Sacred Truths

Miles Inada: Professor of Art

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 10:00:00 -0700

Miles Inada is a Professor of Art at Southern Oregon University where he teaches courses in 2D and 3D animation, comics and picture books, and digital design. His animated work has won awards at the Atlanta Film Festival, Riverrun International Film Festival, Berkeley Video Festival, Rochester International Film Festival, and Film Fest New Haven, and has been seen at numerous film festivals in the US and internationally. He is the creator of the comic “Arms and Ether” and (with Evan Carroll) the animation film “Legends from Camp”, both discussed in this podcast. He is currently creating a 3-D interactive game based on “Arms and Ether” and the character he created, Majax.

For more information on his current work, visit: armsandether.com

Music by Manpreet Kaur @manpreetkaurmusic

www.sacred-truths.com

Ask a Dude with Sam: Conversations with a Young Man, Episode 6, Part 4

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -0800

Emmy and Sam continue their discussion with Nick.

Music by Lemon Music Studio by Pixabay

www.sacred-truths.com

Ask a Dude with Sam: Conversations with a Young Man, Episode 6, Part 3

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 06:00:00 -0800

Emmy and a young man named Sam, continue their discussion with Nick.

Music by Lemon Music Studio at Pixabay

www.sacred-truths.com

Ask a Dude with Sam: Conversations with a Young Man, Episode 6, Part 2

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 12:00:00 -0700

A continuation of our conversation with Sam and Nick of what it is to be a real man.

Music by Lemon Music Studio at Pixabay.

www.sacred-truths.com

Ask A Dude with Sam: Conversations with a Young Man Episode 6 Part 1

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 10:00:00 -0700

In this Episode, Emmy and a young man named Sam engage with Nick, in response to the list of "What it is to be a real man."

Music by Lemon Music Studio at Pixabay.

www.sacred-truths.com

Ask A Dude: Episode 5, Part 3

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0800

In this podcast, Nick takes questions from our podcast listeners.

Music by Lemon Music Studio by Pixabay

www.sacred-truths.com

Ask A Dude: Episode 5, Part 2

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 12:00:00 -0800

In this podcast, which follows Nick's list of what it is to be a real man, the group discusses why men feel they need to impress women.

Music by Lemon Music Studio by Pixabay

www.sacred-truths.com

Ask A Dude: Episode 5, Part 1

Mon, 29 Jan 2024 08:00:00 -0800

In this episode Nick shares his list of what it is to be a real man.

Music by: Lemon Music Studio at Pixabay

www.sacred-truths.com

Oh Lahaina! Part 2

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0700

A continuation of Emmy's experience of living in the town of Lahaina, Hawaii on Maui, the town that in August of 2023, burned to the ground in a tragic fire that ripped through at a fierce speed destroying most of the old wooden, historic buildings, homes, neighborhoods and businesses. This story of loss is a tribute to a town rich with history, and it's a story of a place that taught Emmy to know her True Self, her Wise Self.

Special thanks to Greg Starbird on guitar
Lahaina Song: written by Emmy and Gaby
Music by:
Zapsplat.com
Pixabay: Mike Cole, Sergei Paukin, Lemon Music Studio, Olexy, Onoychenkomusic, Rovador
Bergitta Victor, Free Music Archive, CC BY-NC-ND
Siddhartha Corsus, Free Music Archive, CC BY-NC

www.sacred-truths.com

Oh Lahaina! Part 1

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 13:00:00 -0700

In August of 2023, most of the town of Lahaina, on Maui was burned to the ground in a tragic fire that ripped through at a fierce speed destroying most of the old wooden, historic buildings, homes, neighborhoods and businesses. Lahaina is a Hawaiian town that Emmy loves, for as a 22 year old she lived there for 9 months and it holds her memories. This story of loss is a tribute to a town rich with history, and it's a story of a place that taught Emmy to know her True Self, her Wise Self.

