i want what SHE has

Lindsey Danis is a queer, gender expansive writer based in the Hudson Valley, New York. Lindsey received a BA in English from Vassar College and an MFA in Fiction from Emerson College. Lindsey is Creative Nonfiction editor at Atlas + Alice and runs the queer outdoor travel blog Queer Adventurers. Lindsey’s nonfiction has appeared in Condé Nast Traveler, AFAR, Longreads, Eater, and Catapult, receiv...

Today I celebrate Juneteenth by paying homage to the contributions of African Americans which have significantly impacted me, that being their music. There's no greater medicine for me than music. I consume A LOT OF IT, so I am grateful to all of those who've enhanced my life, helped me through crisis, uplifted my spirit, and moved me to dance through their creative work. Here's the playlist from...

This month's Spirituality and Politics show with Marielena Ferrer has us talking about belonging. Inspired by the content of this article , Marielena and I talk about what it means to belong, both in our own lives and as it relates to immigrants who struggle to belong at the most fundamental level. In the second half of the show we are joined by Phyllis Hjorth an artist with an exhibit, "The Neigh...

Today my guest is Donna Klassen, Co-founder and CEO of Let's Talk Menopause . In addition to her work at Let's Talk Menopause, she is a licensed clinical social worker with more than 30 years of experience. Her areas of practice include trauma, infertility, and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. In addition to her private practice, Donna served as admissions and clinical director at the Motherh...

Kristina Sarhadi is a holistic therapist, Reiki Master, writer, and “recovering social worker.” A Hudson Valley native, she is the founder of Kingston Reiki + Holistic Therapy in Downtown Kingston, where she also runs The New Leaf Holistic Health Clinic with Dr. Ileana Tecchio and Dr. Glenn Finley. Kristina studied at Vassar College, UC Berkeley, the University of Southern California, The Institut...

Today is about The Goddess Party, a new project spearheaded from long time Hudson Valley musician Shana Falana in collaboration with Erica Quitzow and Sarah Perrotta. Featuring a choir of 30+ local singers, a rock band, and a willingness to interpret the likes of Kate Bush, Panda Bear, and PJ Harvey. "A cult worth joining." I am joined by Beth Carestia a member of the Choir like myself, and we hea...

Today on the show I am joined by Kristin Kessler, a registered dietitian, yoga teacher, and advocate for equitable access to nutritious food and opportunities to live a healthful lifestyle. She has worked across multiple sectors of the field of nutrition for the past 12 years, including at PR agencies and in community nutrition, like at Food Bank For New York City. She also has a long-held passion...

This month on Spirituality and Politics, Marielena and I are joined by Isis Benitez, Lead Director of Communications, Advocacy and Outreach at the YWCA Ulster County . Isis shares the details behind the "Until Justice Just Is" campaign that is underway this week in Kingston and Poughkeepsie featuring film screenings and rallies with speakers all intended to help folks understand the impacts of rac...

Today's guest is Kristin Moshonas. A yogi for most of her adult life, Kristin embraced a lifestyle of wellness, mindfulness and spirit with the birth of her children, becoming a yoga teacher, then therapist (IAYT 1,000 - HR), and finally adding a more strategic role as Director of Programming, NY for non-profit, Kula for Karma (2017). It is here that she began to delve more deeply into the space o...

Today I enjoyed speaking with Heather Duke - who is one of the sparkly beings and co-creators over at the Center for Symbolic Studies . A non-profit with a mission to inspire nature-based spirituality, leading to personal growth and communal awareness. Founded by Drs. Robin and Stephen Larsen, inspired by the works of friend and mentor Joseph Campbell- The Center for Symbolic Studies has been offe...

In the first half of today's show, I am joined by Elissa Garay , Freelance Editor & Writer in Travel & Lifestyle. A modern-day explorer, perpetual seeker, and diligent travel scribe, she's also a champion for sustainable tourism and believes that we can all travel with conscience, for the greater good. With over 20 years’ experience in the field, she's worked as an editor at leading travel publica...

On this month’s installment of Spirituality and Politics, Marielena Ferrer and I discuss the state of Media today and it's impact on the younger generation. This conversation was inspired by a comment Marielena heard about how media fails to inspire hope for the future or action to build a better future. Plus we randomly discuss families and the lack of support for them in today's world. Hmmmm, pe...

