#Lawvely - SoundSage

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Many of us are familiar with feeling stuck in our situation. Whether it’s continuing to work in a job we loathe or attending a school that is making us unhappy, the accompanying feelings of guilt, judgment, and obligation can make us believe that we have no choice but to stick it out. By taking a step back and assessing the situation you may find that you have more freedom of choice available to you than you initially thought. This week on the show we unpack the concept of freedom of choice and how modern society can make us feel unworthy of that freedom. Tuning in you’ll learn about the impact that small everyday decisions can have on the planet, how to empower yourself through distance, and why the opportunity to make a choice is the true freedom, not the choice itself!

Key Points From This Episode:

Introducing today’s topic: Freedom of Choice.
Why the freedom to make a choice is the true freedom, not the choice itself.
Common misconceptions about karma and why Bahar prefers Alan Watts’ definition.
Why karma means reaction and how this can be observed in nature.
How your choices cause chain reactions and many more choices.
Artificial intelligence and the freedom of choice that they possess.
What the Matrix can teach us about freedom of choice.
Why allowing yourself distance from a difficult choice can empower you to choose wisely.
How modern life causes feelings of unworthiness and how this affects our decisions.
Examples of situations where people are deprived of their human dignity and autonomy to make decisions.
How our everyday decisions can have a lasting, global impact.
Bahar’s message of inspiration and pride in all her listeners.

Tweetables:

“Every day, we're presented with many, many choices, from where we want to go to how we want to behave to how we want to react, to what to think, what to feel and beyond.” — @baharansarilaw [0:01:42]

“Sometimes pausing, not choosing hastily from the obvious choice can be the most intelligent choice. It's giving oneself an opportunity to think through each choice.” — @baharansarilaw [0:05:11]

“Once you understand that there is a choice in everything, in how we feel and how we react, and then the life that we're creating through these small, everyday choices, you will recognize the immense power we each have, and collectively have in changing our future.” — @baharansarilaw [0:07:15]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

2nd.Law

Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn

Bahar Ansari on Instagram

Bahar Ansari on Twitter

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Today’s guest believes in the power of technology to solve the problems we face as a society and he has devoted his career to using technology to make purpose-driven learning count. For the last five years, Michael Robbins has led District of Learning, a technology-enabled ecosystem for 'any time, anywhere' learning in Washington DC, an initiative from the MacArthur Foundation. He also has experience as a senior advisor for the Obama administration, where Michael led work for the US Department of Education and the White House in community engagement and digital transformation in education. He has advised and collaborated with mayors, school superintendents, community organizers, nonprofit leaders, and corporate executives on a range of public initiatives. Today Michael joins us to explain how he believes that we can co-create solutions for our education crisis, transform learning with the power of data of ownership and technology, and come together to learn what we need for life in order to chart a better pathway for a digital society. To find out more about the decentralization of learning, how we can put power in the hands of individuals, and co-create a better future, tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

Thoughts on Arthur Clarke’s third law and the gap between what’s happening in tech and what people understand.
Michael’s background and his passion for the intersection between technology and education.
Michael’s belief in the power of technology to solve the problems we face as a society.
The District of Learning project and its goal to decentralize learning and put power in the hands of individuals.
The opportunities that lie in individual data ownership and especially learning data.
The importance of thinking about different value models for how we generate income and value exchange, individually and collectively.
Ownership rights of ancient cultures that could merge well with society and digital rights.
Insight into ‘Solid technology’ and ‘edge computing’ to claim power individually.
The concept of semi-autonomous decentralized application systems for native democracy and justice and establishing governance.
How Learning Pathmakers is charting a path for a distributed learning ledger.
What 501 (c)(6) corporation status is and why Learning Pathmakers is pursuing it.
Michael’s approach to decentralized education to make purpose-driven learning count all the time and everywhere.
The need for a new generation of public-minded young people who are interested in inventing this next generation of digitally native governance.

Tweetables:

“For me, the height of innovative achievement isn’t sending a billionaire into near space, it’s using the ingenuity that we have, our technology, our people, our commitment, to solve the problems that face us a society.” — Michael Robbins [0:05:38]

“Our schools have a lot of recovery to do but we also, in our educational approaches, have to prepare young people to be digital natives in a way that most people don’t even understand where this is heading.” — Michael Robbins [0:25:10]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Michael Robbins on LinkedIn

Learning Pathmakers

MacArthur Foundation

Open Badges

Bahar Ansari

Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn

Bahar Ansari on Instagram

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The pursuit of happiness is a fundamental right guaranteed in the constitution and defined in the Declaration of Independence to freely pursue joy and live life in a way that makes you happy, as long as you act within the law. Consider rules as a frame to a painting, rather than a limitation on your freedom. Does that perspective change how you feel about rules? People make decisions for two reasons: it is either what the law requires of them, or it is what they want. People-first design is the most effective way to reach your goals. Human capital is the most important thing, which is why setting a Human Satisfaction Threshhold is such a gamechanger. Hence the saying, happy stakeholders, happy shareholders! Join us today to hear more.

Key Points From This Episode:

The right to happiness, as guaranteed in the constitution and defined in the Declaration of Independence.
Why Bahar believes that rules take away as much from your freedom as a frame from the beauty of a painting.
What the two reasons are that people make business decisions: because it’s what they want, and because that’s how the law requires for it to be done.
Why human capital is so important even though it is often left out of the conversation.
The importance of setting a Human Satisfaction Threshold.
People-first design as the most effective way to reach your goals.
Bahar’s equivalent of the saying ‘Happy wife, happy life!’: ‘Happy stakeholders, happy shareholders!’.
Her message of inspiration and pride in all her listeners.

Tweetables:

“I feel a sense of freedom knowing relevant laws. Once you understand the borders, you know the frame, and within that frame you can go wild with creativity. Rules take away as much of your freedom as a frame does from the beauty of a painting.” — @baharansari [0:01:30]

“The human capital are what keep the lights on and serve the human customers. Human customers are those who consume whatever it is that the company provides and keep the company going. Yet these people’s happiness is often left out of any significant conversation.” — @baharansari [0:04:14]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Bahar Ansari

Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn

Bahar Ansari on Instagram

Bahar Ansari on Twitter

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The central dogma of AI is that it was built on the motivation that it would provide a statistical advantage at war. Even today, we benchmark AI systems against humans, juxtaposing the machine against ourselves. The problem is that if those machines set their own goals and are authoritarian by nature, this clashes with our values and democracy. It also poses an existential risk to mankind. Today’s guest, George Zarkadakis is challenging this central dogma of AI by trying to find ways where AI systems are embedded in a social contract so that they are not the “other” but are our partners. George is a science communicator, an artificial intelligence engineer, a futurist, and a digital innovation professional. He holds a Ph.D. in artificial intelligence in medicine from City, University of London and is the author of two books on the subject of AI. Today George shares his perspective on the intersection of AI and society and how it can be used for the advancement of humanity. Tuning in you’ll hear an introduction to the challenges posed to society by AI and the need for regulation. Discover how we can create some governance around artificial intelligence in order to benefit everybody in society, how the politics governing AI play out differently in the Chinese political system than in the West, and the importance of dialogue, inclusion, and having the right policies in place. To hear expert advice and opportunities for legal professionals in the area of AI, tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