Special thanks to Greg Starbird on guitar
Lahaina Song: written by Emmy and Gaby
Music by:
Zapsplat.com
Pixabay: Sergei Paukin, Julius H, Oleksii Kaplunskyi, Olexy, Rovador
Kevin MacLeod, Free Music Archive, CC BY-NC
Seaven Tears, Free Music Archive, CC BY-NC
Tim Taj, Free Music Archive, CC BY-NC-ND
Crowander, Free Music Archive, CC BY-NC
Tojamura, Free Music Archive, CC BY_NC

www.sacred-truths.com

Ask a Dude with Ken: Questions from a Gay Man, Episode 4, Part 4

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 06:00:00 -0700

In this concluding episode with Emmy, Nick and Ken, the group discusses: Fear, how far men have travelled from their basic essence of the masculine concept of protector; and Ken and Nick describe their experiences with the ManKind Project.

www.sacred-truths.com

Ask a Dude with Ken: Questions from a Gay Man, Episode 4, Part 3

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 06:00:00 -0700

The group discusses the biproducts of toxic masculinity to the LGBT community and women, and ways to help bring about change. Also, how hierarchy and status are enforced in the hyper-masculine paradigm.

www.sacred-truths.com

Ask a Dude with Ken: Questions from a Gay Man, Episode 4, Part 2

Sun, 13 Aug 2023 06:00:00 -0700

Ken and Nick and Emmy discuss power dynamics triggered by trauma, the dynamics between gay men and women, and how women edit themselves in front of straight men.

www.sacred-truths.com

Ask a Dude with Ken: Questions from a Gay Man, Episode 4, Part 1

Sat, 29 Jul 2023 06:00:00 -0700

In this new Ask a Dude series, our panel consists of Emmy and Ken, with Nick as our dude. In this episode, we talk about how misogyny and homophobia are related and the movie "Close" and the often painful separation enforced upon young male adolescent best friends.

Music by Lemon Music Studio from Pixabay.

www.sacred-truths.com

Ask a Dude: Episode 3, Part 2

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0700

This is a continuation of a special episode where Nick and Emmy discuss the process behind creating Nick's list of what it is to be a real man, receiving the list, and his reluctance or hesitation to publish the list publicly.

Music by Pixabay

www.sacred-truths.com

Ask a Dude, Episode 3, Part 1

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0700

Hello and welcome to a special episode of Ask a Dude. About 3 months ago, on an Ask a Dude Podcast, I read my list of what it is to be a good woman. At the end of that episode, Nick told us that he felt inspired to share his list of what it is to be a real man. Nick made his list and shared it with us during a recorded podcast sometime in May, roughly 2 months ago. We now refer to it as ‘the list’. The podcast is edited and ready to go. But we haven’t yet launched it on Sacred Truths. So, why the long pause?

The Ask a Dude series is a process for all of us involved. In many ways this is new territory for us and sometimes we are surprised by what we find. In this podcast, Nick and I discuss the process of making the list, sharing the list, receiving the list, and his reluctance or hesitation to share the list publicly.

Music by Pixabay

www.sacred-truths.com

Ask a Dude: Episode 2, Part 4

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 14:00:00 -0700

Emmy reads her entire list of what is a 'good' woman.
The group discusses how these unconscious, unspoken lists govern how we interact with each other and the fragility of the male ego.
Nick is inspired to share his list of what is a real man.

Music by Lemon Music Studio from Pixabay

www.sacred-truths.com

Ask A Dude: Episode 2, Part 3

Fri, 24 Mar 2023 14:00:00 -0700

In this episode, the women continue to explore their lists of what it is to be a good woman. A universal theme is being a pleasing sexual object. The group discusses how these ideas are enforced and transmitted.

Music by Lemon Music Studio by Pixabay

www.sacred-truths.com

Ask A Dude: Episode 2, Part 2

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 14:00:00 -0800

In this episode, the group questions how the world expects men and women to be. Questions regarding a good woman vs a real woman and a good man vs a real man are raised.
How do are these lists of a good woman or a real man get generated? How are they passed on?
The women begin to share what is on their lists: what is a good woman.

Music by Lemon Music Studio by Pixabay

www.sacred-truths.com

Ask a Dude: Episode 2, Part 1

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0800

Episode 2, Part 1

Nick discusses the different types of shame men experience and the common response to it.

