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My guest today is Lynda Baldauf, co-founder of the Swedish dishcloth Three Bluebirds. With mindfulness, humility and an open heart, Lynda and her Finland-born husband Lasse, started their company in 2013. Their Eco-friendly cleaning cloth replaces paper towels, rags and sponges, absorbs 20 times its weight and lasts 6-9 months. The cloth is made in the US with sustainable wood pulp, certified organic cotton and water-based inks so they are 100% compost-able with zero waste.  You never know what a chance meeting will offer. I'm grateful that the stars aligned for me to meet Lynda in a crowded NYC holiday market; it was a gift to be in her kind presence and resonate with her positive energy. In addition to being inspired by Lynda's conscientious dish cloth, I was inspired by Lynda, as I learned about her life, her choices, her adventures and the grace and integrity infused in all she has experienced. I was delighted to meet this lovely woman, as well as incorporate a tangible product like Three Bluebirds Swedish dishcloth. Check out the Show Notes for a link to her website and join me in doing our part to protect and care for our planet.  Enjoy the podcast! Links: www.threebluebirds.com 

On this week's episode, I share a simple story that reminds us how much kindness matters. There is a powerful ripple effect in one small act of kindness. Genuine kindness aligns us with our true nature. It feels good to be both the giver and receiver of kindness. May this episode remind you that even in the midst of our chaotic current events, the simple act of kindness can move us to tears, water our souls, and help us be more fully present to what truly matters. Enjoy the podcast! 

On this week's episode, we celebrate our 400th episode. I acknowledge the key role as producer that my husband Paul plays. I am so grateful for all he does to help me develop, support and sustain this podcast dream of mine. I also celebrate the growing grassroots movement that rallied over 8 million people to show up for No Kings 3 Protest on March 28th. I share some of the lyrics sung in the singing resistance groups all across the land. The words capture what shores me up in these troubling times. As we celebrate 400 episodes, may we all find small and large ways to stand in solidarity with neighbors, friends, strangers… to lead with love, nurture compassion, protect each other, rise up, march for freedom, sing resistance and fight for justice. Enjoy the podcast! 

My guest today is Sheri Reuveni-Ulrich. Sheri had been a speech therapist for nearly 25 years with special needs individuals, primarily on the autism spectrum. She also had a love for baking and often incorporated baking as an experiential activity for her students. Her "ah ha" moment occurred when she stepped back from the kitchen and witnessed her non-verbal students humming, laughing and finding their voices, while baking cookies. That ignited her desire to create a bakery, where she could provide meaningful employment to individuals on the spectrum.  Rising Above Bakery, started in Sheri's home, is now a hidden gem in Nyack and Sheri hopes to expand to locations in Bergen County, NJ. Become a customer, a volunteer or open an account to supply their delicious, high quality, baked goods in your deli, grocery, restaurant or coffee shop. Sheri is also demonstrating that individuals on the spectrum can be reliable, engaged employers. Help the bakers, Sheri and their dreams rise above their challenges.  Check out the Show Notes for links to Rising Above Bakery and Sheri's email. She is looking for supporters in variety of ways. Enjoy then podcast! Links: www.risingabovebakery.org  IG: risingabovebakery FB: Rising Above Bakery Email Sheri

On this week's episode, I explain the importance of Saturday March 28th's No Kings 3 Protest. Research says that if 3.5% of the population actively participate in sustained peaceful protest, the people can topple an authoritarian regime. And we have an authoritarian regime that desperately needs to be toppled! 3.5% of our country's population would be 12 million people.  Let's show up and peacefully take to the streets and encourage everyone we know to come be a part of the 12 million people, gathering in solidarity to unite, resist, and restore our democracy. Check out the Show Notes for links to NoKings.org to find an event near you as well as links to Robert Reich's IG clip that I transcribed and key grassroots groups Indivisible, HandsOff, MoveOn, Womens March and 50501, all helping to organize our inspiring resistance movement. Enjoy the podcast!  Links: No Kings 3 Website IG: @rbreich indivisible.org/ indivisiblerockland.org/ www.handsoffnyc.com front.moveon.org/ www.fiftyfifty.one/ womensmarch.com/

