The Pharm Community Podcast: Recent Episodes
Hosted by Sarah Aspell
The Pharm Community Podcast is based in Ventura, CA and features local artists, wellness practitioners, and community leaders.
This week Sarah takes us back to yogaland to highlight our friends and neighbors Breathe Ojai! Sarah talks with Francesca Gold and Bari Gratton about Breathe Ojai's upcoming teacher training and how to integrate sself-inquiry and social change in our daily lives.
About Breathe Ojai:
https://www.breatheojai.com/Instagram: @BreatheOjai
Learn more about Breathe Ojai's 200 Hour Teacher Training and Yoga Immersion here.
Theme Music by Kuiet Green
Podcast Art by Lauren Snyder
Visit The Pharm:
https://www.thepharm.love/
Instagram: @thepharm.love
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepharm.love/
YouTube: The Pharm - Ventura
Connect with Sarah
Email: sarah@thepharm.love
This week Jenni Brouwer joins Sarah to talk all about pilates! From demystifying pilates equipment to sharing its eight core principles, this episode is a great primer for anyone interested in building body awareness and stability through pilates.
Theme Music by Kuiet Green
Podcast Art by Lauren Snyder
Visit The Pharm:
https://www.thepharm.love/
Instagram: @thepharm.love
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepharm.love/
YouTube: The Pharm - Ventura
Connect with Sarah
Email: sarah@thepharm.love
In this episode, Sarah talks with Pharm Crew member Holly about The Pharm Community Guidelines, with special emphasis on the concept of creating "Brave" spaces versus "Safe" spaces and what it means to create nourishing relationships.
The full list of The Pharm's Community Guidelines are posted in our studio and online.
Theme Music by Kuiet Green
Podcast Art by Lauren Snyder
Visit The Pharm:
https://www.thepharm.love/
Instagram: @thepharm.love
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepharm.love/
YouTube: The Pharm - Ventura
Connect with Sarah
Email: sarah@thepharm.love
In this episode, Sarah talks with Ballet Fusion instructor, Jamie all about the joys of dance. Jamie is an artist, actress, dancer, and the workshop coordinator at The Pharm. She shares about her experiences dancing as a child and teaching her first choreography in college. She opens up about her injury history and working with imposter syndrome and how those experiences help her lead empathetic, empowering, and accessible dance classes at The Pharm.
Connect with Jamie:@JamesMcDonut
Sign Up for Jamie's next Dance Party Workshop:https://www.thepharm.love/workshops
Theme Music by Kuiet Green
Podcast Art by Lauren Snyder
Visit The Pharm:
https://www.thepharm.love/
Instagram: @thepharm.love
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepharm.love/
YouTube: The Pharm - Ventura
Connect with Sarah
Email: sarah@thepharm.love
This week, Sarah talks with Christina Lares of Flowtanica about self love, dance, community care, her upcoming chair dance workshop at The Pharm, and so much more! Christina is passionate about building community and creating spaces for women of all sizes, abilities, and experiences to feel sexy, powerful, and beautiful.
Connect with Christina:
Flowtanica
@Christina.Cosmica
Sign Up for Chrisina's Chair Dance Workshop:https://www.thepharm.love/workshops
Theme Music by Kuiet Green
Podcast Art by Lauren Snyder
Visit The Pharm:
https://www.thepharm.love/
Instagram: @thepharm.love
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepharm.love/
YouTube: The Pharm - Ventura
Connect with Sarah
Email: sarah@thepharm.love
The Pharm Community Podcast returns in 2023 with a fresh talk featuring yoga teacher Qori Moorehaul. Sarah and Qori talk about art, music, neurodiversity, dogs, and making yoga and wellness spaces more accessible for neurodivergent practitioners by expanding options and encouraging freedom of expression.