Music by Pixabay.com

www.sacred-truths.com

Ask a Dude: Episode 1, Part 4

Sat, 11 Feb 2023 11:00:00 -0800

Continuation of Episode 1, Part 4

In this episode, Nick tackles the subject of peeing on the toilet rim.

www.sacred-truths.com

Ask A Dude: Episode 1, Part 3

Sat, 04 Feb 2023 13:00:00 -0800

Continuation of Episode 1, Part 3:

What are men really saying when they talk about sexual exploits? Give us specifics!
Nick elaborates on the themes regarding this behavior.

www.sacred-truths.com

Ask a Dude: Episode 1, Part 2

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 06:00:00 -0800

Continuation of Episode 1, Part 2:
Here Nick tackles the question of why men talk about their sexual exploits and discusses the main themes.

Books mentioned: "Down Girl: the Logic of Misogyny" by Kate Manne
and "For the Love of Men" by Liz Plank

www.sacred-truths.com

Ask A Dude: Episode 1, Part 1

Tue, 03 Jan 2023 06:00:00 -0800

In 2020, I met Nick Oredson, a skilled facilitator who specializes in working with trauma and abuse. I started talking to him about the abuse, harm and harassment I’ve encountered throughout my life at the hands of men, specifically, and the damaging impact it’s had on me. To my surprise, he didn’t flinch – he just took in what I had to say and validated my experience. This was astonishing to me because in my experience, whenever I attempted to speak to men about abuse or demeaning behavior, their response has typically been to diminish my feelings or its impact, shout out in some kind of strange rage, or clam up completely and retreat to silence. I’d never had the experience of a man simply listening and taking in my perspective, until Nick. In time, I began to ask him questions about why men behave in certain ways in certain circumstances. No topic was off limits. He would access what he referred to as the collective male consciousness of shadow masculinity that all men are taught to adhere to, in order to answer my questions as best as he could. We jokingly referred to it as our ‘Ask a Dude’ sessions and I found them so helpful that I suggested he should set up a table on a street corner somewhere with a sign reading “Ask me anything about men” so women could come to him with their baffling questions about men.

That’s how this podcast started. We are a group of 3 women and we come together with a list of questions for Nick to address. This is not rehearsed. He has no idea what we will ask.

Ask A Dude – 3 women, one guy – where we get real answers on subjects most men aren’t willing to talk about.

Episode 1, Part 1: Gender violence, men and their feelings

Books mentioned: "Believing" by Anita Hill

www.sacred-truths.com

Barred Owl Rescue

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 06:00:00 -0700

In this podcast, Emmy recalls taking a risk to save the life of a barred owl in Texas.

"What a powerful story! Beautifully told." SH, Ohio

"Completely and absolutely stunning! This story is so touching, profound, called me in from the very first moment." TLS, Ohio

"Wow, I really enjoyed this one Emmy! It is such a vivid story – I felt completely transported to the banks of that rushing river!" NO, Oregon

"I listened to your calm voice and soothing cadence as you told the story of rescuing this owl. I was right there with you as you realized the trouble you could get into, but you forged ahead and came out OK. Your storytelling helped me..." DR, New Mexico

Photo Credit: Philip Brown on Unsplash

www.sacred-truths.com

Birth Story

Tue, 16 Nov 2021 06:00:00 -0800

A woman’s birth story is a spiritual journey. It is a warrior’s journey. It is considered a sacred journey, because it takes us to our original selves. This is my birth story.

In this podcast, Emmy takes us on the journey of the birth of her daughter, where she encounters spirits and other special visitors!

"It was moving and profound." JLG, NJ

"SUCH a powerful and daunting story, and as always, SO artfully related! You do such a service to women -- and men -- everywhere, to relate your story with such candor and humble honesty." TLS, OH

www.sacred-truths.com

When Fathers Strangle Daughters

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 06:00:00 -0700

Emmy shares a long-suppressed story about the dysfunctional dynamics between her and her father and her own wrestling with misogyny within her family.

"Emmy's latest podcast is not for the faint of heart. However, the cathartic, transformational process as well as the hope and love of all things beautiful prevails. With every bow of my head, the podcast is a work of art, a piece of theater: timely and eternal. "JLG, Cape May, NJ

"Powerfully touching. Triumphant. Human. Another beautiful gift from your life, your pen, and your exquisite voice. Thank you." LD, York, Maine

"Your story is searing and courageous." DC, Ashland, Oregon

Music and sound by: zapsplat.com
Photo: Joan of Arc by Anna Hyatt Huntington Bronze

www.sacred-truths.com

Random Encounters

Thu, 27 May 2021 06:00:00 -0700

We've all had them. You are far from home and you run into someone you know. What are the odds? Does it have any meaning? In this podcast, Emmy shares some information about the Improbability Principle and why these things might happen. She also shares some intriguing stories that may have more to do with intuition and faith, with some randomness thrown in. Are our random encounters really random after all?

