Living the Present Moment

Storytellers in my tradition look for stories that hold some sort of “magic.” We tell stories that we love–sometimes for reasons that we know and sometimes we just keep telling them until we figure out why. This story has held me since I first heard it. Folk stories travel across the world and adapt to the cultures that they meet. The wisdom is distilled and often poured into another container. I first heard this as a Jewish story, and it took me some time to track down the original Korean version. I read and listened to several versions, took it down to the bare bones, dreamed on it, combined the elements that spoke to me, and created my own version. Listen to the podcast The Spring of Youth … a Korean folk tale, told by Dr. Joel Ying, MD

There are some stories that you do not really know until you’ve heard it directly from the people that have lived it. Growing up, I knew my parents story of immigration from bits and pieces of overheard conversation, stories gathered second hand told by other relatives, and gaps filled in from similar stories that I have heard. My parents left Jamaica to escape political violence and a failing economy to find a place with a better future for their children. In June 2016, on my way to a storytelling open mic with the theme “Fathers,” I stopped at my parents house for lunch. The Moth is a non-profit that promotes “true stories told live,” but I could not think of a story to tell that evening. I had a sudden epiphany that I should talk to my father to get a story idea. I sat with my a parents in the family room with the TV off (something strange for them), and I began to ask a few questions. The seed for this story began as they opened up and told me the story for the first time in their own words. On one level, I had known the story, but I did not understand the emotional truth of the story until after that conversation. I can still see my father thoughtfully searching for the words to answer my questions and my mom sitting on the other side of the living room interjecting her own words with a humorous smile. I still did not have a story ready to tell for that June 2016 event. However, the seed for this story had already started to grow. Several months later, the open mic theme was “Money.” With the realization that money was a theme in this story, I crafted the initial version. I put my name in the basket for The Moth StorySlam, but I was not one of the lucky ones chosen that night. Fortunately, I have made my own luck. As a producer of events, I have found many other venues and audiences to tell this story. As a living entity, this story continues to grow–expanding, changing, flowering, and often getting pruned. Listen to the current version.

“Show me the manner in which a Nation or community cares for its dead and I will measure with mathematical exactness the tender mercies of its people, their respect for the laws of the land, and their loyalty to high ideals.” ~ William Ewart Gladstone In this podcast story, I explore the tradition of Ninth Night in Jamaica and celebrate the life of my Uncle Charlie. It was a gift to be able to perform this story at a family reunion in 2019. In the audience were Uncle Charlie’s grandchildren who had never met their grandfather. The entire family was moved by the experience. It was a moment of healing, and I often return to the story when I need healing. It has also been a gift to hear the many stories that others share about their families, cultures, and traditions after hearing this story. Perhaps you will share yours.

“Don’t go into the graveyard after dark!” Perhaps like my friend, Janis McCall, you grew up with this warning. But really… is there anything to fear in graveyards? “Personally I have no bone to pick with graveyards,” said Samuel Beckett. However, every story has a reason to be told. This story comes to me from Scotland, part family story, part history, part cautionary tale… and all parts spooky because it’s completely true.

Unsure of how to proceed, the young soldier prayed silently while he continued to pace. As if summoned by some invisible force, he homed in on one of the flag-swathed caskets. “I know this man,” he thought. His arms seemed to move of their own accord, placing the roses he held atop the coffin. ~ Excerpt from Patrick O’Donnell’s The Unknowns I have this odd practice in public libraries. When I feel the calling, I will walk randomly through the shelves and listen for the book that is calling me. I love to walk to sections that I have not been to before. I will wait to feel the pull. A cover, a title, a picture, an interesting spine, a word, something about the book draws my attention. I open the book to a random page and begin to read… sometimes, I keep reading…. sometimes, I take it home. On one of those escapades through the public library, I encountered The Unknowns: The Untold Story of America’s Unknown Soldier and WWI’s Most Decorated Heroes Who Brought Him Home by Patrick O’Donnell. The black and white hardcover stood out at the end of a shelf. I flipped to the middle, and the origin story of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier came to life in vivid detail. I flipped back a few chapters, and the personal accounts of WWI brought me into the trenches to see the war from a perspective that I had not experienced. I knew of the grand scale of “the war to end all wars,” but now I was faced with the personal stories through the eyes of the pallbearers that were chosen to bring the Unknown Soldier back home to America. The personal sacrifices of these decorated war heroes and the atrocities that they witnessed became even more real. When I’m not called to these random adventures through the public library, I’m the kind of person that usually reads from cover to cover. It’s the obsessive-compulsive personality trait lodged inside my brain. I took the book home. I went into a deeper dive into the history of WWI, the aftermath, and a nation in mourning for her fallen heroes. I reviewed other sources. I felt the calling to tell the story of this National Monument. As I told people about the story, I realized that this was a forgotten story. I prepared the story for a live event on Veterans Day 2022. There are some things that we should NEVER FORGET. References Listen to my podcast, “Never Forget” Check out the book, The Unknowns: The Untold Story of America’s Unknown Soldier and WWI’s Most Decorated Heroes Who Brought Him Home by Patrick O’Donnell

This spooky Halloween season, I got a chance to perform at Leu Gardens in Orlando, Florida, with the cast of “Haunting Tales,” formerly called “Ghosts in the Garden.” Last Friday, the morning was beautiful, but the afternoon brought torrential rains. Will people still come? The organizers talked about cancelling the show. Ninety minutes before the performance, the rain slowed and stopped. Ticket holders started coming in with their lawn chairs and picnic baskets of food, beer, and wine. In the middle of downtown Orlando, this 50-acre botanical gardens opens its gates for an evening show every Halloween season. The historic Leu House on the property is covered with spooky decorations, stage and sound system are brought in, and this year 500 ticket holders spread out over the lawn to see the show! Mitchell O’Rear has produced this Halloween show at Leu Gardens for 29 years! He is a master performer of the scary story, but sometimes adds a little fun. (He will also be performing at the Florida Storytelling Festival in January 2023.) Mitchell opened our “Haunting Tales” event with this children’s song from the early 20th century. The topic is heavy, the images funny, and he adds a different twist to the ending that had people jumping out of their seats. The exact origin of the song is unknown. A version of the song was popular among the British and American soldiers in WWI, and you can find it in many WWI song book collections. Most people know that the hearse is the large vehicle that carries the coffin to the funeral. Strangely, this song carries the theme of death into a children’s song. After hearing it once, the words got stuck in my head. Be careful! Listen at your own risk. The Hearse Song Don’t ever laugh as a hearse goes by For you may be the next to die They wrap you up in a big white sheet From your head down to your feet They put you in a big black box And cover you up with dirt and rocks And all goes well for about a week And then your coffin begins to leak And the worms crawl in, the worms crawl out The worms play pinochle on your snout They eat your eyes, they eat your nose They eat the jelly between your toes A big green worm with rolling eyes Crawls in your stomach and out your eyes Your stomach turns a slimy green And pus pours out like whipping cream You spread it on a slice of bread And that’s what you eat when you’re dead And the worms crawl out, the worms crawl in The worms that crawl in are lean and thin The ones that crawl out are fat and stout Your eyes fall in and your hair falls out Your brain comes tumbling down your snout And the worms crawl in, the worms crawl out They crawl all over your dirty snout Your chest caves in and your eyes pop out And your brain turns to sauerkraut They invite their friends, and their friends too They all come down to chew on you And this is what it is to die I hope you had a nice goodbye Did you ever think as a hearse goes by That you may be the next to die? And your eyes fall out and your teeth decay And that is the end of a perfect day

