Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire

On this week's episode, I admit that my Mama Bear instincts have been ignited. That maternal instinct of wanting to protect my cubs from any threat of danger. Whether the threat of danger concerns my own adult children, concerns women if the Supreme Court Justices overturn Roe v. Wade, or the threat impacts all marginalized people. It's striking that this assault on women, their bodies and their c...

My guest today is Jim Buehler. Jim, who claims that he is just a "regular guy" recently returned from a 10 day trip helping Ukrainian refugees cross the border into Poland. Jim's open-heart surgery a year ago metaphysically opened his heart to care deeply about the Ukrainian refugees, enough so to feel compelled to take action. Jim and his college roommate, friend of 50 years, Lorne Adrian, helped...

On this week's episode, I share my joy and gratitude for last week's Earth Day, while reminding us to care for our magnificent planet everyday. From sunrises, illuminating moon light, budding and blooming Spring flowers and trees, to the melodic chorus of birdsong, and a special encounter with a deer, nature is full of wonder. I don't tire of my surroundings. Each day I walk the Hook Mountain trai...

On this week's episode, I reminisce on the vision of Bob Fox, a radical Catholic priest, who was instrumental in shaping the roots of my early faith. Ignited by my brother Dan, who organized a family Zoom last week, with my siblings and our almost 92 year old Dad, we discussed the impact Bob Fox, our close family friend, had on our lives. Bob's legacy of love, creativity, compassion and courage ce...

My guest today is Anne Macksoud. Anne is an educator, documentary filmmaker and by my accounts, an inspiring activist. My Aunt Hilly ( Hilary Carr Jones ), who was thrilled to recently reconnect with her high school friend, Anne, after 62 years, knew I would also feel a kindred spirit connection with Anne and her meaningful work. Saddened by the suffering they saw around them, Anne and her busines...

One of the first flowers of Spring is the crocus. I get so excited when I spot the first one of the season. Amazing how these small, delicate white (sometimes purple) flowers can bring me so much joy at the promise of Spring. With all the colorful splashes of crocuses around me and inspired by a poem by Jo Sorley called "Crocus-Minded", I've been reflecting on what it means to be crocus-minded. Be...

On this week's episode I explain the phowa meditation, typically done at the bedside of a dying person. In these past 15 years, I have said the phowa for loved ones as they were dying, I've  said it for myself everyday as part of my spiritual practice and I have said the phowa meditation numerous times from a distance, for my mom, for friends, for friends' family members, for people in the dying p...

On this week's episode, my guest Bob Levy, entrepreneur and consultant, takes time to reflect and envision a new chapter in his life. How do we actually make the golden years golden? Crediting his mother, Bob has had the courage to embrace change throughout his life, be it change in careers, relationships, homes and communities. Averse to the finality in the word retirement, Bob prefers the words...

On this week's episode, as nature transitions from winter to spring, I share some wonder and wisdom I discovered in watching the natural world thaw. When I paused and paid attention to the sights and sounds of snow and ice melting, I was inspired to look at what needs to soften within me. There are certainly concepts, emotions and behaviors that need to melt in our world. How can we transform our...

Today marks the 200th episode of our podcast! We launched our podcast in January 2018, just over 4 years ago. Looking back over these 4 years, I am deeply grateful for this podcast, all my guest and all my listeners. It began as my heart's desire to shine light on everyday people who inspire me. We've had a wide range of guests: musicians, social justice activists, artists, yoga teachers, educator...

On this week's episode, we look at cluttered drawers, how they become dumping grounds for random odds and ends and how they call us to action! Every once in a while, our cluttered drawers need our attention, need us to empty, sort and organize. Not always easy to acknowledge, but important to address.   I think of a cluttered drawer as metaphor for life. How much personal clutter do we ignore, let...

On this week's episode, I share some wisdom I learned from Yin Yoga that can easily be applied off the yoga mat. The philosophical foundation of Yin Yoga is to practice having awareness of what is, with acceptance. That so resonates with all of life. Awareness of what is with acceptance, in my body, in my mental state, my emotional state, would only enrich my spiritual state of being. Three princi...