Connect with Qori on Instagram:
@QoriMoorehaul
@Princess_Pillz_Music
Sign Up for Chrisina's Chair Dance Workshop:https://www.thepharm.love/workshops
Theme Music by Kuiet Green
Podcast Art by Lauren Snyder
Visit The Pharm:
https://www.thepharm.love/
Instagram: @thepharm.love
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepharm.love/
YouTube: The Pharm - Ventura
Connect with Sarah
Email: sarah@thepharm.love
Lauren returns to the podcast to announce The Pharm's January Challenge: A Brave New You.
This challenge is a fun and engaging way to explore new experiences and share community support for one another as we lean into the unknown and take a leap! Every time a participant tries a "new experience" throughout the month of January, they'll log it in their personal file and keep track of their progress. Sign up for this free challenge before January 1st! On January 1st, all registered participants will have a file with their name, located on the table under the studio bulletin board. Each time you complete a New Experience, fill out a card and place it in your file. If you forget or are not in studio, please email your info to Hello@thepharm.love There will be many opportunities throughout the month for challenge participants to access additional content, support, and fun experiences, so keep an eye on your inbox and have fun! On February 1st, we'll announce the Raffle prize winners. RAFFLE PRIZES: First Prize: A free month of classes and your choice of 1 piece of Pharm Branded Merchandise Second Place: 1 piece of Pharm Branded Merchandise Third Place: A Free Pharm Hat of your choice We will be sending out an informational email at the end of December with all the additional details of the challenge, so please keep an eye on your inbox for further updates
Sign up for the challenge here!
Theme Music by Kuiet Green
Podcast Art by Lauren Snyder
Visit The Pharm:
https://www.thepharm.love/
Instagram: @thepharm.love
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepharm.love/
YouTube: The Pharm - Ventura
Connect with Sarah
Email: sarah@thepharm.love
In this episode, Sarah talks with yoga and meditation teacher, and studio manager, Klaudia Paletta about REST as a radical practice.
Klaudia teaches Yin Yoga and Sound Bath at The Pharm on Thursdays at 7pm
Sign up here: https://www.thepharm.love/classes
Connect with Klaudia on Instagram: @pinkmeansgo
or through her website: pinkmeansgo.com
Resources mentioned:
@OctaviaRaheem
@TraceeStanley
Mindful Of Rest - November 27th - December 3rd 2022
Theme Music by Kuiet Green
Podcast Art by Lauren Snyder
Visit The Pharm:
https://www.thepharm.love/
Instagram: @thepharm.love
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepharm.love/
YouTube: The Pharm - Ventura
Connect with Sarah
Email: sarah@thepharm.love
Sarah talks candidly with Barre teacher Carrie Sablan about her path from joining The Pharm as a student to becoming a Barre instructor herself! They also talk freely about many of the other classes, teachers, events at The Pharm and the special community atmosphere we all work together to create.
Theme Music by Kuiet Green
Podcast Art by Lauren Snyder
Visit The Pharm:
https://www.thepharm.love/
Instagram: @thepharm.love
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepharm.love/
YouTube: The Pharm - Ventura
Connect with Sarah
Email: sarah@thepharm.love
In this episode, Sarah talks with Kundalini Yoga teacher, River Galindo about setting intentions, living authentically, and being of service to the community.
Connect with River:
https://rivershima.com/
IG: @RiverYogaFlow
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/HUNGRYASAHIPPIE
Theme Music by Kuiet Green
Podcast Art by Lauren Snyder
Visit The Pharm:
https://www.thepharm.love/
Instagram: @thepharm.love
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepharm.love/
YouTube: The Pharm - Ventura
Connect with Sarah
Email: sarah@thepharm.love
Join Sarah Aspell as they share candid and heartfelt conversations with Pharm staff, teachers, and community members.
This week's episode features Pharm teacher Lisa Feeney and Pharm Teacher & Creative Director Lauren Snyder as they chat about Accessibility in the studio, and what does it actually mean when we say a Yoga class is "accessible"?
www.ThePharm.love
Join us at The Pharm on Saturday September 10th for our third anniversary party!
There will be free classes, performances, food, fun, and friends!
Sign up for free classes here: https://www.thepharm.love/classes
And stay tuned for whole new season of The Pharm Community Podcast, coming this fall 2022!
