re Getting Somewhere, published by W.W. Norton and her memoir, Bukowski in a Sundress: Confessions from a Writing Life, published by Penguin.
What you will Hear/Learn
[00:24] - Guest introduction
[06:44] - As an award winner Kim shares with us elements of good poetry.
[11:58] - Why I find poetry intriguing.
[14:19] - Kim’s thoughts on whether poetry is something that is cultivated from the early age and shares on how she found her footing on poetry.
[19:20] - My light bulb moment with meditation.
[20:27] - We discuss how readers judge writers without first understanding their writing. Kim talks about her experience with this.
[36:18] - Kim talks about her teaching techniques, what she looks for before enrolling her students and why the willingness to put in the hard work is the main factor to being a successful writer.
[42:40] - Why I see writing as a very much of a mindfulness activity.
[48:32] - Kim talks about her books and poetry, the idea, inspiration, and coincidental timings.
[55:10] - Why it’s okay not to have everything figured out.
Quote:
Poetry is the use of language as a means to get to something else, that all arts kind of partake in, whether that's music or a good novel, or a dance performance.
I remember, when I first started teaching, I was terrified. And then I realized that I didn't have to know everything. And it was okay, as some students knew more than I did. And I could use them to teach the class as well.
Resources
Books: https://www.kimaddonizio.com/books
Connect with Kim Addonizio
www.kimaddonizio.com
https://twitter.com/kim_addonizio
https://web.facebook.com/kim.addonizio?_rdc=1&_rdr
Appreciation
From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for being here. If you aren’t already, come join the party over on:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/magdimondauthor
Website: https://bowingtoelephantspodcast.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to rate and review this podcast.
My Guest, Sas Colby is a visual artist with over 5 decades of creating, exhibiting, and teaching experience. Sas has lived in Berkeley since 1975. Her artistic practice has included textile art, collage, photography, and artists books - with words interlaced throughout. A member of the Bay Area Women Artists Legacy Project, Colby attended Rhode Island School of Design. Sas has had her work included in the collection of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
What you will Hear/Learn
[0:55] - Guest introductions
[2.10] - Sas tells us of unique materials that people use to create art, her advice to her students on this, what is the strangest material she has ever used to create art.
[6.58] - How creating art through a symbolic rabbit helped Sas in a trying moment of her life.
[10.49] - Find out about a Line Drawing Exercise which is a form of meditation.
[15.04] - Sas and I share our thoughts on situations where artists are not willing to share the ideas/visions behind their work.
[24.49] - Sas' feelings about the relationship between making art and bringing about social change in the world. Sas also talks about her projects and projects by other artists that bring about social change.
[37.15] - Sas advice to students who are aspiring to make art.
[40.03] - Why Fear is about the future and not the present.
[43.23] - Sas's answer to the question: What do you want people to remember you for in terms of what you've made in your career?
[44.14] - We wrap it up by talking about my reason for starting this podcast, lessons drawn from the pandemic on human connection and communication.
Quote
You know more than you think you do.
It's like when you write if you have a prompt, if you're given a phrase, and you go from there, well, I guess I could say in this drawing practice, my prompt was the rabbit.
That is the biggest gift that we can give ourselves, being in the present and paying attention only to what's there.
The class would be finished with these drawings. And some people would be transcendent because the experience had brought them into this closeness to themselves in a way that other things hadn't. Again, they let everything go, they were there in the present.
Resources Natalie Goldberg https://nataliegoldberg.com/ Book Art & Fear: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Fear-Observations-Rewards-Artmaking/dp/0961454733 Connect with Sas Colby
https://www.sascolby.com/
https://www.instagram.com/sasu.san/
https://web.facebook.com/GrayLoft?ref=hl&_rdc=1&_rdr
Appreciation From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for being here. If you aren’t already, come join the party over on:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/magdimondauthor
Website: https://bowingtoelephantspodcast.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to rate and review this podcast.
My Guest, Tom Bushlack, is the World’s First and only Contemplative Consultant Coach. Tom helps busy professionals eliminate feeling overwhelmed, improve focus and productivity, connect with their purpose guided by divine wisdom.
He is the host of the podcast “Contemplate This!”, which features interviews with leaders and teachers of contemplative practices.
What you will Hear/Learn
[0:00] - Introduction to the show.
[0:26] - Introduction to this episode’s guest.
[3:20] - Find out how my previous interaction with Tom made me change my childhood perspective about religion and spirituality
[05:52] - Tom takes us through his journey of becoming the world’s first and only contemplative coach.
[9:55] - Toms gives a sneak preview of his solution and the kind of people he helps as Contemplative Consultant Coach
[12:12] - Tom talks to us about his connection and relationship with God.
[14:21] - Tom answers the question “Can you help people establish a connection with God”. He also talks about his approach of helping people with this.
[18:40] - The various forms of prayers.
[19:35] - Tom and I discuss Community, Beliefs, Mindfulness, Meditation in relation to Christianity and Buddhism.