An introduction to George Zarkadakis and his impressive career.
How George has seen AI grow and infiltrate society in the time frame of his career.
The two main schools of thought around AI.
How the second school of thought advanced through solving the problems of pattern recognition.
An interesting use case of the second school of thought in medicine.
Why AI is sometimes referred to as general-purpose technology and how it is being used to fuel the fourth industrial revolution.
George’s perspective on the intersection of AI and society and how it can be used for the advancement of humanity.
The biggest problem George has with AI: the central dogma of AI and how we juxtapose the machine against ourselves.
The first ramification of this problem: that if those machines set their own goals and are authoritarian by nature this clashes with our values and democracy.
The second ramification of this problem: existential risk.
Why George is trying to find ways where AI systems are embedded in a social contract so that they are not the ‘other' but are our partners.
The potential benefit of AI to society instead of the existential risk it poses.
The enormous opportunity to use these new technologies to create abundance.
Thoughts on how we can create some governance around artificial intelligence in order to benefit everybody in society.
Thoughts on politics and AI and how this plays out in the Chinese political system differently than in the US and the West.
Why George believes that there is currently a problem with the lack of innovation as opposed to too much innovation.
Why the impact on innovation should be considered in a merger.
The concept of a data trust: How we can create an organization that can act as an intermediary between data providers and data consumers.
Advice and opportunities for legal professionals in the area of AI.
The need for more dialogue between lawyers and technologists, entrepreneurs, and business people.

Tweetables:

“I’d like to challenge the central dogma of AI, and that’s what I’m doing in my book, and trying to find ways whereby AI systems are embedded in a social contract so that they are not the ‘other' but ar

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Though change is scary, it is also inevitable. One of the things that is changing at a rapid rate is our workforce. We don’t work on machines anymore, we work with machines now. Whether we like it or not, all companies are becoming data companies and with this, there is a rise in privacy concerns, and public confidence is at an all-time low. How do we find balance? How do we find the center? Understanding our fundamental human rights in regard to AI is critical in understanding where we go from here. If you want to be a part of the legal future of society, this season is for you. In the coming episodes, we speak to George Zarkadakis, an AI scientist, and Michael Robins, who is pioneering decentralized education with aspirations for a different web3. Catch up on the first few episodes now and tune in for this short but insightful introduction, as we prepare to delve into the important subject of human rights in the world of AI!

Key Points From This Episode:

A personal story about Bahar sorting through her closet and realizing the need for change.
How change is scary but also inevitable and how this relates to the world of AI and work.
The responsibility of working with machines.
Thoughts on the White House seeking suggestions for how to live with AI-seeking methodologies and solutions for governments.
How all companies are becoming data companies.
How privacy concerns are at an all-time high and public confidence at an all-time low.
Why understanding the fundamental human rights in regard to AI is critical in understanding where we go from here.
Why you should go back and listen to Season 1, Episode 7 with Google Policy Advisor, Jess Myers.
Why you should listen to the last episode with Banafsheh Akhlaghi.
Another important resource: Bahar’s mini-book on AI Parenting/Governance to see where we can go from here.

Tweetables:

“Sometimes complexities simply need a different perspective, an unusual solution to a seemingly impossible challenge.” — @baharansarilaw [0:03:17]

“Change, even the smallest change can feel scary. Sameness feels safe; you know what’s to come, you know what’s happening. Change has a risk of unknown outcomes incorporated. But change is here.” — @baharansarilaw [0:03:44]

“Our workforce has changed. We work with machines now and not just on machines. And, no, we do not yet work for machines, but working with machines is a big responsibility.” — @baharansarilaw [0:04:00]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Season 1 Episode 7: Falling in Love with Internet Law with Jess

Season 3 Episode 12: The Realization of Peace with Banafsheh Akhlaghi

Parenting Governance

Bahar Ansari

Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn

Bahar Ansari on Instagram

Bahar Ansari on Twitter

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In today’s episode of Lawvely, you’ll hear from Banafsheh Akhlaghi, a pioneering civil and human rights attorney, educator, bestselling author, and social entrepreneur. Banafsheh started her career as a professor of constitutional law at the John F Kennedy School of Law and went on to found the National Legal Sanctuary for Community Advancement (NLSCA), a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the human rights and dignity of Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian people, which emerged as one of the leading advocates for human rights for those communities in the post-9/11 era. She has also worked as a consultant for the United Nations Development Fund for Women and is the former Western Regional Director for Amnesty International, with her practice area today also including intellectual property rights and immigration defense. In this episode, she shares her passion for people and the constitution, her journey toward realizing peace in her lifetime, and why she believes that human relationships are at the center of legal systems. We also touch on how younger generations represent hope for the future, Banafsheh’s collaborative approach to constitutional law reform, consistently choosing humanity over capital, as well as intellectual property, and the role that ethical technology plays in upholding human and civil rights — plus so much more! Banafsheh also leaves us with some powerful advice when it comes to the realization of peace: do not believe anyone who tells you that it’s impossible. Make sure not to miss this conversation with inspirational author, attorney, and advocate, Banafsheh Akhlaghi.

Key Points From This Episode

Banafsheh on her upbringing and her journey toward realizing peace in her lifetime.
How her uncle’s imprisonment altered how she viewed her role in mobilizing for change.
Find out how Banafsheh came to teach constitutional law and founded the NLSCA.
Her belief that peace exists where you are when you perpetuate it within your communities.
Why Banafsheh believes that laws are simply manmade doctrine; it’s about relationships.
The deliberate, peaceful, systematic effort that is required to advocate for peace for all.
Banafsheh emphasizes the importance of finding your tribe, linking arms, and moving the cause forward one step at a time.
How the younger generation brings hope for the future with intention and consciousness.
Transforming the disconnect between the “white, male, and stale” make up of congress and the diverse population of the US.
Magnifying the power of underrepresented groups by putting them in decision-making seats.
Banafsheh’s advice for the commission appointed to constitutional law reform: take inspiration from the South African and Indian constitutions.
Find out what corporations can do to advocate for human rights through compassionate capitalism and ethical technology.
The power of finding your voice, whether it’s in the arts, on stage, or on paper, and getting your message out.

Tweetables:

“They say your environment and the conversations that you are part of truly shape the trajectory of your life. In my home, the conversations were about [mobilizing for change].” — Banafsheh Akhlaghi [0:08:26]

“The one thing that I am clear about is that peace exists where we are.” — Banafsheh Akhlaghi [0:13:54]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Banafsheh Akhlaghi on LinkedIn

Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn

Bahar Ansari on Instagram

Bahar Ansari on Twitter

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The first step to overcoming any challenge is to understand what that challenge is. When it comes to dispute resolution, humans often get more caught up in who is at fault instead. Maybe when the world of collaboration was smaller, this helped narrow down the ‘why’ of the problem and highlight potential areas to investigate. The why of the problem, however, matters the most when we attempt to solve global human problems. This requires that both sides put their guard down and get their hands dirty in order to figure out the why and is the only way to solve the root cause of a problem rather than consistently putting a BandAid over it until it becomes an existential outcome! In today’s episode, we cover the everyday ramifications of outdated data protection rights and privacy laws as legal systems struggle to keep up with technology and how you can benefit from an upgrade in our laws to match the growing innovation in developing digital identities and digital worlds. Tune in today to learn more!

