Deep Conversations Podcast: Recent Episodes
Real, Meaningful Conversations From The Real World
Deep conversations with people who are making a difference in the world. Opportunities to hear their stories, life journeys, lessons learned along the way, and their visions for the future. Real conversations and real stories. Inspiring. Uplifting. Enlightening. No script. No limits.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/notes-from-the-mindful-inner-journey/id1213052669
https://notesfromtheinnerjourney.buzzsprout.com
https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/4fa6f9dc-05a5-4309-8ccb-82dc6d89e304/notes-from-the-mindful-inner-journey
Zoe gave up her house and her teaching job as a linguist, to fully live her life as a dance. She lives where she works or where people welcome her. Traveling and speaking many languages seem to be part of that dance. As she doesn’t have any thoughts about who she is and who she should be, she completely surrenders to the present moment. The present moment is her only permanent companion, her beloved traveling guide, and biggest inspiration in working with people.
“It is my wish to inspire people to live their life in the light of the present moment, to transcend the level of the mind and its endless thoughts, and remember who they truly are.”
Zoe mostly draws from her own direct spiritual experience. She is also inspired by Advaita Vedanta (non-duality), Sufism (the ultimate reality is Love) and Tantrism (masculine and feminine energy come together in oneness). She writes articles in two Dutch magazines* and shares her inspiration in the newsletters you find on this website.
In 2010 Zoe had her first opening. One night she woke up bursting out laughing. ‘Living as God!’ she said. She realized that believing her thoughts was her only problem. ‘If I don’t believe my thoughts, I become totally available for Life/God to live through this body …’ The next morning she started writing and two weeks later she finished the book Living as God. It is still available in Dutch and in English.** Nobody’s Dance seems to be the sequel to Living as God. “Back then there was a lot of mental clarity, now there is a much deeper experience of that reality that is Love.”
“When we become unattached to our stories, past and future and other fantasies, we become transparent. We remember our true nature and become available for life to dance through us. Our life becomes a Nobody’s Dance.”
Zoe is a citizen of Belgium but the world is her home. Zoe offers private sessions in person when possible. She also works through online private sessions. The energy doesn’t care about distance. She is fluent in Dutch, English and French, and also uses Italian and German to talk to people.
For more information about Zoe, visit https://www.zoejoncheere.com
Lisa Piccirillo almost gave up on songwriting, but The Muse wouldn’t let her. The inspiration for her latest record came to her as a vision: the silhouette of a woman, backlit by the sun, alongside the word RADIATE. Fueled by this idea and the desire to reclaim her creative identity, Lisa devoted herself to daily songwriting sessions at sunrise and the new record was born. An unapologetically loud follow-up to her mellow and folky 2008 debut (momentum), RADIATE chronicles Lisa’s vast emotional landscape with her signature blend of vulnerable songwriting and powerhouse vocals. Find her at the links below and on all major streaming platforms.
Website: https://www.lisapmusic.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisapiccirillo
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/@lisapmusic
Radiate Record: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/lisapiccirillo/radiate-2
DEBORAH EDEN TULL, founder of Mindful Living Revolution, teaches the integration of compassionate awareness into every aspect of our lives, bridging personal and collective awakening in an age of global change. She is an engaged Buddhist teacher, spiritual activist, author, eco-dharma educator, and facilitator of The Work That Reconnects, a field created by Buddhist scholar and eco-philosopher Joanna Macy for transforming our love and pain for our world into compassionate action.
Eden teaches dharma intertwined with post-patriarchal thought and practices, resting upon a lived knowledge of our unity with the more than human world. She has practiced meditation for 30 years and trained for seven and a half years as a Buddhist monk at the Zen Monastery Peace Center, a silent Zen monastery in the Sierra foothills. She has been teaching for over 20 years.
Eden’s teaching emphasizes relational presence, acknowledging the personal, interpersonal, intrapersonal, transpersonal, societal, ecological, mystical, and global impacts of embodied dharma. She has worked with a wide range of audiences, from dharma students and spiritual teachers to those practicing or teaching secular mindfulness, to concerned citizens, activists, leaders, and change agents, to parents, schools, inner city youth, nonprofits, corporations, and people who are incarcerated.
Eden taught for many years with UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center, and has been collaborating with Nina Simons, co-founder of Bioneers since 2012, on the topics of Regenerative Leadership, Women’s Leadership, and Sacred Activism. She is also a member of the national Eco-Dharma Advisory Committee of Buddhist teachers and leaders in the eco-dharma movement.
Eden has a special gift for facilitating mindful inquiry and fierce compassion, and bridging personal, ancestral, and collective healing. Weaving dharma with her embodiment of animism, deep ecology, shadow work, somatic awareness, ancestral healing, and conscious movement/dance, she helps people release limiting beliefs and collective biases that have been passed down over generations. She draws upon her own experience of navigating loss, illness, and trauma, guiding people to embrace the mystery and celebrate the value and alchemy of light and darkness as teachers of love.
Having lived in or taught about sustainable communities and organic gardening/permaculture for decades, Eden weaves the essential wisdom of nature into everything she teaches. She currently resides in the mountains of western North Carolina, originally Cherokee land, with her husband Mark. She offers retreats, workshops, and consultations nationally and internationally, integrating presence and partnership with nature.
Eden feels that the most important aspect of being a teacher is continually being a student. She continually immerses herself in trainings and retreats, recognizing direct experience as our truest guide. She works closely with mentor Pam Weiss, author of A Bigger Sky: Awakening a Fierce Feminine Buddhism, to deepen her embodiment of Soto Zen Buddhism in the lineage of Suzuki Roshi.
Jessi Sands is a multidisciplinary artist who uses different mediums such as painting, ceramics, and mixed media to explore how the intersectionality of their multiracial identity influences their roles as an Indigenous parent, queer person, and land steward.
Jessi grew up in Oklahoma on the Cherokee reservation and on their Mvskoke
reservation where they currently live in Tulsa, OK. They received their Associates of Arts Degree from Tulsa Community College in 2021. They received their Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with minors in American Indian Studies, Pre-Art Therapy, and Art History from Oklahoma State University in 2024.
While attending OSU they received several scholarships, the most notable being the Dana, Lisa, and Chris Tiger Scholarship and the Jackson Narcomey Rising Artist Scholarship.
Currently, Jessi is working towards receiving their MA in Art Therapy/Counseling and Ecotherapy from Southwestern College and New Earth Institute in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Their career goal is to continue as a studio artist while creating spaces for healing as an art therapist.
https://www.milkycreates.com
Instagram @milky.creates
Mark works with people to help them connect their inner and outer universe to uncover the wonder and awe of being in every moment.
As an astrophysicist and Zen teacher and ordained Zen monk, he offers a unique method of embodied practice based on science and research, which will encourage people to find a deep connection with the cosmos.
In 2019, he gave up his life of teaching courses and workshops in yoga, mindfulness and Zen to move with his wife to the island of St Helena in the South Atlantic for a two-year adventure that involved writing this book
In his new book, Zen and the Art of Dealing with Difficult People, he stresses that by bringing awareness and kindness to these relationships will naturally shift them into something much broader and more inclusive. The result is a helpful book with a positive and helpful message: we can take a new perspective on the people who cause us pain.
To learn more about Mark and his new book, Zen and the Art of Dealing with Difficult People, visit
https://markwestmoquette.co.uk
Born and raised in Salem, Massachusetts, Anne Bennett is an alternative singer/songwriter whose haunting, melancholic vocals soar over dark melodies concerning death, love, heaven and hell, and are often influenced by her days living in the infamous Witch City.
Her music explores the deepest corners of the human experience, from the tender complexities of love to the inevitable reality of death, where she weaves melodies that echo with raw emotion and delicate intensity.
Drawing inspiration from her personal battle with depression, Bennett's lyrics are a powerful reflection of vulnerability and resilience. Each song is an intimate journey into themes of heartache, longing, and the shadows we all face. Her voice, described as both captivating and otherworldly, effortlessly pulls listeners into a realm where beauty and sorrow coexist.
Website: www.IAmAnneBennett.co
Instagram: https://instagram.com/annebennettofficial
Jonathan Robinson is a psychotherapist, best-selling author of ten books, and a professional speaker from Northern California. He has reached over 200 million people around the world with his practical methods, and his work has been translated into 47 languages. His work has appeared in Newsweek, USA TODAY, and the Los Angeles Times, as well as dozens of other publications. In addition, Mr. Robinson has made numerous appearances on the Oprah show and CNN, as well as other national TV talk shows. He has spent more than thirty years studying the most practical and powerful methods for personal and professional development.
Mr. Robinson’s first book, “The Experience of God,” included interviews with such notable people as the late Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama, Deepak Chopra, and Dr. Wayne Dyer. Jonathan’s second book, “The Little Book of Big Questions,” became a New York Times bestseller, as did his book “Communication Miracles for Couples.” Mr. Robinson’s other books include: Instant Insight; Real Wealth; Shortcuts to Bliss; Shortcuts to Success, The Complete Idiots Guide to Awakening Your Spirituality, and Find Happiness Now.
Jonathan speaks regularly to Fortune 500 companies such as Google, Microsoft, Dell, Bank of America, Coca-Cola, and FedEx/Kinko’s. In his public talks and workshops, Jonathan is known for providing his audiences with powerful and immediately useful information in a fun and entertaining manner.
**To learn more about Jonathan and his work, visit
https://findinghappiness.com
To learn more about his latest book, The Enlightenment Project: How I Went From Depressed to Blessed, and You Can Too, visit
https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/260334**
JP Morrison Lans decided to grow up to be an artist while visiting the Carole Laroche Gallery in Santa Fe New Mexico when she was eleven years old. Five years later the Tulsa Artist Coalition supported this dream for her when she was accepted for her first solo exhibition. Since then she has earned her BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute, co-owner a gallery, had her work purchased for the permanent collection of the Bundaberg Regional Gallery in Queensland Australia where she lived for two years and created immersive art installations for AHHA Tulsa, the Living Arts New Genre Festival, and the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition. Morrison Lans has shows her work with M.A. Doran Gallery, Tulsa; Heron Arts, San Francisco; Keep Contemporary, Santa Fe; and 19 Karen, Gold Coast, Australia. She has been a resident artist at SVA, NY., Truro Art Center, MA., Rockland Woods, WA., the Vermont Studio Center and Quarantine in Menorca, Spain. Morrison Lans is a member of the international artist collective Teleportal.Gallery and is an inaugural member of the NYC Crit Club’s Canopy Program. She and her child can typically be found experimenting with encaustic and lego, respectively, from their home studio in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Statement:
I explore the relationship of body and psyche by combining figurative realism, symbolic objects and intuitive abstraction. These collected elements are metaphors for my experience of womanhood, motherhood, love, loss, self-preservation, panic, desire, and knowing. Through layers of color pencil I create translucent skin. The addition of gouache and encaustic allows me to comb sheens and dimensional shapes around my drawing, forming membranes and isolated objects which express the subject's emotional escapades. Often I use orientation dissonance –the inversion of the figure– to symbolize circumspection, surrender, gestation, and metamorphosis. I render hands frequently, they represent intention and action, also the mouth, tongue and teeth as gateways between the inner self and outer world. Through taste and touch, we experience intimacy and desire. This anatomy creates boundaries while also being an entry point. My work invites you to experience this same push pull of entering and observing from a distance.
Akasha J. Smith, PhD is the founder of School of Awakening which offers The Professional Intuitive Healer Certification Program and Transformational Retreats in Bali and Costa Rica. She’s been Teaching, facilitating Intuitive Healing sessions, Transpersonal Counseling and Past Life Regressions for people around the world for more than 20 years. She also offers Akashic Records Readings and Channeled Awakening Transmissions.
One of her favorite parts about the work is watching people’s hearts, bodies, minds and souls open to the connection and lives they’ve been so deeply longing for. When someone is ready and really shows up, true healing simply happens. With that can come a freedom unlike anything else that is absolutely beautiful to witness…another human shining.
Akasha’s Soul Purpose is to Help People Remember and Be Who they Truly Are. She does this through teaching, healing and creative expression. She is Deeply Passionate about Teaching Intuitive People, even if they Doubt their Abilities, how to Become Professional Healers, Heal Themselves and Awaken. Akasha has taught everything from Human Development Psychology to Creativity Enhancement and Dance to How to Connect with your Spirit Guides.
She taught Mindfulness Meditation in Naropa University’s Graduate Transpersonal and Contemplative Psychology Counseling Programs. Akasha researched Passionate Engagement for her Doctorate in East West Psychology at The California Institute of Integral Studies. She has a Masters Degree in Psychology from The Institute of Transpersonal Psychology with specializations in Teaching, Education & Research and Creative Expression. Akasha graduated from Naropa University with a Bachelor’s degree in Contemplative Psychology and minors in Traditional Eastern and Healing Arts and Improvisational Dance.
She also trained in The Clairvoyant Program at Psychic Horizons Institute and The Colorado School of Transpersonal Counseling and Hypnotherapy where she became an internationally certified hypnotherapist. She completed her yoga teacher training in Rishikesh, India and has studied traditional dance in Bali, Thailand, Hawaii and Spain.
Akasha is a best-selling contributing author of Activate Your Life and just finished contributing to a 2nd book on Awakening Experiences and their impact on daily life. She was the co-author of a Transformation from Trauma study which was published in the peer-reviewed academic journal, The International Journal of Transpersonal Psychology.
When Akasha isn’t helping people Become Counselors and Healers and Leading Retreats, she’s Creating Lightcode Art, Writing Poetry or Traveling the World Solo studying Dance, Healing and Yoga.
https://www.schoolofawakenedliving.com/
I sat down at Artspace at Untitled for an incredibly deep and meaningful conversation with the members of the OKC based fusion band Local Man Ruins Everything: Jay Gleason, Byron "Chopz" Collins, Eric Harris, and Adam Ledbetter.
It is one of those conversations that totally captures the essence of a group of musicians creating and expressing at higher level of Consciousness
Sharla is a multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter, producer, and transformational sound healer. Raised in a musical family, she began playing violin at 8, writing her own music by 14, and experienced a profound activation at 19 that instantly unlocked her ability to play piano. Over the years, Sharla has expanded her talents to include guitar, hammered dulcimer, and music production, crafting deeply evocative compositions that awaken the Spirit within and inspire listeners to connect to Love.
I am beyond grateful for my incredible family of four boys. Each of them bring their own unique light: my youngest is a kind soul with a love for football, my 16-year-old is an exceptionally gifted pianist with plans to join the Air Force, and our two older boys are finding their way as young adults, carving out their own paths and enjoying life.
My husband and I share a deep love for music and God—he’s also a songwriter and musician, and together we dream of retiring him from his corporate role so we can fully devote ourselves to writing, singing, traveling, and sharing our callings with the world. They are my biggest supporters, and I couldn’t be more proud to call them mine
To connect with Jessica, visit
https://www.thebroodalist.com
Instagram
@thebroodalist
breath@thebroodalist.com
Essence is no newcomer to the herbal world, in fact she made her first foray into herbalism at a young age, having been introduced to a plethora of herbs and plants by her grandmother. Little did she know then that those moments would lead to a passion being ignited in her to one day birth her own brand.
Her newest endeavor, UnEarthed Botanicals is a culmination of the impact that both of her grandmother’s lives had on hers. One offering the knowledge and love for alternative health options, and the other, a focused interest in the gynecological field, and all things women's health.
Shamika has spent many years cultivating and improving her own health holistically, and has continually sought to sharpen her knowledge in the area of women’s healthcare. She’s attended college to become a gynecologist, but in her last year at university she came to the startling realization that the industry she was about to begin working in was operating from a completely different philosophy, and standard of care that she believed in, and so months away from graduating, she left and began to pursue her desire to help people in a more natural and less harmful way.
She began to arm herself with knowledge on how to care for the person as a whole, and not merely by symptoms, and symptom suppression, but how it is that she could bring about wholeness in the total woman. This led her down the path of studying a myriad of systems and therapeutic practices to effectively address the many challenges that may face women in their body.
Over the years, she has worked with many women in various capacities, not limited to, birth work, post partum care, fertility, fibroids, endometriosis, ovarian cyst, and other health complications. Essence has found it a great pleasure to have assisted so many women in her work as a holistic health advocate, and she looks forward to assisting you on your health journey as well. Blessings.
www.unearthedbotanicals.com
Happy Is Here is not only the name of my practice, but it is a reality I would like to help create for you. As your Trauma Informed Coach, my priority is to a safe, compassionate, empowering space where you can explore and work through your experiences at your own pace. You will find that my approach is grounded in empathy and respect. I will support you in discovering your inner strength and resilience. Thank you for trusting me. Let's get happy together!
Happy Is Here LLC
918-509-0002
hereisherellc@gmail.com
Cushing, OK. 74023
"On my journey, I’ve discovered that Healing is the highest form of human love.” – Earth Love is grounded in fully embodying the abundance of Love while supporting others on a path to connecting with their Inner Healer.
Engaged in a deep spiritual and healing practice of her own, her aspirations are firmly rooted in serving others with a deep sense of compassion, aiming to uplift the collective consciousness. A practitioner and student of the yogic philosophy for 7 years, she studied traditional Hatha Yoga in Thailand with the school of Yoga Samaadhi, obtaining a 500 hour RYT Certification.
She continues to practice and study multiple yoga styles regularly. Earth's most recent training is in Integrative Breathwork where she had the privilege of learning from the esteemed Millana Snow.
Integrative Breathwork is a healing modality that aims to return us to experiencing who we truly are. A practice that allows the releasing of layers & stories that keep us from embodying our true nature and authentic Self.
Earth is also actively studying Holotropic breathwork with the Stan Grof Transpersonal Training school, The Energy Codes by Dr. Sue Morter, and trauma informed care. She is currently a digital nomad, traveling full time since 2019 and has lived in 4 different countries.
connect2earth.love@gmail.com
Instagram: @__earth_love
Yolanda Neals-Kindred, now known spiritually as Oriola Esuleke, is a Holistic Healing Curator, Author, and Social Entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience. She started her career under the tutelage of Iyanla Vanzant and has since made significant strides in holistic healing and community empowerment. As MhoganiPearl, she co-authored "Dear Yvette: Shattered Fairytales," reflecting her journey of self-love and overcoming childhood abuse. Yolanda's efforts in addressing trauma and ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences) gained national recognition during the Obama Administration.
Known for her honest and relatable approach, she has become an inspiration, especially in urban communities. Facing challenges as a military veteran, including sexual trauma, homelessness and single parenthood, she founded The Kindred Healing Center in Atlanta, a wellness center serving urban and veteran communities.
Yolanda is dedicated to creating sacred healing spaces and promoting holistic healthcare for personal development and professional empowerment.
Oriola is married to Dr. Rhonda Kindred and they share 2 adult children and 4 grandchildren. They are also proud owners of The Kindred Healing Center which is a 6,000 sq ft wellness center in the City of Atlanta.
You can learn more about The Kindred Healing Center at www.KindredHealingCenter.com or by calling 470-771-0563.
Bhogananda lives a full spiritual life and her goal is to completely know God in all facets in manifestation.
She is the co founder of Shakti Ananda Academy, a spiritual online school for women - www.shaktianandacademy.com
She also offers one-to-one coaching sessions for women and couples, yoga classes, tantra workshops, tantric massage courses and women circles all over the world.
https://www.bhogananda.com/
https://www.instagram.com/bhogananda
bho
gananda@protonmail.com
Akiyla McQueen is the co-founder of Supreme Essence, a multidimensional sanctuary for spiritual initiation, embodied wisdom, and soul-aligned leadership. Known as a medicine woman, master teacher, and holistic engineer, Akiyla bridges ancient healing arts with modern transformation tools to help individuals awaken their gifts, reclaim their voice, and remember their sacred role in this lifetime.
She is the creator and lead facilitator of several groundbreaking certification pathways, including Intuitive Counseling, Vibrational Medicine, Way of the Dragon, & Discipleship of Enlightenment. Each offering is designed to activate deeper remembrance, spiritual sovereignty, and heart-centered mastery guiding students into alignment with their soul’s mission.
Akiyla is a certified raw vegan chef and nutritional healer, a Reiki Master, plant medicine facilitator, and sound therapist who bridges ancient technologies with modern embodiment. As a holistic engineer and energy technician, she is devoted to restoring sacred systems—within the body, the earth, and the collective field.
Through retreats, sacred ceremonies, elemental initiations, and mentorship, Akiyla weaves together the threads of sound healing, shamanic practice, esoteric psychology, channeling, and quantum embodiment. Her work is rooted in remembrance: of who we are, why we came, and what we’re meant to build for the generations to come.
https://www.supremeessencepfw.com
Amanda Tweed is British. She spent many years addicted to drugs. Due to her addiction she committed crime to fund her addiction which led her down a dark path to destruction and despair.
Amanda spent 13 years of going in and out of prison for shoplifting offences. Amanda has over 50 convictions for theft related crimes and her last prison sentence was in October 2010 to January 2011.
After leaving prison in January 2011, Amanda was sent to a supported accommodation type hostel. She settled in her room and went to bed, fell asleep and when she woke up the following morning, every negative limitation vanished. Amanda was self realised as the psychological mind fell away leaving her in the state of blissful Christ consciousness.
https://www.amandatweed.com
amanda.amandatweed@gmail.com
For the work she does in relation to mental health well-being the website is: https://www.redflagwellbeing.co.uk.
amanda.redflag@gmail.co.uk
Charles Eisenstein (born 1967) is an American public speaker, author, and activist. His books include The Ascent of Humanity, Sacred Economics, and The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know is Possible.
Eisenstein's work covers a wide range of topics, including the history of human civilization, economics, spirituality, and the ecology movement. Key themes explored include anti-consumerism, interdependence, and how myth and narrative influence culture. According to Eisenstein, global culture is immersed in a destructive "story of separation", and one of the main goals of his work is to present an alternative "story of interbeing". Much of his work draws on ideas from Eastern philosophy, the spiritual teachings of various indigenous peoples, and New Age themes.
https://charleseisenstein.org
Their book, Healing Begins with Us: Breaking the Cycle of Trauma and Abuse and Rebuilding the Sibling Bond (HeartWisdom LLC, April 5, 2022), shares their inspiring and hopeful story of healing from their painful upbringing.
They are sharing their story now to help heal the shame that they have carried as survivors of trauma, and to contribute to healing the hearts of others who have struggled in similar ways. To them healing is not about changing, or becoming someone "different" or "better"---it's about becoming more fully who they are: a spark of The Divine, connected to All, here to assist each other as our souls explore this existence and learn to love and live in peace.
Ronni Tichenor has a PhD in sociology, specializing in family studies, from the University of Michigan.
https://www.heartandsoulsisters.net
Genine Howard is an extraordinary transformational leader who embarked on a remarkable journey from magazine publishing to guiding others in building successful businesses. With a unique approach, she merges the profound wisdom of her inner feminine essence with astute masculine strategies to deliver transformative results.
Drawing upon her wealth of experience, Genine empowers individuals to unlock their true potential and build thriving businesses. Her teachings go beyond traditional methods, incorporating deep inner wisdom and intuition to create a harmonious blend of feminine energy and strategic thinking.
With Genine as your guide, you'll discover the power of embracing both your intuitive feminine nature and the practical masculine elements of business. By integrating these aspects, you will gain invaluable insights, develop sustainable strategies, and unlock the doors to profound personal and professional growth.
Genine Howard is a trailblazer in bridging the gap between inner wisdom and strategic business-building. Through her guidance, you'll learn to harness the transformative power within you, creating a path to success that is both aligned with your feminine essence and grounded in smart, practical strategies. Get ready to embark on a transformative journey that will revolutionize your approach to business and lead you to unparalleled success.
www.empress-empires.com
https://www.instagram.com/genine_howard
Alexandra is on a mission to raise the vibration of our collective consciousness. As an Energy Healer and Spiritual Advisor, she uses the tools of psychedelic medicine and integration, mindfulness practices such as meditation and breathwork, and the metaphysical practice of Reiki to help heal the mind, body, and soul. Through her self-healing journey to overcome developmental trauma and anxiety, along with a profound spiritual transformation, she was prepared and called to be a channel of healing for others. She embraces clients with compassionate understanding to help them tap into their higher selves and live more fulfilled lives.
Alexandra has worked with hundreds of clients in group and individual settings. Previously she was an Integration Guide at Mindbloom and the Director of Patient Experience at Wonder Sciences. She is double Reiki Master certified by the International Center for Reiki Training. Her other training includes a 400-hour mentorship with Shipibo Shamans, Fluence Introduction to Ketamine, Heart Coherence Healing, and Psychic and Medium Development. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Consciousness, Spirituality, and Transpersonal Psychology, and has a B.A. in journalism.
In addition to her professional work, Alexandra is passionate about increasing access to holistic wellness and supporting BIPOC and marginalized communities. Her philanthropic endeavors include leading mindfulness workshops and leadership advising for Vista Del Mar, a non-profit providing trauma-informed care and mental health services to the most vulnerable children and families in Southern California. She believes that by healing ourselves and raising consciousness, we improve the wellbeing of the planet and all its inhabitants.
To connect with Alexandra, visit
healeralexandra.com
@healeralexandra on IG
Annie Ellicott is a jazz vocalist, songwriter and interdisciplinary artist. In recent years, she has expanded her creativity through acting, voice over, audio book narration, video production, album production, stagecraft, and performance art. Ellicott has acquired a substantial fan base from her voiceover work as both a character actor and narrator for Soundbooth Theater Audiobooks, and has toured the United States and Europe, performing both traditional jazz and original compositions.
Ellicott’s stage power arises from her sustained drive. A disciplined performer, Ellicott has performed some 300 shows in the past 5 years, before crowds as wide-ranging as the annual Outside Lands Festival in Golden Gate Park to Caveau de la Huchette in Paris. She’s also a recurring guest vocalist with Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra at both The Rockwell Table and Stage in Los Angeles, as well as Feinstein’s At The Nikko in San Francisco. Ellicott appeared with Goldblum and his ensemble in San Francisco at Sketch Fest 2016, 2017, 2018 and at the famed Glastonbury Festival in London in 2019.
Christine Marie is a Ceremonial Medicine Woman who specializes in holding safe and sacred spaces for healing and transformation through plant spirit facilitation, shamanic reiki healing, and spoken-word sound journeying. Additionally, she has a Bachelors in Nursing (BSN) and is a published author who has years of experience in helping men and women heal from C-PTSD, physical ailments, toxic relationships, and disempowerment.
Two years into her nursing field, she realized the limitations that western medicine had to offer in treating the root cause of emotional and physical disease. As she began to heal herself through holistic modalities and plant medicine, she felt the call to bridge the gap between western and holistic health by opening up her own private practice.
Her history in western medicine combined with her knowledge in alternative therapies offers you the experience of feeling safe and sovereign in your freedom of self-expression and healing.
Christine Marie's personal survivorship from abuse, neglect and body violation deeply shifted when she started to reclaim her voice and power while working within non-ordinary states of consciousness. She has made it her life's mission to support you in discovering emotional, physical, and spiritual wholeness and well-being.
www.christinemarieheals.com
www.instagram.com/christinemarieheals
The world has a lot wrong with it right now. There are serious injustices. We can't fix everything. But as Sean Lake's story proves, sometimes you look around and realize your moment has come, and you answer the call to step up and right a serious wrong.
For Sean, that moment tragically came when his best friend Navy SEAL Glen Doherty was killed in action, defending the CIA Annex in the notorious Benghazi strike on 9/11/2012. Discovering a major inequity in the death benefits system, Sean sued the federal government, challenged the CIA, and ultimately succeeded in getting the agency to change its standards to offer its personnel like Glen a proper death benefit. In fact, because of Sean's work, the CIA not only changed the standard, they retroactively awarded death benefits to over fifty families.
Today, Sean is a successful entrepreneur, a devoted husband and a loving father. As a former professional athlete, he maintains an impressively active lifestyle, engaging in snowboarding, cross-training and various athletic endeavors that few would dare attempt after the age of 50.
https://www.bubsnaturals.com
This is a space for the exploration of awakening, integration and embodiment, it’s a space that supports a deepening of Self. I don’t separate between spiritual or non-spiritual, all is included. It’s just LIFE and exploring what it means to be human, what it means to be alive, what it means to suffer, and what it is to accept all into the embrace of our experience. Understanding what awakening is, what spirituality is and what they both are not – brings these lofty ideals of ‘enlightenment’ back down to lived reality in each and every moment. Learning what it means to transcend and include all that we are, all that we experience, into the broader context of open-awareness.
For me what I offer here isn’t therapy and it’s not about the acquisition of more knowledge. It’s about the direct experience of Self using the tool of spiritual discussion & conversation (Satsang), and supported on a deeper level with Divine Light Transmissions. It’s about a meeting of our shared humanity, and our shared divinity and as such I don’t place myself higher than you, different than you, more than you. I don’t claim to have all or even any of the answers. I’m here to support this conversation of “What is the nature of reality? What is the nature of Self?” as a mentor, a teacher, a guide, an energy healer, and a spiritual midwife of sorts – to walk hand in hand with you on this beautiful, messy journey of Self discovery, as Self meeting Self. To discover the light Being that we are at the heart of all existence.
We are all figuring out life as best we can. A lot of the people I meet along the way are looking to others to give them answers. I encourage each and every one of you who happen upon this website to look into your own direct experience, use your discernment, listen to what others have to say and mark it against your own internal compass and intuition. Drop all your judgements about what you think you know and take a careful look, take a look prior to your assumptions, I encourage you to do so earnestly. See if whatever they (or I) are pointing to stands up to scrutiny, does it point back to your own truth? But don’t take my word for it…. go looking for yourself!
To connect with Imogen:
Website: beyondimogen.com
Email: beyondimogen@gmail.com
Podcast: endofseeking.substack.com
YouTube: youtube.com/beyondimogen
Facebook: facebook.com/beyondimogen
Instagram: instagram.com/beyondimogen
I was born an artist and have been one my entire life. I am passionate about creating, exploring, and experiencing life and how it affects others. Life is a natural cycle and we have a chance to leave behind our story and our legacy. The first time in my life that my hands hit a brush, there was an explosion of emotions that manifested. There was this rush that I can't really put into words, but it's found in my art. Since then I have never put it down.
Art is embedded into my life and the experience of life. I am on a journey that includes all of my children, my wife, and all of the interactions in life. My family travels the world with me and we get to experience a vast variety of people, cultures, and places.
My children were born into art so it is a part of who they are. I love finding people who are authentic in what they believe, what they do, and question the world around them. The world is full of inspiration around us and we take the time to appreciate life, we can create something captivating.
Life is a journey that is to be interpreted and experienced in oneself. Life is always moving like a river and evolving to the rocks around it. I have evolved into the place I am in life by following my path and embracing my soul. I get to take my life experiences and create art on my journey, and that I am thankful for.
https://www.joshstoutgallery.com
Kai has a unique gift that allows her to transmit the energy of awakening to open and willing spiritual seekers.
She was introduced to the kundalini shaktipat tradition in 1994 when she was 27 years old. Her kundalini was awakened by a shaktipat master and within a few months she was in full manifestation of the Divine Mother.
She has since undergone a series of dramatic awakenings that have prepared her to work with others. As a result of working with her, many people report having dramatic life changes, spiritually and in their everyday lives.
Read more
https://www.kaishanti.com
Instagram @angeloflightmeditation
Multimedia artist, Heyd Fontenot, is attracted to subjects possessed of discomforting or undefinable qualities. His drawn and painted portraits of unclothed subjects reveal the nuances of idiosyncratic expression and the delicacies of our humanness.
Fontenot’s film and video work tends to narcotize and disorient. The artist renounces commonplace narrative conventions in an effort to destabilize, making way for individual epiphany and revelation.
Borrowing themes and images from fraternal secret societies, rodeos, brothels, places of worship and interior design showrooms, Fontenot works with a rotating cast of actors and models to fabricate ceremonial dramas and consumer indoctrinations.
The artist slyly undermines all that is good and holy about middle-class respectability to reveal mythical America as both oppressive and alluring. His on-going video project Flaming Critters follows the adventures of a fictitious social club who dabble in Luciferianism.
Fontenot’s mid-career survey exhibition “The Very Queer Portraits of Heyd Fontenot,” traveled to the University of Maryland (College Park, Maryland), Rollins College (Winter Park, Florida), and Allegheny College (Meadville, Pennsylvania). He is represented by Conduit Gallery in Dallas, Texas.
Spiritual guide and author, Shakti is known internationally as one of the most authentic and profound voices in contemporary spirituality. Presenting the message of Advaita and non-dual Tantra within a contemporary framework, Shakti offers, with compassion and great clarity, an inner technology for dissolving the contraction of suffering that traditionally accompanies each of our lives. Her invitation is to come to the space of inner peace and unconditional love which resides at the heart of us all.
Her key teachings are the love for transcendence, or spiritual awakening, followed by its deep integration, into everyday living, so that each moment can be met as a precious opportunity for spiritual growth. Her students are left with the joy of an open heart and an authentic sense of freedom within the recognition of our being as one with everything.
https://www.shakticaterinamaggi.com/
Branjae is the personification of Black American Music. She is an artist, activist, dancer, singer, and actress. She asks “why not” through her music, challenging listeners to embrace their authentic selves. Her lyrical depth, energetic theatrical performances, and out of the box genre fluidity are as unique as the personas she embodies.
Having previously performed at the legendary Apollo Theater, BOK Center, Cain’s Ballroom and more, Branjae’s fearless and energetic showcase, encourages elevated consciousness by connecting with her audiences for the soul purpose of creating unity and harmony. Born in the city of Motown and rooted in the city of The Gap Band, artist Branjae has established herself as a full-bodied, entertainer; singing, dancing, and acting her way into the hearts of audiences across the globe.
Her voice has been likened to artists like Lauryn Hill, India Arie and Nina Simone; while her stage presence is influenced by Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, and Freddie Mercury. PREVIOUS SUPPORT INCLUDES LIZZO, THUNDERCAT, TANK AND THE BANGAS, BRIAN MCKNIGHT, THE YING YANG TWINS, FISHBONE, OHIO PLAYERS, RC AND THE GRITS, AND THE LATE WAYMAN TISDALEAccolades Include:
WINNER - BEST FEMALE ARTISTBLACK WALL STREET MUSIC AWARDS
3X WINNER - BEST FEMALE ARTIST, ARTIST OF THE YEAR, RECORD OF THE YEARTULSA VYBEZ AWARDS
WINNER - JIMMY LAFAVE SONG WRITING CONTEST
NOMINEE - BEST MUSIC VIDEOINDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS
5X NOMINEE - TULSA MUSIC AWARDS
Her short film projects “Street Light” & “Free Facts” have gained International recognition including exclusive features for Billboard Magazine & AfroPunk; and screenings in TORONTO, MANCHESTER, PARIS, LONDON, AMSTERDAM, BERLIN, SYDNEY, MELBOURNE, NEW YORK, LOS ANGELES AND AUSTIN
To connect with Branjae, visit
https://www.branjaemusic.com
https://www.facebook.com/BranjaeMusic/
https://www.instagram.com/branjaemusic/
https://www.youtube.com/user/branjae
Grace Bubeck is a psychologist (MSc), philosopher (PhD), and certified massage therapist by work history and professional training. In 1999, she left a first career in academia at the London School of Economics to become a body-mind therapist in private practice and a personal development and meditation teacher. She offers in person therapy, counseling, and workshops, as well as online non-dual spiritual events and group programs.
http://www.gracebubeck.com/about.html
Kjelshus Collins is an Oklahoma-born artist working in traditional printmaking and sculpture. Kjelshus attended Oklahoma State University earning a BFA and a BA in Art History. He spent much of his childhood with his parents selling their art around the country. Never one to focus on one art form, he often combines two different methods to create one piece, like printmaking with mold making to create a figurative piece in the form of a packaged toy. Kjelshus now lives in New Orleans and is working towards his MFA at the University of New Orleans.
Louise is a researcher, coach & intuitive artist, stone whisperer, and earth energy worker (PhD, MSc, PGDipCEIG, BA, INLPTA NLP, AAMET EFT, VTCT, Reiki Master)
She supports and empowers individuals and organisations to return to heart and reconnect to life. We do this by putting you back in the driving seat of your own life – guiding you to the wisdom and knowledge that resides your own heart, and giving you the confidence to bring forward this new understanding in everyday life.
https://www.heartsenseresearch.co.uk
Leo Sidran is a multi instrumentalist musician, producer, arranger, composer, recording artist, and podcast host.
The Third Story podcast features long-form interviews with creative people of all types.
Their stories of discovery, loss, ambition, identity, improvisation, risk, and reward are deeply moving and compelling for all of us as we embark on our own creative journeys.
He was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin, which is sometimes referred to as 70 square miles surrounded by reality. His father, Ben Sidran, another multifaceted music man, provided my early musical sustenance. His mother, a weaver and travel agent, provided texture and safe passage.
He got his start writing songs professionally as a teenager when the Steve Miller Band recorded four of his songs for their 1993 Wide River album. His father was working with Miller at the time, which is how he made the connection, but even then, at the ripe old age of 15, he was interested in production. So, Steve invited him to play keyboards, guitars and drums on the record.
He co-produced the Academy Award Winning song, "Al Otro Lado Del Rio" from the film The Motorcycle Diaries with Jorge Drexler in 2005.
After the Oscar win, he made a move to Brooklyn and not only started producing records for other artists, but also composing music for film and television commercials amassing a catalog of 100s of major TV ads for clients like Coca-Cola, Visa, Lincoln, McDonalds, Stella Artois, Ford, Garnier and over a dozen film scores for outlets such as ESPN 30 for 30, Discovery, IFC, Sundance, and PBS.
As a drummer, he has played and recorded with jazz luminaries including Phil Woods, Howard Levy, David Fathead Newman, Clark Terry and Dave Grusin, and as an engineer he has worked with artists ranging from Snarky Puppy to Massive Attack.
To learn more about Leo and his music and work, visit
http://www.leosidran.com
To learn more about Leo's podcast, visit
http://www.third-story.com
Nicole Peltier has been teaching her eclectic, musically motivated, creative yoga classes for over 25 years to all ages and levels. Nicole draws a lively following of teens and young people who are inspired by her young, fresh attitude and easy to follow instruction.
Being "mature" also makes Nicole an ideal teacher who inspires older students to let down their hair and rock without reservation. Tulsa's first yoga studio was opened and operated for over 20 years by Nicole and her partner. She is considered, by many, the OG of Yoga in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She is wildly passionate, energetic and inspirational. She is a true motivator. She is known as a powerful leader within the yoga community. She offers exceptional yoga retreats.
Raven Yoga Retreats encompass sacred spiritual practices, mindful living techniques, healing modalities, holistic health and yoga for beginners as well as seasoned practitioner in a tranquil environment. Her powerful delivery in yoga classes is called "an experience" by her students. She focuses on the energy yoga arouses when combined with music which is part of how she connects the students to joy, movement and childlike freedom.
Also, since Nicole's discovery into her own recovery, she has developed her own 'Raven Yoga for Freedom', (Trademarked in 2016) which addresses the issue of addiction, fear and emotional blocks. Nicole also leads a non-denominational Sunday Yoga Service with gospel and worship that she calls "All Rise Yoga Service". Nicole studied at Mount Madonna Center in Santa Cruz in 2000, and has studied extensively to hone her craft.
She spent 2022 studying Shamanism with a local shaman and incorporates shamanic practices into her classes. Nicole is a festival favorite presenting at Internationally renowned yoga festivals. Yoga on the Mountain (4 yrs), Fayetteville Yoga Fest (4 yrs), Telluride Yoga Fest (3 yrs), Yoga Farm Fest Shreveport (3 yrs), Wild West Yoga Fest (2 yrs.), Drishti Beats (2023), Little Rock Yoga Fest (2023), Serenity Fest - Durango (2022, 2023), OKC Yoga Fest (2018), I AM Yoga Fest (4 yrs), Big Om Yoga Fest (2 yrs).
Nicole shines at yoga retreats being a top presenter at Big Om Retreat (13 seasons), Dazen Collective (8 retreats) & Connect & Evolve (4 retreats). She has several modules she offers for yoga teacher training. She teaches Cueing, Voice Control and Flow Tactics to budding new yoga instructors. She continues to travel all over the world hosting yoga classes, retreats and ceremonial offerings.
Melissa Moore Ph.D. is the steward of North American Karuna training since 2014, and co-founded Karuna Europe in 1996. Melissa has her MA in Contemplative Psychotherapy from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, and her Ph.D. in Psychological Anthropology from the California Institute of Integral Studies.
Melissa has been a student of Vajrayana Buddhism and Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche since 1979. She was the founding Director of the Felton Institute for Research and Training in San Francisco (2006–2016). She has been involved in community-based research for the most marginalized populations in California, trained front-line providers in mental health in evidence-based practices, and then researched the outcomes.
Melissa is the Executive Director of Karuna Training and a lead faculty. She has taught Karuna Training in nine countries and in four states in the U.S. She lives in Denver with her dog and husband.
Melissa recently published The Diamonds Within Us: Uncovering Brilliant Sanity Through Contemplative Psychology; find out more about the book
here: https://thediamondswithinus.org
To learn more about Melissa and about Karuna Training, visit
https://karunatraining.com
Dashama is a life and business strategist, happiness expert, author, speaker, media producer and teacher. She has practiced hatha yoga since childhood and is now one of a rising generation of young yoga instructors who incorporate life coaching skills in their teaching
Victoria Angel Heart M.Ed is a mindfulness meditation guide, sacred musician and intuitive channel. Her life's work is to be a conduit of love for people to realize themselves as love personified.
Ronald A. Alexander, PhD, MFT, SEP (Somatic Experiencing Practitioner) is a Creativity and Communication Consultant, and an Executive and Leadership Coach, with a private psychotherapy practice working with individuals, couples, families, and groups in Santa Monica, California. He is the Executive Director of the OpenMind® Training Institute, a leading-edge organization that offers personal and professional training programs in core creativity, mind-body therapies, transformational leadership, and mindfulness meditation.
For more than forty-four years, Alexander has been a trainer of healthcare professionals in North America, as well as in Europe, Russia, Japan, China, and Australia. As a Mindfulness and Zen Buddhist practitioner, he specializes in utilizing mindfulness meditation in his professional and corporate work to help people transform their lives by accessing the mind states that open the portal to their core creativity.
Alexander is a leading pioneer in the fields of Mindfulness Based Mind-Body Therapies, Gestalt Therapy, Somatic Experiencing, Ericksonian Mind-Body Therapies, Holistic Psychology, and Integrative and Behavioral Medicine. He is a long-time extension faculty member of the UCLA Departments of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Entertainment, a lecturer in the David Geffen School of Medicine, and an adjunct faculty member at Pacifica Graduate Institute and Pepperdine Universities.
Alexander received his SEP Certificate from the Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute in Boulder Colorado. He consulted with and received treatment from Milton H Erickson MD. He personally trained with Ernest Rossi and Steven Gilligan in Ericksonian Hypnotherapy as well as with Daniel P. Brown of the Harvard Medical Cambridge Hospital professional training’s seminars in hypnosis and hypno-analysis. He trained with and was certified by the Los Angeles Gestalt Therapy Institute and with Erving and Miriam Polster PhD of the Gestalt Training Center of La Jolla. He also received training and supervision in Contemporary Gestalt and Family Therapies, Psychoanalytic Self-Psychology, Relational and Object Relations Therapies.
