SPARKS IN ACTION Podcast with Donna Sherman: Recent Episodes
Donna Sherman
Sparks In Action is an uplifting antidote to your daily news feed. SIA will uplift and inspire you by introducing you to everyday people who are doing whatever they do with great love and, in doing so, add to our collective well-being. Some episodes are short and sweet. Some a little longer. On occasion I will offer some tools and practices for living life with increased presence and skill. Many good things will happen here.Listen and join us in celebrating each other and the wondrous world we live in. https://donnalsherman.com for more info.
We are told by news sources, across the political spectrum, that immigration is a hot button issue that needs fixing. What does that really mean? Mo Goldman, Immigration Attorney in Tucson AZ, sheds some light on this issue in language that is clear and clear-headed. In the next 30 minutes you will get a good walk through some of the realities of the USA Immigration system(s) while also learning about Mo's familys' poignant immigrant story.
Meet Ken Posner and Charlie Gadol of Run Wild, Inc. Run Wild, Inc. has a mission to "raise funds for land conservation and stewardship in the Hudson Valley and beyond by organizing races and other outdoor activities". Ken and Charlie, both passionate distance trail runners, have some interesting tales to tell which include hypothermia and hallucinations from sleep deprivation during extreme long races.
I made this one with no introduction so you can simply get yourself ready (laying down on a bed or mat, covered up and comfortable) push play and go directly into a guided deeply restful state.
For more info: https://donnalsherman.com
Randy Freeman and Mike Asbury, from Braver Angels, are back on the podcast. Topics include the humility, the risks and rewards of engaging with people who think differently and the wisdom of choosing to not engage.
If you are losing faith in our political landscape due to all the polarization out there, listen to this conversation. Randy Freeman and Mike Asbury came onto the podcast to share the inspiring and impactful work of Braver Angels. Braver Angels is the largest bridging organization in the USA. This is part 1 or a 2 part series.
For info: https://braverangels.org
About Donna: https://donnalsherman.com
This is good for anyone at work, at home, in school, in athletics; even families can do this together. To reach Donna: https://donnalsherman.com
Meghan Wolff, PhD., MPH is the Health Policy Director at Beyond Plastics. Beyond Plastics is a nationwide project that educates the public on the plastic pollution crisis. in our short conversation Meghan shares a wealth of information, and some concrete suggestions, for how we can all do our part in reducing damage from plastics.
A lively and informative conversation about exactly what Intermittent Fasting is, its health and mental health benefits, various ways of implementing the practice, contraindications and more.
Michelle is the host of the Fast and Fabulous Podcast.
Nachshon Ben's clear, informed, journalistic perspective is a voice that needs to be heard right now.
We discuss current life in Tel Aviv, how to discern "noise" from fact and how to go from getting lost in the ideological rhetoric and move into productive conversations and action.
The first of a few 30 minute episodes with people who know a lot about Israel, the history and the complexity of the current Middle East and antisemitism. Ethan studied and taught Middle East Politics before moving into the world of international & domestic drug policy; he gives his take on the challenges of the region.
If you can lie down, or recline, please do. You can do this, with positive effect while sitting in a chair if you have to. Do NOT listen to his recording while driving or operating any machinery; your eyes will need to be closed.
Alaina Levine is a professional speaker, career coach and science writer. This is our second SIA conversation and we discuss how to grow through pitfalls such as the perfectionism (mea culpa!) , comparison, shame and embarrassment all with the goal of embracing our messy selves as we seek to work, serve and earn a living.
Welcome to this new season of Sparks In Action (SIA). I've got some inspiring guests this season so stay tuned, share with friends and make SIA part of your podcast listening life.
Here's a short taste of meditation for those of you who think that mediation requires something that you don't have.