Theme Music by Kuiet Green
Podcast Art by Lauren Snyder
Visit The Pharm:
https://www.thepharm.love/
Instagram: @thepharm.love
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepharm.love/
YouTube: The Pharm - Ventura
Connect with Sarah
Email: sarah@thepharm.love
Sarah talks with dear friend of The Pharm, Klaudia Paletta, all about mindfulness and meditation! Klaudia shares about her meditation teacher training, why she meditates, and offers great tips to empower listeners to get into the habit!
Klaudia teaches Meditation at The Pharm on Thursdays at 6:45pm
Sign up here: https://www.thepharm.love/classes
Connect with Klaudia on Instagram: @pinkmeansgo
or through her website: pinkmeansgo.com
Resources mentioned:
Fully Present by Susan Smalley and Diana Winston
How to Train a Wild Elephant by Jan Chozen Bays
Theme Music by Kuiet Green
Podcast Art by Lauren Snyder
Visit The Pharm:
https://www.thepharm.love/
Instagram: @thepharm.love
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepharm.love/
YouTube: The Pharm - Ventura
Connect with Sarah
Email: sarah@thepharm.love
Instagram: @SteadySweetSarah
https://www.sarahaspell.com
Sarah talks with Heather Perry about the state of COVID-19 in India, yoga's birthplace, and how she's raising awareness and relief funds through her work with Ventura Pop Up Yoga. They talk about why it's important for yoga practitioners in the United States to understand yoga's history, diverse lineages, and work to ease the suffering of the people in India as they face a staggering new wave of coronavirus infections.
Heather is holding meditation and pranayama classes through Ventura Pop Up Yoga on Tuesday morning at 7am and Tuesday evening at 7pm through at least the end of May. All proceeds from these classes go to the Hemkunt Foundation's Oxygen Relief program.
Learn more about Hemkunt Foundation here: https://hemkuntfoundation.com/oxygen-relief/
Sign up for Heather's benefit classes through Ventura Pop Up Yoga
Contact Heather: HeatherPerryYoga@gmail.com
Theme Music by Kuiet Green
Podcast Art by Lauren Snyder
Visit The Pharm:
https://www.thepharm.love/
Instagram: @thepharm.love
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepharm.love/
YouTube: The Pharm - Ventura
Connect with Sarah
Email: sarah@thepharm.love
Instagram: @SteadySweetSarah
https://www.sarahaspell.com
In this episode, Sarah talks with Nikki Lynn, the CEO and Spiritual Self Care Advisor at The Zenly Shop! They talk about what it means to be authentic in entrepreneurial pursuits and how to integrate spiritual practices into day-to-day life. Nikki shares about her time on retreat in a Buddhist Monastery and how that impacted her life, career, and relationships.
Follow Nikki on Instagram: @TheZenlyShop
Check out The Zenly Shop Online
Find out more about Nikki's 1:1 Self Care Coaching Program
Theme Music by Kuiet Green
Podcast Art by Lauren Snyder
Visit The Pharm:
https://www.thepharm.love/
Instagram: @thepharm.love
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepharm.love/
YouTube: The Pharm - Ventura
Connect with Sarah
Email: sarah@thepharm.love
Instagram: @SteadySweetSarah
https://www.sarahaspell.com
Sarah talks with artisan and founder of Reves De Sabine, Sabine Dodane.
Sabine creates small batch, natural body care products out of Bell Arts Factory in Ventura. She shares sweet stories about growing up in France and leaving a corporate job to follow her dreams. Sabine emphasizes how important relationships are in her work. From knowing the right person to source each ingredient to listening closely to feedback from clients, Sabine puts a lot of care into all of her creations.
This conversation is very uplifting and we hope you enjoy it!
Sabine kindly created a special discount code for The Pharm Community Podcast listeners. Use code THEPHARM15 at her online store to receive 15% off at check out.