Don’t think of a purple elephant! What do you do? … You think of a purple elephant. Let’s use the science of the mind in our favor. What you focus on is what persists. Let’s practice shifting our focus onto space. If your mind goes to the tightness and dense spots, just shift your focus back to space. Meditation is training the mind. As we focus on space, we also focus on possibility, openness, and ultimately healing. Listen to today’s meditation by Dr. Joel Ying, MD.

What if you could hit the pause button? If your inner storyteller is moving down from one worst case scenario to the next, the stress and tension are building up. The body does not distinguish between real stress and imagined stress, so when the mind (and the news) is playing the same story over and over again. It might be time to hit the pause button. In this meditation, we reclaim the story that is running and tune into moments of inspiration, peace, and beauty. The body takes a break from the real (and imagined stories) running through our heads. We harness the power of our inner storyteller to imagine another scene and allow the tension of the body to release.

Learn the technique of Square Breathing to balance the nervous system. When we are stuck in an anxiety state of chronic sympathetic overdrive, breathing meditation can activate the parasympathetic relaxation and down-regulate the nervous system. The breath is always in the present moment. As we slow down to meet the breath, the nervous system will find balance. Square Breathing Imagine a Square Inhale (as you travel up the left side in your mind’s eye) Hold (as you move across the top from left to right) Exhale (as you travel down the right side in your mind’s eye) Hold (as you move across the bottom from right to left) Repeat

“Meditation is like a gym in which you develop the powerful mental muscles of calm and insight.” – Ajahn Brahm In this time when everyone is struggling with mental balance, I have decided to use this podcast/blog to create a series exploring the types of meditation and offering audio online. We live in uncertain times. While that is perhaps always true, many of the things that I was certain about just a couple months ago have changed and continue to change. The world is full of 24 hour news updates, but sometimes I need to take a break from the worry and anxiety. The brain needs time to relax. Guided Imagery Meditation Today we’ll explore a type of meditation that does just that. I laughingly call it … “Go to your happy place.” Guided imagery meditation uses the imagination to travel to your favorite relaxing place. Whether self-guided or guided by someone else, guided imagery as meditation can decrease the stress levels and bring us back to balance. This type of meditation calms your nervous system from the fight-flight-freeze of anxiety and panic. It allows you to enter the rest-digest-relax state of being. This “mini-vacation” helps the nervous system get unstuck from the chronic anxiety state and find balance. Meditation: Imagine Your Favorite Place Silence all the media, devices, and distractions. The world and the news updates will be there when you return. Find a comfortable position and space where you won’t be interrupted. (If you share space with others, consider doing this as a group.) Optional: Use a timer. Start with 5 – 10 minutes. Decide if you will do this in silence or with music. If you decide on music, find something that is calming without words that will blend into the background. Here is the important step. Activate your imagination. Imagine going to your favorite place. Arrive there and activate all of your senses of sight, sound, smell, touch, maybe even taste. What does your skin feel like? Is there sunshine or wind? As you look around, what do you see? What sounds do you hear? Let your self experience this place. Explore and walk around if that feels right. If your thoughts intrude and take you somewhere else, just bring yourself back to your favorite place and start again. Meditation is a practice that trains the mind. When the timer goes off (if you choose to use one), allow yourself to come back slowly to your present moment with the renewed sense of this small vacation from the “real world.” Guided Imagery Meditation If you have trouble “going to your favorite place” on your own, then guided imagery might be for you. I’ve included a guided imagery meditation that will take you to one of my favorite places–the beach. Try it out and see if this type of meditation is for you. Enjoy!

“Storytelling is not a lost art, but a found art!” Mary Lou Williams moved to South Florida to retire from a career in teaching and decided to take up a second career as a professional storyteller. In this interview … How and why someone would become a professional storyteller? What is storytelling anyway? Where do you get stories to tell? Learn the history of the National Storytelling Festival. Find a local storytelling group in Florida at flstory.com. Living the Present Moment – Podcast Interview Series “People of Passion and Purpose, Doing Interesting Things, Living the Present Moment” Recorded: Fri Feb 21, 2020, Music: Happy African Village by John Bartmann

“What we are hungry for in the Western world is a reanimation of spirit.” ~ Prof. Stephen Cavitt The shaman enters the dream-like state to bring back wisdom, guidance, and healing. There are many ways to navigate the multiple layers of reality. One of those ways is the drum. Many shamanic traditions use the hypnotic beat of the drum to induce a shamanic journey into altered states of consciousness. Stephen Cavitt was called to explore the shamanic teachings while in university also studying creative writing and poetry. What do these two very different areas of study have in common? For him, both shamanic healing and creative writing bring closer contact with the sacred in this world. The shamans believe that everything has a spirit with which we can connect and communicate, everything is alive, everything is sacred. For poetry, the whole goal is to express that which is beyond this physical world. In his academic life, he now teaches English at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) in Fort Myers, Florida. As a healer in the shamanic tradition, he performs individual sessions and group workshops. Join Dr. Joel Ying and Prof. Stephen Cavitt as they explore the shamanic teachings, the spirit of the drum, and the ceremony of drum-making workshops. Interested in a drum-making workshop? Contact Stephen Cavitt at professorcavitt@gmail.com. In this interview … What is a shaman? Learn how the drum can induce the dream-state of the shamanic journey. Discover the spirit of the drum. Living the Present Moment – the Podcast Interview Series “People of Passion and Purpose, Doing Interesting Things, Living the Present Moment” Recorded: Wed Jun 12, 2019; Released: Mon Oct 28, 2019 Background Music: (public domain) Happy African Village by John Bartmann