Talking with Sy and, reading any of her 35 (!!) books, is always an adventure, an education and a source of genuine inspiration. We talk about many things with an emphasis on all things Turtle. Sy's book: Of Time and Turtles: Mending the World, shell by Shattered Shell will be released on September 19.
https://symontgomery.com
https://donnalsherman.com
This episode covers: How the primary neurotransmitters involved (GABA & Glutamate) in Ketamine Infusion Therapy act on the human brain and body, what a Ketamine infusion treatment might look like in a professional clinic, when Ketamine treatments are contraindicated and more. Jill is a compassionate medical professional with extensive experience as a Certified Registered Nurse Anaesthesist.
https://ketaminewellnessinfusionspa.com
https://donnalsherman.com
Do you find yourself thinking that your life is filled with too much of the mundane? Listen to this and learn to flip the script.
Listen to the very end; keep listening after I sign off and let me know if you know can identify the sound I recorded.
How we start our day matters. I've got a behavioral tool for you that will lift your spirts and settle your mind.
Let me know what you thinkl.
https://donnalsherman.com
Link for study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nim.gov/36229489
Veterinarians face enormous stress; however we rarely think about the fact that they encounter death, loss and complex medical decisions on a daily, perhaps even hourly, basis. Dr. Sonja Olson worked in emergency veterinary care for many years and has an insiders understanding of the complexity of practicing veterinary medicine. Sonja is part of a dynamic movement to bring therapeutic services to veterinary professionals and is the author of: Creating Wellbeing and Building Resilience in the Veterinary Profession.
Raj Pandya is the Director of the John R. Kirk Planetarium and a lecturer in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at the State University of New York in New Paltz, NY. Allyson Sheneman is a student of Astronomy, Biology and Physics and an outstanding presenter of planetarium shows. In our fact-filled, fun and lively conversation they explore a variety of topics such as the possibility of intelligent life in the cosmos, an icy moon of Jupiter that spouts geysers, thoughts about human habitation on Mars, the power of the new Webb telescope and more.
PLEASE subscribe and support this podcast (which is a labor of love with a team of one (me!)) by giving it a review on Apple, Spotify or Google.
John R. Kirk Planetarium http://www.newpaltz.edu/planetarium
For information about Donna: https://donnalsherman.com
I want to grow Sparks In Action and to do that I need a minute of your time. Please rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. SIA is an uplifting community service, please help me keep it thriving. Thank you! xoxo
Alaina worked as a science writer and over the years has created a dynamic data-driven, and process- oriented, approach to helping others work and live outside of narrow boxes. She is especially interested in working with people in the sciences( and STEM) who wish to pivot and transfer their knowledge and skills in new directions. Alaina does all of this with humor, color, sincerity and fierce strength. Our lively discussion covers a lot of ground and offers some actionable steps so grab a notebook. Simply listening to Alaina will ignite your inspiration and belief in your capacity to innovate.
For more info: https://alainalevine.com
About me: https://donnalsherman.com
Liz is a medical doctor, a hospitalist, who is committed to her patients while also being actively engaged in programs aimed at caring for caregivers. Our first conversation on the podcast happened in May of 2021. In this part 2 we continue to peel back the curtain that divides patient and health professional. We discuss how medical professionals can attune to their patients vulnerabilities, the post Covid shortage of health care professionals, how patients can attune to their medical professionals strengths and vulnerabilities, some of the technological and architectural changes that are having positive impact on patient care and some of the systemic changes that are making health care difficult to access. We also talk about the role of genuine gratitude and its impact on health care providers and the patients they care for.
https://donnalsherman.com
Sara is a Professor at of Psychology at University of California where she directs the Sleep and Cognition Lab. In this episode Sara lays out a little more about the premise of her book: The Power of the Downstate: Recharge Your Life Using Your Body's Own Restorative Systems and we discuss steps that will help you activate more consistent, health-promoting behaviors. Take some notes while you listen and if you really want to dive deep into how to enhance you innate restorative systems read her book.
Sara's website: https://saramednick.com
For information about me and my work: https://donnalsherman.com
You can follow my voice and do this while seated or laying down. Please do your best to breathe in and out through your nose; that said, don't stress if nasal breathing feels awkward, it will feel more natural with time.