"Yet another absolute Masterpiece!" TLS, Cleveland, OH

Music by Zapsplat.com

www.sacred-truths.com

Willard Walch: on Being True to One's Authenticity

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0700

Willard Walch is the 4th generation in his family to be raised on a cattle ranch in the Rogue Valley of Southern Oregon. In this interview, Willard shares some of the personal struggles he’s wrestled with over the past 7 decades of his life and what he’s learned about the importance of staying true to his authenticity.

Growing up in the 1950s with an expansive network of land, animals, neighboring ranching families, and plenty of hard work, some of his life’s most important lessons were learned from the landscape, lifestyle and the good men and women ranchers around him. Willard credits his mother as his main influential teacher in helping him identify and honor his own Truth, and speaks honestly of his walk to sobriety and the tools he’s gained as an adult through his experiences with the Mankind Project, his work as an Attunement Practitioner, the 12-step program, and Kundalini Yoga, all of which have aided him on his journey.

Now in his elder years, Willard shares his wisdom, his vision, and the importance of what he believes is his current work, honoring the feminine.

I spoke to him in Ashland, OR in 2021.

Music by: Manpreet Kaur @manpreetkaurmusic

www.sacred-truths.com

Karen O'Dougherty: Body Confidence and Puberty Education for Girls

Thu, 08 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0700

Karen O’Dougherty is the creator, owner and teacher of Body Basics and Beyond which for 20 years has been providing confidence and puberty education for girls and the grownups who raise them. She offers after school programs for grades 4-8 and Teen Village, monthly talking circles for teenagers.

A retired elementary school teacher and the mother of 3 adult children, Karen holds a heartfelt belief that all youth deserve to learn about puberty and adolescence in an environment that grows their confidence. She wants to see the next generation of leaders rise with the confidence, empathy, and poise to meet what lies ahead of them. In order for this to happen, she maintains that youth need to understand their bodies, their emotional selves and the influences that may challenge who they are becoming.

Karen believes that parent education is an essential piece in preparation for adolescence, and to aid parents she provides confidence and support through one-on-one coaching and group sessions.

To learn more please visit Karen’s website at www.bodybasicsandbeyond.com or email her directly: karen@bodybasicsandbeyond.com

I spoke to her in Ashland, OR in 2021

Music by: Manpreet Kaur @manpreetkaurmusic

www.sacred-truths.com

Nick Oredson: on Healing and Growth

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0700

After a period of extended personal crisis nearly a decade ago, Nick Oredson embarked on a healing and growth journey to try and understand and recover from the childhood trauma and abuse he experienced. In 2015 he was introduced to the Mankind Project, a national organization that utilizes circle work and retreats to help men heal from emotional wounds and live more authentic lives. Nick found the circle work he encountered there to be so effective for personal healing that he now co-leads a weekly open men’s circle in Ashland, Oregon.

He is also the founder and facilitator of the Campus Connection Circle at Southern Oregon University, a weekly, mixed gender group that utilizes circle work as a mental health resource for faculty, staff and students.

In addition, Nick is the author of an upcoming book entitled Fear. Shadow. Joy – A Handbook for Working with Shadow which will be available in April 2021. I spoke to him in Ashland, Oregon in 2021.

For more information, or to find out how to purchase Nick’s book, please visit his website: www.nickoredson.com.
email: nickoredson2@gmail.com

Music by: Manpreet Kaur @manpreetkaurmusic

www.sacred-truths.com

Berlin Wall Story

Tue, 22 Dec 2020 06:00:00 -0800

The Cold War is still going on when Emmy treks across the Soviet Union on the Trans Siberian Railroad in 1987, landing her in Moscow . There, she meets the legendary Russian music icon Stas Namin and his rock band the Stas Namin Group. Together they travel to East Berlin where Emmy and her new friends are forced to face the horrors and reality of the Berlin Wall and the political borders that define their fates and separate her from her friends. It is a story of fate and coincidences, friendships despite borders, heart ache, and the harsh realities of post-war Germany.