Key Points From This Episode:

How the legal system is too old, slow, and traditional to keep up with technology.
Where events like the launch of SpaceX and humanoid Tesla Bot leaves consumers.
The everyday ramifications of outdated data protection rights and privacy laws.
Viewing digital identity and data as intellectual property and treating them as such legally.
How the shift to legally owning your digital identity can impact you in your daily life.
How you can benefit from a legal upgrade to match growing digital innovation.
Three ways to implement these changes: join them, sue them, or switch from using them.
Why changing our digital habits is a highly effective instrument in affecting social change.
How we not only have the power to change laws but also the collective consumption power to influence voluntary change in corporate behavior.

Tweetables:

“We have already been roommates with Siri and Alexa, and now, we are going to the next level. Are are [privacy] rights, though? How about our laws?” — @baharansarilaw [0:03:54]

“It’s definitely time for an upgrade in our laws to match the growing innovation in developing digital identities and digital worlds.” — @baharansarilaw [0:06:42]

“We not only have the power to change the laws, we have the collective consumption power to influence voluntary change in corporate behavior.” — @baharansarilaw [0:10:10]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

2nd.Law

Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn

Bahar Ansari on Instagram

Bahar Ansari on Twitter

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In order to build a better future for everyone, change is needed on many levels, starting with the narratives and assumptions that inform the laws and actions present in the world today. Here to talk about standing up for the oppressed, the need for a more nuanced understanding of identity, and why feminine energy should never be underestimated, is the amazing Chama Mechtaly! Chama is the founder and creative director of Moors and Saints, a Dubai-based jewelry business that produces ethical, handmade goods inspired by sacred Moorish architecture. Through her work, Chama is dedicated to promoting pluralism and female empowerment and her main focus has been on bridging gaps in divided and traumatized groups through her creative endeavors. She hopes to spread the stories of marginalized and intersectional groups in order to build a more human picture of the world and the variety of people we find in it. Tune in to hear this amazing conversation with Chama today!

Key Points From This Episode:

Chama's creative beginnings and the influence of her multiple identities.
Years at school and the awakening of Chama's curiosity and questioning of the status quo.
Discovering the important role that minority women have played in the progress of culture.
The myths of migration; disturbing the current rhetoric about the dangers of multiculturalism.
Why fear is so powerful as a divisive force; altering the narrative around otherness.
Bringing the feminine energy back to the forefront of the conversation for what the world needs.
Confronting gender constructs and creating a more accepting atmosphere for individuals.
How an understanding of abuse and oppression enables women to support in special ways.
Chama's advice to young women about forming bonds and learning from strong examples.
Escaping the cycle of shame and miscommunication associated with female sexuality.
The advice that Chama would give to her younger self about trusting intuition.
Where to find and connect with Chama online!

Tweetables:

“I've never felt like I belong to just one space, I think in many ways my personal story is very cross-cultural.” — @MoorsSaints [0:02:30]

“I wanted people to have physical evidence of these spaces and stories of coexistence, almost a reminder that migration is not a new thing.” — @MoorsSaints [0:14:03]

“I think we are at this pivotal point in history where we have to change the narrative around the other. We have to change the narrative around what makes human beings who they are.” — @MoorsSaints [0:19:45]

“You need some aggressive energy to get things done, but we also need to be able to empathize in order to solve their problems.” — @MoorsSaints [0:29:07]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

2nd.Law

Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn

Bahar Ansari on Instagram

Bahar Ansari on Twitter

Chama Mechtaly

Moors and Saints

Moors and Saints on Twitter

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In today's world, it can feel like honesty is an increasingly rare trait to come by. In order to build a better world, we need more trust in one another, which means we have to be honest. In today's episode, you will hear some important ground rules for being honest. From sharing your perspective to admitting when you are wrong, there are many things you can do to be an honest, genuine person. While it might not always be easy to be honest, it is always the right thing to do.

Key Points From This Episode:

Even though it often seems like honesty is the last resort, it should be the first place we go.
Tell the truth as you know it from your perspective, in your own words.
If you don’t know something, say you don't know it.
Admit you are wrong when you are, and move on!
No one person or group is ever fully right; it's your job to be fair.
Truth is subjective and is framed by our perspectives.
Be genuine and earnest, and people will respect you.
Honesty is always your best defense!

Tweetables:

“Undestanding the perspective, the 'why,’ is where honesty is detected, where character and trust is built.” — @baharansarilaw [0:02:12]

“Not everything is true, but there's some truth in everything.” — @baharansarilaw [0:04:43]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

2nd.Law

Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn

Bahar Ansari on Instagram

Bahar Ansari on Twitter

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The image of Iran portrayed by mainstream media is a skewed one that misses the humanity and complexity of everyday life in the country. Tara Kangarlou is an award-winning journalist, author, and humanitarian who was born in Iran, and today she joins us to talk about how she is using storytelling to set the record straight. Tara talks about moving to the US when she was a teenager, her first experiences of the culture, beliefs, and educational system, and her habit of regularly visiting her home which helped her maintain a connection to it. We hear about the pressures she faced to study law, the choice she made to pursue the humanities and the role of storytelling in getting a master's degree in journalism. After talking about how she worked hard to secure positions in the US mainstream media industry, Tara talks about how her producers were not interested in portraying the human side of Iran through news broadcasting. They only wanted to perpetuate a negative narrative and we talk about the work Tara has been doing to counteract this force. She gets into her approach to journalism and representing the stories of people who are oppressed and we hear about the trauma relief work she does through her non-profit, The Art of Hope. We also talk about Tara’s new book The Heartbeat of Iran, and her goal to weave a tapestry of life in Iran that represents the people who live there in all of their complexity. Tune in for Tara’s lucid thinking about the role of storytelling in counteracting the biased media and self-interested policymaking of global powers today.

Key Points From This Episode:

The aim of Tara’s platform to encourage storytelling and empower women of the diaspora.
Tara’s early experiences of education and religion in the US after moving there.
Staying connected to one’s roots and how Tara still went back and forth to Iran.
Being challenged to explain her identity in the US and how Tara got interested in storytelling.
A window into Tara’s career path toward being in the media and the challenges she faced.
Tara’s approach to telling the stories of people whose rights have been violated and the place of empathy in her writing.
Why Tara founded her non-profit, Art of Hope, and the trauma relief work they do.
Getting past ‘us versus them’ paradigms and embracing our deeper connection to each other.
Finding a balance between doing what you love and contributing to society as a whole.
Being blocked trying to raise a humanized narrative of Iran at media houses and why Tara wrote her book.
Examples of the real-life stories to be found in Tara’s book which casts a humanized picture of the heart of Iranian life.
The importance of accurately representing countries who are entangled in the policymaking of the US.
How Tara had to fight with her publisher for the cover for her book.
The common thread between Iranian needs and those of people from other countries.
Being heard, and Tara’s dream for what she wants for Iranians.
How the policymaking of powerful countries impacts the rest of the world and how this informs Tara’s work.