Lisa is a triple licensed psychotherapist, a long-time teacher of meditation and a fiercely intelligent woman who has never shied away from speaking from a straightforward truth and she happens to be a dear friend of mine. This rich conversation between colleagues and friends was prompted by our shared concern that the often popular approach of "optimization" can be misleading and filled with hype over substance.
Listen to this introduction to the next SIA series and then we sure to listen to the first rich and provocative conversation in this series with Lisa Dale Miller, LMFT, LPCC,SEP. Lisa is psychotherapist, long time practitioner and teacher of Buddhist psychology and the author of Effortless Mindfulness: Genuine Mental Health Through Awakened Presence.
Ethan has been involved in progressive international and domestic drug policy and harm reduction policies for decades. Our lively conversation includes many aspects of all things drug policy, how justice intersects with drug policy and the human desire to alter our consciousness. And we reveal personal information about our marriage, the dissolution of our marriage and our transition from being married to being great, life-long friends.
Sara, in her down to earth style, shares her vast scientific knowledge about how we can listen to, and utilize, our body's innate rhythmic cycles to increase our overall health. Sara has a vast and deep knowledge of our body's fascinating rhythmic nature and, more than that, she is devoted to bring her knowledge out into the wider world so we can all understand and work with our body's cyclic nature. This is part 1 of a 2 part conversation.For more information about her work: https://saramednick.com
How we start our day matters. Chirps are like sonic hits of gratitude and joy. Listen to this 3 minute episode, try my suggestion and let me know how it works for you. More info and tools: https://donnalsherman.com
This episode falls into the "tools for optimal living" category of the podcast. This new 25 minute episode moves right into a guided practice that is designed to mitigate mental agitation and physical exhaustion so you can resume your day with a clear mind and settled body.
Sy Montgomerys' love for our natural world, and all the creatures in it, has taken her on soul enlarging adventures to distant areas of the earth where she takes readers on deep dives into the mystery and wonder of the minds and behaviors of fascinating- and wildly intelligent- creatures such as pacific octopuses, hawks, pigs, dogs, amazonian pink river dolphins, tigers, tarantulas and more. Sy's prose is gorgeous with detail and fierce with truth. She explores the sacred in the natural world and from it, learns to"love like a God.' Listen and be inspired. Read her books and embark on an adventure that will enlarge your heart, feed your mind and light up your wonder and curiosity.
In this episode I read words from the late, great astrophysicist/astronomer Carl Sagan and then invite you into a short inquiry about living our very human lives while also being part of the ever-changing immensity and interdependence of this wild universe. Sound heavy? It's not. Listen and check it out.
The late, great astronomer Carl Sagan wrote some words that (gorgeously!)point towards the fact that we are immense, made of essential elements and inextricably woven into everything and each other. In this episode I read some of his words from Pale Blue Dot then invite you into an inquiry which then ends with me reading from one of my very early verse/lyrics. This episode is a portion of a presentation/guided inquiry I created for some faculty and staff at our local university with the hope of us all remembering that we can widen our perspectives.
Hunter is a classically trained pianist who is devoted to democratizing music by replacing the concert hall with stunning landscapes and making these music experiences affordable and multi-sensory. Hunter and his crew place a 9 foot Steinway piano on a flatbed truck and give people the experience of being in a landscape with a live soundtrack where they can move, explore and take in the beauty of our natural wonders.This episode has the added bonus of Hunter playing us in at the start and playing us out at the end. Listen to the very end so you don't miss him playing some Chopin!(There are a few moments here and there in the podcast when our zoom connection got wonky but they only last a few seconds; besides, Sparks In Action is not about perfection. All episodes are unedited.)
