“It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell. “ Buddha
“Once you become yours, you can never be taken away from you ever again.” Bronx Warrior Goddess
It’s been quite awhile since I’ve done a podcast… lots have been going on… But now seems to be a good time… there’s nothing like the present! And there’s nothing like constant cancer diagnoses (or diagnoses of any illness) to really make you think about, look at and evaluate your life. At least that’s how it’s affecting me! Since I have no real clue as to how much time I have left on the planet, I want to share what I’ve learned and how I’ve lived most of my life… kind of literally… between Heaven and Hell. And how totransmute/transform/rebuild Hell into Heaven. Or at least try!! Believe that it can be done, and know that Spirit can lead us to Heaven while we’re still here on the planet. One of the ways I have found Heaven here onearth has been and still is, the fabulous friends I’ve had all my life! My beloveds have helped me live through and transform some hellish times into laughter, love, support, courage and kindness. I hope and pray that in some small way I have done that/am doing that for others!!! When I told my friend Bruce what I wanted to do, he told me about Persephone! The Goddess Persephone spent half of the year in the Underworld, and the other half of the year sowing the seeds of life. I totally relate to that! On some level, Heaven and Hell coexist. Out of Hell, we can choose to find/create/live/share Heaven, and that’s what I’ve tried to do all my life. More than my physical issues over these years, the most important part of this journey is my return to God on the deepest, most beautiful and healing level of trust and joy!!! I’m choosing tomove forward filled with Spirit and trusting the Universe to heal, protect and lead me on my best path.
Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads. Henry David Thoreau
"No matter what, always create beauty." Bronx Warrior Goddess
"Out of the darkest night can also come the brightest days
Out of the deepest pain can also come the greatest love
Out of the saddest time can also come the most joyful joy
Out of the greatest fatigue can also come the greatest strength
Out of overwhelming confusion can also come the most clarity.
Out of endless tears can also come endless laughter.
Out of total ugliness can also come the most incredible beauty."
Bronx Warrior Goddess
Because of several cancer diagnoses and dealing with “alternative” healing modalities that are not covered by insurance and are expensive… any help is greatly appreciated!!
“It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell. “ Buddha
“Once you become yours, you can never be taken away from you ever again.” Bronx Warrior Goddess
It’s been quite awhile since I’ve done a podcast… lots have been going on… But now seems to be a good time… there’s nothing like the present! And there’s nothing like constant cancer diagnoses (or diagnoses of any illness) to really make you think about, look at and evaluate your life. At least that’s how it’s affecting me! Since I have no real clue as to how much time I have left on the planet, I want to share what I’ve learned and how I’ve lived most of my life… kind of literally… between Heaven and Hell. And how to transmute/transform/rebuild Hell into Heaven. Or at least try!! Believe that it can be done, and know that Spirit can lead us to Heaven while we’re still here on the planet. One of the ways I have found Heaven here on earth has been and still is, the fabulous friends I’ve had all my life! My beloveds have helped me live through and transform some hellish times into laughter, love, support, courage and kindness. I hope and pray that in some small way I have done that/am doing that for others!!! When I told my friend Bruce what I wanted to do, he told me about Persephone! The Goddess Persephone spent half of the year in the Underworld, and the other half of the year sowing the seeds of life. I totally relate to that! On some level, Heaven and Hell coexist. Out of Hell, we can choose to find/create/live/share Heaven, and that’s what I’ve tried to do all my life. More than my physical issues over these years, the most important part of this journey is my return to God on the deepest, most beautiful and healing level of trust and joy!!! I’m choosing to move forward filled with Spirit and trusting the Universe to heal, protect and lead me on my best path.
Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads. Henry David Thoreau
"No matter what, always create beauty." Bronx Warrior Goddess
"Out of the darkest night can also come the brightest days
Out of the deepest pain can also come the greatest love
Out of the saddest time can also come the most joyful joy
Out of the greatest fatigue can also come the greatest strength
Out of overwhelming confusion can also come the most clarity.
Out of endless tears can also come endless laughter.
Out of total ugliness can also come the most incredible beauty."
Bronx Warrior Goddess
Because of several cancer diagnoses and dealing with “alternative” healing modalities that are not covered by insurance and are expensive… any help is greatly appreciated!!
