Evolution Of AloHā: Recent Episodes
Gerry Ebalaroza-Tunnell
"Evolution Of AloHā" is about sharing stories. Sharing a mix of stories could be the catalyst for social change. Storytelling serves as a tool for making sense of sophisticated situations and exploring better ways to connect." ~Dr. Gerry Ebalaroza-Tunnell Storytelling is the most natural way for us to enter into a relationship with the wisdom and knowledge of others. As in all relationships, agreements must be made and obligations and responsibility for the energies of knowledge. Thus, when a person comes into a relationship with specific knowledge, they are transformed by it and must be responsible for how it is shared. In the wise words of Ursula Le Guin, she states, "Words are events, they do things, change things. They transform both speaker and hearer; they feed energy back and forth and amplify it. They feed understanding or emotion back and forth and amplify it." As we engage in face-to-face dialogue (in the Hawaiian language; Alo means forward-facing), deeply listening and sharing our stories and our experiences, we exchange knowledge to one another by “talking story” and creating a new understanding of how we engage with others and the world around us. We “breathe” these words to each other (in the Hawaiian language, Hā means breath or breath in life). Together, this is AloHā: The exchange of ideas, the resolution of conflict, the changing of perspectives, and the evolution of our collective being. https://linktr.ee/evolutionofaloha
Dr. G sits down with Marwa Almusawi (she/her). Marwa is of Arab American heritage and spent her formative years in Iraq, Iran, Jordan, and Syria. She is honored to serve as the Director for the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Green River College. Marwa holds a Master's degree in Education, with a focus on examining the politicization of Muslim women’s representations, and a Bachelor's degree in International Relations. In her leisure time, she enjoys discovering great local cafes, baking, and hosting family and community gatherings.
In this inspiring podcast episode, Dr. G sits down with Olympia Edwards, the visionary CEO of Project Girl. This impactful organization is dedicated to mentoring young women of color, empowering them to make meaningful life choices, and supporting them in realizing their fullest, most authentic potential. Together, they "talk story," exploring Project Girl's transformative mission and the profound ways it fosters growth, resilience, and advancement among the next generation of leaders.
Olympia Edwards is an advocate, community leader, and the CEO/Founder of Project Girl Mentoring Program, www.project-girl.org An organization dedicated to empowering and inspiring young women to embrace their fullest potential. Combining her passion for empowering communities with her extensive experience in nonprofit capacity building, Olympia serves as the Director of Community Coalition. In this role, she works to strengthen local organizations by fostering partnerships, providing resources, and advocating for equitable opportunities in Snohomish County.
With over 20 years of mentorship experience, Olympia has guided countless young women on their journeys to confidence and success. She is also deeply involved in philanthropic efforts through her impactful work with several community organizations that drive social equity and support underserved populations.
Olympia believes in the power of connection and collaboration to create lasting change. Beyond her professional work, she is a devoted wife and proud mom to two adventurous boys who enjoy exploring the world through climbing, jumping, and skating. In her downtime, she finds joy in cycling and nurturing her impressive collection of over 100 indoor plants. Olympia’s mission is to inspire, guide, and foster meaningful change in the communities she serves.
In this timely episode, Dr. G talks story with Dr. Erin Lightfoot about the importance of breathwork and mindfulness in overcoming adult anxiety.
“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” ~ Carl Jung
Dr. Erin Lightfoot, owner and founder of Lightfoot Self and Soul, and a Spiritual Wellness and Feminine Energy coach, has been a passionate and dedicated mindfulness and breathwork practitioner for over a decade. As someone who has struggled with anxiety and a highly sensitive nervous system since childhood, her first time being introduced to a mindfulness practice as an adult was a pivotal turning point that sparked her breadcrumb trail toward wellness and healing.