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” ~Hippocrates The term “plant medicine” is often appropriated today to mean the mind-altering substances like ayahuasca, mescaline, and psylisibin. These “plant medicine” ceremonies have become trendy as a quick route to escape the mundane ordinary world and have a “spiritual experience.” As a certified nutritionist, Ryin Cornett asks us to open our awareness to the fact that we use “plant medicine” everyday. We use caffeine to alter our mind, to wake us up. Others use tobacco to calm them down. We ingest sugar in power drinks to give us energy. These are all derived from plants. From his own health struggles, Ryin Cornett has discovered his own path to healing with food as medicine. On his spiritual journey, he has also studied many paths including the “plant medicine” used in shamanic ceremony, even joining an Ayahuasca Church in Orlando. Join Dr. Joel Ying and Ryin Cornett in this conversation as they dispel some of the myths and explore the topic of plant medicine. In this interview … What is plant medicine? Discover the role of the shaman in ceremony. What is an Ayahuasca Church? Find Ryin Cornett online at dietorliveit.com. Living the Present Moment – the Podcast Interview Series “People of Passion and Purpose, Doing Interesting Things, Living the Present Moment” Recorded: Wed Jun 12, 2019; Released: Fri Jun 14, 2019 Background Music: (public domain) Happy African Village by John Bartmann

“That’s not going to happen, it hurt too much just to tell this one, I would never be able to tell the rest of the story.” Jim Gregory began to unravel his painful stories with the support of the oral Storytelling community, and he did manage to tell the rest of the story. As a young white man during the 1960’s, he traveled into the South with a team of eight in their teens and twenties to champion the cause of Freedom. Only two of them survived. The Race Wars would later come to be known as the Civil Rights Movement. In his CD, The Hanging of Tom Brown, Jim Gregory gives a first-hand account of people who sacrificed for the cause of Freedom. With masterful storytelling, he brings those times alive and honors those that did not survive to tell their stories. Through the crafting of the stories, he has found healing and catharsis. As a storytelling performer, he often visits schools and communities to bring history back alive, to ensure that it is not forgotten, and bring us hope it will not be repeated. “If you can take one or two logs out of a beaver dam, the dam collapses … maybe you just need to reach one or two people,” he says. In this interview … First-hand account of the Freedom Schools of the Civil Rights Movement during the 1960’s Telling and healing from difficult stories About his CD, The Hanging of Tom Brown Find Jim Gregory online at JimGregoryStoryteller.com. Read more about his storytelling CD at HangingTomBrown.com. Contact him at jimgregory2@me.com. Living the Present Moment – the Podcast Interview Series “People of Passion and Purpose, Doing Interesting Things, Living the Present Moment” Recorded: Fri Mar 29, 2019 Background Music: (public domain) Happy African Village by John Bartmann

Legal Aid is a non-profit private law firm that protects the vulnerable by providing free legal representation to low income families for victims of domestic violence, children who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned, families who are at risk of homelessness, seniors and veterans who are denied access to health care or other benefits, and other groups of at-risk individuals. Corey Huffman is an attorney with Legal Aid Service of Collier County with a passion for protecting the at-risk children in the community. In this interview … Corey Huffman describes Legal Aid of Collier County How the legal system protects children What is it really like in the courtroom Find Collier Legal Aid online at www.collierlegalaid.org Living the Present Moment – the Podcast Interview Series “People of Passion and Purpose, Doing Interesting Things, Living the Present Moment” Recorded: Fri Mar 15, 2019 Background Music: (public domain) Happy African Village by John Bartmann

What does it take to build a dream? Maybe an architect. Steven Jallad designs and oversees the building of homes in Naples, Florida. His path to architecture began with a love for drawing and working with his hands. He followed that passion as the thread in his life. The craft of carpentry during the summers kept his hands working while earning a degree in Architecture from the University of Virginia. Traveling to West Africa with the Peace Corps, he built homes that fit a very different environment. This sparked an interest in green design that took him to Colorado for the next 10 years to build “off the grid” homes – designing in the winter, building in the summer. In 2008, he traded in mountain style for beach style and moved to Naples, Florida. Yet, he hangs on to the thread of passion, continuing to build a dream through architecture. His personal journey inspires us to find the passion in life and continue to follow the thread. The thread from A to B is not always a straight line. Even as we make choices on how to weave our life, the loom of life takes us each on her own journey. Through ups and downs, sideways and detours, holding onto the thread is not always easy, but that is how to weave a life of passion and purpose. Listen to our conversation as Steven Jallad takes us into the life of an architect. In this interview … What does an architect do? How do you become an architect? A personal journey finding passion in building homes Find Steven Jallad at sjallad@mhkap.com. Living the Present Moment – the Podcast Interview Series “People of Passion and Purpose, Doing Interesting Things, Living the Present Moment” Recorded: Thu Feb 21, 2019; Released: Fri Mar 1, 2019 Background Music: (public domain) Happy African Village by John Bartmann

In my expanded definition, “medicine” is anything that heals the body, mind, emotions, or spirit. As a physician, this includes the Western medications that I prescribe, but it goes beyond to include so much more. In every conversation, it is important to define the context and agree upon the definitions that we are using. Here my context is the expanded definition of medicine: anything that heals the body, mind, emotions, or spirit. Where will you find your medicine? For me, storytelling is a potent medicine that can heal on many different levels. I am so inspired by its power to heal that I now teach “Storytelling as Healing” at FGCU. In researching for this class, I spoke to many storytellers, and that’s how I got in touch with Caren Neile. Caren Neile teaches “storytelling studies” at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) in Boca Raton, Florida. She is a storytelling performer, an author of books, and a public radio host. She helped to start the Healing Story Alliance, a special interest group of the National Storytelling Network. Join our conversation as we discuss “Storytelling as Medicine.” In this interview … What is storytelling? The science behind storytelling as medicine History of the Healing Story Alliance … and more … Find Caren Neile online at www.thepublicstoryteller.org. Recorded: Thu Jan 3, 2019; Released: Sat Jan 19, 2019 Background Music: (public domain) Happy African Village by John Bartmann

