Live and Online: Expression Session - March Edition (Featuring Shelby Birch)

Live and Online: Expression Session is a monthly writing workshop which culminates in a featured performance by an internationally recognized artist.  This month, we’re excited to present Shelby Birch as our feature!

In anticipation of the event, Shelby joined me for an interview.  We talked all about her journey as a poet, her new book Lit, and of course, she spit some of her poems!

We went into depth about her ideas on love, womanhood, Blackness, awkwardness, and heartbreak. I can’t even describe how much fun this was. Tune in and get inspired!

For this week's Free Gift, Shelby is sharing a chapter from her fantastic new book Lit! To download it, click here or below.

HERE'S THE INTERVIEW:

Or LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW AS A PODCAST BELOW OR ON ITUNES.

Listen to "T.H.E. Celebration With Special Guest: Shelby Birch" on Spreaker.

Expression Session: Responses and Creative Action on Islamophobia

This is a replay of the Expression Session Writing Workshop that took place on February 22, 2017. The program was sponsored by the California State University, Dominguez Hills Multicultural Affairs.

It was co-facilitated by Ramy Eletreby who is a queer Muslim Arab-American writer, performer, educator-facilitator in Los Angeles, California. Ramy’s writings have appeared on The Huffington Post, Queerty, KCET, and the award-winning blog Love Inshallah. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter at @dramarams to stay in the loop!

This writing workshop focused on creating a safe space to process and express on islam, islamophobia, community, and what we are feeling

Host: 
Tom Earl: Musician & Poet, CEO of Tom Earl Artist and Founder of T.H.E. Celebration Academy

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T.H.E. Celebration With Special Guest: Terna

This week, I had the pleasure to host a phenomenal and in depth interview with the amazing Terna, of (among many things) Coming Out Muslim. We had a deep dialogue with all about her insights and relationships with education, Islam, sexuality, health, healing, and self-care!

Terna is a Nigerian/ Liberian/American artist, facilitator and healer. She holds an MA in Counseling Psychology and Global Mental Health, and graduate degrees in International Conflict Analysis and Teaching.  She has worked as a public school teacher in New York, at the United Nations, and currently works to help survivors of homicide and victims of community violence.

Terna is also the co-writer of Coming Out Muslim: Radical Acts of Love,  which captures stories and experiences of being at the intersections of Islam and queerness and its relationship to family, lovers, one’s sense of self and relationship with our faith.

Get ready to be absolutely enthralled!

This interview is always available as a podcast!

Listen to "A Talk With Terna" on Spreaker.

Prefer to listen on iTunes?

Town Hall Dialogue on #MuslimBan, #TravelBan, #KnowYouRights

This is a replay of the Live and Online Town Hall Dialogue that took place on February 8th, 2017. The program was sponsored by the California State University, Dominguez Hills Multicultural Affairs. 

Panelists: 
Hassan Shibly is a civil rights attorney, activist, and Executive Director of CAIR Florida. Contact: facebook.com/hshibly or www.cairflorida.org.

Aziza Hasan: Is the Executive Director of NewGround: A Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change. Contact: www.mjnewground.org.

Host: 
Tom Earl: Musician & Poet, CEO of Tom Earl Artist and Founder of T.H.E. Celebration Academy. 

Live and Online: Expression Session - February Edition (Featuring Ebony Payne-English)

Live and Online: Expression Session is a monthly writing workshop which culminates in a featured performance by an international recognized artist.  This month we are blessed to have Ebony Payne-English as our feature!

Click here to register!

In anticipation of the event, Ebony joined me for an interview.  She shared her writing journey, what motivates her, and performs 3 poems. 

For your free give-away for this episode, Ebony shared with us 3 of her favorite writing prompts.  To download it, click here or below.

Here's the interview:

You can also listen to the interview as a podcast below or on iTunes.

Listen to "Expression Session Featuring Ebony Payne-English" on Spreaker.

T.H.E Celebration With Special Guest: Leah Williams

This week we have special guest: Leah Williams, joining us at T.H.E. Celebration.  Leah is a Spelman College Graduate with a B.A. in Economics, a passionate advocate for social justice, and a powerful role model of inclusive leadership.   

I first met Leah while I was serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA at Community Tampa Bay.  She was the president of the youth leadership program (F.L.Y.) that I was facilitating.  The last time Leah and I spoke she was just graduating High School!  Not only did I enjoy catching up, but I also learned a lot from Leah’s insights and the stories she shares during this interview.  

You will walk away feeling inspired and empowered!   

Bonus: Click here for this episodes FREE give-away! The List of Leah’s Top 5 Favorite Books. 

This episode is also available as a podcast:

Listen to "Special Guest: Leah Williams" on Spreaker.

Prefer to listen on iTunes? 

The Spark Within

Inside all of us is a Spark.  Inside all of us is Greatness.  Inside all of us is a Giant.  Inside all of us is a Choice - do we tap into our inner power or let it remain dormant?

How do we do that? Activate our strengths? Translate potential into action? Manifest our visions into reality? These are the questions that I LOVE exploring.

One of my biggest “ahas” on that learning journey is: BIG Transformations come through small, everyday actions and decisions.  It’s like stepping into the fog, and then coming back inside and realizing, “Oh my gosh! I’m wet.”  We often don’t see the incremental changes taking place until, all of a sudden, we look around and realize we are living the life we envisioned!  

Check out this week’s video to learn 3 of my favorite micro-adjustments!

This weeks podcast takes a deeper dive!

Plus, I share the 4 things I do every night before bed. It has had a HUGE impact on my life.

Listen to "The Spark Within" on Spreaker.

Or listen to this podcast on iTunes!

Want to take massive action and boost your productivity?

Sign up for T.H.E. Achievement Roadmap.  I designed this FREE 3 Part Course to empower you with the tools, mindsets, and latest research for: achievement, stress-management, and confidence.  

Live and Online: Expression Session - January Edition

Live and Online: Expression Session is back!  Our next session is on Sunday, January 22nd at 12 PM PST - 2 PM PST (That’s 3 PM - 5 PM if you’re on the east coast).  

Click here to register!

Our feature is the amazing, the brilliant, the coolest: Xavier CoolKid.  In anticipation of his feature, Xavier joined me for an interview.  In addition to performing 3 powerful poems, he shared many insights into his creative journey and process.

Here's the interview:

Or listen to the interview as a podcast:

Listen to "Live and Online: Expression Session Featuring Xavier CoolKid" on Spreaker.

Click here to listen to it as an iTunes podcast. 

Momentum, Accuracy, and Power! (Inspired by a Soccer Coach's Wisdom)

I love running in parks!  Not only am I inspired by nature but also by the people around me.  For instance, the other day I heard a soccer coach tell his team:

“Momentum is Power.”

He was teaching them about soccer but I immediately began to apply it to leadership.  Before I could finish my thought, I heard him clarify:

“Accuracy is greater than power.”

By this point, I was thinking, “Wow! Middle school soccer coaches are the best!” Throughout the rest of my run, I kept turning these two points over in my mind.  By the end, I had developed three takeaways.

This week's 'Year of Expression' breaks down how Momentum, Accuracy, and Power apply to our Leadership!

Here's the three Take-a-ways:

1. Momentum is the action we take towards a goal, vision, or dreams.
2. When we are stuck, momentum is what gives us our power.
3. Intentions and strategy are the ‘accuracy’ that creates focus rather than just powering through.

For a deeper dive, listen to this week's podcast!  It covers the same subject but goes more in depth.

Listen to "Momentum, Accuracy, and Power (Inspired by a Soccer Coach's Wisdom)" on Spreaker.

You can also listen on iTunes.