She came to realize just how crucial developing a self-regulation and emotional literacy practice has been for learning how to feel safe and grounded in her body (especially when life feels chaotic), as well as her capacity to be present in relationships with others and her ability to lead with grounded emotional intelligence. She often wondered, “How might my life have been different if I had been taught to breathe as a child?” It was this reflection that became the guiding north star for her doctoral research on Mindfulness for Kindergarteners in Public Education, where she explored the possibility of how fostering emotional regulation through a mindful breathing practice for children may begin ‘planting the seed’ to support the development of relational leadership capacity for 21 st century leaders.
Dr. Erin firmly believes that people function better in life when they feel grounded and happy…and people feel most grounded and happy when they are healthy and emotionally well. She is an outspoken advocate for helping people, like her, who struggle with anxiety learn how to get out of their heads and into their bodies so they can become securely attached and soul-aligned with thriving relationships, while feeling amazing, healthy, and alive in their minds, body, heart, soul, and spirit!
She also holds four wellness-based certifications: Breath Coach, Nutrition and Health Coach, Integrated Attachment Relationship Coach, and a Yoga instructor. Outside of her professional and academic world, Dr. Erin leads a whole and vibrant life with her extraordinary partner and three beautiful children living in sunny Southern California.
You can find her on Instagram and Tik Tok by searching Lightfoot Self and Soul, or through her website (coming soon) at www.LightfootSelfAndSoul.com
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/lightfoot.self.and.soul?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
Tik Tok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@lightfoot.self.and.soul?_t=8qY8PSGKFeJ&_r=1
Website:
www.lightfootselfandsoul.com (coming soon!)
WARNING:
Profanity.
Profanity is beneficial beyond adding emphasis and color to our language. It can also provide catharsis, conferring a degree of relief from stress and other forms of discomfort. (Mager, 2018)
EvolutionOfAloha #GuidingPrinciplesOfAloha #WayfindingLeadership #WholeSystemsParadigm
WesternKnowledge #IndigenousWayOfBeing
Give a little Aloha and become a contributing member to the work I do. Support The Evolution of AloHā with a small monthly gift to the Plowline Productions Patreon Page! All proceeds some to this podcast. Exclusive offers, extended podcasts and yearly giveaways to members!
https://www.patreon.com/PlowlineProductions
Subscribe to The Evolution of AloHā website and receive a free Guiding Principles of A.L.O.H.A. 11x17 poster.
https://www.evolutionofaloha.com
My Consulting Services can be fo
Illustration: Qoni Fadhilah
Singer/Songwriter: Sherry Muchira
Author: Dr. Gerry Ebalaroza-Tunnell
Song Copyright: 2024
This incredible jingle was based on the work of Dr. Gerry Ebalaroza-Tunnell's Guiding Principles of A.L.O.H.A. It's designed and crafted to sing a long and stay with each of us throughout the day, inviting us always to LIVE ALOHA.
In this episode, Dr. G talks story with Dr. Joan King about identity, politics, love, compassion, and everything that makes our world a better place for ALL.
Dr. Joan King is a national Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) conference presenter and consultant. She has a BA in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing, an MA in English, and a Doctorate in Education. She is a published author and former high school teacher for Washington state. Her articles regarding Asian American voices have been published in TinyBeans.com, Mochi Magazine, Memoir Magazine, and Writerly Magazine.
WARNING:
Profanity.
Profanity is beneficial beyond adding emphasis and color to our language. It can also provide catharsis, conferring a degree of relief from stress and other forms of discomfort. (Mager, 2018)
EvolutionOfAloha #GuidingPrinciplesOfAloha #WayfindingLeadership #WholeSystemsParadigm
WesternKnowledge #IndigenousWayOfBeing
Give a little Aloha and become a contributing member to the work I do. Support The Evolution of AloHā with a small monthly gift to the Plowline Productions Patreon Page! All proceeds some to this podcast. Exclusive offers, extended podcasts and yearly giveaways to members!
https://www.patreon.com/PlowlineProductions
Subscribe to The Evolution of AloHā website and receive a free Guiding Principles of A.L.O.H.A. 11x17 poster.
https://www.evolutionofaloha.com
My Consulting Services can be found at:
https://www.co3consulting.net
The Evolution of AloHā Podcast is produced by Plowline Media Productions.