On this week's episode, I explore my desire to acknowledge, honor and celebrate Black History Month in a meaningful way. An inspiring article from Shaun King's newsletter "The North Star" , written by Kendi, a student at NYU, introduced me to a new term "Black Futures Month" which integrates past, present and a hopeful future. May we, as Kendi states: "reflect on the tumultuous journey of Black pe...

On this week's episode I honor the Vietnamese Buddhist monk, peace activist, author and spiritual leader, Thich Nhat Hanh, who recently died at age 95. He was the embodiment of his inspiring values: engaged Buddhism, peace activism and mindful living. My own meditation and spiritual practices have been enriched by this gentle, wise soul for 4 decades. Since his death, I've immersed myself in readi...

On this week's episode I reflect on the legacy of Sidney Poitier and Martin Luther King, Jr. The gifted actor, director and activist, Sidney Poitier died on January 6th, 2022. The following week we honored MLK Day, a hard-fought national holiday to pay tribute to the leader of the Civil Rights Movement. Both these men had such a significant impact on me, from early childhood, through my formative...

On this week's episode I explore some of the ripple effects of Covid-19. Seems like everyone has been directly or indirectly impacted by the recent Covid surge! The virus has spread exponentially. And whether you've had the virus or someone in your close circle has had it, most of us have been up close and personal with Covid. With our personal Covid stories, the ripple effect of Covid continues....

Last week, for the first episode of 2022, I shared my personal experience with Covid. On this week's episode, I reflect on this past year, thanking my guests from 2021 and acknowledging that 2022 marks the beginning of our 5th year of the podcast. In the year 2021, we had a total of 19 guests, plus 2 tributes to dear friends, previous guests who died this year: re-releasing my conversations with P...

I typically begin the new year by reflecting on the past year and expressing gratitude for all my podcast guests. Instead however, on this week's episode I'm going to bring Covid up close and personal, because in fact, Covid has been up close and personal for me this past week. My husband Paul and I had scratchy throats on the day after Christmas that quickly developed into all the Covid symptoms:...

My guest today is Alison Heller. Alison is a lawyer who left her law practice to become a writer.  Alison has published 3 books, and her most recent novel "The Neighbor's Secret" just came out this year. We discuss her book, her writing practice, what it took for her to leave her 14-year NYC law career, and how we treat ourselves in the process of writing, working and living. I am just as fascinat...

On this week's podcast, I acknowledge how noisy our world and own minds can be. I invite us to explore ways that we can stop the noise and drop into quiet and stillness. Whether it is through meditation or journaling or other avenues, may we open up opportunities to stop the noise and dive deep into our inner sanctuary. I read from the wise soul, poet and philosopher, Mark Nepo who has provided su...

On this week's episode, I share a simple ritual we created this Thanksgiving, inspired by Robin Wall Kimmerer's book "Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teaching of Plants" . My desire was to honor the Lenni Lenape people who's land we live on, to honor Mother Earth and to acknowledge what Debra Beal , my guest from last week uncovered for me about the origins of...

My guest today is Debra Beal. Debra was one of the women featured in Lisa Levart's photography exhibit "Women of the Ramapough Lenape Nation" . Debra shares her own assimilation experience of how her parents initially downplayed their Native American culture when she was a child, only to pursue and embrace a relationship with her Lenape tribe when she was a young teenager. As her father's bumper s...

My guest today is Liz Moyer Benferhat. Liz is a Change-Maker, Facilitator, and Coach who has taken her experience in social impact/sustainable development and international development to a new level. As the founder of We Heal For All, Liz facilitates Circles, Circle Training, and One-on-One Coaching, acknowledging that we are in a great transition, politically, culturally and environmentally. We...

With a heavy heart and tears in his eyes, my husband, Paul informed me last week that our dear friend, Tony Falco had died. We knew Tony had been struggling with complications with Covid-19 for the past 6 months, but the news of Tony's passing hit us hard. We, among countless others, are heartbroken over the news of Tony's passing. We have been deeply touched by Tony and the generous, humble integ...

My guest today is Reda Rackley. Reda is a Diviner, Storyteller and Mythologist. I personally was deeply impacted by a Divination session I recently had with Reda and am so excited to have my listeners learn about the magical, mystical gifts that Reda offers. Learn the difference between the term 'shaman' and 'diviner', the healing power of ritual and the significance of connecting with our ancestr...