Dr. Ronald Alexander, PhD is a leading Creativity and Communication Coach, International Clinical Trainer, Executive and Leadership Coach, with a private practice in Santa Monica, California. He is the originator of the OpenMind Training® Institute, a leading edge organization that offers personal and professional training programs in mindfulness based mind-body therapies, transformational leadership, and meditation. His unique method combines ancient wisdom teachings with Leadership Coaching and Core Creativity into a comprehensive integrated, behaviorally effective mind-body program. This system combines techniques that support strategies of personal, clinical, and corporate excellence and growth.
Alexander’s extensive training includes core creativity, conflict management, Gestalt therapy, leadership and organizational development, and vision and strategic planning. He pioneered the early values and vision-based models for current day leadership and professional coaching. He specializes in Mind-Body therapies and has been studying and teaching Mindfulness Meditation, Creative Visualization and Transpersonal Psychology since 1970.
Alexander studied with and was influenced by noted leaders in these fields such as Ken Blanchard, Werner Erhard, Warren Bennis, Umberto Materana and Francesco Variela, and was one of the grandfathers of coaching along with Jim Rohn, Tony Robbins and Jack Canfield.
To learn more about Dr. Ron and his work, visit
https://ronaldalexander.com
Zoe gave up her house and her teaching job as a linguist, to fully live her life as a dance. She lives where she works or where people welcome her. Traveling and speaking many languages seem to be part of that dance. As she doesn’t have any thoughts about who she is and who she should be, she completely surrenders to the present moment. The present moment is her only permanent companion, her beloved traveling guide, and biggest inspiration in working with people.
“It is my wish to inspire people to live their life in the light of the present moment, to transcend the level of the mind and its endless thoughts, and remember who they truly are.”
Zoe mostly draws from her own direct spiritual experience. She is also inspired by Advaita Vedanta (non-duality), Sufism (the ultimate reality is Love) and Tantrism (masculine and feminine energy come together in oneness). She writes articles in two Dutch magazines* and shares her inspiration in the newsletters you find on this website.
In 2010 Zoe had her first opening. One night she woke up bursting out laughing. ‘Living as God!’ she said. She realized that believing her thoughts was her only problem. ‘If I don’t believe my thoughts, I become totally available for Life/God to live through this body …’ The next morning she started writing and two weeks later she finished the book Living as God. It is still available in Dutch and in English.** Nobody’s Dance seems to be the sequel to Living as God. “Back then there was a lot of mental clarity, now there is a much deeper experience of that reality that is Love.”
“When we become unattached to our stories, past and future and other fantasies, we become transparent. We remember our true nature and become available for life to dance through us. Our life becomes a Nobody’s Dance.”
Zoe is a citizen of Belgium but the world is her home. Zoe offers private sessions in person when possible. She also works through online private sessions. The energy doesn’t care about distance. She is fluent in Dutch, English and French, and also uses Italian and German to talk to people.
For more information about Zoe, visit https://www.zoejoncheere.com
Find Zoe’s YouTube channel here.
Chris is a composer, guitarist, and producer from Tulsa, OK
JFJO, COMBSY, Chris Combs Trio and more.
Downbeat Critic's Poll "Rising Star" nominee 2022, 2023
Melody Davis is a soulful singer/songwriter with an impressive five-octave range, whose sound is a unique blend of R&B, Jazz, NeoSoul, and Gospel. A native of Indiana, Melody enhanced her vocal talents at Roosevelt University in Chicago, where she attended on a music scholarship and majored in vocal performance.
Her career took off after winning a local singing competition, which paved the way for her to record her first Gospel album, “Melodies for the Majesty.” Since then, Melody has released numerous R&B, NeoSoul, Pop, and Inspirational singles and EPs. In addition to her success in the studio, she is renowned for her electrifying live performances and has toured extensively across the U.S. and internationally.
With a successful career, Melody remains grounded and deeply committed to her craft. She continues to write and produce music that speaks to themes of love, motivation, and life’s experiences. Her newly released single, “Hang On,” is a heartfelt dedication to the love she shares with her dedicated and loving husband.
Melody’s journey through music is a testament to her talent, hard work, and unwavering passion. As she continues to evolve as an artist, her powerful voice remains a force that touches and inspires listeners around the world.
www.melodydavismusic
Facebook: melodydavismusic
Instagram: melodydavismusic
TikTok: melodydavismusic
YouTube:MelodyDavisMusic
Streaming platforms: Melody Davis
DEBORAH EDEN TULL, founder of Mindful Living Revolution, teaches the integration of compassionate awareness into every aspect of our lives, bridging personal and collective awakening in an age of global change. She is an engaged Buddhist teacher, spiritual activist, author, eco-dharma educator, and facilitator of The Work That Reconnects, a field created by Buddhist scholar and eco-philosopher Joanna Macy for transforming our love and pain for our world into compassionate action.
Eden teaches dharma intertwined with post-patriarchal thought and practices, resting upon a lived knowledge of our unity with the more than human world. She has practiced meditation for 30 years and trained for seven and a half years as a Buddhist monk at the Zen Monastery Peace Center, a silent Zen monastery in the Sierra foothills. She has been teaching for over 20 years.
Eden’s teaching emphasizes relational presence, acknowledging the personal, interpersonal, intrapersonal, transpersonal, societal, ecological, mystical, and global impacts of embodied dharma. She has worked with a wide range of audiences, from dharma students and spiritual teachers to those practicing or teaching secular mindfulness, to concerned citizens, activists, leaders, and change agents, to parents, schools, inner city youth, nonprofits, corporations, and people who are incarcerated.
Eden taught for many years with UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center, and has been collaborating with Nina Simons, co-founder of Bioneers since 2012, on the topics of Regenerative Leadership, Women’s Leadership, and Sacred Activism. She is also a member of the national Eco-Dharma Advisory Committee of Buddhist teachers and leaders in the eco-dharma movement.
Eden has a special gift for facilitating mindful inquiry and fierce compassion, and bridging personal, ancestral, and collective healing. Weaving dharma with her embodiment of animism, deep ecology, shadow work, somatic awareness, ancestral healing, and conscious movement/dance, she helps people release limiting beliefs and collective biases that have been passed down over generations. She draws upon her own experience of navigating loss, illness, and trauma, guiding people to embrace the mystery and celebrate the value and alchemy of light and darkness as teachers of love.
Having lived in or taught about sustainable communities and organic gardening/permaculture for decades, Eden weaves the essential wisdom of nature into everything she teaches. She currently resides in the mountains of western North Carolina, originally Cherokee land, with her husband Mark. She offers retreats, workshops, and consultations nationally and internationally, integrating presence and partnership with nature.
Eden feels that the most important aspect of being a teacher is continually being a student. She continually immerses herself in trainings and retreats, recognizing direct experience as our truest guide. She works closely with mentor Pam Weiss, author of A Bigger Sky: Awakening a Fierce Feminine Buddhism, to deepen her embodiment of Soto Zen Buddhism in the lineage of Suzuki Roshi.
Candace Blair is a former finance executive turned internationally recognized wellness practitioner in Kundalini Yoga, Sound Healing, Shamanic Reiki & Sacred Cacao Ceremonies.
After a 20-year Investment Banking career in Zurich and London, she returned to the U.S. in 2017 to focus on sharing these transformative practices.
Certified by Karam Kriya, trained as a “Cacaoista,” and a 2023 TEDx speaker, Candace also coaches the “Alchemy of Becoming” methodology, helping clients to release emotional blockages and elevate consciousness.
Through her platform, Soul Fire Social, she fosters community and personal growth & raising collective awareness. Her Motto: Together, we rise!
Candace hosts 3x weekly virtual Kundalini Yoga classes, monthly virtual cacao ceremonies and she tours the USA from May-October. She hosts 4 global retreats a year, and onboards new Alchemy coaching clients monthly. For more details and a FREE 45min sound healing simply visit her website and sign in! She welcomes inquiries and offers private sessions as well.
Websites: www.soulfiresocial.com & www.soulfirecacao.com
Socials: Instagram: @candacekundalini, FB: Soul Fire Social, Youtube: Soul Fire Social
Cell: 843-295-2444
candace@soulfiresocial.com
To learn more about Mark and his new book, Zen and the Art of Dealing with Difficult People, visit
https://markwestmoquette.co.uk
Mark works with people to help them connect their inner and outer universe to uncover the wonder and awe of being in every moment.
As an astrophysicist and Zen teacher and ordained Zen monk, he offers a unique method of embodied practice based on science and research, which will encourage people to find a deep connection with the cosmos.
In 2019, he gave up his life of teaching courses and workshops in yoga, mindfulness and Zen to move with his wife to the island of St Helena in the South Atlantic for a two-year adventure that involved writing this book
In his new book, Zen and the Art of Dealing with Difficult People, he stresses that by bringing awareness and kindness to these relationships will naturally shift them into something much broader and more inclusive. The result is a helpful book with a positive and helpful message: we can take a new perspective on the people who cause us pain.
I am the co-creator of The Empower Black Project, which tells the story of my journey of loving myself back as a Black woman in America & that seeks to uplift the spirits of Black bodies while inspiring Black bodies to love themselves from the inside out through self-discovery and healing.
I also co-created the Dameda JoLynn Enterprise that supports my commitment to assisting in the creation of an embodied and equitably just society. With that purpose, I am equally committed to uplifting, educating & empowering white bodies through intimate conversations that inspire conscious and skillful action in dismantling systemic racism while reimagining & creating new systems that liberate ALL bodies.
I immerse myself in healing & racial justice work with pride and purpose, creating compassionate spaces that imbue hope for change and uncloak inner truths that transform.
I am on purpose in every way and understand that by arriving in my power and in my true essence as a Phenomenally Black Woman, I inspire others to stand proud & firmly in their purpose that not only enhances their humanness, but that raises the consciousness of all of humanity.
So, yeah…
I see you.
And so it is…
And so I am.
And so WE are.
Asé
Jonathan Robinson is a psychotherapist, best-selling author of ten books, and a professional speaker from Northern California. He has reached over 200 million people around the world with his practical methods, and his work has been translated into 47 languages. His work has appeared in Newsweek, USA TODAY, and the Los Angeles Times, as well as dozens of other publications. In addition, Mr. Robinson has made numerous appearances on the Oprah show and CNN, as well as other national TV talk shows. He has spent more than thirty years studying the most practical and powerful methods for personal and professional development.
Mr. Robinson’s first book, “The Experience of God,” included interviews with such notable people as the late Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama, Deepak Chopra, and Dr. Wayne Dyer. Jonathan’s second book, “The Little Book of Big Questions,” became a New York Times bestseller, as did his book “Communication Miracles for Couples.” Mr. Robinson’s other books include: Instant Insight; Real Wealth; Shortcuts to Bliss; Shortcuts to Success, The Complete Idiots Guide to Awakening Your Spirituality, and Find Happiness Now.
Jonathan speaks regularly to Fortune 500 companies such as Google, Microsoft, Dell, Bank of America, Coca-Cola, and FedEx/Kinko’s. In his public talks and workshops, Jonathan is known for providing his audiences with powerful and immediately useful information in a fun and entertaining manner.
**To learn more about Jonathan and his work, visit
https://findinghappiness.com
To learn more about his latest book, The Enlightenment Project: How I Went From Depressed to Blessed, and You Can Too, visit
https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/260334**
Holly Jones is an award-winning classical contemporary solo pianist and composer. Her music is described as peaceful and reverent, weaving elegant melodies within simple tapestries of rich composition.
Growing up with classical music all around her, Holly began the violin at three alongside her two older siblings; piano at eight, and enjoying the thrill of composing at nine. She has completed many years of private study, including piano and composition at Indiana University.
With over 13 million Spotify streams and 195K monthly listeners, Holly’s music is appreciated globally and can be heard on Spotify editorials Peaceful Piano, Instrumental Study, and Calm & Focused - piano, Apple Music's Piano Chill, Pure Calm, and Melancholy Piano, Spa XM, numerous Pandora Editorial Stations, and several airlines.
Her album 'The Christmas Piano' won SoloPiano.com's 2020 Best Holiday Piano category award. 'Art On The Piano' won awards Enlightened Piano Radio's 2020 Best New Artist, One World Music Radio's 2019 Best Solo Piano Album, and was nominated for Whisperings Radio 2019 Album of the Year.
Holly enjoys releasing a composition every three to four weeks, inspired by world events seen through the eyes of meditation.
To learn more about Holly and her music, visit
https://www.hollyjonespiano.com
Dr. Kamilah Majied, MSW, PhD, is a contemplative inclusivity and equity consultant, mental health therapist, clinical educator, researcher, and internationally engaged consultant on building inclusivity and equity using meditative practices. She is Professor of Social Work at California State University, Monterey Bay, where she teaches clinical practice to graduate students employing psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, mindfulness-based, and artistic approaches to well-being.
She also teaches research methods, social and organizational policy analysis, and community organizing through a social justice lens. Before CSUMB, she taught for 15 years at Howard University. She serves as the Diversity and Inclusivity Consultant for the Contemplative Coping During COVID-19 Research Project at the University of California Davis Center for Mind and Brain. Kamilah gave opening remarks at the first White House Conference of Buddhist Leaders on Climate Change and Racial Justice, where she facilitated a dialogue on ending racism amongst the internationally represented Buddhist leadership.
She is the author of Joyfully Just: Black Wisdom and Buddhist Insights for Liberated Living (Sounds True, 2024), and has authored many articles and chapters, including in the second edition of Advances in Contemplative Psychotherapy: “Contemplative Practices for Assessing and Eliminating Racism in Psychotherapy.”
Website: https://www.kamilahmajied.com
Social media:
https://www.instagram.com/dr.kamilahmajied/ https://www.facebook.com/kamilah.majied
Upcoming Retreat: "Embodying Joy: Black Wisdom Traditions of Liberation and Healing" at Esalen, Big Sur, CA, Feb. 3-7, 2025: https://www.esalen.org/workshops/black-wisdom-traditions-of-liberation-and-healing-020325
Book: https://www.soundstrue.com/products/joyfully-just-1
Lisa Piccirillo almost gave up on songwriting, but The Muse wouldn’t let her. The inspiration for her latest record came to her as a vision: the silhouette of a woman, backlit by the sun, alongside the word RADIATE. Fueled by this idea and the desire to reclaim her creative identity, Lisa devoted herself to daily songwriting sessions at sunrise and the new record was born. An unapologetically loud follow-up to her mellow and folky 2008 debut (momentum), RADIATE chronicles Lisa’s vast emotional landscape with her signature blend of vulnerable songwriting and powerhouse vocals. Find her at the links below and on all major streaming platforms.
Website: https://www.lisapmusic.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisapiccirillo
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/@lisapmusic
Radiate Record: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/lisapiccirillo/radiate-2
Loren Earley, Holy Fire III Reiki Master - Addiction Recovery Coach - Chakra Therapist
Website: www.intuitwitch.love
E-mail: loren@intuitwitch.love
Instagram: @intuit.witch
Sabrina Rising is a gifted spiritual teacher, intuitive guide, and psychic medium devoted to helping others navigate the path to inner peace and personal empowerment. With profound empathy and a clear connection to the unseen, Sabrina offers transformative guidance that aligns individuals with their soul’s purpose and highest potential.
Rooted in decades of study and her own healing journey, Sabrina’s work blends ancient wisdom with modern spiritual principles. She empowers her clients to release emotional wounds, transcend limiting beliefs, and reconnect with their innate ability to create a life of harmony and fulfillment. Her unique approach integrates mindfulness, energy healing, and intuitive insights to foster profound clarity and self-realization.
As a psychic medium, Sabrina bridges the physical and spiritual realms, offering comforting messages and guidance from beyond that inspire healing and renewed faith. Her teachings illuminate the power of the present moment and encourage a deeper relationship with one’s inner truth, leading to sustainable transformation and inner peace.
Sabrina’s life mission is to guide others toward living with authenticity, balance, and profound spiritual alignment. Through her heart-centered approach, she creates a safe and nurturing space for growth, making the path to inner peace not just a possibility but a lived experience.
website: https://www.intuitivesabrina.com
youtube https://www.youtube.com/@SabrinaRising
https://open.spotify.com/wrapped/share/share-ab16ad9a6b404cdda2fb56d6e192d936?si=QwYhGLU5RyKjzY0PYs8vgw&track-id=6gZT0aBtAjp3wabDIPjw9C
https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-game/1758967589?i=1758967591
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?app=desktop&list=OLAK5uy_ngIwWzQ8EoXNjIEmli_RhTKwNA7MgF97Q
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0D9XR1RPN/?tag=distrokid06-20
Jessi Sands is a multidisciplinary artist who uses different mediums such as painting, ceramics, and mixed media to explore how the intersectionality of their multiracial identity influences their roles as an Indigenous parent, queer person, and land steward.
Jessi grew up in Oklahoma on the Cherokee reservation and on their Mvskoke
reservation where they currently live in Tulsa, OK. They received their Associates of Arts Degree from Tulsa Community College in 2021. They received their Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with minors in American Indian Studies, Pre-Art Therapy, and Art History from Oklahoma State University in 2024.
While attending OSU they received several scholarships, the most notable being the Dana, Lisa, and Chris Tiger Scholarship and the Jackson Narcomey Rising Artist Scholarship.
Currently, Jessi is working towards receiving their MA in Art Therapy/Counseling and Ecotherapy from Southwestern College and New Earth Institute in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Their career goal is to continue as a studio artist while creating spaces for healing as an art therapist.
https://www.milkycreates.com
Instagram @milky.creates
In an instant, my whole life changed. Everything shifted. Nothing made sense, yet everything was clear. Many of us are driven and propelled by the events that happen to us, instead of taking those events and rising above to an even better place. Bills must be paid, so we focus on how to make money rather than honing in on our true purpose. I feel eternally blessed for my wake up call…
Within 48 hours, I found out that cancer had been removed from my body and was “no longer there” – before I could even process “beating” such a terrible disease, my mother was taken from this earth.
It was then that I knew that I was put here for something bigger, something greater than myself.
My vision is to transform your life through REdefining the connection between your mind, body, soul, and space, reimagining the way we live worldwide. Whether that be through your yoga practice or through connecting your space to your mind, body, and soul, I am here to support you on your journey.
My background starts in the arts and interior design, and I have been practicing yoga for over 15 years. My love and appreciation for its beauty and joy that it brings to my life grows every day. I offer a unique, artistic and comprehensive approach to the practice that encourages students to view challenges from alternate perspectives, and to live their lives to the fullest potential!
I have always been drawn to working with and supporting people. Being able to have a positive impact on how someone goes about their day, week or even life is what keeps me going. Yoga has changed my life both on and off the mat. I would be honored to work with you, and look forward to speaking with you soon.
From My Heart To Yours,
MAJA RE
Upcoming events:Retreats: https://majarebornyoga.com/retreats/
Trainings: https://majarebornyoga.com/trainings/
Private Sessions: https://majarebornyoga.com/private-sessions/
Public Classes: https://majarebornyoga.com/public-yoga-classes-orange-count
Website:https://majarebornyoga.com/
Social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maja_reborn_yoga/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MAJAREbornYOGA
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maja_reborn_yoga?_t=8ryV18gnKve&_r=1
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maja-re-0924b461/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0jz6GWxKOngccxhtJ07v4A
Akasha J. Smith, PhD is the founder of School of Awakening which offers The Professional Intuitive Healer Certification Program and Transformational Retreats in Bali and Costa Rica. She’s been Teaching, facilitating Intuitive Healing sessions, Transpersonal Counseling and Past Life Regressions for people around the world for more than 20 years. She also offers Akashic Records Readings and Channeled Awakening Transmissions.
One of her favorite parts about the work is watching people’s hearts, bodies, minds and souls open to the connection and lives they’ve been so deeply longing for. When someone is ready and really shows up, true healing simply happens. With that can come a freedom unlike anything else that is absolutely beautiful to witness…another human shining.
Akasha’s Soul Purpose is to Help People Remember and Be Who they Truly Are. She does this through teaching, healing and creative expression. She is Deeply Passionate about Teaching Intuitive People, even if they Doubt their Abilities, how to Become Professional Healers, Heal Themselves and Awaken. Akasha has taught everything from Human Development Psychology to Creativity Enhancement and Dance to How to Connect with your Spirit Guides.
She taught Mindfulness Meditation in Naropa University’s Graduate Transpersonal and Contemplative Psychology Counseling Programs. Akasha researched Passionate Engagement for her Doctorate in East West Psychology at The California Institute of Integral Studies. She has a Masters Degree in Psychology from The Institute of Transpersonal Psychology with specializations in Teaching, Education & Research and Creative Expression. Akasha graduated from Naropa University with a Bachelor’s degree in Contemplative Psychology and minors in Traditional Eastern and Healing Arts and Improvisational Dance. She also trained in The Clairvoyant Program at Psychic Horizons Institute and The Colorado School of Transpersonal Counseling and Hypnotherapy where she became an internationally certified hypnotherapist. She completed her yoga teacher training in Rishikesh, India and has studied traditional dance in Bali, Thailand, Hawaii and Spain.
Akasha is a best-selling contributing author of Activate Your Life and just finished contributing to a 2nd book on Awakening Experiences and their impact on daily life. She was the co-author of a Transformation from Trauma study which was published in the peer-reviewed academic journal, The International Journal of Transpersonal Psychology.
When Akasha isn’t helping people Become Counselors and Healers and Leading Retreats, she’s Creating Lightcode Art, Writing Poetry or Traveling the World Solo studying Dance, Healing and Yoga.
You can contact her at https://www.schoolofawakenedliving.com/
Erin Owen is an intersectional environmentalist, sculptor, and printmaker currently based out of Brooklyn, New York. Owen graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Oklahoma State University in December, 2023. Within their practice, Owen explores the world through the lens of play and naivety. They often contemplate the challenges of living in a late-stage capitalistic society and how the natural world is impacted as the consequence. Owen was named the 2023 Outstanding Senior at Oklahoma State University and received the 2024 Momentum Grant from Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition. They have exhibited in many states across the US, such as Maryland, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Washington. Owen has completed internships at Universal Limited Art Editions in New York and at Zygote Press in Ohio, and is currently making work at the Lower East Side Print Shop in New York City.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Inspired by play and wonder, Erin Owen’s “Swinging Out” series invites viewers to connect back to a moment of shared humanity. Through a combination of woodcut printmaking, sculpture, and community participation, they have created an immersive exhibition that invites viewers to reflect on their own memories of childhood play while contemplating the diversity and beauty of queer life.
Throughout this body of work, Owen utilized recycled wood to create a wide range of relief prints, as well as a functional swingset that acts as the reflecting space for the exhibition. This choice of material is deeply personal; as a child, they spent countless hours in their father's woodshop, developing a lifelong fondness for the tactile nature of wood. Now, Owen views this medium as a metaphor for the universal components that make up our shared humanity, as well as the unique qualities that set us apart. By pushing the boundaries of what is possible with wood, Owen set on a mission to mirror the vast spectrum of the queer identity as well as make a nod to our innate connectedness.
The imagery of the swing set is a recurring image in Owen’s work, evoking a sense of nostalgia and wonder. They hope viewers recall the joy and freedom of their own childhood play, and in doing so, connect with the queer community on a fundamental level. The swing also serves as a powerful symbol of the queer experience, representing the search for balance and acceptance that many face. The abstract, camouflage-like textures nod to the participants' mid-southern upbringing; people who grew up in Oklahoma often feel compelled to hide their true selves, much like camouflage blends into its surroundings. Owen's use of this motif is a poignant commentary on that experience.
Owen’s ultimate goal is to foster greater understanding between individuals from all walks of life, and to inspire others to approach complex issues with the open-minded curiosity of childhood, rather than the divisiveness that often characterizes adult discourse. Owen believes that by embracing our shared humanity, we can create a more just and joyful world for all.
www.erinowen.art
www.linkedin.com/erinlowen
I sat down at Artspace at Untitled for an incredibly deep and meaningful conversation with the members of the OKC based fusion band Local Man Ruins Everything: Jay Gleason, Byron "Chopz" Collins, Eric Harris, and Adam Ledbetter.
It is one of those conversations that totally captures the essence of a group of musicians at higher level of Consciousness.
Lauren Friedman, Founder and CEO, LFE by It Seemed Like A Good Ide Time Enterprises LLC, an umbrella brand focused on Complex Trauma – so pervasive and so obvious that it’s hiding in plain sight from professionals AND persons living in perennial chaos. A Pediatric Complex Trauma Nonprofitn to launch.
Lauren, a prolific 20 year AdTech (Advertising & Technology) veteran, experienced (want to link to Lauren’ LinkedIn Page) almost four decades of disparate somatic responses to trauma without being properly diagnosed. Lauren has been being treated for Adrenal Fatigue/High-Functioning Complex PTSD since December 2021 after "living" in Survival Mode unknowingly from under the age of two thru 39.
Ironically, Lauren was born with a natural ability to connect with others, while being incredibly disconnected from herself. A walking picture of Complex Trauma – and once you see life through the lens of trauma, you can’t unsee it.
Through Lauren’s transformative, jaw-dropping, can’t make this sh*t up healing lifelong Complex Trauma and Sobriety Spectrum™ journey, her soul’s purpose and mission on this planet became clear.
Now Lauren (LFE) is Championing the HOW-ARE U HEALING™ Revolution as a trauma-informed connector and storyteller. Breaking stereotypes, barriers to entry and baffling with brilliance on a global scale, by helping humans find connection, inspiration, education and support
JP Morrison Lans decided to grow up to be an artist while visiting the Carole Laroche Gallery in Santa Fe New Mexico when she was eleven years old. Five years later the Tulsa Artist Coalition supported this dream for her when she was accepted for her first solo exhibition. Since then she has earned her BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute, co-owner a gallery, had her work purchased for the permanent collection of the Bundaberg Regional Gallery in Queensland Australia where she lived for two years and created immersive art installations for AHHA Tulsa, the Living Arts New Genre Festival, and the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition. Morrison Lans has shows her work with M.A. Doran Gallery, Tulsa; Heron Arts, San Francisco; Keep Contemporary, Santa Fe; and 19 Karen, Gold Coast, Australia. She has been a resident artist at SVA, NY., Truro Art Center, MA., Rockland Woods, WA., the Vermont Studio Center and Quarantine in Menorca, Spain. Morrison Lans is a member of the international artist collective Teleportal.Gallery and is an inaugural member of the NYC Crit Club’s Canopy Program. She and her child can typically be found experimenting with encaustic and lego, respectively, from their home studio in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Statement:
I explore the relationship of body and psyche by combining figurative realism, symbolic objects and intuitive abstraction. These collected elements are metaphors for my experience of womanhood, motherhood, love, loss, self-preservation, panic, desire, and knowing. Through layers of color pencil I create translucent skin. The addition of gouache and encaustic allows me to comb sheens and dimensional shapes around my drawing, forming membranes and isolated objects which express the subject's emotional escapades. Often I use orientation dissonance –the inversion of the figure– to symbolize circumspection, surrender, gestation, and metamorphosis. I render hands frequently, they represent intention and action, also the mouth, tongue and teeth as gateways between the inner self and outer world. Through taste and touch, we experience intimacy and desire. This anatomy creates boundaries while also being an entry point. My work invites you to experience this same push pull of entering and observing from a distance.
As an active orchestral harpist, soloist, accompanist, teacher, reiki master and sound healer, with over 25 years experience, I enjoy every opportunity to share this sacred craft.
Providing unique customized music of all genres for special occasions, individualized harp lessons, and Reiki-infused sound healings are especially gratifying for me as I experience a sense of shared joy with others.
- Orchestral experience spans over 20 years, having had the honor of performing under conductors such as Sir Simon Rattle, Michael Tilson Thomas, Edwin Outwater, and Charles Dutoit.
- Have had the privilege of accompanying singers, instrumentalists, and fellow harpists for various weddings, sound healing, chamber music recitals and concerts.
- Serves as the current President of our Phoenix Chapter of the American Harp Society.
- A happy participant/performer in several larger musical organizations as harp needs arise.
- Completed Usui Reiki training during covid, and have continued to pioneer utilizing harp in healing arts.
- I am a graduate of Arizona State University, San Francisco Conservatory of Music and Interlochen Arts Academy.
https://www.eqharp.com
https://www.instagram.com/eqharp/?hl=en
An artist from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Born March 20, 1995. At the ages of 7 and 8, I got into poetry and used to write poems that my teacher would let me read loudly to the class every Friday before we went home. Middle school I joined plenty of poetry and debate competitions we had on weekends. By 8th grade, I started taking poetry to the next level and started writing it in music form. I used to write about good days in school, bad days, how much I loved my mom and siblings, things I seen happening in my neighborhood, etc.
High school | witnessed a lot of dudes on the football team that freestyled to get hype for practices and games. It kept me motivated to write day in and day out. After I graduated, I decided to give recording a chance. I was afraid and doubtful because I didn't know if people would like it or not, if my voice would say funny and people would laugh. Plenty of people around me believed in me and told me to do it for me and the outside will follow suit. I had a lot of ups and downs through the process with both life and music, but at the end of the day it's worth it.
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/JayTheIcon
Christina Ridgeway is an American artist who works with the magical realism style. She lives and works in Falköping, Västra Götaland. Ridgeway has been painting since childhood when she grew up next to the woods in Maryland, USA. In the enigmatic nature, she found a sense of magic, mystery and peacefulness that found its way into her symbolic paintings.
“As an artist who has lived abroad most of her adult life, my universal language has always been paintings. My hope is to create a conversation between myself and the viewer, so that they can find their own meaning within my work and feel seen.”
https://christinaridgewayart.com
https://www.instagram.com/christina.ridgeway.art/
Bayley Ross was born and raised in Oklahoma and graduated from Tulsa Community College in 2021 with an Associate of Art’s Degree, before getting a Bachelors in Fine art at Oklahoma State University in 2024.
Ross’s work explores on their Mvskoke roots, focusing on Indigenous language, ancestry, and social issues. Ross is a multimedia which include painting, sculpture, drawing, beadwork and digital art.
As a young and curious individual, I've always felt an innate connection to the metaphysical realm. Growing up, I was drawn to the mysteries of the universe and the human experience, and as I entered adulthood, I began to explore these interests in earnest. Over the past 5+ years, I've embarked on a profound spiritual journey, delving deep into the realms of consciousness, energy work, and personal growth. Through this journey, I've discovered the incredible power of the human spirit and the boundless potential that lies within each and every one of us.
My passion is now centered around helping others awaken to their own inner wisdom and heal from the depths of their being. I believe that every person has the capacity for profound transformation and growth, and I'm committed to providing a safe, non-judgmental space for individuals to explore their own path to self-discovery. Whether it's through meditation, energy healing, or simply offering a listening ear, my intention is to support others in unlocking their full potential and living a life that is authentic, meaningful, and fulfilling."
At At Mystic Palms Healing, our mission is to create a sacred space where individuals can embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery and healing. We believe that every person has the power to tap into their inner strength and resilience, and we are dedicated to guiding you along the way.
Through the ancient art of Reiki and other forms of energetic healing, we help individuals release emotional blockages, quiet the mind, and awaken their full potential. Our holistic approach combines gentle, non-invasive techniques with compassion and empathy to help you cultivate a deeper connection with yourself, others, and the world around you.
Whether you're seeking relief from physical or emotional pain, or simply looking for a path to greater spiritual awareness, we are here to support you every step of the way. At At Mystic Palms Healing, we're committed to helping you find balance, harmony, and peace in body, mind, and spirit and to have a helping hand to heal.
https://www.mysticpalmshealing.com
https://www.instagram.com/mysticpalmshealing
https://www.facebook.com/people/Mystic-Palms-Healing/61561617265704/?_rdr
Jen Boyd Martin, the Executive Director of 108|Contemporary, received her BA from the University of Tulsa in 2013 in Arts Management with a Certificate in Advertising.
During her program at the University of Tulsa, Martin fulfilled an internship at the Diorama of London in London, England, after which she began as an intern when 108|Contemporary first opened in 2013.
She went on to complete her MA from the University of Oklahoma in 2016 in Museum Studies while maintaining a staff position at 108|Contemporary.
In 2017, Martin was awarded a NexGen Under 30 Award for her service in the arts.
Peggy Morante is a dedicated facilitator of Kundalini energy activation, affiliated with the AKA Academy in Barcelona. Her journey with ancestral medicines and master plants began in 2019, enriching her understanding of holistic healing. Peggy has been deeply immersed in the practice of Kundalini yoga and meditation for nine years, and she is currently training as a yoga instructor at the Arhanta Yoga School.
Peggy's introduction to the Kundalini activation discipline was a transformative experience, igniting a passion for helping individuals navigate their emotional processes, harmonize energies, and heal from past life wounds and ancestral memories. Her profound engagement with Kundalini activation has been instrumental in her own spiritual, physical, and emotional healing. Through this practice, she can help people unblock chakras, release traumas, and overcome emotional blockages.
In addition to her Kundalini work, Peggy organizes healing retreats that integrate medicinal plants and a holistic approach. These retreats provide a safe and nurturing space for deep healing and self-discovery, combining ancient wisdom with modern techniques to support transformation and growth. She is also deeply committed to expanding her knowledge, constantly learning about body metabolism and natural medicine to enhance her holistic practices.
With an unwavering dedication to sharing these ancient and modern healing practices, Peggy Morante is passionate about guiding others on their journey toward energetic balance, holistic well-being, and spiritual awakening.
https://www.instagram.com/kundalini_shakti_33/profilecard/?igsh=bnk0aXMzcnFqZWhp
Jerica D. Wortham, a Tulsa, Oklahoma native, is a renowned bestselling author, award-winning spoken word artist, and a key influencer in the realms of literature and arts. Her passion for words, both written and spoken, took root early in her life, blossoming into a career that embodies creativity and cultural impact.
In May 2012, Jerica established J’Parlé, launching a literary magazine that quickly
emerged as a crucial platform for global artists, particularly for those who find their expression through writing. The mission of J’Parlé has been to ensure that every voice is given a chance to resonate, making it a hub for diverse and powerful storytelling. 2013 was a landmark year for Jerica as she ventured into hosting with the debut of J’Parlé Live, a show that highlighted her dynamic presence and versatility.
Beyond the stage, she has made significant contributions, including teaching poetry to inmates in partnership with the Department of Corrections, demonstrating her belief in the transformative power of words.
Jerica's career spans several roles: author, publisher, business coach, curator, BBC
Radio writer/producer, Executive Producer of the bLERDS web series, humanitarian, and philanthropist.
In October 2014, she took her philanthropic efforts further by founding the J’Parlé Scholarship fund, aiding in the educational pursuits of students and
adults.
In her role as Program Director for the Greenwood Art Project during the Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commemoration, Jerica was instrumental in overseeing over 30 individual art projects, involving more than 100 artists.
Her artistic talents were also showcased in the leading single for the Motown signed project, Fire in Little Africa, and she was featured in the OWN Network's two-part docuseries & The Legacy of Black Wall Street in 2021, further solidifying her prominence in the arts.
Jerica is the visionary behind the Parla Creative Festival, a citywide public art initiative championing BIPOC creatives. This includes the (B)light Project, which artistically revitalizes blighted homes, and various community programs that celebrate diverse reative disciplines. Additionally, she is committed to community enrichment through a community garden and an after-school program for adolescents and teens.
Her accolades are extensive, including multiple Poetry Slam Championships, features in the New York Times and Rolling Stone Magazine, being named the 2020 Black Wall Street Spoken Word Artist of the Year, and receiving the YWCA’s 2021 Woman of the Year, Pinnacle Award for Arts and Humanity.
She's curated art for Wilson's athletic brand, orchestrated the PGA Tour art experience, and recently, was honored as the 2022 Boomtown Awards Legacy Award recipient from TYPROS.
Jerica's future plans include further developing platforms for artists in her community.
Outside of her professional pursuits, she finds joy in life with her husband, Webster, and their two sons, Solomon and Jonah, striking a perfect balance between a rich career and a fulfilling personal life.
Andrea Day is a multidisciplinary artist, cultural advocate, accomplished musician, and citizen of the Muscogee Nation. With a profound connection to her culture, Andrea infuses Mvskoke fine art with a contemporary twist through her distinctive medium that combines acrylic paint and meticulously hand-sewn seed beads on stretched canvas. Her dedication to cultural preservation and innovation in ancestral traditions shines through her unique art form, which draws inspiration from the natural world and the collaborative spirit she experienced during her years in New York City.
Andrea’s artistic journey is marked by her innovative “Acrybead™” technique, which seamlessly blends acrylic paint with intricately hand-sewn seed beads, creating a visually vibrant and culturally rich medium, honoring an ancient Mvskoke beadwork tradition while pushing the boundaries of contemporary art. Andrea showcases her original works and designs through her company, A. Day’s Work LLC, offering enhanced giclée prints that incorporate glass bead enhancements to create a three-dimensional effect.
Recent solo exhibitions include “Evolve or Perish” at the Paseo Arts & Creativity Center, OKC, in June 2024; and her premiere solo exhibition “A. Day’s Work” at the Historic Carnegie Library in Guthrie, OK, in 2023. These exhibitions provided a unique opportunity for viewers to experience Andrea’s original artworks and gain insight into her artistic process.
Her career in New York City was distinguished by notable achievements, including a solo debut recital at Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall in 2014 and a television debut on "All-Star Celebrity Apprentice" in 2013. Andrea also curated the “Relevant: Reflection - Reformation - Revival” exhibition for AMERINDA, hosted at the Nathan Cummings Foundation in NYC in 2009. This exhibition challenged conventional perceptions of First American art, complemented by her essay, “Relevant: Rethinking American Indian Art,” with an introduction by Dorothy Lichtenstein. Additionally, Andrea made her Off-Broadway debut in William S. Yellow Robe, Jr.'s "Thieves" at The Public Theater in 2009.
During her time in New York, Andrea actively contributed to the cultural landscape as a Cultural Development Fund Panelist for the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. In this role, she assessed numerous organizations' cultural services and facilitated the distribution of The Cultural Fund across multiple fiscal years, enhancing the fine arts community in the city.
Andrea’s academic background includes a Master of Music in Flute Performance from the University of Oklahoma and a Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance from Pennsylvania State University. She was a Doc Tate Nevaquaya Scholar at the University of Oklahoma and received an American Indian Graduate Center Fellowship in 2004.
Now residing in Oklahoma with her husband and daughter, Andrea continues to devote her time and talent to creating new work and supporting her community. Her dedication to cultural and language preservation, coupled with her innovative artistic vision, has allowed her to play a significant role in the Native and broader artistic communities.
https://adayswork.arthttps://adayswork.art/instagram
Jacey Morris is a holistic health coach and a transformational life coach. Her mission is to reconnect others with their true selves and intuition. She helps others claim and live in their sovereignty. She also specializes in generational trauma healing.
Instagram: its.me.jaceyleehttps://www.instagram.com/its.me.jaceylee/?igsh=M2EyNGF4dGUxYWlj&utm_source=qr
Website: https://stan.store/itsmejaceylee
Melanie Scholtz is a South African born, multi award winning jazz singer and composer. She started playing the piano from the age of 5 and went on to study Opera at The University of Cape Town Opera School where she graduated Cum Laude with a Performer’s Diploma in Opera 2000. Melanie went on to teach at the University of Cape Town from 2004-2005.
Melanie has released five successful solo albums and has won many awards
In 2010, Melanie was named the Standard Bank Young Artist for Jazz and In 2012, won all three prizes at the prestigious Jazz Revelations competition as part of the Jazz a Juan Festival in Nice, France.
She has performed all over the world including her native country, South Africa, Czech Republic, Slovakia , Germany , France, Italy, Norway, Sweden and the United States.
Currently residing in New York City, Melanie hopes to further her career as a solo artist and songwriter. Besides performing with a jazz trio, whether it be jazz or her own music, Melanie has a solo project called The Lone Looper, using a looping machine, which enables her to create compositions using only the voice.
Germono Toussaint is a multi-hyphenate, multi-award winning composer, arranger, playwright, and producer. He is one of the founding playwrights of the Obie award-winning The Fire This Time Festival, the Founding Artistic Director of A Mile In My Shoes, Inc., and owner of Brown Liquor Music, LLC.
His plays have been featured in the Not for Broadway Theater Festival, Horse Trade Theater Group, The Drafts Fest, All Out Arts Play Festival, New York Madness, The Fire This Time Festival, National Black Theater’s Keep Soul Alive reading series, and 48 Hours…in Harlem.
He has over 20 years experience creating, arranging, and producing music for independent artists, theater productions, and concerts like: Ritual (Stanley Bennett Clay), B-Boy Blues (James Earl Hardy), Sistas: The Musical (Dorothy Marcic), Bring The Beat Back (Derek McPhatter), Hoodoo Love (Katori Hall), The Lost Boys Live at 54 Below (Dyllón Burnside), “Brand New Day” (J Keys), “Love Overdue” (Arissa), “Out Loud” (Crystal Monee Hall), and Project 1:11 (a collaboration with Harriett D. Foy). His autobiographical album, Brown Liquor & Blessed Oil, was released on July 4, 2021 and he is currently developing his second original, Afro-futurist, extended reality musical The Last Gatekeeper.
Toussaint has had artist residencies at Tofte Lake Center, The Sheen Center, Rhymes Over Beats, The Tank, and Hi-Arts. He was a semifinalist for the 2021 National Playwrights Conference, the 2022 National Music Theater Conference, and a recipient of Broadway producer Ken Davenport’s Dr. Kenny Encouragement Fund Scholarship.
https://germonotoussaint.com
Instagram @toussaint4u
Eddye K. (1987, Tulsa) makes paintings, drawings and mixed media artworks. By using popular themes such as sexuality, family structure and media influences, Allen focuses on the idea of 'public space' and more specifically, on spaces where anyone can do anything a any given moment: the non-private space, the non-privately owned space, space that is both economically uninteresting and interesting.
Her paintings are often about contact with architecture and basic living elements. People, energy, space and landscape are examined in less obvious ways and sometimes developed in absurd ways. In a search for new methods to 'read the city' she touches various overlapping themes and strategies. Several recurring subject matters can be recognized, such as the relation with pop culture and media, working with repetition, provocation and the investigation of the process of expectations.
Her works often refers to pop and mass culture. Using written and drawn symbols she creates a world where light-heartedness rules and rules are undermined.
Her works have been sold, displayed and commissioned across the country. Celebrities that have her works include but are not limited to Writer and Educator Nikki Giovanni, Actor and Author John Lithgow, Actor and Political Activist Danny Glover, Social Critic and American Philosopher Cornel West, R&B Singer Ginuwine, Musical Artist MO3, Americas beloved Snoop Dogg, WWE Bobby Lashley, Coach and NFL superstar Deion Sanders, and more to come.
**http://www.expressionsofeddyek.com
https://www.instagram.com/eddyekaaane/
For all bookings please email expressionsofeddyek@gmail.com or Call 539-664-1382**
Personal Statement: God blessed me with these gifts to reach out and create love and peace with color..be careful with the gifts as well as my love for works of art are my peace.
*I hail from a place that is historically richer than many have ever dreamed
I was raised in a household of love and reminded to believe in my dreams that would surpass and man-made ceiling
I come from a gene pool whose hearts beat for the joy in returning a sparkle or glimmer of fine tuning ones self
I create art that dances in the grey areas so one knows that black and white depend on each other for the full picture to be in focus
I paint silhouettes that give thoughts a safe place to question and contradict each other
I am the Black Wall Street Artist
A lady of many facets but True Artist by definition
My art is a piece of me that hopefully puts a smile on your face as well as etched in a memory or feeling that you never forget*
Born and raised in Salem, Massachusetts, Anne Bennett is an alternative singer/songwriter whose haunting, melancholic vocals soar over dark melodies concerning death, love, heaven and hell, and are often influenced by her days living in the infamous Witch City.
