Guest overviewsThis is a special Covid19 episode. Recorded over Zoom, I interview Nasser Jaber, the co-founder of The Migrant Kitchen who’s team is currently delivering 50 thousand free meals a day in NY and NJ to feed the families of those impacted by the Covid-19 crisis, including local healthcare workers on the front line in and around the city. Joining us is Israa Nasir - a clinically trained psychotherapist with experience of working with minority communities in NYC and treating their cultural and immigration-based challenges, anxiety issues, traumas, and the stresses people are suffering as this crisis unfolds. We cover the amazing work Nas is doing, the logistical challenges they face daily, in this disaster relief program, the complexity of sourcing, preparing, cooking, and delivering under CDC guidance and social distancing standards, and his go fund me campaign,We also cover the issues facing the food insecure communities, and the social injustice of the current food supply chain and the broader social issues this virus has exposed and his personal experience of dealing with and overcoming his own mental health challenges growing up in occupied Palestine.  Israa discusses the work she is doing to confront the stigma in Asian communities and some of the mental health challenges they face, how the virus has equalized the calls for help, and the impact on frontline workers. She also expands upon cultural and generational taboos around mental health and anxiety and the changes underway.  We also discuss the mental health issues facing people working in restaurants and kitchens and the exploitation of people of color, undocumented workers and gender-based biasDue to some connection issues at around the halfway, there are some sound glitches for a minute or two but we have left them in as the sound returns to normal just after.  I hope you are inspired and moved to support the great work of Nas Jaber and Israa Nasir. They discuss the positive changes in mental health literacy and changing attitudes resulting from the Virus,  Social Links Migrant KitchenNasJab83Instagram - The Migrant Kitchen Facebook Instagram Well.guide Israa’s Linkedin Links In the ShowThe Migrant Kitchen GofundmeWorld Central Kitchen Jean George Door Dash Chelsea Rental NYU IC Crisis Textline Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest Overview Maria Dantos was born to a gregarious Greek immigrant father and ‘Mayflower compact’ mother. She grew up in her family-run haunted hotel in Vermont, with safety and freedom to play and explore her imagination. Immersed in abundant love she developed a world view of social justice and the importance of removing the inequity in education. Maria is an educator to her core; with 15 years of teaching, administration and educational reform experience. She has worked with people of diverse backgrounds and to advocate for justice in education as a means of upward social mobility for minority, female or otherwise less advantaged people. Her work reflects the importance of lifelong education and encouraging curiosity.She founded, and led multiple daycare and pre-kindergarten (Pre-K) education programs and schools of up to 100 students. Driven by her conviction that every child deserves to have access to quality education led her to launch her non-profit organization, Philox to provide humanitarian relief and education to underserved at-risk children in humanitarian areas of concern. Maria is also seeking to collaborate with educators, healthcare workers, community organizers and artists to provide solutions for at-risk children in this time of crisis. Applying her organizational, management and creative skills together Maria has worked as producer for several live events, short films, documentaries and one feature length film. She has also collaborated with members of Yo Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble, Lincoln Center, and with Bank Street College at Columbia University.In Part two we cover her work in educational development and perspectives on the future impact of Covid19 on education and child development. I hope you enjoy the caring compassion and commitment of Maria Dantos. What we discuss Growing up in a playful outdoor environment she discusses her making her own adventures. Maria reflects on the influence of her Greek roots, and her curiosity about ‘otherness’ in a non greek community. We discuss the abundance of love but changing material scarcity. Maria explains how her education piqued her curiosity and broadened her worldview and led her to winning a scholarship to Japan aged fourteen and learning what was an alien culture but forged lifelong connections. Maria explains how serendipity set her on a path to a career in education as a result of 9/11 that led her to signing up to a Masters program at University of Pennsylvania.She discusses the impact of living with the Navajo Nation and the influence of living with a Navajo Indian elder and revolutionary Catherine Smith and how this opened her eyes to systematic social injustice, poverty, addiction, malnutrition, lack of human rights and dignity .  We cover her first experience in teaching in New York working between two economically diverse schools Maria tells the story of the serendipity of one set of parents who decided to fund her school start up. Maria discusses early childhood education curriculum strategies and her hope for the future of education and the relationships and discussions she is having to address the changes we need in education. We cover behavioral and neural changes in children due to the impact of technology and the lack of human interaction that is affecting child and interpersonal developments.  