On this week's episode, I build on the poem I shared last week titled Because by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer. The poem is about opening our hearts, even when the world around us temps us to close it or protect ourselves from all the anguish and pain. The poem encourages us to make love matter even when it is easy to fall into despair. I've let that poem seep into me and it inspired me to look up more pieces on heart centering and tenderness. May we sit at the altar of our heart. May we breathe deeply, listen compassionately. May we embrace the tenderness that tunes us into our truth, the tenderness that frees us, the tenderness that blesses our aliveness. Check out the show notes for links to Wendy Heckert's Heart Space: A Meditation Poem as well as Mark Nepo's  short essay This Tenderness. Enjoy the podcast!  Links: Heart Space by Wendy Heckert This Tenderness by Mark Nepo

I share a deeply inspiring poem on this week's episode. My niece shared the poem with me and her great-uncle shared it with her and he claims that the poem so beautifully captures his beloved wife who died last year. So this poem is charged with loving hands, open hearts and wisdom from this world and beyond.  May we take love seriously. May we give love wildly. May we be gentle with our insufficiency. May we stay open in the face of indifference, anger, cruelty and fear. May we love as if love matters, as if the world depends on it. Enjoy the podcast! Links: Meet Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer

On this week's episode, I describe how soothed I was by the shades of turquoise in the Bahamas. For twelve days on a small island in the Bahamas, these gorgeous colors evoked mystery, boldness, vibrancy and calm. I can't explain why, but turquoise nourished and healed my body, mind and spirit.  May we hold onto to colors, images and words that calm our nervous system, quiet our minds and drop us more fully into the present moment. May we envision life as joy. May we see that life is service. May we behold that service is joy.  Enjoy the podcast!

My guest today is Arianna Injeian. And what an honor to shine light on Arianna, who is shining light on so many others; what an inspiring woman! Her background in Medical Anthropology, Sociology, and Public Health allows her to look at systemic health, particularly in the area of women's reproductive care. In undergraduate school, she started off with a dual major in anthropology and biology. Her love for travel and learning about other people and cultures, brought her to a masters program at the University of Amsterdam, where she had another dual major: medical anthropology and public health.  She is currently at the University of Alabama in yet another dual degree program, for a Masters in Public Health (which she recently completed) and a Ph.D. in Bio-Cultural Medical Anthropology. Her dissertation is a comparative analysis of reproductive health and fertility care in both Alabama and Argentina. Arianna has completed her course work, along with her research in Alabama and is now spending 6 months in Argentina. I learned so much from Arianna, her dedication to honor the lived experiences of women, her advocacy of reproductive justice, her determination to explore what can be done despite many obstacles, and her commitment to collaborative care. I finished our conversation deeply moved by Arianna, the wisdom and passion she brings to her meaningful work; I literally felt grateful that Arianna exists on the planet at this time!  Check out the Show Notes for links to Arianna's proposal that won her a NSF grant to continue her dissertation research, the book I referenced "No Woman Left Behind" by Kate Grant and Kate's organization the Fistula Foundation. Enjoy the podcast! Links: National Science Foundation NFS Award Details Fistula Foundation "No Woman Left Behind" by Kate Grant 

My guest today is LoraKim Joyner, a passionate protector of parrots, who knows that the health of one is interconnected to the health of all beings. LoraKim received her B.S in Avian Sciences, her Doctorate in Veterinarian Medicine, a Masters in Preventive Veterinary Medicine, which led to meaningful work in bird conservation throughout Central and South America. Years later she saw the need to address human well-being and obtained her Masters in Divinity and was ordained a Unitarian Universalist minister and became certified in NonViolent Communication.  LoraKim's expansive experience covers, bird education, research and conservation, parish ministry, co-founder of the non-profit organization One Earth Conservation and leading transformational projects in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Guyana, Suriname and Paraguay. Her mission and motto is "Unconditional Solidarity" with the acronym U.S., which  reflects that it takes all of us to protect parrots, protect people and protect our planet! Get a literal and figurative bird's eye view of LoraKim's multi-species ministry, community collaborations, and nurturing nature approach where she honors the inherent worth, dignity and needs of all individuals, while she spends the months of March and April in Honduras. There she will be supporting the efforts of the local people who are trying to save their forests and birds from poaching and abuses. Support her inspiring efforts to protect their natural resources by holding the government accountable. Check out the Show Notes for links to One Earth Conservation where you can donate, follow the live-steam, and share on social media to spread the word of Joyner's heart and mind opening work. While exploring additional ways to get involved, on the site of One Earth Conservation, also check out the list of books written by Joyner.  Enjoy the podcast!!  Links: GoFundMe Solidarity Campaign www.oneearthconservation.org/ [email protected]