Visit her website: https://www.revesdesabine.com/
Follow her on Instagram: @RevesDeSabine
Theme Music by Kuiet Green
Podcast Art by Lauren Snyder
Visit The Pharm:
https://www.thepharm.love/
Instagram: @thepharm.love
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepharm.love/
YouTube: The Pharm - Ventura
Connect with Sarah
Email: sarah@thepharm.love
Instagram: @SteadySweetSarah
https://www.sarahaspell.com
Sarah talks with Manas Khatore from Justice In The Classroom about their six proposals to address racial inequity in Ventura County Public Schools.
Justice In The Classroom is a student-powered organization with high school district chapters in all Ventura County cities. They're focused on advocating for curriculum reform, diversity and inclusion, teacher equity training, more educators of color, student punishment reform, and transparency about all of these issues.
Visit their website: https://www.justiceintheclassroom.org
Follow them on Instagram: @JusticeInTheClassroom
Follow them on Twitter: @JusticeInClass
Connect with them on Facebook: @VCJusticeInTheClassroom
Related Call to Action: Ventura County Coalition for Student Success:
Link to Re-Imagine School Safety Survey
Instagram: @VCCoalitionForStudentSuccess
Theme Music by Kuiet Green
Podcast Art by Lauren Snyder
Visit The Pharm:
https://www.thepharm.love/
Instagram: @thepharm.love
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepharm.love/
YouTube: The Pharm - Ventura
Connect with Sarah
Email: sarah@thepharm.love
Instagram: @SteadySweetSarah
https://www.sarahaspell.com
Sarah talks with Ayurvedic Practitioner Tejal Swami about living in alignment with nature to promote health and wellbeing. She shares some basic principles of Indian traditional medicine and the philosophy behind it and offers some nice advice for folks looking to incorporate Ayurvedic wisdom into their daily lives. Tejal also talks about her education and her approach to treating a variety of ailments from stress and anxiety to knee pain and stomachaches.
Tejal practices out of the Holistic Healing Center in Ventura CA. Follow her on Instagram @swami_ayurveda and check out her offerings at her website: http://swami.life/
Theme Music by Kuiet Green
Podcast Art by Lauren Snyder
Visit The Pharm:
https://www.thepharm.love/
Instagram: @thepharm.love
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepharm.love/
YouTube: The Pharm - Ventura
Connect with Sarah
Email: sarah@thepharm.love
Instagram: @SteadySweetSarah
https://www.sarahaspell.com
Sarah talks with Lauren Prendergast about becoming a certified Yoga Therapist and the ways that yogic wisdom can be applied in a therapeutic setting to help people with anxiety, depression, and other diagnoses. Lauren grew up in Ventura County and recently moved back with her husband after many years away. She shares about her initial yoga teacher training, personal practice, and offers some neat yoga therapy tools to add to your toolkit!
Lauren teaches group classes at Ventura Pop Up Yoga, Aum Vibe, and Yoga by the Sea.
Follow her and her wellness business on instagram at @yoga_lo and @thread_yoga_wellness and check out her website : https://threadwellness.com/
Podcast Art by Lauren Snyder
Visit The Pharm:
https://www.thepharm.love/
Instagram: @thepharm.love
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepharm.love/
YouTube: The Pharm - Ventura
Connect with Sarah
Email: sarah@thepharm.love
Instagram: @SteadySweetSarah
https://www.sarahaspell.com
This week Sarah talks with Mo Gonzalez, a local writer, poet, and creator of Get Loud, an artist movement that centers LGBTQ+ perspectives and hosts events that increase visibility and healing through art.
Mo shares about growing up in Oxnard, getting into poetry, navigating career changes, and their passion for supporting local LGBT youth. Mo and Sarah discuss how they've each dealt with positive and negative impacts of COVID-19.
Get Loud published a poetry zine titled "Despite it all, we breathe out" last year. It is available for purchase here: https://www.getloudmovement.org/get-loud-zine
Get Loud's fourth annual artist showcase, Loud and Queer is July 24th. Tickets are available now!