In this episode, Dr. G sits down with the owner of Aloha NW, a small Island-themed retail shop in the heart of downtown Kirkland, WA. Tanya Carnahan, the owner, identifies as haolé and fell in love with Kona after spending several years living there. Some local people see this as an offense, an appropriation of culture. Dr. G demonstrates that the heart of a person is what counts, and we should not quickly judge without attempting to build relationships and understanding first. They are joined by Keenan and Kim DeMello from Kimberline Creations, artists and vendors whose crafts are sold at Aloha NW.
Through this conversation, the four demonstrate that there is often more to most situations than meets the eye. Tanya's love for the islands translates into a place where local artists, musicians, and craftspeople's work is highlighted to a broader continental market. We hope you enjoy this insightful conversation!
https://www.alohanorthwestllc.com
Give a little Aloha and become a contributing member to the work I do. Support The Evolution of AloHā with a small monthly gift to the Plowline Productions Patreon Page! Proceeds go to producing this podcast; you will receive exclusive offers, extended podcasts, and yearly giveaways!
https://www.patreon.com/PlowlineProductions
Subscribe to The Evolution of AloHā website and receive a free Guiding Principles of A.L.O.H.A. 11x17 poster.
https://www.evolutionofaloha.com
My Consulting Services can be found at:
https://www.co3consulting.net
The Evolution of AloHā Podcast is produced by Plowline Media Productions
EvolutionOfAloha #GuidingPrinciplesOfAloha #WayfindingLeadership #WholeSystemsParadigm #WesternKnowledge #IndigenousWayOfBeing
Dr. G sits down with Dianna David - Diana has been voted both Global (Filipina) Woman Who Rule and Ranked Top 9 Best Female Motivational Speaker for 2023. She is a coach, consultant, TedX speaker, and a multi-awarded 20-year professional performing artist. For the last 15 years, she has shared her wisdom through her MakeMOVES Coaching, Workshops, Self-Intiations, and Energetic Healing through her moves. She has toured her Red Ball MVMT around the world, empowering through Movement, Visualization, Musicality, and Transformative theatre to express one's authentic story, inner child, and innovative play.
https://linktr.ee/diannadavidmoves
EvolutionOfAloha #GuidingPrinciplesOfAloha #WayfindingLeadership #WholeSystemsParadigm #WesternKnowledge #IndigenousWayOfBeing
Give a little Aloha and become a contributing member to the work I do. Support The Evolution of AloHā with a small monthly gift to the Plowline Productions Patreon Page! Proceeds go to producing this podcast; you will receive exclusive offers, extended podcasts, and yearly giveaways!
https://www.patreon.com/PlowlineProductions
Subscribe to The Evolution of AloHā website and receive a free Guiding Principles of A.L.O.H.A. 11x17 poster.
https://www.evolutionofaloha.com
My Consulting Services can be found at:
https://www.co3consulting.net
The Evolution of AloHā Podcast is produced by Plowline Media Productions
In this episode, I invite our new intern for Plowline Media Productions, Paola Quijada, to talk about current news, pushing the movement forward, and self-care through it all. Paola Quijada is a graduate of Washington State University in Comparative Ethnic Studies. She is committed to seeing liberation for all and continuing the path to ongoing learning.
EvolutionOfAloha #GuidingPrinciplesOfAloha #WayfindingLeadership #WholeSystemsParadigm
WesternKnowledge #IndigenousWayOfBeing
Give a little Aloha and become a contributing member to the work I do. Support The Evolution of AloHā with a small monthly gift to the Plowline Productions Patreon Page! All proceeds some to this podcast. Exclusive offers, extended podcasts and yearly giveaways to members!
https://www.patreon.com/PlowlineProductions
Subscribe to The Evolution of AloHā website and receive a free Guiding Principles of A.L.O.H.A. 11x17 poster.
https://www.evolutionofaloha.com
My Consulting Services can be found at:
https://www.co3consulting.net
The Evolution of AloHā Podcast is produced by Plowline Media Productions
In this episode, Dr. G and Heather Johnson, former Executive Director of the Whidbey Institute and now Integral Health Coach, engage in a beautiful and transformative conversation about health, healing, and decolonizing the language we have around our bodies.