“Beautiful are those whose brokenness gives birth to transformation and wisdom.” – John Green
"our greatest pain can become our greatest pleasure" Jada Kalika
Listen up and hear Jada Kalika talk about how digging into and working on our triggers and pain releases the beauty and joy that is also who we are. We can shine because we are worthy and that is our ultimate goal. It is in facing our darkness that we truly become and see our beauty and find our deepest pleasure. Hear Jada talk about facing her own darkness and the tools she uses to tranform and transmute the pain. We all have the opportunity to face whatever we need to face in that shadow, and be our truest selves. Let us tap into the full realization of our rainbow bodies, and find what is unresolved and what needs to be held and healed. As we embark on this sacred journey, we wake up to our inner healer and inner artist. We can and are transforming and creating a new and shining vision of ourselves and others.
Not only did Jada paint me... she also painted Cristina when she came to Las Vegas to visit me. Jada enhanced Cristina's Warrior Goddess beauty! I am so grateful!
To see all of Jada's many offerings, go to www:jada@wolfkin.ca
“Find a place inside where there’s joy, and the joy will burn out the pain.” – Joseph Campbell
“Art is a wound turned into light.” Georges Braque
Stay tuned for Podcast 23. Interview and conversation with Jada Kalika "The Art of Falling in Love with Yourself"
More great stories and interviews to come. No topic is off limits! So tune in and tap into your own Indomitable Spirit. And let's kick some ass! Please share, support and subscribe! Check out my book on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/4x5xmv8h and my podcasts on facebook at "Overcoming with MaddyG" and on Spotify at: https://open.spotify.com/show/6pJWCRjidpUNWlC8h1iZXw
“She is a wild, tangled forest with temples and treasures concealed within.”― John Mark Green
The divine masculine and divine feminine are far beyond our mistaken ideas of gender labels. Instead, it is a pathway to eternal bliss when harnessed in balance and harmony. We as humans are capable of channelizing the power of these sacred energies and create a place that defines humanity in its true spirit.” ~ Bhanushree Goyal
This is the first time I've interviewed two people at the same time! and I couldn't have chosen better than Jada and Jeff! Their individual and combined energy created an enlightening, healing and transforming experience. So Listen Up! Take this journey with them, as they talk about some personal experiences, working with our "shadow," and remembering who we actually are, always were, and always will be. As we remember who we are, we heal ourselves, each other and the planet at the highest, most sacred level. Be enchanted and inspired as Jada and Jeff guide us through this labyrynth of lies, pain and distortion we live in and we become more grounded and alive. With love at the center, we can remember how to connect with the kundalini energy that is truly in all of us and brings us back home to ourselves. We can be the change we want to see, and have the power to transform the world with integrity and hope. Jada and Jeff help us remember and reclaim our true Divinity. To learn more about Jada's offerings, her website is www.wolfin.ca and for Jeff's offerings, www.breatharmy.com.
“Spiritual maturity is about nurturing, honoring, and balancing both sides of your nature. And ALL men, women, and non-binary people/trans, possess both the masculine and feminine aspects inside. Ignoring, suppressing, demonizing, or treating one type of energy as “less than” another is immature and ultimately creates suffering. Don’t give fuel to your shadow self. Don’t perpetuate more division within this world. Learn how to awaken both types of energy within yourself in a healthy way.” ~ Aletheia Luna
Stay tuned for Podcast 22. Interview and conversation with Jada Kalika "Transforming Pain into Joy"
More great stories and interviews to come. No topic is off limits! So tune in and tap into your own Indomitable Spirit. And let's kick some ass! Please share, support and subscribe! Check out my book on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/4x5xmv8h and my podcasts on facebook at "Overcoming with MaddyG" and on Spotify at: https://open.spotify.com/show/6pJWCRjidpUNWlC8h1iZXw
“Originally and naturally, sexual pleasure was the good, the beautiful, the happy, that which united man with nature in general. When sexual feelings and religious feelings became separated from one another, that which is sexual was forced to become the bad, the internal, the diabolical.”― Wilhelm Reich, The Mass Psychology of Fascism
