Gratitude Blooming Podcast

Send us a textEver sailed the tumultuous river of life transition, armed with nothing but hope and gratitude? Welcome to the journey of our guest, Charlie Koch, who transforms his life's transitions into opportunities of growth and awakening. Through his weekly family meetings, Charlie discovered the power of Gratitude Blooming, a practice that not only helped him navigate through life's ups and downs but also laid the foundation for an active, empowering life. Harnessing the power of gratitude, Charlie shares how he found a way to explain infinite possibility to a 6-year-old and illustrates the flow of time and possibilities using a riveting river metaphor.From a passive life, Charlie takes us through his transformation to an active life, using his life transitions as a springboard. He divulges his strategies for introspection and way-making, reminding us of the importance of accepting and acknowledging our emotions, even during times of transition. By building his proverbial raft and identifying core values, he illustrates how we could ride the waves of change with grace and resilience. As we paddle down the river with Charlie, we embrace the unknown, the possibilities it offers, and the vulnerability it exposes. Remember, it's not just about navigating the river, it's about enjoying the raft ride of life's transitions with a dash of humility, courage, and of course, gratitude.--- Create an intentional practice with your own Gratitude Blooming card deck, notecards, candle and much much more at our shop at www.gratitudeblooming.com. Learn more about our co-hosts and special guest for Season 4: Co-host Belinda Liu | Hestia Retreat Centers Co-host Omar Brownson | Trickster's Guide to Immortality on Substack Special Guest Dr. Paul Wang | The Dao CenterIf you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star rating and review. Your feedback is valuable to us and helps us grow. Share your thoughts and comments by emailing us at hello@gratitudeblooming.com. We love hearing from our listeners!

Send us a textWhat if you could harness the power of sound and nature to experience true coherence in your life? Join us as we celebrate the release of our new album, The Garden of Joy, and discuss our unique collaboration with the Japanese American National Museum and the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy. We share our journey from spring to summer, exploring adaptive leadership, building team culture, trust, vulnerability, and even touching on a tea ceremony in the Bay Area.In this season of renewal, discover the importance of creating space for coherence and community. Learn how connecting with nature and others can help you develop a practice of non-attachment and find your groove. Get inspired by an upcoming art exhibit that fosters deeper connections with nature, and hear about the power of creating objects that embody the human touch. --- Create an intentional practice with your own Gratitude Blooming card deck, notecards, candle and much much more at our shop at www.gratitudeblooming.com. Learn more about our co-hosts and special guest for Season 4: Co-host Belinda Liu | Hestia Retreat Centers Co-host Omar Brownson | Trickster's Guide to Immortality on Substack Special Guest Dr. Paul Wang | The Dao CenterIf you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star rating and review. Your feedback is valuable to us and helps us grow. Share your thoughts and comments by emailing us at hello@gratitudeblooming.com. We love hearing from our listeners!

Send us a textWhat happens when we shift our focus? Join us on this experimental journey as we kick off season three of the Gratitude Blooming podcast with artist Arlene Kim Suda, and embark on a new adventure that might even lead to a retreat with fellow Gratitude Blooming guests!In this heartfelt and inspiring conversation, we draw both the Azalea card, representing hope, and  the Agapanthus card, representing perspective.  We reflect on the significance of these cards and dive into the importance of intention, the art of receiving, and being grounded. Together, we share insights on hope, community, and transformation. Plus, discover our exciting new T-shirt - "We are rooting for you" - perfect for gift giving!--- Create an intentional practice with your own Gratitude Blooming card deck, notecards, candle and much much more at our shop at www.gratitudeblooming.com. Learn more about our co-hosts and special guest for Season 4: Co-host Belinda Liu | Hestia Retreat Centers Co-host Omar Brownson | Trickster's Guide to Immortality on Substack Special Guest Dr. Paul Wang | The Dao CenterIf you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star rating and review. Your feedback is valuable to us and helps us grow. Share your thoughts and comments by emailing us at hello@gratitudeblooming.com. We love hearing from our listeners!