You can reach Hunter and learn more about him, his work and his schedule at https://inalandscape.org
I heard your requests so here you are: I started this guided practice thinking it would be about 10 minutes but it turned out to be nineteen. This is designed for mid -day or anytime you begin to feel brain fog, eye strain, mind overdrive or simply want a guided reset. You can follow this while seated at your desk or lying on the floor. As always, if you have questions or want to reach out visit my site at https://donnalsherman.com
After a few of us created a story that involved time travel, George Washington, a blue flying horse and a run in with a T Rex I asked Lisa this question this question:
" What's the best thing about being a child?" Here is her response.
Lori Wynters interviewed me and here's the conversation. When you hear some pauses don't think anything is off with your audio, we allow for a few seconds of silence when silence was the honest space between questions or responses.
I interviewed Lori on an earlier episode of SIA so check it out.
The early Sparks In Action videos (before it became a podcast) I mention in the interview can be found by searching for Sparks In Action on You Tube. You will find three videos titled:
Women Who Walk Their Talk
Stellar Wonder
Take Me to the River
Allen Taylor, PHD and Kim Kronenberg, MPH have created an inspiring and uplifting program called STEP-GTP: Science Training Encouraging Peace- Graduate Training Program. This visionary program pairs Palestinian and Israeli Graduate Students so they can do scientific work and research together with the aim of "reintroducing Israelis and Palestinians to each other" and cultivating enduring professional relationships built on respect and trust.
For information visit https://STEP-GTP.org. You can contact Kim or Allen at stepgtp@gmail.com
You know how the still small voice within ( or the loud nudging voice from within) is telling you that there is a specific goal or behavior change you deeply want/need to weave into your daily life? Take three minutes and listen to how the "Want It & Do It" series I am offering can help you move steadily from desire to action. No hype, just a lot of effective tools and steady support. Please contact me with any questions about content or registration at donnalynnshermman@gmail.com or via my site https://donnalsherman.com
Jimmy shares his rich history in the world of radio and how his path led him to where he is now at the the vibrant, non- commercial Radio Kingston in Kingston, NY. Radio Kingston (WKNY 1490 AM /107.9 FM) breaks the boundaries of commercial radio and creates a vital and diverse platform for the exchange of information, ideas, inspiration, story telling and community actions with the goal of creating a more "just and equitable Kingston". To learn more: https://radiokingston.org
Out of the mouths of kiddos...
Listen and hear a pearl of wisdom about accepting the goodness and the difficult. All I asked was: "What do you think we grown ups need to know?" This is what he said.
If your tank feels empty and you need some juice, here is a stream of good sparks from me to you.
Whoever you are, wherever you are in this world, this is for you. I've received requests that I create a guided relaxation episode on this podcast so here it is. There is a lot I can say about the profoundly restorative guided relaxation that is Yoga Nidra but it's better for you to directly experience the therapeutic value; so, I suggest you carve out the 23 minutes when the timing works for you. If you want more information about Yoga Nidra in general, or my recordings from 2017 in particular, you can visit my website http://donnalsherman.com where you will find a "Guided Relaxation Recording" option on the menu bar. There are direct links for downloading my digital recordings from Amazon and the iTunes store. If you like CDs, I can get one to you. If you have questions or want to contact me there is a contact page on my website: https://donnalsherman.com
I wish you ever deepening peace and vibrant health.
Here are a few things you can do either first thing in the morning or anytime of day when you find you are falling into the rabbit hole of familiar worry, anxiety, rumination, irritation or any problematic/ habitual mind/body loops. We all know these all too familiar states all too well; if we choose to work with them we can begin to move beyond them. Like the old adage: "You have to name it to tame it". These deceptively simple steps are designed to help you name it, deliberately drop into your body via somatic awareness and in doing so, summon your innate calming (body) and quieting (mind) mechanisms to step up and escort you into a more refreshed, open state.
Experiment with it and let me know if it helps. https://donnalsherman.com
Three (deceptively) simple- and easy to integrate- practices I gleaned from listening to Dr. Andrew Huberman, Neurobiologist at Stanford University School of Medicine. The information I mention is discussed in great scientific detail in episode #28 of the "Huberman Lab" podcast. I do not know, nor have I ever met, Dr. Huberman. I listen to many science-based podcasts and simply want to share good information, that could add to your health and overall well-being, with you.