Harvest Bee Farms KT Alaimo, owner and manager of Harvest Bee Farms, is passionate about farming. Devoted to biodynamic farming, he grows “good soil” and good produce is the byproduct. As farmers are aging and wisdom is being lost, he is of the new generation of farmers working to preserve sustainable and healthy farming techniques and wisdom. In this interview, he tells the story of how a college graduate with a degree in history entered the world of farming and the wisdom that he has collected along the way. One of the books that spurred his journey: Michael Pollan’s Omnivore’s Dilemma In this interview … KT Alaimo tells his story of becoming an organic farmer What is USDA organic vs. certified naturally grown vs. biodynamic farming? Learn ways to support locally grown organic farming Find Kenneth T Alaimo (“KT” or “Ken”) on Facebook at Harvest Bee Finca Recorded: Wed Nov 21; Released: Fri Nov 23, 2018 Background Music: (public domain) Happy African Village by John Bartmann Interview by Dr. Joel Ying. “People of passion and purpose, doing interesting things, living the present moment.” LivingthePresentMoment.com/podcastshow

“To make the world a better place by making it more musical.” The mission of Music Together has spread to over 3000 locations and over 40 countries. Parents bring their children from infants to 5 years old to a weekly community music experience. With music and songs from around the world, the curriculum creates the safe space for everyone to sing. Yes! Even the babies! I recently learned about this inspiring organization from Luke Burhenn. Living in Ft Collins, Colorado, he has been attending these community events since his son was a toddler. Now music has become an integral part of their lives. Learn more by listening to the interview. Watch Video: What Families Say About Music Together The Four Principles of Music Together All children are born musical. All children can achieve basic music competence—that is, they can learn to sing in tune and dance accurately to a beat. It’s crucial that parents and caregivers participate in class and model music-making for their children in class and at home, regardless of their own musical ability. The environment that best fosters young children’s musical growth is playful, musically rich, and developmentally appropriate. In this interview … What is Music Together? Learn what a typical class looks like. Discover one parent’s inspiring experience of bringing music into his child’s life. Learn more about Music Together and find a class near you at musictogether.com. Recorded: Thu Nov 9, 2018; Released: Fri Nov 10, 2018 Interview by Dr. Joel Ying. “People of passion and purpose, doing interesting things, living the present moment.” LivingthePresentMoment.com/podcastshow

“Writer, Teacher, and Mostly Recovered Nerd,” Jean Moroney works with ambitious individuals and teams who know sharpening their mental skills will give them a performance edge. She teaches thinking skills that help us make better judgment calls, align motivation with intentions, and cross the finish line sooner. She believes that we can all learn to become better, faster problem-solvers, more confident decision-makers, and more reliable and resilient self-starters. Jean Moroney has a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from MIT, and another in Psychology from Carnegie Mellon. She has hundreds of hours of training in Marshall Rosenberg’s “Nonviolent Communication,” F.M. Alexander’s technique for body awareness, and Ayn Rand’s philosophy of Objectivism. Since starting her consulting business in 1998, she has helped experts from Fortune 500 executives to independent entrepreneurs, artists and writers embark with confidence on new, uncertain projects and finish what they start. Her consulting company is Thinking Directions, and you can find her online at ThinkingDirections.com. In this interview … Learn how Electrical Engineering leads to a career in Psychology Discover what it means to “Manage Your Mind” Willpower vs. Value-Power: Learn about her free online event on Sun Oct 21, 2018 Find Jean Moroney online at ThinkingDirections.com. Recorded: Wed Oct 10; Released: Fri Oct 12, 2018 Interview by Dr. Joel Ying. “People of passion and purpose, doing interesting things, living the present moment.” LivingthePresentMoment.com/podcastshow

Imagine a Jewish girl born in Columbia attending a Catholic school, nearly converting, running away to New York, then Chicago, then spending 20 years in Jamaica to start Negril Yoga Center, the first yoga center in Jamaica. Raquel Austin’s life story is full of twists and turns and plenty of life changes. She shares her story of following her passion, finding purpose, one foot in front of the the other, one day at a time. Her entrepreneurial drive will surprise you. Even at her age, Raquel is ready to write the next chapter of life changes. Negril Yoga Center is for sale. Check it out online. She is ready to turn it over to the next person who will take it higher. Visit negrilyoga.com In this interview … Life changes … twists and turns of Raquel Austin The story of Negril Yoga Center Wisdom, looking back on life Find Raquel and Negril Yoga Center online at negrilyoga.com. Recorded: Wed Sep 11; Released: Fri Sep 14, 2018 Interview by Dr. Joel Ying. “People of passion and purpose, doing interesting things, living the present moment.” LivingthePresentMoment.com/podcastshow

Time stood still. Even the air in the room refused to move, when Dr. Larry Friedman launched into a teaching story. As a resident doctor-in-training, we rotate through many different areas of medicine. Looking back at memorable moments during that time, the teachers that captivated me the most were the ones that told stories. In the early 2000’s, I still remember the moment when Dr. Friedman told us the riveting story of the race to find the cause of a mysterious illness that would come to be called AIDS and later be attributed to a virus that attacks the immune system, HIV. Dr. Lawrence Friedman, MD, is the Director of the Division of Adolescent Medicine in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine since 1997. He sees patients, teaches medical students and residents, and is active in research with a particular focus on HIV and AIDS in the pediatric and adolescent population. The Special Adolescent Clinic (SAC) for HIV-infected youth serves as a component of the Ryan White CARE Act Part D family-centered efforts in the Departments of Pediatrics and Obstetrics. I recently contacted him again after more than a decade. As a storyteller, I now realize that his teachings were so captivating because he told us stories. In this interview, he tells us how the story of HIV has evolved over time. With remarkable advances in science, what was once a death-sentence is now a chronic disease. With continued advances, hopefully one day there will be a cure. In this interview … Learn the remarkable story of the discovery of HIV Discover how the story has evolved over time See the story from different perspectives Find out more about Dr. Larry Friedman, MD, on the University of Miami Website. Recorded: Fri Aug 31, 2018; Released: Fri Sep 7, 2018 Interview by Dr. Joel Ying. “People of passion and purpose, doing interesting things, living the present moment.” LivingthePresentMoment.com/podcastshow