This is my second interview with my dear friend Jada Kalika and it really blew me away... and will do the same for you! Listen as Jada talks about how blending spirituality and sexuality is joyful, healing and transforming. The separation of spirituality and sexuality has torn us apart, detaching us from our true, powerful and beautiful selves. Learn how connecting to the internal serpent, the kundalini energy that is truly in all of us, brings us back home to ourselves. And each other. Sexuality is beautiful, sacred and connects us to the Divine. Take this journey with Jada as she enchants and inspires us to be the change want to see. We have the power to change the world from preying on each other to praying for each other with integrity and hope. To learn more about Jada's magical teachings and offerings, check out her website: wolfkin.ca. fawnkellyphotography. Photo credit
"Despite what you've been conditioned to believe, sexual desire is sacred and virtuous. When you and your beloved merge physically and emotionally, you go beyond the boundaries of the ego and experience timelessness, naturalness, playfulness and defenselessness."— Deepak Chopra
Stay tuned for Podcast 21. "Teachings about the Sacred Masculine and Divine Feminine" Interview with Jada Kalika and Jeff Sorenson of BreathARMY
More great stories and interviews to come. No topic is off limits! So tune in and tap into your own Indomitable Spirit. And let's kick some ass! Please share, support and subscribe! Check out my book on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/4x5xmv8h
“Let everything happen to you
Beauty and terror
Just keep going
No feeling is final”
― Rainer Maria Rilke
I'm in the very middle of some very "challenging" times in many ways. This is almost the seventh "anniversary" of Cristina's putting aside her sword in this life... and the pain of losing her is unbearable. At the same time, on so many levels. our relationship is stronger than ever!!! and as I've said, I know she's running the show. It is the incredible pain and fear in my life, and life in general, that has also given me the opportunity to discover and store up incredible beauty, joy and courage. Let's hold fast to the heroine and hero that is truly in all of us. No matter the circumstances.
“Fearlessness is the first requisite of spirituality. Cowards can never be moral.”
― Mahatma Gandhi
"Look to the nervous system as the key to maximum health." Galen
When most of us think of strength or weakness in our bodies we usually think about muscle strength or weakness. In reality, that is only part of the story. There is a much deeper connection between the mind, body and spirit that needs to be addressed in order to enhance our healing on every level. Our nervous system is actually our body's command center. Listen as Abby Haughness talks about her personal experience, education and ever expanding practice as a NET (Neuro Emotional Technique) technician. Learn how our nervous system affects every area of our lives. Relax and listen as we are guided into a richer deeper understanding of how to live to our true potential and tap into our own Inner Healerl! To learn more about this wonderful technique, check out: https://www.netmindbody.com/
“We look for the Secret – the Philosopher’s Stone, the Elixir of the Wise, Supreme Enlightenment, ‘God’ or whatever…and all the time it is carrying us about…It is the human nervous system itself.” ~ Robert Anton Wilson
Stay tuned for Podcast 19. Spirituality and Sexuality. Interview with Jada Kalika
More great stories and interviews to come. No topic is off limits! So tune in and tap into your own Indomitable Spirit. And let's kick some ass! Please share, support and subscribe!
Thank you for listening. Hear stories that are compelling, enlightening, challenging, and intertwined with world events. With every story, you will come away with hope, love, new outlooks on life and tips on how to overcome whatever comes your way. Telling stories is wired into our brains and how we live in community with each other. Never a dull moment. So listen up and lets kick some ass! Please share, subscribe and review. Check out my book on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/4x5xmv8h. Check out Spotify for this and all my podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/6pJWCRjidpUNWlC8h1iZXw and on Facebook "Overcoming with MaddyG"
“You are heir to a heavenly fortune, the sole beneficiary of an infinite spiritual trust fund, a proverbial goldmine of sacred abundance beyond all common measure or human comprehension. But until you assert your rightful inheritance of this blessed gift, it will remain unclaimed and forever beyond your reach.” – Anthon St. Maarten
Today is International Bereaved Mother’s Day! May 1, 2022. And today I’m publishing this podcast. May 1st has many meanings to me. Some very painful and some very beautiful. This is the story of my spiritual searching, growth and ultimate healing through Lord Goddess… the Essence of Love! Sit back, relax. Hear how Cristina led me to Lord Goddess and how when you’re at the very bottom of the very bottom, it’s through love that we can do the impossible. And not only overcome, but blossom into the fullness of who we truly are.
Stay tuned for Podcast 19. "Calming and Restructuring the Nervous System." Interview with Abby Haughness, Dr. of Physical Therapy
“Well," said Mary, "love is ferocious, too.”