[28:22] - The importance of being open to learning new things.
[48.28] – Tom’s Book “Contemplation and Community”
Quote
“Prayer is a way of relating to something Transcendent”.
Resources Book “Contemplation and Community” https://crossroad.bookstore.ipgbook.com/contemplation-and-community-products-9780824550516.php
Podcast “Contemplate This!” hosted by Thomas J. Bushlack on Apple Podcasts and Spotify
Connect With Tom Bushlack
https://thomasjbushlack.com/
https://web.facebook.com/tjbushlack?_rdc=1&_rdr
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjbushlack/
https://twitter.com/tjbushlack
Appreciation From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for being here. If you aren’t already, come join the party over on:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/magdimondauthor
Website: https://bowingtoelephantspodcast.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to rate and review this podcast.
In this Episode, I have a special guest, Christine Hemp who I met over 20 years ago and have always wanted to pick her brain on all matters “Writing”. Christine is a Poet, a Teacher, a Coach and a Writer.
As a teacher, Christine says she feels privileged to have worked with diverse groups of students i.e. corporations, white police officers, black youth offenders, students in poetry workshops etc. And has learned and continues to learn more from her work.
What you will Hear/Learn
[1:08] Why Christine thinks telling your truth is one of the most important things when it comes to any type of writing.
[6:29] Christine is an author of a family memoir that I found to be funny, full of honesty and at the same time heartbreaking. She talks to us about the most difficult thing she experienced while writing this memoir.
[9:21] Christine talks to us about how she managed to include her most recent life happenings in her memoir which is not always something easy to do.
[10:52] We also talk about how animals have been of help in the journey of life and especially how they have come through for us as writers.
[17:38] During this time Christine was writing her Memoir, she was diagnosed with cancer, I also went through a sickness. We chatted about if these experiences had some effect on our creativity. Find out also a virtue that Christine enhanced more during this difficult moment.
[25:06] Find out our answers to the question: What are you continuing to learn in life that keeps you inspired to do your work?
[32:43] Christine expound on term she has been labeled as “The Voice of Possibilities”
[36:56] Christine graciously share with us a poem “Soul in the Time of Covid”
Why Christine thinks telling your truth is one of the most important things when it comes to any type of writing.
Christine is an author of a family memoir that I found to be funny, full of honesty and at the same time heartbreaking. She talks to us about the most difficult thing she experienced while writing this memoir.
Christine talks to us about how she managed to include her most recent life happenings in her memoir which is not always something easy to do.
We also talk about how animals have been of help in the journey of life and especially how they have come through for us as writers.
Find out our answers to the question: What are you continuing to learn in life that keep you inspired to do your work?
Christine expound on term she has been labeled as “The Voice of Possibilities”
Christine graciously share with us a poem “Soul in the Time of Covid”
Quotes “As a writer, you really have to come to your own truth. For example, in poetry and in a memoir, and in novels, a character's truth. And if you're not telling the truth, I truly believe the reader picks it up on the radar”. “As a memoir, there are many hard things, I think the hardest thing was to realize that when the manuscript was not finished and I had to keep changing the frame of the narrative. Realizing that some of the most painful events had to be included in this story”.
“Animals offer us this presence like a safety zone because we can have the space then step back or move around and think more. We're not kind of jammed against the wall with the problem of finishing the book”.
“I've always felt driven to write and other people have felt driven to do other things. And it's like there's a point where you realize that you have this sort of purpose, I see it as a path. It doesn't mean that you have to do it 24 hours a day and if you're not doing it, it doesn’t mean that you're not any good at it”.
Connect with Christine Hemp https://christinehemp.com/index.html
https://www.instagram.com/christinehemp/
Appreciation From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for being here. If you aren’t already, come join the party over on:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/magdimondauthor
Website: https://bowingtoelephantspodcast.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to rate and review this podcast.
Today's honored guest is Mark Bittner. Mark is a citizen of San Francisco. He was born, however, in Oregon, and he traveled to Europe and then came back to the US, moved to Seattle, where he spent several years. During that time, he wished to become a professional musician. Things caved in and he ended up spending 14 years living on the streets of San Francisco as a spiritual seeker.
His life changed when he became the caretaker of a home in Telegraph Hill, and started up a relationship with a flock of wild parrots, who pass through the area, eventually writing a book about his relationship with the birds that became a New York Times Best Seller.
A documentary film was made as well, both of them entitled “The Wild parrots of Telegraph Hill”. Mark married the filmmaker Judy Irving and today they live in a home on the hill.
Mark is currently working on a book and a collection of songs about his days on the street and the path that led him there. They are titled, respectively, Street Song and Street Songs.
What you will Hear/Learn
[2:04] Mark let us into his background; trying to develop his musical career which failed, living on the street for 14 years and eventually came a time when he needed to get stuff off his chest which he did though writing a book that became a New York Times Best Seller.
