Lighting a Candle

Derek Santiago is a passionate advocate for individual and societal health and wellness. With a background in teaching group fitness, swimming, and yoga, as well as nutrition education, he is committed to helping others lead healthier lives. Derek is currently working on a Master's Degree in Public Health. As a runner, he participates in road races like 5Ks and half marathons. Professionally, he h...

Emily Lorin is a queer artist, writer, tarot reader & psychotherapist based on the lands of the Quinnipiac & Paugussett nations in Southeastern Connecticut. Their work is towards the loving, playful & liberatory work of sovereign people, land & bodies everywhere. Today you’ll hear us in conversation about: - the role of therapy in social work - the absurdity of modern living - comm...

Hey friends, I’m friggin excited about this episode. First, this week my annual storytelling show is happening this Friday November 15th for free at Goodyear Arts in Charlotte, North Carolina and it’s the first time I’m hosting A Little Bit of Death outside of CT where it’s been hosted since 2015. About the show : A Little Bit of Death is a ritualistic night where several storytellers share parts...

Things have been so wonky lately that this episode is gonna be a little different. Today it's just you and me. I'll be talking about: The heaviness Reminders and affirmations during this election season. My upcoming storytelling show, A Little Bit of Death. Follow the podcast on IG: @LightingaCandlePodcast Be sure to subscribe ✅ Host: @iamZulynette Show some love via CashApp: $Zulynette

⚠️ Content and trigger warning. We will be discussing domestic violence including physical, verbal, psychological, and financial abuse. This episode mentions murder. This is an incomplete, nuanced, and imperfect conversation around domestic violence. I would like to remind you, any of you listening or watching, it is not the abused person’s responsibility to not get abused, it’s an abuser’s respon...

Today you’ll be hearing the second half of a two part conversation with my pal, Kenyatta Muzzanni Robles . We’ll be chatting about the non-linear nature of healing, how uncomfortable healing actually is, accountability even while healing, and the intersection of love and healing. So much friggin' healing! When you get the chance please check out and support Kenyatta’s phenomenal work on ⁠Substack...

Today you’ll be hearing the first half of a two part conversation with my pal, Kenyatta Muzzanni Robles . Also! It’s their birthday today. Happy birthday, Kenyatta! We’ll be chatting about the non-linear nature of healing, how uncomfortable healing actually is, accountability even while healing, and the intersection of love and healing. So much friggin' healing! When you get the chance please chec...

Hey hey! This is the second half of a 2-part conversation with my real life friends ⁠Patrick Rico Williams⁠ and ⁠Andrew Dean Wright⁠ about, well, friendship. We talk about navigating adult friendships and how that’s different from when we were younger, communication and boundaries, the messages we received about friendship, AND the roles that culture, neurodivergence, and vulnerability play in fri...

Welcome back to Lighting a Candle. It’s season 2 baby! And I’m kicking the season off with the first half of a 2-part conversation with my real life friends Patrick Rico Williams and Andrew Dean Wright about, well, friendship. We talk about navigating adult friendships and how that’s different from when we were younger, communication and boundaries, the messages we received about friendship, AND t...

On this episode I am joined by Kari and our friends Jax and Gregorian to talk about rest. We chat about challenging societal expectations around rest, prioritizing our well-being, undoing the indoctrination of being productive, and ways to rest and make space for peace. Follow the podcast on IG: @ LightingaCandlePodcast Be sure to subscribe ✅ Host IG: @ iamZulynette Show some love via CashApp: $Z...

In April, I hosted one of my Writing to Heal workshops at The Honeycomb Network in my hometown of Chicago. It was beautiful. After the workshop, we held a community conversation. That's what you'll be hearing today. We talk about the power of writing and art as tools of resistance, transforming pain into joy through vulnerability and self-expression, and exploring grief, love, and dismantl...

Today you’ll be hearing me speaking with Ash Blount. We get into challenging the punishment culture we know, the impact of respectability politics, setting boundaries for well-being, and envisioning a liberated community. Follow the podcast on IG: @ LightingaCandlePodcast Be sure to subscribe ✅ Host: @Zulynette Host IG: @ iamZulynette Show some love via CashApp: $Zulynette

On this episode, A Poet Named Superman and I chat about the origins of A Poet Named Superman, performing as a safe space, navigating writer’s block and self fought, honoring our inner child, and slam culture. A little bit about the guest: A Poet Named Superman, otherwise known as Greg Murray, was born and raised in the small town of Neptune, NJ. He currently lives in Charlotte, NC where he curates...

Today you’ll be hearing me in conversation with Denise Ruiz from The Honeycomb Network in Chicago. We chat about the tie between grief and Denise’s journey as an artist, the importance of building community and holding onto your values, and The Honeycomb Network as a space of resistance. To check out more about the Honeycomb Network visit: www.thehoneycombnetwork.com Instagram: @thehoneycombnetwor...

On this episode, you'll be hearing me chatting with Kari (@druunita) about her relationship with her inner child, growing up in a Latine household and the impact that had, and how she makes safe room for her inner child to stay magical. Follow the podcast on IG: @ LightingaCandlePodcast Be sure to subscribe ✅ Host: @iamZulynette Show some love via CashApp: $Zulynettew] Thanks for listening!

On Sunday June 2, I was a guest on The Word is Write's podcast "Out Loud" which centers 2SLGBTQIA+ voices. I had the opportunity to share about my upbringing, spirituality and ancestral connection, the importance of community in artistry, and reclaiming identity through poetry. And, of course, I share some of said poetry. Enjoy! Follow the podcast on IG: www.instagram.com/lightingaca...

Today you'll be hearing me in conversation with Chef Yari Vargas . We talk about the roots of her passion for cooking, putting culture and community at the forefront of cuisine, and the struggles and triumphs of being a Latina chef. ________________________ Yari Vargas is the executive chef & owner of Casa Yari Inc. & Catering by Casa Yari at the Logan Square area. A Chicagoan born and...

Today you'll be hearing me in conversation with Chef Yari Vargas . We talk about the roots of her passion for cooking, putting culture and community at the forefront of cuisine, and the struggles and triumphs of being a Latina chef. ________________________ Yari Vargas is the executive chef & owner of Casa Yari Inc. & Catering by Casa Yari at the Logan Square area. A Chicagoan born and...

Today I'll be in conversation with Andre Rochester, Sr. We'll be chatting about setting boundaries as a creative, taking care of our physical and mental health, and we go into Andre's near death experience and life and art since. ________________________________ A little bit about Andre: Andre Rochester is a Fine Artist, Curator, and Arts Advocate from the Greater Hartford region of Co...

On this episode, I (your host, Zulynette) share something I wrote when I was gaining my certification as a Breathwork Coach. One of the things that came up for me was what it meant to literally take up space with breathing as someone who was taught to shrink and to suck my stomach in due to a fatphobic society and upbringing. I share the impact that had on me and the way breathwork has been helpin...

Today I'm chatting with Patrick "Rico" Williams. We talk about the multifacetedness (is that a new word?) of grief, opening ourselves up to allow community to support us, and self-accountability. Follow the podcast on IG: @LightingaCandlePodcast Here's a little bit about Patrick: PATRICK IS DEDICATED TO SHARING STORIES. Through writing, content creation, youth development, comedy...

Today I'm chatting with Chion Wolf. We talk about the pluses and minuses of life as an open book, the good places curiosity can take you, and the power of storytelling whether its our own or gathering others'. Follow the podcast on IG: @lightingaCandlePodcast Here's a little bit about Chion: Chion Wolf is the host of  Audacious with Chion Wolf  on Connecticut Public, featuring conversa...