― Philip Pullman, The Amber Spyglass
“The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function. One should, for example, be able to see that things are hopeless yet be determined to make them otherwise.” F. Scott Fitzgerald
More great interviews and stories to come! No topic is off limits! Please support, review and share. So tune in and tap into your own indomitable spirit! Lets kick some ass together! Check out my book on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/4x5xmv8h Love In Action. A Mother’s memoir and my podcasts on Spotify at https://tinyurl.com/3dueyrn5 and Facebook “Overcoming with MaddyG
“You’re not a victim for sharing your story. You are a survivor setting the world on fire with your truth. And you never know who needs your light, your warmth, and raging courage”. Alex Elle
This is being the hardest podcast I’ve done because I’m finally feeling and talking about what happened to me through everything with Cristina. And I’ve shed many tears in this process. In a way... also reliving everything... I have clearly needed to do this and I’m also very glad it’s done! As I’ve said, the podcasts are also doing me and this one definitely is. My book was more about Cristina. Her courage, warrior spirit and how she endured the unendurable. Now it’s time to tell my story!! I know doing this will help heal my broken heart and shattered nervous system. And I will move forward with more peace, now truly giving to myself all the love and compassion I sent out so willingly and endlessly to Cristina. I don’t know exactly where this will take me, but I trust someplace better, more free, joyful, radiating health, power and magic. It is also my honor to talk about the millions of other caregivers who have willingly, lovingly, courageously given everything to care for a loved one. As I share my story, I am more in touch with who I am and what I’ve done more than ever before in my life. I’m filled with gratitude, excitement and more passion for life. Thank you Cristina!
"Let Love be the Sweet Elixir that Awakens your Spirit and moves your Soul to Dance." Unknown
Stay tuned for Podcast 17. "Calming and Restructuring the Nervous System." Interview with Abby Haughness, Dr. of Physical Therapy
More great interviews and stories to come! No topic is off limits! Please support, review and share. So tune in and tap into your own indomitable spirit! Lets kick some ass together! Check out my book on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/4x5xmv8h Love In Action. A Mother’s memoir and my podcasts on Spotify at https://tinyurl.com/3dueyrn5 and Facebook “Overcoming with MaddyG
“Women have always cradled within their bodies secret mysteries of life, death, and rebirth and the healing, grounding, and balancing powers of our Mother in the Earth. We have held these mysteries sacred within us as we would carry babies in our wombs.”
― Elizabeth Eiler, Singing Woman: Voices of the Sacred Feminine
Take this journey with your Bronx Warrior Goddess as Fire Goddess Jada Fire, Dakshina Kalika shares her incredible stories, beginning with her intuitive calling to go to Australia for healing. This experience was the beginning of her life's study and work with indigenous cultures, nature studies and travels to sacred lands around the world. Jada's numerous gifts, talents and teachings span many areas including art, yoga, expressive yoga, dance medicine, fire dancing, healing herbs, and creating sacred space transmuting pain into beauty and joy. You will be fascinated, intrigued and enlightened as Jada talks about the shamanic healings she has experienced throughout her life. She shares her knowledge of how we can tap into our own Inner Healer and Power. As we love and honor ourselves, we love and honor the planet. We are inextricably connected. We need only open our hearts, minds and spirits and know that within us, as within the planet, there is healing, rejuvenation, hope and love. Jada talks about her primordial practices such as holding rocks, sending prayers to whatever healing herbs we use, being barefoot on the soil. She has created a Wellness Sanctuary and a performance troupe, Wolfkin, on her land in Canada and is in the process of creating a Primordial Mystery School. She has also recently been initiated as a Shamaness into the Medicine Wheel School. So sit back, relax or take a walk and listen as Jada shares her incredible journeys with us... and maybe find a rock that calls to you... let the earth nurture and heal you. Her website wolfkin.ca will soon be available, so stay tuned!
"Oma says, when we were put on earth a really long time ago, each person came with a plant to heal all the troubles that come later ... We've got Indian balsam, sage, wild rose. We've got juniper berries and honeysuckle. All of them do something different inside, heal things."- Author: J.J. Brown
Tune in soon to Podcast 16: "On Being a Caregiver. The Forgotten Survivors."