"This is brilliant. You are gifted." KH, Atlanta, GA

"Such an absorbing account!" CC, Medford, OR

"Another amazing story, beautifully told...you have a gift for storytelling, touching the heart of the listener... " GP, Port Townsend, WA

"What a powerful experience you describe! I think many of us have walked through metaphorical "checkpoint Charlies" but to hear your build up to, and literally crossing through the Berlin Wall puts the courage we all may take for granted ("I only did what needed to be done...") in its right place, at the center of the story." MKJ, Great Barrington, MA

Photo credit: Freeimages.com/Andy Reid

www.sacred-truths.com

Meng Lang: 1961-2018 Tribute

Sat, 12 Dec 2020 06:00:00 -0800

On December 12, 2018, the poet Meng Lang died in Hong Kong. He was 57. He was a well-respected writer, a human rights advocate, and tirelessly promoted Liu Xiaobo, the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

One year later, to commemorate the anniversary of his death, his long-time friend and collaborator, Beiling requested essays from friends and colleagues who knew Meng Lang, so that he could put together a book dedicated to Meng Lang’s memory.

I contributed this piece which was translated into Chinese and published in December 2019.

www.sacred-truths.com

Dami Roelse: Author, Walking and Life Coach

Tue, 08 Dec 2020 06:00:00 -0800

Dami Roelse is an author, certified life coach, and an avid hiker. Born in Holland, she has traveled the world and as a young woman, began her spiritual quest by traveling to India in search of answers. By her late 50s, and while suffering through a personal loss, Dami revisited India where a trek through the Himalayas brought illumination and peace. Since then, she has become an avid hiker/backpacker and has hiked most of the Pacific Crest Trail, including the John Muir Trail, and across the entire states of Washington and Oregon. She has also hiked parts of the Himalayas, including a Mount Kailash Kora (or pilgrimage) in Tibet, considered Asia’s holiest mountain. Most of her treks took place while in her 60s and 70s. Dami uses her passion for long distance hiking and backpacking as a means to deepen her connection with nature and the universe. Dami is enthusiastic about leading and mentoring women over 50, in the third phase of life, on the physical and spiritual benefits of walking and backpacking, and she serves as a model for redefining the aging process for women. She has written a book Walking Gone Wild: How to Lose Your Age on the Trail directed to women over 50. Her latest book Fly Free, a memoir of love, loss and walking the path is a journey of spiritual and physical exploration as she deals with the loss of her life partner and goes on a trek in the Himalayas.

I spoke to her in 2020 at her home in Ashland, Oregon

Music by Manpreet Kaur, @manpreetkaurmusic

www.sacred-truths.com

A Kaddish Story

Tue, 24 Nov 2020 06:00:00 -0800

A family constellation therapy session reveals an unknown family grief, a loss that happened over 70 years ago, that Emmy attempts to heal and bring to completion.

The Mourner's Kaddish is recited in this podcast. It is done with reverence, sincere intention, and respect.

"This was a very powerful one. You are sending out good waves in the world." SV, Vancouver, BC

"Wow! Such a moving story and you, my dear, have a radio voice designed for your subject matter! " JS, Portland, OR

"So so very beautiful... in every regard. I stand in Awe of your ability to convey such complex, multidimensioned ideas, impressions, experiences... all of which reflect the universal themes that bind and connect us...as well as complicate and divide us." TS, Cleveland, OH

"Priceless." MKJ, Great Barrington, MA

www.sacred-truths.com

Teen Talk Episode 1: Corona Virus

Tue, 10 Nov 2020 06:00:00 -0800

Emmy talks to teenagers about life. This episode focuses on the impact of the COVID-19 virus on teenagers.

www.sacred-truths.com

The Hamazons: Warrior Princesses of Improv

Tue, 27 Oct 2020 06:00:00 -0700

The Hamazons are an all-female comedy improv troupe from Ashland, Oregon founded in 1999. Originally a group of 7 women, they have performed consistently for over 2 decades. Today, the Hamazons consist of 3 women, Eve Smyth, Kyndra Laughery, and founding member Cil Stengel. The Hamazons typically perform long form improv, a format where entire stories, that have never before been told, are weaved together with plot lines, multiple characters, conflicts, twists and turns, an intermission and a resolution, much like a two-act play. The press has said the Hamazons “meet two of our greatest needs – the need to laugh and the need to live with each other in kindness and respect.” Heart, humor and laughter are practically guaranteed in a Hamazon show.