Tweetables:

“This constant confrontation of answering questions about who I am and where I came from and my identity further ignited this passion to pursue storytelling.” — @tarakangarlou [0:08:29]

“People are more similar than what they think and what they have been told.” — @tarakangarlou [0:16:44]

“In the book, you really feel the struggles and the challenges of everyday people because of those socio-political issues that dominate the headlines. So, you see the impact of those headlines on

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Everyone wants to find balance in life. But, it can feel near impossible to achieve. In reality, two forces create balance: opposition and balance itself. On today’s episode of Lawvely, we explore some powerful real-life examples of how extremism leads to imbalance. We chat about why opposition is a common theme across the globe and how it has grown into the preferred way of creating balance. A striking metaphor illustrates how to maintain balance and we talk about the cost of finding balance through opposition instead of creating it through balance. We land on the idea of creating balance through love and discuss a method of creating balance in moments of crisis. The choice is yours: will you find balance through opposition or balance through balance?

Key Points From This Episode:

The two motivating forces behind human behavior: love, and laws, and creativity as a force that transcends this.
A metaphor to illustrate the pursuit of equilibrium in life: the man with the scales.
Real-life examples of how extremism results in imbalance.
Why either balance creates balance or opposition creates balance.
Opposition as a common theme and preferred way of creating balance.
The metaphor of acrobats to illustrate how to maintain balance.
The implications of finding balance through opposition versus through balance.
How you can create balance through love.
How to remember the man with the scales in moments of crisis in order to create balance.
Balance through balance, or balance through opposition: the choice is yours.

Tweetables:

“Imagine you were this glass full of water that tipped from one side to the other at too narrow of an angle. Then the water would spill. Any extremism comes with a cost.” — @baharansarilaw [0:02:36]

“If you expect too much work, you get no work. Why is that? Because either balance creates balance or opposition creates balance.” — @baharansarilaw [0:04:02]

“Throughout history, in many aspects of life around the world, opposition has been the common theme and preferred way of creating balance; black and white, good and bad, light and dark, cold and hot, man and woman, creative and analytical.” — @baharansarilaw [0:04:09]

“Balance through opposition comes through pain, with loss and with periods of instability and prolonged chaos. Balance through balance comes through a lot of hard work, understanding, communication, fairness, empathy, respect, integrity, honesty and diversity in perspectives.” — @baharansarilaw [0:05:25]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

2nd.Law

Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn

Bahar Ansari on Instagram

Bahar Ansari on Twitter

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When today’s guest, Evelyn Uba, first migrated to the United States from Nigeria in 1983, she dreamed of one day finishing law school and becoming a lawyer. Nearly a decade of hard work and dedication later, she recently went viral when her daughter posted a video of her jumping for joy after passing her state's bar exam. The video received over 400,000 views on Twitter and, since becoming licensed, Evelyn now plans to work with criminal defense to help give a voice to low-income and marginalized communities and hopes to inspire others to keep pushing, even when times get tough and all hope seems lost. In today’s conversation, she shares how her immigrant background has given her a different perspective, how she has overcome the limitations imposed on her because of her gender, and how she empowers her children to do the same. She also emphasizes the importance of empathy, prioritizing, and reprioritizing to accomplish your dreams, and following your heart. Tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

Evelyn explains how her immigrant background has shaped her passion and dedication.
How she empowers her three daughters to never let themselves be limited by their gender.
The importance of using your strengths to live out your passions.
Why Evelyn became a lawyer and the promise that led to her graduating from law school.
Find out what sparked her passion for working with marginalized communities.
Evelyn shares why she believes that her children are also pursuing careers in law.
The importance of empathy and helping others without judgement or expecting reward.
Learn about the work Evelyn is doing and the gaps in the system that she is trying to fill.
How she overcame her mom guilt and her advice to other moms who might be juggling their studies and raising children: set your priorities.
The value of perseverance when it comes to making your dreams a reality.
What advice Evelyn has given her children about pursuing their passion: follow your heart!
How seeing the tangible impact her work makes is all the reward that Evelyn needs.
Why she believes in the value of seeing things from a different perspective.
Some of the resources she has leaned on during challenging times, including her blessings.
Tuning out the noise to focus on what you really want by prioritizing.
Last words of advice for young dreamers: it’s never too late to accomplish your dreams!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Evelyn Uba, Esq. on LinkedIn

2nd.Law

Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn

Bahar Ansari on Instagram

Bahar Ansari on Twitter

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Hey, all you Lawvely listeners! We are going through some strange and crazy times right now, with such an array of issues and problems facing us on so many levels. With all this going on it can be hard to maintain our practices of rest and reflection, but connecting with ourselves should be a priority for us all! All it takes for us to keep moving forward and transforming our lives for the better is to find small things that interest us and light our fire. Small ideas can become big dreams and these can become our reality; this process starts with curiosity and a positive attitude towards problem-solving. The best solutions are simple ones that can be tried and tested, so use your curiosity and passion to drive progress in your life and work! Life does not have to be all about the bigger picture, and when we start to engage and get busy with the things that light us up, we can find happiness in the simplest of things.

Key Points From This Episode:

We are living through strange and uncertain times right now!
Finding time for self-connection and small ideas can lead to big changes.
The first law of the universe is about love and creativity and the rest come after that.
Putting in the time to developing your creative side is an important part of self-fulfillment.
Asking 'why' regularly can make a big impact on your life and progress.
The central role of curiosity; the desire to know more about the world around us.
Stories and secrets; making sense of our lives through creative means.
The story of the soap manufacturing plant and the lesson it teaches us about simple innovation.
The relationship between curiosity and inspiration.
Self-care is central to everything! Losing track of this is selfish!
Questioning the inner world and connecting the dots between emotions.
Live your life and don't get caught up wondering about its meaning all the time!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

2nd.Law

Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn

Bahar Ansari on Instagram

Bahar Ansari on Twitter

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Today we are continuing on the theme of the divine feminine and are extremely lucky to be joined by founder, award-winner, leadership coach, and inspirational speaker, Cam Kashani! Cam used to be known as the Godmother of Silicon Beach, and we get to hear all about her amazing journey, full of ups and downs, which ultimately is a great lesson and example of self-love and empowerment. These days Cam is fully focussed on the authentic empowerment of women, and she brings this deep-rooted passion to her work every day. She is also the mother of two wonderful twin boys and was named by Inc. Magazine as one of the most inspirational women today! Cam holds degrees in entrepreneurship and marketing, as well as a certification as an advanced spiritual psychologist. Our conversation covers a huge amount of ground today, and we get to hear all about her belief in the power of a collective shift in energy. Cam wants to help women and create a more harmonious environment for everyone. For her, this means an atmosphere of courage and self-belief, where we can begin to unlearn certain habits that seem to hold so many people back from accessing their divine power. To hear it all, join us on Lawvely today!