We dive into the importance of quality content for children. Maria describes her collaborations with Columbia and Yo Yo Ma create new educational experiencesI ask Maria to describe her educational NGO Philox and how its creating access to education to children and the community and protection. We discuss this in relation to Covid 19 and where the education system will change and how she hopes that more value will be focused on education.She names her principles of justice and Integrity Social LinksLinkedinInstagramV... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest Overview Maria Dantos was born to a gregarious Greek immigrant father and ‘Mayflower compact’ mother. She grew up in her family-run haunted hotel in Vermont, with safety and freedom to play and explore her imagination. Immersed in abundant love she developed a world view of social justice and the importance of removing the inequity in education. Maria is an educator to her core; with 15 years of teaching, administration and educational reform experience. She has worked with people of diverse backgrounds and to advocate for justice in education as a means of upward social mobility for minority, female or otherwise less advantaged people. Her work reflects the importance of lifelong education and encouraging curiosity.She founded, and led multiple daycare and pre-kindergarten (Pre-K) education programs and schools of up to 100 students. Driven by her conviction that every child deserves to have access to quality education led her to launch her non-profit organization, Philox to provide humanitarian relief and education to underserved at-risk children in humanitarian areas of concern. Maria is also seeking to collaborate with educators, healthcare workers, community organizers and artists to provide solutions for at-risk children in this time of crisis. Applying her organizational, management and creative skills together Maria has worked as producer for several live events, short films, documentaries and one feature length film. She has also collaborated with members of Yo Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble, Lincoln Center, and with Bank Street College at Columbia University.In Part One we cover Maria’s early years. In Part two we cover her work in educational development and perspectives on the future impact of Covid19 on education and child development. I hope you enjoy the caring compassion and commitment of Maria Dantos. What we discuss Growing up in a playful outdoor environment she discusses her making her own adventures. Maria reflects on the influence of her Greek roots, and her curiosity about ‘otherness’ in a non greek community. We discuss the abundance of love but changing material scarcity. Maria explains how her education piqued her curiosity and broadened her worldview and led her to winning a scholarship to Japan aged fourteen and learning what was an alien culture but forged lifelong connections. Maria explains how serendipity set her on a path to a career in education as a result of 9/11 that led her to signing up to a Masters program at University of Pennsylvania.She discusses the impact of living with the Navajo Nation and the influence of living with a Navajo Indian elder and revolutionary Catherine Smith and how this opened her eyes to systematic social injustice, poverty, addiction, malnutrition, lack of human rights and dignity .  We cover her first experience in teaching in New York working between two economically diverse schools Maria tells the story of the serendipity of one set of parents who decided to fund her school start up. Maria discusses early childhood education curriculum strategies and her hope for the future of education and the relationships and discussions she is having to address the changes we need in education. We cover behavioral and neural changes in children due to the impact of technology and the lack of human interaction that is affecting child and interpersonal developments.  We dive into the importance of quality content for children. Maria describes her collaborations with Columbia and Yo Yo Ma create new educational experiencesI ask Maria to describe her educational NGO Philox and how its creating access to education to children and the community and protection. We discuss this in relation to Covid 19 and where the education system will change and how she hopes that more value will be focused on education.She names her principles of justice and ... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We just interviewed our past guest Nick Fitz on his team's amazing Cancel Corona initiative.Nick explains how he and his team have quickly pivoted to build out the web app to enable anyone or any brand to use the platform to generate purposeful Covid donations based on what people are not spending during Covid19.'Millions are losing work, kids are going hungry, and coronavirus cases are rising. At the same time, we’re collectively spending billions less by not commuting, not eating out, and not going to bars and canceled events. Let’s put that extra cash to work.See how much you’re saving, then easily donate to help those most affected by Corona.'Link to Cancel Corona Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tori Chickering O'Connell was born in New Jersey to parents that cultivated a loving, safe, and creative home environment where comedy, music, and dance were a central part of the daily furniture of growing up.There is no question that this nurturing environment set her on a path to a creative career of being a journalist, producer, documentary filmmaker, comedy writer and published author of two books Nookie