An Interview with Dermot Givens

This week I sat down with with social justice activist and lawyer, Dermot Givens. We dug deep on current topics, his life journey, and shared a phenomenal dialogue about issues that are prevalent in society today.

Dermot has been an activist his whole life and is also a member of the Black Lives Matter Justice League. He is the first and only lawyer in CA to win a criminal case defending a Black Lives Matter activist. 

Here are some of my favorite questions Dermot answered during his in-depth interview: 

1. Is it possible to have a fair trail? 
2. What is the Black Lives Matter Justice League?
3. What is a person's reaction, when they are serving a life sentence, and they first hear they have been given parole? (Dermot helps people with life sentences receive parole).
4.  What legal advice do you have for activists? 
5.  Do you have any legal advice for entrepreneurs who are getting started? 
6.  What is a plea bargain and what is its relationship to the prison industrial complex? 

LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW AS A PODCAST.

ALSO LISTEN ON ITUNES.

We Celebrate! 5 Things To Celebrate

It's celebration time! On one of our previous episodes this month, we talked about 5 ways to fast in honor of Ramadan. If you missed that episode, check it out here.

To commemorate our completion of fasting, let's celebrate! Here are 5 things I suggest you celebrate:

1. Your Accomplishments. You'd be surprised how many of our accomplishments we have forgotten, downplayed, or breezed by.  Take the time to celebrate your personal #Wins and they will become fuel for your journey. 

2. Your Affirmations. I keep a journal of affirmations people have shared with me.  When I need a reminder of who I am and why I'm here, I read through my affirmation journal.  Let us resist minimizing the moments we are affirmed and instead, celebrate them!

3.  Your Gratitudes. Gratitudes are a game changer!  Celebrate that which you are grateful for and you will take control of your mindset, perspective, and emotions.  Plus, its fun! 

4.  Your Failures. What?! Yup, that's right! In every moment we are deciding, "what does this mean?"  By celebrating your failures, you define it, rather than it defining you.  Instead of, "it's over and I suck." Failure can mean: "I am innovative, I am pushing past all limitations, and I am bold!"  Celebrate it!

5.  What Brings You Joy. Celebrate what brings you joy!  Is it re-reading the Harry Potter series? Snuggling on the couch and watching your favorite show?  Sleeping in?  Cooking?  Creating art? Cleaning the house?  Meeting up with friends? Calling your mom? Whatever it is, find time this month to CELEBRATE IT!  Indulge in what brings you joy without guilt.  This is what balance looks like! 

I had a blast recording this episode!  Start the celebration!

You can also listen to this EPISODE AS A PODCAST BELOW OR ON ITUNES.

Bonus Episode - Live and Online: Expression Session Replay

This week is a bonus episode!  As a celebration of this extra Friday in June, I'm sharing a replay of last week's Live and Online: Expression Session. 

For those who haven't been able to attend, now is your chance!  

This week's Expression Session Replay Includes:

1. An interactive writing workshop. 
2. Experience the group poem that was created. 
3. Listen to the free write everyone created.

All replays of the Live and Online: Expression Session are available to Art Makes Impact Members. 

Not a member yet?  Learn more here. 

This episode is also available as a podcast. Listen below or on iTunes.

Live and Online: Expression Session - June Edition (Featuring Nia Malika Dixon!)

Live and Online: Expression Session is a monthly writing workshop which culminates in a featured performance by an internationally recognized artist. For this month, we're happy to present the Writer - Producer - Director: Nia Malika Dixon! 

Register Here

Nia and I had a great time recording her interview for T.H.E. Celebration.  We got deep during this one, covering conversations on love, vulnerability, fear, getting out of the box, and the impact of storytelling. 

Here's some of my favorite questions that Nia brilliantly responded to: 

1. What is your definition of love?
2. What is a story that has impacted your life? 
3. What is resiliency and what is healing? 
4. Can you expand upon what you mean by, "I'm a 21st century century griot trying to get the narrative of the Black Muslim Women out there."
5. What have been some landmarks and crossroads on your journey to?

Plus, Nia reads poetry from her soon to be released book, A Notebook for Heartbreak.  Yes! 

Experience some love and expression, join us this Sunday and check out Nia's interview. 

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

5 Things to Fast From

During this month of Ramadan I am fasting for 30 days. There are many spiritual and health benefits to fasting. But sustaining from food and water aren't the only ways to fast. 