More great interviews and stories to come! No topic is off limits! Please support, review and share. So tune in and tap into your own indomitable spirit! Lets kick some ass together! Check out my book on Amazon: tinyurl.com/yv5nca8d. Also check out my past (and future) podcasts on https://tinyurl.com/3dueyrn5 and on Facebook at "Overcoming with MaddyG"
"Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes." Carl Jung
So many of us seek happiness, validation and self esteem from external sources. One never knows, however, when anything and everything can be taken away from us. It is imperative that we use whatever tools and teachers we can find that lead us to the path of awakening to our real selves. It is only when in balance that we can realize and recognize who we truly are and that our mind, body and spirit are one. We are interconnected with all that is, and it is in cultivating the stillness of the mind that we can be restored and renewed at the deepest level. This allows our inner radiance to shine through, find peace and connect with the specialness in all of us. As we tap into and experience our real power, we quiet the emotional clutter that creates blockages and pain. Close your eyes, relax and listen as Walter's energy and words inspire and lead us on the inward journey to love, tranquility and joy.
“you must want to spend the rest of your life with yourself first” ― Rupi Kaur, Milk and Honey
Tune in soon to Podcast 15: "Healing Ourselves and the Planet." Interview with Jada Fire, Dakshina Kalila
More great interviews and stories to come! No topic is off limits! Please support, review and share. So tune in and tap into your own indomitable spirit! Lets kick some ass together! Check out my book on Amazon: tinyurl.com/yv5nca8d. Also check out my past (and future) podcasts on https://tinyurl.com/3dueyrn5 and on Facebook at "Overcoming with MaddyG"
“Find a place inside where there’s joy, and the joy will burn out the pain.” – Joseph Campbell
I grew up in a world of pain, poverty and feeling like I didn't deserve anything but the misery I was surrounded with. Once I began to really feel this pain, I also realized how fabulous and magnificent I always was and am. On the other side of pain is awakening and transformation. I found that what was buried along with the pain, was my beauty, self-respect and self-love. I am finally now living my own life, filled with joy and gratitude. We all have different struggles, but no matter what, we can tap into our own inner healer/alchemist and rebuild ourselves into the beautiful beings we actually are. We can embody and live our truly sacred relationship with ourselves and others. Living our lives true to the core and heart of who we are. No longer riddled with self doubt, self sabatoge, and constant negative self talk.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgYczUH-QWQ
“Find out who you are and be that person. That’s what your soul was put on this Earth to be. Find that truth, live that truth, and everything else will come." Ellen De Generes
Tune in soon to Podcast 14: "Balancing Duality-Cultivating Inner Radiance." Interview with Walter Beckley, Mind Gym Breakthrough Leader
More great interviews and stories to come! No topic is off limits! Please support, review and share. So tune in and tap into your own indomitable spirit! Lets kick some ass together! Check out my book on Amazon: tinyurl.com/yv5nca8d. Also check out my past (and future) podcasts on https://open.spotify.com/show/6pJWCRjidpUNWlC8h1iZXw
“Instead of resisting any emotion, the best way to dispel it is to enter it fully, embrace it and see through your resistance.” – Deepak Chopra
Tune in and listen to Janet Bychek talk about what made her go into counselling, her personal life experience, and fabulous explanation of what EMDR is and does. She radiates kindness, intelligence and provides outstanding information. I am extremely grateful to her in every way.
Hear about what led me to EMDR and how much it helped me. EMDR has been a gift in helping me process the trauma I endured throughout my daughter’s battle with cancer and her ultimate death. More recently, it has also been extremely valuable in my understanding and reparenting of myself, as I’ve finally begun working on my childhood trauma. It is helping me to reclaim and recover who I actually really am. Identity built on trauma is like building a foundation on quicksand. It takes courage to feel your pain and rebuild, and it also takes courage to listen.
Please turn up the sound to hear Janet properly. There were some technical issues I could not resolve. While the sound quality might not be the best. The interview itself definitely is.