Town and Twisted Family Values.In this vibrant two-parter, we cover Tori's upbringing and the influence of her parents, infusing the importance of having fun and not giving a damn.Tori's discusses the importance of gratitude, having a 'why not me' attitude, and how in her early career, this attitude landed her a job at MTV, as she applied her creativity and embraced life's uncertainty and ambiguity with gusto. Tori reflects on using this attitude in the time of Covid19, and we discuss how new models are emerging in comedy, music and the arts during the lockdown.We cover her extraordinary experience of making a documentary of some of today's most lauded comedians 20 years ago before they were famous.And we dive deep into how the serendipitous personal experience of becoming a divorcee in Jersey led to the idea for her first novel, NookieTown, and covers her second book, Twisted Family Values.I hope you enjoy the fun and freedom of not giving a damn with Tori O'Connell. What We DiscussTori's parental impactGlitter balls and dancing on SaturdaysThe experience of her youthArt TherapyThe importance of funThe impact of her grandparentsLiving in a household of loveFreedom and life force of not give a damnBeing outspoken and out there and the bullying that resultedThe importance of Halloween costumesThe connection of dis-ease to diseaseHer 'let's do it' attitudeAn early love of song and danceHaving a sellout show at the Edinburgh festival with New York, Sex, Killing and ShoppingHaving start over attitudeYou Can Do it attitudeGreat Day in HarlemThe evolution of NookieTownThe idea behind Twisted Family ValuesHer upcoming novelFun, accountability and social riskSocial Links VC Chickering - author's site (with loads of fun links to buy books and procrastinate)@vcchickering - author's InstagramTori Erstwhile & The Montys - author's band's YouTube channelLinks in the Show Nookie TownTwisted Family Values Tori Erstwhile and the MontysSt Martin's Press Rocky Horror Picture ShowMike Birbiglia Tip Your Wait staffMahler Chamber Orchestra  International Opera Choir Nabucco Opera Hamilton on ZoomStuck in the Middle Fallon CBGB's Bust Joan Jet Hurricane Sandy Great Day in HarlemVEEPFlight of the ConchordsSex Education  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tori Chickering O'Connell was born in New Jersey to parents that cultivated a loving, safe, and creative home environment where comedy, music, and dance were a central part of the daily furniture of growing up. There is no question that this nurturing environment set her on a path to a creative career of being a journalist, producer, documentary filmmaker, comedy writer and published author of two books Nookie Town and Twisted Family Values. In this vibrant two-parter, we cover Tori's upbringing and the influence of her parents, infusing the importance of having fun and not giving a damn. Tori's discusses the importance of gratitude, having a 'why not me' attitude, and how in her early career, this attitude landed her a job at MTV, as she applied her creativity and embraced life's uncertainty and ambiguity with gusto. Tori reflects on using this attitude in the time of Covid19, and we discuss how new models are emerging in comedy, music and the arts during the lockdown.We cover her extraordinary experience of making a documentary of some of today's most lauded comedians 20 years ago before they were famous.And we dive deep into how the serendipitous personal experience of becoming a divorcee in Jersey led to the idea for her first novel, NookieTown, and covers her second book, Twisted Family Values. I hope you enjoy the fun and freedom of not giving a damn with Tori O'Connell. What We DiscussTori's parental impact Glitter balls and dancing on SaturdaysThe experience of her youthArt TherapyThe importance of funThe impact of her grandparentsLiving in a household of love Freedom and life force of not give a damn Being outspoken and out there and the bullying that resulted The importance of Halloween costumes The connection of dis-ease to disease Her 'lets do it' attitude An early love of song and dance Having a sellout show at the Edinburgh festival with New York, Sex, Killing and ShoppingHaving start over attitude You Can Do it attitudeGreat Day in Harlem The evolution of NookieTownThe idea behind Twisted Family ValuesHer upcoming novelFun, accountability and social riskSocial Links VC Chickering - author's site (with loads of fun links to buy books and procrastinate)@vcchickering - author's InstagramTori Erstwhile & The Montys - author's band's YouTube channelLinks in the Show Nookie TownTwisted Family Values Tori Erstwhile and the MontysSt Martin's Press Rocky Horror Picture ShowMike Birbiglia Tip Your Wait staffMahler Chamber Orchestra  International Opera Choir Nabucco Opera Hamilton on ZoomStuck in the Middle Fallon CBGB's Bust Joan Jet Hurricane Sandy Great Day in HarlemVEEPFlight of the ConchordsSex Education  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We recorded this bonus episode with an early guest Dr. Courtney Rennicke on her advice on building resiliency in the time of Covid19. Courtney discusses Covid10 and resiliency in relation to our baseline nervous system's reactions to stress, tangible examples dealing with it, relates it to the Polyvagal theory and draws on similarities to her resiliency work during 9/11. Dr. Courtney Rennicke New York-based clinical psychologist who runs her practice Rennicke & Associates in the vibrant Tribeca neighborhood of downtown Manhattan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest OverviewChloe Valdary was born in New Orleans, to a homemaking mother and banker father, and grew up