Other ways to connect with Get Loud:
Website: https://www.getloudmovement.org/
Youtube: Get Loud Movement
Instagram: @GetLoudMovement
Twitter: @GetLoudMovement
Facebook: @GetLoudMovement1
Save the San Marcos Foothills
https://www.savesanmarcosfoothills.org/
https://www.foothillsforever.org/
Podcast Art by Lauren Snyder
Visit The Pharm:
https://www.thepharm.love/
Instagram: @thepharm.love
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepharm.love/
YouTube: The Pharm - Ventura
Connect with Sarah
Email: sarah@thepharm.love
Instagram: @SteadySweetSarah
https://www.sarahaspell.com
This week Sarah talks with Ventura's self-proclaimed Queen of Compost, Camila Guzman.
Camila is the founder of Queen of Compost, a residential composting pickup service in Ventura. She shares about her journey into studying soil and building networks of small scale composters to divert food waste away from landfills and serve our community gardens!
Listen for some great Composting 101 information and inspiring words from Camila on the interconnectedness of all life.
Follow Camila on Instagram: @QueenOfCompost
Queen of Compost's website: https://www.queenofcompost.com/
Podcast Art by Lauren Snyder
Visit The Pharm:
https://www.thepharm.love/
Instagram: @thepharm.love
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepharm.love/
YouTube: The Pharm - Ventura
Connect with Sarah
Email: sarah@thepharm.love
Instagram: @SteadySweetSarah
https://www.sarahaspell.com
This week Sarah talks with Ojai based anti-racism educator and author, Chiany Dri.
Chiany's workshops, curriculum, trainings empower community members to do anti-racism work within their organizations, families, and social circles.
Her 2020 book The Little Guide to Anti-Racism is an excellent introduction to applying anti-racism in daily life. It is inviting and accessible for teens and adults who are ready to start learning and working to build a safe, equitable future for all.
Resources mentioned in this interview:
- Chiany's Website: https://chianydri.com/
- The Little Guide to Anti-Racism
- SBCC Single Parents Program
Ojai-specific anti-racist resources:
- Ojai Hate Crime Reporting Form
- @OjaiActivist on Instagram
Further Anti-Racist Education:
Books:
- How to be an Anti-Racist
- So You Want to Talk About Race
- Me and White Supremacy
- White Fragility
Social Media:
- @blklivesmatter
- @rachel.cargle
- @blackvisionscollective
- @theconsiouskid
- @AudreyLordeProject
- @colorofchange
Podcasts:
- 1619
- Uncivil
- Seeing White
- Black History Year
Podcast Art by Lauren Snyder
Visit The Pharm:
https://www.thepharm.love/
Instagram: @thepharm.love
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepharm.love/
YouTube: The Pharm - Ventura
Connect with Sarah
Email: sarah@thepharm.love
Instagram: @SteadySweetSarah
https://www.sarahaspell.com
This week Sarah talks with Lauren Snyder about using yoga props to their full potential!
Lauren is an Certified Accessible Yoga teacher and the Creative Director of The Pharm. She shares about her experience as both a yoga student and teacher and how she fell in love with using yoga props.
In her classes, she fosters a nurturing environment where people are free to explore many variations of practices to best suit their current needs.
Her upcoming workshop, The Power of Props, overviews the many types of yoga props, as well as common and uncommon uses for props. Participants will have a chance to get creative and play around with ways to customize postures in any class they attend.
The Power of Props Workshop at The Pharm
Date: April 11th 2021
Time: 2pm - 4pm
Sign up at: https://www.thepharm.love/workshops
Lauren's Weekly ClassesTuesdays at 6pm - Fundamentals of Yoga for All - Ventura Pop Up Yoga
Thursdays at 6:30pm - Yin Yoga - The Pharm
Shout out to: Accessible Yoga International
Save the San Marcos Foothills
https://www.savesanmarcosfoothills.org/
https://www.foothillsforever.org/
The Pharm Community Podcast - Episode 3:
Protecting Women and Mother Earth with MMIWGP VC
Podcast Art by Lauren Snyder
Visit The Pharm:
https://www.thepharm.love/
Instagram: @thepharm.love
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepharm.love/
YouTube: The Pharm - Ventura
Connect with Sarah
Email: sarah@thepharm.love
Instagram: @SteadySweetSarah
https://www.sarahaspell.com
This week Sarah talks with up and coming R+B artist KuiET Green.