“When embraced and accepted, negative emotions can be a powerful catalyst to positive change in one’s life and can lead to a deeper feeling of meaning and authenticity.” – Dr. Paul TP Wong
Tune in soon to Podcast 13: "Healing Ourselves and the Planet." Interview with Jada Fire, Dakshina Kalika
More great interviews and stories to come! No topic is off limits! Please support, review and share. So tune in and tap into your own indomitable spirit! Lets kick some ass together! Check out my book on Amazon: tinyurl.com/yv5nca8d. Also check out my past (and future) podcasts on https://open.spotify.com/show/6pJWCRjidpUNWlC8h1iZXw
On a familial level, sustained ancestor work can help heal intergenerational patterns of family dysfunction. By working with spiritually vibrant ancestors, one can start to understand and transform patterns of pain and abuse, and gradually reclaim the positive spirit of the family.Jul 25, 2017
This is information I found when I started doing research for this podcast. I have clearly been guided and joined by my very, very vibrant ancestors in the effort to tell this astounding story. I am the last of my particular line and I feel the energy of all my ancestors living through me. There were so many lives unlived, traumatized and shortened. And all of us, working together, have created this miracle of beauty, gratitude and power. Cristina being the most dazzling jewel in our crown. With the intelligence of my grandmother, the beauty and stylishness of my mother and the warrior spirit of Cristina, I have been a change agent and helped heal and honor all the generations who came before us. I also feel immense compassion for all the generations before me, especially my mother and grandmother who had very little education and skills to cope in life. They were women who faced challenges I can only imagine and I know they are cheering me on. Cristina's life was cut short in the most painful and traumatic way, but she has made her presence well known in the six years since she passed. I can feel her enormous gratitude and love as she literally performed a miracle through me. And I will never be the same again. Just as traumatic experiences can be passed down from one generation to the next, it is also clear that there is an even stronger capacity for overcoming the trauma and building resilence, power and the ability to create miracles. Viktor Frankl called, “the uniquely human potential to transform personal tragedy into triumph.” This is what Cristina and I did. We transformed our suffering, and the suffering of the previous generations, into beauty, joy and love. So listen up and hear the Miracle that Cristina performed on November 16, 2021. Literally!
Tune in next week to Podcast 12: PTSD and EMDR. Moving Forward with Hope. Interview with Janet Bychek, Therapist LCSW
More great interviews and stories to come! No topic is off limits! Please support, review and share. So tune in and tap into your own indomitable spirit! Lets kick some ass together! Check out my book on Amazon: tinyurl.com/yv5nca8d. Also check out my past (and future) podcasts on https://open.spotify.com/show/6pJWCRjidpUNWlC8h1iZXw
“Believe in Your Heart. Believe in your heart that you're meant to live a life full of passion, purpose, magic and miracles.”
― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart
“The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not ‘get over’ the loss of a loved one; you will learn to live with it. You will heal and you will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again but you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same nor would you want to.” ~ Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler
Losing my daughter Cristina six years ago had and still has a profound effect on me. I am finally coming to grips with the fact that I know I will never be the same. However and thankfully, I know she is watching over me now and for that I am very grateful. I am also extremely grateful to my friend Bruce who has been a loving, compassionate support over these years and I have wanted to do this interview with him since I began these podcasts. His friendship and book have been a great source of healing and comfort. His poetry speaks to the heart and soul for those of us who have lost loved ones. And who hasn't lost a loved one sometime in their life? His words and heart help bring us together in community to share our grief, pain and the many difficult and unexpected emotions that can arise when we lose someone we love. In reality, grief isn't something you "get over," it's learning to live in a whole new way. On many levels, grief can be transformative as we integrate it, and recognize that is now a part of who we are. Losing someone, especially unexpectedly, makes us much more aware of how important the people in our lives are and has the potential to bring us closer together. Life is short and all we really have is each other. Loss underlines that reality in a way that’s just as beautiful as it is sad. For anyone who has lost a loved one, whether it was yesterday, ten years ago or knows someone who is grieving, I highly recommend reading Bruce's beautiful poetry book. Go to his website BruceSterlingLLC.com "Not Enough. Musings on Grief" There you will find comfort, beauty, solace and community.