My guest today is Pascale Jean-Gilles. Pascale and I bumped into each other last week at two local events: a high school student-led protest in solidarity with Minneapolis in our town and at the County Legislature Building with hundreds of people showing up to support the "Safety and Dignity for All ACT", a bill to ensure guardrails with ICE agents in our county. Having known Pascale since she was 2 years old, it was a pure delight to reconnect with her and learn about who she is as a thoughtful, compassionate, dedicated young woman.  Pascale is Chief of Staff for NY State Representative, Mary Jane Shimsky, District 92, as well as an elected Trustee and Deputy Mayor for the Village of Nyack. She is invested in local politics, personal growth and cares deeply about meeting the needs of her community. I loved hearing what influenced Pascale to go to law school, the lessons she learned about her NJ clerkship in criminal court, her experience as communications director, campaign manager and director of outreach for an assemblywomen and a state senator.  It's refreshing to meet a trustworthy young person who see politics as a tool to advocate for basic human rights for all people. Check out the Show Notes for links to Indivisible Rockland and Pascale's email. Enjoy the podcast!  Links: www.Indivisiblerockland.org [email protected]

On this week's episode, I propose that mea culpa is a good place to start as we honor Black History Month. The Latin phrase mea culpa is an exclamation of apology or remorse, admitting that one has caused harm. For true racial healing to happen in this country, I long for us to own up to the threats, controls and discrimination embedded in our country's systems. I am relieved to notice more white people expressing their own forms of mea culpa, as they are dedicated to learning, open to admitting harm, and willing to take responsibility. That feels like a meaningful way to celebrate Black History Month. Check out the Show Notes for links to Marianne Williamson's proposal for reparations as well as an insightful IG account from Kellie Snider, an older white woman, who reminds white people to remain curious and disciplined in our current political climate.  Enjoy the podcast!  Links: Marianne Williamson talks about reparations IG: @kelliesnider.art

My guest today is Beth Ellen Adubato. I met Beth last month and was so impressed with her background and dedication to making a positive impact in the world. From her own personal experience of being sexually assaulted in college, Beth has championed women's issues for decades and created an organization that supports women of domestic violence. She has been a journalist, researcher and professor of criminal justice, at both Saint Peter's University and Rutgers University, training her students to be critical thinkers, who care for others with empathy.  Beth now feels compelled to serve her state on a larger scale and is running for Congress in New Jersey District 7. Her run for Congress reflects her values, determination and strength, embodying what it means to be a courageous leader who speaks the truth and stands up to injustice. I am so grateful that someone with Beth's experience wants to throw her hat in the political ring. If you live in NJ-7 or know people who do, please share Beth's info and let's support someone with this rich experience and integrity to be voted into Congress.   Check out the Show Notes for links to Beth's website, her L.I.N.D.A. Organization and her email. Perhaps you want to host a meet and greet and/or encourage others to do so. Enjoy the podcast!  Links: www.beth4nj.com www.wearelinda.org [email protected] [email protected]

On this week's episode I honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and celebrate this inspiring civil rights leader and his work for racial equality and social justice. I feel it's imperative to be reminded who Martin Luther King, Jr. was and what he fought for, particularly amidst our current toxic atmosphere of erasure. I highlight 10 significant facts about Dr. King, and play an audio clip of what Dr. King had the audacity to believe. It moved me deeply, as a child, to hear Dr. King speak and now 60 years later, I marvel at how poignantly his words resonate for us at this moment in time.  May we reflect today on King's legacy. May Dr. King's sacred activism, motivate us to stand up for justice. May we carry on his inspiring work to invest in treating Black Americans, Native Americans and all our immigrant brothers and sisters with equity and dignity. Happy MLK Day!!!  Enjoy the podcast!  Links: The King Center 10 Facts About Martin Luther King

On this week's episode, I describe the word Justice that I've chosen for 2026. I want this word to be integrated into my thoughts, words and actions this year. I want justice to guide me, inspire me, and empower me to advocate for fairness, accountability, and restorative relationships. Yes, I will start with myself, but, oh how I want to live in a world where justice is upheld and can radiate throughout this country.   May 2026 be a year where injustices are no longer tolerated and people are held accountable for their dehumanizing behavior. May we work in solidarity to cultivate social justice, racial justice, economic justice, criminal justice and climate justice! What word have you chosen to for guidance and growth? May your 2026 word enlighten, uplift and inspire you. Enjoy the podcast!