If you are like me, fortune tellers are scary! Tapping into some secret knowledge, they make pronouncements about my future. It is as if they are taking away my free will and I no longer have any power to change my life. I am trapped in my life, rather than master of my life. In this interview, Jamie McCall shatters this stereotype as just one of the traps of the intuitive reader and the client. Intuitive reading can be used as a tool for empowerment. Intuition (whether it is your own or someone else’s) can help you makes sense of the world in a new way, show you the patterns of your life, and bring greater clarity in your own motivations and actions. With this new understanding of your own motives and perceptions, new opportunities for change and growth can open. We use intuition everyday when we decide if someone is “having a bad day” or “in a good mood.” We use our intuition as a “gut instinct” when we say “that just doesn’t feel right.” Intuitive readers using oracle cards, tarot decks, tea leaves, astrology, or any other set of symbols, use the same intuition to create a conversation that can lead to insight and new opportunities. In this interview … What is intuitive reading? Using intuitive reading as a tool for empowerment Learn about creating a story to stimulate your own intuition Using intuitive reading in life coaching Find Jamie McCall online at opendreaming.com/jamie. Recorded: Fri Aug 3, 2018 Interview by Dr. Joel Ying. “People of passion and purpose, doing interesting things, living the present moment.” LivingthePresentMoment.com/podcastshow

“It is our stories that make us human.” In medical school, I learned all the technical details about heart transplant. I studied the medical criteria that makes you a candidate, the drugs required post-transplant, and the labs and physical symptoms to monitor. Yet, what I did not yet learn were the stories. Those stories came later in medical internship and residency. I met the real people and learned their stories of love and loss behind the words “heart transplant.” We sometimes fool ourselves as a culture to believe that medical science can solve all the problems of the “heart” with just a surgery or a medication. However, even when we cannot know all the stories behind the weathered faces that we encounter, it changes our own humanity to acknowledge that there is a story there. It changes how we are present to the facts, how we open to listen, and how we honor time. It is our stories that make us human. In sharing those stories, we can also heal the heart. My friend, Sonja Greene-Smith, shares her remarkable and inspiring story of growing up with heart problems and eventually needing a heart transplant. She presents her story of faith, hope, and love. She asks us to tap into all the same things that got her through the challenges. “My fear is nothing compared to my faith,” Sonja tells us. Listen to her story. “What a thing looks like is not always what it is.” Hope inspires hope. Faith inspires faith. Love inspires love. Let her story inspire you. Recorded: Fri Aug 10, 2018 Interview by Dr. Joel Ying. “People of passion and purpose, doing interesting things, living the present moment.” LivingthePresentMoment.com/podcastshow

“One Life. No Compromises.” says Andrew Bustamante in his workshop series. As a US Air Force combat veteran and former CIA intelligence officer, he now brings the skills of international espionage to everyday life. When you change your perspective to “see your world through the eyes of a spy,” you can leverage the skills of influence, intrigue and intent to create advantages in your daily life. Listen to this interview to discover how you can bring this spycraft into your “one life” with “no compromises.” Create the life that you want using his tips and tactics. In this interview … What is espionage? Using the skills of espionage in everyday life. Learn more about the 3 steps of spycraft: Contact, Exchange, Compromise. Find Andrew Bustamante online at AndrewBustamante.org. Recorded: Fri Jul 27, 2018, on LivingthePresentMoment.com/studygroup Interview by Dr. Joel Ying. “People of passion and purpose, doing interesting things, living the present moment.” LivingthePresentMoment.com/podcastshow

Are you in control of your stuff? Or is your stuff in control of you? Mary Jo Zeller is a moving consultant. She has supported thousands of families in downsizing, relocating, and getting organized. She received her Masters Degree in Gerontology in 1978 from the University of Illinois, Springfield. Her service record with older adults spans 40 years having worked in community based services, retirement communities, assisted living and long term care communities. She currently is the Director of MySolutions a service of The Arlington of Naples. Interview by Dr. Joel Ying. “People of passion and purpose, doing interesting things, living the present moment.” LivingthePresentMoment.com/podcastshow In this interview … What is clutter Tips on tackling clutter How clearing clutter can improve your life Find Mary Jo Zeller online at www.MySolutions.org. Recorded: Fri Jul 6, 2018, on LivingthePresentMoment.com/studygroup Books on Clearing Clutter

Debra Frenkel is the founder and executive director of the non-profit, Freedom Waters Foundation. The mission of Freedom Waters is to provide therapeutic marine experiences to those with special needs. Learn more at www.freedomwatersfoundation.org. She gives an inspiring interview on following that inner voice of guidance. Interview by Dr. Joel Ying. “People of passion and purpose, doing interesting things, living the present moment.” LivingthePresentMoment.com/podcastshow In this interview … Starting a non-profit organization Following the inner voice Learn about therapeutic marine experiences Find Debra Frenkel online at www.freedomwatersfoundation.org. Recorded: Fri Jan 26, 2018, on LivingthePresentMoment.com/studygroup

Are you having trouble meeting your health goals? Michelle Joy Kramer is a Board-Certified Holistic Health Practitioner and Health Coach who helps individuals and corporate teams achieve their optimal health through healthy lifestyle changes. Michelle tells us how we can overcome the roadblocks to optimal health. As a certified health coach, she helps clients with goals like weight loss, improving energy level, and overcoming medical problems. The top changes that she recommends might surprise you. The biggest challenge, she says, is getting her clients to slow down enough to stretch, floss, and meditate. Her top 3 tips to improve your general health today: Listen to your body. Start the day off with dark leafy greens. Exercise. Move every day. Michelle is a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City. She is accredited by The American Association of Drugless Practitioners and has completed Continuing Education and Certification Programs for Health Counseling through Purchase College, State University of New York. She is also an accomplished top competing athlete, whose greatest achievement was qualifying for and completing the IRONMAN Triathlon World Championship in Hawaii. Interview by Dr. Joel Ying. “People of passion and purpose, doing interesting things, living the present moment.” LivingthePresentMoment.com/podcastshow In this interview … What is a health coach? Top tips to improve your health. Debunk health myths. Find Michelle Joy Kramer online at michellejoykramer.com.