Tune in next week to Podcast 11: Healing the Generations. Ageless and Timeless
More great interviews and stories to come! No topic is off limits! Please support, review and share. So tune in and tap into your own indomitable spirit! Lets kick some ass together! Check out my book on Amazon: tinyurl.com/yv5nca8d. Also check out my past (and future) podcasts on https://open.spotify.com/show/6pJWCRjidpUNWlC8h1iZXw
“To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.” ~ Thomas Campbell
Wrestling is overcoming obstacles. Every drop of sweat, every black eye, and every mile run reinforce that the will to train sets winners apart. Unknown
Take another journey with your Bronx Warrior Goddess and listen as Eric Miller, Head Instructor of KDC Martial Arts talks about his evolving relationship with Cristina, why he got into Martial Arts, and most especially, how to be, and what it means to be a Warrior in today’s world. And doing do this in every area of life, manifesting itself as integrity, determination, courage, and an unwavering zest for life. Hear how Cristina was renewed and rebuilt through her training with Eric. Cristina was my beloved daughter, and one of the many fun things we did throughout her life was wrestle with each other. It was fun, helped bring confidence, resilience, strength, agility and lots of laughter into our lives. I had no idea, in light of her battle with leukemia and the effects of the bone marrow transplant, that our wrestling in some ways, was also preparing her for what was to come. Eric helped uncover and reveal the shining diamond that had been buried under the pain and suffering of so many years. It was her martial arts training with Eric that truly brought forth the Warrior Cristina always actually was. The reality is, whether our struggles are in our personal, physical, professional, spiritual, or political lives, we are called on to be Warriors and our truest best selves. Being a Warrior means discipline, dedication and the integration of our physical, mental and spiritual aspects, all working together for healing, moving forward, and courageously facing whatever life throws at us. Exploring this unique side of ourselves is a means of helping to internalize mindfulness, while meeting life's challenges with an intensity of spirit that never wavers. So sit back, relax, and let Eric’s words and energy lift you up, soothe, inspire and educate you, always with love. Listen up and tap into your own Inner Warrior. It has been my honor and pleasure to do this interview with Eric. It has so warmed my heart and filled me with love and gratitude. And I know Cristina really enjoyed it too…
Tune in next week to Podcast 10: Beyond the Veil. An Interview with Bruce Sterling, Poet and Author of “Not Enough. Musings on Grief.”
More great interviews and stories to come! No topic is off limits! So tune in and tap into your own indomitable spirit! Lets kick some ass together!
"Let your plans be dark and as impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt." - Sun Tzu
“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” Maya Angelou
“And now, born from the ashes, she’s a warrior in bloodied black.” ― Amie Kaufman
Join me, your Bronx Warrior Goddess, as I take you on this intimate journey and we explore some issues I have struggled with my entire life; issues that were totally exacerbated by the illness and death of my daughter. While much of this story is personal, it is also true that most of us have experienced some type of adversity or trial at some point in our lives. We never know what life will throw at us. I never would have imagined that my daughter would be diagnosed with leukemia, or the hideousness of a trump presidency and a pandemic of epic proportions. And what do we do in light of circumstances that cause us pain, anger and suffering? I found that there is spiritual guidance and tools available to help us on the path to self discovery and healing. We don't only overcome, but we can also thrive, grow and become our own truest and best selves! I share the tools I’ve learned about and used to “start over,” to grow in self-love, rebuild, renew, and restore on every level. I am finally learning to rejoice and celebrate myself! To be, feel and acknowledge who and how I truly am. We can choose to let go of the past. It does not have to dictate the present or future. We can be, and are, our own Heroines and Heroes. This knowledge is a gift I will never let be taken away from me again. I’ve learned this late in life. But it’s never too late. Late bloomers bloom best! No matter where we are in our lives, we can always "start over." And, of course, deepest gratitude to my blessed friends and family, without whom this inward journey could never have happened! As one of us rises, all of us rise! We are all connected. So fasten your seatbelts! Let’s bloom, and laugh and cry together. Better Than Before!
Tune in next week to Podcast 9: Wrestlers and Warriors! An Interview with Eric Miller, Head Instructor. KDC Martial Arts
More great interviews and stories to come! No topic is off limits! So tune in and tap into your own indomitable spirit! Lets kick some ass together!