Heather Johnson’s 25-year professional life has been dedicated to social and environmental change, called by a deep sense that—at the heart of it—such work is about healing: in relationship with ourselves, one another, and the planet. Her integrative health coaching work combines the best practices of coaching along with knowledge of, and embodied capacity for, whole person health. She is the former Executive Director of the Whidbey Institute on Whidbey Island in the Salish Sea.
Sherri was born and raised on the Penobscot Indian reservation (Penawahpskek). She speaks and teaches around the world on issues of Indigenous rights, environmental justice, and spiritual change. Her broad base of knowledge allows her to synthesize many subjects into a cohesive whole, weaving together a multitude of complex issues and articulating them in a way that both satisfies the mind and heals the heart.
Sherri received her Juris Doctorate and a certificate in Indigenous People’s Law and Policy from the University of Arizona’s James E. Rogers College of Law. She is an alumna of the American Indian Ambassador program, and the Udall Native American Congressional Internship program.
Sherri is the Founding Director of the Land Peace Foundation, an organization dedicated to the global protection of Indigenous land and water rights and the preservation of the Indigenous way of life. Prior to forming the Land Peace Foundation, Sherri served as a law clerk to the Solicitor of the United States Department of Interior; as an Associate with Fredericks, Peebles and Morgan Law Firm; as a civil rights educator for the Maine Attorney General’s Office, and; as the Staff Attorney for the Native American Unit of Pine Tree Legal.
Katie Lyons is a wife and mother to two beautiful children. They reside in Bellingham, WA, where Katie works as a lead banker with U.S. Bank. She hopes that as her journey through life continues to shine a light on the beauty and love we can all spread in this world.
In this episode, Dr. G talks with Indigenous educator and doctoral candidate Daphne Littlebear about P.L.A.C.E curriculum and forming your Pueblo Cloud.
People: Intergenerational
Land: Source
Art: Gratitude
Culture: Resilience
Ecology: Networks
Daphne Littlebear is from Tamaya, Santa Ana Pueblo, and is a descendant of the Mvskoke, Yuchi, and Shawnee Nations, where she resides. Music and dancing provide so much joy and healing to Daphne, she engages in many of the cultural dances of her communities.
Daphne is currently completing her doctoral degree at Arizona State University studying social justice education, education policy, and Indigenous education. The current working title of her dissertation is, “Affirming the Educational Sovereignty of Santa Ana Pueblo: The Intersections Community Based Education, Western Schooling, and Tribal Citizenship”.
Daphne is the Research and Evaluation Manager at the National Indian Education Association serving tribal colleges and universities. Daphne has had the opportunity to work in the education field for over ten years with various organizations, she believes, advocates and is a champion of educational sovereignty for Tribal Nations.
In this episode, Dr. G talks story with Dr. Shukri Olow, a beautifully fierce Muslim woman and proud refugee from Somalia running for State Representative, 47th Legislative District which includes the city of Kent, Covington, and Auburn, WA.
In this episode, Dr. G talks story with Sonya-Prajna Patrick, an end-of-life or death doula, about decolonizing the narrative of death.
In this episode, Dr. G talks story with Mindy Woods as she shares her story about her, and her son's lived experiences of homelessness and how she uses her stories to uplift her community.
In this episode, we will be talking with Ranice Innocent, a Seattle-based educator whose work is focused on equity, social justice, diversity and inclusion, team building, emotional intelligence, experiential education and community development.