Key Points From This Episode:

Cam's definition of what it means to be a divine feminine leader!
The amazing and transformative journey that Cam has been on in her career and personal life.
How Cam aids her clients to regain a sense of self, and her avoidance of advice.
The impacts of cultural shaming; Cam's own experiences of struggling with various challenges.
Positive progress through generational changes and redirecting the conversation.
The process of unlearning; pairing acceptance with the need to break the cycle.
The fundamental needs for humans of belonging, empowerment, and freedom.
Fears of not being enough and the commonly held feelings of inadequacy.
The legacy of childhood trauma and the work that is necessary to heal these wounds.
How Cam has transformed her challenges and journey into a service for others.
Unpacking the unstoppability of the divine feminine leader and how to access this.
Balancing the traditional concepts of the masculine and feminine according to individual needs.
Learning to flow with what is natural and develop in accordance with your inner world.
The central part that courage plays in a healthy life and relationship with the self.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

2nd.Law

Cam Kashani

Beauty of You

Cam Kashani on Instagram

Cam Kashani on Twitter

Inc. Magazine

Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn

Bahar Ansari on Instagram

Bahar Ansari on Twitter

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Last week we had a great episode with Adele, where we spoke about conceptions of divine feminine power! We got into the history of the oppression of women along with feminine qualities in general, and why this has led to less emphasis being placed on emotions, creativity, and intuition. We see this reflected most strongly in the systems and structures of society, and these tend to be unadaptable and unadjustable. However, it seems that we, as people, are starting to realize the need for using creativity in all circumstances, and how balancing the logical with the intuitive can benefit everyone. We need a definition of success that incorporates happiness and not just material wealth, and this tide is definitely rising!

Key Points From This Episode:

Old conceptions of feminine and masculine traits are shifting over time.
Feminine ideas of creativity, intuition and caring have historically been undervalued.
In order to have a healthy community of any kind, there needs to be a balance of logic and intuition.
Moderation can be a really helpful tool in allowing space for different approaches and strategies.
What to expect from next week's exciting episode where we continue to explore divine femininity.

Tweetables:

“Feminine is actually creativeness and has nothing to do with male-female roles. So just a balance of the two.” — @baharansarilaw [0:02:45]

“Now things are changing, to balance. Because it doesn't matter if it's a man, if it's a woman, if it's good it's bad. But it's supposed to be normal.” — @baharansarilaw [0:03:37]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

2nd.Law

Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn

Bahar Ansari on Instagram

Bahar Ansari on Twitter

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This season of the show is all about women's rights and strong feminine energy! And to kick things off we have a wonderful friend and beautiful soul on the show. Adele is a massage therapist, Reiki master-teacher, medical assistant, healer, and psychology graduate! In her massage practice, she uses a holistic and intuitive approach to facilitate healing, and considers this work to be her dream job! We have a fascinating and illuminating conversation, getting into why change is always possible, the constant evolution of life, and the power each of us has to choose who we are. Adele sheds some light on what it means to be deeply sensitive and still function in this world, touching on themes of communication, honesty, and authenticity. Our conversation also takes an interesting turn into the relationship between celebration and feelings of grief and loss, with Adele sharing her own experiences and learning around challenging times. Listeners can expect to gain some great fresh perspective on the current feminist climate and where we can all go from here, towards a better world. Tune in to hear it all, on Lawvely!

Key Points From This Episode:

Adele's thoughts on and definitions of divine feminine and masculine energy.
A journey with authenticity; how Adele has arrived comfortably in her truth.
The curbing of masculine emotion and the effects of boys going off to war.
Dangers that still exist for women speaking and living their truth.
Adele's descriptors for balance; finding a still point, owning feelings, and more.
A healthy approach for moving forward while accepting masculine and feminine energy.
How safety contributes to better and more open lines of communication.
Non-judgement as a way to healing; keeping as clear a head as possible while allowing space for mistakes.
Adele's perspective on getting comfortable living with grief.
Dealing progressively with the stages of change and difficulty in life.
Better boundaries and the improvements that Adele is currently noting in society.
Getting into 'the zone' and living in a state of flow more often.
Adele's advice to today's feminist and the emphasis she places on joy and love.
The return of guidance and intuition as the primary drivers of feminine power.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

2nd.Law

George Floyd

Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn

Bahar Ansari on Instagram

Bahar Ansari on Twitter

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Welcome to season 2 of the Lawvely podcast, which is devoted to honoring women’s rights, feminine energy, and achieving balance within ourselves and society. Today host Bahar Ansari revisits her award-winning article on women’s rights in Iran while adding insights that she’s gained since it was first published. As Bahar unpacks her article, she explores common misconceptions about the Middle-East. Listeners will hear about incredible Iranian human rights advocates like Esha Momeni and Shirin Ebadi while also learning about the discrimination that Iranian women face under the Iranian legal system. As she explains, she aims to confront stereotypes about Iranian women and to empower these same women. Later, Bahar leaves listeners with a challenge to promote the other voice of Iran; its women. Join us to discover how you can do your part to amplify these critical voices.

Key Points From This Episode:

We reflect on Season 1 and introduce our Season 2 focus.
Host Bahar Ansari talks about the award she won for writing about women in Iran.
Bahar revisits and rewrites her acclaimed article.
Hear about Esha Momeni, an Iranian graduate arrested in Iran while conducting research.
How Esha confronted stereotypes about Iranian women.
Unpacking common misconceptions about the Middle-East
Examples of how women are discriminated against under Iranian law.
Why you should care about Iranian human rights organizations.
Bahar discusses incredible Iranian activists like Shirin Ebadi.
Details on Bahar’s challenge to promote the voice of Iranian women.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Bahar Ansari

Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn

Bahar Ansari on Instagram

Bahar Ansari on Twitter

Esha Momeni

Shirin Ebadi

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There are intrinsic links between our physical health and how we show up in the different parts of our lives. Here to share his thoughts on implementing simple and life-changing healthy practices is the wonderful Niko Crequat! In our conversation, we dive deep into the important role that a healthy body plays in a strong mind, and Niko talks about the links between these aspects of human life. We also hear from our guest about his background in the corporate space, his earlier days in France, and how he transitioned into the wellness world to better suit his outlook and dreams. Niko does an amazing job of sharing why calisthenics is such a useful tool for good health, talking about why he avoids joining a gym and the back-to-basics approach that has worked so well for him and his clients. We also spend some time discussing diet and the types of foods that serve us well, and those that do not! This chat is situated within the context of the global pandemic and these rules for a better life are more relevant than ever as we all have to increasingly take control and manage our bodies! Niko's advice for actionable exercises and goal setting is truly inspiring, so make sure to catch this great episode!