"Genuine fearlessness arises with the confidence that we will be able to gather the inner resources to deal with any situation that comes our way." Matthieu Ricard
"Make your life a story worth telling. You only get one shot at this existence, and one day when you’re gone the most important thing you’ll leave behind is the legacy of the life you lived. Make sure you make it is a story you’re proud to have others tell." Adam Braun
When I read “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” by Maya Angelou, it hit a very deep chord. I think that's some of the reason I wrote my book "Love in Action..." I needed to tell Cristina's and my story. I couldn't bear to keep holding it inside of me. Another story that I've really needed to tell, is about being in the Patriot Party, the Coalition with the Panther Party, and my friendships with Judy, Turco, and Paul. We were all war buddies at one of the most tumultuous times in this country and the world. To say it's a total honor and pleasure to culminate this series with Paul is nowhere near how grateful and proud I am. It's beyond anything I could have/would have imagined. But here it is! I learned alot about Paul... his view of our friendships when we were all in Baltimore, his background, experiences with the Panther Party, the community programs he initiated and worked on, and what he sees going forward in his life now as an elder. Paul just exudes kindness, courage, intelligence, and heart. He totally supported and encouraged me every step of the way to make this interview happen. Very grateful! So fasten your seatbelts!! enjoy, be inspired, educated, and of course, laugh and cry!
At the end of the interview I said that this was also to honor Judy and Turco. And that is absolutely true. But the reality is, it's also to honor all those who literally gave their lives and their freedom for something greater than themselvesI This series is a testament to the people and a movement that overcame incredible odds, facing constant repression, murder and incarceration. In the interview, Paul mentions Eddie Conway, who was Turco's cellmate in 1970 in Baltimore City Jail. Eddie was just released in 2014 after serving over 43 years in prison when a judge finally ruled the jury had been given improper instruction.
Tune in next week to Podcast 8:"Starting Over. Rebuilding, Restoring, Renewing. Surviving to Thriving. ACA and Meditation.
More great interviews and stories to come! No topic is off limits! So tune in and tap into your own indomitable spirit! Lets kick some ass together!
“No empire lasts forever, no dynasty continues unbroken. Some day, you and I will be mere legends. All that matters is whether we did what we could with the life that was given to us.”― Krishna Udayasankar, Three
"The truth is, that hole in your heart, exactly the same size and shape of your child, will never ever go away, but the love that oozes from it has more power to change the world than anything I’ve ever known.” Angela Miller
Take this journey with your Bronx Warrior Goddess and hear how my training and experience in the original Rainbow Coalition with the Panther Party gave me the courage, resilience and tools to help my daughter fight for her life in her battle with cancer. We were two warriors who struggled, cried, and laughed together as we overcame whatever was thrown at us. We faced overwhelming odds as Cristina and I stood up to the cancer treatment and its many consequences. I had to be Activist Mama and guard my daughter always. I was the Lioness at the door and also had to be all the love, beauty and joy possible in a world filled with only pain and uncertainty. This story illuminates incredible courage, resilience and grace, showing how a mother and daughter found light no matter the darkness, hope where there was none, and love when there was only terror and exhaustion. Watch Shirley MacLaine in "Terms of Endearment." This brief scene reminds me of exactly how I felt most of the time. And what I actually had to do sometimes. I wish she would have shared her academy award with me! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1AIroyiLEM.
Next week I will interview Paul Coates, the former Defense Captain of the Baltimore Branch of the Panther Party. This will be extremely interesting. Definitely tune in. So listen up! And let’s kick some ass!
Every moment is an organizing opportunity, every person a potential activist, every minute a chance to change the world. Dolores Huerta
“It is not necessary that you believe that the officer who choked Eric Garner set out that day to destroy a body. All you need to understand is that the officer carries with him the power of the American state and the weight of an American legacy, and they necessitate that of the bodies destroyed every year, some wild and disproportionate number of them will be black.” ― Ta-Nehisi Coates, Between the World and Me
Take this journey with your Bronx Warrior Goddess as you hear what happened to us in Baltimore, and the bonds of friendship that withstood extreme fear, danger, incarceration, and repression at every level. Judy, Turco and I had been in the Patriot Party/Rainbow Coalition where together we had faced much harassment by the police. We were also put in prison under martial law while living underground in Montreal. But it wasn’t until Baltimore that we felt the full and terrifying brunt of the brutality and intimidation tactics used by law enforcement. It was also a time when there was a huge campaign to destroy the Panther Party. Neutralizing and discrediting them in every way possible, when in fact, they were providing protection and much needed community services to very underserved neighborhoods. We were all war buddies, and the harassment only served to bring us closer and create unbreakable bonds that time, distance and even death cannot destroy. Next week you will hear how my training and experience with the Rainbow Coalition gave me some of the skills and courage to help me save my daughter's life in her battle with cancer. So listen up! Talk about Kicking some Ass!
There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship. Thomas Aquinas