KuiET shares his experience growing up in Ventura County, how he decided to pursue a career in music and entertainment, and some thoughts on spirituality and supportive relationships.
This episode concludes with an original song by KuiET called "Oh Nana."
KuiET has also modeled for The Pharm's line of clothing!
Find KuiET on social media:
Instagram: @officialkuiet
Sound Cloud: kuietofficial
KuiET on YouTube
Podcast Art by Lauren Snyder
Visit The Pharm:
https://www.thepharm.love/
Instagram: @thepharm.love
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepharm.love/
YouTube: The Pharm - Ventura
Connect with Sarah
Email: sarah@thepharm.love
Instagram: @SteadySweetSarah
https://www.sarahaspell.com
This week Sarah talks with Dr. Lorri Many Rivers Santamaria, a Ventura-based yoga teacher, reiki master, and director of MICOP's Healing the Soul, a research project investigating indigenous Mixteco healing modalities.
Dr. Lorri starts us off with a lovely land acknowledgement and challenges listeners to explore the indigeneity and history of popular "New Age" healing arts practices. She also shares a short lesson on the impacts of colonization and offers a framework for "co-decolonizing" our minds and lifestyles.
We invite interested listeners to attend Dr. Lorri's virtual TedTalk on Saturday, March 20th, 2021. Tickets are available online: https://www.ted.com/tedx/events/39920
Link to Lorri's Yoga and Reiki Business, aRoXa Calm: https://aroxacalm.com/
Links to Resources: Mixteco/Indígena Community Organizing Project
About MICOP
Healing the Soul / Curandero el Alma
(Co) Decolonization and Land Acknowledgement:A Guide to Indigenous Land AcknowledgementToolkit - You're on California Indian Land, Now What?Academic Article - "Decolonization Is Not A Metaphor"Magazine Article - "White Allies, Let's Be Honest About Decolonization"Book - Decolonizing Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples
More online resources available at: RacialEquityTools.org
Podcast art by Lauren Snyder
Visit The Pharm:
https://www.thepharm.love/
Instagram: @thepharm.love
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepharm.love/
YouTube: The Pharm - Ventura
Connect with Sarah
Email: sarah@thepharm.love
Instagram: @SteadySweetSarah
https://www.sarahaspell.com
In this episode, Sarah talks with local actor and bilingual yoga teacher, Rafaela Garcia!
Rafaela shares a lot about how COVID-19 has impacted community theater and her new career in teaching yoga. She's curious, sincere, and humble as she discusses the development of her personal yoga practice and style of teaching.
This is a nice easy-going episode that gives a sweet glimpse into the life and perspective of an artist, student, teacher, and friend of The Pharm.
Connect with Rafaela on Instagram: @rrrrrafaela_
Local Theaters to Support:
Elite Theater - Oxnard
Teatro De Las Americas - Oxnard
Santa Paula Theater Center
Camarillo Skyway Playhouse
Podcast art by Lauren Snyder
Visit The Pharm:
https://www.thepharm.love/
Instagram: @thepharm.love
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepharm.love/
YouTube: The Pharm - Ventura
Connect with Sarah
Email: sarah@thepharm.love
Instagram: @SteadySweetSarah
https://www.sarahaspell.com
This episode centers a candid interview with Ventura yoga teacher, Liz Little.
Liz and Sarah do some serious bonding in this talk, where Liz shares her journey into teaching yoga after leaving a high-stress career in marketing. She also offers excellent self-care advice for folks pursuing their passions.
Liz is the creator of the Deep Stretch Method, which is designed to help people recover from intense physical activity, past injuries, and stressful days.