The Hamazons teach improv workshops and classes, and present shows regularly. They also perform for many different venues including conferences, private events, gatherings, and ceremonies. For more information and to purchase tickets to their shows, please visit their website: www.hamazons.com.

In this podcast, the Hamazons also perform a short scene!

I spoke with them in Ashland, Oregon in 2020.

Music by Manpreet Kaur. @manpreetkaurmusic

www.sacred-truths.com

Ken Hornbeck: Theatre for Social Change

Tue, 06 Oct 2020 06:00:00 -0700

Ken Hornbeck’s career as a stage actor and director spans over 30 years where he has worked both regionally, and in NYC. In 1986 he started his own theatre company called the Eclectic Theatre Company, based in NYC where he created an AIDS education show geared for teenagers, and which became his introduction to Theatre for Social Change. In 1989, he met Dr. Cydelle Berlin, the founder and Executive Director of STAR Theatre, a program affiliated with Mount Sinai Hospital’s Adolescent Health Center, and because of his work was asked to serve as Artistic Director there. This began a long collaborative relationship and the two of them worked with high school students, junior high and elementary students, creating age-appropriate, ensemble pieces around the subject of teenage sex education in the NYC area. Their program was so successful that they worked internationally as theatre trainers for the United Nations. Upon moving to Atlanta, Ken continued to devote his time to Theatre for Social Change while working at Emory University using theatre to address complicated diversity issues on campus including race, sexual orientation, and gender identification. He is currently an adjunct faculty member at Emory, where he teaches courses in human health through the applied arts. He can be contacted at: kdh1956.213@gmail.com. I spoke to him at his home in Atlanta, GA via Zoom.
Music by Manpreet Kaur, @manpreetkaur music

www.sacred-truths.com

Hiroshima

Thu, 06 Aug 2020 06:00:00 -0700

In 1945, the United States dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. In this podcast, Emmy describes her journey to the city of Hiroshima in 1986 and the impact this visit had on her. Interwoven in her personal story, are depictions of Keiji Nakazawa's experience, a renowned Manga artist, and a Hiroshima bomb survivor.

"So long as one atomic bomb exists, Hiroshima will remain an issue."
~Keiji Nakazawa

This podcast was published on August 6, 2020, 75 years after the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.

Photo: Olin Cox

"This is brilliant. Riveting and poignant and spiritual and so so so COMPLEX! Your voice! I'm bawling one minute, horrified the next, on the edge of my seat the next!" JLG, Atlanta, GA

"It is a fitting and staggering tribute that bears Witness, reminding us to Never Forget, and to ensure: Never Again. " TLS, Cleveland, OH

"You have a way of creating a palpable atmosphere. And I like the structure. Your audience sees both your external and internal worlds. And it has a quality of transparent truth. We travel along with you and listen in as you experience and process the world." SV, Vancouver, BC

"You have such a gift. Fascinating, moving, educational, transformative..." KH, Atlanta, GA

www.sacred-truths.com

Claire Burbridge: Artist

Tue, 14 Jul 2020 06:00:00 -0700

Since a very young age, Claire Burbridge has always considered herself an artist. Born and educated in Great Britain, she has been a prolific artist her entire life, working in sculpture early in her career. However, when she moved to the United States over 10 years ago, she was inspired to return to drawing using the natural world as subject. She now does exquisite, detailed pencil and ink drawings, inspired by the nature that surrounds her current home in southern Oregon. Her work has been exhibited throughout the United States, England and in Germany. Recent solo exhibitions include at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art in Eugene, Oregon, Nancy Toomey Fine Art in San Francisco, California, and the Davis and Cline Art Gallery in Ashland, Oregon. She is the 2019 recipient of the Oregon Percent for Art Commission through Western Oregon University. Her latest foray is in creating wallpapers, once again inspired by nature.