in an environment of inquiry and orthodoxy that led her to opening a Pandora's box of curiosity.Through curiosity, talent and education Chloe developed a love of art, music and English literature that expanded her world view and set her on a journey to develop the skills and insights needed to create her Theory of Enchantment educational program. The course is designed to use storytelling and pop-culture to equip students with the skills necessary to develop a healthy sense of personal empowerment and social wellbeing. It’s also the name of her podcast.In part one of this two-parter Chloe discusses her upbringing, growing up with abundance and scarcity, the fusion of inquiry and orthodoxy, the impact of religion and her education, her love of, and desire to explore art, English literature, and film. We also cover her insider-outsider dynamic how her worldview developed and how she ended up with a scholarship at the Wall Street JournalPart Two Chloe expands on the psychological and spiritual power and value of her curriculum in addressing the inability to see the other in identity politics.We discuss the chaos of Covid19 and the broader issues underlying the moment, the opportunity of creating meaning out of disorder and chaos, less social distancing in our virtual lives and the role and power of storytelling and the power of Mumford and Sons Sigh No MoreMaintaining discipline to continue learning, the role of A minor and developing and making meaning in the worldOf course, we discuss serendipity, curiosity, education, change, principles, and her quick-fire answers.I hope you enjoy the enquiring mind, the redemptive spirit and, the educational storytelling of Chloe Valdary.What We Discuss Her Banker Father and homemaking MotherChloe’s English Literature mentorsThe important role and intellectual impact of ChurchgoingHow the past always loomed large in growing upAbundance and scarcity in her upbringingThe impact of her School and its academic rigorCivically minded classmatesDeveloping values of Honor, Service Justice, and WisdomForming Theory of EnchantmentHer love of art and English literatureMajoring in film and screenwritingGetting a Barclay Fellowship and Tikvah Scholarship Fund for The Wall Street JournalBret Stevens NYTHer post that went viral https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/students-justice-palestineLearning how to love and the science and psychology of loveHer focus on pop culturePower of story and our human potentialRedemptive storytellingHow a liberal professor shattered her world viewExplaining the principles of the Theory of EnchantmentEnchantment thesis explainedThe impact of reading Literature vs polemical worksTeaching her theoryThe role of dance in her lifeChaos of Covid19 and the broader issues underlying the momentUsing the program to address societal issuesCreating meaning out of disorder and chaosMumford and Sons Sigh No More and the book she is writingHer process for learning and disciplineRemaining OptimisticRedemptive archetypeThe note A minorSocial Links Theory of EnchantmentTheory of Enchantment Discount OfferTheory of Enchantment Podcast Instagram Links In The ShowBenjamin Franklin High SchoolWall Street Journal Tikvah Fund Bret Stevens Students for Justice in Palestine A Letter From an Angry Black Woman Rosa Parks Martin Luther KingJesus Camp DocCognitive dissonancehttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-theory-of-enchantment/id1439470479Maya AngelouChloe’s Article that went Viral Marcus Arilias and StoicismYPO Mumford and SonsDominion - How the Christian Revolution Changed the World Unorthodox NetflixTasha BlankLeonard CohenTerrance Malik Hidden Life Book - East of EdenJonathan Haidt NYU Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest OverviewChloe Valdary was born in New Orleans, to a homemaking mother and banker Father, and grew up in an environment of enquiry and orthodoxy that led her to opening a Pandora's box of curiosity. Through curiosity, talent and education Chloe developed a love of art, music and english literature that expanded her world view and set her on a journey to develop the skills and insights needed to create her Theory of Enchantment educational program. The course is designed to use storytelling and pop-culture to equip students with the skills necessary to develop a healthy sense of personal empowerment and social wellbeing. It’s also the name of her podcast. In part one of this two parter Chloe discusses her upbringing, growing up with abundance and scarcity, the fusion of enquiry and orthodoxy, the impact of religion and her education, her love of, and desire to explore art, English literature, and film. We also cover her insider outsider dynamic how her worldview developed and how she ended up with a scholarship at the Wall Street Journal   Part Two Chloe expands on the psychological and spiritual power and value of her curriculum in addressing the inability to see the other in identity politics.We discuss the chaos of Covid19 and the broader issues underlying the moment, the opportunity of Creating meaning out of disorder and chaos, less social distancing in our virtual lives and the role and power of storytelling and the power of Mumford and Sons Sigh No MoreMaintaining discipline to continue learning, the role of A minor and developing and making meaning in the world Of course we discuss serendipity, curiosity, education, change, principles and her quick fire answers.  