Today's guest, Dilek Isildak , is an artist, muse, and human design guide. Making art and the art of living is her way. Born in Turkey, raised in DC and seasoned in NYC, her photography captures the magic and mystery of life. She's been guided by her own personal journey and her passion for connecting dots and seeing patterns to her Human Design work and now guides others in how to live their desi...

Today I take a trip down memory lane to honor and recognize some of the women I've been close to in my life who have shaped me and my life in some way. During Women's History Month we tend to focus on the famous or unrecognized female "pioneers," but a big theme in this show is that "women's work" is so often undervalued and not rewarded in the same way as most "achievements" are celebrated. This...

Today's guest, Martha Frankel, needs little introduction. Martha Frankel , executive director of Woodstock Bookfest, believes reading and writing are central to our inner lives. Long ago Martha’s real life surpassed even her wildest stories. Her writing career started at the original Details  magazine with her column on plastic surgery, called Knifestyles of the Rich and Famous. She went on to wri...

On this month's installment of Spirituality and Politics, Marelena Ferrer and I are joined by Isabel Cotarelo , an artist who's life experiences express through her work. "The need to modify the contiguous space and the objects in it has always emanated as an irresistible force. The experiences that I have had throughout my life have changed the output of that force. As a Latina growing up in a ma...

Today I am joined by Viktorsha and Marielena, two participating artists in ASK's "HERstory" exhibit showing all month in Kingston, NY. Closing ceremony is on March 25th from 3-5pm. We talk about their work, migration, trauma and celebrating women! Viktorsha Uliyanova is a New York artist whose photographic, fiber and installation works investigate loss, cultural identity and trauma narrated throug...

Today's guest is Silvia Forni, a photographer with a passion for Tarot cards. Raised in Florence, Italy with both a great aunt and mother who were psychics, it was normal for the family to get tarot readings on weekends to better prepare for the following week. Silvia began first reading the Tarot at the age of 19 and has continued to be enthralled with the mystery and art of the Tarot. Silvia's c...

Today's guest is BETH FISHER-YOSHIDA, PH.D., CCS, a global expert and educator in intercultural negotiation and communication. She’s the program director of Columbia University’s Master of Science in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, a negotiation consultant for the United Nations, and the CEO of the consulting agency Fisher Yoshida International. She works in the U.S. and worldwide, conducting...

On this month's installment of Spirituality and Politics, Marielena and I discuss the latest big media campaign for Jesus, " He Gets Us ." We share our thoughts on the goals of this campaign and what it might mean for Christianity. Is this a good thing? Will it really begin to behave like Jesus, and love thy neighbor? Naturally this leads us to talk about cults, but in a productive way, I hope. We...

Today I reply my interview from February 2020 with MANDA ZAND ERVIN , Founder and Director of the  Alliance of Iranian Women. We will be talking about Iran, the beautiful history of Iran, the ruling Women-Gods, the plight of women in Iran under Sharia law, and her new book, “ The Ladies’ Secret Society: History of the Courageous Women of Iran. “ During the Iranian Islamic revolution, Manda witness...

It's the 259th EPISODE, and we slid into our 6th season last week. I think that's something to celebrate!!! Looking down memory lane has me feeling full with all of the phenomenal women that have been on this show. Today we're also celebrating Brigid and St. Brigid in preparation for Imbolc and Candlemas. Some sites that I referenced. https://folkstory.com/articles/imbolc.html https://mythopedia.c...

It wasn’t until Amanda Cassiday (she/her) lived in a rural village in Burkina Faso that she experienced the resilient power of community, and learned that positive, abundant outcomes are not possible without cultivating the conditions that allow individuals, teams, and communities to thrive. For 15 years, this approach has been a driving force in Amanda’s personal and professional life, from facil...

Dr. Amy Saltzman is a holistic physician, mindfulness coach, long-time athlete, devoted student of transformation, wife, mother and occasional poet. Her passion is supporting people of all ages in achieving peak performance and finding flow. Amy has the privilege of being recognized by her peers as a visionary and pioneer in the field of mindfulness for athletes, coaches, and other high performers...

It's that time of the month! Marielena Ferrer returns for another conversation diving into politics and spirituality. Today on the show we talk about how we're starting out the New Year and how our relationship to TIME has an impact on how we make decisions in life. We also set the tone for our talks on politics, explaining where we're at and check in on our current feelings about the state of pol...