For more information on Claire or to contact the artist, please visit www.claireburbridge.com.

To view and purchase her wallpapers, visit www.claireburbridge

I spoke to her in 2020 at her home in southern Oregon.

Music by Manpreet Kaur. @ManpreetKaurmusic

www.sacred-truths.com

Tian Tan: the Temple of Heaven Part II

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 06:00:00 -0700

Part II

The author continues to share of her personal experiences in China and the city of Beijing and her friendship with a young man from China she meets and loves. This is a compelling personal story about the power of prayer and mantra and how our human connections exist across borders, continents and perhaps lifetimes.

"It's brilliant. It is so moving....
It was so luxurious to bathe in this other world, and the way you describe the transformation of Beijing over the years is mesmerizing. " JLG, Atlanta, GA

"Such a powerful and epic story.
So many layers - all presented in such fullness." ES, Ashland OR

www.sacred-truths.com

Tian Tan: the Temple of Heaven Part I

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 06:00:00 -0700

This is Part I of a story that spans over 30 years. In this personal narrative, Emmy takes us on an account of her journey to the city of Beijing in 1987. More than just a travelogue, this is the story of the sacredness of place. It is also a story of love and friendship. And it might be a story of connections and loyalty that cross over lifetimes.

"Listened to part 1 - SO FANTASTIC! I was raving about it...Such great storytelling and pacing. Your voice is SO good! " ES, Ashland, OR

"This is like a Somerset Maughum/ E.M. Forester or Amy Tan novel... it's a complete novel/movie directed by Ang Lee! The colors, the sounds, the details, THAT VOICE!!!!, the romance, the sadness, the spiritual unity, the circling back to Tian Tan at the end.... I used up all the Kleenex in my pockets..." JLG, Atlanta, GA

www.sacred-truths.com

Deborah Rosenberg: Costume Designer

Tue, 09 Jun 2020 06:00:00 -0700

Deborah Rosenberg is a professor of costume design who has been a member of the Theatre Arts faculty at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon since 1999. She currently teaches costume design as well as classes in stage makeup and costume crafts. Deborah is a founding faculty member of the Master of Theatre Studies in Production and Design Program and serves as its Program Coordinator.

Deborah came to Southern Oregon from New York State where she taught costume design at Niagara University, SUNY: Brockport, and Ithaca College, and was a guest draper at Cornell University. Deborah also has worked as a freelance costume designer and has designed costumes for theatre productions in Spain, Canada and throughout the United States.

To view her portfolio, please visit: deborahrosenberg.carbonmade.com

Or email Deborah directly at: rosenbergd@sou.edu

I spoke to her in Ashland, Oregon in 2020.

Music by Manpreet Kaur. @manpreetkaurmusic

www.sacred-truths.com

Terry Lillian Segal: Life Celebrant/Bodyworker

Tue, 26 May 2020 06:00:00 -0700

Terry Lilian Segal’s Life Path as a professional practitioner in the fascinating realm of the Healing Arts, began in 1992, following her recovery from an injury she’s sustained as a river guide while rowing a boat down the Grand Canyon.

Terry draws from an array of practices, while honoring the Universal Wisdom that underscores them all. Her skilled touch practice includes various forms of Massage, Bodywork & Energywork, most notably the Art of Zero Balancing. “ZB” is a refreshing, concise and elegantly effective therapy that gently “unwinds” old injuries and holding patterns by accessing the powerful flows that move through the bone. One comes away from a “ZB” session empowered and refreshed, with a deep sense of well-being, inner balance and alignment, improved functionality. The multidimensional nature of this technique, and the profound wisdom of its fundamental working principles, inform not only Terry’s style of touch, but also speak to every aspect of life.

All of Terry’s offerings serve to foster the sacred healing journey back to Wholeness, back to Essence. With this in mind, she also serves as a Certified Life-Cycle Celebrant, where she custom-designs and officiates intention-based ceremonies and rituals meant, such as Coming-of-Age Ceremonies, Renewal of Vows, Life Tributes for the living and those who have passed,… mindfully honoring any meaningful life transition or event. Terry’s deep love for Life, for wilderness, community, and the arts all weave into the signature of her work. Having spent decades on the West Coast, Terry currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio.