Sharon Bruckman is the founder and CEO of Natural Awakenings Magazine and Franchise. She tells us how this dream got started by identifying a simple need of the community. She is passionate about health and wellness. Her story will awaken your entrepreneurial spirit. The motto is “Healthy Living – Healthy Planet.” Natural Awakenings Magazine is a local magazine in many different communities that is part of a national franchise. Many people use the magazine as a go-to to find information and local community events in their calendar. Look for a copy of this FREE magazine in your area or online at www.NaturalAwakeningsMag.com. Interview by Dr. Joel Ying. “People of passion and purpose, doing interesting things, living the present moment.” LivingthePresentMoment.com/podcastshow In this interview … Discover the origins of Natural Awakenings Magazine Sharon Bruckman shares her entrepreneurial advice Find the connection and support that you need to live a healthy lifestyle Find Sharon Bruckman online at www.NaturalAwakeningsMag.com. Recorded: Fri Jun 15, 2018, at 2:00pm ET on LivingthePresentMoment.com/studygroup

Every life transition requires planning and introspection. Whether you plan to retire or begin any other major life transition, Marianne Oehser gives practical and insightful coaching. Marianne Oehser is a retirement consultant, a Certified Retirement Coach, and founder of Retire & Be Happy. Visit her online at RetireAndBeHappy.com. She is a seasoned expert committed to helping people create a happy, fulfilling “post-career” phase of their lives through her workshops, seminars, public speaking, and individual coaching. She also works with singles and couples to successfully build and maintain healthy and rewarding relationships – after all, having a solid relationship is central to creating a happy, fulfilling life. Marianne has retired twice after spending over 40 years in the corporate world. She holds a Masters of Management from Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management in Chicago. She received her training and certifications from Relationship Coaching Institute and Retirement Options. Interview by Dr. Joel Ying. “People of passion and purpose, doing interesting things, living the present moment.” LivingthePresentMoment.com/podcastshow In this interview … Debunk the myths of retirement Avoid the pitfalls that happen in every life transition Happiness means something different to everyone Find Marianne Oehser online at RetireAndBeHappy.com. Recorded: Fri Jun 1, 2018, at 12:30pm ET on LivingthePresentMoment.com/studygroup

“Is that even legal?” That was my first thought. In this interview, Dennis Shuman tells us how to care for our own dead at home. As a volunteer with the organization, Final Friends, he gives workshops on the history and legal details of home funeral. You might be wondering what home funeral has to do with living the present moment. As a society we tiptoe around death, you cannot be present to life without also being present to death. “Show me the manner in which a nation cares for its dead, and I will measure with mathematical exactness the tender mercies of its people, their respect for the laws of the land and their loyalty to high ideals. ” ~ Sir William Gladstone Interview by Dr. Joel Ying. “People of passion and purpose, doing interesting things, living the present moment.” LivingthePresentMoment.com/podcastshow In this interview … History of caring for your dead at home Legal details of home funeral Modern conventions on death and dying Find out more about Home Funeral and caring for your dead at home at finalfriends.org. Contact Dennis Shuman. Original Interview Recorded: June 15, 2017

Today’s story is called, “Legacy of Love.” It is the final story in a set of stories, and it gives the whole set its title. When I was gathering stories into a theme, I realized that all my stories were in some way about love, the many forms of love, and perhaps all stories at their heart are about love. LivingthePresentMoment.com/podcastshow DrJoelStoryteller.com Dr. Joel Ying presents “Legacy of Love” © 2017 Joel Ying. All Rights Reserved. I share the story because it inspires me. and I hope that it inspires you (or at least leaves you thinking). The story begins with a quote from a hymn. This is not the traditional melody, but how I hear the words of the song, “Balm of Gilead.” The story gives the perspective of one man and the experience of one family. I do not present it as TRUTH, but as the “truth of their experience.” We can learn so much about our own perspectives and widen our own lives by understanding (we don’t have to agree) with the experience of others. The gift of “walking in someone else’s shoes” is that I can go back to my own with a richer understanding of life and love. I had the honor to perform “Legacy of Love” at the FRINGE of the Florida Storytelling Festival in April 2018 as part of a 45-minute performance. I have given the set of stories as a 90-minute version that includes folk tales, but the set is essentially a trio of personal and historical stories that you can find on my website. The Teacher The Story of Kumbaya Legacy of Love This final story is also a winning speech at the Division level in Toastmasters International. I was honored to share the stage with 7 other inspiring speakers in the District 48 International Speech Contest in Tampa, Florida, on Saturday, May 19, 2018. Like all performance art, oral storytelling is best experienced live. The difference between a recorded story and a live telling is similar to listening to a musical recording versus hearing a singer perform live. The experience is magnified by the energy of an audience and the community and connection that stories can weave. I love performing the “Legacy of Love” trio of stories for a live audience, so give me a call if you have an audience near you.

Interview by Dr. Joel Ying. “People of passion and purpose, doing interesting things, living the present moment.” LivingthePresentMoment.com/podcastshow Ana hosts “The Radio Show with Sex Appeal.” You can listen to her LIVE online radio show on Wednesdays at 9pm Eastern Time. You can even call in to join the conversation. Find her online at AnaSpeaks.com. Her website will tell you that “Ana wants to live in a world where everyone is comfortable in their own skin, a world where we engage the power of our minds to create magical lives from the bedroom to the board room (especially the bedroom), and where all meals include dark chocolate or bacon … maybe both, with zero calories … of course.” As a Certified Life Coach, Ana brings all of her experience to the radio show to create a safe space for honest and open communication. In this interview … Meet Ana of AnaSpeaks.com Discover what she has learned from her guests on “Love, Sex, & Intimacy” “Let’s talk about sex…” Ana hopes to promote open, safe, and honest communication Visit Ana online at AnaSpeaks.com. Recorded: Fri May 11, 2018, at 12:30pm ET on LivingthePresentMoment.com/studygroup

Interview Series by Dr. Joel Ying. “People of passion and purpose, doing interesting things, living their present moment.” LivingthePresentMoment.com/podcastshow Dr. Paul Jones is a Family Practice physician in Naples, Florida, and currently the President of the Medical Staff at Naples Community Hospital (NCH). He continues to work in both the office and hospital caring for his patients. In 2014, NCH awarded him the physician of the year award. I recently met up with Dr. Jones at a Physician Wellness Group at NCH that he had organized in response to the increase awareness of physician burnout. While burnout has been a common topic in many fields, physician burnout has been an important topic in medical news, especially lately with the increased demands on physicians, higher rates of burnout, and shortage of physicians. The simplest dictionary definition of “burnout” is physical or mental collapse from overwork and stress. However, burnout is more than simple fatigue and the need for vacation. Burnout is costing the nation as physicians drop out of practice early. Burnout shows up as emotional exhaustion, compassion fatigue, lack of connection, cynicism, detachment, loss of joy in life, depression, and feeling that “I’m not making a difference.” In a society that is always on the “go … go … go …”, we are always doing something. In a prior blog on “Mindfulness in Medicine,” I wrote about how the practice of Mindfulness can give us the resilience to avoid burnout. In this interview, Dr. Paul Jones gives us a candid view into the life of a doctor and how he has found the practical wisdom from his patients and from his experiences to keep him passionate about life. In this podcast … Meet Dr. Paul Jones, Family Practice Physician in Naples, Florida. Discover the wisdom that he has gathered along the way about the practice of medicine. Join the discussion on creating resilience in our lives to avoid burnout and live with passion. Visit Dr. Paul Jones, MD, online at pauljonesmd.com. Recorded: Wed May 2, 2018, LivingthePresentMoment.com/studygroup