Her music explores the deepest corners of the human experience, from the tender complexities of love to the inevitable reality of death, where she weaves melodies that echo with raw emotion and delicate intensity.
Drawing inspiration from her personal battle with depression, Bennett's lyrics are a powerful reflection of vulnerability and resilience. Each song is an intimate journey into themes of heartache, longing, and the shadows we all face. Her voice, described as both captivating and otherworldly, effortlessly pulls listeners into a realm where beauty and sorrow coexist.
Website: www.IAmAnneBennett.co
Instagram: https://instagram.com/annebennettofficial
Bay Area singer/songwriter Zoe FitzGerald Carter has been touring both coasts in support of her new album, Before the Machine, since its release in June of 2024. Inspired by memories of a pre-smart phone world, the title track explores how technology, and specifically smart phones, has irrevocably altered our experience of time. Picking up where Zoe’s last album, Waterlines, left off, Before the Machine further showcases the artist’s vivid, literary sense of language while weaving a rich and confident fabric of folk, country, rock, blues and jazz.
A native of Washington D.C., Zoe began playing guitar and singing as a teenager. Although music was her first love, writing was her first career. A graduate of Columbia Journalism School, Zoe has written for numerous national magazines (The New York Times, Newsweek, Vogue) and, in 2010, published an award-winning memoir, Imperfect Endings.
For more information and to hear her music, find Zoe on her website: https://zoecartermusic.com/ You can also buy her latest CD on BandCamp:https://zoefcarter.bandcamp.com/ **Or listen and follow her it on all the major streaming platforms.
Her music videos, which have won awards and been featured in various film festivals are on her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@zoefitzgeraldcarter4548**
You can also feel free to reach out to Zoe directly at zoecarter@mac.com
Linda b. Marcus b. 1961, Los Angeles, California is a
multidisciplinary artist living and working in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Drawing on her long history as a storyteller in journalism and
fashion, Marcus now focuses on fiber and sculpture.
Marcus has an MFA from the school of the Art Institute, a master’s
degree in journalism and philosophy from Marquette University and
bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley.
Marcus’ work has been widely exhibited in the Midwest, She has
received several residencies including one at the Massachusetts Museum
of Contemporary Art.
Currently, Marcus is the creative director and co-curator for the
Saint Kate Arts hotel in Milwaukee where she continues to push the
limits of contemporary art and provide a platform for other artists.
Artist Statement
My work is centered on fiber and its materiality and ephemeral
issues of identity and memory.
I believe fibers never let go of their history, even as they are
manipulated into surprising new forms. I also believe fiber is my
collaborator. In some cases I work in concert with its material
properties, in others I stretch, pull, knot or sew it into submission.
I also look to other materials, like paint, ink, and clay, to see
how they might “act” like fiber in an effort to expand my
storytelling.
It is this experimentation with fiber. The laborious process of
weaving, winding, knotting or layering that creates a meditative mode
for me: one that imbues me or binds me to the work created. It is a
simultaneous act of validation and of devotion.
website:www.lindamarcusart.com instagram
@lindmarcusdesign
Jessica Moore Harjo, Ph.D., Weomepe, Otoe-Missouria, Osage, Pawnee, Sac & Fox, is an interdisciplinary artist, designer, and educator based in Oklahoma. Her approach to art and design is unique, post-traditional, and grounded in cultural symbolism.
Her pieces display intricate intersections of traditional ribbonwork, florals, appliqué, elements of nature and other harmonious and symmetric forms with atmospheric color palettes.
Dr. Harjo has current displays of visual and digital art at the First Americans Museum, Oklahoma City’s Scissortail Park, Tulsa’s Philbrook Museum of Art, Oklahoma City’s Automobile Door Tour Alley, the Tulsa Art Alley, the Osage Nation Museum, and the Osage Nation Casinos.
Dr. Harjo’s most prominent artwork is a permanent art installation titled “People of the Great Sky, Constellations of the Land” (2023), a 65’ sculpture that spans the ceiling in the entrance of the Oklahoma State Capitol.
Dr. Harjo is the founder and owner of Weomepe Designs, a small business that provides graphic design services and operates as an online design shop with jewelry, wearable art, and other creative design products. Weomepe Designs as a brand has branched out in recent years to include fashion arts. A fresh endeavor, she successfully opened a holiday-pop-up shop with 3 other co-owners, called INDIGICHIC, Native Fashion Arts Collective, LLC., offering exclusive contemporary fashion arts to Tulsa and surrounding communities.
Dr. Harjo is actively working on a typeface design for the Osage Nation orthography in addition to serving as a contributing author/designer for an upcoming book with Typotheque. She designed the Osage orthography typeface for the Killers of the Flower Moon “Making of” Book.
Dr. Harjo works as a freelance graphic designer and currently serves as a leader in the “Walking in the Footsteps of our Ancestors” Otoe-Missouria reconciliation initiative.
Dr. Harjo received her Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Oklahoma State University with a minor in Studio Art, Master of Arts in Design and Doctor of Philosophy in Design from the University of Minnesota. Her research interests are in design and typography as well as intersections of cultural and visual representation affecting social awareness and identity. She is also an advocate for digital art pathways in the fine art world. Dr. Harjo has worked as an Adjunct Faculty and Professor teaching Graphic Design and Visual Arts courses.
Some other notable achievements include serving as the 2007 Miss Indian Oklahoma and receiving the 2009 NCAIED’s “40 under 40” leadership award. Dr. Harjo is a member of Alpha Pi Omega, Native women’s sorority, Native Fashion Arts Collective, Oklahoma Federation of Indian Women and currently serves as the Vice President for the Tulsa Indian Club.
Jessica continues to explore and take on new opportunities to expand her skill set while practicing in her Tulsa based art studio. Something new, she is featured in the new movie “Killers of the Flower Moon” and was a background extra in “Reservation Dogs”.
Website: WEOMEPEDESIGNS.COM Instagram and Facebook: @weomepe
From a young age, Eva was looking for something that made her feel fulfilled and gave her a purpose in life. When she thought she had found it, for example, in her law degree, sports, a good job, traveling, etc., she discovered it wasn’t actually what she was looking for - there had to be something more. So, even though she had a good life, there was always a feeling that something was missing, a sense of emptiness and lack, which caused her to experience a lot of emotional suffering, sadness, and hopelessness.
About six years ago, Eva became interested in meditation and had a very significant experience right away that made her curious. Through listening to a guided meditation, she fell into such a deep state (Samadhi) where nothing existed anymore: no Eva, no thoughts, no emotions, no worldly problems, just a deep sense of peace and quiet, clarity, and absolute freedom. From that moment on, she wanted to experience more of that.
Eva started meditating regularly with different spiritual teachers online, who were transmitting spiritual energies and higher states of consciousness. Early on, she was exposed to highly transformative energy transmissions. Soon after, Eva began to feel energies, see lights, and have visions. She learned that there are different levels of consciousness a human being can go through and experience. Over about three years of dedicated spiritual practice, she progressed through various levels of consciousness, such as Self Realization, God Consciousness, Unity Consciousness, Brahman Consciousness (Liberation), ParaBrahman, and Pure Divinity.
During the phase of Unity Consciousness (Oneness), Eva realized that trauma, emotional wounding, past life influences, and other factors were veiling the experience of the higher state. She understood that her human system needed healing and clearing from these low-vibrational energies. By working with a healer and using different practices to help clear her system, she achieved a clear and steady experience of Unity.
After a profound spiritual event where the Divine Mother took over Eva’s system and merged with her, the state of Brahman occurred. A few months later, an energy transmission started to come in, that Eva could transmit to others, and healing abilities started to develop. Another significant spiritual experience followed, where Eva was shown the source of all existence. That light merged with her system, and she was told that it was given back to her what was hers before. Eva calls this the transmission of the Highest Truth, which she is currently working with.
Since then, Eva has helped thousands of people from all over the world, guiding them on their path to spiritual awakening and healing their human systems.
https:/www.em-healing.com Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@em-healing Next Elevations 14-day free trial: https:/www.nextelevations.com
Lyssie Brown is a Tulsa based poet, host of the podcast Stay at Home Girlfriend, Director of the Sunday Collective, blog writer on Substack for This Town is Big Enough for the Two of Us, and Gemini rising with a passion for writing in (most) forms and every Muppet movie ever made.
If she’s not writing poetry vigorously on her notes app, you can engage with all of her musings on A24, cannibalism as a metaphor in literature and more on her Instagram, @lyssiebrown.
Maria Teresa Pratico-Swanson is a woman walking the journey of life guided by the healing power of love. Maria is a practicing master shamanic healer and under the brand Emotional Musings, she conducts healing sessions in person and long distance all over the world. The poetry she channels is meant to inspire others on their own personal healing journeys and stands as a testimony of truth by her motto, "Triumphing over Trauma".
Ms. Pratico has successfully overcome trauma and abuse, an addiction to drugs and alcohol and an eating disorder. She speaks to audiences of all ages and backgrounds as a spoken word artist and a motivational speaker. Her work in personal development and self-help can serve anyone on the spiritual path to a higher consciousness and enlightenment of the heart and soul.
Maria is well versed in holistic health and understands the importance of obtaining and maintaining the mind, body and spirit connection.
Please go to https://emotionalmusings.com to explore her writing and healing services.
Lynsey Scott, LCSW, is an Energy Intuitive and Healing Practitioner dedicated to helping individuals reconnect with their True Self. With over 15 years of experience in clinical social work and personal healing, Lynsey offers a trauma-informed, heart-centered approach to spiritual guidance and energy healing. Her goal is to support clients in finding balance, clarity, and their soul’s purpose, no matter where they are on their path. Join Lynsey in exploring how you can align with your Highest Truth and embrace your journey with confidence.
Visit LynseyEnergy.com to learn more and book a session.
Follow Lynsey on Instagram for insights and guidance: @lynseyenergy
Explore her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LynseyEnergy
http://cdbaby.com/ellegyandohhttp://youtube.com/youlisten2ellehttp://facebook.com/listen2elle
While completing her BFA at Baylor University, Rebekah Danae’s fourteen year painting practice was stylistically and thematically influenced by formative experiences in Belgium, studying Rene Magritte’s surrealist blend of comedy and peril, and in Texas, learning from Sedrick Huckaby’s metaphoric expressions of
faith, community, and heritage.
Sculpturally— through leatherwork and interior design— Danae’s work has been influenced by the cowboy boot making community in Beggs, Oklahoma and the design firm of Christopher Murphy in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
In practice, Danae draws inspiration from Virgil Abloh, who blurred the lines of art and commerce through the tools of contemporary culture; Rebecca Belmore’s ability to elicit intimate moments of reflection while tackling tremendous contemporary issues; the liberatory mysticism of Afrofuturism philosophy; the fiber artists of the wearable art movement in the 70s; and from the community-based relational practice of Rick Lowe.
Through her work, Rebekah Danae and A Creative House orchestrate a movement in the middle of the country, made up of a diverse creative choir. Far from a lone ranger, Danae works collaboratively across a curated network of Oklahomans— from the punk underground, homegrown rappers and producers, luxury interior designers, rodeo cowboys, rural bootmakers, to philanthropic, political, and educational leaders.
Her approach, while whimsical and surreal, has the intended impact of critical regional culture-shaping from the current white supremacy that is prevalent regionally today and toward a co-created futurist Oklahoma, the liberated West.
Jia Johnson is a somatic mind body coach, intuitive energy healer, shaman, creative educator, and social justice entrepreneur. She is the passionate founder and CEO of Freedom Dream Collective, LLC, a dynamic coaching and consulting firm dedicated to fostering the holistic wellbeing of mission driven individuals, communities and organizations.
In recent years, she served as the founding director of the Solidarity Building Initiative for Liberative Carceral Education (SBI) at McCormick Theological Seminary, a higher education in jail program. She also served as an SBI adjunct, facilitating courses and workshops at the intersection of personal and social transformation at the Cook County Department of Corrections.
Jia holds a Master of Arts in Public Ministry from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. She is a certified coach, shamanic Reiki practitioner, grief tender, intuitive counselor and training to be a meditation practitioner and nusta paqo (shaman) of the Apaz family lineage of the Qero Nation in Cusco, Peru.
https://www.freedomdreamcollective.com Instagram @freedomdreamcoach
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jia-johnson/
Alexis Long Burhenn is an ex Tech Recruiter and now the Owner of Alexis Long Burhenn Spiritual Energy Healing based in Austin, Texas. She is an Usui Reiki Master, Spiritual & Meditation Teacher, Crystal & Sound Healer and beyond. She combines a variety of healing modalities for her clients and every healing is unique. Alexis has experience with many different individuals, but specializes in supporting women in a 1:1 setting. Her clients range from their teens to clients in hospice. She loves facilitating healings on animals too!
Alexis also sells crystals, offering 1:1 crystal selling sessions and crystal selling parties local to Austin. She teaches meditation and mindfulness classes/1:1 sessions, and offers corporate meditation/mindfulness workshops. Her background in working in the corporate world helps her connect and reach individuals who may not consider themselves spiritual and she is very passionate about helping those working in the corporate setting
Alexis loves helping others self-heal through spiritual energy work. She loves traveling, meeting new people, nature, art, music, style, and considers herself a life-long learner. She finds great inspiration through love, the elements, flowers, and creativity. Alexis believes we can always find the light, even in the midst of darkness.
She conducts in person sessions in the Greater Austin Area, and virtual sessions for clients all over the country.
Her website is www.albenergyhealing.com, her email address is alexis@albenergyhealing.com, and her Instagram is @alexislburhenn.
Heather began her own healing journey by addressing deep unhealed emotions rooted in feelings of unworthiness. Through her personal healing, she was guided to embrace sound healing, Reiki, and Akashic healing.
Growing up in a family business of landscaping and floristry, Heather has always had a profound connection to nature. Recently, she has been inspired to incorporate floral essences into all her sessions, combining her lifelong affinity for flowers with her healing practices to offer a unique and transformative experience.
heather@sunshineforthesoul.co
Social media:
Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/sunshineforthesoul7/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sunshineforthesoullc/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sunshineforthesoul7
https://natalie-jean.com/
https://www.facebook.com/NatalieJeanObsession
https://www.instagram.com/nataliej0819/?hl=en
https://www.tiktok.com/@nataliejeanmusic
www.whatgrandmasaid.lovewww.unearthedbotanicals.com
@essencetheherbalist on all social media platforms
To connect with Angie:
https://www.angierehnbergart.com
Angie Rehnberg (Poynter)
ARTIST BIO/STATEMENT
Born 1985
Angie Rehnberg is an artist and curator residing in her home city of Albuquerque, New Mexico. She spent her adolescent years in the beautiful mountain regions of Taos and Angel Fire and proceeded to live in Santa Fe for several years while pursuing her academic studies and professional art career. She graduated from the College of Santa Fe with her Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2007 and studied a broad range of disciplines including: studio arts, art history, creative writing, psychology, philosophy, and mythology. Her paintings have been included in a wide array of exhibitions since the age of fifteen and her work has been featured in numerous publications including American Art Collector.
Professionally she has also worked at galleries in Taos, Santa Fe, and Albuquerque as a director and exhibition specialist for both local and national art fairs including shows such as SOFA Chicago, Art San Diego, and Palm Springs Modernism. She has also collaboratively curated many successful art exhibitions as one of the founders of the Pop-Up Collective, a local Albuquerque group focused on creating exceptional one-night-only art events. She recently curated 12 rotating monthly art exhibitions for Artisan ABQ which in turn lead to the development of 3017 Gallery. She worked with local emerging artist and internationally acclaimed painters.
Effecting 1 in every 100,000 births, she was born with a genetic mutation called Holt-Oram-Syndrome which disrupted the development of her heart, hands, and upper limbs. Having been born with a rare birth defect that caused a hole in her heart and impacted the muscle and bone structure of her hands/arms, she feels that this “difference” is one of the primary reasons she gravitated towards a creative path. At a young age her parents encouraged drawing and illustration as a means to improve dexterity. By learning to cope and utilize art to help overcome physical difficulties early on, she realizes her circumstance is a gift rather than a limitation and feels this aspect of her life helped lead her to the practice of art.
She has traveled extensively around the world having visited 27 different countries. As a globetrotter and versatile multi-disciplinary artist, her work is often stimulated by her personal and emotional experiences with people, places, and nature. For the same reasons she likes to travel, she constantly explores new content and imagery. She often works on an extensive series, then moves on to a new idea when her inspiration shifts. She views herself as an “explorer of emotion and technique” and thrives on experimenting with the notion that medium influences the creative approach and process. Over the years, she has explored many different painting mediums and subject matter ranging from: semi-realistic representational figurative works, stylized urban and natural landscapes, and contemporary animal portraits. She paints on numerous traditional surfaces and depending on the project/series she uses anything from: ink, watercolor, oil, acrylic, gouache, or even spray paint to create her compositions.
To connect with Gina:
www.ginagratza.com
@gina.gratza
Gina Gratza is a licensed marriage and family therapist and has spent over a decade supporting individuals, couples, and families through the complexities of trauma, fractured relationships, and personal transformation. She specializes in psychedelic-assisted facilitation, deeply influenced by her work with individuals navigating trauma and eating disorders.
Gina is certified in MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD from the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). She is also a ketamine-assisted therapist, trained by the Polaris Insight Center.
Gina helped launch the first legal Oregon psilocybin facilitator training school, InnerTrek, and served as Lead Educator and Program Coordinator. Gina is also engaged in psychedelic research with the Social Neuroscience and Psychotherapy Lab as a research study therapist supporting veterans with PTSD.
Gina launched a new practice this year centered on women’s empowerment. With a variety of group offerings online and in-person, Gina aims to create a community of women who can come together, grow, and heal in the connection. Her practice also supports those navigating and exploring psychedelic spaces. Gina is a seeker, a playful dancer, an embodied woman, and a poet. She continuously moves toward her authentic Self and loves engaging others interested in this dance.
Destiny Elmore was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She is a self-taught artist and has been painting for twelve years. Destiny earned a bachelor's degree in graphic design from Oral Roberts University in 2018.
Her favorite mediums to use are graphite, acrylic and oil paint and digital art. Destiny's artwork is inspired by her heritage and African American culture. Music is also essential in her artistic process.
Hearing a song will inspire Destiny to create an image goes along with the music. A majority of her work includes portraits of prominent figures that have inspired her throughout the years.
Destiny is a published graphic designer, author and illustrator. Her children's book, The Forever Princess is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Some of her paintings can be viewed inside Oral Roberts University and on Black Wall Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Website: https://www.quantumclinic.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quantumclinicusa
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkatelynlehman
Dr. Katelyn Lehman is the Founder of Quantum Clinic, a Los Angeles-based wellness center for preventative care that addresses the mind, body, spirit, and soul. Quantum Clinic offers a transformative float spa experience with frequency therapy, empowering clients to achieve tangible results in stress reduction, self-discovery, and longevity through coherence.
With a Ph.D. in Clinical and Multicultural Community Psychology, Dr. Lehman has extensive experience in private practice, community mental health, and forensics since 2009. Her diverse clientele includes business executives, asylum seekers, individuals exiting incarceration, and victims of trauma and medical malpractice. An educator and activist, her research explores the intersection of individual and global systems change. Dr. Lehman is a renowned expert in bio-field psychology and healing through coherence.
To connect with Monika:
www.mkorpalart.com
Monika Korpal is a contemporary artist known for her expressionism, figurative designs, and captivating portraits. Her lifelong struggle with body image deeply influences her art.
Through her work, she seeks to remove the shame around nudity and expresses powerful emotions through the human body. Monika believes that we are defined by our bodies, not the clothes we wear. She encourages us to embrace body positivity and challenge the stigma surrounding the naked female form.
Instagram: C.A.P._Art
Born and raised in Tulsa, Kieran Crutison known as C.A.P. (Crutison’s Art Projects) is a self taught artist with intentions on becoming more sustainable by experimenting with recycled and natural items. Creating work that challenges the way we think of waste and our habits.
To connect with Lisbeth:
bellalunahealing515@gmail.com
WELCOME TO BELLA LUNA HEALING!
I'M LISBETH ROMAN. A REIKI MASTER AND INTUITIVE ENERGY HEALER DEDICATED TO FACILITATING PROFOUND TRANSFORMATION AND HEALING. AT BELLA LUNA HEALING. I SPECIALIZE IN CHANNELING MESSAGES TO HELP MOVE ENERGY BLOCKS DURING HEALING SESSIONS, AND I USE THE UNIQUE POWER
OF CHANNELED VOCAL FREQUENCIES TO ENHANCE THIS PROCESS. AS A SOUND HEALER AND VOCAL ALCHEMIST. I CHANNEL LIGHT CODES AND SING THEM DURING TREATMENTS, USING MY VOICE'S FREQUENCIES AS A POWERFUL HEALING MODALITY. THESE LIGHT CODES RESONATE DEEPLY WITHIN, PROMOTING ENERGETIC
ALIGNMENT, EMOTIONAL RELEASE, AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH. I AM THE PROUD MOTHER OF A BEAUTIFUL 14-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER AND A BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR-THRIVING WITH A RENEWED PURPOSE. MY PERSONAL JOURNEY HAS INSPIRED ME TO OFFER SPECIALIZED PACKAGES FOR INDIVIDUALS STRUGGLING WITH DIS-EASE WHILE NAVIGATING A SPIRITUAL AWAKENING. MY MISSION IS TO SUPPORT YOUR JOURNEY TOWARD HOLISTIC HEALING AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH, GUIDING YOU TO
REDISCOVER YOUR INNER HARMONY AND VITALITY.
1 AM AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE SESSIONS AND GROUP EVENTS.
To connect with Earth Love:
connect2earth.love@gmail.com
Instagram: @__earth_love
"On my journey, I’ve discovered that Healing is the highest form of human love.” – Earth Love is grounded in fully embodying the abundance of Love while supporting others on a path to connecting with their Inner Healer.
Engaged in a deep spiritual and healing practice of her own, her aspirations are firmly rooted in serving others with a deep sense of compassion, aiming to uplift the collective consciousness. A practitioner and student of the yogic philosophy for 7 years, she studied traditional Hatha Yoga in Thailand with the school of Yoga Samaadhi, obtaining a 500 hour RYT Certification.
She continues to practice and study multiple yoga styles regularly. Earth's most recent training is in Integrative Breathwork where she had the privilege of learning from the esteemed Millana Snow.
Integrative Breathwork is a healing modality that aims to return us to experiencing who we truly are. A practice that allows the releasing of layers & stories that keep us from embodying our true nature and authentic Self.
Earth is also actively studying Holotropic breathwork with the Stan Grof Transpersonal Training school, The Energy Codes by Dr. Sue Morter, and trauma informed care. She is currently a digital nomad, traveling full time since 2019 and has lived in 4 different countries.
To connect with Brandi:
TikTok @PeacePodBrandi
IG @goldenalchemymeditation
YouTube @goldenalchemymeditation
Web: https://goldenalchemymeditation.com
When I was young, meditation came naturally; however, it was not consistent, and I became more of a crisis meditator. Until crisis and trauma actually hit. A series of events left me in pain and in what some call, "dark nights of the soul."
Healing my own heart became a journey of self-discovery that awakened my soul and eventually lead me to becoming a Certified Master of Wisdom and Meditation Teacher now a published author with my first meditation book, "Meditation for the Modern Mind: A Beginner's Guide to Stress Relief and Emotional Well-Being."
To connect with Rekhit Kajara Nia Yaa Nebthet:
https://www.rasekhihealing.com
Rekhit Kajara Nia Yaa Nebthet is the Author of many books including Ra Sekhi Kemetic Reiki Level 1 & Kemetic Reiki Level 2, Sekhmet Rising, the newest addition Healing Ritual Magic & many more. She has also written articles for three other books: Sistah Vegan, Natural Dread of Atlanta, and Magical Calabash. Rekhit Kajara is a Heal Thyself Ambassador of Wellness, Medicine Woman, Priestess, Community Activist, Afrikan Holistic Health Consultant, Spiritual Warrior, Sacred Woman, Educator, Mother, Tree hugger and Nature lover who has dedicated her life to promote health, wellness and natural living to our community.
Rekhit Kajara has been practicing and teaching womb wellness and energy healing for over 15 years. She is a natural healer as well as a teacher of all ages for over 20 years sharing lessons in health, wellness, women's health, black history, yoga, and metaphysical sciences. She is also an artist and entrepreneur, who has traveled the US sharing her handmade jewels for over 20 years.
Mut Kajara Nebthet was raised in Chicago. She healed herself intuitively at the age of 16 using a technique which is called reiki. She received a Bachelor of Social Science from Florida State in 1993. During her time in college she committed herself in working to uplift Black people. She started her own business Nia Designs, in 1991, for which she made and sold jewelry at festivals and to stores on the East Coast and Midwest. She taught in African centered schools between 1993 and 2000. During this time she taught a variety of subjects including health, physical education, black history, Swahili, entrepreneurship, math, science, yoga, as well as arts and crafts to children of all ages.
Mut Kajara was attuned as a Reiki master in 2000 and was initiated as a general initiate into the mysteries of the Akan in 2000. She also began to facilitate Sacred Woman gateway in 2000. She trained over 100 women in Sacred Woman circles and retreats between (the years of)2000 and 2012. She became the Heal Thyself Ambassador of Wellness as well as a certified fasting and detoxing therapist in 2006. She received certification as a Wholistic health practitioner from Dr. Llaila Afrika in 2006. In 2007 she was assigned to teach energy healing to our community and begin teaching Kemetic Reiki classes in Chicago. This journey led to Ra Sekhi Arts Temple being founded in 2007.
She was initiated as a priestess of Sango, Yemaya and Oya in 2008. She has worshipped with Christians, Jehovah’s Witness, Hebrews, Muslims, Rastafarians, Buddhists, Wiccans, Native Americans, Akan, Yoruba, Vodun, and NGE and has come to one conclusion. All spiritual systems teach people to live right, the names serve to divide us. Ra Sekhi classes are open to those of African descent no matter what spiritual system they follow.
To connect with Shehera:
www.anahataholistichealing.com
*Shehera Barnes is an ascension teacher and spiritual guide and runs ongoing inner transformational programs, events and international retreats to support men and women in awakening to their full potential through the healing center she founded, Anahata Holistic Healing.
As a transformational coach, energy and sound healer, Kundalini Yoga and meditation teacher, Shehera uses a heart-centered integrative approach combining the mystical arts, nature’s intelligence and sacred ancient wisdoms to help her clients achieve health, inner peace and abundance. Shehera has devoted her life to service, prayer and to bringing awareness to the untapped energy and spiritual powers that lie dormant within each person. She is humbly of service in each step of the healing journey.*
*Photo credit-Alexxus "Pholexx" Browning
To connect with Bambi:
https://linktr.ee/bambidatchick
To listen to her latest single:
https://djno.name/ethereal
Bambi is a rapper, singer and songwriter based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She’s been catching the eyes and ears of fans and fellow musicians alike with her captivating versatility and raw lyrics that comes with emotions she's determined to be heard.
Her first mixtape Just Clownin' dropped in 2013 and she took a break from music to finish college. From 2018 till present time, Bambi’s been part of the first Tulsa Female Spittas Cypher (YouTube) and on back-to-back shows in her hometown and surrounding areas. She’s dropped a projects: E.A.T., Seriously Bambi, Your Money’s No Good Here, Alpha & Durty 30 from 2019 - Present.
To connect with Bhogananda:
https://www.bhogananda.com/
https://www.instagram.com/bhogananda
bho
gananda@protonmail.com
Bhogananda lives a full spiritual life and her goal is to completely know God in all His facets in manifestation.
She is the co founder of Shakti Ananda Academy, a spiritual online school for women - www.shaktianandacademy.com
She also offers one-to-one coaching sessions for women and couples, yoga classes, tantra workshops, tantric massage courses and women circles all over the world.
To connect with Anne:
https://linktr.ee/annebucklemusic
Anne Buckle is a musician, teaching artist, and songwriter originally from Peachtree City, GA. A graduate of Harvard University and The University of Tennessee, her first few years out of college were spent working for the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC, at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, France, and in Tennessee higher education policy.
In 2015, she made the decision to pursue a career in music full-time and has since shared the stage with the late Charlie Daniels, toured with Augustana opening for The Chicks, written songs recorded by other artists including American Idol’s David Archuleta and Lindy Boone, daughter of legendary crooner Pat Boone, and released her own original songs amassing over 4 million streams across platforms.
As a teaching artist, Anne works with individuals and organizations to help them unleash their creativity through music. Anne’s new album WILDWOOD is out now on vinyl alongside her debut children’s book, Firefly, inspired by the eponymous song.
To connect with Jarett:
https://www.soulrstar.com
https://www.instagram.com/soulrstar/?hl=en
https://www.facebook.com/soulrstar/
To connect with Megan:https://www.meganhosmer.com/
Megan Hosmer is an American artist, teacher, and a 2023 graduate of the NSCAD MFA program in Mi'kma'ki (Halifax). As an experimental analogue photographer, her work primarily centers around feminist questions of identity, disability, and community through photographic portraiture.
Megan has exhibited locally and internationally as a Nova Scotia transplant from Oklahoma. Her work was selected for Motherhood Unveiled, an international juried exhibition, at Stitches and Pics Gallery in Sackets Harbor, New York. In 2022 Megan was awarded the Research Nova Scotia: Scotia Scholars master's grant for her work in destigmatizing endometriosis through art and storytelling. Megan’s work has also been featured in various print publications such as Visual Arts News.
Website: https://worldloveglobal.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldloveglobal
Instagram: @worldloveglobal
To connect with Chelsey:Personal website: www.chelseycharbeneau.com
Business website: https://breathemeditationandwellness.com/
Personal IG: @chelseycharbeneau
Business IG: @breathemeditationandwellness
To connect with Alison:
www.embodymylife.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/embody_life/
Alison Rothman MA CYT, is a Body-Centered Holistic Coach, Emotional Doula, Guide, Mentor, and Transformational Retreat and Group Facilitator with nearly 30 of years of study and experience in somatic healing arts and therapies, yoga and meditation, authentic embodiment practices, and holistic healing channels. Through her extensive studies, practices, and experiences she provides clients and students with the ability to tap into their innate inner resource, release debilitating life patterns, reclaim their body, mind, heart, and soul connection so as to access their true selves empowering them to live life awake, embodied, and in alignment. In addition to her one-on-one work she facilitates retreats and events, runs women’s groups (both virtual and in person), writes, and speaks sharing wisdom from the front lines of this human life. She lives in beautiful Boulder, Colorado with her partner and teenage son.
To connect with Michael and to learn more about Casa Galactica, visit
www.casagalactica.com
To learn more about their 10-Day Ayahuasca Healing & Evolution Retreats, visitwww.casagalactica.com/ayahuasca-retreats-pisac-peru
Michael Thornhill, is co-founder of Casa Galactica in Peru. Michael is a trauma-informed plant spirit healer, professional channel and non-dual teacher. Recovering from addiction, trauma and abuse have been a big part of Michael's own healing journey. He now dedicates his life to helping others heal themselves.
Casa Galactica offer Ayahuasca Healing and Evolution Retreats, online private sessions and group programs for dedicated inner-truth seekers and multidimensional healers.
To learn more about Ronni and Jennie and their work, visit
https://www.heartandsoulsisters.net
Their book, Healing Begins with Us: Breaking the Cycle of Trauma and Abuse and Rebuilding the Sibling Bond (HeartWisdom LLC, April 5, 2022), shares their inspiring and hopeful story of healing from their painful upbringing.
They are sharing their story now to help heal the shame that they have carried as survivors of trauma, and to contribute to healing the hearts of others who have struggled in similar ways. To them healing is not about changing, or becoming someone "different" or "better"---it's about becoming more fully who they are: a spark of The Divine, connected to All, here to assist each other as our souls explore this existence and learn to love and live in peace.
Ronni Tichenor has a PhD in sociology, specializing in family studies, from the University of Michigan.
To connect with Meghan:
salon website: www.alainn.org
instagram + tiktok: @alainnsalon
Bio
I’m a Libra who finds inspiration through music and art. I truly believe that music sets the tone and have curated an eclectic mix from the Talking Heads to Arcade Fire. You’ll find cool artwork throughout the salon from my many adventures. Every picture has a story.
I love hearing about your fur babies for I bring my pup Casey to the salon. I also have Milo "the fat cat" and Maisey "the baby" kitten who happily stay home. You’ll also hear me mention my two sisters and 3 nephews from time to time. Family rocks!
Certified as a Reiki Master and Embeautyment Practitioner, I’m a huge self care advocate. I practice yoga, meditation and tarot cards. I believe in gratitude lists, mindfulness, acupuncture, massage and will talk to you about all the things.
I feel truly grateful to be my own boss and do what I love every day. I love inspiring my clients and bringing out their inner beauty. I incorporate Reiki into all of my services. I like to call it hair therapy ;)
To connect with Genine, visit
www.empress-empires.com
https://www.instagram.com/genine_howard
Genine Howard is an extraordinary transformational leader who embarked on a remarkable journey from magazine publishing to guiding others in building successful businesses. With a unique approach, she merges the profound wisdom of her inner feminine essence with astute masculine strategies to deliver transformative results.
Drawing upon her wealth of experience, Genine empowers individuals to unlock their true potential and build thriving businesses. Her teachings go beyond traditional methods, incorporating deep inner wisdom and intuition to create a harmonious blend of feminine energy and strategic thinking.
With Genine as your guide, you'll discover the power of embracing both your intuitive feminine nature and the practical masculine elements of business. By integrating these aspects, you will gain invaluable insights, develop sustainable strategies, and unlock the doors to profound personal and professional growth.
Genine Howard is a trailblazer in bridging the gap between inner wisdom and strategic business-building. Through her guidance, you'll learn to harness the transformative power within you, creating a path to success that is both aligned with your feminine essence and grounded in smart, practical strategies. Get ready to embark on a transformative journey that will revolutionize your approach to business and lead you to unparalleled success.
To connect with Nikole, visit
Instagram @NikoleDragon1
https://www.facebook.com/nikoledragon1/
To connect with Angie, visit
Website: www.blissedoutheart.com
Instagram: angie.castor
Angie is a resilient and inspiring individual who has journeyed through the realms of corporate success and personal tragedy to find her true calling. With a remarkable career in software sales, Angie thrived in a male-dominated industry, standing out as one of the few women making waves in her field. Closing seven-figure deals and being a top performer, she learned to advocate for herself and find her voice in a challenging environment.
Life took an unexpected turn in 2010 when Angie faced the unimaginable loss of her son, Connor. Navigating the complexities of grief as a single mother, she realized the toll her emotions were taking on her physical health. Through introspection and the support of a therapist, Angie embarked on a transformative journey of healing and self-discovery.
It was through this process that Angie found Breathwork—a practice that not only helped her confront her trauma but also allowed her to express and release her emotions authentically. Embracing the power of Breathwork, Angie found her passion for helping others and transitioned into a fulfilling role as a breathwork coach. This shift not only facilitated her own healing but also led to a profound spiritual awakening, where she discovered her innate healing abilities and spiritual connection.
Angie's story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of finding one's voice, healing from trauma, and embracing one's true calling. As a beacon of strength and guidance, she now dedicates her life to supporting others on their own paths of healing and self-discovery.
Rogelio Esparza - @rogelio.ec
Allison Ward - @bittersweetbutthole
Art House Tulsa - @arthousetulsa
Websites
Rogelio Esparza - https://www.rogelioesparza.com/
Allison Ward - https://www.allisonward.me/
Art House Tulsa - https://www.arthousetulsa.com/
To connect with Kelly, visit
www.kellymballard.com
www.reflectiveharmony.com
www.facebook.com/reflectiveharmonykmb
www.instagram.com/reflectiveharmonykmb
Kelly M. Ballard is a fourth-generation Intuitive Medium who has been working with Spirit for over 24 years. As an ordained Spiritualist Minister, Spiritual Coach & Healer, and Reiki Master and Teacher, she considers herself to be a channel between you and Spirit, and is committed to helping people find the answers and healing they are seeking to live their best lives.
Kelly is honored to do the work that Spirit allows her to do, and believes that there is no limit to our own spiritual growth. Whatever journey you are on – connecting with Spirits, Loved-Ones, Spirit Guides, or Furry Loved-Ones, Manifesting Your Most Incredible Life and Digging into the Law of Attraction, Healing Your Energy with Reiki and Energy Work, Spoiling Yourself with a Class or Workshop, and everything else in between – Kelly sincerely thanks you for letting her be a part of it with you.
To connect with Oriola and Kindred Healing Center, visit
https://www.kindredhealingcenter.com
To connect with Kiona, visit
https://www.kionawootonmillirons.com/vermillion
Facebook.com/kionawootonmillirons
Instagram.com/kionawootonmillirons
To connect with Imogen, visit
Website: beyondimogen.com
Email: beyondimogen@gmail.com
Podcast: endofseeking.substack.com
YouTube: youtube.com/beyondimogen
Facebook: facebook.com/beyondimogen
Instagram: instagram.com/beyondimogen
To connect with Jolie, visit
https://www.jolienan.com
https://www.instagram.com/jolienan.coach
About Jolie
When I was 49 years old, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Within the same year I lost my dad to cancer, became an empty nester, and felt completely lost on how to move forward. After fighting anxiety for most of my adult life, this perfect storm sent me steeply over the edge.
The unbearable stress forced me to look beyond my typical coping mechanisms, invest in help, and try to reconnect with the strength I used to have within me.
I tried talk therapy and anti-anxiety medication, but the results didn’t last. I dabbled in traditional meditation as a desperate attempt to self-soothe, and though it wasn’t a perfect solution, I could feel a small shift begin. I was healing, slowly, and found energy to keep exploring.
After lots of research and lots of attempts, I eventually found a sustainable solution that worked while feeling wonderful: Mantra Meditation. I came to realize that none of the previous modalities were impactful because the FOUNDATION of Mantra Meditation and a regulated nervous system were missing.
This daily meditation practice with somatic exercises infused throughout the day allows me to calm my body and quiet my mind within minutes, no matter the circumstances. I feel more myself than ever, and after years of chronic worry, my future now feels exciting and bright.
Mantra Meditation and somatic practices transformed my life so completely, I’m committed to sharing the power of these practices with other women to unlock the same transformation within you.
Lifelong friend to the late great Glen “BUB” Doherty and the BUBS Naturals frontline in forging Glen’s legacy. Merging his career experience as a professional athlete, director of global marketing, and entrepreneur, Sean has personally curated the product, communal spirit, and charitable mission that defines the BUBS Naturals brand.
To connect with Da'juan, visit
https://inthelifeofdupri.com
https://www.instagram.com/dupri95/?hl=en
A Yahudi-American Actor, Artist/Songwriter, & Community Leader based out of East Tulsa, Ok.
Da'juan Dupri has taken Tulsa by storm with his unmatched charisma and gripping subject matter; Dupri has made a name for himself being a highly anticipated act demonstrating a deep mental capacity with his electrifying freestyles.
There's a rare passion and dedication felt in his awe inspiring live performances, and his zeal and passion for the culture of his faith exudes throughout his entire body of work; as seen on ‘Groundwaves HipHop’ a showcase curated by West coast Hip-Hop legend Murs & ‘SoulBody Cyphers’ a non-profit that’s focused on ending the negative stigmas often associated with Mental Health, using Hip-Hop as a device to bridge the gap in the culture that’s long been neglected. As time continues Da'juan Dupri has shown he is a force to be reckoned with in today’s industry, becoming one of Tulsa’s most coveted artist.
Affiliations include Soulbody Cyphers, Groundwaves Hip-Hop, With All Due Respect Rap Battle League, OCD Gamechangers, Fire in Little Africa, Soulbody Media and Redbeard Productions, Smoke One For Me Tour, Soulstarz, Treehouse Studios, LRG Studios, The Nest Studios Wichita, Senica da Misfit, + more
To connect with Michelle and Raw Artists Canada
rawartists.com
IG: rawartistscanada
FB: rawartistscanada
To connect with Christine Marie, visit
www.christinemarieheals.com
www.instagram.com/christinemarieheals
Christine Marie is a Ceremonial Medicine Woman who specializes in holding safe and sacred spaces for healing and transformation through plant spirit facilitation, shamanic reiki healing, and spoken-word sound journeying. Additionally, she has a Bachelors in Nursing (BSN) and is a published author who has years of experience in helping men and women heal from C-PTSD, physical ailments, toxic relationships, and disempowerment.
Two years into her nursing field, she realized the limitations that western medicine had to offer in treating the root cause of emotional and physical disease. As she began to heal herself through holistic modalities and plant medicine, she felt the call to bridge the gap between western and holistic health by opening up her own private practice.
Her history in western medicine combined with her knowledge in alternative therapies offers you the experience of feeling safe and sovereign in your freedom of self-expression and healing.
Christine Marie's personal survivorship from abuse, neglect and body violation deeply shifted when she started to reclaim her voice and power while working within non-ordinary states of consciousness. She has made it her life's mission to support you in discovering emotional, physical, and spiritual wholeness and well-being.
To connect with Kai Shanti, visit
https://www.kaishanti.com/
Instagram @angeloflightmeditation
To connect with Sarah, visit
https://sarahandreas.com/
https://www.facebook.com/SarahAndreasArtist
https://www.instagram.com/andreassarah/
Sarah Andreas, residing in the scenic heart of Ohio, holds more than just an affinity for colors and textures. With a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership, she has delved deep into the realms of individual experiences, particularly how one develops leadership skills encompassing the mind, body, and soul. Her academic pursuits kindled a passion for understanding the nuanced dance between leadership development and creative, mindful practices.
A graduate of the Malian Art Institute Master's program, Sarah embarked on a quest to grasp the nonverbal language of art and its profound ties to self-leadership. Throughout her life, she felt a magnetic pull towards the vibrant world of colors and intricate textures. But it was her realization of art's ability to express ideas too vast or emotionally charged for mere words that truly inspired her. Today, Sarah employs her artistic endeavors to communicate themes of transformation, endless possibilities, and the sheer courage it takes to lead oneself.
To connect with Audra, visit
Audramandelart.com
Facebook @audramandelartist
Instagram @audramandel
Audra Mandel a self taught artist was born in Janesville, Wisconsin. She cultivated her love for drawing, and began developing her own style and skills at the age of 10. Through her teenage years she continued her focus on art, working with various mediums such as colored pencils, pastels, acrylic and oil paints.
After 30 years of life's adventures, and a move to Oklahoma in 2021, she returned to the paint brush and easel to finally pursue her dream of painting full-time.
She considers herself to be extremely lucky to be a full-time artist, who loves finding inspiration for her work in nature and in her every day life. She feels painting in the realist style, while capturing the play of light, along with her love of detail helps to draw the viewer into her work.
After exhibiting her work for the first time in 2023, she is excited to have the privilege of working with Royce Myers Gallery of Tulsa. She is also a member of Oil Painters of America (OPA), Portrait Society of America and the Tulsa Artists' Coalition (TAC).
Audra lives and paints in the Tulsa area, with her partner David and their dog Roxanne.
To learn more about Josh and his work, visit
https://joshstoutart.com
ABOUT JOSH
Take away the sun, so I may rove the ocean despite light.
Let go the hand, so sightless fog drifts in between reflections of ourselves.
Give me a lifetime to forget the language of my birth,
so only wind screams out my lungs when I'm aflame.
We were born to create.
I will not betray my instinct.
I will dig my voice out from beneath the stone.
Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Husband, Son, Brother, Uncle, Father of Five talented children.
Questioning everything in a relentless quest for harmony.
Finding the path.
Living life everyday, following my natural instincts.
Growing wise.
Experimenting at the boundaries of what the mind can create.
The first time in my life a brush from my hand hits a canvas was an explosion of emotions that I’m still trying to figure out in my own mind as it creates images of a people and a planet.
Art, my outlet has become my voice. The filtration between the brain and the hand. A direct influence of every experience in my life combined towards a single subject.
Born an artist. My entire life has lead to being an artist. Creating, exploring and experiencing life and how it affects one’s outlook on the world. Ultimately how all these views are transferred through a medium.
Compositions arranged straight from the most powerful tool on Earth, the mind. Paintings are sculpted at a journeyman's pace by the use of oil and pallet knife. Bronze sculptures crafted exclusively by hand, where a thought can become completely encompassed.
To connect with Liz, visit
About “ALONG THE CIMARRON” @ THE STUDIO, TULSA https://www.lizdueck.com/events
About her Mindful Painting Workshop at The Studio on April 27th from 3:00 to 4:00 pmhttps://www.lizdueck.com/shop/mindful-painting-workshop
https://www.lizdueck.com/
https://www.instagram.com/lizdueckart/
Liz Dueck is a Nature Artist, Art Educator, Trail Guide, and the co-curator of “Along the Cimarron”. She primarily works in oil painting, charcoal and natural materials. Her creative practices are all based on exploration and connection. Along with displaying her work in galleries and curating exhibitions, she regularly leads Art Hikes in the Tulsa and Sand Springs area. Dueck’s passion lies in interchangeably connecting art, nature and people together.
Dueck graduated with a BFA in Studio Art, a Teaching Certification in Art and a minor in Art History from Oklahoma State University in 2017. She worked for OSU's Art Department in her time there as a student as well as upon graduation as the Education Coordinator of the Prairie Arts Center. She now teaches art at the Tulsa Boys’ Home, volunteers as a Trail Guide at the Keystone Ancient Forest leading monthly Art Hikes and resides in the forests of Sand Springs, Oklahoma.
To connect with Stephanie:
https://stephanieradotaormina.com
https://havesomefuntoday.com
https://www.instagram.com/stephanieradotaormina/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieradotaormina/
https://www.facebook.com/stephanieradotaorminadesign
Stephanie Rado Taormina is a fine artist who currently lives between New York City and the small town of Wyomissing, PA.
Born in 1965 in Norristown, PA; a suburb of Philadelphia; Stephanie was always a gifted artist starting from her early years as a child throughout her academic pursuits from high school to college. She practiced making art & learning new techniques as something she simply loved to do; when other teenagers were out with their friends, Steph would take night classes at the local art institute with people her grandparents age learning how to paint with oils & water colors from local acclaimed artists.
Stephanie attended Penn State University where she earned a degree in Communications and later went on to get an additional degree in Fashion Design from Parsons School of Design in NYC in 1990.
Over the past 30 years Stephanie has created several successful art & design related businesses; Rado Ltd was her Bedding & Loungewear Collection in which she sold products to high end stores across the country in the early 90’s.
Next was her Interior Design & Art Consulting business she started in the early 2000’s that lasted through to 2014; when she switched gears and founded a lifestyle brand called Have Some Fun Today, which is a high-end graphic fashion brand worn by the likes of Halle Berry, Mila Kunis and other top celebrities.
In 2023 Stephanie decided to move to NYC part time where she lives half the month. She travels between NYC & PA each month to gather inspiration and then back to PA where she has room to make her art.
While her work is mainly abstract, she is open to exploring new methods constantly and likes to challenge her abilities by trying new things as an artist.
Casii's current single
https://hypeddit.com/odbnlm
www.casiistephan.com
www.facebook.com/casiistephan
www.youtube.com/casiistephan
https://spoti.fi/2IMTLv9
https://www.tiktok.com/@casiistephan
www.instagram.com/casiistephan
https://twitter.com/CasiiStephan
Casii Stephan is a MN born, indie-pop meets soul-rock singer-songwriter now based in Tulsa, OK. Casii’s “gorgeously emotive voice inspires comparisons to alt-pop artists like Florence Welch and Fiona Apple with a writing style reminiscent of Carole King” (NPR).
Stephan’s voice is fierce and fearless, but this was not always the case. She grew up shy and afraid of her voice until she started writing songs on the family piano when she was 16. Casii moved to Tulsa in 2014 with the intent to give up her pursuit of a music career, however with a little encouragement from a friend, she continued songwriting and started releasing music in 2016.
Since then, she has received national songwriting awards, toured regionally, performed official SXSW and Folk Alliance showcases, performed at the virtual Sundance Film Festival, and has been profiled on platforms such as Billboard, NPR, and American Songwriter.
Casii writes her songs honestly, from the depths of her emotions, with lyrics that pushback on negative societal norms like sexism, ageism and “playing nice” as a woman. She uses writing to deconstruct her own beliefs with an underlying hope that things can change, inviting listeners on their own journey.
In October, Casii signed with TRO Essex music publishing, joining the talented folk writers such as Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, and iconic rock bands like The Who, Black Sabbath, and Pink Floyd. Casii recently traveled to Muscle Shoals, AL to record with producer, Ben Tanner (Alabama Shakes, St. Paul and the Broken Bones).
The concept EP, “Relationship Status” takes the listener on the emotional journey of going from one relationship status to another and finally landing on the realization that these statuses do not define you. This will be released spring/summer 2024.
To connect with Magdalena, visit
https://magdalenasabatino.com
https://www.instagram.com/magdalena.sabatino/
A link to my book, Hardship and Bliss: Reflections for Mothers Who Seek Connection
Magdalena Sabatino is an artist, holistic counselor and creative guide. After
many years of searching, she has finally arrived at the sweet spot, where
two of her biggest passions for creativity and healing meet, unite, and
constantly enrich each other.
As a young woman, she had an insatiable thirst for understanding why we
are the way we are, which propelled her onto an educational journey in
human psychology and personal growth. It started in Warsaw, Poland,
where she entered her Master’s degree in Psychology and ended in
Newport, Rhode Island, where she earned her Master’s degree in Holistic
Counseling from Salve Regina University.
As an artist, she follows her intuitive urges and tries to focus more on the
creative experience rather than the final product. Her art practice is also
her meditative and spiritual practice, during which she attempts to connect
to something bigger than herself. As she lets go of control, takes risks on
canvas, and trusts the creative process, her pieces emerge into what they
wish to become. Usually, into whimsical, colorful, intuitive, and abstract
images inspired by nature and feminine energy.
As a counselor, she guides her clients back to their holistic wellness. She
helps them understand that they are multidimensional beings with layers of
physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects to themselves. The
foundation of her work is healing the wounded inner child and assisting her
clients in recognizing how this wounding affected their lives. She believes
that wholeness is not cutting off a portion of one’s being, but it is the
integration of all aspects of oneself, even the broken, imperfect ones, that
creates a true, whole human being.
It is her absolute pleasure to gather people together for transformative
experiences. She enjoys creating workshops and retreats during which
participants have a chance to reconnect with their creativity and heal their
wounded parts along the way. She is in the process of creating her first
online course “Emotional processing through art journaling”.
Hidden Display can be found on Instagram @hiddenx_display and Bandcamp/soundcloud/mixcloud @hiddendisplayI’m HiddenDisplay, a lady DJ from Tulsa, Ok. I’m here to share some good energy with the crowd and make sure that everyone hears something they can dance to and relate to. I enjoy all genres but Alternative R&B/Rap, House and Dance may be my favorite (that may change tomorrow). I like for people to leave with a sense of “I felt seen” or “I was able to get lost”- Either way, the moment was a joy and that’s enough for me.
*Photo credit Laura Webster
To connect with Branjae, visit
https://www.branjaemusic.com
https://www.facebook.com/BranjaeMusic/
https://www.instagram.com/branjaemusic/
https://www.youtube.com/user/branjae
Branjae is the personification of Black American Music. She is an artist, activist, dancer, singer, and actress. She asks “why not” through her music, challenging listeners to embrace their authentic selves. Her lyrical depth, energetic theatrical performances, and out of the box genre fluidity are as unique as the personas she embodies.
Having previously performed at the legendary Apollo Theater, BOK Center, Cain’s Ballroom and more, Branjae’s fearless and energetic showcase, encourages elevated consciousness by connecting with her audiences for the soul purpose of creating unity and harmony. Born in the city of Motown and rooted in the city of The Gap Band, artist Branjae has established herself as a full-bodied, entertainer; singing, dancing, and acting her way into the hearts of audiences across the globe.
Her voice has been likened to artists like Lauryn Hill, India Arie and Nina Simone; while her stage presence is influenced by Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, and Freddie Mercury. PREVIOUS SUPPORT INCLUDES LIZZO, THUNDERCAT, TANK AND THE BANGAS, BRIAN MCKNIGHT, THE YING YANG TWINS, FISHBONE, OHIO PLAYERS, RC AND THE GRITS, AND THE LATE WAYMAN TISDALEAccolades Include:
WINNER - BEST FEMALE ARTISTBLACK WALL STREET MUSIC AWARDS
3X WINNER - BEST FEMALE ARTIST, ARTIST OF THE YEAR, RECORD OF THE YEARTULSA VYBEZ AWARDS
WINNER - JIMMY LAFAVE SONG WRITING CONTEST
NOMINEE - BEST MUSIC VIDEOINDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS
5X NOMINEE - TULSA MUSIC AWARDS
Her short film projects “Street Light” & “Free Facts” have gained International recognition including exclusive features for Billboard Magazine & AfroPunk; and screenings in TORONTO, MANCHESTER, PARIS, LONDON, AMSTERDAM, BERLIN, SYDNEY, MELBOURNE, NEW YORK, LOS ANGELES AND AUSTIN
To learn more about Layla and her work, visit
www.laylamoodyartdesign.com
https://www.instagram.com/laylamoodyartdesign/
Layla Moody is an American based Interior designer, abstract & multimedia artist, as well as owner of Artisticmedia, a web development firm in Houston, Texas. She specializes in acrylics, alcohol ink, & resins on wood, using only the best quality materials that are her signature brand. Her heavy use of color schemes and design elements create the mood that her client base craves for their projects and décor. Inspired by love, nature, the spiritual realm, and all things beautiful, her work has been in The World of Interiors, House & Garden, Novmartis, and artHouston magazines, as well as many other publications and galleries. She accepts commission and works with her clients to create the vision they want for their collections.
To learn more about Leo and his music and work, visit
http://www.leosidran.com
To learn more about Leo's podcast, visit
http://www.third-story.com
Leo Sidran is a multi instrumentalist musician, producer, arranger, composer, recording artist, and podcast host.
The Third Story podcast features long-form interviews with creative people of all types.
Their stories of discovery, loss, ambition, identity, improvisation, risk, and reward are deeply moving and compelling for all of us as we embark on our own creative journeys.
He was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin, which is sometimes referred to as 70 square miles surrounded by reality. His father, Ben Sidran, another multifaceted music man, provided my early musical sustenance. His mother, a weaver and travel agent, provided texture and safe passage.
He got his start writing songs professionally as a teenager when the Steve Miller Band recorded four of his songs for their 1993 Wide River album. His father was working with Miller at the time, which is how he made the connection, but even then, at the ripe old age of 15, he was interested in production. So, Steve invited him to play keyboards, guitars and drums on the record.
He co-produced the Academy Award Winning song, "Al Otro Lado Del Rio" from the film The Motorcycle Diaries with Jorge Drexler in 2005.
After the Oscar win, he made a move to Brooklyn and not only started producing records for other artists, but also composing music for film and television commercials amassing a catalog of 100s of major TV ads for clients like Coca-Cola, Visa, Lincoln, McDonalds, Stella Artois, Ford, Garnier and over a dozen film scores for outlets such as ESPN 30 for 30, Discovery, IFC, Sundance, and PBS.
As a drummer, he has played and recorded with jazz luminaries including Phil Woods, Howard Levy, David Fathead Newman, Clark Terry and Dave Grusin, and as an engineer he has worked with artists ranging from Snarky Puppy to Massive Attack.
To connect with Molly, visit
Podcast : https://www.buzzsprout.com/2171155
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/mollyrasanen
To connect with Jessica, visit
https://www.thebroodalist.com
Instagram
@thebroodalist
breath@thebroodalist.com
To connect with Charla, visit
https://www.madamechi.net
https://www.instagram.com/madame.manage/
https://www.facebook.com/charla.fonseca
https://www.tiktok.com/@madamemanagement
https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlafonseca/
Emmy Nominated Producer, Charla Fonseca, was born and raised in Austin, TX - studied Music at Texas State University, and officially jump started her creative career In 2017. With her for love for music and vivacious determination, she landed herself an internship at 5th Street Studios; while also volunteering with Austin Music Foundation, and becoming a karaoke host extraordinaire! The 5th St team taught Charla the ropes of music production, studio operations / etiquette, and allowed her to work with worldwide artists like Snoop Dogg, Diplo, Leon Bridges, Slayer and more.
That same year, Charla attended the Tulsa SXSW Showcase, where she met BRANJAE, and immediately began bridging the gaps between Austin and Tulsa. After years of collaborating remotely, she made the leap to leave the “Live Music Capital of the World”, and relocated to Tulsa, OK in 2019.
Throughout her time in Oklahoma, Charla has launched MADAME MANAGEMENT, a full-service Latina owned management company; specializing its focus on historically underrepresented talent. Her work has catapulted Branjae’s brand into new markets nationally and globally; while simultaneously diving into film making as a Producer & Production Accountant. After countless features, shorts and commercials for clients like Disney, Sesame Street NFL, Cherokee Film and more - she’s earned her first national Emmy Nomination, for her work with 22X Emmy Award Winner, Pursuit Films.
She has been interweaving the two creative avenues since.
To learn more about Emani and her music, visit
https://www.emanisings.com
Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/theEmaniofficial/
Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/emanisings/
Spotify-https://open.spotify.com/artist/40E0Ed3SRgeOxwXXWjQlPU
Apple Music-https://music.apple.com/us/artist/emani/1511836650
Youtube-https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLm9Bm7zlCE6wCT_z-D7Atg
Emani is a talented Neo-Soul/R&B artist hailing from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Singing has been a passion of hers since she was young. Some of her notable accomplishments are multiple shows across the US to include Boosie’s Bday Bash in ATL, LOUD Music Festival in Houston and The Happiness of Pursuit Festival in LA.
To learn more about Susi's new book, The Centered Heart, that will be released April 2nd,
visit YourCenteredHeart.com
Susi Amendola, author of “The Centered Heart: Evidence-Based Mind Body Practices to Stress Less and Improve Cardiac Health” is an Internationally Certified Yoga Therapist who brings over 40 years of experience utilizing Yoga and lifestyle practices to help others heal.
In 1983 she founded Yoga Now in Omaha, Nebraska where she currently teaches classes and directs the annual 200-Hour Yoga Certification program. Susi has developed yoga-based stress management programs for schools, businesses, and hospitals throughout the country.
Presently, Susi is a National Senior Trainer of Stress Management for the prestigious Ornish Lifestyle Medicine program for reversing heart disease. The program includes Yoga as part of a multi-dimensional approach to healing, and is covered by Medicare under the guidelines of Intensive Cardiac Rehab. Susi has contributed over 150 articles to Ornish Living Magazine , an online publication to support those who are making lifestyle changes to improve their health and well-being, with an audience of over a million subscribers.
With her expertise in both the ancient practices of Yoga and the medical world, Susi’s teachings and classes are unlike anything else you will find. Her teaching style is heart-centered, nurturing, practical, and empowering. She continues to practice, teach and inspire others to listen deeply to the healer within.
To learn more about Susi's book that will be released April 2nd, The Centered Heart
visit YourCenteredHeart.com
Susi Amendola, author of “The Centered Heart: Evidence-Based Mind Body Practices to Stress Less and Improve Cardiac Health” is an Internationally Certified Yoga Therapist who brings over 40 years of experience utilizing Yoga and lifestyle practices to help others heal.
In 1983 she founded Yoga Now in Omaha, Nebraska where she currently teaches classes and directs the annual 200-Hour Yoga Certification program. Susi has developed yoga-based stress management programs for schools, businesses, and hospitals throughout the country.
Presently, Susi is a National Senior Trainer of Stress Management for the prestigious Ornish Lifestyle Medicine program for reversing heart disease. The program includes Yoga as part of a multi-dimensional approach to healing, and is covered by Medicare under the guidelines of Intensive Cardiac Rehab. Susi has contributed over 150 articles to Ornish Living Magazine , an online publication to support those who are making lifestyle changes to improve their health and well-being, with an audience of over a million subscribers.
With her expertise in both the ancient practices of Yoga and the medical world, Susi’s teachings and classes are unlike anything else you will find. Her teaching style is heart-centered, nurturing, practical, and empowering. She continues to practice, teach and inspire others to listen deeply to the healer within.
To learn more about Tulsa Creative Engine, visit
https://www.tulsacreativeengine.org
Chris Davis is an entrepreneur, community organizer and creative producer from Tulsa. A graduate of Booker T. Washington high school and the University of Oklahoma, Chris has spent most of his career as an independent project manager, communications specialist and strategic consultant for clients in the worlds of music, sports, food and culture. He is an executive producer for ‘Fire in Little Africa’, a multimedia project commemorating the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre including a hip-hop album released in 2021 on Motown Records. He has been a co-organizer of DREAMLAND (formerly World Culture Music Festival) since 2018, and that event has since grown to one of the largest festivals in the region. Chris won the 2016 Tulsa Startup Series for his ice pop business The Pop House, and that has since evolved into a creative agency called POP HOUSE specializing in content production, creative direction and augmented reality.
To connect with Kendra, visit
_@kendramars on Instagram
https://www.facebook.com/kendra.thapen/about/
About Kendra
Tulsa-Based Vocalist, Songwriter, and Rapper: Kendra Mars Tulsa-based vocalist, songwriter, and rapper, Kendra Mars is a musical talent whose artistry knows no bounds. With a deep-rooted love for Blues, R&B, Hip Hop, Funk, Classic Rock, Country, Punk Rock, and Heavy Metal, Kendra deftly weaves a captivating sonic tapestry that defies categorization. Kendra's musical journey is fueled by a profound connection to the therapeutic power of music. Her discography features striking singles such as "The Takeoff," "Yo Side," "Dark Waters," "Black Madonna," and "Shak's Interlude," as well as her EP, "Remember When I was Your Dad?" In her creative process, she liberates herself from musical constraints, allowing her compositions to take on a life of their own. Motivated by the prospect of inspiring others and forging deep connections, Kendra Mars uses her music as a beacon of light. Her songs serve as a reminder to those who may feel alone that they are not, and her unwavering support from her family fuels her artistic journey. Themes of self-expression, balance, embracing individuality, freedom, and euphoria permeate Kendra's work. Through her music, she extends an invitation to explore a world where authenticity reigns supreme, and each note is a gateway to self-discovery and bliss. Embark on a soulful journey with Kendra Mars through her music, where boundaries dissolve, and her melodies authentically resonate, leaving a lasting impression for years to come.
To view her newest music video after it is released March 1st
https://youtu.be/uGSjFLYqgRQ
To connect with Amanda:
https://www.amandakeeles.com/
https://www.facebook.com/amandakeelesmusic/
https://www.instagram.com/amanda_keeles/
Instagram is @_justraebae
From there all the other social media handles can be found.
@thruthegpvn for cakes, events, catering, hot tea, the vibe.
@omnimeraki the art, the poetry, and creative things.
@justcoachrae for some track content.
Jeff sits down with artist and educator Francine Campbell as she shares some incredibly compelling and meaningful stories about her experiences growing up in Deep Greenwood and about the connection between her childhood and why she chose to work as a teacher.
About Gabriela
I am a Tulsa based photographer originally from East Los Angeles, CA.I enjoy capturing lifes moments candidly. I enjoy photographing the world around me as I see it. Black and white prints are my favorite. To me it captures the essence and beauty of life.
To learn more about Gabriela, visit
https://artsierthanwe.picfair.com
Instagram-@artsierthanwe
To learn more about Jonathan and his work, visit
https://findinghappiness.com
To learn more about his latest book, The Enlightenment Project: How I Went From Depressed to Blessed, and You Can Too, visit
https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/260334
Jonathan Robinson is a psychotherapist, best-selling author of ten books, and a professional speaker from Northern California. He has reached over 200 million people around the world with his practical methods, and his work has been translated into 47 languages. His work has appeared in Newsweek, USA TODAY, and the Los Angeles Times, as well as dozens of other publications. In addition, Mr. Robinson has made numerous appearances on the Oprah show and CNN, as well as other national TV talk shows. He has spent more than thirty years studying the most practical and powerful methods for personal and professional development.
Mr. Robinson’s first book, “The Experience of God,” included interviews with such notable people as the late Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama, Deepak Chopra, and Dr. Wayne Dyer. Jonathan’s second book, “The Little Book of Big Questions,” became a New York Times bestseller, as did his book “Communication Miracles for Couples.” Mr. Robinson’s other books include: Instant Insight; Real Wealth; Shortcuts to Bliss; Shortcuts to Success, The Complete Idiots Guide to Awakening Your Spirituality, and Find Happiness Now.
Jonathan speaks regularly to Fortune 500 companies such as Google, Microsoft, Dell, Bank of America, Coca-Cola, and FedEx/Kinko’s. In his public talks and workshops, Jonathan is known for providing his audiences with powerful and immediately useful information in a fun and entertaining manner.
Jeff sits down to talk with Bryan Crain, Dave Cantrell, and Terry Waska about their documentary Oil Capital Underground:The Genesis And Evolution Of Punk Rock In Tulsa-Late 70s-Mid 90s.
They share a lot of stories about how the documentary came together over the years with contributions of concert footage, posters, and zines from many people that were on the scene during these years in Tulsa.
I sat down at Artspace at Untitled for an incredibly deep and meaningful conversation with the members of the OKC based fusion band Local Man Ruins Everything: Jay Gleason, Byron "Chopz" Collins, Eric Harris, and Adam Ledbetter.
It is one of those conversations that totally captures the essence of a group of musicians at higher level of Consciousness.
The Mindful Evolution Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/themindfulevolution
Free Workshop: January 2nd 5pm MST (replay will be available) | https://www.leahdrew.com/awareness-seeker-workshop
Website: https://www.leahdrew.com/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/mindbodywithleah
Jeff sits down with artist and musician Chris Combs as he shares about his current project, "Combsy" and reflects deeply about his journey and evolution during his first 10 years with Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey.
For more information about Zoe, visit https://www.zoejoncheere.com
Find Zoe’s YouTube channel here.
Zoe gave up her house and her teaching job as a linguist, to fully live her life as a dance. She lives where she works or where people welcome her. Traveling and speaking many languages seem to be part of that dance. As she doesn’t have any thoughts about who she is and who she should be, she completely surrenders to the present moment. The present moment is her only permanent companion, her beloved traveling guide, and biggest inspiration in working with people.
“It is my wish to inspire people to live their life in the light of the present moment, to transcend the level of the mind and its endless thoughts, and remember who they truly are.”
Zoe mostly draws from her own direct spiritual experience. She is also inspired by Advaita Vedanta (non-duality), Sufism (the ultimate reality is Love) and Tantrism (masculine and feminine energy come together in oneness). She writes articles in two Dutch magazines* and shares her inspiration in the newsletters you find on this website.
In 2010 Zoe had her first opening. One night she woke up bursting out laughing. ‘Living as God!’ she said. She realized that believing her thoughts was her only problem. ‘If I don’t believe my thoughts, I become totally available for Life/God to live through this body …’ The next morning she started writing and two weeks later she finished the book Living as God. It is still available in Dutch and in English.** Nobody’s Dance seems to be the sequel to Living as God. “Back then there was a lot of mental clarity, now there is a much deeper experience of that reality that is Love.”
“When we become unattached to our stories, past and future and other fantasies, we become transparent. We remember our true nature and become available for life to dance through us. Our life becomes a Nobody’s Dance.”
Zoe is a citizen of Belgium but the world is her home. Zoe offers private sessions in person when possible. She also works through online private sessions. The energy doesn’t care about distance. She is fluent in Dutch, English and French, and also uses Italian and German to talk to people.
- The magazines she writes articles for are Inzicht and Vruchtbare Aarde.
**Ed.Samsara (Amsterdam)
To learn more about Whitney and her work and to peruse her online studio, visit
https://whitneyfreyastudio.com
Her book, Rise Above, Free Your Mind One Brush Stroke at a Time is now available at amazon.com
Whitney Freya provides practical tools and practices that help people learn to live as a Life Artist and free their minds from beliefs about limitations and scarcity so that they can create more in their lives that light them up from the inside out.
Angie Hooper is the founder of Happy at Law and creator of The Forgiveness Path and the Happy at Life HABIT. She shows her clients how to break free from being stuck in a "grudge loop" through the step-by-step process of forgiveness. She teaches executives, entrepreneurs, lawyers, and leaders how to find their confidence, break free from the "suck it up buttercup" burnout cycle, and burnout-proof their businesses and careers.
Angie is a founding contributor to the Onest Network. Her show, The Leadership HABIT can be found on the Onest Network, streaming on Roku and Fire TV. She graduated from SMU Dedman School of Law and the UTA honors program, licensed to practice law in Oklahoma and Texas, and is a Certified Professional Coach, a COR.E Performance Dynamics Specialist, and an ICF-certified coach.
https://angiehooper.com/apply to book a free intro coaching call to see if it's a fit to work with Angie
https://www.linkedin.com/in/angie-hooper-jd-cpc/
https://www.pinterest.com/angiehoopercoaching/
https://www.instagram.com/angiehoopercoaching/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/angiehoopercoaching/
https://www.facebook.com/happyatlife/
To connect with Michael and to learn more about Casa Galactica, visit
www.casagalactica.com
To learn more about their 10-Day Ayahuasca Healing & Evolution Retreats, visitwww.casagalactica.com/ayahuasca-retreats-pisac-peru
Michael Thornhill, is co-founder of Casa Galactica in Peru. Michael is a trauma-informed plant spirit healer, professional channel and non-dual teacher. Recovering from addiction, trauma and abuse have been a big part of Michael's own healing journey. He now dedicates his life to helping others heal themselves.
Casa Galactica offer Ayahuasca Healing and Evolution Retreats, online private sessions and group programs for dedicated inner-truth seekers and multidimensional healers.
To learn more about Dr. Rogers and her work, visit
https://korumindfulness.org/about/team
To learn more about Koru Mindfulness, visit
https://korumindfulness.org
To learn more about her books, visit
https://korumindfulness.org/the-mindful-twenty-something-life-skills-to-handle-stress-everything-else/
To learn more about Nanci and her work with Collaborative Divorce and promoting peaceful divorce practices, visit
https://nancismithlaw.com
To learn more about her book, Untangling Your Marriage, visithttps://nancismithlaw.com/book
To learn more about Ronni and Jennie and their work, visit
https://www.heartandsoulsisters.net
Their new book, Healing Begins with Us: Breaking the Cycle of Trauma and Abuse and Rebuilding the Sibling Bond (HeartWisdom LLC, April 5, 2022), shares their inspiring and hopeful story of healing from their painful upbringing.
They are sharing their story now to help heal the shame that they have carried as survivors of trauma, and to contribute to healing the hearts of others who have struggled in similar ways. To them healing is not about changing, or becoming someone "different" or "better"---it's about becoming more fully who they are: a spark of The Divine, connected to All, here to assist each other as our souls explore this existence and learn to love and live in peace.
Ronni Tichenor has a PhD in sociology, specializing in family studies, from the University of Michigan.
Jennie Weaver received her degree from the Vanderbilt School of Nursing and is a board-certified family nurse practitioner with over 25 years of experience in family practice and mental health.
To learn more about Ronni and Jennie and their work, visit
https://www.heartandsoulsisters.net
Their new book, Healing Begins with Us: Breaking the Cycle of Trauma and Abuse and Rebuilding the Sibling Bond (HeartWisdom LLC, April 5, 2022), shares their inspiring and hopeful story of healing from their painful upbringing.
They are sharing their story now to help heal the shame that they have carried as survivors of trauma, and to contribute to healing the hearts of others who have struggled in similar ways. To them healing is not about changing, or becoming someone "different" or "better"---it's about becoming more fully who they are: a spark of The Divine, connected to All, here to assist each other as our souls explore this existence and learn to love and live in peace.
Ronni Tichenor has a PhD in sociology, specializing in family studies, from the University of Michigan.
Jennie Weaver received her degree from the Vanderbilt School of Nursing and is a board-certified family nurse practitioner with over 25 years of experience in family practice and mental health.
To learn more about Jessica and her life journey, visit
Instagram @mytruth.mystory
facebook @mytruth.mystory
tiktok @mytruth.mystory
To connect with Jessica directly
email: mytruth.mystory.contact@gmail.com
To learn more about Phyllis, read below and/or visit
https://www.phyllisdouglass.com
Also known by my spiritual name, Vox Angelus, the "Voice of the Angel".
Through my work, I activate your body's own innate intelligence and potential to heal, transform, and spiritually transfigure by unraveling, shifting and releasing the misaligned, or negative influences within your life.
This is what Elohim calls the "Art of the UNDOING" using encoded energy, frequency, resonance and vibration as the catalyst for evolutionary and revolutionary transformation, healing and change, so you can move forward in alignment with your true path and purpose.
I am a direct conduit for the consciousness of Elohim--the Cosmic Mind or what you may call God--serving as a catalyst committed to helping people connect to their own Inner Light and Multidimensionality, Innate Healing Abilities, Spiritual Expression, Power and Divinity. I use the term Elohim, and this is how I see and directly experience and communicate with God, the infinite and creative force of all existence.
I am also an expert level, Myofascial Release Therapist (MFR) and Spiritual Healer. Throughout many years of doing this work, I developed Myofascial Energetics©; a powerful somatic and quantum healing approach to working through the fascial connective tissue, to facilitate a state of unified wholeness in body, mind and spirit.
The fascia is a fluid, self-regulating network with functions that touch every major system of the body. Myofascial Energetics© refers to this intricate web of intelligent connective tissue found within our cellular structures and DNA, as the crystalline highway through which our consciousness flows, and interconnects us to the external world via internal axial tonal lines extending outward bio-electrically, energetically, and magnetically.
Jeff sits down with His Grace Sankarshan Das Adhikari as he shares deeply about his life journey since he started spreading the Krishna consciousness movement since the 1970's. Sankarshan Das fully dedicated his life for serving the order of his spiritual master to become a guru and deliver the world.
For the last 40 years he has uninterruptedly served his spiritual master’s movement, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), in various capacities. In the year 2000, in recognition for his full dedication to Srila Prabhupada’s mission, ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission (GBC) gave him their blessings to initiate disciples.
Since that time he has been regularly traveling and lecturing extensively all over the world for reviving the dormant Krishna consciousness in the hearts of all living beings.
Well known for his Internet based training program, the Ultimate Self Realization Course, he has attracted over 12,000 subscribers from over 100 different countries who receive a daily inspirational message and personal answers to their questions regarding how to become perfect in Krishna consciousness.
To learn more about Dr. Washington and her work, visit
https://www.ellafwashington.com
To learn more about Dr. Washington's new book, The Necessary Journey: Making Real Progress On Equity And Inclusion releasing in November 2022, visit
https://www.thenecessaryjourney.com
Dr. Ella F. Washington is an organizational psychologist and DEI expert with a wealth of experience through her involvement as the Founder and CEO of Ellavate Solutions, a Professor of Practice at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, the Co-host of Gallup's Center of Black Voices Cultural Competence Podcast, and the Author of "The Necessary Journey: Making Real Progress on Equity and Inclusion". Dr. Washington continues to deepen her research pipeline and thought leadership as a Gallup Senior Scientist studying race, strengths and other DEI workplace topics.
Dr. Washington’s global human capital consulting experience has allowed her to impact clients across a myriad of industries including financial services, sports & entertainment, oil & gas, higher education and government. Previously, Dr. Washington led the Diversity and Inclusion function Gallup as a subject matter expert where she provided insight to clients on issues of inclusion, culture, strategic diversity and engagement. Her research and client work focuses on women in the workplace, barriers to inclusion for diverse groups, and working with organizations to build inclusive cultures. She has conducted inclusiveness audits, developed learning workshops, and facilitates strategic planning sessions with executive leadership teams who have goals of intentionally improving diversity and inclusion.
These experiences inspired the 2016 founding of Ellavate Solutions, an integrated DEI strategy firm. Ellavate Solutions provides dynamic diversity and inclusion strategy and training for organizations looking to commit to systematic cultural changes in how they recruit, develop, engage and assess performance. Dr. Washington's in-depth experience in this area stems from both her research on racial and gender disparities in corporate leadership positions as well as her global DEI consulting experience with Fortune 100, government and non-profit organizations.
Growing up in Durham, North Carolina with a tight-knit family gave Dr. Washington her roots. She proudly attended Spelman College, a historically Black women’s institution in Atlanta which led to her passion for maximizing the success of women and minorities. After earning her PhD in 2014 at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, she moved to Washington, DC where she currently resides. Dr. Washington is passionate about teaching and she truly loves the impact that she is able to make on the lives of future business leaders every day as a professor at Georgetown. Her impact is powerful as she received the Excellence in Teaching Award from Georgetown's MBA Class of 2021.
While eagerly anticipating the publication of her first solo book published by the Harvard Business Review titled "The Necessary Journey: Making Real Progress on Equity and Inclusion", Dr. Washington enjoys being active in her church, giving back to her local community, traveling the world and staying closely connected with loved ones.
To learn more about Tulsa Creative Engine, visit
https://www.tulsacreativeengine.org
Chris Davis is an entrepreneur, community organizer and creative producer from Tulsa. A graduate of Booker T. Washington high school and the University of Oklahoma, Chris has spent most of his career as an independent project manager, communications specialist and strategic consultant for clients in the worlds of music, sports, food and culture. He is an executive producer for ‘Fire in Little Africa’, a multimedia project commemorating the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre including a hip-hop album released in 2021 on Motown Records. He has been a co-organizer of DREAMLAND (formerly World Culture Music Festival) since 2018, and that event has since grown to one of the largest festivals in the region. Chris won the 2016 Tulsa Startup Series for his ice pop business The Pop House, and that has since evolved into a creative agency called POP HOUSE specializing in content production, creative direction and augmented reality.
Christopher Creese is a First Generation Vincentian American photographer and filmmaker originally from the Washington, D.C. suburb of Hyattsville, MD and currently based in Tulsa, OK. His work has taken him all across the country for clients including The New York Times, A&E Networks, Interscope Records, NBC News and more. When he was 4 years old, he received a gift: a 35mm Fisher-Price Perfect Shot camera that helped foster the love of photography at a very early age. He uses color and light to create a visual experience that takes you into the image. His work is a vivid tour de force.
To learn more about Melissa and her work, visit
http://www.haven-design.com
After receiving a degree in graphic design from the University of Tulsa, Melissa spent over 10 years working as an illustrator and graphic designer. While looking to branch out into other creative areas, she began to pursue her passion for interiors by going back to school. After receiving a degree in Interior Design, Melissa began working for several interior design firms that focused on both residential and light commercial projects.
With her knowledge and experience in these areas she decided to open her own design firm, HAVEN interiors in 2013, which is located in Downtown Tulsa. Melissa is an active member of (ASID) American Society of Interior Designers, and currently sits on the Oklahoma board as communications director.
Barbara Corso Ide, a native of Indiana, has lived near Nashville, TN, for 28 years.
She has a BS and MA in Elementary Education from Ball State University, and an Ed.D. from Trevecca Nazarene University in Leadership and Curriculum.
Barb and her husband have three children and four grandchildren. She enjoys gardening and food preservation, exercising, book clubs and quilt guilds.
She comes to the art quilt world after retiring from a 43-year career in public education.
Taking and manipulating digital photographs has become the fuel for her interest in
storytelling through art quilts.
Steph Simon is a leader of World Culture Music - a collective of artists inspired by the legacy of Black Wall Street to stake their claim to the city and restore the excellence that 98 years ago turned to ashes.A true leader and visionary for the city, Simon uses his music to uplift and inspire transformation both personal and communal while never taking himself too seriously. There is a spiritual undercurrent to his work that is unmistakable, perhaps what one would expect from an artist who grew up listening to Notorious B.I.G. in the heart of the Bible Belt. As he puts it on the gospel-tinged track “Silver n’ Gold”, his music is “like a mix between holy ghost and Hova quotes.”
On his new album Born on Black Wall Street, Simon draws parallels between the creative culture in Tulsa today and the energy that made Black Wall Street thrive in the first place. Throughout the album Simon takes on the persona of “Diamond” Dick Rowland, a 17-year-old boy scapegoated for instigating the 1921 massacre after an incident with a white girl in an elevator. Of this creative choice Simon said, “I feel a connection to [Rowland] that I can’t explain, almost like I’m carrying his spirit with me. It wasn’t right that his name was used as a catalyst for a lot of pain and destruction, I use the name Dicky Ro to be the catalyst for transformation and hope.” His authentic spirit carrying messages of economic empowerment, community healing and personal growth will be felt by all who listen.
Born on Black Wall Street stands as a seminal album for the emerging Tulsa hip-hop scene, but Simon is speaking to a uniquely black American experience that will find resonance in the heartland and beyond. On album centerpiece “Diamonds” he raps, “See it, want it, buy it then you own it/put your pot with mine let’s make it grow.”
To request video file in order to see the Tao calligraphy and the notes that Dr. Sha shares, please email consciouspodcastlabs@gmail.com
Master Zhi Gang Sha is a Tao grandmaster, healer, teacher, and author of 30 books, including 11 New York Times bestsellers and several others on the bestseller lists of the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Amazon. He has an MD degree in Western medicine from China and is also a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture. Master Sha has combined the essence of Western medicine with ancient wisdom to create Soul Mind Body Medicine®, Master Sha’s Soul Healing®, and Tao teachings to help humanity. He is a grandmaster of several Asian arts and in 2002 was named Qigong Master of the Year at the Fourth World Congress on Qigong.
With the creation of Tao Calligraphy, he received the highest honors a Chinese calligrapher can receive, being appointed to the position of National Chinese Calligrapher Master as well as Honorable Researcher Professor by the State Ethnic Academy of Painting in Beijing, China.
For more information, visit www.tappingthesource.org
**"Tapping the Source" is an online science and spirituality summit premiering on July 16 that will be held quarterly for the remainder of 2022 and beyond
Quarterly Held Event Targeting Spirituality and Science Will Help People Navigate Unprecedented Challenges of 2022**
As millions of Americans continue to grapple with strife in their daily lives caused by a continuing global pandemic, a looming economic recession, lingering social injustices, upsetting political upheavals, and heartbreaking events including deadly mass shootings and fighting in Europe unseen since World War II, a diverse cross section of the world's leading spiritual and wellness icons, humanitarians, philanthropists, philosophers and physicists are launching a series of events to raise awareness about the science of spirituality and help people navigate the unprecedented challenges of 2022.
Responding to an overwhelming need for mental health and wellbeing, and as millions of people are meditating and seeking inner peace, "Tapping The Source" will offer conversations with experts sharing their original discoveries and insights about the science of spirituality. With their own unique perspectives, each panelist will explain how every person has the power to transform their own reality and also have a dramatic impact on the world. This is a rare chance to expand the public's understanding of complex sciences and connect with deeper, underlying sources of life.
100% of proceeds of all future online event will support The Chopra Foundation, The Love Peace Harmony Foundation, and the Laszlo Institute of New Paradigm Research, a range of community-serving non-profits established by the program speakers.
Tapping the Source is an initiative by Universal Soul Service Corp.
Jeff sits down at Teegarden Studios with David Teegarden, Grammy Award-winning musician and one of Tulsa's most prominent recording artists as he shares some memories from his very early musical career.
David is one of the musicians who shaped the unique fusion of rockabilly, jazz, country, gospel, and blues into what has been known as The Tulsa Sound.
He speaks about how he got started playing drums, about his very early performing experiences, and some reflections from when he moved to LA in the early 60's to do studio work with Leon Russell and JJ Cale. He also talks about his experiences recording the "B side" of JJ Cale's song, "After Midnight," which was covered by Eric Clapton several years later.
To learn more about Cam and his music, visit
http://www.camjamesmusic.com
Instagram: @itscamjames
Twitter: @itscamjames
http://biglink.to/camjames
Tulsa-based rapper Cameron James Williams, professionally known as Cam James, is a storyteller. At Georgia Tech in 2011, he started turning his spoken word pieces into music. He has built a career around thematically motivated songs that lend themselves well to film production.
Following his first major television placement on BET's Being Mary Jane in September 2017, Cam starred in an international tourism campaign called "Hear The USA" for Brand USA and Spotify in 2018. His song "Lately" earned a placement in the Netflix Original movie Uncorked (2020), "114 AM" in the Netflix Original series Grand Army (2020) and "Babyface" in the OWN series Queen Sugar (2021).
To learn more about Tony and his music, visit
https://www.tfjbrand.com
https://www.instagram.com/tonyfosterjr
https://www.facebook.com/iamtfj
Tony Foster Jr. is more than a vibe.
Though his virtuosic voice is certainly suited to effervescent serenades, it is the purpose in his poetry that elevates the experience. Aiming to inspire, he presents passages of positivity and power within sugar-sweet songs of solace for the soul.
With over 20 years in the music industry, the Oklahoma City-based R&B/Hip-Hop singer-songwriter is a pro among pros. From behind-the-scenes songwriting credits to spotlight appearances on the international stage, he has channeled his wealth of experience into a strong and keen artistic methodology. Richly layered vocal harmonies and robust music production characterize his attention to detail. His music is not merely smooth. It's polished.
Incredibly, TFJ has kept his spark ignited all the while. His deep-rooted spirituality comes through in charismatic performances that gracefully rise against oppression, whether in terms of sociopolitical strife or internal trials within the self--or both. With an audience, he transforms positivity into action by creating a space for sincere, cathartic entertainment. As OkSessions put it, "When you see Tony Foster Jr. live, it is both an opportunity to be moved by beautiful soulful music and a guaranteed dance party."
This spark can be felt in TFJ's 2018 live album, Long Story Short, but one can also sense it in his studio recordings. During the tumultuous year of 2020, he delivered a one-two punch with projects Kaleidoscope and Right on Time, the latter of which was a joint release with frequent collaborator Sid Carter. While the world was going through a major transformation, Foster was, too. In the aftermath of personal life changes, he held tight to music to pull himself into the next stage of his career with an introspective solo record (Kaleidoscope), then doubled down with a confident step forward into a new wave of R&B/Hip-Hop bliss (Right on Time). Both projects prominently find strength in faith.
Over the years, TFJ has seen plenty of big opportunities, but few have proven as dear to him as the ability to engage with his local scene. Of late, he has come into his own as a prominent Oklahoma artivist, using his platform to stir conversation and bolster cultural movements in marginalized communities. Whether he's having a one-on-one dialogue or participating in big projects like Tulsa's enormous Black Wall Street hip-hop collaboration, Fire in Little Africa, TFJ uses his studied ear to listen and his gifted voice to uplift.
Tony Foster Jr. is more than a vibe, but that's not to discount the vibe itself. When modern discourse is intense and polarized, there is a desperate need for sensitivity, and Foster provides that. His music is comfort food with a purpose, inviting all to break bread at the dinner table for a feel-good today and a more equitable tomorrow.