Send us a textIn this conversation, we delve into the wild card represented by the sweet pea with Iris Podschun (they/them), a somatic coach. Iris, whose name itself holds significance, shares their early memories and their journey of self-discovery as a queer individual, challenging societal binaries and embracing a path of authenticity.Drawing from their experiences in community organizing in Washington, D.C., Iris learned about somatics, a practice that focuses on the mind-body connection. They studied under the guidance of Richard Strozzi and explored Aikido, a Japanese martial art, which deepened their understanding of centering practices and the dimensions of height, width, depth, and center.Iris is a Professional Certified Coach and a Somatic Coach through Strozzi Institute. As the Senior Director of Coaching & Collaboration at RCF Connects, Iris coaches artists, change makers, and nonprofit leaders.Iris actively supports healing journeys and the creation of spiritual spaces for more freedom, hope, and joy. They find solace in dancing, reading visionary sci-fi, and spending time with trees, truly embracing the wonders of nature.Follow Iris Podschun's incredible journey on Instagram @thevenerations and prepare to be enlightened by their deep insights and unique perspective.--- Create an intentional practice with your own Gratitude Blooming card deck, notecards, candle and much much more at our shop at www.gratitudeblooming.com. Learn more about our co-hosts and special guest for Season 4: Co-host Belinda Liu | Hestia Retreat Centers Co-host Omar Brownson | Trickster's Guide to Immortality on Substack Special Guest Dr. Paul Wang | The Dao CenterIf you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star rating and review. Your feedback is valuable to us and helps us grow. Share your thoughts and comments by emailing us at hello@gratitudeblooming.com. We love hearing from our listeners!

Send us a textJoin us in this captivating episode of Gratitude Blooming as we delve into the theme of Wholeness with the remarkable Lorrie Adams. In this conversation grounded by the vibrant Forsythia, Lorrie takes us on a journey of self-discovery and healing, sharing her profound insights and experiences. Her Shamans Cave Maker community also crafted the Gratitude Blooming wooden card deck holders! From a young age, Lorrie felt a profound connection to nature and the world around her. A transformative moment playing outside in the wintry landscapes of New England sparked a sense of wonder and set her on a path of exploration. Drawing inspiration from shamanism and plant medicine, Lorrie discovered the power of intent and the practice of recapitulation, which allowed her to release the burdens of the past and embark on a journey towards wholeness.Lorrie's lineage of Makers, a pragmatic and ancient tradition rooted in Western Europe, holds a rich history of self-healing and connection to the natural world. Through her teachings, she shares the importance of reconnecting with our hearts and listening to the silence within our own beings. In this episode, she shares the first of 6 practices on intent, called The Path of the Heart, from a class that the Makers at Shamans Cave are offering for free for our community.  Join here:   https://www.shamanscave.com/courses/72-free-spirals-class-promotionAlso available on their website is a description of a basic recapitulation practice Omar and Arlene reflected on at the closing of this episode.  You can try out on your own: https://www.shamanscave.com/beginning-practices/the-recapitulation Read more about their Woodworking Philosophy:We strive to make all our products with wood either sourced from our property in Kentucky or from local lumber yards. We are able to make almost all of our turned (round) products from limbs and logs cut on our almost 30 acre property.Our design process uses intent:  We look for the piece of wood that has the right qualities and feel to produce our intended outcome. We consider what species of wood to use for each piece. We ask:What wood is best for its purpose? How will the finished product look and feel?” We also consider the person using the object (if possible)Will the form, feel, species and finish fit the use and aesthetics of the customer?”--- Create an intentional practice with your own Gratitude Blooming card deck, notecards, candle and much much more at our shop at www.gratitudeblooming.com. Learn more about our co-hosts and special guest for Season 4: Co-host Belinda Liu | Hestia Retreat Centers Co-host Omar Brownson | Trickster's Guide to Immortality on Substack Special Guest Dr. Paul Wang | The Dao CenterIf you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star rating and review. Your feedback is valuable to us and helps us grow. Share your thoughts and comments by emailing us at hello@gratitudeblooming.com. We love hearing from our listeners!

Send us a textIn this episode, urban artist and poet SJ Hazim shares his insights on the theme of Simplicity card #18, represented by the humble daisies. He sees the flowers are rooting for him. He speaks about his journey towards creativity and empowerment through the urban arts, and how he uses his talents and expertise to make a positive impact in the world.SJ believes that INSPIRATION is a powerful force that can drive personal and professional growth. He shares his experiences with finding inspiration in the face of challenges and how it has helped him to overcome obstacles and achieve his goals.He also emphasizes the importance of empathy and authenticity in leadership and relationships, and how being vulnerable and making emotional investments can lead to deeper connections and positive outcomes.Through his work with Creative Pathways and Means, SJ is dedicated to helping others tap into their own creative potential and find pathways to success. He is a true champion of authenticity and creativity, and his message is sure to inspire and uplift anyone looking to make a positive impact in their own lives and communities.Don't miss his closing practice on how to get inspired when you just aren't feeling it!Find out more about SJ here:SJ Hazim is a committed and dedicated individual who is deeply committed to the pathway of the creator's journey. He believes that creativity is an essential part of personal and professional development, and he is dedicated to helping others tap into their own creative potential. Through his work with Creative Pathways and Means, SJ has helped develop a range of tools and frameworks designed to support the creative development of individuals and organizations.As a practitioner of the urban arts, SJ is also deeply committed to using creativity as a means of empowerment and self-direction. He believes that the arts have the power to transform lives and communities, and he is dedicated to using his talents and expertise to make a positive impact.In addition to his professional pursuits, SJ is also committed to his own continuous improvement. He believes that learning and growth are ongoing processes, and he is constantly seeking out new opportunities and experiences that will help him to evolve and grow as a person. Whether through his work with Top Teer and Creative Pathways and Means or his personal development, SJ is committed to the journey of the creator and is always striving to be better and to make a positive impact on the world. He is now diving into poetry to improve with how some DEI initiatives are rolled out. Look for Authentic Expressions every second Saturday in Topeka, KS at Omni Circle Group, or in a city near you. Connect with SJ:Facebook- Sj Hazim Instagram - --- Create an intentional practice with your own Gratitude Blooming card deck, notecards, candle and much much more at our shop at www.gratitudeblooming.com. Learn more about our co-hosts and special guest for Season 4: Co-host Belinda Liu | Hestia Retreat Centers Co-host Omar Brownson | Trickster's Guide to Immortality on Substack Special Guest Dr. Paul Wang | The Dao CenterIf you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star rating and review. Your feedback is valuable to us and helps us grow. Share your thoughts and comments by emailing us at hello@gratitudeblooming.com. We love hearing from our listeners!