Key Points From This Episode:

Niko's corporate background, life in Paris, and move to the US!
Comparing health practices in America with those more common in France.
The motivation for Niko's transition into the holistic wellness space.
How Niko looks at his work; a holistic approach to health and fitness.
Introducing the mindset aspect of fitness work and why Niko emphasizes the 'why'.
Niko's advice for starting out on a more healthy journey around how much is possible!
Some of the best and worst parts of our diets and Niko's thoughts on how we can adjust accordingly.
Helpful philosophies about improving on and replacing parts of our diets and food habits.
Niko's fitness regimen and how he stays strong and healthy without visiting a gym!
Applying holistic and healthy rules across the gender divide; the power of calisthenics.
The part that the natural environment plays in Niko's routines.
Bringing meditation into exercise through challenges such as handstands.
'Wish for it, work for it'; Niko's mantra for creating your life.
Simple daily practices; mobility, basic calisthenics, and cardio.
Thoughts on the current moment and the effects of empowering yourself through health.
Important information about Niko's course, Online Calisthenics!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

2nd.Law

Online Calisthenics

Niko Crequat on YouTube

Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn

Bahar Ansari on Instagram

Bahar Ansari on Twitter

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Today we sit with Lisa Yu, a tech-whizz who knows how to create companies the right way. Lisa tells us that entrepreneurship is in her blood, and shares her story of, as an immigrant child, watching her parents create a business with no credit and few resources. Before she created her own businesses though, Lisa worked for some of the largest tech companies in the world and enjoyed a particularly enriching stint at Microsoft. She continues by sharing each of her professional experiences which ultimately led to the creation of her latest business: Dream Teamers. Following this, Lisa talks about what led to the inception of Dream Teamers, as she tells us how she wanted to create a company that she could have teamed up with when she first started out as an entrepreneur. Detailing her early experiences, Lisa talks about how being the sole founder of a company was a lonely journey, and why having a community of creative thinkers would have made all the difference. As listeners will find out, Dream Teamers is a growth-mindset community of entrepreneurs and creatives who are committed to making a positive impact on the world. She expands on this and tells us about a few of the benefits of joining Dream Teamers, like networking, coaching, and accountability. To hear what these are and how they’re entwined with her professional life, be sure to join us today!

Key Points From This Episode:

Introducing today’s guest, Lisa Yu.
Lisa tells us a little bit about her backstory.
Hear about Lisa’s experiences working at Microsoft.
When Lisa first got bit by the startup bug.
Lisa talks about OFFICEBOOK, a real estate company.
Perspectives on an automated future.
What inspired Lisa to create a community-based business.
Lisa defines what growth means.
What sets DREAM TEAMERS apart.
Lisa’s advice for global founders.
How Lisa approaches companies she invests in.
Hear about how Lisa develops her own company.
We ask Lisa about her dreams.
Advice Lisa would have given herself three years ago.

Tweetables:

“My work at Microsoft Research was a ton of fun because I got to work with researchers and developers to cherry-pick the best technology and connect it to product teams.” — Lisa Yu [0:04:46]

“About a year into starting my business, I slipped into founder depression. It was such a lonely journey to not have other entrepreneurs to lean on.” — Lisa Yu [0:15:12]

“Dream Teamers is a growth-mindset community of entrepreneurs and creatives who are committed to making a positive impact on the world.” — Lisa Yu [0:20:48]

“The process of learning is easier than unlearning.” — Lisa Yu [0:34:31]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Lisa Yu on LinkedIn

Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn

Bahar Ansari on Instagram

Bahar Ansari on Twitter

Microsoft

Bill Gates

Nokia

OFFICEBOOK

Draper University

DREAM TEAMERS

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Your body communicates with you through a variety of symptoms that appear in your mood, sleep habits, and your skin. Reading these signs correctly and responding to them in the right way can ensure the healthiest possible life. Today’s guest is Dr. Michelle Wolford, a successful naturopathic doctor who intertwines western medical training with eastern practices, plant knowledge, nutrition, movement, breathwork, and spirituality. We open the show by hearing about Michelle’s experiences with eastern medicine as an injured college athlete. She then walks us through a variety of different foods; some to be avoided, others to be supplemented, and many which should be considered. Michelle also talks about how the body is always sending out signals which hint at its needs. Listeners will then find out how people’s bodies respond in their own unique ways. Some of the negative responses can come from sensitivities or allergies in the body, which Michelle expands on. Later on in the episode, Michelle explains how you can routinely check in with yourself, and provides a series of useful introspective questions to ask. To conclude, Michelle describes what a healthy day looks like and touches on constitution, mindfulness, sleeping habits, and bowel movements. Be sure to join us today!

Key Points From This Episode:

Introducing today’s guest, Dr. Michelle Wolford.
Michelle tells us how her book of clients has changed in recent times.
What led to Michelle wanting to become a doctor.
Symptoms of the body you should pay attention to.
The influences our digestive tracts have on the rest of our body.
Superfoods you should be on the lookout for.
Michelle shares some foods you ought to avoid.
Hear about what an IGE reaction is, and what it means for the body.
Michelle then talks about the body’s IGG response and its characteristics.
Hear about folate acids and its characteristics.
A good routine to keep, as recommended by Michelle.
Good check-in questions to ask yourself.
Symptoms for being dehydrated or having consumed too much caffeine.
Solutions to combating the unhealthy levels of fluoride in water.
Food alternatives to rice and bread.
The most important foods to cut from your diet.
What a healthy day looks like to Michelle.
Michelle explains the circadian rhythm.
The advice Michelle would give her 16-year-old self.

Tweetables:

“I’m not opposed to western medicine, but I think it is awesome when you have an emerging situation and you need something to change immediately in the body, you have all these other tools in your kit.” — Dr. Michell Wolfrod [0:05:21]

“When I understand what somebody’s lifestyle is based on their career choice, I think that tells me a lot about their health and symptoms.” — Dr. Michell Wolfrod [0:08:22]

“People who have been vaccinated typically react to eggs, because they oftentimes grow the vaccine in an eggwhite milieu, so the body just reads it as ‘bad, bad, bad.’” — Dr. Michell Wolfrod [0:19:05]

“If you take your body weight in pounds and divide it by two, that will give you the number of ounces that would be most ideal for you to drink in a day.” — Dr. Michell Wolfrod [0:34:12]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Michelle Wolford

Dr. Michell Wolford on LinkedIn

Hydro Flask

MULTIPURE

Aquasana

Diet Sheet https://drive.google.com/file/d/154hVt-qu-OccaNjQ8i9MYPSR3Df-UEHO/view?usp=sharing

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Today on the Lawvely Podcast we welcome Jess Miers, a law student and national expert to talk about her expertise and opinions on the subject of internet laws and Section 230. More specifically, this relates to content moderation and free expression across spaces on the internet, and Jess really gives us an inside look at this important and burgeoning discourse. We get into the idea of technological methods for better content moderation, what online communities could possibly look like in the near future, and how, despite the policy and technology components, internet law relates mostly to human problems. Jess shares some of her history in the space and fills in the gaps about her journey to her current position at Google. She also shares some of the major challenges that are posed by this area of the legal world, citing the scaling of policies across different sized companies as a major puzzle to solve. We discuss the cultural shifts that need to still happen around trust and safety and our guest shares some great perspectives on how the implementation of the laws could be improved. So for all that and more, listen in with us today!

Key Points From This Episode:

Jess' early interests in law and the internet and the array of subjects she studied.
The jobs that Jess has held since she started her degree at law school.
Some of the interesting and surprising aspects of Section 230!
Jess' thoughts on the future of Section 230 and where things might go from here.
Challenges facing the policy-makers for these internet laws: the issue of scale.
Jess' personal hope for developments in this space; positive amendments for solving problems.
The necessary cultural shifts around the importance of trust and safety.
Operational practices that go along with effective implementation of Section 230.