A wise elder, bereaved yet grateful husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, father-in-law, uncle and friend spontaneously speaks into my phone on Fathers Day.
We love you Dad.
Marc, a world renown, composer/lyricist/arranger and performer who works in films, musical theater and television ( along with his co-lyricist Scott Wittman) has received a Tony, a Grammy, an Emmy and seven Oscar nominations. We cover a range of subjects from how the language of music and lyric can evoke deep emotions in both adults and children and how humor, and joy, create bridges between us. Marc, in his honest and unassuming way, reflects on his many years in the world of theater and the process of giving air to the essential creative flow of composing/writing while also honoring the necessary progressions that the world of musical theater is undergoing.
Listen to the very end and you might just hear a some piano improv....
Listen and meet someone who speaks candidly about living a rich and full life with a brain that works differently. Lisa had a long career in the public school system as a musical educator, singer and choral director while being a mother, an ultra runner and outdoor enthusiast. During our conversation Lisa shares her truth with remarkable honesty while also sharing how she made a deliberate choice to drop her fear of being judged and misunderstood so she could live with unapologetic bold passion.
Liz Levine, MD, is an internist and hospitalist at Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck, NY. We talk about how she brings her medical expertise, her humanity and her wisdom to both her patients and her fellow health care providers. Liz is devoted to supporting fellow medical professionals in their process of drawing on their humanity while helping them resource tools that will help them negotiate the tricky territory of being a health care provider. We talk how both patients and medical professionals can be in their respective roles while also sharing their essential humanity (I share a bit about my cancer experience) and Liz offers some specific tools as examples of how she brings her desire to help "heal the healers" into her everyday work.
The recorded night noise that accompanies the first two minutes of this recording drops off by the 3rd minute.
I wish you restorative sleep. ~~ Donna
In 2010 artists and health care professionals joined forces to create an innovate, joyful and effective way of offering health care to uninsured or underinsured artists. Through the exchange of art, music and health care the wildly successful O Positive (O+) Festival was born in Kingston, NY. The model of the 0+ Festival has been recreated across the country. Listen to Joe speak passionately about the vision and generosity that went into creating this festival and how the festival not only provides an exchange of arts and health care but also nourishes communities by empowering them to take control of their collective well being.
The next O Positive Festival will take place on October 8,9 & 10 of 2020. For information visit opositivefestival.org
Lori is a psychologist, university professor and rabbinically trained chaplain. In this lively episode we talk about grieving as a natural and necessary part of a full life, how we can allow ourselves to experience loss and vulnerability without shame and ways in which we can purposefully create connection with others. We also talk about how joy, love and wonder are part of the same life- affirming experience as loss and sadness and we address how we can be with ourselves and others in their joys, sorrows and the overall bigness of experience that is life is.
Meet Karen who literally fights dangerous sparks while serving her community with fierce and loving devotion. Karen, the manger of a busy Inn in Woodstock NY, joined the Woodstock fire department at the age of 52 and since then, has become an interior firefighter, an EMT and a lieutenant. We talk about the interesting path that led Karen to join the fire department, what the training entails, why she does what she does and what the world of volunteer fire fighting looks like. Approximately 70 % of all fire fighters serve their community on a volunteer basis!
My short take and how to lessen the divide between us and have respectful conversations.
What do you get when you mix the field of medical pathology with the love of, and care for, our natural world? You get Charlie Gadol! Charlie is an engaged and generous citizen who walks his talk with sincere humility and positive actions. Full disclosure: Charlie is my husband.Click play and join our conversation.
I'm not selling anything. My goal is to restore your faith in humanity and ignite your inspiration. Quite the deal!
Sparks In Action is an uplifting antidote to your daily news feed. This podcast will inspire you by introducing you to ordinary, unassuming citizens who are doing great things to add to our collective well-being. Join us in celebrating each other and our wondrous world. Full length episodes will begin in mid April 2021.