On this episode, I invite you to consider fasting from five things:

1. Comparison
2. Control
3. Social Media  
4. Self-Doubt
5. Over-Achieving 

For each of these, just picking 1 day a week or 1 day a month to fast, can have a positive impact on our lives. Consider it :). 

Hear about the reasons why, tips for getting started, and enjoy some fun stories I share. All this and more, in this week's episode of T.H.E. Celebration. 

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE AS A PODCAST.

ALSO LISTEN ON ITUNES.

An Interview with Imam Daayiee Abdullah!

This week I had the chance to interview the renowned Muslim leader Imam Daayiee Abdullah. This was an amazing opportunity that I am happy to share with you!

In our interview, Imam Daayiee shared his unique and extraordinary experience and pathway to Islam, as well as his culminating work on Islam, sexual orientation, gender, diversity, inclusion, and the founding of Mecca Institute. We also talk about: 'What is Ramadan and where does it come from?' 

Check out Imam Daayiee's website here: daayiee.net

I was inspired by many of the valuable things said in our talk. This is something that you don't want to miss!

CHECK OUT OUR INTERVIEW BELOW!

listen to THE INTERVIEW AS A PODCAST.

ALSO LISTEN ON ITUNES.

Don't Believe Everything You Think

An area I am inviting balance is in my thoughts.  Have you seen the bumper sticker, "Don't believe everything you think"? Like the movement of ocean currents, we have thought currents that we can be swept along by.  Leaving us over our head before we recognize what happened. That why, in this episode we explore:

  1.  When you're caught in these riptide currents of your mind, how do you get out?  
  2. How do you become the observer rather than just being dragged along by anything that comes into your mind?

And I share with you:

  1.  3 thought patterns to be aware of
  2.   3 ways to break a pattern and shift your energy

This episode is really helpful for those seeking to have positive self-talk and to move past anxiety and self-doubt.  

watch or check it out AS A PODCAST BELOW.

also listen to the episode on itunes.

Live and Online: Expression Session - May Edition (Featuring Forressa Harrison)


Live and Online: Expression Session is a monthly writing workshop which culminates in a featured performance by an internationally recognized artist. For this month, we're happy to present spoken word poet and artist, Forressa Harrison!

REGISTER HERE

As my friend and one of the coolest poets around, Forressa sat down with me for an interview before the main event. Forressa is a woman of many hats including being a poet, musician, singer, artist, and entrepreneur. She performs her work all around Texas and is a Poetry Slam champion.

We discussed the passion of poetry and what it can mean to the poet and to the audience. Forressa also shared some of her beautiful work with me as well. Join in this month for much inspiration and deep expression!

HERE'S THE INTERVIEW:


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

What Do You Really Want?

One way I am finding balance is by asking: What do I really want? In the past, I have confused the small tasks on the to-do list as the mission. Even those rare times I would complete my million to-dos I would still be left with that feeling of standing still. More often though, I wouldn't be able to finish everything on my list and would feel like I was constantly chasing a runaway train. 

Shifting my focus from to-dos to outcomes has been an impactful and liberating shift in focus. With a to-do, there is only one path to completion - checking it off the list. With an outcome - there are unlimited paths to success. 

Here's the steps I always start with:

1. What do I really want? This is my outcome/target.
2. Why do I want it? This is my purpose/passion.

By creating a target (what do I really want?) I now have direction. By creating a purpose (why do I want it?) and writing it down, I now have a purpose, passion, and fuel that drives me. 

WATCH OR LISTEN TO THIS WEEK'S EPISODE AS YOU START TO THINK ABOUT "WHAT DO I REALLY WANT?"

OR CHECK IT OUT ITUNES.

An Interview With My Dad!

I'm so excited that my dad, Tom Earl Sr., joined me for an interview this week!  My dad and I have a special relationship that I am so grateful for.  Not only is he my dad, but he is also my friend, my mentor, an inspiration, and one of my heroes. 

My dad is super humble, so let me brag for a second: he's a self-taught artist and landscape architect, a Vietnam veteran, he raised my oldest sister as a single dad, he started his own business back before it was cool to be an entrepreneur, and he's my dad :).

It took me over a year to convince my dad to do this interview.  And it was well worth the wait.

On this week's episode: My dad shares some cool stories about my childhood and what it's like to be my dad. We also talked about his own personal life journey. Dad imparted some great knowledge about life, entrepreneurship, being unafraid of failure, following passions, and never giving up.

Check out this very personal conversation between my dad and I!

LISTEN TO THe Interview AS A PODCAST BELOW!

OR CHECK IT OUT ITUNES.