To learn more about Jane and her work, visit
https://www.janedunnewold.com
https://www.instagram.com/jane.dunnewold
https://www.facebook.com/janedunnewoldartist
Jane Dunnewold teaches and lectures internationally, and has mounted numerous solo exhibitions, including Inspired by the Masters (National Quilt Museum (2020) & Texas Quilt Museum (2018). A second mixed media series featuring re-purposed quilt blocks and gold leaf was exhibited at the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio, Texas (2017) and more recently at the Armory Art Center in West Palm Beach, Fl.
Her archives were recently acquired by the International Quilt Study Center and Museum in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Her work won Best of Show in the exhibition Timeless Meditations (Tubac Art Center/2013). She is a recipient of the Quilt Japan Prize, and Gold Prize at the Taegue (Korea) International Textile Exhibition. In 2019 she was named Artist of the Year by the San Antonio Art League.
Dunnewold has authored numerous books, including the classic Complex Cloth (1996) and Art Cloth: A Guide to Surface Design on Fabric (2010.) In 2016 North Light Books published Creative Strength Training: Prompts, Exercises and Stories to Inspire Artistic Genius. Her recently self-published books, Best of Both Worlds: Enhanced Botanical Printing, and Improvisational Screen Printing are both available world-wide on amazon.com.
She is a former President of the Surface Design Association and currently facilitates a ten month Creative Strength Training community online.
Anita (Annie) Centeno is a mixed-media artist in San Antonio, Texas. Although working with cloth and stitching are primary somehow mixed media finds its way into the things she loves and does: resin, beads, paper, found objects. A love of creating things by hand was passed down from her father, a jeweler and her mother, who loved to sew and all things related to stitch.
Currently she creates jewelry designs using resin, shrink film, and beads and also stitched statement purses using recycled/re-purposed materials which are sold at a local boutique/gallery. In addition, she shows other artwork at galleries whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Anita can be contacted by email: anniecentenoT1@gmail.com
Some of her work is on Etsy: Jewelry3Daughters, that she shares with her sister.
To learn more about Sydney Lee, visit
https://www.sydneyleesounds.com
https://www.instagram.com/sydneyleesounds
Since her debut performance in April 2021, she has been performing full-time and has since landed gigs such as opening for Dillon Francis and Yung Gravy at The Criterion, Chromeo at Beer City, and RUMPUS at Your Mom’s House.
From the beginning, she has stayed true to her sound, which is firmly established in House and other flavors of ass-shaking dance music.
Her dedication to putting on a stellar performance means that her creation of a memorable set is just as important to her as her stage presence, making her shows engaging and full of personality.
Above all, she’s committed to creating a space filled with fearless self-expression and strives to be one of the most approachable and friendly artists to both concert-goers and concert-throwers, alike.
A summa cum laude graduate of Harvard College, Dr. Schmookler went on to earn his doctorate at the University of California at Berkeley and the Graduate Theological Union in a program specially created to accommodate his comprehensive theory of cultural evolution.
Andrew Bard Schmookler is the author of the prize-winning book The Parable of the Tribes: The Problem of Power in Social Evolution (hardback from the University of California Press, 1984; paperback from Houghton Mifflin, 1986; second edition from SUNY Press, 1995), Out of Weakness: Healing the Wounds that Drive Us to War (Bantam Books, 1988), and Sowings and Reapings: The Cycling of Good and Evil in the Human System (Knowledge Systems, 1989). His most recent books are The Illusion of Choice: How the Market Economy Shapes Our Destiny (SUNY Press, 1993) and Fool's Gold: The Fate of Values in a World of Goods (Harper Collins, 1993).
Schmookler's commentaries on social and political issues appear regularly in the Christian Science Monitor, the Baltimore Sun, and the San Francisco Chronicle. He has been a regular commentator on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" and "Living on Earth," and on Monitor Radio. He has appeared on such nationally broadcast programs as "The Jim Bohannon Show" and "New Dimensions Radio" to discuss his books. An interview with him was included in Bill Moyers' and Elie Wiesel's PBS television program, "Beyond Hate." In regular appearances on the nationally syndicated "Paul Gonzalez Show" and the regional "Mid-Day Show" from Harrisonburg, VA, Dr. Schmookler discusses with callers the cultural and moral issues now confronting the American people.
As a speaker, Schmookler has presented his ideas to audiences at such places as Harvard University, St. John's College in Annapolis, the University of Wisconsin, as Presidential Lecturer at the University of Montana and at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars. He has also appeared as an invited speaker at conferences at Findhorn in Scotland, the Isthmus Institute in Dallas, the Institute for Noetic Sciences in Washington and New York, and the Harmonia Mundi Conference in California.
Dr. Schmookler has also worked as a consultant on transformation to major American corporations. He is a member of the "Global Problems and Opportunities Group" at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. In 1985, Andrew Bard Schmookler was selected by Esquire Magazine as "one of the men and women under forty who are changing the nation."
To learn more about Chip and his work, visit
https://www.gnupharma.com
https://www.truemedx.com
"God has always given us the cures. The cures are in Nature. There are keys which unlock this Knowledge. The endocannabinoid system is a big key.
Spice up your life®”
Chip Paul
Chief Innovator
Office: 918-949-6699
Cell: 918-691-5141
OMMA#: PAAA-EJNN-LWDK
OBNDD#: 73358
About GnuPharma
GnuPharma is a research, development, and manufacturing company specializing in modulating the endocannabinoid system with both hemp and non-cannabis plants.
About Chip
Chip Paul is a classically trained mathematician who has spent his career asking WHY. Chip spent over 10 years in corporate work in companies such as Southwestern Bell Corp, Phillips Petroleum Corp, and Williams Communications.
After leaving corp life, Chip started his entrepreneurial career. In 2014 Chip and his wife Cynthia successfully exited a Tulsa based senior assistance company and began to build GnuPharma. GnuPharma was built around Chip's theory of human function under the endocannabinoid system.
In 2015 Chip began building herbal formulations which impacted the endocannabinoid system to alter disease states and improve health. Chip patented these ideas and holds the first issued patent on predictably manipulating the endocannabinoid system for medical benefit without cannabis.
Further Chip holds intellectual property for the first endocannabinoid diagnostic test which is currently being developed. Chip works and collaborates with major Universities and continues to write for additional intellectual property.
To learn more about Elizabeth and her work, visit
https://www.elizabethsalvia.com
Elizabeth Salvia was born in St. Louis in the 1960s. Her parents were teachers of art and literature. She grew up drawing, writing poetry, making collages and sewing. Outdoors she and her friends created floor plans from autumn leaves. Indoors they decorated those “houses” using wallpaper sample books and the Sears catalogue. Her great-aunt gave her Betsy McCall paper-dolls, and she designed outfits for Betsy.
Her interest in nature and geography came mostly from books, and a National Geographic subscription from her grandfather. When she was eleven, she went on a long camping trip with family friends, through the Midwest to southern California and up to Oregon. She knew then she would live in the western US one day.
In the 1970s her family moved to Chicago. She spent her teens and twenties working in small shops learning jewelry-making and leatherwork. She also built costumes for Chicago theatres. Eventually she worked as a clothing design assistant, but hated the business environment. In her thirties, she enrolled at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she earned her B.F. A. She started making multimedia artworks that examined life in city environments from a feminist point of view.
After 22 years in Chicago, she moved to Central California, married an astronomer/botanist, and began exploring the outdoors. Her work in botany and habitat restoration began to inform her artwork.
In 2019 her life completely changed. She was diagnosed with breast cancer, and spent most that year being treated. In 2020 Covid changed life for everyone.
Cancer and COVID got her thinking critically about her artwork and art-making process. In 2020 she retired and began making artwork full time.
Today she lives in Central California, where she creates artwork that explores ideas of place, origin, and how individuals shape, and are shaped by their environments. She is especially interested in places and times where human-made and natural environments intersect and overlap.
To learn more about Gary and his photography and music, visit
blackmoontulsa.com/shopnosamyrag
DJ Website: djno.name
Everything Else: linktr.ee/nosamyrag
To learn more about Tevia and about White Tiger Qigong, visit
https://whitetigerqigong.com
Tevia Feng is the Master Instructor and founder of White Tiger Qigong.
Born with chronic illness and suffering, he began practicing martial arts, qigong and meditation at the age of 7 to heal himself. Tevia Feng was a qigong student of Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming in the early 2000s and credits master Yang for putting him on a path of synthesizing qigong with modern sports therapy and medical research.
As a student of qigong, he journeyed all around China and the world seeking the greatest masters including northwestern part of Hubei, Beijing and Southern China, where he met and trained extensively with several true qigong masters. Throughout his journey, he has met many qigong masters around the world, acquiring rare skills, from unique breathing techniques and exercises to delving into the heart of qi energy. Each master has shaped the Qigong training he teaches today.
He has since been published featured articles in the largest qigong magazine in the world. He has self-published three books on qigong and has books translated into multiple languages. He has been named one of the top 3 qigong masters in Indonesia.
As the master instructor of White Tiger Qigong, he has taught over 4,000 students from around the world, in countries including China, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, Italy, Switzerland, France, Australia, and the US. White Tiger has almost 60,000 members. He has worked closely with terminally ill individuals to professional athletes, ballet dancers, the North American Muay Thai champion, the 2019 female Karate world champion, martial arts champions, yoga instructors, hedge fund managers, political figures, military elite, UHNWI, circus performers, health care professionals, psychologists, medical doctors and more.
Through White Tiger Qigong, his mission is to open the pathway for people to ignite transformation and maximize potential, scaling across communities to create a global movement for a shift in consciousness and promote global healing.
A Lifelong Practitioner of Qigong and Internal Martial Arts
Tevia Feng has lived and traveled throughout China from Beijing to Taiwan studying in various martial art forms including rare forms of Martial Qigong, Medical Qigong, Xuan Wu Quan, Xing Yi Quan. and Taiji Quan
Various styles of Baguazhang including Wudangshan Baguazhang, Bagua Lian Huan Zhang, Yin Baguazhang, Cheng Bagua, Emei Shan Bagua and more.
While in China he also studied at multiple Taoist monasteries and temples. He learned additional martial art forms with various masters, hermits and Taoist masters studying:
Golden Elixir Qigong
White Tiger/ Green Dragon Breath
5 Element Qigong
Medical Qigong
8 Trigram Qigong
Traditional Microcosmic Orbit
Esoteric Baguazhang
Primordial Breath
Various Forms of Nei Dan (Internal Alchemy)
5 Animal Qigong (Hua Tuo)
Tevia Feng has trained with these Masters of Qigong and Internal Martial Arts
Tevia Feng has since studied with a variety of masters including, but not limited to:
Daoist Abbot Luo Pin Cho of the Tian Ji Dao Sect (Wuyi Mountain, China)
Daoist Abbot Xu Zhong of the Zhi Zhi An Temple (Wuyi Mountain, China)
Luo Jin Hua of Sha Guo Zheng (Yunnan, China)
Mao Jing Song of Sha Guo Zheng (Yunnan, China)
Master Yuan Xiu Gang of the Sang Feng Sect (Wudang Mountain, China)
Dr. Ming Wu (20th Generation Fengyang Taoist Chinese Medicine and Qigong)
Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming (USA)
Master Chen Si Xing of the Sang Feng Sect (Wudang Mountain, China)
Master Kenneth Cohen (USA)
Master Zhang Yuxuan (Beijing, China)
Master Li Chun Ling (Beijing, China)
Master Mantak Chia (Thailand)
Master Edy Suwita (Sumatra, Indonesia)
To learn more about Aunj and her work, visit
https://www.artbyaunj.com
https://www.instagram.com/artxaunj
About AunjI tend to explore my own personal narrative and how I can relate to other people—you are who you are because of where you've been and I exaggerate my own perspective purely because I can. Using a highly saturated color palette, my work fabricates surreal depictions with no anchor in space or time, developed by my visual influences from sci-fi/fantasy themes. Encouraging self-acceptance and building tolerance for unique appearances are consistent themes within my portfolio, and It is my hope that women of color, who have felt as isolated as I have, can see themselves within the visuals of my work. I often depict hair as a defining characteristic of my subjects and Afrofuturistic can describe some of my pieces, which concentrates on placing Black people in a futuristic, surreal or fantasy aesthetic. This genre can be found in books, music, productions, and various art forms, all with the hopes of uplifting the Black community to see a future in which they are represented and thriving.
Jeff sits down with Suzanne Thomas, Randall Barnes, and Bryon Perdue from Inclusion in Art to hear about how the organization got started years ago, about how it has evolved, and about the very powerful work that they are doing in the community through collaborating with individuals and other organizations to help bring together artists from diverse backgrounds with various exhibits and events.
The conversation continues as they also speak about the transformative power of mentoring that they are doing with emerging artists and also through facilitating the "hard conversations" in the community centered around bring about more diversity in the arts in Oklahoma.
To learn more about Jezz and her work, visit
https://jezzpots.com
To learn about The Artery, visit
https://www.theartery201.com
About JezzMolding Earth Into Art, One Piece At A Time!Ever since I was a child, I’ve had a passion for pottery. Since 2015, I’ve been throwing full-time at my studio in Sand Springs. Each one of my handcrafted vases, cups, bowls, and ornaments is whimsical and unique, yet still functional. This makes them the perfect gift or addition to your home. Also taking commissions for custom work, I can bring your vision to life -- no matter what it is. So when you’re ready to find your next favorite piece, stop by one of my monthly shows or visit one of my vendors in the Tulsa area.
To learn more abour Penni and her work, visit
https://pennigage.com
https://www.facebook.com/SeaGlassAndSilver
https://www.instagram.com/seaglassandsilver
About Penni
As a studio metalsmith and one woman show, I spend most days transforming raw materials into distinctive pieces of wearable art.
My inspiration is constantly changing and is reflected in my work through unique designs that I seldom replicate. My jewelry is recognizable but doesn’t have a “signature look”. It’s contemporary yet often influenced by Ethnic and Modernist makers.
I view my work as "Art to Wear". Each finished piece is an artistic composition meant to adorn the body and connect with the wearer. My goal is to design and construct pieces that are aesthetically pleasing, have a comfortable fit, and embolden the wearer with a sense of “Attitude”.
Jeff sits down with Andrew May, Jon Edmund, Spencer Christian, Evan Burgess, and Stinson Fuller of One Two Ten to hear about their music and about how they came together.
They also share some reflections about what their journey thus far means to them at a deeper level and some thoughts about where they are headed. Their first EP, The Good in Everybody was released in October of 2017, and they recently released their full length album Hurry Up & Wait in April of 2019 as well.
To learn more about the band and about upcoming shows, visit them at:
hear their albums and singles on Spotify
on Facebook--https://www.facebook.com/onetwotenmusic/
website--https://onetwotenmusic.com/
instagram--@onetwotenmusic
To learn more about Florine's work, visit
https://florinedemosthene.com/home.html
https://www.instagram.com/florinedemosthene
To learn more about Karina and her work, visit
INSTAGRAM / karina_whitney
Karina Cunningham is an emerging black artist residing in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her art focuses on deconstructing and reconstructing traumatic events from her realities and surroundings through toys, balloons and surrealist landscapes.
Many of Karina’s works touch deeply on topics that have sculpted her reality as a black queer person such as rape, assault, political violence, abuse, depression, anxiety, racism and adulthood. While these topics can be triggering and tough to convey, Karina works to use children’s toys, balloons and other nostalgic or natural surrealist influences to offset the weight of each painting. Her art is designed to create a piece that can be multi-dimensional. Some parts of her art can be seen as fun or beautiful to viewers who are unable to see or have not experienced the harder aspects of the painting. While also being a painting capable of conveying the traumatic or tough experience behind each piece.
Her goal is to create an expressive outlet that can be accessible and connective to all viewers without forcing an experience or interpretation.
To learn more about Sean and about BUBS Naturals, visit
https://www.bubsnaturals.com
Sean Lake is a former professional snowboarder who went on to join Burton Snowboards, work as Shaun White’s Team Manager, and land a spot as the Director of Sports Marketing at DC Shoes.
After decades in action sports marketing, Sean co-founded BUBS Naturals, a line of collagen peptides and other all-natural supplements named after Sean’s childhood best friend Glen “BUB” Doherty, a Navy SEAL who was killed in Benghazi, Libya on 9/11 in 2012.
A devoted husband, father, and fitness fanatic, Sean is passionate about helping people feel great and do good while leading a business that gives back to the community.
Jeff sits down with hip hop artist, poet and producer Original Flow for an incredibly enlightening conversation about his craft, how he got started, and how he has evolved as an artist and human being and some very formative lessons learned along the way.
He shares some very compelling information about what makes him and his particular craft very fresh and unique.
To learn more about him and to hear his spoken word and music, visit
https://www.theflowmentality.com
To learn more about Sondra and her comedy, visit
https://www.facebook.com/sondraslade
https://www.instagram.com/sondraslade
https://twitter.com/sondraslade
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGegBHzFL0HFkAuzw2S2cfg
To learn more about Jaime and her book, Sunroofs and Shoeboxes, visit
https://thesweetlife.co
https://www.instagram.com/jaimeleemathews
Jaime L. Mathews is the author of Sunroofs and Shoeboxes, a collection of the little nuggets of wisdom she has found in the little things of everyday life. Educated as a journalist and a holistic health educator, Jaime has had an eclectic career path that gave her the tool kit to become a mother. The journey of writing Sunroofs and Shoeboxes prepared Jaime for motherhood and helped her find the little nuggets of happiness when she was in the throes of having twin newborns. Jaime, her husband, and their five children live on a farm in California.
Jeff sits down to talk with Bryan Crain, Dave Cantrell, and Terry Waska about their documentary Oil Capital Underground:The Genesis And Evolution Of Punk Rock In Tulsa-Late 70s-Mid 90s.
They share a lot of stories about how the documentary came together over the years with contributions of concert footage, posters, and zines from many people that were on the scene during these years in Tulsa.
Jeff sits down with David Goad to hear some very deep thoughts about how Kali Ra came into being, about his life journey and formative experiences, some very deep reflections about the music that resonates most deeply with him, and about his process of composition and songwriting.
Jeff sits down with "trail blazer," historian, author, community leader, and lovely human being Anita Arnold to hear about her very uplifting and inspirational life journey as she has truly led a very full life filled with making great strides and really making a difference in the lives of so many people all over the United States.
To learn more about Lara and her new book, Caged, visit
https://www.larasabanosh.com
Lara Sabanosh, the author of Caged, has dedicated her life to helping others. Beginning in her youth as a volunteer and continuing through her career, she has made it a priority to aid individuals in finding and meeting their emotional, educational, or professional goals. From counseling children and families to facilitating civilian and military members in social and educational leadership—as Director for Fleet and Family Services at GTMO—she has been blessed with assisting others in the journey of becoming their best selves. Lara has completed coursework for two doctorates with a focus on research, evaluation, and clinical psychology and a master's in general psychology from Walden University. Through her career, she has found solace and joy in her civil service—the main driver in sharing her experience of Caged.
Lara has since retired from civil service and private sector roles and her new goal is to continue to help others through the written word. She hopes that by sharing her story, she will give voice to the topics of domestic abuse and the broken system that desperately needs repair.
Regardless of her struggles, one thing has been constant throughout Lara’s journey: the pride, respect, and unconditional love that she has for her two exceptionally intelligent daughters who have overcome the same trauma and challenges described within the pages of Caged. They have used the experiences to help forge who they are—strong and independent women—and move forward in life. These remarkable young ladies are in the process of completing their educational journeys and advancing into their careers, as they too, look to help others in their diametrically different fields of study.
Lara now spends her time in Pensacola, Florida with her loving family, dogs, and grand puppies. She’s learning to move forward with hope that one day, she will no longer be caged by her past, and will be free to fly forward unburdened.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with artist and musician Chris Combs as he shares about his current project, "Combsy" and reflects deeply about his journey and evolution during his first 10 years with Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey.
To learn more about Chris and about "Combsy"
visit www.combsymusic.com
In the spring of 2018, I sat down at Artspace at Untitled for an incredibly deep and meaningful conversation with the members of the OKC based fusion band Local Man Ruins Everything: Jay Gleason, Byron "Chopz" Collins, Eric Harris, and Adam Ledbetter. It is one of those conversations that totally captures the essence of a group of musicians at higher level of Consciousness.
Eleanor(she/her) is a New York-based artist, educator, and arts administrator. Her interdisciplinary practice explores the experience of the Black Diasporic female body in the united states of amerikkka through the examination and deconstruction of historical and contemporary narratives.
She is interested in the public, private, and civic negotiations of race, gender, and class in addition to the effect and practice of violence, and surveillance on the body. This hybrid work exists as performance, video, and photography, poetry/spoken word, collaborative education, educational collaboration, installation, & writing but often draws on other methods such as social practice, and design.
Eleanor is originally from Maine and has a BS in Video Production from the New England School of Communications (2007), an MFA from the University of Maine (2018), and attended the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in 2018.
eleanorkipping.com / @elfelicia
Jeff sits down with Warren Ross, President & Chairman of Ross Group at their downtown Tulsa headquarters to hear his reflections about the importance of their connection to downtown and to the city as a whole and about what the company's mission and vision mean to him at a deeper level.
He also shares about his life journey and career and how he got started in the construction business and about some very formative lessons that he has learned along the way.
In the Spring of 2019, I sat down with real estate investor and developer Gary Brooks at his office in Bricktown to have a deeper conversation about his experiences with historic The First National Center project in downtown OKC and what it has meant to him.
He reflects about the very positive and supportive responses that he has received from current and former residents of Oklahoma City and some of their family members since this project was announced to the public and since the renovation work has begun.
At that time, it was the largest historic renovation project to date in the State Of Oklahoma.
About Gabriela
I am a Tulsa based photographer originally from East Los Angeles, CA.I enjoy capturing lifes moments candidly. I enjoy photographing the world around me as I see it. Black and white prints are my favorite. To me it captures the essence and beauty of life.
To learn more about Gabriela, visit
https://artsierthanwe.picfair.com
Instagram-@artsierthanwe
About Irie Blues:
Photography is the portal to how my brain communicates life visually. Ever since mental health became an important element in my life, I have asked myself "How can I live a better life and remain at peace with the blues?" Presenting color psychology, light and harmony through the world of photography are my creative practices. By blending a multitude of elements to produce many forms of harmony are my experiments for socially conscious connections. I have been able to not only conduct these perspectives through photography, but through community events, where I am bridging artistic gaps and empowering others. Being a part of my local community drives my innovative spirit and empowers my artistic abilities, all while evolving individual artistry.
To learn more about her and her work, visit
https://www.irieblues.co
Jeff sits down with Nicole Poole as she shares very deeply about her life journey, about her work in the community that is making love cool again in Oklahoma City through SPARK! and her pandemic street art, about her evolution as a human being, an artist, and as a creative changemaker.
To learn more about Nicole and her projects, visit
https://www.nicolepoole.com
To learn about SPARK!
visit
https://www.sparklahoma.com
ABOUT NICOLE
I am a broker of delightful disruption hell-bent on making love cool again.
After a couple of decades in NYC and a few years in Paris, I have returned to Oklahoma, where I seek opportunities to connect with other curious humans, create art, and initiate projects for the common good.
My background is multidisciplinary collaboration, where generosity and authentic response transcend discipline, language and culture. Spending decades in creative spaces governed by “I don’t know - let’s be lost together” has taught me that curiosity in the face of uncertainty fosters deep connection, full expression and collective transformation. Process is the product, and the medium is, as always, the message. My personal journey of healing from Complex Trauma/C-PTSD is rooted in compassion, and I am uniquely able to create brave, safe spaces that nurture vulnerability, the surest path to risk, growth and innovation.
My primary tool in performance is Soundpainting, a universal sign language for live composition, powered by the offerings of the performers, sculpted in real time to highlight the immediacy of live performance and the power of improvisation.
Maverick Arts, LLC is the arm of my work that incorporates my artistic expertise with my desire to advocate for cultural dialogue and experience. I partner with individuals, non-profits, governmental organizations, educational institutions and industry to provide dynamic initiatives powered by global creative experience, expansive social perspective and contemporary collaborative expertise.
ABOUT SPARK!
SPARK! is a daring and diverse new ensemble of acclaimed artists joining forces to bring cutting-edge, immersive performance to the heart of OKC. SPARK! harnesses collective creativity to ignite community healing and cohesion, rethinking how the arts engage with each other, and with the public.
"We need spaces to heal from the trauma of isolation, division, inequity and loss brought or revealed by the past year.
Live performance is uniquely poised to foster belonging, meaning and unity. But to do so effectively, I believe we've gotta rethink and transcend both the idea of shared space and the transactional, passive entertainment we've become accustomed to.
Throughout my career as a collaborative performing artist, I have seen, time and again, that creating a performance together, in a public space, has the power to activate vibrant, light-hearted and radically inclusive engagement. In fact, studies have proven this - the evolutionary psychology concept of positivity resonance explains why our heartbeats synchronize when we gather: collaborative, shared co-experience of positive emotion is the most elemental building block of love.
I feel called at this moment in our lives to share the expertise I've honed in NYC and Europe with my hometown of OKC. Intentionally applied radical collaboration can help us come together with curiosity, compassion, joy and play. That's what SPARK! is all about."
Nicole Poole, Producing Artistic Director
SPARK! joyfully merges dance, visual art, music, poetry and theatre into wildly unpredictable, one-of-a-kind happenings created with the public in pop-up locations accessible to the broader OKC community. Our events are free of charge and intended to reconnect us through active creativity, radical collaboration and shared humanity.<
Jeff sits down with artist Daniel Sutliff as he shares deeply about his process, his perspective, and about his evolution as an artist and as a human being.
To learn more about Daniel and his work, visit
www.danielsutliff.com
www.instagram.com/daniel_sutliff
www.facebook.com/daniel.sutliff.9
Music:
danielsutliff.bandcamp.com
To learn about Daniel's current exhibit at Liggett Studio that is up through October 30th,
Byte Sized Mind,
visithttps://www.liggettstudio.com/current-exhibits
GALLERY HOURS AFTER OPENING: THURS 5-8pm, FRI 5-8pm, SAT 1-5pm
Liggett Studio is a located at 314 S Kenosha, Tulsa, OK 74120 in heart of the "Off-Brady" East End Village District.
ABOUT BYTE SIZED MIND
The genesis of this series stems from my interest in analogue technologies and the different levels of sophistication at which visual information is communicated. The word “byte” represents 8 bits, the amount of processing power and memory space used in certain analogue machines. With these works I wanted to re-formalize the dominant visual languages from my youth: video games and minimalist computer graphics. Ultimately, it’s about constraint. I’m attempting to elevate limitation as a strength in itself.
Jeff sits down with Josh Stout as he shares deeply about what his art, his process, and the consciousness and presence that he channels through this work means to him at a deeper level.
He also reflects on his journey both as an artist and as a human being.
To learn more about Josh and his work, visit
https://joshstoutart.com
ABOUT JOSH
Take away the sun, so I may rove the ocean despite light.
Let go the hand, so sightless fog drifts in between reflections of ourselves.
Give me a lifetime to forget the language of my birth,
so only wind screams out my lungs when I'm aflame.
We were born to create.
I will not betray my instinct.
I will dig my voice out from beneath the stone.
Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Husband, Son, Brother, Uncle, Father of Five talented children.
Questioning everything in a relentless quest for harmony.
Finding the path.
Living life everyday, following my natural instincts.
Growing wise.
Experimenting at the boundaries of what the mind can create.
The first time in my life a brush from my hand hits a canvas was an explosion of emotions that I’m still trying to figure out in my own mind as it creates images of a people and a planet.
Art, my outlet has become my voice. The filtration between the brain and the hand. A direct influence of every experience in my life combined towards a single subject.
Born an artist. My entire life has lead to being an artist. Creating, exploring and experiencing life and how it affects one’s outlook on the world. Ultimately how all these views are transferred through a medium.
Compositions arranged straight from the most powerful tool on Earth, the mind. Paintings are sculpted at a journeyman's pace by the use of oil and pallet knife. Bronze sculptures crafted exclusively by hand, where a thought can become completely encompassed.
Jeff sits down with Carlos Moreno, the author of The Victory of Greenwood, to hear about his life journey since he moved to Tulsa years ago and about his work in the Greenwood community.
He speaks very compellingly about what the process of researching, connecting with all of the people in Greenwood, and writing this book means to him at a deeper level.
Carlos reflects deeply about the impact of this work and the book has had in the Tulsa area and beyond.
Jeff sits down with Ame Hernandez as she shares about her artistic perspective, her process, her influences and evolution, and about what it all means to her at a deeper level.
To learn more about Ame and her work, visit
https://www.amegalerie.com
Instagram @artbyameh
Jeff sits down with Meg Sutherland as she shares deeply about her inner journey through the process of creation of The Victory of Greenwood project and what it all means to her personally. She also speaks very compellingly about her own evolution through this process.
To learn more about The Victory of Greenwood project and the book, visit
https://thevictoryofgreenwood.com
Meg Sutherland is a communications and marketing professional with over 15 years of experience. Much of her focus has been on helping area non-profits that provide assistance for women, children and minorities. Most recently, she co-founded Spark Collaborative which supports creative projects with some element of social responsibility. The most recent of these is the Victory of Greenwood where she performs extensive research, editing and grant writing.
Her pro-bono work has included providing public relations services to TulsaNow and as a storyteller for Code for Tulsa (a local brigade of Code for America). She was also instrumental in the creation of Tulsa Little Jam, a video and podcast series showcasing area musicians and performers, which launched in Tulsa in 2018. Meg graduated, cum laude, from Langston University in 1996 with a B.A. in Psychology. She has two adult sons and resides in Tulsa, OK.
The Victory of Greenwood endeavors to tell the story of Greenwood from the perspective of the heroes and entrepreneurs who built Greenwood and then rebuilt it after its destruction. Historians have published many books and articles about the days surrounding the 1921 Race Massacre, but Tulsa knows very little about the founding of Greenwood. We as a city know even less about Greenwood's reconstruction. Against all odds, the neighborhood was built again, better than before, and became known as “Black Wall Street”.
The name Victory of Greenwood is attributed to Timantha Norman, executive editor of the Tulsa Star. She and her staff have been wonderful joint partners throughout the process of writing this article series and book and we're grateful for their collaboration.
We began publishing a series of articles in the fall of 2019 with the goal of sharing Greenwood's story from the perspective of its founders and significant historical figures. The project will cover Greenwood’s early history, the 1921 massacre, Greenwood's rebuilding, and its prosperity through the late 1960s, focusing on the neighborhood’s great nationwide legacy. Every day that we work on this project, we uncover a piece of history that Tulsa has not seen for decades-in some cases for over a century.
The article series will be published as a book in May, 2021. We are producing a series of events, a video series, a podcast and a web-based interactive timeline and archive, and will be contributors to the collections/exhibits housed at the Greenwood Rising Museum.
We have listened to our city’s conversation about the massacre and about Greenwood’s history and legacy for the past 20 years and we believe that it is incomplete. This project, for us, is an attempt to tell the story of Greenwood’s triumphs so that as a city we might learn from and be inspired by the people who rebuilt the neighborhood in spite of the tremendous challenges they faced.
Greenwood’s history is incredibly rich, multifaceted, and fascinating. By learning the individual human experiences of Greenwood residents, Tulsa can begin to come together as a community promoting growth, cooperation, equity and respect for all its citizens. Perhaps other communities will look to Tulsa’s efforts and be moved to strive for their own growth and reconciliation. The Victory of Greenwood continues.
Jeff sits down with Jenny and Adam Brand as they share deeply about their experiences in facilitating this Festival since 2019, about how they have evolved, and about how this artform has impacted both performers and audience members.
This year's Theatre Crude Fringe Festival opens on Friday, October 1st and runs through October 10th with both in-person performances at Factory Obscura as well as virtual performances.
For more information, visit their website at
https://www.theatrecrude.org
Facebook /theatrecrude
Twitter @theatrecrude
Instagram @theatrecrudeokc
What Is Fringe?Fringe is a national and international phenomenon, with festivals happening in every major city across the globe. And what is Fringe? Fringe performances are one hour or less, low tech, and high on ingenuity. No restrictions are made as to the nature, style, theme or content. All performers are welcome, regardless of professional or amateur status. The result is a festival full of the unexpected.
About The Festival
Theatre Crude Fringe Festival is a two-week event in Oklahoma City showcasing creative and original theatrical artists. With a focus on adventure, Theatre Crude gives patrons an opportunity to explore as many different genres and styles of theatre as possible. The Fringe Festival aims to provide unique perspectives and stretch the definition of theatrical performance.
**Theatre Crude Fringe Festival, a performing arts festival based in Oklahoma City, is
celebrating their third year with a record number of productions, artists and performances slated for October 1-10, 2021.
This year’s festival follows a hybrid in-person and virtual model, with all in-person performances taking place at Factory Obscura’s Mix-Tape.
The 10-day festival in Automobile Alley will feature over 45 in-person performances from 13 multidisciplinary artist groups, both local and traveling. Each day of the festival presents festival-goers the opportunity to see a new roster of performances that will include virtual reality, dance, fantasy, mentalism, clown performances and more.
In addition, 7 digital-only productions will be streamed online at the festival’s website.
The festival will take place at Factory Obscura’s performance space at 25 NW 9th Street, providing audiences and artists a full fringe festival experience. Attendees will walk through a secret door and find themselves in a performance space that they likely haven’t seen before.
In-person attendees are encouraged to purchase pass bundles to see 4 or 6 shows during the course of the festival. There is also an unlimited pass option for those who want the flexibility to see as many shows as they like, as many times as they can.**
Rhiana Deck is of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. She works primarily with acrylic paint, aerosols, and occasional beadwork for family and friends. Her work has been displayed and exhibited in Oklahoma, Colorado, and Georgia.
Since the age of four, she has used her art as her creative outlet. It is a part of who she is. Deck paints in her own unique style, purposely evoking emotions, arousing curiosity, inspiring ambition, and stimulating the imagination. Her style changes and grows with her. She aims to connect with others in this beautiful dream we call life. “Beauty is light set free.” – A.D. Posey
Rhiana Deck is one of the four artists to collaborate on the Native Mural, an underpass located in Oklahoma City on Sheridan Avenue and Gaylord Boulevard. She worked with Chad Earles of the Caddo Nation on the North wall titled Earth & Sky. The mural will stand until 2026.
http://rhianadeck.com
Jeff sits down with David Boynton as he shares deeply about his life journey and how his experiences and evolution informs his artistic perspective and his process.
To learn more about David and his work, visit
https://www.dabakhstudios.com
Artist Statement
Custom wood and resin artwork and fine art paintings created right here in the USA by a retired Air Force 21-year veteran. My work is inspired by my career in the USAF, the aviation industry and as a master diver doing deep sea SCUBA diving.
I am deeply moved by the images of deep space that are sent back from international space projects and NASA research teams. Ocean currents and solar systems have colors and movement that greatly inspire my work and put me into motion as a painter. I am also inspired by the aura that some of my clients put out and it has produced some amazing results!
I create resin and wood vases, decorative objects, and funeral urns. My wood and resin coffee tables and end tables are in the “river table” style. (And even the occasional hand-turned wood and resin wizard wand!) My philosophy of turning is that I reveal what is already within the wood and I find that if I try to bend it to my will, rather than listen to what the piece is telling me what it is, it ends in disaster or a wasted blank.
The same goes with my paintings, they are created with various acrylic pouring techniques depending on what I want to convey in each painting and relaying what the painting wants to be. Custom work can be ordered to complement your color palette and aesthetic and there will never be another piece like it in the whole world, be it wood or acrylic.
A previously unpublished conversation with comedian Lenny Vanhorn on a wintery Sunday afternoon at the Art Hall Uptown OKC November 11, 2018.
Jeff sits down with Brittany White as she shares deeply about her artistic perspective, about how she got started taking photographs and film, and about her work that will be in the upcoming Oh, Tulsa exhibit at Living Arts of Tulsa.
To learn more about Brittany and her work, visit
Website: www.brittanykelleywhite.com
Instagram handle: @brittanykelleywhite
Brittany is a photographer currently based in the Tulsa area. Her work is a means of self-expression and illustrates a combination of documentary and staged narrative. Through the use of analogue photographic processes, she explores various themes such as childhood reflection, personal identity and the community in which she lives and works. Her work is heavily influenced by filmmakers and cinematographers such as Wim Wenders, Robby Müller and Andrei Tarkovsky.
Watch on youtube-
https://youtu.be/2CeFHULhGow
Jeff sits down with Maggie Boyett And Marwin Begaye as they reflect very deeply about their experiences in co-creating over the past 5 years and about what this project means to them a few weeks after the opening of their collaboration for OVAC Art 365 at Living Arts of Tulsa, Body Acknowledgement: The Body as Land
**Through their collaboration Body Acknowledgment: The Body as Land, printmaker Marwin Begaye and performer Maggie Boyett investigate their identities as Urban Indians.
Like many Native people, they have wrestled with the concept of "living in two worlds"—the idea that colonization has forced Indigenous people to navigate American culture and create space to live out their Indigenous values.
This perspective fragments cultural experience, impacting their relationship to land and their communities.
The recent uptick in land acknowledgments at public events and in the media inspired the artists to use the concept of land acknowledgment as an entry point for deepening their kinships with land, self, time and wellness.**
Jeff sits down with Alexa Goetzinger, the Associate Director of the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition to hear about her experiences in administering the current Art 365 exhibit at Living Arts of Tulsa.
She also shares an overview of the work of each of the artists in the exhibit.
Anyone can sign up for the artists' workshops through www.Art365.org
Alexa was born and raised in Ardmore, Oklahoma, and graduated from the University of Oklahoma with degrees in fine art and art history. While she spent time working and interning in China and Italy after college, she ultimately realized there is no place like home.
Since returning to Oklahoma she has been a high school educator, and most recently the Education Director for ARTSPACE at Untitled. In addition to her work in the non-profit sector, Alexa co-founded an annual international print exchange called Connect: Collect and is an avid printmaker.
She is excited to be a part of the OVAC team and assist in the growth and development of Oklahoma’s visual arts community through education, promotion, connection, and funding!
WATCH ON YOUTUBEhttps://youtu.be/yobsdN3UNf8
Jeff sits down with CJ Ward to hear him share some very compelling reflections about the power of conversations in bringing about healing between people and between communities.
He also speaks about his experiences in contributing work to the The Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Project at Living Arts and what it has been like for him to move to Tulsa and becoming a part of the community.
**From CJ-
"There is therapy in expression, and freedom in self-expression. Whether literary, visual, musical, or physical, a unique perspective has the potential of bridging gaps - spiritually, mentally, and physically. Bridging gaps, and lapses in humanity. Gaps that may divide and separate humanity based on surface level judgment(s). I believe this is why arts & humanities will always go hand and hand. Art is beauty conveyed through the creative lenses of an artist, free spirit, and/or a free mind." Let’s work together!
To learn more about CJ, visit
For youth mentorship and/or counseling (limited availability):
https://www.cjwardcreations.com/the-ward-wellness-services
To book for workshops, sponsorships, trainings/webinars/seminars, or speaking engagements:
https://www.cjwardcreations.com/booking-speaking-engagements
For products and other services:
https://www.cjwardcreations.com/products**
WATCH ON YOUTUBEhttps://youtu.be/h3DUsU27AxM
Jeff sits down with Christina Henley, co-curator of the The Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Exhibit at Living Arts to hear about what this experience has meant to her at a deeper level, about her perspective on the impact of this exhibit on people who have interacted with it, and her thoughts on how this has been a "mind altering" experience for her and for many others.
Artist Statement-
Creating is a sensory experience for me in process and execution. I think about the materials I use. How they feel to the touch, the texture I want to show and convey. Choosing colors that are striking, bold, unusual and jarring, and the emotions I want to evoke to myself and the viewer. Sometimes, I'll include three dimensional elements to push the piece even further into the sensory experience. I want the viewer to feel what I feel by what they see, while also forming their own interpretation or idea of what they are looking at. I don't want to conform and I think my artwork expresses that.
WATCH ON YOUTUBEhttps://youtu.be/N_AiiTGVAcU
Jeff sits down with Grammy Award winning multi-instrumentalist musician, producer, arranger, composer, recording artist, and podcast host Leo Sidran to hear about his journey in creating a longform interview podcast, The Third Story, and about how he developed his own unique musical style over the years.
**To learn more about Leo and his music and work, visit
http://www.leosidran.com
To learn more about Leo's podcast, visit
http://www.third-story.com
Leo Sidran is a multi instrumentalist musician, producer, arranger, composer, recording artist, and podcast host.
The Third Story podcast features long-form interviews with creative people of all types.
Their stories of discovery, loss, ambition, identity, improvisation, risk, and reward are deeply moving and compelling for all of us as we embark on our own creative journeys.
He was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin, which is sometimes referred to as 70 square miles surrounded by reality. His father, Ben Sidran, another multifaceted music man, provided my early musical sustenance. His mother, a weaver and travel agent, provided texture and safe passage.
He got his start writing songs professionally as a teenager when the Steve Miller Band recorded four of his songs for their 1993 Wide River album. His father was working with Miller at the time, which is how he made the connection, but even then, at the ripe old age of 15, he was interested in production. So, Steve invited him to play keyboards, guitars and drums on the record.
He co-produced the Academy Award Winning song, "Al Otro Lado Del Rio" from the film The Motorcycle Diaries with Jorge Drexler in 2005.
After the Oscar win, he made a move to Brooklyn and not only started producing records for other artists, but also composing music for film and television commercials amassing a catalog of 100s of major TV ads for clients like Coca-Cola, Visa, Lincoln, McDonalds, Stella Artois, Ford, Garnier and over a dozen film scores for outlets such as ESPN 30 for 30, Discovery, IFC, Sundance, and PBS.
As a drummer, he has played and recorded with jazz luminaries including Phil Woods, Howard Levy, David Fathead Newman, Clark Terry and Dave Grusin, and as an engineer he has worked with artists ranging from Snarky Puppy to Massive Attack.**
WATCH ON YOUTUBEhttps://youtu.be/nLuCmF2oA5w
Jeff sits down with artist Kelsey Irvin to hear about her artistic perspective, her career, how she got started, and about how she and her work have evolved over the years.
To learn more about Kelsey and her work, visit
www.kelseyirvin.com
www.instagram.com/kelsey.irvin
https://vimeo.com/258729079
https://vimeo.com/187060686
**Driven to bring new life to objects that may otherwise have been lost in time, Kelsey Irvin finds herself collecting traces of lives lived – “memories misplaced in need of recognition.” After spending many years exploring a wide range of techniques and media, the artist has developed a unique way of incorporating drawing, painting, and collage into almost all of her work. Reaching for a balance between the past and the present, her work exudes a deep sense of nostalgia.
Irvin studied at St. Lawrence University in Upstate New York before venturing to Southern California, where she now lives. Her paintings are in public and private collections throughout the United States, Italy, Dubai, Greece, Singapore, and China.
“Using vintage ephemera in my work is a way to pay homage to those memories, those lives. In a world that is becoming more digital each day, I’m driven to bring new life to objects that may otherwise be lost and deteriorated in time. The challenge I seek is to maintain a balance between working with such old objects and recreating them in a contemporary artwork that holds the test of time.”
Irvin’s work is in the art collection at the International Museum of Collage, Assemblage and Construction in Santa Fe, NM. She has been in exhibitions at Laguna Art Museum, Pensacola Museum of Art, Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, Attleboro Arts Museum, and in several gallery exhibitions across the United States as well as Greece.**
WATCH ON YOUTUBEhttps://youtu.be/_rOAGN2jDOs
Jeff sits down with artist and educator Francine Campbell as she shares some incredibly compelling and meaningful stories about her experiences growing up in Deep Greenwood and about the connection between her childhood and why she chose to work as a teacher.