Interview Series by Dr. Joel Ying. “People of passion and purpose, doing interesting things, living their present moment.” LivingthePresentMoment.com/podcastshow Noa Baum is a speaker, storyteller, and author. I first met Noa Baum at the Stone Soup Storytelling Festival in South Carolina where she was a Featured Teller, and then recently hosted her in Naples, Florida, for a performance. Born and raised in Jerusalem, she performs folk tales and personal stories from her unique background with a focus on stories to heal and build bridges. She performs a one-woman show that is now an award-winning book — A Land Twice Promised: An Israeli Woman’s Quest for Peace. In her performances and workshops, she views storytelling as peace work. Her recent TEDx talk inspired this interview, “Beyond Labels: Bridging Differences Through Storytelling.” Read more about her TEDx talk on my prior blog post. In this podcast … Meet a dynamic storyteller from the Washington D.C. area. Learn the power of storytelling. Discover how safe space to share stories bridges cultural divides. “Storytelling is peace work.” Visit Noa Baum online at noabaum.com. Recorded: Fri May 4, 2018, at 12:30pm ET on LivingthePresentMoment.com/studygroup

“The children need to know their stories!” Louise Bennett, also known as “Miss Lou,” is a National Treasure of Jamaica. Listen to the podcast audio and read more about “Miss Lou” on my prior blog post. “People of passion and purpose, doing interesting things, living their present moment.” LivingthePresentMoment.com/podcastshow

Interview Series by Dr. Joel Ying. “People of passion and purpose, doing interesting things, living their present moment.” LivingthePresentMoment.com/podcastshow Laura Elliott is an artist currently living in Asheville, North Carolina. She has a passion for sharing Expressive Art as a therapeutic modality. Discover her transformation from the world of advertising and marketing into life as an artist. From artist to healer, she now brings art to others through Expressive Art sessions and workshops. She is also a Healing Touch practitioner. Through these different modalities, she brings healing to body, mind, and spirit. In this podcast … Learn about Expressive Art as a healing modality. Visit Laura Elliott online at lauraelliott.com. Recorded: Wed Mar 2, 2018, at 12:30pm ET on LivingthePresentMoment.com/studygroup Sponsor: This podcast episode brought to you by Chery Owens and Mountain Valley Retreat. Dedicated to women’s empowerment through retreats, bodywork, and yoga. Discover the oasis nestled in the high desert mountains outside of San Diego, California, just off the Pacific Coast Trail. Relax in the therapeutic pool, hot tub, yurts, and teepees. Visit mountainvalleyretreat.us to book your own personalized or group retreat today.

Interview Series by Dr. Joel Ying. “People of passion and purpose, doing interesting things, living their present moment.” LivingthePresentMoment.com/podcastshow Jennifer Samuel-Chance is a storytelling coach. As a storyteller and speaker herself, she coaches others to find their storytelling voice and harness its power in the speeches, presentations, and workshops. She shares her own story of transformation with us — from the corporate world to storytelling alter-ego Ms. JenJen to speaker and storytelling coach. This interview will inspire and teach you valuable information on the why and how of storytelling for business and storytelling for performance. “Stories tell and stories sell.” In this podcast … Find inspiration in Jennifer’s story of personal transformation. Discover why facts and logic are best delivered with stories to create emotion. Learn practical tips and advice on crafting your own stories. Find out how a storytelling coach can help you. Contact Jennifer Samuel-Chance online at jen@msjenjen.com and find her online at msjenjen.com. Recorded: Wed Apr 11, 2018, at 12:30pm ET on LivingthePresentMoment.com/studygroup

Interview Series by Dr. Joel Ying. “People of passion and purpose, doing interesting things, living their present moment.” LivingthePresentMoment.com/podcastshow Imagine a place where people talk about what they are passionate about, where everyone wants to improve, where people support and encourage each other. That place is a Toastmasters Club Meeting. Toastmasters is a non-profit international organization that teaches public speaking and leadership. That’s where I met Christopher Pritchard in 2008. I joined Toastmasters to become a better public speaker, and found much more. Through this organization, I have come out of a soft-spoken shell of fear that trapped my voice, and I have blossomed into a storytelling performer over the years. Christopher Pritchard is one of the inspiring people that went through the program with me, and continues to be active in leadership roles. He is part funny guy, always fast-talking, with a New York can-do attitude. When he invests in something, he goes all in. He dresses up in suits just for the club meetings to make a good impression. He doesn’t wear suits in his usual work life! Toastmasters helped him escape the world of the couch potato, Star Trek geek, and MacDonald’s supersized drinks. “I don’t like people,” Chris says in the interview. He’s only half kidding. If you want to see him make a sour face, ask him for a hug. He hates hugs. Under that rough exterior and huge mustache, he’s always helping people, encouraging speakers, and ready to offer a bit of self-deprecating humor. He even offers his expertise as a professional speaking coach. Why does he stay with Toastmasters? “Because it’s fun.” Toastmasters offers a huge social support with people from all ages and all walks of life. Both of us continue to give back to this organization. We both enjoy watching and supporting growth in others. With public speaking and leadership skills, we watch new people blossom in this organization. Most people will stay the appropriate time to get over the fear of speaking or improve their skills with a supportive audience. Others, like Chris and I, we stay and give back to an organization that continues to help us to explore our edges and grow. In this podcast … Learn about Toastmasters and their new program supporting public speaking and leadership skills. Experience fun conversational banter with a quick-witted and humorous speaker. Discover a sprinkling of tips on how to be a better speaker. You can reach Christopher Pritchard at colliertoastmasters@gmail.com. Learn more online at toastmasters.org and find a Toastmasters Club near you. Recorded: Wed Apr 4, 2018, at 12:30pm ET on LivingthePresentMoment.com/studygroup

Interview Series by Dr. Joel Ying. “People of passion and purpose, doing interesting things, living their present moment.” LivingthePresentMoment.com/podcastshow Laurie Lyons is a co-founder of Open Mind Zen Naples, a center devoted to the practice of mindfulness meditation and yoga in Naples, Florida. She is a lay monk in the Open Mind Zen School and a long-time practitioner of Ashtanga yoga. This interview took place just after hurricane Irma in September 2017, and I am grateful that we were able to meet as scheduled. The original teachings of Buddhism are from India. When the teachings came to Japan and took root in the Japanese culture, the lineage became known as Zen Buddhism. At the heart of Zen Buddhism is the practice of meditation. In this conversation, we explore the experience and wisdom of this practice. In this podcast … Learn about the mindfulness meditation of Zen Buddhism. Discover the path of a lay monk. Explore how meditation and yoga change the mind and body. Visit Laurie Lyons online at openmindzennaples.com. Recorded: Fri Sep 15, 2017, at 12:30pm ET on LivingthePresentMoment.com/studygroup Check out the book