Send us a textIn this episode, we sit down with Stacey Street, the COO of Richmond Community Foundation, to talk about the power of love, compassion, and courage. Stacey shares her journey of discovering her true source of power within herself, and how she came to see the innate goodness in all beings. We discuss the importance of narrative change and new stories, and how we can all take steps towards equity and caring for each other. Stacey also shares her personal practice of singing and how it connects her to her body and intuition. Join us as we explore the importance of stepping into love, taking risks, and giving ourselves permission to be who we truly are.Don't miss Stacey's practice at the end of this episode.  It's such a simple and powerful way to connect to our bodies!Learn more about Stacey here:Stacey Street is delighted to serve the Richmond Community Foundation as Chief Operations Officer. Stacey has over 25 years of development, marketing and non-profit management experience. Most recently she was Director of Capital and Major Gifts for Planned Parenthood Shasta Pacific, where she coordinated a significant capital campaign that raised $6.5 million.Prior to Planned Parenthood, she served as Executive Director for the Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society, where she successfully helped the organization navigate the aftermath of a devastating fire in the shelter.Stacey also has extensive experience in arts administration, having served as Executive Director for the California Symphony for over eight years. Previous experience in the arts include roles as Interim Executive Director and Director of Development and Marketing at Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Patron Services Associate for San Francisco Opera and Special Events Manager for Handel & Haydn Society in Boston.Stacey graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard University with a B.A. in Anthropology. She is a classical vocalist who sings with the Peninsula Women’s Chorus and has studied voice privately, as well as performed solo recitals for over 25 years. Stacey lives in the Bay Area with her blended family.--- Create an intentional practice with your own Gratitude Blooming card deck, notecards, candle and much much more at our shop at www.gratitudeblooming.com. Learn more about our co-hosts and special guest for Season 4: Co-host Belinda Liu | Hestia Retreat Centers Co-host Omar Brownson | Trickster's Guide to Immortality on Substack Special Guest Dr. Paul Wang | The Dao CenterIf you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star rating and review. Your feedback is valuable to us and helps us grow. Share your thoughts and comments by emailing us at hello@gratitudeblooming.com. We love hearing from our listeners!

Send us a textIn this episode of our podcast, we are joined by Liz Childs Kelly, the author of the book "Home to Her: Walking the Transformative Path of The Sacred Feminine." Liz shares with us her journey of co-creating the world she wants to live in by trusting in flow, trust, and faith, rather than following a rigid ten-step formula.Liz tells us about how inspiration struck her one morning, leading her to write her book, but how it took a few more years of living before it could be finished. The pandemic hit, and Liz found herself driving an RV across the country, dreaming of what the future could hold. She shares with us how her work was not done with her. It took six or seven years to complete. Liz was famished for information on the history of the divine feminine and her extensive research shows that even Neanderthals had carvings that resembled maternal symbols.This episode will leave you inspired to co-create the world you want to live in and to trust in the flow of life. Tune in to hear Liz's unique perspective on the sacred feminine and her journey of bringing her book to life.About Liz:Liz Childs Kelly is a writer, award-winning researcher, educator, community builder, and host of the popular Home to Her podcast, which is dedicated to amplifying the voices of the Sacred Feminine. She is also the author of the new book, Home to Her: Walking the Transformative Path of the Sacred Feminine. Her writing has been featured in a variety of online publications, including Forbes, Mashable, Rebelle Society, Human Parts (a Medium publication), and Braided Way, as well as the Girl God Books anthology Just As I Am: Hymns Affirming the Divine Female. An initiated priestess in the 13 Moons lineage, she also holds certifications in Reiki, as well as Vinyasa and Yin Yoga.Liz lives in rural Virginia with her family and can often be found exploring the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains or wandering in the woods behind her home.Learn more about her work at:www.hometoher.comIG: @hometoherYouTube.com/channel/@hometoherFB: www.facebook.com/groups/hometoher--- Create an intentional practice with your own Gratitude Blooming card deck, notecards, candle and much much more at our shop at www.gratitudeblooming.com. Learn more about our co-hosts and special guest for Season 4: Co-host Belinda Liu | Hestia Retreat Centers Co-host Omar Brownson | Trickster's Guide to Immortality on Substack Special Guest Dr. Paul Wang | The Dao CenterIf you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star rating and review. Your feedback is valuable to us and helps us grow. Share your thoughts and comments by emailing us at hello@gratitudeblooming.com. We love hearing from our listeners!