She also speaks very candidly about her artwork that is featured in The Race Massacre Centennial Project at Living Arts of Tulsa and about some of the other artists' work that really speaks to her.
WATCH ON YOUTUBEhttps://youtu.be/Vn8o8B75fpg
Jeff sits down with artist Adam Carnes as he shares very deeply about what informs his work, about how moving to Tulsa and working here has changed his Consciousness, and about his work that is in the Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Project exhibit at Living Arts of Tulsa.
**Adam Carnes (b. 1981), is a Tulsa transplant via Brooklyn. He received his MFA from the New York Academy of Art and BFA from the Ringling College of Art and Design.
To learn more about Adam and his work, visit
https://www.adamcarnes.com**https://www.instagram.com/adamcarnesart/
*Photo by Melissa Lukenbaugh & Tulsa Artist Fellowship
GKFF awarded Carnes with the 2017-2020 Tulsa Artist Fellowship.
Growing up in Florida during the development of the Information Age, Carnes has been striving to maintain his connection with humanity through painting. Skira Rizzoli’s
publication “The Figure” includes Adam’s work and is sold in museum book stores like the Met, Royal Academy and National Gallery.
His Griots art pieces were published in BOMB Magazine’s Summer 2021
issue #156 and “RELEASE ME, the Spirits of Greenwood Speak” anthology.
These “Griots” pieces are an extension of my “Strangers, Friends & Sacred” series and they honor the 1921Tulsa Race Massacre survivors for their contributions to Tulsa’s Historic Greenwood District, dubbed “Black Wall Street” for it’s thriving concentration of black entrepreneurs.
The overarching narrative speaks to the triumph of the human spirit.
Griot is a “West African troubadour-historian. The griot profession is hereditary and has long been a part of West African culture. The griots’ role has traditionally been to preserve the genealogies, historical narratives, and oral traditions of their people; praise songs are also part of the griot’s répertoire.
WATCH ON YOUTUBEhttps://youtu.be/4Z5gcfO9NHw
Jeff sits down with Patrick McNicholas to hear him share about all of his artistic work over the years, about how he got started, and more specific information about Time-Travel Tulsa.
Patrick McNicholas is the artist behind Time-Travel Tulsa. His time-bending artwork has been featured in various museums and exhibitions since the creation in 2018. Nearing the centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre, McNicholas began a powerful series memorializing the Greenwood community and resilience to rebuild. His work is now on display at Living Arts for the Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Project.
**To learn more about Patrick and his work, visit
https://tulsapast.com
IG & FB
@tulsapast**
WATCH ON YOUTUBEhttps://youtu.be/cGhIkcYpAZ4
Jeff sits down with Dr. Delia Gillis to hear about her work in education and about her creative endeavors.
She shares very compellingly about why it is so important to her to teach and share history and Africana Studies to her students and about her passion for making it relevant and about what is going on today.
Dr. Gillis also reflects about why it is so important to her to participate in the Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Project Exhibition at Living Arts that opens May 7th.
WATCH ON YOUTUBEhttps://youtu.be/GRb65RBg5jY
Jeff sits down with artist Marium Rana to hear about her artistic perspective, about her process, and what it all means to her at a deeper level.
She also speaks about her work that is on exhibit currently for the OVAC Momentum show at Living Arts of Tulsa.
**Marium Rana is an American-born Pakistani visual artist, who works primarily in ink and aqueous media. She is a graduate from Florida State University, where she received a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Studio Art in 2013 and a Masters in Art Education in 2014.
In 2011, Marium received a research grant from Florida State University to study Mughal miniature painting in Lahore, Pakistan. She was a teacher of visual art and art history in Tampa, Florida for 5 years.
Marium has exhibited, curated exhibitions, painted murals, and taught workshops all over the United States.
Her work has been on display at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, Yale University, Aqua Art during Art Basel Miami Beach, and the Joshua Tree Art Gallery among others.
Marium currently resides near Tulsa, Oklahoma.**
WATCH ON YOUTUBEhttps://youtu.be/do7n48EFD_M
Jeff sits down for a brief visit with artists Letitia Huckaby and Skip Hill about their upcoming exhibit at 108 Contemporary, "My Soul Looks and Wonder How I Got Over" which opens April 3rd and runs through June 20th.
“My Soul Looks Back and Wonder How I Got Over” is a thoughtful visual dialogue that uses art to examine how the pervasiveness of a collective past informs our present, and how the persistence of hope and collective purpose positively redeems us to our present, and our future. Hill and Huckaby use collage and fiber and for this specific body of work are influenced by the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921.
WATCH ON YOUTUBEhttps://youtu.be/2V0dCd7cuxI
Jeff sits down with artist and educator Amber DuBoise-Shepherd to hear about what her work means to her at a deeper level, about her artistic perspective, and about how her work is informed and inspired by having grown up in a home immersed with different Native cultures, traditions, and languages.
She also speaks about her work that will be displayed in the upcoming OVAC Momentum exhibit at Living Arts of Tulsa from April 2 through the 23rd.
**To learn more about Amber and her work, visit
https://www.amberlduboise-shepherdart.com
Amber L. DuBoise-Shepherd depicts contemporary Native American narratives based on her family heritage of Navajo, Sac & Fox, and Prairie Band Potawatomi. Her mixed media pieces and oil paintings reference an illustrative quality. She has an Associates of Art from Seminole State College and completed her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Spring 2016 at Oklahoma State University. She was accepted into Momentum March 2017, March 2019, March 2020, and in 2021 she was accepted as Spotlight Artist in Oklahoma that was hosted by the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition.
She won Best of Show in 2016, 1st Place in 2017, and 1st, 2nd, and Judges Choice Award in 2018, and Best of Show in 2019 in her categories for the Cushing, OK Native American Heritage Festival Juried Art Show and Native Fest Juried Art Show. She also won 1st in her category for the Stillwater Art Guild’s Spring Show 2019. She won grand prize and runner up in the IMAGEN Art Competition: “Native Tradition is Medicine: Resilience and Native Lifeways during COVID-19” in 2020.
She was asked to show work in an exhibition at Studio112 and a Half in January 2018 for the show named Unframed. DuBoise-Shepherd was also a speaker for Native American artist of Oklahoma at the Indigenous Arts Ecology presented by First Peoples Fund. DuBoise-Shepherd was also one of two selected for the first ever Red Earth’s Emerging Artist Award in 2018 by the Red Earth board for her body of work. She has exhibited Southern Plains Indian Museum in Anadarko, OK consisted of her most recent body of work in her exhibition Tradition Through Modern Eyes 2018.
Her most recent exhibition was a solo exhibition at the Jacobson Native Art Center from April-May 2019.
She started off the year 2020 exhibiting at the TAC Gallery in Tulsa, OK for her exhibition Living on the Native Oklahoma Reservation, as well as being accepted into two Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition Exhibition Concept/Survey at the Ahha Gallery in Tulsa, OK and Momentum 2020 in Oklahoma City. DuBoise-Shepherd will also be exhibiting work at the Ahha Gallery in July 2020 for the Re/Convening exhibition and Azhwakwa: Contemporary Anishinaabe Art exhibition at the Jacobson Native Art Center in Norman, OK in August 2020. She exhibited for the Speak: Speak While You Can exhibition at the Living Arts Center in Sept. – Oct. 2020.
She has increasingly been showing at different markets to sell and show her work to the public and was accepted in the Santa Fe Indian Market August of 2018 and 2019, which is the biggest Native American arts market in the world, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She attended the Artesian Native Art Market in Sulpher, OK, and The Cherokee Art Market in Catoossa, OK for the first time in 2019. DuBoise-Shepherd is the Manager of Education and Outreach at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art in Shawnee, OK since April 2019. She is married and currently lives in her hometown of Shawnee, OK with her husband Josh Shepherd.**
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/udv_tAxPbdw
Jeff sits down with artist Kristin Gentry to hear her share about her role in co-curating the upcoming OVAC Momentum exhibit opening April 2nd at Living Arts of Tulsa and about her work and what it all means to hear at a deeper level.
To learn more about Kristin and her work, visit
https://www.kristingentry.com
Bio
Kristin Gentry is passionate about using her art to create different ways to preserve her traditional Native American tribal culture. Kristin has exhibited her artwork in numerous juried, invited, open, and group shows across the Midwestern United States.
She works as a professional visual artist in the areas of relief and monotype printmaking, painting, jewelry and photography. She also works as a writer, designer, and curator. She worked as a full time arts educator in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and now works full time as an artist. Kristin is an enrolled member and registered artist of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Kristin finished M.S. degree in Native Leadership from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in the spring of 2020.
She received the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development’s 40 under 40 award in 2012. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in fine arts from Oklahoma State University in 2009, and graduated as a Senior of Significance denoting the top of her class. She attained her Associate of Art in education from Tulsa Community College in 2005 as an Honor’s Scholar Graduate.
Artist Statement
She uses her art to educate and restore the beauty of her people’s journey to where they are as Chahta Okla, Choctaw People, today. Through her art she continues to find more of her Indian Identity as a Chahta Ohoyo, Choctaw Woman, and Ishki, Mother. She understands that the need for her cultural art is necessary to the future of her daughter and her people. She works to involve her community through education and being the voice for Native American artists and Native American women in today’s society. She is a writer, curator, painter, printmaker, and photographer. She often photographs families in their tribal regalia and creates designs and patterns from traditional clothing in her painting and prints.
I stylistically form nature in a way that is in contrast of how many artists rely on realistic representations. Formally, I am very interested in making compositions out of the colors, the positive or negative shapes of the plants and other nature. I am interested in symmetry as it’s always present throughout my tribal culture. I emphasize nature’s influence by showing the floral patterns from traditional clothing. Through this stylistic approach, my work honors my culture that is found in nature based customs and traditions. I look at our designs and research how they have transformed or remained unchanged to today. I also research the influence of tribal agrarian history of gardened produce and pollination for crops’ influence on Native American art and clothing. Through my art I explore how the symbolic meanings of the designs influence our cultural traditions today and influence our larger communities.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/YbYydnXY4nM
Laura Hensley and Jeff sit down with Katrina Loos to hear about her life journey, about her evolution, and about her yoga practice.
She shares deeply about the most formative lessons that she has learned along the way.
Katrina Loos is a yoga teacher in training whose open documentation of her spiritual journey has enchanted and intrigued humans from all walks of life. Known as Yoga With Kats across social media, Katrina shares her yogic thoughts, yoga asana practices, spiritual mantras and affirmations, and her two cats, Flicker and Pumpkin Spice Latte. Follow Katrina in her journey here: @ yogawithkats
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/U_ejbtzXAOA
Laura Hensley and Jeff sit down with artist Jasmine Jones to hear about what he art practice means to her at a deeper level, about her experiences with Factory Obscura and the OKC art community, and about how she finds moment-to-moment presence as she experiences her own work unfolding.
To learn more about Jasmine and her work, visit
https://artofjj.weebly.com
Jasmine Jones is a multidisciplinary artist and maker from Midwest City, Oklahoma. She has an Associate in Arts from Rose State College and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art from the University of Oklahoma. Through her art she traverses through various ideas as well as various methods and materials that she sees fit. With a form of familiarity and the everyday, Jasmine is constantly integrating areas of her life into her artwork and vice versa while working with concepts like spirituality, therapy, and interaction and materials like textiles, paper, and charcoal. Jasmine’s a member of two artist collectives – Art Group and Factory Obscura. She appreciates working collaboratively to show that art can be interactive, immersive, beneficial, and more.
ARTIST STATEMENT
How we both collectively and individually function and make decisions is fascinating. Interactions, connections, and experiences have the potential to happen daily - each one having the potential to be new, yet mundane. As an artist and maker, my ideas are fueled by this magic of everyday, the secrets of life, and chance. My influences are inclusive of therapy, personal and shared memory, sacredness of humanity and self, as well as complexity and simplicity in nature. I introduce those mysteries and wonders into my work through symbolism, figures, color, and pattern. Just as there are variables in life, the materials for my work are often in flux. My methods take the form of charcoal on paper to situations presented to an audience. I work to show that people can find curiosity or beauty striking at any moment, in the seemingly insignificant or from within. The potential for the cultivation of magic and wonder may help us rethink and how to differently or actively engage in the many paths of our lives.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/EZXBbd3H_0k
Jeff sits down with artist Sean Tyler to hear about her work and her focus on the human figure, the female experience, and expanding the boundaries of fine art with fiber arts.
She also shares deeply about her recent work that is centered around exploring the female experience in "selfies" as well.
To learn more about Sean and her work, visit
https://www.seantylerfineart.com
Sean Tyler is a painter, fiber artist, and mixed media artist from Tulsa, OK. Tyler received a BFA from Rogers State University in May of 2019. She works with mixed media formats and specializes in painting on canvas and fiber arts. While at RSU she showed multiple times in the yearly Juried Exhibition and received the Best in Show award of the 2017 and 2019 exhibition. She has shown across the United States as well as Italy. She is currently exploring new directions in fiber arts and expanding her teaching practice. Tyler splits her time between her hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma and the University of Iowa where she is pursuing an MFA in painting/drawing.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/_2tD0BCSpLE
Jeff sits down with artist Katrinka Booth to hear her reflect about the very deep and connected relationship between her life experiences and between each work of art that she creates.
She also shares very deeply about her process, about where her inspiration comes from, and about how she got started creating works of art.
To learn more about Katrinka and her work, visit
Facebook/Pinterest: Wallflowers by Katrinka Booth
Instagram: @wallflowersbykb Linkedin: Katrinka Booth
Katrinka Booth was born in South Central Missouri and raised in Bentonville Arkansas. Her influences include her family, her love of textiles, her years spent as a seamstress of couture clothing, and the landscapes and terrain of Arkansas and the surrounding areas.
Her art began as a relentless recurring dream of her stitching a wallflower on her simple sewing machine. The dream didn’t stop until she stitched her first piece.
Each piece of art teaches her something about the next one to come.
Katrinka expresses the elation and freedom she experiences stitching these detailed, Elaborate pieces. She hopes the viewer is transported to another place, where time is suspended and you can “be free in your wildness.”
Much of her work is accomplished using fabric and thread on a humble domestic sewing machine in a free hand style.
Recently she shelved her art practice to make over 2,000 masks, and has invented a new method of embroidery involving yarn as paint on a canvas, having dubbed it “Neo-Embroidery”.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/bJGSOoofXik
Jeff sits down with veteran comedian Derek Richards to hear about what it's like to be a comedian from his experience and perspective "on the other side of the mic."
A regular on the Las Vegas Strip, Derek’s act is fast, fresh, and at times, fanatical. He brings the funny with tales about his Irish-Catholic upbringing, divorce, the holidays, and his child-free existence. Described on a show review as, ‘Just the right amount of wrong.’
His one hour special with The Irish Comedy Tour can be seen on demand via Amazon Prime, DISH, DirecTV, iTunes, VUDU, Vimeo, Google Play, Microsoft XBOX and YouTube. \
You can also catch him via the SiriusXM Satellite Radio Network, Pandora, The Weather Channel’s Top 10, The Tom Shillue Show on Fox News Radio Network, and The Anthony Cumia Show with Dave Landau.
A veteran of several USO and Armed Forces Entertainment tours, Richards has performed at U.S. base camps in Iraq, Afghanistan and 15 other countries. His work for the military has been featured in Newsweek.
On the concert stage, he’s been the opening act for Motown legends, The Temptations and The Four Tops.
His third comedy album, 60 MPH School Zone, garnered Honorable Mention accolades in the International Songwriting Competition.
His release is sold at shows, iTunes and at derekrichards.com.
In October of 2018, Derek released his first self-published book, Whiskey, Cancer & Bad Decisions, which is his twisted memoir of a comedian’s journey with cancer. The release is available on Amazon, Kindle and Audible.
To learn more about Derek and his life and comedy, visit
www.derekrichards.com
www.theirishcomedytour.com
www.twitter.com/comedndrichards
www.facebook.com/comedianderekrichards
www.instagram.com/comedndrichards
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/GG7ZYKoVKfw
Laura Hensley and Jeff Krisman sit down with Mac Coplin as she shares very deeply and compellingly about her life journey, some very formative lessons learned, and about her evolution.
She also shares about her work as a freelance photographer and about her practice of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and how these practices have been very healing for her.
To learn more about Mac or to reach out to her, visit
youtube.com/macluvsyou2
twitch.tv/macbjj
instagram: @macluvsyou @mac.bjjphotos @vineandjude
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/36roKO1iu4s
Jeff sits down with artist Frida Cornelio to hear about hear artistic perspective and about how she creates art that confronts the public on social issues while promoting awareness and change.
She is a Mexican figurative painter whose interest in the human figure is in what composes it aesthetically and psychologically.
Frida also speaks about "Dalia," her exhibit at Liggett Studio that closed recently. Her work for this show deals with the femicide that is plaguing Northern Mexico right now due to the culture of machismo.
Latin America has one of the highest rates of femicides around the world, and the cultural acceptance of this violence is linked to the culture of machismo that exists within Latin America.
Through the depiction of the female portrait, Frida has brought light into this issue and empower women who have been victims of gender inequality and abuse to find their own self-worth.
To learn more about Frida, visit
https://www.fridacornelio.com
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/mBV73FRCVGI
Jeff sits down for a Conscious conversation with artist Ra Vashtar about the deep relationship between his life journey and his artistic perspective.
He shares very candidly and compellingly about his process and evolution and how that has informed his craft and how his craft has brought about new insights and healing as well.
To learn more about Ra and his work, visit
www.artsaflame.com
ABOUT RA's UPCOMING SHOW AT LIGGETT STUDIO ON FEBRUARY 12TH
"LIVING EPHEMERA": This will be a one-night event showcasing an art installation and gallery pieces created out of ephemeral materials such as newspaper, junk mail, receipts, packaging, etc. The focal point of the event will be an installation of multiple rows of wire with string wrapped around the wire and through holes punched in Polaroid photographs depicting themes of nature, time, and human experience. The gallery pieces will be artwork created from/on ephemeral materials that echo themes of mortality, time, and change. No photographs will be allowed of the artwork, and all artwork is to be destroyed immediately following the event.
ABOUT RA AND HIS WORK
Ra Vashtar is a mixed media artist with a focus on depicting monsters as a metaphor for the internal world. Vashtar's method often involves layers of ink, acrylic paint, watercolor, found objects, and resin. He draws imagery from dreams, mythology, and the belief in the esoteric practice of creating art. Vashtar cites Junji Ito, Guillermo Del Toro, Salvador Dali, and Japanese Gaming and Animation as influences in his work.
As a queer, transgender, and autistic person, Vashtar's work explores themes of mental health, neurodiversity and identity. He finds meaning in seeking to show others they are not alone in their struggles, and in opening conversations about difficult topics.
Vashtar was born and raised in Ponca City, Oklahoma, and has worked full time as an artist in the Tulsa area since 2017. Vashtar graduated from CG Spectrum with a certificate in advanced concept art in 2020. He works as a freelance illustrator and sells handmade adoptable monster figurines.
Vashtar is a member of the Hot Topic Creator Program and a contributor for the neurodiversity blog NeuroClastic, making comics and illustrated articles about living with autism.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/tXifEuiLfss
Jeff sits down with Steve Liggett, former Artistic Director of Living Arts of Tulsa and owner of Liggett Studio to hear about his life and work since he came to Tulsa in the 1970's.
He shares deeply from the beginning of his affiliation with the founder of Living Arts, Virginia Myers and about some of the highlights of his career there. He also reflects about the impact of Living Arts on the arts community and culture in Tulsa.
Steve Liggett has been an arts advocate, teacher and artist in the Tulsa community for over 40 years. He is the recipient of the Harwelden Award, Jingle Feldman Award, Governor’s Art Award and John Hope Franklin Award for his artistic work in social justice. His own studio work has evolved from his ceramics and papermaking background to performance/video/installation work. He is the past Artistic Director for Living Arts of Tulsa and presently runs Liggett Studio.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/yfWKcz4Nfyw
Jeff sits down with Brandi Ross and Tyler Huffman to hear about their experiences in participating in the recent exhibit at Living Arts, Project Hope, Unity, and Compassion.
EXHIBITION STATEMENT
Throughout history, downtowns and town squares have served as the foundation of society’s freedom of expression and the center of community discourse. Downtown Tulsa is certainly no different.
At an incredibly tense time in our community, and in the midst of
planning for unprecedented events, we found an opportunity to showcase Downtown Tulsa’s core values on temporary canvases throughout Downtown.
More than 300 artists responded to a last-minute call for art on June 18, 2020. Within hours, commissioned artists began painting storefronts thanks to permission from businesses and the generosity of an anonymous donor.
Within two days, we were able to mobilize more than a dozen artists to paint murals and messages inspiring hope, unity, and compassion throughout Downtown.
While the storefronts were restored and businesses reopened the following week, the conversations sparked by this art and the core values it represents continue.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/k4Nc3ZagJG0
Jeff sits down with artist Krystie Bunch to hear her share deeply about her work and about how she got started creating art.
She also speaks in a very heartfelt, moving, and a compelling way about the importance of community and culture and about what her experiences have been like facilitating and teaching art classes and participating in Downtown Tulsa & Living Arts Of Tulsa's recent project, Project Hope, Unity, and Compassion.
Artist Bio: I’m a Tulsa-based interdisciplinary artist. I utilize art as a portal, allowing outsiders a glimpse into the beautifully complex layers of my daily existence. I’m a Black American female who lives as a lifelong creative, full-time mom, community activist, youth advocate and human who experiences a neurological disorder called misophonia/misokinesia. Life is a constant state of processing and readjusting. In my art I allow myself the opportunity to be still, heal and move in hope.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/NzyhpFgyS8U
Jeff sits down with artist Terren Zinbi as she shares deeply about her artistic journey, about how she got started creating art, and about her experiences since she started working as an artist full time.
She shares very compellingly and in a very inspirational tone about her experiences in working through her emotions as she creates her work and about the importance of putting herself and her work out there and taking chances in her career.
To learn more about Terren and her work, visithttps://www.terrenzinbi.com
About Terren:
"I am a 26 year old modern artist currently calling Tulsa my home with my bf, dog, + houseplants. i am a true enneagram type 7 wing 6. i believe that variety is the spice of life + fomo is real!! i’m always looking forward to my next big adventure + making plans with people i love. i’m an eternal optimist + i think my biggest asset is being able to find joy in every little thing!
Because a huge part of my life ever since i could remember. creative work is truly my passion in life and biggest outlet. i love getting to make art + designs that show a glimpse into my heart + creating things that point you to knowing + loving God more. my biggest hope in my work is that i am creating pieces that help you find joy in the little + the big things, and that they may help celebrate the everyday!"
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/TApB_QMFM1U
Jeff sits down with Natty Watson and Lauran Drummond with Cult Love Sound Tapes to hear about how their collective got started, about their vision and passion for supporting the Tulsa DIY music and art community, and about what their work and dedication to this community means to them at a deeper level.
Cult Love Sound Tapes is a D.I.Y. community-based cassette tape, music, and art collective specializing in rare and limited releases from a wide variety of genres.
They also have a large project, the Cult House, nearing its unveiling. Since the project's beginning in December, the Cult House, a 2 story 100-year old family residence, has been covered floor to ceiling in murals painted by local artists.
In the summer of 2018 before their debut show, Jeff sat down on a late summer evening in Uptown OKC with Topher Owen, Founder and Creative Director and LaRonn Marzette, Ann-Lisette Caveny, and Gabi Merchen from The Space, a local improv-based sketch comedy group as we go behind the scenes to learn more about their members, about their skit development process, and about their feelings regarding their upcoming debut show on August 24th and 25th of 2018.
In this episode, Jeff visits with Kelsey Karper, Co-Founder of Current Studio and Factory Obscura and Thomas Thompson, a Co-Founder of Factory Obscura as well. We begin by hearing from Kelsey about Current Studio and how they provide opportunities for various artists-in-residence at their facility. She then speaks about the inspiration and the origins of Factory Obscura and how it came into being as well as how she and Romy Owens, her partner at Current Studio, decided to house the first Factory Obscura exhibition, SHIFT, at their facility. Kelsey then gives us an overview of how they created a vision for this group and how they brought area artists together to be a part of this first project at Current Studio.
We transition into an overview about SHIFT and how it is the first fully-immersive and experiential art installation in the OKC area and what makes it so unique. Kelsey then shares with listeners about where they can find more information about SHIFT, and all of this information is at the bottom of this summary for those who are interested.
After this, we hear from Thomas Thompson about his motivation for being involved in this project as he has an interest in human consciousness and in helping lead a project that will be providing both children and adults with the opportunity to have a full-sensory art experience that is so unique. He then reflects upon other art exhibits in other states that are somewhat similar to SHIFT.
After this, we hear some details about SHIFT from Kelsey as well as an overview of what people can expect, and it is really exciting that each person will have their own unique experience We continue the conversation as Kelsey speaks about how it is very possible that people who feel that they aren't necessarily interested in art will find that they are partaking of it while interacting with the various full-sensory aspects of SHIFT as they progress through it.
We wrap things up by hearing from Thomas as he reflects about how this exhibit really focuses on providing people with an opportunity to experience something genuine and authentic as they interact with it in numerous ways. Kelsey then shares an overview of the future vision of Factory Obscura as they plan to grow this project and ultimately have their own facility that will house larger-scale exhibits in the future.
Lastly, we hear from Kelsey about the various opportunities for volunteers to help be a part of Factory Obscura, and the link to sign up and indicate how they want to help in the future. Visit the Current Studio website to learn about how to support Factory Obscura. Donations fund the creation of SHIFT at Current Studio including supplies and most importantly, paying the artists. Plus, donors will be the first to experience the fully immersive installation.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/eOP2Vcv6Puw
Jeff has the honor and pleasure of being interviewed by Pam Savino of Live Authentically Podcast and spoke about his spiritual Journey and some of the most formative lessons that he has learned along the way.
**Pam has an incredible Gift and has so much to share about living more authentically, and to learn more about her work and her podcast, visit
https://liveauthentically.today/
The Live Authentically Podcast can be found at
https://www.buzzsprout.com/570790**
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/QVzdVzwMVGU
Jeff sits down with Francisco Treviño, Executive Director of Casa de la Cultura to hear about his life and work in Tulsa as he moved here in 1978 from Monterrey, México at the age of 11.
He reflects about his experiences in Tulsa as a performing musical artist since his teenage years, as the former Executive Director of Greater Tulsa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce where he made it a point to collaborate with our local arts community, and about his current work at Casa de la Cultura and as a consultant with Vega & Treviño Consultants, where he helps companies reach their community engagement and diversity representation goals.
He also speaks in a very compelling way about his strong belief in the undeniable link between the arts and business communities and why it's so important for him personally to be able to still get along with others even if they don't agree about the larger issues of life.
The interview as Francisco also shares about what this time has been like during the pandemic for him and his family as well as for the Tulsa area Hispanic and Latin American community in general.
To learn more about Casa de la Cultura and their programs, visit
http://www.findglocal.com/US/Tulsa/1440132309431997/Casa-de-la-Cultura
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/JX6DlbHRBhc
Jeff sits down with artist Hershel Self to hear about his work and some deeper thoughts about transition as he has had the opportunity to experience that recently and offers some very enlightening and inspiring thoughts about his experience over the past several months.
To learn more about Hershel's work, please visit
https://www.hershelself.com/
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/mtIROY61xvQJeff sits down with Heather Duncan, Interim Executive Director of Living Arts of Tulsa, to hear a very compelling and very inspiring story about how she and the team there have pivoted and adapted since mid-March.
She shares a very personal account of how this process has affected her, about what they have learned through this process, and about their vision and plans for 2021.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/VOSG54vTLfU
Jeff sits down with artist PetraBaye to hear about what her work means to her at a deep level, about how she got started creating art, and about what inspires and energizes her to continue to create work on an ongoing basis.
She also shares about her beCAUSEicare Foundation and how she sells art and other items to raise money to help children in need and how it makes her feel better than anything else has in the world.
To learn more about PetraBaye and her work, visit
https://www.petrabayeart.com/
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/PDwDyiuly5w
Jeff sits down with artist and educator Larry Hefner to hear about his current work, about his career as both an artist and as an educator, and about how he and his art have evolved over the years.
He also shares deeply about his early career and about some formative experiences that informed the direction of it.
To learn more about Larry and his work, visit
http://www.larryhefner.com
Larry Hefner received his Master of Fine Arts Degree from the University of Oklahoma. He is a Professor Emeritus of Design in the Department of Design at the University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, Oklahoma.
Larry is currently a professional fine artist working from his studio in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He is a multi-disciplined artist working with a variety of media and techniques. In an effort to stay on the cutting edge of the graphic design industry, Larry spends a great deal of his time researching and working on Macintosh computers and their associated software applications.
His work has been exhibited in many local and regional museums and galleries winning numerous awards.
For the past forty years, Larry has worked as a graphic designer/photographer, owning his own studio, The Hefner Group.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/qAO6mXDAgPk
Jeff sits down with OKC based artist Jaiye Farrell as he shares deeply about his artistic perspective and what informs and inspires his work. In addition, he also talks in-depth about what it has felt like for him to create very large murals at different locations in the OKC area. Jaiye also speaks about his experience as an artist and as a human being since the pandemic began and about how he has continued to build his network of fellow artists and hearing different perspectives during this time.
To learn more about Jaiye and his work, visit
https://www.jaiyetheartist.com/
Oklahoma-based artist Jaiye Farrell cultivated his style of painting from abstract patterns that transcend societal and cultural divides and remember the communal roots of humanity. From an infatuation with archeology emerged a creative and ambitious talent: to craft signature designs that inspire self-reflection.
He describes his process in the following way, "Typically, I start with a void (black canvas) because that comes from a place of wonder and I want to explore that. When there’s a void and I’m committed to exploring it, intuition becomes fluid. This is how I paint my white lines on black canvases: with intuition as my guidance. Sometimes I have an outline that I follow but it’s not a boundary. I often veer into nonlinear movements because they move out of stagnancy. That’s how you create a rhythm and a circulation."
Jeff sits down with artist Anita Fields to hear her perspective about the intersection of indigenous art, culture, and language.
She also reflects about the significance of Speak: Speak While You Can, the recently closed exhibit at Living Arts.
To learn more about Anita and her art, visit
https://www.anitafieldsart.comBorn in Oklahoma, artist Anita Fields creates works of clay and textile that reflect the worldview of her Native Osage culture. Her practice explores the complexities of cultural influences and the intersections of balance and chaos found within our lives. The early Osage notions of duality, such as earth and sky, male and female, are represented in her work.
Heavily textured layers and distorted writing are elements found in both her clay and textile works. These reference the complex layers and distortion of truths found in the written history of indigenous cultures.
Fields creates narratives that asks viewers to consider other ways of seeing and being in an effort to understand our shared existence.
The power of transformation and transformative actions are realized by creating various forms of clothing, coverings, and figurative forms. The works become indicators of how we understand our surroundings and visualize our place within the world.
Landscapes, environment, and the influences of nature are themes found throughout the work of Anita Fields. They reflect time, place, and how the earth holds the memory of cultures who once called a specific terrain home.
Fields is currently a 2017-2020 fellow with the Kaiser Foundation Tulsa Artist Fellowship.
Fields’ work has been featured in American Craft, Ms Magazine, American Style, and First American Art. Her work can be found in several collections, such as the Minneapolis Institute of Art, Museum of Art and Design, New York City, Museum of Contemporary Native Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, Heard Museum, Phoenix, Arizona, and the National Museum of American Indian, Smithsonian, Washington, DC.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/axDo-6CL4_8
Jeff sits down to visit with artist Liz Downing from her studio in Baltimore to hear her share deeply about her perspective, her process, and about what her live performance art that with "aural images as companions to visual symbols."
Liz speaks about the healing aspect of her work and about the origins and inspiration for it that is rooted in her childhood and from her experiences growing up in the South.
To learn more about Liz and her work, visit
http://lizdowningart.com/
Liz Downing creates aural images as companions to visual symbols. She collects sounds from beloved environments and embeds these sounds into a blanket for words to rest upon. If all goes well, when these words are sung they activate the symbols, which live again in the air. This is the magic of music. The visual images whom she paints and draw arise from the landscapes which she loves to manipulate into existing upon a flat surface.
This is the magic of art.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/ijwuNHHsFZ8
Jeff sits down with the Tony Tiger, the curator and 3 other artists from this exhibition, Antonia Belindo, Joshua Hinson, and Randi Narcomey-Watson to hear their perspective on the connection between Indigenous art and language and how it is all connected to their tribal communities and to the Ancestors.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/wxnTyImpirg
Jeff sits down with artist and educator Ebony Iman Dallas to hear about her work, her artistic perspective, and about how she has evolved as a result of creating and sharing her art.
She also shares about how she tells stories that are often overlooked with her art and how that has impacted her at a deeper level.
To learn more about Ebony and her work, visit
https://www.ebonyimandallas.com/
Ebony Iman Dallas is a fifth-generation Oklahoman, second-generation Somali-American. She is an artist, writer, and founder of Afrikanation Artists Organization (AAO).Ebony received her BA Journalism Advertising and Arts degree from the University of Central Oklahoma and her MFA Design degree from California College of the Arts in San Francisco.
Her thesis titled "Painted Bridges" explored ways to unify the African American, Afro Caribbean, and continental Africans through art and design for community activism.
As a result, Afrikanation Artists Organization was founded as a non-profit, NGO based Hargeisa, Somaliland, and a 501(c)3 in the United States.Ebony’s work has exhibited extensively in the United States and Somaliland, Somalia in group and solo exhibitions.
Her artwork was included in Food Network’s "Restaurant Impossible" renovation of Urban Roots in Oklahoma and she was a featured artist in the Romare Bearden Centennial Celebration in New York. Her work can be found at The Hargeisa Cultural Center, Joyce Gordon Gallery, and private collections in Namibia, Somaliland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Ebony is a proud graduate of the Oklahoma Arts Council’s Leadership Arts program and ArtistINC.
*Photo credit Charlie Neuenschwander
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW AND TO SEE HER ARTWORK THAT SHE SHOWS, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/Y47enNAK38g
Jeff sits down with Cherokee artist and educator Candessa Tehee as she shares very deeply about the connection between her artwork, her work teaching American Indian Studies and coordinator of Cherokee Language Education and Cherokee Cultural Studies Programs at Northeastern State University, and how this is all integrated within a life spent serving her community.
She shares some of her artwork and a story about how she learned finger weaving and the oblique form and about how she has been teaching this centuries-old art form to others as well.
Honored for her finger weaving, Candessa Tehee has helped resurrect this nearly forgotten art form, winning several finger-weaving awards since she began in 1999. She has mastered both the warp and weft form of finger weaving and the oblique form. In 2015, Tehee was an apprentice to Cherokee National Treasure Dorothy Dreadfulwater Ice.
Currently, she serves as an assistant professor of American Indian Studies and coordinator of Cherokee Language Education and Cherokee Cultural Studies Programs at Northeastern State University.
Candessa Tehee received the honor of Cherokee National Treasure in 2019.
Before joining NSU, Tehee managed Cherokee Nation’s Cherokee Language Program and oversaw the Language Technology Department, Translation Department and Community Languages Program.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/TQUoCk64fdk
Jeff sits down with Cherokee artist and writer Roy Boney, Jr. to hear about the evolution of his art, about his life journey, and about his work with the Cherokee Nation Language Program.
He also shares about how this program has adapted to make it easier for citizens of the Cherokee nation and others who are interested to learn the language to communicate with one another using popular electronic devices,
Roy Boney, Jr. is an award winning Cherokee artist & writer. He grew up in Locust Grove, Oklahoma and currently lives in Tahlequah, where he works for the Cherokee Nation Language Program. His work has been exhibited across the US , Paris, and London.
His writing and artwork have appeared in First American Art Magazine, Native Peoples, Indian Country Today, Oklahoma Today, and Art in AmericaHe is a painter, comic book artist, and digital media artist.
He has also contributed to the graphic novel anthologies Tales of the Mighty Code Talkers, Trickster, Native Graphic Classics, and the newly released Moonshot,
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW AND TO SEE SOME OF BOBBY'S WORK THAT HE SHOWS, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/VvcR3dxCxNY
Jeff sits down with artist and educator Bobby C. Martin to hear about his life journey and what inspired him to begin to create art, about how he and his practice has evolved over the years, and about why he has been deeply moved to utilize older family photographic images as the focal point of his work.
As the conversation concludes, he talks about what the current exhibit at Living Arts, Speak: Speak While You Can means to him at a deeper level and why he feels the sense of urgency to participate in the revitalization of his native language.
To learn more about Bobby and his work, visit
https://www.bobbycmartin.com/
Bobby C. Martin is an artist/educator/facilitator who works out of his 7 Springs Studio near West Siloam Springs, Oklahoma. Martin’s artwork is exhibited and collected internationally. He has been featured in numerous group and solo exhibitions, the most recent being a one-person exhibition entitled But You Don’t Look Indian… that traveled to multiple venues in 2018-2019. His current project, Altars of Reconciliation, is a three-person show featuring Martin, Erin Shaw (Chickasaw) and Tony Tiger (Sac & Fox/Muscogee/Seminole) that focuses on the experiences of the artists as Native Americans and as Christians, and is currently traveling through Fall 2021.
Martin’s work is in numerous museum collections, including the Philbrook Museum and Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the Museum of the Great Plains in Lincoln, Nebraska. An enrolled citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) tribe in Oklahoma, Martin currently holds a Professor of Visual Arts position at John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, and he frequently leads printmaking workshops and artist retreats at his studio and at various museums and art centers around the world.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/8Bdp9UDi0T8
Jeff sits down with Lokosh (Joshua Hinson) to hear about his life journey, about his work in Chickasaw language revitalization, about his artwork, and about how he integrates all of these aspects of himself.
He speaks very compellingly about why the work of Native language revitalization is so important and urgent, and he also shares about the importance of community and how the Chickasaw nation is working so diligently to assure every citizen's well-being during the pandemic.
Lokosh (Joshua D. Hinson) is of Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek), Cherokee, and Euro-American ancestry and is a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation. A conversational speaker of the Chickasaw language and an award-winning artist, he holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in Painting from Abilene Christian University, a master’s degree in Native American Art History from the University of New Mexico, and a PhD in Native Language Revitalization from the University of Oklahoma.
He makes art on the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, Ada, Oklahoma.
Hinson, whose Chickasaw name Lokosh translates as “Gourd,” is of the Imatapo (Their Lean-to People) house group and Kowishto' (Panther) clan.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/XJLZNcDy1fo
Jeff sits down with Bernadette Pleasant, the founder of Femme! & The Emotional Institute as she shares very deeply about the meaning of her work in promoting emotional freedom through movement and empowerment, about her own Journey that led her to do this very powerful work and why it matters so much to her and to those that she works with, and about the impact that it has had on others.
As the conversation concludes, she shares an incredibly moving and deeply compelling perspective on the importance of healing all of the grief, trauma, pain, and challenges that we have been going through here in the U.S. and in the world.
To learn more about Bernadette and her work, visit
https://theemotionalinstitute.com/
Intoxicating and energetic, Bernadette Pleasant is a fiery sensual Speaker, Somatic Healer, and Creator of The Emotional Institute LLC, 400 Years: Unlearning Racism & Femme!, a mind-body wellness program. She has spent a lifetime exploring creative visualizations and celebrations of the human form, from sensual dance to somatic healing. A gifted healer, dancer, and entrepreneur, she channels her personal journeys and her radical empathy into transformative, immersive experiences that empower and celebrate people of all genders, ages, sizes, and fitness levels. Bernadette travels globally empowering all through classes, private workshops, retreats and conference engagements.
With certifications in Emotions-Centered Coaching, Nia Technique, Nia 5 Stages, Ageless Grace, Pole Dance, Somatic Healing, Reiki, and Integrated Energy Therapy—and studies in African, Tribal, and Free Dance—Bernadette Pleasant promotes emotional freedom through movement and empowerment.
As an experienced entrepreneur and the founder of Femme! & The Emotional Institute, Bernadette Pleasant regularly leads discussions on emotional healing, grief rituals, inclusive movement, and empowerment for all. Her authenticity, charisma, and warmth allow her to empathize with and inspire those ready for a journey of emotional exploration and affirmation. Intuitive and engaging, Bernadette Pleasant is a vibrant, sensual speaker who connects with those who have been silenced and shut down to support their physical, emotional, and healing journeys—whether in a classroom, from a podium, or one-on-one.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/dN-XDtPl_PA
Jeff sits down with Dustin Pittsley to hear about what his music means to him at a deeper level, how he got started playing music and creating art, and what about the last few months have been like for him as an artist and as a human being.
He also offers some reflections about the inner experience of performing live for an audience both in the U.S. and abroad and the differences between that and performing online.
As the conversation concludes, he also offers his thoughts about the Tulsa Sound and why the Tulsa music community means so much to him.
To learn more about Dustin's music, visithttp://dustinpittsley.com/
*Photo credit vine + jude photography by Mackenzie Coplin @vineandjude on instagram
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/8wHx4-2i2pE
Jeff sits down with Laura Hensley, the co-host of Bad Decisions | Good Choices Podcast on youtube as she talks about how the podcast came into being and what it's all about. After that, Laura shares very deeply and very compellingly about her life journey, about what she has been through, and about how she has continued to heal and to cope moment to moment and day to day. She has certainly inspired me and know in my heart that she will inspire others as well.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/KSp87R5lp1A
Jeff sits down with Tony Tiger as he shares very deeply about his work as an artist, educator, and curator and how important that it is to him to share not only his work and life journey with various communities, but also the life and work of others.
He speaks very passionately and compellingly about the importance of his conscious and artistic connection with his ancestors and how he honors that in many different ways.
As the conversation concludes, he also talks about the upcoming exhibit that he has curated with Bobby C. Martin, Speak: Speak While You Can at Living Arts of Tulsa that celebrates and acknowledges the power of indigenous languages that opens September 4th from 6:00-8:00 pm and continues through October 16th.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/69Xtj_-fAGIJeff sits down with Bea Baker to hear about her work, her artistic perspective, and about her experiences during the pandemic as an artist and as a human being.
In early spring 2018, I hung out with Kjelshus Collins at his OKC studio and had one of the most "trippy" conversations that I have ever recorded.
In early spring 2018, I hung out with Kjelshus Collins at his OKC studio and had one of the most "trippy" conversations that I have ever recorded.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/0tR1VUFjuto
Jeff sits down with Pam Savino to hear about what her work with clients means to her at a very deep level, about formative moments in her life journey, and some important and inspiring lessons that she has learned along the way.
To learn about Pam and her coaching work with clients, visit
https://liveauthentically.today/
Pam founded Live Authentically to help others learn to find their voice, speak their truth and live authentically. As they go through the transformative events of life, she helps them find their truths and the inner strength to live them fully. She helps people see learning and knowledge in their challenges.
She encourages her clients to let go of the ideas that are holding them back. She coaches them away from behaviors based on fear and doubt, instills a healthy level of self-confidence and love, as well as a spiritual understanding of our world.
Pam believes that every person is important and valuable, and everyone deserves to live their best and most fulfilled life. Live Authentically is dedicated to helping others find their own happiness, on their terms. There is no judgment.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/3uDudPt_VcY
Jeff sits down with Connie Brannock as she shares deeply about her music and how she got started, about her career in the military in various leadership roles, and about how she and her music have evolved over the years.