You can find her teaching schedule and upcoming workshop information on her website. LittleYogaMethod.com
Instagram: @LizzyLit
Liz teaches in 6 spaces in Ventura:
- The Pharm
- Ventura Pop Up Yoga
- Aum Vibe
- Pierpont Racket Club
- Ventura YMCA
- Mavericks Gym
Podcast art by Lauren Snyder
Visit The Pharm:
https://www.thepharm.love/
Instagram: @thepharm.love
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepharm.love/
YouTube: The Pharm - Ventura
Connect with Sarah
Email: sarah@thepharm.love
Instagram: @SteadySweetSarah
https://www.sarahaspell.com
This week's talk is a lively discussion with the founder of The Pharm, Buffy Castillo.
Of course, The Pharm sponsors this show and I'm so grateful to Buffy and the rest of the team for trusting me with this project.
Buffy gives us a short origin story of The Pharm and how it got its name. What inspired her to open a new yoga and movement studio in Ventura and her vision for the future.
Because Buffy and I know each other pretty well, this interview is a little looser than others, which I think really highlights the open, creative, spirit of The Pharm.
Folks can find out more about Buffy's current movie project online:
Instagram: @theofficialbuffalomovie
Facebook: Buffalo-Movie
Web: www.buffalo-movie.com
Podcast art by Lauren Snyder
Visit The Pharm:
https://www.thepharm.love/
Instagram: @thepharm.love
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepharm.love/
YouTube: The Pharm - Ventura
Connect with Sarah
Email: sarah@thepharm.love
Instagram: @SteadySweetSarah
https://www.sarahaspell.com
In this episode, Sarah talks with astrologer and yoga teacher Melissa Kelly!
Melissa candidly shares her journey into astrology as a lifelong Ventura County resident and generously offers a ton of Astrology 101 and some deeper dives into understanding natal charts and astrological concepts as our "factory settings" interacting with current events.
I really appreciate her approach to this practice as a tool for reflection, growth, and most importantly, compassion for self and others.
She recommends Debra Silverman's book The Missing Element: Inspiring Compassion for the Human Condition for folks developing their own compassion practices.
Folks can connect with Melissa on Instagram (@I.Am.MelissaJean), through her website: melissajkelly.com
or by catching her classes with Ventura Pop Up Yoga and Aum Vibe.
Visit The Pharm:
https://www.thepharm.love/
Instagram: @thepharm.love
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepharm.love/
YouTube: The Pharm - Ventura
Connect with Sarah
Email: hello@thepharm.love
Instagram: @SteadySweetSarah
https://www.sarahaspell.com
This episode needs a quick content warning:
In this interview, I talk with the founders of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and People Ventura County.
We talk about genocide, sexual assault, murder, human trafficking, victim shaming, police brutality, racist mascots, and exploitation of indigenous people.
We also talk about healing, visions for sustainable futures, rematriatriation of land, and integrating indigenous practices with justice and community care
I'm so grateful to Skyler and Noemi for sharing so candidly about their work and lived experiences. I hope this interview activates listeners to further their research and meaningfully support Indigenous people speaking out against horrific injustice.
Resources:Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and People Ventura County
Instagram: @mmiwgp.venturacounty
Man Camps - Connecting pipeline projects to violence against Indigenous women. See Nuuca (short film) or read this academic article: Drilling Down: An Examination of the Boom-Crime Relationship in Resource-Based Boom Counties.
Land Back Movement: https://landback.org/hesapa/
May 5th is National Day of Awareness for MMIW
learn more here: National Indigenous Women's Resource Center
Media Recommendations:
The Buffalo Project: aims to promote healthy expressions of masculinity and emotions among men using indigenous ideals in non indigenous spaces.
Instagram: @BrothersLeadingOpenness
Highway of Tears by Jessica McDiarmid (book)
- Films -
Awake: A Dream From Standing Rock - https://www.awakethefilm.org
Warrior Women - https://www.warriorwomenfilm.com/
Podcast art by Lauren Snyder
Visit The Pharm:
https://www.thepharm.love/
Instagram: @thepharm.love
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepharm.love/
YouTube: The Pharm - Ventura
Connect with Sarah
Email: sarah@thepharm.love
Instagram: @SteadySweetSarah
https://www.sarahaspell.com
This week's interview is with acupuncturist, herbalist, and yoga teacher Jiling Lin!