In the 1960’s, a group of college students prepared for the Civil Rights campaign. There had already been violence against them. They knew that some of them might not return. They had called their families. This group had decided to stay. In their darkest hour, they united by singing an invocation, a Spiritual from the Gullah people. The powerful invocation “Come by here” translates to “Kum-ba-ya”. Many have incorrectly adopted the song for a “feel good” moment. Today, people often laugh and sneer at these “feel good” gatherings of people coming together, setting aside their differences, only to sing a nonsense word and get nothing done. The song has been taken out of its cultural and spiritual context, meaning has been lost, and the power has been taken out of the song. However, at its origin, this song is an invocation: “Come by Here, Lord.” Kumbaya was not sung in good times, but in dark times, in desperate times, in times of need. The Gullah are the descendants of the African slaves living on the coastal plains of South Carolina and Georgia. In the Gullah tradition and during the Civil Rights Movement, this powerful chant is sung with conviction and intention to invoke a greater power into the dark spaces of our lives … calling in Spirit, God, Love, … whatever it is that you believe, to come and touch those places and make them better. Listen to the Story in this Podcast Show “The Power of Kumbaya” is part of my set of stories that I perform, called Legacy of Love. The seed for this story is from Ysaye Barnwell’s workshop, Building a Vocal Community. This workshop explores the songs of the African American oral tradition from African chants, Spirituals, Gospel, and songs of the Civil Rights Movement. As a non-singer, I learned that everyone can sing. I also experienced the power of singing together to create community. When songs unite a movement with the solidarity of hearts, minds, and voices, people can’t help but stop to listen. We can reclaim the power of invocation with our voices, in our lives, and for our united communities. We can put the power back in the song, Kumbaya. Listen to my prior podcast interview to hear Ysaye Barnwell tell her version of this story and sing Kumbaya: Episode 4: Building a Vocal Community (Ysaye Barnwell). Resources Excerpt of Vincent Harding interviewed by Krista Tippett, “You’ll Never Hear Kumbaya the Same Way Again.” “A Long Road From ‘Come by here’ to ‘Kumbaya’, New York Times article. Freedom Summer Project, PBS. Freedom Summer, Wikipedia. The Power in Vocal Communities, Ysaye Barnwell, TEDx.

Interview Series by Dr. Joel Ying. “People of passion and purpose, doing interesting things, living their present moment.” LivingthePresentMoment.com/podcastshow When people come together as a group and sing, there is something about it that makes people stop to listen. Dr. Joel Ying interviews Ysaye Barnwell, exploring how she builds vocal community in her workshops, seminars, and group sings. She teaches song in the “oral tradition.” In her workshop, Building a Vocal Community, she teaches the history and the songs of African chants, Spirituals, Gospel, and songs of the Civil Rights movement. I have personally experienced and witnessed her magical gift of creating community through song. The group divides itself into the parts of a choir: soprano, alto, tenor, and bass. With her range, she sings all the parts. Each part of our new choir sings just their part alone back to her. She repeats until the voices come together. Then, she weaves us together in four-part harmony. As a non-singer, I found ease in singing as a group without the need to write anything down, no need to read music. Her workshop truly unleashed my voice in a new way as I became part of this new vocal community. Visit her online at www.ymbarnwell.com. In this podcast … Learn about the history of singing in the “oral tradition”. Meet one of the voices, now retired from Sweet Honey and the Rock. Listen to the surprising history of the spiritual, Kumbaya, from its original cultural context. Discover the power of song to unite organized movements. Find her TEDx talk on my prior post, The Power of Vocal Communities. Recorded: Fri Mar 5, 2017, at 12:30pm ET on LivingthePresentMoment.com/studygroup

Interview Series by Dr. Joel Ying. “People of passion and purpose, doing interesting things, living their present moment.” LivingthePresentMoment.com/podcastshow “The shortest distance between two hearts is a story.” ~ Geraldine Buckley Dr. Joel Ying interviews Geraldine Buckley on her personal journey into the world of storytelling, from England to America, through prison (as a chaplain), from England to America. She has been featured at the National Storytelling Festival and joins us to share the wisdom of storytelling. Visit her online at GeraldineBuckley.com. In this podcast … Discover how stories connect hearts and have the power to bring us together. (We gain compassion by listening to each others stories.) Learn about the oral tradition of storytelling as a performance art. (Read more in my prior blog post.) Collect stories in your own circle of family and friends by using prompts to stimulate connection and conversation. (For ideas on prompts, we recommend the book, Telling Your Own Stories, by Donald Davis.) And more … Recorded: Wed Mar 7, 2018, at 12:30pm ET on LivingthePresentMoment.com/studygroup Albums by Geraldine Buckley Click on the images below for more details on these award-winning albums…

Interview Series by Dr. Joel Ying. “People of passion and purpose, doing interesting things, living their present moment.” LivingthePresentMoment.com/podcastshow … Guest: John Kralovec gives a insightful interview on the Shamanic teachings of the Ancient Maya of South America. “We have forgotten who we are. We have forgotten why we’re here. We have forgotten how to live a life of balance and harmony.” — Maya Elder John describes his own spiritual journey and shares his insights along the way. Read his blog on pathwaystothedivine.org and download his free e-book, Seven Steps to Experience the Divine. Check out his new book, Pathways to the Divine: One Man’s Journey Through the Shamanic Realm of the Ancient Maya. Recorded: Fri Feb 9, 2018, at 12:30pm ET on LivingthePresentMoment.com/studygroup

Interview Series by Dr. Joel Ying. “People of passion and purpose, doing interesting things, living their present moment.” LivingthePresentMoment.com/podcastshow … Guest: Molly Larkin is a spiritual teacher, author, and workshop facilitator. Find her online at mollylarkin.com. On this interview, she shares with us her experiences with Bear Heart, a Native American Shaman, that saved her life and became one of her teachers. Check out the autobiography, The Wind is My Mother: The Life and Teachings of Bear Heart. Recorded: Fri Feb 2, 2018, at 12:30pm ET on LivingthePresentMoment.com/studygroup