Tweetables:

“Throughout law school I have spoken and written extensively about Section 230.” — Jess [0:02:52]

“I would say that Section 230 is a really boring law, and that surprises people!” — Jess [0:04:40]

“When you are writing policies that is also super difficult because when you think about it, the internet and society is constantly evolving on a day-to-day basis.” — Jess [0:13:54]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

2nd.Law

Bahar Ansari

Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn

Bahar Ansari on Instagram

Bahar Ansari on Twitter

Jess

TechFreedom

Omegle

OnlyFans

Parler

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On today’s episode, we are going to talk about change. In our world today, we are on the brink of immense change. The season of tradition is slowly changing, like leaves falling in the fall season. So too, our experience of life is also very seasonal; sometimes we simply do not know what to expect. But nevertheless, we prepare for the many possibilities and roads that life might take us on. When it comes to seasonal changes, if we get too rigid, this change becomes painful! It is certainly a human instinct to try and dominate nature and its rules, no matter how much it keeps us on our toes. We often seem to choose to break the pattern, every chance we get. Other times we simply flow and build with it. In the end, we need to accept that change is constant and that we have to make choices to keep growing. After all, success will be determined by your personal emotions and happiness. So where do you stand? Stay tuned as we discuss all things change and what it means for our own evolution.

Key Points From This Episode:

Why nature is such a good reminder of preparing for change.
The importance of flowing with change as opposed to being too rigid.
Building a personal culture with pieces of your own traditions you’ve collected.
Understanding that who you choose to be is in your control.
Two rules for change: accept that change is constant, and use your personal emotions and happiness as a measure of success.
Learning to take time to rest and reflect on what is truly important.
How to dream your life into reality: doing something to get you closer to your goal each day.

Tweetables:

“If we get too rigid in life, seasonal changes become painful, rigid, and predictably boring.” — @baharansarilaw [0:01:52]

“I’m a highly adaptable Iranian Canadian American immigrant whose broken a few glass ceilings.” — @baharansarilaw [0:02:22]

“Life throws us different circumstances to overcome. But who choose to be is entirely in our hands.” — @baharansarilaw [0:02:59]

“Small ideas sometimes turn into big dreams that turn into life-changing realities.” — @baharansarilaw [0:04:00]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

2nd.Law

Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn

Bahar Ansari on Instagram

Bahar Ansari on Twitter

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It is most definitely an interesting point in the history of US immigration law and to shed some light on this subject, we are joined on the show by Jacob. Our guest has managed to turn his own journey with immigration into a career in the field, and after studying and interning, he turned the experience and the lessons he learned into the expertise that he now shares with his clients. We chat about this particular moment, why it might be a good time to think about a move to the United States, and also what it is like working in immigration law right now. Jacob explains his thoughts on the systems in the country, the opportunities it affords new immigrants and the ways that cases can be approached for the most success and efficiency. Jacob is a big proponent of technology and has built his business almost solely around his online presence. He tells us about his first blog and the development of this onto other platforms, namely Facebook, Instagram, and now TikTok! He makes a strong argument for why this is an indispensable part of a law firm's work in 2020, and the way that this dynamic has been compounded by the pandemic. So for all this and more, from an energetic voice coming out of such an interesting sector of the legal world, be sure to listen in with us!

Key Points From This Episode:

Some background from Jacob, his move to the US, and his work in immigration law.
How Jacob uses his own story to help set an example for clients.
Jacob's business and how he built it around sharing the information he learned himself.
The importance of personality and empathy in dealing with clients.
Blogs, Facebook, and Instagram; the evolution of Jacob's online presence.
Cultural shocks and horror stories from Jacob's clients!
The sheer amount of paperwork and time that go into immigration cases.
The ability to be discovered online — how important this is in today's climate.
Advice and tips from Jacob for those considering a move to the US.
Thoughts on the short term future of immigration law after the election.
Jacob weighs in with some reasons to choose the US over other countries.

Tweetables:

“The one thing that I learned in my first year in the US is that in this country if you don't take control of the situation, nothing is going to happen.” — Jacob [0:05:32]

“Every time I would go somewhere I would post a picture, I would write a caption, that's how I was building my brand and within a few years I had more business than some lawyers who were doing this for 20 or 30 years. ” — Jacob [0:10:35]

“TikTok for me is one of my biggest platforms right now, I'm getting so many leads from there it's unbelievable. I do videos on TikTok every single day, at least one video.” — Jacob [0:18:20]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

2nd.Law

Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn

Bahar Ansari on Instagram

Bahar Ansari on Twitter

Fox News

Elon Musk

Jeff Bezos

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Welcome to Part 2 of our interview with Mika Newton, Bahar’s first-ever client when she became a lawyer. In the last episode, we learned a bit about Mika, who has been a professional singer in the Ukraine since she was 15. After learning what brought her and Bahar together, and hearing about her experience of the law in the US, we found out about Mika’s cancer diagnosis just last year. In this episode, we talk a bit more about her journey with ovarian cancer, and Mika shares her experience of immigrating to the US and her advice for young creatives hoping to break into the music industry. Tune in to hear how Mika tried to prove her masculine energy instead of owning her feminine energy and why she is grateful for her diagnosis, as well as her belief in the power of a positive mindset and her advice for being kinder to yourself. Listeners also receive some practical legal advice from Bahar, about balancing her logical and creative energy in a male-dominated environment and using the power of negotiation, as well as understanding the value of your intellectual property. It’s never too late to stop, reassess your life, and make a change, and Mika hopes to inspire others with her story, so make sure to tune in today to find out more about loving yourself, knowing yourself, and valuing yourself!

Key Points From This Episode:

Why choosing between family and work was easy for Mika when she was younger.
Proving her masculine energy through hard work instead of owning her femininity.
Mika tells the story of how she met her husband and giving him her email address.
How Mika’s husband lets her be her authentic self without trying to diminish her.
How their journey of wanting children together was interrupted by Mika’s ovarian cancer.
Why Mika is grateful for her cancer diagnosis – it’s a teacher, not a punishment.
Mika explains why she believes that our energy and feeling the way we feel is vital.
Learn how Mika worked to transform the negative into positive results.
The importance of mindset, self-care, and taking charge of your own happiness.
To love yourself, you have to know yourself – the pursuit of happiness is self-fulfillment.
Mika shares some practical advice and activities for being kinder to yourself.
Immigrating to the States and how Mika overcame the initial challenges she faced by connecting more deeply with herself.
Mika asks Bahar how she balances her logical and creative energy as a lawyer.
The value of being honest with yourself by taking inventory of your needs.
Mika asserts that it’s never too late to stop and reassess your life and make a change.
Some legal advice from Bahar for artists reviewing a contract in the music industry.
One of the challenges Mika faced as a young artist – she was scared to negotiate.
Bahar explains why you always have the power to negotiate: the worst that can happen is that they will say no.
Understanding your intellectual property and being compensated fairly for it.
The importance of gaining knowledge and accepting yourself – and doing it on your own.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Mika Newton on Twitter

Mika Newton on Instagram

Mika Newton on Facebook

2nd.Law

Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn

Bahar Ansari on Instagram

Bahar Ansari on Twitter

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On the podcast today we are joined by Mika Newton, Bahar’s first-ever client when she became a lawyer. Mika has been a professional singer since she was 15 in the Ukraine and was a very popular artist in her home country. She then competed at the 2011 Eurovision Contest, in which 43 countries participated, and came in fourth out of 25 finalists. After her win and at the height of her career in Europe, she decided that she wanted to pursue her dream in the United States. While many advised against it, she followed her intuition to California and, since moving here, she has been acting, modeling, and working with some of the world’s biggest brands, such as McDonald’s and Apple. In this episode, Mika tells the story that brought her and Bahar together – and it’s stranger than you think! She also shares her experience of learning about the law, and the vast differences between the perceptions of the legal system in Ukraine versus the US. Mika and Bahar discuss their experiences of being women in the music and legal industries, and Mika laments her attitude early on in her career and describes how it felt when she was diagnosed with cancer, including how she overcame it. Her story illustrates the importance of standing up for yourself, doing your research, owning your femininity, finding a work-life balance, and listening to your body, as well as the power of positivity! Tune in today to find out more.