Jiling has such an awesome story, with action, adventure, intense travel, career changes, and deep connection to nature
We talk about contact improv, posing nude, creativitiy, dancing, and cultivating joy!
She shares about her Yangsheng ("nourishing life") rituals that help her maintain her wellness and sense of oneness with all things, and offers great suggestions for folks who are looking to develop their own self-care practices.
Jiling gives a great introduction to the elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine that give birth to each other and control each other in different cycles.
To close, she guides a very sweet standing meditation that incorporates these elements.
It was truly a treat to get to talk with Jiling in this way, and I really hope you have a chance to pause and do the practice at the end of the episode.
Connect with Jiling:
JilingLin.com
Podcast art by Lauren Snyder
Visit The Pharm:
https://www.thepharm.love/
Instagram: @thepharm.love
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepharm.love/
YouTube: The Pharm - Ventura
Connect with Sarah
Email: sarah@thepharm.love
Instagram: @SteadySweetSarah
https://www.sarahaspell.com
Hey y'all, welcome to The Pharm Community Podcast!
My name is Sarah and I'm so excited to kick off this podcast with in interview I recorded in early December with yoga teacher and fabulous human, Lisa Feeny.
Lisa teaches Chair yoga and Yoga for Larger Bodies at The Pharm and co-founded Harmony Accessible Yoga here in Ventura County.
She shares about her journey into yoga as a person in a larger body and offers interesting tips around using an aerial hammock in yoga practice. We talk about the Accessible Yoga Teacher Training, where we met in 2019, and how she applies that knowledge to her classes, especially Yoga For Larger Bodies. We also gab about the way we, as yoga teachers, have adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic through self-study, teaching online, creative projects, and collaborating with peers.
I hope you enjoy this talk, and can catch a class with Lisa soon!
Resources:
Harmony Accessible Yoga
https://www.harmonyaccessibleyoga.com/
IG: @HarmonyAccessibleYoga, @LisaCleFee
Aerial Yoga in Ventura:
The Aerial Studio
Aum Vibe
Other Shout-Outs:
Accessible Yoga
Curvy Yoga
Amber Karnes
Dianne Bondy
NicoleCardoza / Anti-Racism Daily Newsletter
[Book Rec]
Yoga Beyond the Poses by Alexandra Desiato and Sage Rountree
Podcast art by Lauren Snyder
Visit The Pharm:
https://www.thepharm.love/
Instagram: @thepharm.love
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepharm.love/
YouTube: The Pharm - Ventura
Connect with Sarah
Email: sarah@thepharm.love
Instagram: @SteadySweetSarah
https://www.sarahaspell.com
Hello hello!
Welcome to The Pharm Community Podcast
My name is Sarah Aspell and I am your host!
This weekly podcast is designed for Ventura county locals (living on Chumash land) who are looking to connect with and support interesting people in our community.
Episodes will hype local artists, wellness practitioners, organizations and activists that make Ventura better every single day.
I've already got some really special interviews lined up to share and I'm looking forward to learning from and sharing even more incredible talks with folks from a variety of fields.
If you'd like to recommend someone, or come on this show yourself to share your perspective and talents, you can hit me up on instagram @steadysweetsarah or email hello@thepharm.love
Thanks for tuning into this first micro episode. I'm so excited to engage with the community in this way.
Wishing you all peace, joy, and equanimity into this new year and beyond!
Take good care,
catch ya later
bye!
Podcast art by Lauren Snyder
Visit The Pharm:
https://www.thepharm.love/
Instagram: @thepharm.love
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepharm.love/
YouTube: The Pharm - Ventura
Connect with Sarah
Email: sarah@thepharm.love
Instagram: @SteadySweetSarah
https://www.sarahaspell.com