Send us a textIn this episode, we talk to Ain Bailey, the founder of New Seneca Village, as she shares her insights on the Gratitude Blooming card #17, Humility, represented by two connected violets. Ain shares how nature is her first community and how important it is to be in relationship to land for land's sake. She feels the unwavering presence of nature, from the big sky to trees, and how they make her feel seen and known. We delve into her recent big move from the San Francisco Bay Area of California to rural Alabama and how she feeds and is fed by nature. Ain discusses the vision of New Seneca Village, a non-profit retreat space and network that offers nature-based restorative residencies for cis, trans, and non-binary Black, Indigenous, and women of color leaders working towards racial, economic, and social justice. We explore the question of how we can practice the future now and the resources that are available to us, including time, space, nature, and connection to others. Don't miss out on this inspiring conversation about the importance of living our future vision in the present moment, for the betterment of the world to come.Find out more about Ain's passions:Ain Bailey (she/they) is a restoration practitioner whose work is in service to Sacred Futures. She understands sacred futures to be representative of many things, most prevalently in this moment it is  defining itself as any present treated with deep reverence and a committed intention to practice our collective, liberated future now.She is the Founder and Co-Executive Director of New Seneca Village, a retreat center space and social ecosystem for cis, transfeminine and non-binary women leaders of color focused on restoration, connection and visioning.They are also the Co-Founder and Co-President of Jubilee College, an emerging alternative two year college designed to engage students in exploring relational and spiritually grounded leadership for a post-capitalist world. Each of these collaborative projects, along with her healing centered coaching practice, are grounded in creating containers within which folks can connect with themselves, with others, with nature and higher consciousness to access their individual sovereignty, purpose and agency for the benefit of the collective.Ain lives and works on the unceded and ancestral land of the Coosati and Muskoke people, colonially known as Alabama.When not working, they can be found vigorously avoiding screens, reading, contemplating, journaling, making up songs and playing with their dogs, Bijoux and Sega. References:https://www.ekvn-yefolecv.org is the Alabama native eco-village that they are a member --- Create an intentional practice with your own Gratitude Blooming card deck, notecards, candle and much much more at our shop at www.gratitudeblooming.com. Learn more about our co-hosts and special guest for Season 4: Co-host Belinda Liu | Hestia Retreat Centers Co-host Omar Brownson | Trickster's Guide to Immortality on Substack Special Guest Dr. Paul Wang | The Dao CenterIf you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star rating and review. Your feedback is valuable to us and helps us grow. Share your thoughts and comments by emailing us at hello@gratitudeblooming.com. We love hearing from our listeners!

Send us a textIn this episode, we sit down with love researcher, relationship coach and matchmaker Soniyah Singh to explore the Gratitude Blooming card #39 Grace, represented by a rose. Soniyah shares her journey of discovering her passion for helping people become the love they want, and how she believes that healing and attracting the right kind of love starts from within. We discuss the courage it takes to look within and the importance of taking a pause, as well as the dangers of hiding behind perfection and trying to fit into a one-size-fits-all definition of love. Join us for a heartwarming conversation with a born relationship coach who is passionate, warm, magnetic, and fiery!Find out more about Soniyah at:www.finding-bliss.com--- Create an intentional practice with your own Gratitude Blooming card deck, notecards, candle and much much more at our shop at www.gratitudeblooming.com. Learn more about our co-hosts and special guest for Season 4: Co-host Belinda Liu | Hestia Retreat Centers Co-host Omar Brownson | Trickster's Guide to Immortality on Substack Special Guest Dr. Paul Wang | The Dao CenterIf you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star rating and review. Your feedback is valuable to us and helps us grow. Share your thoughts and comments by emailing us at hello@gratitudeblooming.com. We love hearing from our listeners!