For more information, or to work with Terry, please visit: Terry Lilian Segal | United States | Meaningful Milestones
Music by Manpreet Kaur
This interview was conducted in 2019.

www.sacred-truths.com

Author J. Lee Graham

Tue, 12 May 2020 06:00:00 -0700

J. Lee Graham is the author of four novels for middle school readers including a trilogy: In the Nick of Time, The Time of His Life and All the Time in the World and The Sculptured Rocks. He is also the author of a young adult novel The Promise of Living. He is currently finishing his sixth novel entitled The Guardians. As a seeker of truth in story-telling, he engages and acknowledges the Joseph Campbell maxim of the hero’s journey and that essence permeates all of his novels. In his words, story-telling and mythology speak to all of us, and a mythic life is one worth living. He resides in Atlanta.

To order his books, either in paper or Kindle versions, please visit: https://www.amazon.com/J-Lee-Graham/e/B0059HRM00/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1

Or contact the author directly at: authorjleegraham@gmail.com

Music by Manpreet Kaur @manpreetkaurmusic

www.sacred-truths.com

Sam Hooper: Musician, Singer, Songwriter

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 06:00:00 -0700

Sam Hooper is an American musician from Cleveland, Ohio. His alluring blend of blues, rock, jazz and funk has thrilled audiences from China, Switzerland, Finland, Japan and the US. His soulful vocals have been compared to Otis Redding, while critics have likened his blistering guitar playing to Jimi Hendrix and Carlos Santana.

Hooper has released 5 CDs on the FBJoy Records label. His newest CD, "Sam Hooper and Mike Null -HOODOO BLUES" was the winner for 2015 BEST SELF_PRODUCED CD in the Cleveland Blues Society's annual International Blues Challenge competition.

He now performs in the Cleveland area with his band, SAM HOOPER GROUP. To find out more about Sam Hooper or to order CDs, please visit SamHooper.com.

This interview was conducted from his home in Cleveland, Ohio in 2019.

Music by: Manpreet Kaur @manpreetkaurmusic

www.sacred-truths.com

Master Astrologer Mary Kate Jordan

Tue, 14 Apr 2020 08:00:00 -0700

Master astrologer Mary Kate Jordan, once a student of renowned astrologer Alice O. Howell, has been in practice for over 40 years. She offers her work to the world from the Jordan Center for Creative Insight in western Massachusetts.

The core of her intention, Mary Kate says, is to help her clients wage inner peace and open the doors on which the fiercely compassionate Spirit of Joy is knocking. In addition to translating the symbolic soul-language of clients’ birth charts into useful English, she has developed Astro-Alchemy and Ancestral Patterns Astrology.

Astro-Alchemy combines her years of training and experience in astrology, hypnotism, shamanic counseling, and Buddhist studies into a modality of practical support for women and men on their own spiritual journeys. Mary Kate’s work with Ancestral Patterns Astrology helps people to embrace the strengths of the lineage lines which brought them to life, and to release the bonds of inherited burdens which they may have interpreted as their own.

Clients report that one of the benefits of working with Mary Kate is that they feel an ability to live more fully, productively, and mindfully than ever before. Find out more and contact information at thejordancenter.com.

Music by Manpreet Kaur, @Manpreetkaurmusic

www.sacred-truths.com

Woodstock: stories from local residents

Thu, 02 Apr 2020 10:00:00 -0700

In August 2019, Emmy Graham returned to her hometown to attend the 50th anniversary concert of the Woodstock Festival in Bethel, NY. In this episode, she talks to family members and friends regarding their experiences and shares her own impressions of what it was like to grow up in the place that held the famous Woodstock concert of 1969.

"...got teary eyed. So nostalgic and moving! So beautiful and well written and produced!" JL, Sydney, Australia

"This is sooo good! Awesome. So much here. History, fun, sad, personal but universal. The technical aspects of the podcast are great. Really clear and warm audio. Nice transitions. Fascinating that you grew up there. Your sense of loss upon returning really comes through. Resonates." DC, Ashland, OR

"I laughed, I cried, I laughed some more." JPG, Jeffersonville, NY

"All of your creations are top notch and deeply meaningful. Precious gifts." LD, York, ME