Key Points From This Episode:

Mika explains how it was actually her dog, Mozart, that was Bahar’s first client.
Why it was difficult for Mika to understand the law when she first moved to the US.
Being sued, getting served, and being part of a lawsuit that lasted over a year.
We hear a sample of Mika’s music, which made her so popular in her home country.
How Mika discovered acting when she arrived in the US.
Mika asks Bahar when she knew that she wanted to be a lawyer.
Wanting to be a singer when everyone else wanted to be lawyers and doctors.
Mika’s first experience with the law was her first contract with a producer when she was 15.
Moving to Kiev on her own at 15, learning Russian, and recording her first album.
Mika and Bahar share their experiences of being women and owning their femininity in the music industry and the legal system.
Rethinking her previous attitudes towards money and the space she took up.
The moment Mika discovered she had stage 4 ovarian cancer and how she managed it.
Working through her pain and then learning work-life balance and prioritizing both her mental and physical health.
The importance of listening to your body and paying attention to how you feel.
The hardest part of Mika’s journey was being present instead of obsessively planning.
Mika’s seemingly cheesy advice is to live your life with love and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Mika Newton on Twitter

Mika Newton on Instagram

Mika Newton on Facebook

2nd.Law

Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn

Bahar Ansari on Instagram

Bahar Ansari on Twitter

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Is there a law of happiness that we might all be able to agree with? When we investigate the arc of human life, the one constant that we see is love, from the day we are born to the major events throughout our lives, and as we leave the world. So how do we maintain a focus on love and find ways to bring more and more of it into our everyday lives? In today's episode, Bahar offers plenty of food for thought and some very simple directives for pursuing happiness and choosing love whenever we have the chance. This means doing something we love every day and gaining an understanding of love as the essence of humanity. With this present in our minds, we cannot help but move towards happier lives and more fulfillment. Bahar lists out the central elements to this idea of a law of happiness and reminds listeners that your happiness is your own, and may be very different from someone else's! Listen in to this episode to hear it all!

Key Points From This Episode:

Considering possibilities for an agreeable 'law of happiness'.
Human nature, everyday happiness, and finding a realistic balance.
Defining the important terms for a law of happiness.
Locating the individual pursuit of happiness within a collective's set of ethics.
The universal law of love — the only constant and absolute throughout our lives.
How laws connect to love; the legal sides of milestones in human lives.
The important components of the journey to happiness!
Directives for finding happiness in your life — living fearlessly, falling in love, and more!
Taking note of your interests and hobbies to tailor your life to your specific needs.

Tweetables:

“It's interesting to think about what could actually be a law of happiness that we can all agree with.” — @baharansarilaw [0:00:15]

“If you choose love, then happiness will always come.” — @baharansarilaw [0:00:29]

“What would make me happy, might not be the same dream that you have. Some people dream of living in a mansion on the beach, and some in a cabin in the woods.” — @baharansarilaw [0:01:37]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

2nd.Law

Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn

Bahar Ansari on Instagram

Bahar Ansari on Twitter

Steve Jobs

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Welcome to the #Lawvely podcast! This is the show where we bring you into the conversation about the synergy of love and law, with an emphasis on your happiness! To kick things off, Bahar shares her story; her roots and early years in Iran, her relocation to the US, and her path to her legal career. We are all surrounded by rules which govern our relationship to ourselves and others, they are vital to how we live our lives and achieve our dreams. Thus you have to have a grip on at least some laws in order to be happy! Studies show that only 14% of Americans are actually happy, so what contributes to this lack of satisfaction in the country? Unpacking this question, Bahar looks at how love moves us, the constant change we are all exposed to, and the negotiability of everything in our lives. The topic of creativity is central to this discussion and its development and facilitation can improve many aspects of our lives. This first episode is a rallying call to choose love and stay open-minded, attacking challenges head-on with enough patience for a solution, be sure to tune in to hear it all and subscribe for future episodes!

Key Points From This Episode:

The relationship between happiness and the law.
Effects that happiness has on all parts of an individual's life.
Happiness and the economy; hard work, productivity, creativity, and enjoyment.
A quick recap of Bahar's story — her birth in Iran, move to the US, studies, and career.
The lack of diversity in the law field and paths towards progress.
The ethos behind the 2nd Law and the lessons that Bahar carried forward from her prior work.
Definitions of success and what this means to Bahar currently.
The 'lawve' method and how Bahar uses it in her personal and professional life.
Finding a calling and its roots in childhood — defining what love means to us.
The helpful role of rules, and how creativity bridges the gap between love and laws.
The opportunity of problems — sparking the creative spirit.
Innovation and negotiation; developing creativity and an inquisitive demeanor.
How to 'lawve'; defining happiness, dreaming big, asking and answering the right questions, and more!
Daily steps for making progress and finding happiness.
Life as a unicorn in law — Bahar's vision for her career in her chosen field!

Tweetables:

“On average happy people are more successful than unhappy people, at both work and love.” — @baharansarilaw [0:01:42]

“Positive emotions help both our bodies and our minds cope with stress, challenges, and negative feelings.” — @baharansarilaw [0:02:27]

“It's a brand new world, a world that did not exist when I pursued my first dream. Justice meant something different now.” — @baharansarilaw [0:07:16]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

2nd.Law

Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn

Bahar Ansari on Instagram

Bahar Ansari on Twitter

Gallup

Mark Zuckerberg

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We are so excited to announce this brand new show, presented by Bahar Ansari! After spending time contemplating the next direction for her life, Bahar has taken the time to reinvent herself and her business in accordance with her values and purpose. This has meant really striving to live and work in the most authentic way possible. It is so important for us all to define and pursue our happiness, and one of the central parts of this comes with an understanding of the law! In a time of so much change, with an unknown future, we are the ones who get to choose the direction we take as individuals and as a community, and the #Lawvely Podcast is all about helping you do this by making the law, and your life, simpler! There is so much power in the law, and rather than being a restrictive force, we will see how empowering and freeing it can be for you and your creative business. Make sure to stay tuned for our first full episode!

Key Points From This Episode:

What to expect in this brand new podcast about the law and your life!

Tweetables:

“Now, more than ever, it's important to define your happiness.” — @baharansarilaw [0:00:22]

“Be brave, dream big and be happy. I am already proud of you.” — @baharansarilaw [0:01:39]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

2nd.Law

Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn

Bahar Ansari on Instagram

Bahar Ansari on Twitter

#Lawvely: Recent Episodes

Bahar Ansari