I hope you enjoy the enquiring mind, the redemptive spirit and, educational storytelling of Chloe Valdary. What We Discuss Her Banker Father and homemaking Mother Chloe’s English Literature mentors The important role and intellectual impact of Churchgoing How the past always loomed large in growing up Abundance and scarcity in upbringing The impact of her School and its academic rigorCivically minded classmates Developing values of Honor, Service Justice and WisdomForming Theory of Enchantment Her love of art and English literature Majoring in film and screenwritingGetting a Barclay Fellowship and Tikvah Scholarship Fund for Wall Street Journal Bret Stevens NYTHer post that went viral https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/students-justice-palestineLearning how to love and the science and psychology of love Her focus on pop culturePower of story and our human potentialRedemptive storytellingHow a liberal professor shattered her world view Explaining the principles of the Theory of Enchantment Enchantment thesis explained The impact of reading Literature vs polemical works Teaching her theory The role of dance in her life Chaos of Covid19 and the broader issues underlying the momentUsing the program to address societal issues Creating meaning out of disorder and chaosMumford and Sons Sigh No More and the book she is writingHer process for learning and disciplineRemaining Optimistic Redemptive archetype The note A minor Social Links Theory of EnchantmentTheory of Enchantment Discount OfferTheory of Enchantment Podcast Instagram Links In The ShowBenjamin Franklin High SchoolWall Street Journal Tikvah Fund Bret Stevens Students for Justice in Palestine A Letter From an Angry Black Woman Rosa Parks Martin Luther KingJesus Camp DocCognitive dissonancehttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-theory-of-enchantment/id1439470479Maya AngelouChloe’s Article that went Viral Mar... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are late with this week's digest, but we are living through unusual times. As we enter what, we are being told in the US, will be our Pearl Harbor moment, we are sharing some thought-provoking articles we’ve read and some uplifting, amusing videos that we found and some public service ads we are working with a london based creative duo. As we enter the Ignore The Productivity Pressure ‘Global catastrophes change the world, and this pandemic is very much akin to a major war. Even if we contain the Covid-19 crisis within a few months, the legacy of this pandemic will live with us for years, perhaps decades to come. It will change the way we move, build, learn, and connect. There is simply no way that our lives will resume as if this had never happened.” This excellent article in The Chronicle Aisha Ahmed shares her experiences of adapting to conditions of crisis.  The Moral Meaning of the Plague An essential piece in the NY Times reflects on the fact that we all have the power to decide how we react to this viral crisis. Referencing Victor Frankl Man’s Search for Meaning and his experience from the Holocaust reminds us that we don’t get to choose our difficulties. Still, we do have the freedom to select our responses, and in situations like this, meaning is a vital medication for the soul.Mental Health in The Time of CoronavirusThis article asks - would you be willing to describe how the coronavirus is affecting your mental health? Is the combination of isolation and existential stress making you feel more depressed and anxious? Or is the family togetherness and the pause from normal life, giving you a greater sense of belonging and equilibrium?You can log your thoughts at the end of the article.Don’t Try and Fix Anything Right NowThis post in Medium makes the case that in times of crisis, the best thing you can do for yourself is learning to live with uncertainty. Cognitive flexibility is perhaps one of the most excellent tools to have in a time of uncertainty. There are two components to cognitive flexibility: one, being able to change how you think about a problem, and two, being able to let go of solutions that aren’t working. If you know of anyone in need in New York check out:No Neighbors in Need NYCNYC This is a guide for New Yorkers to i) contribute to the fight against the Coronavirus and; ii) ensure that no neighbors remain in need in NYC during this crisis and iii) recommend ideas to policy-makers/civic leaders (pg 8). Crowdsourced initially from a small group of City and nonprofit employees, this resource needs your help to be kept up to date. Thank you for contributing your time, effort, and financial resources where possible. And please share widely! If there are any questions, email carol.meiyan@gmail.com.It's a time to Help others and we are sharing our client's donation page to:Offering Support For World Central Kitchen Our NYC psychotherapist practice Rennicke & Associates started a fundraiser for support warm meals for our friends and neighbors in NYC through Chef Jose Andres and World Central Kitchen (WCK) They are in Harlem, the Bronx and Queens, making sure that our neighbors in New York City are fed and cared for during this public health and financial crisis. Help Rennicke & Associates offer community support for World Central Kitchen (WCK) by raising $5000 families and children around the city most in need. Reading Inspiration The Impact on FeminismA great piece from the Atlantic. The virus may be hitting men harder but what will the legacy of this virus be on women’s lives, rights and opportunities as we emerge from this pandemic?  Online events TED Connects Community and HopeHosted by head of TED Chris Anderson TED Connects: Community and Hope is a free, live, regular conversation series starting at 12pm EST featuring experts whose ideas can help us reflect and work through... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.