To learn more about Connie and her music and latest release, Last Call, visit
https://www.conniebrannockband.com/
Connie Brannock is an R&B Force of Nature!
She took the Tucson music scene by storm after she retired from the Army National Guard as Command Sergeant Major, and in 2009 she re-upped as a hot-ticket bandleader and patented R&B artist with enticing authenticity. Vocalist, songwriter, percussionist, poet, she leads Connie Brannock’s Little House of Funk and the Connie Brannock Quartet.
Ask the robust, happy crowds throughout the Southwest—her live shows are exhilarating!
Connie was an entertainer out of the gate. Serious sorties began in high school when her band Luke performed throughout the mid-Atlantic—from Philly to Virginia Beach, to the Princeton Club and William & Mary College. She trekked west in the late 70’s, crooning with the Bill Brown Band in Salt Lake City and San Francisco. Back in Utah, she formed another hot tamale group, Connie and the Rhythm Method with David Jette. In demand, they toured Boise, Moab, Missoula, and performed at the Hollywood Palace in Los Angeles.
In 1986 Connie Brannock won the Stroh’s Superstar Talent Search and was signed by MCA Records. Caleb Ruffin, with Sounds of Success (S.O.S.), recruited her to move to Atlanta and work on a single. Instead, she up and joined the service just before her 35th birthday. Connie served admirably for 21 years and deployed twice in Operation Iraqi Freedom. A compelling leader, she has been a mentor to many young men and women and believes that leadership is an act of love.
Connie’s releasing her second offering, Last Call, a follow up to her popular debut album, Lady on the Bus. Last Call is an EP featuring six new tunes that reflect the uncertainty of what we are facing in today’s tumultous world. She was in the middle of recording a full length album when the pandemic hit and decided to release the tunes she and her team managed to finish, with a plan to release a follow up EP this winter.
Connie continues to pay tribute to the legendary artists who shaped her sound on her latest offering: Sly and the Family Stone, Laura Nyro, Carole King, Jeff Lorber and Patrice Rushen.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/eAwUMCM_sHQ
Jeff sits down with Dashama to hear about her dharma, about her work to bring healing and increased wellness to people all over the world, and about her awakening and spiritual Journey.
She shares deeply about her evolution and how her life has unfolded since the beginning.
To learn more about Dashama and to sign up for her free self-love and yoga mini course including meditation, yoga practice, and EFT for gratitude and forgiveness, visit https://www.dashama.org/Dashama has impacted hundreds of millions of lives globally with her message of healing, happiness, oneness, love & flow. Since 2005 she has produced hundreds of videos, multiple best selling online courses, 32 instructional DVDs, written 5 books, lead international retreats, teacher trainings and events serving the growing demand for her high quality educational material in the meditation, yoga, health & wellness segment.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/znlNzbb_79I
Jeff sits down to visit with Karen Lamb to hear about her work, her artistic perspective, how her work has evolved.
She also speaks about what her experiences have been during the pandemic and how it has informed her work.
The conversation concludes as Karen reflects deeply about why Living Arts of Tulsa is so important to her and about how much the Tulsa arts community means to her.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/qKi7pULte9Q
Jeff sits down with Peter Hay to hear about his work, his artistic perspective, and his evolution as an artist and as a human being.
He shares deeply about what has informed his work over the years and some common themes that really speak to him.
Peter also speaks about his current exhibit at Living Arts, "Reticulation" which is on display until August 29th.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/r8l9kAwHH74
Jeff sits down with teacher and healer Nischala Joy Devi as she shares very deeply about her practice, her Journey, and some very formative lessons that she has learned along the way through living her life and working with her students.
She offers a very nourishing and enlightening perspective that is so incredibly timely during this global crisis.
To learn more about Nischala and her work and teachings, please visithttps://www.abundantwellbeing.com/productsbynischalajoydevi/
NISCHALA JOY DEVI is a masterful teacher and healer. For many years she has been highly respected as an international advocate for her innovative way of expressing Yoga and its subtle uses for spiritual growth and complete healing. Her dynamic delivery and deep inner conviction empower each individual, allowing the teachings to expand beyond boundaries and limitations of any one tradition enabling her to touch people’s hearts.
She was graced to spend over 25 years as a monastic disciple with the world-renowned Yogiraj Sri Swami Satchidanandaji, receiving his direct guidance and teachings. She also was blessed with teachings from great Yoga masters in US, India and worldwide.
Originally trained in Western medicine, she began to blend western medicine with Yoga, offered her expertise in developing the yoga portion of The Dean Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease, and co-founded the award-winning Commonweal Cancer Help Program. Her book “The Healing Path of Yoga,” and her Abundant WellBeing Audio Series expresses these teachings.
With her knowledge of yoga and her experience in assisting those with life-threatening diseases (particularly people with heart disease and cancer), she created Yoga of the Heart®, a training and certification program for Yoga teachers and health professionals designed to adapt Yoga practices to the special needs of that population.
She is now dedicated to bringing the Feminine back into spirituality and the scriptures, in her book, The Secret Power of Yoga, a woman’s guide to the heart and spirit of the Yoga Sutras and Secret Power of Yoga Audiobook Nautilus Book Silver Award Winner!
Her two newest books are available on Amazon.com
THE NAMASTE EFFECT: Expressing Universal Love through the Chakras
MEDITATION IN THE YOGA TRADITIONFor more information, also visit
Facebook.com\Nischala Joy Devi
Twitter.com\nischaladevi
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/8Tq2ZGdAbP4
In this episode, Jeff sits down to visit with Lauren Rainbow Lunsford at Rainbowland Art Studios as she shares deeply about her life journey and all about her process of discovering of all of the different aspects of herself.
She also reflects about the years when she lived New York City and about her transformation there and how she brought back what she learned when she returned to Tulsa.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/t4oIRCVxugA
Jeff sits down with artist and educator Cristiana Prado as she shares deeply about her artistic perspective, her process, and how her work is informed by her memories of her home country where she grew up.
She also speaks about how she is able to connect with such joy through infusing her memories of home into her work and about how important and healing that it is for her to share this with others.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/LQzVCOst5MU
Jeff sits down with Kerri Lake as she shares very deeply and very compellingly about her life journey, key turning points along the way, and about some incredibly life-changing, Consciousness-altering, and empowering lessons that she has learned about the importance of connection and presence.
She speaks very candidly regarding what she has learned about connection and presence from working with animals over the years and how that has illuminated why she is here to work with people as well.
To learn more about Kerri and her work, visitwww.kerrilake.com
Kerri is masterful in many ways. Utilizing her own innate gifts and abilities, she integrates wisdom, guidance and communication from every realm of consciousness to assist and accelerate your own integration, starting right where you are. She helps people and animals of all species know the sense of living in harmony and clarity.
Her two published books offer a view into the formation of tools, awareness and the courage it has taken to walk through life without compromise. Kerri has blazed a new trail on the road to freedom from limitations and conditioning. On this trail, all species are welcome and integrate through frequencies of communication. The greatest gift she can give to you is her own purity of expression, sharing her own journey, to help you see that if she can do it...so can you.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/P5kTNmvYeKI
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Spencer Plumlee to take a very deep dive into her work, her artistic perspective, and what inspires her.
She also speaks very compellingly and very frankly about how revisiting her own work and the artwork of her friends has been very healing for her.
The conversation concludes as Spencer shares some of her thoughts and reflections about her own space where she lives and creates in and what she has in it and why it is important to her.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/HIsiDmb81lE
In this episode, Jeff sits down to visit with artist Cara Cox from her studio as she shares very candidly about her life journey and how she has learned about who she is at a very deep level through her experiences in performance art and visual art.
She also speaks about how nourishing and healing it has been for her to continue to be in touch with her sense of "childlike wonder" in her creative process and how she integrates that into her artistic practice.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/GsMXPJnc_zc
In this episode, Jeff sits down with artist Linda Dunbar to hear about her work, about how she got started with her formal art practice, and how she has evolved as an artist and as a human being over the years.
She also speaks very candidly about what this past few months have been like for her personally and artistically.
The conversation concludes with Linda sharing about what Living Arts means to her personally and about her experiences there.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/qiYwckbYhdU
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/AEtv_vuAsi0
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Diane Salamon to hear her reflect at a very deep level about her work and how it has evolved over time.
She shares very candidly about her artistic perspective and about her journey as an artist and as a human being.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/sG6FGd6rf04In this episode, Jeff sits down to visit with jazz vibraphonist Sasha Berliner as she shares deeply about what her music and jazz music in general mean to her at a deeper level.
She speaks candidly about why jazz is still very relevant today and about the importance of "cross pollination" with other musical genres and styles.
The conversation concludes as she talks about how she discovered jazz, about some formative lessons learned, and about her own artistic journey thus far.
Sasha Berliner’s music work remains primarily based in New York City. In addition to performing internationally with her own project, Sasha Berliner Azalea, her recent notable performances have been with musicians such as drummer-composer Tyshawn Sorey, trumpet player Nicholas Payton, and jazz vibraphonist Warren Wolf, and drummer Quincy Davis.
In 2019, she was a nominee for best vibraphonist in the Downbeat Readers’ Poll and “Best New Artist” in the JazzTimes Reader Poll.
She is an endorsing artist for Vater and Marimba One, and is a faculty member at the MalletLab percussion intensive, where she gives masterclasses and clinics.
Sasha’s full length debut album, “Azalea”, is available for purchase on Bandcamp, iTunes, and Amazon, and for streaming on Spotify, Tidal, and Apple Music.
It has since been nominated for JazzTimes 2019 Readers’ Poll’s “Best New Release”, and has been described by critics.as “shimmering and thoughtful” (Kassel, TIDAL), “gleefully exploring various genres and headspaces” (Tremblay, CTEBCM).
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/Xqfz9h-4x5k
In this episode, Jeff sits down to visit with Kim Stanwood Terranova as she shares about what her work with clients means to her at a deeper level and about how she and her spiritual practice have evolved over the years.
The conversation concludes as she speaks very compellingly about the power of intention and how important it is in our spiritual Journey.
Kim Stanwood Terranova is a woman of passionate power who assists individuals with experiencing true inner greatness and unlimited, authentic joy. She has been dubbed the chiropractor of the mind, and the master teacher of intentional living.
For more information about her new book The Technology Of Intention, please visit https://kimstanwoodterranova.com/the-technology-of-intention
Kim holds a license as a Practitioner of Truth from The Agape International Spiritual Center in Los Angeles, and she has also earned a Bachelor's Degree in Spiritual Studies. For over three decades she has immersed herself in the application and practice of universal spiritual truth and wisdom.
**Website: https://kimstanwoodterranova.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KimStanwoodTerranovaALSP
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kimstanwood
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimstanwood/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-stanwood-terranova-alsp/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCygeK7nXvJp18ZICuWJmCeg**
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW AND TO SEE THE ARTWORK THAT TAYLOR DISPLAYS DURING THE INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/wFbQyoqO71M
In this episode, Jeff sits down with artist Taylor Painter-Wolfe as she shares about her work and her process and what it means to her at a macro and micro level.
The conversation continues as they talk about how Covid has affected artists and the arts community, and she shares some very inspiring thoughts about some of the new possibilities and opportunities for artists to connect more strongly with their followers and supporters.
To learn more about Taylor and her work, please visithttps://taylorpainterwolfe.com/ On Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/taylorpainterwolfeart/ Instagram
@taylorpainterwolfeart
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW AND TO SEE THE ARTWORK THAT BLAKE DISPLAYS DURING THE INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/wondOp5qlso
In this episode, Jeff sits down to visit with Blake Dean about his artwork that will be shown at the upcoming 2020 Quarantine Exhibit at Living Arts of Tulsa.
He also shares about his artistic perspective and what informs his work.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/Xzumf8r1QDY
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Ora Nadrich to hear about her work as a Mindfulness teacher and Certified Life Coach. She shares about her life journey and about what moved her to begin doing this work and what it all means to her at a deeper level.
She also reflects upon the transformative nature of the "feedback loop" between healing practitioners and their clients and some examples of how that has impacted her life and Consciousness. The conversation concludes with Ora speaking about the importance of cultivating Mindfulness and higher Consciousness at this time in human history
Ora Nadrich is founder and president of the Institute for Transformational Thinking and author of Live True: A Mindfulness Guide to Authenticity, named in the 100 Best Mindfulness Books of All Time by BookAuthority. She is a certified life coach and Mindfulness teacher, specializing in transformational thinking, self-discovery and mentoring new coaches as they develop their careers.
Ora's rare combination of insight, intuition, compassion and charisma has made her one of the most effective and sought-after coaches in Los Angeles. Her work has been featured in Women's Health Magazine, Reader's Digest, Conscious Lifestyle Magazine, Fast Company, Success Magazine, Spirituality & Health, Elevated Existence, NBC News, LA Yoga Magazine, Yahoo! Health, and many more.
Ora's daily updates may be found on Instagram @OraNadrich, Facebook at Author Ora Nadrich and Twitter @OraNadrich. Other insight and quotes by Ora can be found on Instagram @OraNadrichQuotes and Twitter @OraNadrichQuote.
In July of 2019, just a couple of days after returning to Tulsa from living in OKC for 4 years, I headed down to Black Wall Street Gallery to meet Dr. Ricco Wright because even in OKC, the word was out about how he has been and is making a huge difference in Tulsa.
I have never done this before, but I walked right into his gallery and met the man that I had heard so much about and then sat down with him a few days later.
That conversation is one of those that I can truly say has changed my Consciousness in a way that I can’t even put into words.
The bottom line is that he is going to shake things up and bring about real change here, and I look forward to seeing his future and the future of the community that he serves unfold in the coming years.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/Ax-2is7qrAM
In this episode, Jeff sits down and takes a very deep dive with the incredibly innovative fusion musician Jared Lowery as he shares about his musical evolution over the last several years and how he has developed his own unique sound and all original instrumental music.
The conversation continues as Jared speaks very candidly about the challenges in gaining visibility and building an audience playing original instrumental music in Oklahoma.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/8Tq2ZGdAbP4
In this episode, Jeff sits down to visit with Lauren Rainbow Lunsford at Rainbowland Art Studios as she shares deeply about her life journey and all about her process of discovering of all of the different aspects of herself.
She also reflects about the years when she lived in New York City and about her transformation there and how she brought back what she learned when she returned to Tulsa.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/huN9Af8xPiU
In this episode, Jeff sits down with artist Brendon Williams to hear about his artistic perspective and process. He also shares deeply about growing up in Oklahoma City and about his education in art and about his work as an art teacher at Douglass Middle-High School in OKC.
He also shares an intensely inspiring and highly compelling perspective about what he learned about himself and what he experienced during the period of quarantine and how it affected his art and his consciousness.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW AND TO SEE THE ARTWORK THAT GABRIEL DISPLAYS DURING THE INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/d_DPY0ZmQnk
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Gabriel Rojas to hear about and to see some of his most recent work and about how the period of quarantine led to some newfound creativity and perspective for him.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW AND TO SEE THE ARTWORK THAT SONYA DISPLAYS DURING THE INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/C8K66GFe_oM
In this episode, Jeff sits down with artist Sonya Shannon as she shares deeply about her process, which has been informed by her spiritual journey and evolution over the years.
The conversation centers around the intersection of art and higher consciousness and how her work has evolved as she has evolved personally and professionally.
Sonya’s distinctive style is shaped by her training in hand-drawn animation, combined with expertise in digital color, 3-D computer animation and digital effects. Her current work reflects her sources of interest and inspiration, from childhood when she first discovered the visionary writings and etchings of William Blake, to her teen years guided by the allegorical fantasy scenes of Maxfield Parrish and Roger Dean, and later discoveries including the mysterious symbolism of Remedios Varo and George Tooker.
Early computer art and animation deeply shaped Sonya’s decision to use digital tools and a cinematic process to make fine art. These influences, combined with a personal collection of crystals, costumes, and collectibles, give rise to lavishly illuminated images that conjure up metaphysical realms of imagination and fantasy.
To learn more about Sonya and her work, visit https://sonya-shannon.com/
To learn more about Sonya's healing and spiritual work, visit
https://sonya-shannon.com/about/healing-spiritual-work/
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Michelle Firment Reid at Atelier MFR as she shares deeply about her perspective, evolution, and process from the standpoint of an artist and as a human being.
She also speaks about her experiences in opening Atelier MFR during this time in history and what it means to her at a deeper level.
To learn more about Michelle and about Atelier MFR, please visit
http://www.mfreidart.com/
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/5raIg6a-AcE
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Andrea Martin to hear her reflect about her art, her process, and how her work has evolved over the years due to her spiritual evolution.
As the conversation continues, she shares deeply about how her work has been very therapeutic for herself and for many others as well.
Andrea also offers a fresh, unique, and very compelling perspective about what her own work means to her at a deeper level and about her connection to it.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/pc99NjD6l5g
In this episode, Jeff sits down with public speaker and author Charles Eisenstein to hear some deeper reflections about his life journey and how his personal evolution has informed his work over the past several years.He also shares some deeper thoughts about how he sees the current global crisis on a human and a deeper, spiritual level.
To read his recent essay entitled "The Coronation" regarding his perspective on the Covid-19 crisis and how it is affecting us on a global and local level, visit https://charleseisenstein.org/essays/the-coronation/
His work covers a wide range of topics, including the history of human civilization, economics, spirituality, and the ecology movement.To learn more about Charles and his work, visit www.charleseisenstein.org
VIEW VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW AT INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE OR AT https://youtu.be/N-3n6Y6IPyY
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Subha Sridharan, former board President of Living Arts of Tulsa, Holly Becker, Executive Director of ahha, and Todd Cunningham, Executive Director of Arts Alliance Tulsa to hear their reflections about the First Friday Art Crawl, what it means to them personally, and their earliest memories of it as well as some thoughts about how it has and may continue to evolve as we go through this very unique time in history.
TO VIEW A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW--VISIT INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE OR AT https://youtu.be/j62Nx6rCCqwIn this episode, Jeff sits down to visit with artist Jave Yoshimoto to hear about his art and his perspective. In additional to speaking about his work, he also shares some very compelling examples of it as well and speaks about what each piece means to him personally.
Jave's work takes on the ephemerality of news and information and how the emotions we bring to each tragedy in the news cycle are swept away by the wave of information that floods the media. He addresses this social amnesia through his art with the work acting as a social memory for tragic events so quickly forgotten in our information age.
Jave Yoshimoto is an artist and educator of multi-cultural background. He was born in Japan to Chinese parents and immigrated to United States at a young age. He has since traveled and lived in various parts of the country which influenced his artistic practice. He believes in creating art works that are socially conscious and true to his authentic self. Similarly in his teaching philosophy, he encourages his students to explore their personal identity and experiences to put into their creative compositions while developing their technical skills.
To learn more about Jave and his art, please visit
https://www.javeyoshimoto.com
VIEW VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW AT INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE OR AT https://youtu.be/QnW-jvxLjvY
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Drew Davis to hear about his abstract art, and about what his experience was like having some of his art on display at Living Arts of Tulsa in their ReMember exhibit earlier this year.Drew also reflects deeply about what he has learned about himself and about life through working his craft.
The conversation concludes as they talk about what life has felt like during this unprecedented time in history and about the healing aspect of balancing "being with doing."
TO VIEW VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE OR AT https://youtu.be/IwA-09sS8CMIn this episode, Jeff sits down with His Grace Sankarshan Das Adhikari as he shares deeply about his life journey since he started spreading the Krishna consciousness movement since the 1970's. Sankarshan Das fully dedicated his life for serving the order of his spiritual master to become a guru and deliver the world.
For the last 40 years he has uninterruptedly served his spiritual master’s movement, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), in various capacities.In the year 2000, in recognition for his full dedication to Srila Prabhupada’s mission, ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission (GBC) gave him their blessings to initiate disciples.
Since that time he has been regularly traveling and lecturing extensively all over the world for reviving the dormant Krishna consciousness in the hearts of all living beings. Well known for his Internet based training program, the Ultimate Self Realization Course, he has attracted over 12,000 subscribers from over 100 different countries who receive a daily inspirational message and personal answers to their questions regarding how to become perfect in Krishna consciousness. Those who are interested can join his course at www.backtohome.com
TO VIEW THE VIDEO FROM THIS INTERVIEW, VISIT INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE OR AT https://youtu.be/ixeawiHS3cgIn this episode, Jeff visits with Erica Royal at her home studio to hear about her artistic perspective and process. She also shares about how she has been coping with the current situation with the pandemic and about how she has been creating a new abstract art piece every day for the past 40 days.
As the conversation concludes, she presents her 40th art piece during the interview and also reflects about what it has been like to return to Tulsa and becoming active in the art community after being away for many years.
VIEW VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW ON INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE OR AT https://youtu.be/W9Y8hDbv4_4
In this episode, Jeff sits down to visit with Hector Beven about his work, his perspective, and evolution. He and Jeff also reflect at a deeper level about the effects of the recent crisis on artists and art community.
Hector also shares about how he got started creating art and about how there are several important balances that he is maintaining in order to continue to grow as an artist and as a human being.
VIEW VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW AT INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE OR AT https://youtu.be/2zHWPVc0hUo
In this episode, Jeff sits down to visit with artist Ray Short about his work with assemblage, which is a form of sculpture comprised of "found" objects arranged in such a way that they create a new, unique piece
He shares deeply about the inspiration for his work and how it is centered around the meaning of rituals and how this practice has provided him with healing and newfound joy in his life.
In this episode, Jeff visits with Charlie Larson, a Tulsa artist that has been very involved in creating ArtCars for many years, about the upcoming ArtCar Porch Parade in collaboration with Living Arts of Tulsa and Philbrook Museum Of Art.
The cars will drive on designated routes and engage with the community while still maintaining a safe social distance.
The parade will happen on Friday, May 1st from 6:00-9:00 p.m., Saturday, May 2nd from 2:00-4:00 p.m., and Sunday May 3rd from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Routes will be announced in the coming weeks.
Charlie also reflects about the history of ArtCars, about how he got started creating them, and some of his favorite memories and most memorable reactions from people who have seen his various ArtCars over the years.
View Video On Inspiring Conversations Podcast Channel On Youtube Or At https://youtu.be/tVQUFC_t_B4
In this episode, Jeff sits down with singer-songwriter and human being Samantha Crain to hear about her transformation over the past three years and about how she has more fully inhabited her life as a human being while still continuing her craft.
She speaks very candidly about how she has been and is continuing to experience a "different way of being." She also reflects about how she got started writing songs and performing, about how her work has evolved, and also about her life journey since those early years.
Watch video on youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqarIYcH2BY
Jeff sits down to visit with Heather Duncan, the Executive Director and Sina McLin, Arts And Communications Manager to hear about how things are going during this time. Heather and Sina share a very compelling story of how their team and organization has "pivoted" in a very short period of time and have created very fresh and relevant programming in order to not only stay connected to their members, but also with the "community at large."
View Video On Inspiring Conversations Channel On Youtube Or At https://youtu.be/dPzMkH0CIYE
In this interview, Jeff sits down with artist and educator Ariana Jakub to hear about her work as an artist and as an educator and about her process in both areas and how they intersect.
Ariana also shares how she has been coping during this time in terms of her work and personal projects, and she reflects about these changes in daily life that many of us have all been experiencing lately and how they may very well influence how she lives, works, and creates in the future.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with artist and photographer Destiny Jade Green downtown at Living Arts of Tulsa to hear about her work, her artistic perspective, and her evolution as an artist and as a human being.
She also speaks very in-depth about how she works with light, space, time, and temporal distance in her photographic work,
In this episode, Jeff sits down with poet and Tulsa Artist Fellow Candace Wiley at her office in downtown Tulsa to hear about her work, current and recent projects, and about her experiences since she has been in Tulsa.
She also speaks extensively about her collaborative project, The Watering Hole, which has a mission of building Harlem Renaissance spaces in the new contemporary South. They specialize in teaching texts by poets of color to diverse audiences and hosting retreats and workshops for poets of color in the South.
To learn more about Candace, her writings, and her projects, please visit candacewiley.com
A recording of the artist panel from the closing of the "ReMember" member artist exhibit at Living Arts of Tulsa.
Participating artists were: Scott Taylor, Ariana Jakub, Diane Salamon, and Jay Exon.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Joy Eaton as she shares about her artwork and how it has evolved over the years.
She also talks about what her own particular creative process means to her at a deeper level and also reflects on what it has been like for her to grow as an artist and as a human being.
To learn more about Joy and her work, visit
@artworkbyjoyeaton on instagram
facebook.com/artworkbyjoyeaton
To learn more about the children's book that she illustrated, visit
https://www.vestralingua.com/books/while-mommy-was-fast-asleep/
In this episode, Jeff sits down with artist Cynthia Anne Brown at Living Arts of Tulsa to hear about her art, her process, and her evolution as an artist and as a human being.
She shares deeply about her life journey and about some of the most formative lessons that she has learned along the way.
In this episode, Jeff sits down to visit with Rachel Calvert about the work that she does with clients utilizing Thai Yoga Bodywork, Craniosacral and Osteopathic Bodywork.
She speaks very candidly about her life journey, about how she has been healing and evolving over the years, and about how she takes what she has learned and integrated within herself into the classroom with her students as an Elementary teacher and as a hospice volunteer.
In this episode, Jeff sits down at Living Arts of Tulsa with Heather Duncan, their Interim Executive Director, to hear about her life journey and her experiences there so far. She also shares some deeper thoughts about why Living Arts is such a critical part of the art scene in Tulsa and the larger community
The conversation continues as she talks more in-depth about her priorities, goals, hopes, and dreams for Living Arts going forward.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Megan Amelia Burnett, the Owner of 405 Yoga to hear her share some very powerful reflections about how her studio was intentionally designed to be highly conducive to the ongoing cultivation of a loving and healing community from the very unique way that the space was designed to the intensely open, welcoming, and friendly way that teachers and students are with each other and with new people who come there the first time.
She also reflects on her own inner journey since she started practicing yoga, on some very powerful lessons that she has learned along the way that inform how she guides the community at 405 Yoga, and how she has evolved as a practitioner, teacher, and human being over time.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Michael Palazzo to hear him reflect deeply and in a very compelling way about his experiences at the opening of his current exhibit "Removed" at Living Arts of Tulsa on display through January 25th and what it all means to him.
He also shares about his very unique and highly refreshing artistic perspective, about his process, and about the importance of connecting with the community through his work.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with travelling master sound alchemists and sound healing instructors Jay Schwed and Megan Ann Walker to take a deep dive into the origins and the therapeutic benefits of sound healing. We also get to hear from each of the Tulsa Advanced Sound Healers about what drew them to this healing modality and how it has changed their lives.
In order to reach Jay and Megan as well as the Tulsa Advanced Sound Healers who were present on this particular evening, please visit them at:
Jay and Megan
928-241-0311
www.healingcrystalbowls.com
https://www.facebook.com/octavialrepatterning/
On Instagram @octavialrepatterning
Nancy James, RN and Reiki Master
918-470-6652
Kimberly Sharp-Fielder
918-431-4456
On facebook
Leah Odum
On Instagram @leah_stylist17
Margie Alban
On facebook
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Dean Wyatt in his studio at Urban Art Lab to hear about what influences and inspires his artwork and about how his practice has evolved since he moved to Tulsa in the early '90s.
He also shares some interesting reflections on how he got involved in the art community in Tulsa and some advice for artists who are beginning to establish themselves and who want to expand their visibility and their network.
In this episode, Jeff sits down for a one-time (or maybe the first installment of several) at Teegarden Studios with David Teegarden, Grammy Award-winning musician and one of Tulsa's most prominent recording artists as he shares some memories from his very early musical career.
David is one of the musicians who shaped the unique fusion of rockabilly, jazz, country, gospel, and blues into what has been known as The Tulsa Sound.
He speaks about how he got started playing drums, about his very early performing experiences, and some reflections from when he moved to LA in the early 60's to do studio work with Leon Russell and JJ Cale. He also talks about his experiences recording the "B side" of JJ Cale's song, "After Midnight," which was covered by Eric Clapton several years later.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Dana McMurchy at Harvard CBD Health Center as she reflects deeply about how she got started practicing yoga, her personal teaching philosophy, and how it has changed her life.
The conversation continues as she speaks about her activism in cannabis legalization before and after the law has changed, about her work in the wellness community, and about how Harvard CBD Health Center has become a place where people come together and share information and research about healing that truly has made and is making a difference in peoples lives.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Tulsa Artist Fellow Dan Farnum to hear him share some deep reflections about his photography exhibit currently on view at The Zarrow Center For Art & Education downtown titled "Young Blood."
He speaks candidly about his experiences while taking the photos in this exhibit in different communities around Detroit, Michigan and about what it all means to him at a deeper level since he grew up near these areas.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with jazz musician Dean Demerritt to hear about how he got started playing the bass, his thoughts about the current jazz scene in Tulsa, and about his early experiences performing in some of the popular venues in downtown back in the 70's and his career since then.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Tulsa Artist Fellow Naima Lowe to hear about her life and her work. She shares some in-depth details about her process and her artistic approach and how those are informed by her life experiences.
In this episode, Patrick Wilborn shares deeply about mantras and about kirtan meditation and why it is significant and also very healing, He also speaks candidly about his journeys to India and how that has transformed his Consciousness and how those experiences fit into his overall life journey.
With roots in the visual and performing arts, Patrick has been diving into the depths of yogic philosophy since 2016. His practice advanced to the next level during his 200 hour yoga training in Rishikesh where he was instructed on how to teach Vinyasa yoga and meditation. Since then he has received certifications in Hatha yoga and Reiki energy healing, and collected wisdom from all across India.
He leads a weekly kirtan session at Innergistic in Broken Arrow every Tuesday from 6-7 pm and hosts a second Thursday Kundalini Yoga led by a different teacher every month and Kirtan session from 7-9 pm.
In this episode, Jeff sits down to visit with Jabee to hear about how he got started writing music, about how his writing process has changed over the years, and about how he has evolved as a human being.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with artist John Hammer at his studio to hear about how he got started painting and about how he and his work have evolved.
He also reflects deeply about what has driven and inspired his creative evolution and why openness to change has been so important to him.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Sean Al-Jibouri to hear him share about his life and music.
The conversation is centered around his experiences while performing over the years with various groups and also performing solo while featuring his original compositions. He also speaks about how he and his music has evolved and what has influenced his unique sound and what it all means to him at a deeper level.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with longtime Tulsa guitarist Randy Wimer to hear him reflect about his career as a musician and how he and his music have evolved over the years.
He also shares some of his experiences from early in his career in the Tulsa music scene in the 1970's.
At the end of the interview, he plays one of his original compositions on the acoustic guitar.
In this episode, Nicole Peltier Hall sits down with Jeff at The Yoga Room to share about what her yoga and meditation practices mean to her at a deeper level and an incredibly moving and inspiring story about her life transformation and the most formative lessons that she has learned along the way.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Yadenee Hailu to hear about her life journey as a Unitarian Minister as well as a human being who is living her life intentionally while utilizing various spiritual practices from diverse traditions.
She shares very deeply about her own evolution, about what her life experiences mean to her at a deeper level, and about how she sees the world and her place in it.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with visual artist and filmmaker Heyd Fontenot to hear about his life journey, his work, his perspective on life, art, and community.
He also shares some deeper thoughts about The Lodge Of Saint Reborlaro, his community project that focuses on community, mental wellness, and spirituality,
*To learn more about Heyd and his work, please visit
heydfontenot.com
Photo Credit Zach Dilgard
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Joe Picorale, owner of Be Love Yoga Studio in the Pearl District to hear about how he got started practicing yoga and about his teaching style.
He also shares about his life journey and reflects about how yoga has changed his life and the lives of his students.
The conversation concludes as Joe speaks about the connection of of his studio to the surrounding neighborhood and about the upcoming Silent Yoga Downtown Shutdown on September 13th, the Big Om Yoga Festival at Centennial Park on September 14th and 15th, and the Fall Big Om Yoga Retreat on October 11th-13th.
For more information, please visit
www.beloveyogastudio.com
To learn more about the Big Om Yoga Festival At Centennial Park, please visit
https://www.bigomyogaretreat.com/big-om-yoga-festival
To learn more about Big Om Yoga Retreat, please visit
www.bigomyogaretreat.com
In this interview, Jeff sits down with Allison Sims and Shelley Free with Oklahoma New Health Cooperative to hear from them about their life journeys and about what inspired and motivated them to do the work that they do in the community that is centered around recent legislative changes regarding cannabis and social justice, education, and individual and community wellness.
In this episode, Susan Baley, the Executive Director of 108 Contemporary speaks about her life journey and how it led her to Tulsa and 108 Contemporary.
She also shares about her experiences since taking over the leadership there and some reflections about the art scene in downtown Tulsa.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with visual artist Christine Partigianoni to hear some very deep thoughts from her about art and about life.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with singer/songwriters Kinsey Charles and Levi Parham to hear them reflect about their life together, their music, and their artistic processes and what it all means at a deeper level.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Indie Hip-Hop Rap artist Miillie Mesh to hear about her life journey and music and about how she and her craft has evolved.
She also speaks about some of her formative life experiences, about what she has learned, and how she has grown as an artist and as a human being.
To learn more about her and her music, please visit:
on Twitter at https://twitter.com/miilliemesh?lang=en
on Instagram at @miilliemesh
Also, you can listen to her music on Spotify and on SoundCloud
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Suzanne Thomas, Randall Barnes, and Bryon Perdue from Inclusion in Art to hear about how the organization got started years ago, about how it has evolved, and about the very powerful work that they are doing in the community through collaborating with individuals and other organizations to help bring together artists from diverse backgrounds with various exhibits and events.
The conversation continues as they also speak about the transformative power of mentoring that they are doing with emerging artists and also through facilitating the "hard conversations" in the community centered around bring about more diversity in the arts in Oklahoma.
To learn more about Inclusion in Art and to get involved,
visit their website at https://inclusioninart.com/
on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/InclusionInArtOK/
on instagram @inclusioninart
In this episode, Gina sits down with Jeff while being filmed in front of a live audience to share some deep thoughts about what moved her to start creating her very personal style of artwork, how it has been so very healing for her, and some thoughts that others have shared with her regarding to how it has helped heal them.
The conversation continues and goes even deeper regarding how this work can help free other people from how they can unconsciously cause suffering for themselves and others through facilitating a different perspective and more awareness about the power of words and how they are used.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with comedian Georgina Adjaye to hear about how she got started in comedy, what she has learned and how she and her craft have evolved, and what it means to her at a deeper level. She shares some very compelling stories about some her of experiences while performing and about what led her to pursue her craft.
She is featured in an upcoming event on May 18th at The Paramount Room called Ladies Night Of Comedy at 8 p.m.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Von Gies to hear about his artwork that is currently on display at the Spring Group Exhibit at The Art Hall on 23rd and Walker. He shares some deep thoughts about what informs his work, about his process, and about what he has learned on his life journey.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with the team from #YesLoveOKC--Albert Rios, Valerie Rollins, Mike Allen, and Andrew Frederick to hear about their movement that is a social community action group that focuses on bridging the intersectionality gap in society. Through awareness, art, continued education and social media, their goal is to create a community by encouraging necessary conversations in a respectful manner that promote growth and empowerment of all.
The team shares some very moving stories about the work that they have done and are doing in the community to bring people together from different communities and from different walks of life in very powerful and life-changing ways.
Each of them also share some very inspiring stories about how they got started with the group and how their involvement in it has changed their lives and ways of looking at the world.
To learn more about Yes Love OKC and about opportunities to volunteer and to get involved,
visit their facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/YesLoveOKC/
In this episode, Jeff sits down with longtime OKC resident and scholar, educator, and community activist and advocate John Thompson to hear about how growing up in OKC informed his perspective and his passion for community, intergenerational mentoring, and being an educator and an advocate for positive change in inner city schools and communities.
He shares some very powerful experiences, stories, and formative lessons learned from his many years of being an educator on the Eastside with OKC Public Schools and some very insightful thoughts about what works and what doesn't and hasn't worked in the classroom and in schools in general.
John also speaks about the transformative power of human relationships and conversations and about why it's so important to bring together schools and their surrounding communities in some very new, innovative, and effective ways that bring teachers, students, and professionals from numerous disciplines together from different generations and from different socioeconomic backgrounds.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Nathan and Krisha Retherford to hear a very moving story about their life together and their music. They both share some reflections about where they are from and what their life has been like since moving to the OKC area and their experiences with starting Dire Gnome and releasing their first album, Homebrew, earlier this year.
In this episode, Jeff sits down to visit with author, poet, and comedian Catherine Katey Johnson to hear about her life journey and about some of her most formative experiences.
She talks about her life in the arts and how her work has evolved over the years, and she also speaks about her experiences in writing her latest book, "Fifty Shades Of Gray Hair" and also about her previous book "Pody Poe: from Tinhorn Gambler to Kingpin Of Organized Crime."
In this episode, Jeff sits down to talk about comedy and about life and how working his craft has helped him to be able to communicate more openly with others about the anxiety that he experiences on a day to day basis.
He also shares some thoughts about how his comedy style and process have evolved over the years and what it all means to him at a deeper level.
In this mini-episode, Jeff sits down with Adrienne Wright at IAO during the opening of "A Little Bit Of History" to hear about her work that is displayed there both from her high school years alongside a couple of her current pieces.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Jeremiah Rankin, Michael Moffitt, and Logan Morris with Tripsitters band to hear about their life journeys, how they came together, their very distinctive musical style, and where they are headed.
To learn more about them, go to
their website--www.tripsittersband.com
on facebook--facebook.com/tripsittersofficialband
on instagram and twitter--@tripsittersband
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Dead Feather at the opening reception of the show, A Little Bit Of History at IAO that his work is featured in and hear from him about the deep meaning behind his art, how it has evolved over the years, and what it means to him personally and spiritually.
In this episode, Justin Clark, the CEO Of Visionary Status, LLC sits down with Jeff Krisman and shares some formative experiences from his life journey and shares some thoughts about Visionology.
In this episode, Jeff sits down and has a deep convo both serious and funny about (almost) everything with comedian Matt Raney: his life experiences, OKC Streetcars, open mics in different cities, the inner experience of writing and performing comedy, Lime scooters, etc, etc, etc, etc.
Learn more about Matt, his life, and comedy on Twitter and Instagram @heyraney
In this episode, Jeff sits down with real estate investor and developer Gary Brooks to have a deeper conversation about his experiences with The First National Center project and what it has meant to him. He reflects about the very positive and supportive responses that he has received from current and former residents of Oklahoma City and some of their family members since this project was announced to the public and since the renovation work has begun.
In this episode, Jeff sits down to visit with filmmaker Amy Scott about "Hal", her documentary about the film director and editor Hal Ashby, who was associated with the New Hollywood wave of filmmaking in the 1970's. She shares some thoughts about why this era of filmmaking and of America's history is so interesting and important to her and about what inspired her to tell Hal Ashby's story in this documentary
In this episode, Jeff sits down to visit with OKC artist Gina Hoffman to hear some highly compelling insights into how she observes powerful words from a different view through her various works of art and through having discussions with people who experience her work.
She shares some thoughts and stories about how these discussions that her work inspires have the potential to more fully empower people and help facilitate emotional healing and to change the way they think and feel about words that can be very "emotionally loaded."
Learn more about Gina's very fresh and unique works of art and the discussions that they can inspire and contact her to book a presentation at www.ginahoffman.com
*Jeff sits down with LaTasha Timberlake to spend some time in Presence and in deep conversation to hear about her life journey and spiritual evolution and about some very critical lessons learned along the way.
About LaTasha-*LaTasha S. Timberlake born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, raised by the Universe and I AM DOPE!
Transformational Life Coach, Spiritual Mentor, and Inspirational Speaker.
Contact info:
Website:
tashatimberlake.com
Email:
info@tashatimberlake.com
FB:
Timberlake
IG: timberlake_liveyourtruth
innergy_guru
These very talented comedians from OKC get together and talk about how they got started in comedy, what it's like to go up on stage for the first time, how to read audiences and adapt their material and approach, what it's like to perform in front of different kinds of audiences and at different kind of venues, what formative lessons that they have learned about comedy and about life, how writing material and performing has changes their lives, how they have used their life journeys and their struggles to create authentic material that their audiences can connect with in a deep way.
Jeff would also like to offer very heartfelt appreciation to Lenny Vanhorn for organizing this panel and to everyone for participating in a really fun night going behind the scenes in the lives of comedians.
The Jared Lowery Trio performs one of Jared's original compositions....Jared Lowery on guitar, Kangwa Mundende on bass, and Willie Peterson on drums.
The Jared Lowery Trio is: Jared Lowery on guitar, Kangwa Mundende on bass, and Willie Peterson on drums.
This evening, the Trio performs their FIRST LIVE PUBLIC PERFORMANCE and opens with couple of tunes and then sits down for a very compelling conversation and shares the story about how they met and have come together. Kangwa and Willie also speak about what their experiences have been like while performing Jared's original compositions and how it has informed their approach to the music.
Jared Lowery is a true musical innovator and is creating some incredibly artistic and conscious music that is deeply moving, contemplative, and cosmic all at the same time. It feels like a portal to a different dimension and takes you beyond space and time itself. What he does with the guitar goes beyond definition and is something that just simply has to be heard and experienced.
The conversation continues as Jeff,Jared, Kangwa, and Willie take a deep dive into jazz-rock fusion since it's genesis in the late 60's/early 70's and explores some of the early pioneers and how this particular style of music has influenced so many different genres of music over the decades since that time. Jared also shares some background about his particular guitar style and who have been his most important influences over the years.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Than Medlam to hear about how he got started playing music and how his band, Equilibrium has evolved over time and why it means so much to him and the other members to intentionally and thoughtfully make decisions about where and when to perform live.
The conversation continues with Than sharing some very deep and profound thoughts about his philosophy and approach to his music and how he shares that with aspiring musicians that he teaches and guides as they prepare to enter the world and make their mark.
In this episode Jeff sits down to have a deeper conversation with OKC rapper Collin The Chill One as he shares the story of how he got started rapping as a teenager and how his craft has evolved over time. He also speaks about how this music has helped him overcome his own struggles with anxiety and why this art form is so important to him.
He also shares some deeper thoughts about his respect for the music and culture and how he is very moved to create something fresh and different by mixing in old-school R&B and psychedelic jazz, soul, and R&B music that is informed by his love for music from the 60's and 70's.
In this episode, OKC comedian Lenny Vanhorn sits down with Jeff to share some deeper thoughts about his particular style of comedy, about what early life and later life experiences have informed his comedy, how his craft has evolved over the years, why he feels compelled to continue to create and perform his comedy material and some memorable stories from various performances.
In this installment of Inspiring Conversations Live OKC @ Artspace at Untitled, singer/songwriter Darren Cipponeri shares a few tunes with the audience and then sits down to visit with Jeff Krisman about his songwriting process. music, and experiences in performing and how those things have evolved over the years and what it all means to him at a deeper level.
In this episode, jazz guitarist Grant Goldstein shares his thoughts about what jazz music means to him and some deep reflections about what his experiences are when performing.
He also talks about his experiences while pursuing his graduate degree and performing in various venues in New York City.
In this live recorded episode, Topher Owen, Ann-Lisette Caveny, and Kellen Hodgeson talk about how The Space came into being and about their recent and upcoming performances and educational outreach in the OKC area.