[11:37] Find out what are Mark’s thoughts and feelings towards today’s state of homelessness. Mark also tells us why he thinks that it’s the system we have that fuels homelessness.
[17:12] My perspective of how lack of exposure to options and possibilities is also contributing to the problem of homelessness.
[19:31] Mark's book “The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill”, New York Times bestseller which is drawn from his interaction with Parrots, Mark talks about the connection between life on the street and his relationship with the parrots.
[21:28] Marks tells us how his relationship with the parrots helped answer questions he had, some from his childhood and even resolved puzzling situations to be clear and simple.
[24:06] I talk about my two different moments of experience where I felt really connected with an elephant and 2 parrots.
[27:18] Mark tells us some interesting facts and characteristics of parrots.
[30:32] I tap into Mark’s observation skill that he uses to take really marvelous photos of architecture and nature in San Francisco. Mark tells us what he finds to be true and real in San Francisco.
[36:09] Marks talks about the challenges he has faced writing his memoir “Street Song”. I also join him to talk about my challenges which are almost familiar to those Mark has faced.
[43:15] Find out Mark’s Answer to the question, “What is your secret?”
Quotes “Feel like the system we have creates homelessness because it creates the sort of game of winners and losers. And if you're not a winner, it's going to break you and a lot of these people are broken. They just cannot get to the life the social work is trying to get them to be constructive citizens”.
“Addiction, a lot of that is just people partying to the max because it's so more appealing than getting a job and getting a credit card and doing all of that stuff. It's just like the life has become kind of dead”.
“Causes and conditions help form our personnel in our pursuit of reality. We are a product of causes and conditions”.
“I was on the street for 14 years, and I was constantly dealing with certain issues, specifically about consciousness. But certain issues I never was able to resolve until I started having that experience with the parrots”.
“A lot of people think of animals as just being sort of a bundle of genes. But they have a sense of humor, they have play, they have jealousy, they have all of this stuff that we have. They're not identical to us, but they have a lot of the same stuff that we do”.
Resources Zen Mind Beginner's Mind
https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/hemingway/
Connect with Mark https://markbittner.net/
https://www.facebook.com/people/Mark-Bittner/100009816636254/
Appreciation From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for being here. If you aren’t already, come join the party over on:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/magdimondauthor
Website: https://bowingtoelephantspodcast.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to rate and review this podcast.
My guest today, Brooke Warner, wears many hats; she is an Author, a Publishing Expert (She Writes Press), a Teacher and a Feminist.
Her firm “She Writes Press” is a unique, hybrid publishing firm that won the Best Publisher Award in 2019.
Brooke has successfully helped hundreds of women publish their books and has greatly helped me choose the cover of my book.
What you Hear/Learn [2:10] Brooke talks about her “Love affair” with memoirs.
[05:31] Find out some of the memoirs Brooke has nurtured, developed a deep connection and what she has learned while helping memoirs writers.
[7:30] Mag and Brooke talk about: choosing whether to write a memoir or a book, connecting with your readers, imposter syndrome and putting all your truth out there while telling your story.
[17:55] New thinking about writing the pandemic has brought about.
[19:20] Mag and Brooke discuss common dilemmas such self- judgment, guilt that writers impose on themselves.
[23:30] Mag and Brooke discuss Virginia Woolf’s experiences and how today’s women writers resonate with her experiences.
[28:40] How Brooke and Mag were impacted by Virginia Wolf’s writing.
[32:40] Why good books are the way forward for young girls to understand feminism.
[35:06] Mag and Brooke talk about memories of their lives and how they can write memoirs from those memories
Quotes: “The reason I have a love affair with memoir is because it's ever evolving, it's not static, or constant; everybody's story is different. And the way that someone might choose to write because of their voice, or how they articulate something is different” “There's an intimacy when a writer lets you into their world, there's an evolution and you are experiencing, and they're coming in and out of life over the years, you can feel very close to writers and their content”. "Giving a young woman the right book can be the way forward for young girls to understand feminism" Resources https://marknepo.com/
https://www.marykarr.com/
facebook.com/AnneLamott
Connect with Brooke https://brookewarner.com/
https://www.facebook.com/warnercoaching/
https://www.youtube.com/user/warnercoaching
https://www.linkedin.com/in/warnercoaching/
@brooke_warner
Appreciation From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for being here. If you aren’t already, come join the party over on:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/magdimondauthor
Website: https://bowingtoelephantspodcast.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to rate and review this podcast.
In her international bestseller, Bowing To Elephants, Mag Dimond travelled the world in search of timeless wisdom to find healing, connection & meaning. In the Bowing To Elephants podcast, she brings that wisdom to you. Join Mag in conversation with masters of all kinds to help you live a mindful, meaningful life.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for being here. If you aren’t already, come join the party over on:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/magdimondauthor
Website: https://bowingtoelephantspodcast.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to rate and review this podcast.