We start off Season Two of the Evolution of AloHā by talking with Emareena Daniels, a master educator and leading expert in adult learning inside prisons and jails, and on free campuses, as people transition into education after returning to their communities. Daniels is a skilled facilitator and speaker with an extensive and varied background in adult education, instructional design, curriculum building, and program development. They hold an M.S. degree in Teaching, General Arts, and Letters from Portland State University and a B.A. in Communications from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Em Daniels is the author of Building a Trauma-Responsive Educational Practice a timely manual that presents a new perspective on teaching and learning focused on countering the impacts of trauma on adults’ ability to learn.
In this last episode of 2021, Gerry talks story with Fleur Larsen, Seattle-based racial justice facilitator and seasoned consultant about Gracious Anger and the need for ALL women to come together to heal our society.
In this episode, Gerry talks story with Kelsay Myers about the launch of her latest program s(e)oul expressions : : a transformative experience for Korean adoptees, Korean adopted and displaced persons.
In Episode 9 of the Mixed Plate Podcast, Gerry and Dr. Nina Kim Hanson bring an abundance of complex topics about being an Asian-American woman in politics, raising mixed-race kids, leading with love and Aloha despite the adversities, decolonizing the way we lead and the nuances and intricacies of being a woman of color navigating a Eurocentric world.
In this pre-recorded Podcast, Gerry gathers with Superintendent Will Nelson (Blackfeet) of the La Conner School District and Chelsea Craig (Tulalip), Cultural Specialist, and Asst. Principal of Quil Ceda Tulalip Elementary of the Marysville School District to discuss how Indigenous teaching is based on the nature and quality of communicating at all levels of being. Educating the Whole Child.
In this episode, Gerry talks story with the amazing Gabrielle Kazuko Nomura Gainor. We share our experiences about multi-racial identity and how this gift allows us to be in relationship with all of our cultures. We also discuss how the dichotomous nature of being both the colonizer and the colonized with grace leads to healing seven generations.
In this Episode of the mix plate podcast, Gerry talk's story with Sarah Chan, owner of Calypso Kitchen in Bellingham, WA about sharing a meal and transformative conversations that happen around the table.
In this exciting 5th episode of the Mixed Plate Podcast, Gerry talks story with Dr. Baozhen Luo. They engage in conversations about navigating racism in the world of western academia, the process of decolonization, and the tools of A.L.O.H.A to unpack racism and engage in anti-racism work.
In this Podcast you get to hear Gerry speak at the professional leadership conference for the Sierra Pacific Lutheran Synod at South Lake Tahoe about her dissertation work and upcoming book, "The Evolution Of AloHā." The speech was given on October 14th, 2021.
Naomi Pierce graduated from Western Washington University in 2021 with a double bachelor's in communications and sociology. Currently residing in the Seattle region working in the automotive and power tool industry.
On the second episode of the Mixed Plate Podcast, Gerry talks with Dr. Janis Velasquez Farmer about the model minority. Together, the dissect and explore the system that is operating exactly as it was intended and the call to action to change it. Janis talks about the assimilation of immigrant groups and her own families story in coming form the Philippines. She describes the powerful allure of what it is to arrive at the social status of 'able to exclude" and juxtaposes that idea with the concept of white white supremacy.
Janis shares her concept of Critical Hope and Gerry adds in her concept of Gracious Anger. The two use their doctoral discoveries to find a path forward that is inclusive to all and recognizes the stories of others.
In this first episode of the Mixed Plate Podcast, Gerry talks with her husband, business partner and co-author - Jeremy D. Tunnell. Gerry & Jeremy went through and graduated from the Whole Systems Design Master's Program with Antioch University Seattle prior to Gerry enrolling in her doctoral program. They met in May of 2003 and have been business partners since 2004. They married in 2006 and have been cultivating ideas and growing opportunities every since.
In this Podcast, Gerry asks Jeremy about his journey toward decolonization and dismantling his own whiteness. They explore the origins of race and whiteness. Jeremy's current projects include his blog Dismantling Whiteness and beginning of a book project called The Colonized Mind. He is a partner and lead facilitator for their consulting firm Co3 Consulting.