They also share some information about the origins of improvisation-based sketch comedy and some deeper thoughts about how beneficial and therapeutic this practice and art form can be for people of all ages.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with local singer, songwriter, and guitarist Darren Cipponeri to hear about how he got started on his musical journey, about his experiences when he started performing publicly, and about how his artistic process has evolved over time.
He also shares some of his experiences with writing songs during the tough times in his life and his perspective on what happens at a deeper level between him and the audiences that he performs for and what it all means to him.
To find out about his upcoming events, follow him on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/darrencipponeri/
To hear some of his recordings on SoundCloud, listen and follow at
https://soundcloud.com/darren-cipponeri
Equilibrium was formed in 2007 by Than Medlam and Chubb Moses and is one of the few bands in the OKC area exploring improv jazz, funk, soul---a little bit of everything.
For more information about them, visit their facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/equilibriumlive/
Jared Lowery is without a doubt one of the most innovative new musicians that has arrived in the OKC scene and provides a musical experience that feels like "progressive jazz-rock with avant garde influences."
He relays his feeling and thoughts about this song below...... "It's an homage to the experience of loss. It was an emotional experience playing it and to hear the emotions come back at me musically is really a new experience for me as a musician. It's weird."
Listen and buy his albums at https://jaredlowery.bandcamp.com
Hear some of his songs at https://soundcloud.com/jaredlowery/sets/we-eat-last
Follow up on Facebook for information about upcoming gigs and developments at https://facebook.com/JLowerymusic/
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Jared Lowery at The Art Hall in Uptown to talk about how he got started playing music, how his work has evolved, and a deep dive into understanding his composition and performing process.
Jared is without a doubt one of the most innovative new musicians that has arrived in the OKC scene and provides a musical experience that feels like "progressive jazz-rock with avant garde influences"
Listen and buy his albums at https://jaredlowery.bandcamp.com
Hear some of his songs at https://soundcloud.com/jaredlowery/sets/we-eat-last
Follow up on Facebook for information about upcoming gigs and developments at https://facebook.com/JLowerymusic/
In this episode, Jeff visits with Carl Shortt at his studio and hears about his photography work and how it has evolved over the years and about formative lessons that he has learned along the way.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with OKC jazz guitarist Brian Belanus to hear about his life journey and how he got started playing jazz music and how he has evolved as a composer, a performer, and as a human being.
He shares some background info on his jazz trio, BRD, and about the story of how he and bassist Rei Wang and veteran jazz drummer Dave Bowen came together and about their vision for the future.
Brian also shares his thoughts about the jazz scene locally and where it's been and where it's headed.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with visiting artist Janet O'Neal to hear about her life journey and about how "One Thousand Tears" came into being. She reflects very deeply about the importance of art as an agent of healing in her own life and how she wants to share this with the world to help inspire others as well. The public opening for this exhibition is Thursday, September 6th from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at Artspace at Untitled at 1 NE 3rd in Oklahoma City. For more information, visit www.1ne3.org
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Mary James Ketch to hear about her life journey, about how she started creating works of art and how she tells stories through her work, and about her work as a celebrant that performs weddings, funerals, and baby blessings.
She shares about how she has integrated these different aspects of her life into a set of practices that inform her perspective and worldview and that are deeply therapeutic for her.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with local author Paige Matacchiera to talk about her new book, "Bravo" and about her life journey as well as how her experiences shaped the book.
She also shares four selected poems from the book and some reflections about how her Yoga practice and her writing process has informed her evolution as a human being.
Her blog https://paigematacchiera.wordpress.com/
To Purchase Bravo: https://paigematacchiera.wordpress.com/blog/blurbs/
405 Yoga-where she practices Yoga https://www.405yogaokc.com/
In this episode, Jeff sits down to visit with Virginia in the studio at [Artspace] at Untitled as she talks about her work, about how she got started creating art, and how her work has evolved over the years since she started.
She also shares some reflections with Jeff about what her experiences were in college while studying art and what it was like to "go out into the world" after graduating and formative lessons learned along the way. She also offers some advice for other aspiring artists who are preparing to go to college and/or art school.
In this segment, Jeff and Jeremy continue the conversation as he shares a great overview about how jazz music has evolved over the past few decades and his thoughts about how he sees the local jazz scene changing as well.
In this episode, Jeff sits down for a conversation with musician Jeremy Thomas to hear about how he started playing jazz music, about who were some of his earliest influences, and about how his own music has evolved over the years. The conversation continues as we get a great primer from him about the Hammond B3 organ and how it has been used in jazz music over the years. We also hear from him about what he feels and experiences when he listens to music and plays music and what it means to him personally.
In this segment, Jeff and Melissa continue the conversation where Melissa shares more about her personal life journey, about what it was like for her to be involved in her first business startup experience, and also about her experiences while starting 9Tribe and what she has learned along the way.
In this segment, Jeff sits down with Melissa Vincent, the CEO of 9Tribe to hear about her company, about how she started working in the tech startup world, and about why this work is so meaningful to her. Throughout this interview, she shares some very valuable advice for startup entrepreneurs based on her own experiences.
The conversation continues as Melissa shares some thoughts about why it's so important for startup business owners to not work in isolation and to be a part of a larger community of business owners who are trying to grow their emerging businesses. She also speaks about why it's so critical for startup business owners to have mentors who have been through this process themselves in the past when they started their firms.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with OKC filmmaker Jacob Leighton Burns to hear about Planet Thunder Productions current movie project, "Shifter" as he shares some details about the project and about why he chose to write this particular screenplay. As the conversation progresses, Jacob talks about why he chose to become a filmmaker and what films and filmmakers really influenced him early in his life and inspired his love of this art form beginning in his childhood and teenage years.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Christian Pearson, the CEO and co-founder of OkSessions to hear an incredibly powerful and compelling story about their mission and vision and about how they are revolutionizing the way that live music is presented, the way that people in the community can have higher quality information about the various options to see live music of all types in different venues, and the way that musicians can build their brands, increase their visibility, and support one another and create a more cohesive music scene here in Oklahoma City.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Marisa and Lynzi Carlson and Damon Blalack to hear about how the Red Dirt Film Festival got started, how it has evolved, and about their focus on partnering with the education community to provide opportunities for students to learn all about the process of filmmaking and even how to submit their films to festivals.
In this segment, Dave shares some deeper thoughts about how the experience of starting and leading Exaptive have changed him over the years and how it has informed his evolution as a businessperson and as a human being.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Dave King, the CEO of Exaptive at their offices in Oklahoma City to hear about what the firm provides to their clients and why they do it, about how he started Exaptive, and about his career and professional journey.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Laron Chapman to hear the story of his professional journey and a deep reflection about his experiences in writing the screenplay and in directing and producing the movie "You People" that premiered and won the award for the best Oklahoma film at deadCenter recently.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Anthony McDermid, John Ward, and Rick Lueb to hear the story of how TAP Architecture came into being in the 1980's at a time when the OKC economy and the downtown area was suffering from a tremendous downturn after the crash of the oil, financial, and real estate industry earlier in the decade.
They share stories of what the downtown area and what the economy was like when they started their firm and how they have evolved into the firm that they are today. We hear from them about how they have affected the urban landscape in Oklahoma City with visionary urban planning and designs that have helped reinvent downtown Oklahoma City over the years.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Michelle "Mo" Whetstone to talk about her journey in comedy and how it has affected her spiritual journey and vice-versa.
Mo shares some reflections about her experiences in writing and performing standup comedy with the intention of being present in each moment and what it has meant to her at a deeper level.
In the episode, Jeff sits down to talk with Kyle Dickinson, who wrote the screenplay and recently completed filming for his movie, "Cigarettes For Breakfast"
Kyle shares some details about the story and very candidly describes his experiences during the process of writing and producing the movie. He is very upfront and frank about his own personal psychological struggles and has a very deep conversation with Jeff about what going through this process has meant to him and how it has affected him on a human level.
In this episode, Jeff and Danny Joe sit down to catch up from their conversation in December of last year and to talk about his current exhibition, "Flatlands" on display at The Norick Art Center At OCU.
Danny Joe shares about how he got started with doing the work that is in this exhibition and about his relationship to the process of creating them and how he has allowed it to unfold on its own. He also shares some deep thoughts and reflections about how allowing this process to "take on a life of its own" has affected him both personally and professionally.
Lastly, we hear from Danny Joe about his experiences with teaching this year at OCU and how that has affected his process and work as well.
For more information about Flatlands and to contact him directly to schedule a time to see this exhibition, please visit his website at www.dannyrosestudio.com
In this episode, Jeff sits down to talk with artist Corrie Reagan about her work and her area of focus. She reflects deeply on what is most important to her as she continues her journey as an emerging artist in the OKC area and about her vision for the future.
In this episode, Jeff sits down to visit with artist Sarah Day-Short about her life journey and how she started doing works of art and how her work has evolved over the years.
Sarah reflects on how she began to work with epoxy resin to create abstract colorful acrylic painting, gold leaf, and functional art. She also visits with Jeff about how she is really passionate and excited about creating custom, affordable works of art for her clients and then shares some deeper thoughts about her experiences with engaging in that process and how she feels about it.
She can be contacted at her website at www.sarahdayshortart.com or on Instagram at @sarahdayshort
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Laura Warriner to hear the story of how she started [Artspace] at Untitled, about their various programs and events, and how it has evolved over the years.
In this segment, Laura shares information regarding recent and current exhibits as well as an overview of the artwork that is part of their permanent collection. As the interview comes to a close, she also speaks about their Mentorship program that is a partnership with several local high schools, and then closes with some information about their upcoming Steamroller Print Fest, which happens on Saturday, April 28 from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
The festival activities include artist demonstrations, live printing, food trucks, live music, kids and family activities, pop up shops, and more.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with visual artist, poet, and bookmaker Kerri Shadid to talk about her artwork and poetry. She shares information about her Poetry Stands, where she writes customized, spontaneous poems for strangers, using intuition and stream-of-consciousness to craft small morsels of insight at various venues and events in the OKC metro area.
She also speaks about how her visual art highlights text and marbling and how it incorporates the unknown and loss of control into her process, allowing the beautiful unexpected to emerge. We also hear from her about how she sees the world and her own life and how that has changed some over the years.
As we continue the interview, Kerri shares how various experiences along her life's journey have influenced her poetry and her art, and she also speaks about how her work has evolved over the long term.
We then hear from her regarding some deeper insights about her process of creating spontaneous poems for strangers and some reflections about how it has influenced her evolution as an artist and as a human being and how it also affects the people that she creates thes works for in different ways.
As we continue the conversation, Kerri speaks more in-depth about her life journey since childhood and how she has grown and evolved. She also shares some thoughts about the path that she has taken since leaving college and how she sees her place in the world and reflects about the impact of her artistic work.
The interview winds up as Kerri and Jeff talk more in-depth about the value of being a little more lighthearted and how being able to laugh at ourselves more, to take ourselves and everything a little less seriously sometimes, and to appreciate the absurdity of life a little more can actually help us find more joy and meaning in each moment.
To learn more about Kerri, please visit her website at http://kerrishadid.com
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Katelynn Knick and Virginia Sitzes about their new artist collective called The Art Group and how it got started. We hear from both of them about their personal and professional reasons for being a part of it and how this experience has changed their lives.
Art Group is a collective of emerging artists in the OKC metro area who have gathered to create a community centered around discussing and creating contemporary art. Their goal is to help artists develop their artwork, build the needed skills for continuing their practice, and share resources to establish sustainable careers as artists. So far, they have 32 members and have organized 4 studio visits, 4 monthly meetings, and 3 individual shows.
Their Group Show is the first multi-artist exhibition organized by the collective. The event will be hosted by Skyline Ink in their newly renovated location. The event will feature an exhibition, art market, food, and bands. The event is free and open to the public.
Show Venue: Skyline Ink 220 SE 4th Street, Suite 200 in Oklahoma City.
Event Times- Saturday, April 14th Sponsor Preview 4:30-5:30 pm General Admission 5:30-11:00 pm
To learn more about Art Group and about the upcoming Group Show, see their following links below:
Instagram: artgrpokc Facebook: Art Group Website: artgrp.fun
In this episode, Jeff sits down to talk with Steve Herburger, the owner of 2 Fellas Moving Company at their headquarters in Oklahoma City to talk about the services that they provide to their residential and business customers and also to the OKC Thunder as their preferred movers.
As the interview continues, he shares the story of how he and his business partner started 2 Fellas and then explains about how they are different than van lines and why they can provide more timely and flexible service based on when their customers actually need the move completed.
As they wrap up the interview, Steve speaks about the benefits of having a local owner in each of their future franchise locations nationwide in terms of providing excellent customer service as they want to ensure that all of their customers call them in the future whenever they decide to move again.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Evan Anderson, the CEO of Oseberg, at their headquarters in the heart of Oklahoma City’s Automobile Alley to hear about the services they provide and why he decided to start the company.
Anderson explains that the oil and gas industry, while being a large percentage of the U.S. in terms of GDP, has seen little to no technological innovation, especially in terms of data and information. In fact, many people in the oil and gas industry still operate with microfiche and paper. Anderson firmly believes that more and more companies in that business will begin to leverage technology as they begin to embrace the benefits of doing so.
Anderson’s goal is to change the way that the oil and gas industry thinks about computer technology. With Oseberg, he aims to make it easier for O&G professionals to use data to make more effective decisions, and, ultimately, to solve their day-to-day business problems.
Anderson says his team’s goal is to take the datasets that they have built for their customers and continue to build and "productize" them as prescriptive analytics tools that their customers can use right away.
As the interview winds down, Anderson talks some about some of the most important lessons that he has learned in his life. His advice: "following your passion" is not always the best course to follow when choosing what to do in order to make a living.
Lastly, Evan reflects upon why he started Oseberg, instead of actually making a career in operating his own oil and gas company.
For more information about Evan and about Oseberg, please go to https://oseberg.io
In this episode, Jeff sits down with local artist Katelynn Knick on a late winter evening outside the Art Hall at 23rd and Walker in The Uptown District and hears from her about some of her current work, about her recent house art show called “You’re in my bubble,” and about the increased popularity of artists having exhibitions in their homes and why that is happening.
They continue the conversation as Katelynn talks about her life journey, how she got started as an artist and what inspired her to do the work in the way that she does, and how she has evolved as an artist over the past few years.
For more information about Katelynn and to see some of her recent and past works, go to www.katelynnknick.com
ARTIST STATEMENT Inspired by abstract expressionism, DIY techniques, and daydreaming, I use color combinations, mark-making, and movement to explore the idea of space. Growing up I was always inspired by my father, an artist at heart and a draftsman by career, who would destroy and rebuild the spaces in our home to better suit our interests. Living in a home that was always physically changing changed the way I perceived and interacted with the spaces around me. As an artist, I am inspired by this and find myself creating and altering my own spaces. Each space is ambiguous and unique to the person who enters it.
I use playful color combinations and the movement of layering various marks and shapes to create an imagined space that is subtle, yet confrontational and inviting. Ambiguous clusters of marks and colors, thin lines that draw lingering connections, and lumpy overlapping forms all collectively create associations, sensations, and experiences that vary, offering a unique, connection to be formed.
Recently I’ve been using drawings and paintings as maps, to then create objects and installations with the purpose of expanding the experience of abstract painting and creating an environment that can be physically explored. This area of my work allows me to experiment with materials and use the space around me as a site specific, temporary canvas.
BIOGRAPHY Born in Tulsa, OK. Currently living and creating in Oklahoma City, OK. Katelynn received her BFA in Studio Art from the University of Oklahoma in 2015. Her work has been exhibited at MAINSITE Contemporary Art and the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art in Oklahoma, and Casp 5 & J Gallery in Texas.
In this segment, Jeff sits down to visit with Marissa Raglin, the 2018 Skirvin Paseo Artist-In-Residence at her studio on the first floor of the Skirvin Hilton Hotel downtown.
She creates ethereal, whimsical collage works with images delicately removed with a cutting blade from vintage magazines, books, and postcards, and she favors the endless assemblages of collage imagery. Using original, unaltered imagery and basic design elements, the images are compiled and become unified, telling one story.
As we begin the conversation, Marissa shares some information about her participation in this program and about opportunities for people to come into the studio and participate in a hands-on program. She calls this part of her studio Cut & Paste OK, where guests create handmade collage postcards of their own using found images.
We then hear from Marissa about her artwork, process and how it has evolved. She then speaks about how she got started working with vintage magazines. Marissa heavily features women in her work, especially domesticated women that are featured in 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s advertisements as a way of making light, or poking-fun of the images of these women. She likes that she is "cutting the images away" from the stories that they were originally a part of and then creating a new story with them through her work and "giving them a second life."
She then reflects about the importance of how her friends and family have made efforts to find various vintage publications for her to use in her work and how that means so much to her to actively support her work in this way.
We then transition into hearing about her upcoming participation in the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition exhibition entitled, Momentum, featuring artists age 30 and under. Marissa has been selected as a Momentum Spotlight artist in this program. She shares more information about her Spotlight project entitled, Nesting. She also speaks about her work that is currently being exhibited at 21c Museum Hotel through July and about the future exhibit of her work as a part of the OVAC Momentum Spotlight Artist program at The Gold Dome at 1112 NW 23rd Street March 9 & 10 from 8-11pm and then at the Melton Gallery at The University of Central Oklahoma from March 13-19.
We wrap up this segment as conversation then shifts to Marissa and Jeff discussing how her work gives people the opportunity to view the role that women play in the work place, home, and as mother and how drastic the past portrays the identity of as compared to today. She talks about while there are improvements, there are still societal pressures placed on women to fit into a one-size-fits all narrative. She also talks about how she has heard from many colleagues and friends with shared experiences, while discussing the role a woman plays today, and the many facets and complexities to this role.
We begin this segment by hearing from Marissa about how she always wanted to be an artist and how she began and continued her art education and then started her art career.
We continue the conversation as she talks about how the therapeutic aspect of art has always been very important to her and how it helps her cope in her own everyday life amidst the challenges that come up from time to time.
She then reflects about how her work has evolved over the last three years and how she feels about how people interact with her work and some of the most interesting comments that she has heard from others about it.
We wrap up this segment with Marissa sharing some information about her upcoming event at Oklahoma Contemporary's Share At The Showroom Series on February 15th at 6:00 pm as she will be paired with Guthrie-based singer-songwriter Chelsey Cope, who will perform an acoustic set of songs from her upcoming album, Where Nobody Goes. She and Chelsey will both be talking about their artistic processes at this event.
In this segment, Janet and Jeff continue the conversation about significance of “visual literacy” and the relationship of that to one’s own life journey.
Janet also talks about how all that we create in our lives are done so “upon a canvas” and how that relates to art and our own spiritual journeys.
We wrap up the interview with Janet sharing some of the most formative lessons she has learned on her journey as an artist and how the artist’s work is ultimately a “conversation with oneself.”
Lastly, she speaks about the next series of works that she is planning to create.
See Janet’s work on Instagram at @2dpaintworks
In this segment, Jeff sits down to visit with local artist Janet Shepard.
She shares information with us about the artwork that she creates, about what inspires her, and about the significance of the spirals that she uses in some of her designs as that comes from her Celtic heritage.
As the interview progresses, she talks about the evolution of her work over the long term and how she has grown and changed along with it.
As this segment wraps up, she speaks about the importance of what she refers to as “visual literacy” and why it is so important for that to be taught to children in their formative years.
We then hear from her about how artists and the audiences who see their work benefit in different ways and how the significance of art is best appreciated within the context of history overall.
In this segment, we hear from Robin about her life's journey and how she started and progressed in her career and positively dealt with challenges in her life. She reflects upon how she began to see the power of the Internet as she worked as a consultant in the automotive sales industry and how this informed her future decision to start WeGoLook utilizing an Internet-based service model.
After that, she looks back at her own experience of "taking the leap" and starting WeGoLook after a successful career as a consultant. She offers encouragement to anyone thinking of leaving a job in order to become self-employed and how it is possible to do so even if is scary or uncomfortable.
We continue as Robin shares the story of how she started WeGoLook and how the business evolved and grew over time. She then speaks about how it is possible for anyone to start a business with an idea no matter where they come from or no matter what their life circumstances have been. She talks about how it is part of the journey to make mistakes and then learn from them and how it's so important to stay resilient and to keep going no matter how tough it gets.
As we wrap up this segment, Jeff comments on how he really felt a sense of their organization being like a family as he had the opportunity to take a tour of their offices with Robin and how he was very moved by seeing her interact spontaneously with a large number of their employees as they moved around their offices. Robin speaks about how very important it is to her to get to know WeGoLook’s employees personally and how this is something that is a high priority for her on a continual basis.
Contact Information- WeGoLook 100 NE 5th Oklahoma City, OK. 73104
For more information about WeGoLook’s products and solutions, please visit https://wegolook.com. For inquiries about solutions for your business, please email sales@wegolook.com
In this interview, Jeff sits down with Robin Smith, CEO of WeGoLook, as she first provides an overview of the company and the services that they offer. Robin talks about how WeGoLook combines technology with an on-demand workforce to help businesses and individuals gather and validate information anytime, anywhere.
As the interview begins, Robin shares a story about how she got the idea for this service in late 2009 as a friend of hers was looking to buy a high-end projector on eBay from someone in another state. They thought that the seller was misrepresenting it but had no way to really verify its condition. Robin then talks about how the company got started with her and a few people working alongside her and about how the company evolved and expanded their service offerings over time.
The conversation continues as Robin speaks about how WeGoLook is making a positive difference and a huge impact on the success of their clients and their individual customers. She offers an example of how they are helping a client streamline their same day automobile loan service by having Lookers meet this firm's loan clients at their homes or places of work to perform inspections of the vehicles and fund the loans without the loan client having to go to the bank at all.
Robin then speaks about Lookers and how they perform inspection services and other value-added services all over the world on their schedule and on their own terms as independent contractors. We then hear from her about how this is a great example of what is referred to as the "gig economy" and how people can work and provide these services as much or as little as they want and when they want. She also mentions how they now have over 140 employees in Oklahoma City and over 36,000 Lookers worldwide and continuing to grow.
As this segment wraps up, Robin shares her perspective on how the "gig economy" is changing how people work and how it provides people with more flexibility in how they earn their living. She also reflects on how these types of transaction-based services allow people with the appropriate skillsets to be matched to particular needs for services at any given time in a very convenient way.
In this segment, Jeff sits down with Helen Opper, Curator of The Art Hall, which is located at The Rise at 23rd and Walker in Oklahoma City. She explains that they have a specific exhibit schedule and feature various works by Oklahoma City artists as well as works from artists out of the Oklahoma City area, but mostly from within the state.
We continue hearing from her about how they focus on featuring diverse kinds of works by artists who don't always have opportunities to exhibit at other locations. She also explains that they are open Monday thru Friday from 8 am to 9 pm and from 10 am to 9 pm on Saturday and 10 am to 6 pm on Sundays and that people are welcome to tour The Art Hall anytime during those hours and can come and go as they please since there is no charge for admission.
Then, Helen speaks about how they try to show work from as many artists as they can in each exhibit and that they usually do multi-artist exhibitions because of that.
She then shares some information about the history of the building itself as well as some details about the renovations that took place to transform it into The Rise as it is now known. She then talks about the fact that they are the only art gallery in the Uptown District and on 23rd Street and about how they are close to The Paseo and to The Tower Theatre, which makes it a convenient stop on the way to or from those locations.
She and Jeff also visit some about the uniqueness of The Art Hall and about what it adds to the overall experience of being in the area and about how nice it is to be able to just "drop by" when people are nearby Helen also reflects about what it adds to the overall experience of being in the Uptown area in terms of art and culture.
We wrap up the interview as Helen speaks about how The Art Hall is now also available to be rented as an event center, and there are details about that and about purchasing any of the art that is on display there on their website at www.arthallokc.com
In this segment, we continue the conversation with Helen Opper, Curator at The Art Hall as she talks about how she always knew that she wanted to work in the arts since she was a child. She reflects about her life journey and how she transitioned towards studying Art History and receiving her Bachelor’s degree in that field of study and then earned her Master’s degree in Museum Studies from New York University.
We then hear about how her career progressed in the early years as she had opportunities to work in different areas of the art world and about her experiences in returning to Oklahoma City, where she grew up and graduated from Casady School. After that, Helen shares the story of how she became affiliated with The Art Hall and about how she works very well with the owner of The Art Hall, Anna Russell.
The interview progresses with Helen speaking about her unique perspective regarding the art community here in Oklahoma City and how she is very motivated to give opportunities to artists who are at different levels of experience and who may have never had a chance to exhibit their works publicly before. Helen then talks about the diversity of genres of art here in Oklahoma and why she feels that it is so important to provide opportunities to artists who produce all types of art.
We wrap up the interview as Helen talks about how she hopes to see a greater diversity of art being shown here in Oklahoma City, and that in her mind, the solution isn't just simply offering more exhibitions as she sees a lot of value in the art community making efforts to bring in art from different perspectives and "to broaden the horizons on what people can see here."
For more information about rental rates for utilizing The Art Hall as an event center and about purchasing any of the artwork on display there, please visit their website at www.arthallokc.com
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Philip Baker, CEO of Staplegun, a full service advertising agency with its headquarters in downtown Oklahoma City.
We begin by hearing the story of how Philip and his business partner, Brent McCutchen, started Staplegun in their home offices and then continue with him sharing some stories from his earlier life and about how he got started in the advertising business. He shares some stories about how different the advertising business was when he started and then reflects about how much things have changed in the business.
Philip then talks about the importance of planning and in developing a deeper overall understanding in order to create an effective strategy as in the earlier years of his career before the advent of computer technology, there was an inherent need to take time to plan the work and to think more deeply before starting a project. He talks about how they embrace and practice the importance of proper and careful planning on all client projects at Staplegun.
As the conversation continues, Philip shares his perspective on how all of the changes in the media landscape have impacted how business, advertising, and public relations are done these days. He speaks to the importance of "being relevant when relevancy is needed and timeliness when timeliness is needed" and striking a balance between deep, creative thought and careful planning with the ability to be nimble and to react quickly when it is called for.
We then transition into a discussion about the thought that went into planning their current space on the 19th and 20th Floor of the City Place building in downtown Oklahoma City and how it was centered around a focus on creating a workplace that portrays who they are and also helps them to attract and retain the best talent. Philip then shares some of the lessons that they have learned through the process of designing and working within their office space.
As the interview wraps up, Philip shares his perspective on the big picture regarding the changes that we are seeing in the economy and how it is affecting the overall media landscape as well as some of his thoughts on the continued growth and the positive things here in Oklahoma City with so many exciting developments that have happened recently and that are on the horizon. He then speaks about how they try to honor and live the traditional values of keeping their promises and empowering their employees by having a supportive work environment that also challenges them to continue to improve and to do their best. They also put a considerable amount of focus on encouraging their employees to get involved and to be a part of the community, to give back, and to help out in several very meaningful ways.
Contact Info- 204 N. Robinson Ave., Suite 2000 Oklahoma City, OK. 73102 405-601-9430 https://staplegun.us/
In this episode, Jeff sits down to visit with Danny Joe Rose, a local artist whose work is deeply rooted in the natural world, combining nature and abstraction. Using mediums of paint, digital, and sculpture. His paintings usually start from a quick sketch. He draws in an automatic way, allowing shapes and compositions to arise freely. The places that emerge in his work are loosely based on places he has been and places he has created.
We begin as he speaks about how his process and his work has evolved over the years and about what he is working on currently in preparation for his next exhibit and then hear from him about his upcoming exhibition at [Artspace] at Untitled called Strange Tide that opens on January 13th.
He shares a very interesting perspective about the relationship between the mind and the work itself, and he then reflects upon his own experiences as he works in his studio and how he deals with those challenges on a moment-to-moment basis. He talks about how easy it is to give into the tendency to "chase" and try to re-create another good moment where everything just simply came together in the past and how he tries to just allow himself to feel however he does in the moment as he creates his various works.
We continue as he talks about what he is really enjoying about being here in OKC and how moving here has changed his perspective and about how he feels more moved to be out in the community more and meeting other artists and seeing their work as well. We also hear from Danny Joe about his upcoming work as a visiting Professor teaching graphic design and as an artist-in-residence at OCU this coming year.
We wrap up this segment where we discuss more about the "inner experience" of creating art, how that has affected him on a human level, and what he has learned through the process of growth and evolution as an artist over the years. He also makes a very important point that his finished works reflect different points in time along the way as he created them where he felt all different kinds of emotions which changed over time.
Danny's Bio- Danny Rose received his BFA from the Art Institute of Dallas in 2012. Between 2014 and 2015, Rose lived in Indonesia, teaching art and design at the Chandra Kusuma International School. Rose's work has been included at The Beeville Art Museum, Oliver Francis Gallery, The Lexington Art League and others. His solo show “The Sun Shines Blue” opened at Galleri Urbane in the summer of 2016, followed by his show “Majic Eyes,” which opened in Jan 2017 at The Eisemann Center for Performing Arts. In January 2017 He was an artist-in-residence at The Guapamacátaro Center for Art and Ecology and most recently an artist-in-residence at Artspace Untitled. Beginning in January 2018 he will be a visiting professor and artist-in-residence at Oklahoma City University.
View Danny Joe's Website at dannyrosestudio.com
View information about his upcoming exhibition, Strange Tide, at [Artspace] at Untitled at https://www.1ne3.org/upcoming/
We continue the conversation as Danny Joe talks about his life journey and what inspired him to become an artist and about early experiences that have informed his artwork over the years.
We then hear from him about a trip to Indonesia to teach art and design and about how it changed his life in so many ways. He talks about how he found himself there through his experiences in fully immersing himself in the people and in the culture despite the difficulties in communicating verbally with people there due to language differences. He reflects on how his artistic practice grew there with a deepening of his self-reflection while doing his work and on how he enjoyed the process of just making things for the sake of making them and not worrying about the outcome or what he would do with the finished pieces. As we continue to discuss these experiences and how they have affected him, we hear from him about how the language barriers allowed him to relate to others on a different level. He also shares about how he really enjoyed the personal growth that came from being open to connecting with people despite the fear and discomfort with the challenges in communicating with them verbally.
We wrap up this segment talking with him about how all of his artwork is inspired and affected by all of the places that he has been and all that he has experienced. He then shares his thoughts about how works of art, even if they are abstract ones, bring what is experienced in the mind into the physical realm and how the unconscious mind influences works of art in such a powerful way.
Danny's Bio- Danny Rose received his BFA from the Art Institute of Dallas in 2012. Between 2014 and 2015, Rose lived in Indonesia, teaching art and design at the Chandra Kusuma International School. Rose's work has been included at The Beeville Art Museum, Oliver Francis Gallery, The Lexington Art League and others. His solo show “The Sun Shines Blue” opened at Galleri Urbane in the summer of 2016, followed by his show “Majic Eyes,” which opened in Jan 2017 at The Eisemann Center for Performing Arts. In January 2017 He was an artist-in-residence at The Guapamacátaro Center for Art and Ecology and most recently an artist-in-residence at Artspace Untitled. Beginning in January 2018 he will be a visiting professor and artist-in-residence at Oklahoma City University.
View Danny Joe's Website at dannyrosestudio.com
View information about his upcoming exhibition, Strange Tide, at [Artspace] at Untitled at https://www.1ne3.org/upcoming/
In this segment, adam and I continue the conversation as we hear from him about his new project space and what he envisions for the future there.
He speaks about the significance of this new space being in the Paseo Arts District and why it is such an ideal place for this concept to take form.
adam reflects on how one of the most important professional influences in his life taught him how “people are more important than buildings” and how this new space will reflect that emphasis on people and communities. He provides us with a visual representation of how professionals can pool their resources, knowledge, and tools to help the public create projects that serve communities and bring people together.
As we wrap up this segment, adam speaks about a financially sustainable model that fuels his concept for a project space and empowers neighborhoods and communities. He makes a very important point about how community projects must “fill the void” left when community programs disappear. adam adds that we have way more than we realize as a community and that we can apply creative, entrepreneurial thinking to “put the pieces together and make it happen”. This is where his creative passion lies: To creatively fill the void, spark innovation, and bring communities and people together through placemaking.
In this episode, I sit down with adam Lanman, artist and architect and hear about what inspired his practice, atelieraL, and his new cooperative project and performance space in the Paseo Arts District.
adam shares memories of his early community-based projects that ignited his imagination and that today he focuses his energy on. He talks about some of his completed projects over the past few years and the impact he has seen them make in communities. adam then reflects on these personally and how they have inspired him to focus his practice in finding more creative and effective ways to bring communities together. adam speaks about the benefit of reusing material and provides examples of how that can be done innovatively. He talks about how important it is we change in our cultural mindset and focus on reuse, rethinking, innovation and community building through placemaking.
adam tells us how atelieraL will focus on serving groups in community-based projects that have a need for architects, designers and associated professionals who have a heart to serve communities despite their lack of financial resources. Here he emphasizes the importance of “making” in this process and how bringing together stakeholders in his new space will provide a platform to visualize, plan, fund and fabricate new and exciting works.
In closing, we hear from adam why public art is so important and how he believes it is beneficial to the community by adding some information about projects both in progress and on the boards.
In this episode, Jeff visits with Kelsey Karper, Co-Founder of Current Studio and Factory Obscura and Thomas Thompson, a Co-Founder of Factory Obscura as well.
We begin by hearing from Kelsey about Current Studio and how they provide opportunities for various artists-in-residence at their facility. She then speaks about the inspiration and the origins of Factory Obscura and how it came into being as well as how she and Romy Owens, her partner at Current Studio, decided to house the first Factory Obscura exhibition, SHIFT, at their facility.
Kelsey then gives us an overview of how they created a vision for this group and how they brought area artists together to be a part of this first project at Current Studio. We transition into an overview about SHIFT and how it is the first fully-immersive and experiential art installation in the OKC area and what makes it so unique.
Kelsey then shares with listeners about where they can find more information about SHIFT, and all of this information is at the bottom of this summary for those who are interested.
After this, we hear from Thomas Thompson about his motivation for being involved in this project as he has an interest in human consciousness and in helping lead a project that will be providing both children and adults with the opportunity to have a full-sensory art experience that is so unique. He then reflects upon other art exhibits in other states that are somewhat similar to SHIFT.
After this, we hear some details about SHIFT from Kelsey as well as an overview of what people can expect, and it is really exciting that each person will have their own unique experience
We continue the conversation as Kelsey speaks about how it is very possible that people who feel that they aren't necessarily interested in art will find that they are partaking of it while interacting with the various full-sensory aspects of SHIFT as they progress through it.
We wrap things up by hearing from Thomas as he reflects about how this exhibit really focuses on providing people with an opportunity to experience something genuine and authentic as they interact with it in numerous ways.
Kelsey then shares an overview of the future vision of Factory Obscura as they plan to grow this project and ultimately have their own facility that will house larger-scale exhibits in the future.
Lastly, we hear from Kelsey about the various opportunities for volunteers to help be a part of Factory Obscura, and the link to sign up and indicate how they want to help in the future.
Visit the Current Studio website to learn about how to support Factory Obscura. Donations fund the creation of SHIFT at Current Studio including supplies and most importantly, paying the artists. Plus, donors will be the first to experience the fully immersive installation.
Factory Obscura Web Page www.factoryobscura.com or https://www.currentstudio.org/factory-obscura/
Factory Obscura and Current Studio Facebook Pages @factoryobscura @currentstudiook
Link To Provide Tax Deductible Financial Support For SHIFT https://www.hatchfund.org/project/factory_obscura_presents_shift_at_current_studio
Link To Sign Up To Volunteer https://www.currentstudio.org/factory-obscura-volunteer-sign-up
About Factory Obscura And SHIFT
Factory Obscura (a collective of artists and community builders) presents SHIFT at Current Studio November 9, 2017-February 25, 2018
The SHIFT installation at Current Studio takes participants on a journey through the various levels of human consciousness, from feelings of dreamy introspection, to the high energy of being fully awake, and everything in between.
The fully immersive environment invites interactive play, both physical and mental, and for people of all ages and abilities. Created by our team of local artists, the installation provides an art experience like nothing seen before in Oklahoma City.
This will be the first immersive installation leadin
We continue the conversation and hear from Jennifer and Jeremiah about their life journeys and what led them to pursue careers in art and what brought them to Oklahoma and to Oklahoma Contemporary.
We also hear from them about the most formative life lessons that they have learned along the way and why moving to and working in the OKC area and in Oklahoma has been such a positive experience for both of them.
We conclude our visit with a very enlightening conversation about the collaborative and creative aspect of art and how it can benefit the next generation, the business community, as well as the community at large. We also hear from them about the efforts that they have been making and that they plan to make in the future to help bring about more collaboration with various stakeholders in the community.
Contact Information- Oklahoma Contemporary 3000 General Pershing Boulevard Oklahoma City, OK. 73107 405-951-0000 oklahomacontemporary.org
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Jeremiah Davis-Artistic Director and Jennifer Scanlan-Exhibitions & Curatorial Director at Oklahoma Contemporary.
We begin the conversation with information about Oklahoma Contemporary and what their mission is and what they offer the public.
Oklahoma Contemporary encourages artistic expression in all its forms through education and exhibitions, and their vision is to endeavor to instill in the public a lifetime appreciation of the arts and enthusiasm for creative practice.
Throughout the year, Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center enriches the lives of tens of thousands of people, young and old.......from budding artists to seasoned creators, many of whom might not otherwise receive this exposure. They offer a variety of classes and workshops for adults and children six days a week in the arts of painting, pottery, weaving and more.
We continue as they both emphasize the fact that they see themselves as a "crossroads of art, expression, and creativity."
After that, Jennifer and Jeremiah both share information about their new facility at 11th and Broadway and that they plan to open the new building fully in the Fall of 2019, and Jennifer speaks about the fact that they do have some exhibitions in place at the new facility and have done so for some time. We hear from them that they are very excited to bring all of their exhibits and programs closer to the downtown area as there is so much growth and so many exciting things happening in the downtown area.
We then transition into hearing from them about their upcoming exhibit, which opens on Thursday, October 5th and is called Not For Sale: Graffiti Culture in Oklahoma. This will be a group art show and will feature 10 artists who have been an integral part of the Oklahoma graffiti scene. Artists will paint their pieces directly on the walls of the gallery, transforming Oklahoma Contemporary into an amazing display of styles. These artists are part of a culture that promotes creative expression to individuals who have not always had access to the art world.
Jeremiah and Jennifer both share an overview of how the idea of this exhibit came into being and also give us a very detailed overview about the exhibit itself. They both speak to the importance of how this exhibit gave them an opportunity to do a lot of outreach to various community organizations to get their input and how that will hopefully lead to more collaboration between all of them for the good of all.
After that, we then discuss the evolution of graffiti throughout history and over the last 40 years and how they are really focusing on the aspects of this art form and the values that bring people together and help people change their lives for the better. They explain that graffiti is one of the four elements of hip-hop culture and speak to how their programming associated with this exhibit will be focused on the other three elements as well. We talk briefly about examples of other outdoor areas in OKC that are featuring similar types of this art form.
We then hear from them about how all of the artists featured in this exhibit are all from Oklahoma originally and how this particular exhibit may very well be the first one with graffiti-based art being painted directly on the indoor walls to be exhibited in this particular manner.
We wrap up this segment hearing about all of the various programs that are planned around this exhibit over the next couple of months.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Amanda Bleakley and Paige Powell of the Paseo Arts Association to hear about what makes The Paseo Arts District so unique.
One of the things that makes this area very special and unique is that it is the only place in the OKC metro area where people can park their car and walk from one gallery to another and see many diverse types of art while also having the opportunity to actually meet some of the artists and to be able to visit with them about their work.
Also, there are also numerous opportunities to see some of the artists working in their studios.
This area really has a very distinct and genuine feel of a neighborhood as many people know each other and really provides the feeling of a true community.
As we continue, Amanda shares an overview of what the District is like for those who haven't been there before.
We then hear from Amanda and Paige also share information about the various events that take place there:
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First Friday Gallery Walk and different exhibits each month in the Association's own Art Space. This coming First Friday is themed "Pets On Paseo" on October 6th
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The Annual Paseo Arts Festival that happens every Memorial Day Weekend
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The Paseo Feast, which is on October 10th, which is a program that includes dinner at Picasso Cafe and that allows people who purchase a ticket to attend this event to vote for their favorite proposal to receive funding from ticket sale proceeds from amongst several that are submitted by various groups for different community art projects
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Magic Lantern, which is a children's program that is coming up October 29th.
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Fairy Ball, which is another children's creative imagination-based event that happens every summer.
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They also partner with Edgemere Elementary School to provide a Hip Hop class for kids on the area as well.
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SPACE-They partner with the Skirvin Hotel for this project, which is the Skirvin Paseo Artist Creativity Exposition, and it provides a one year residency for a selected artist to create and exhibit their work there, which is accessible to people visiting the hotel and open to people who work or are visiting the area.
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Their annual awards program, which is open to the public, is hosted by The Skirvin Hotel, and tickets are 75 dollars apiece.
We also welcome Collin Rosebrook, the owner of Paseo Pottery, who has operated his business in The Paseo Arts District for 27 years and who is also the Chair of this coming annual Paseo Arts Festival.
We hear from him about the important fact that the artists who have entries in the competitions are actually judged by their peers, who are also professional artists who work in same particular medium in which they work.
He also speaks to how unique and how meaningful it is that people have the opportunity to meet and get to know the actual artists who created many of the pieces that are purchased in the District.
We wrap things up with Amanda talking about how attending a First Friday Gallery Walk is a great way to experience the District for the first time and how people can return to see these exhibits all month long in an unhurried and relaxed manner if they want to.
Contact Info- The Paseo Arts Association 3022 Paseo Oklahoma City, OK. 73103 405-525-2688
In this segment, Jeff then shares an overview of his life story and how he started Kize Concepts and the values that mean the most to him and that has informed the evolution of the business over the years.
He then shares the story of how he began to make Kize Energy Bars and how he continued to get more clarity about the business in the early stages.
We continue the segment as Jeff talks about plans for the future and how they want to continue to grow their Kize Catering and Kize Meals businesses.
We wrap up this segment as he tells us about future plans to continue to give back even more in the local and international community and some new projects that they will be undertaking.
In this episode, we sit down with Jeff Ragan, Owner of Kize Concepts.
Kize is in the “business of changing lives” with a mission and passion to “fuel” people’s best through food, services, and community building initiatives around the world… to change the world… for the better, and help people, businesses, and communities be their best!
At the heart of everything they do is a passion to serve and help other’s live a better life. That’s why they donate their time, talents, treasure and a % of every purchase to go back to help those in need. They love to partner and recognize other outstanding organizations doing the same.
He shares information with us about how they change lives through food service and charity through their "give-back programs" and how they focus their charitable efforts in the areas of youth, health, and homelessness.
We continue as he talks about their Kize Energy Bars that taste like a no-bake cookie and are Non-GMO, Gluten Free, and no sugar added and made with four to six simple ingredients depending on which flavor it is.
We then hear from him about Kize Catering and Kize Meals and how they cultivate local relationships and serve the local community with healthy meals that also help others with their "one feeds two" programs.
He then speaks about some of their visions and goals for the future for expanding both the reach and breadth of products and services that they provide.
We continue by visiting some about future trends that he sees in the healthy meal delivery business.
Jeff then shares how their giving back to the community comes from a genuine and authentic passion for changing people's lives in a meaningful way and giving their customers an opportunity to be a part of their work in the community.
We wrap up this segment as Jeff shares some stories about his experiences in traveling to other countries and doing charitable work and how it has changed his life and given him more perspective.
He also mentions how people in our community can actually go on these trips with them and participate in the charitable work that they do as well.