Tag

Culture

Memoir, Non Fiction

Oct 12: Escaping the Children of God Cult – Daniella Mestyanek Young

Uncultured: A Memoir

Daniella Mestyanek Young was a third-generation Family member to a group better known as the Children of God. She was raised from birth to believe the world outside was dangerous, full of evil people — and that childhood sex with multiple older men was normal. It was God’s will.

Yet when she was just 15 years old, Daniella had the fortitude to escape everything she knew, put herself through school, and forge a new career — only to find herself back in another “cult”.

We discuss how to identify culture vs. cult. The three phases to leaving a cult. How telling her story after many years of hiding the truth helped Daniella overcome imposter syndrome and build a healthy new life with a real family.

About Daniella Mestyanek Young

American author and speaker Daniella Mestyanek Young was raised in the religious cult the Children of God. She later served as an intelligence officer for more than six years in the US Army, achieving the rank of captain, and became one of the first women in US Army history to conduct deliberate ground combat operations on a Female Engagement Team. Daniella’s the recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award and is currently finalizing her master’s degree in industrial and organizational psychology from the Harvard Extension School. Her new book is Uncultured.

 

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Health & Wellness, Non Fiction, Personal Development, Professional Development, Psychology, Self-help

Jun 01: The Human Herd with Beth Anstandig

Awaken Your Natural Leadership & Become a Human Whisperer

Part guidebook, part manifesto, part wakeup call, Beth Anstandig wrote The Human Herd during what she calls The Great Pause — aka COVID lockdown — when so many people around the world felt isolated and disconnected.

Even in today’s techno world where we are constantly connected to our devices, and self-sufficiency is the norm, people still want and need human connection.  As a species, we’ve lived in herds for centuries, and need the support and connection of others to thrive. Today we discuss the 4 channels of awareness. How to look beyond project scope, and consider life scope. What horses can teach us about radical selfcare, anxiety, and giving and receiving feedback.

About Beth Anstandig

Beth Anstandig owns Take a Chance Ranch in CA where she provides leadership, culture, and wellbeing programs through The Circle Up Experience. She is a lifelong cowgirl, writer, professor, and licensed psychotherapist. For the past 25 years she’s trained and developed people using “natural leadership” —  a model that she created. Her work has been featured on BBC WORLD, PBS, and in FORBES.

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Fiction, Writers on Writing

JUL 21: Alka Joshi’s New Novel – The Secret Keeper of Jaipur

NYT Bestselling of Author of The Henna Artist

Set in India, The Secret Keeper of Jaipur is a tale of loyalty, ambition, and love that plunges readers back into the world of The Henna Artist – a world of power, money, and secrets.

Today, returning guest ALKA JOSHI shares detailed insight into the culture and traditions of India, that richly permeate her novels. We discuss creativity and how she approaches her work. Why, unlike many authors, she doesn’t consider a writing routine important. And – as a marketing and PR expert – Alka shares her best advice to authors and creatives about getting your work into the world.

About Alka Joshi

Born in Jodhpur, India, ALKA JOSHI has lived in the U.S. since she was nine-years-old. A Stanford University graduate, Alka worked in advertising and PR before starting her own marketing consultancy. In 2011, she earned an MFA in Creative Writing from the California College of Arts in San Francisco, California. The Secret Keeper of Jaipur is Alka Joshi’s second novel.

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Business, Career, Non Fiction

MAR 03: Ignite Your Career with Kris Holmes

Strategies & Tactics to Unleash Your Potential

We’ve been living and working with pandemic conditions for 12 months now, but that doesn’t mean we should abandon our career goals … or stay in a job that we really don’t enjoy. If you lost your job because of COVID, or are frustrated because you can’t find the right fit, maybe today’s guest expert, Kris Holmes, can inspire you to rev up your search.

We discuss how to leverage our strengths and superpowers. What culture fit really means. Why we should think ‘long view’. How to use the STAR method to tell your story. And why Kris says “Don’t WOW them, WOO them.”

Meet Kris Holmes

An executive recruiter and partner at O’Connell Group, Kris Holmes has more than 25  years experience in the industry. She’s a member of the Pinnacle Society, the premier consortium of industry-leading recruiters in North America. And the author of IGNITE YOUR CAREER: Strategies & Tactics to UNLEASH Your Potential.

 

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Arts, History, Non Fiction, Women's Issues

JAN 29: Women in Film – Hollywood, Her Story

Women in film, Hollywood Her StoryWhen the 2020 Academy Award nominations were announced, many said women in film are finally breaking through. Today’s guests say “No, they’re making a comeback!”

Co-authors Barbara Bridges and Jill S. Tietjen discuss how women helped found the movie industry – a time when they ran silent movie studios and held positions of power. When a female director, and an actress, were paid more than any man in the business.

We explore when and why that changed. Why it’s important we have more female representation in the industry. How they collaborated during the writing process. And snippets from their beautiful book Hollywood, Her Story: An Illustrated History of Women and the Movies.

Jill S. Tietjen is an author, speaker, and electrical engineer. One of the top historians on women in the U.S., Jill is inducted into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame and her work has won many awards.  Entrepreneur Barbara Bridges cofounded Women+Film to bring audiences together with films by, and about, women. The Denver Post named her as one of Colorado’s Top Thinkers in Arts and Culture.

 

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Fiction, Travel & Adventure, Writers on Writing

APR 23: Georgeanne Brennan’s Windows on Provence & Robert Dugoni’s The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell

Bonjour!  Whether you’re a dreamer, have a trip planned, or just love all things France, Georgeanne Brennan brings you along on her journey in Windows on Provence: Musings on the Food, Wine, and Culture of the South of France.  You’ll get an insider’s look at the unique markets, landscapes, and even literature of the region.

Georgeanne  is the winner of a James Beard award and an International
Association of Culinary Professionals award. An accomplished author of 30 cookbooks, she is also a  culinary journalist and entrepreneur.

New York Times and Wall Street Journal #1 bestseller Robert Dugoni joins us next to discuss his latest book, The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell, a deeply personal story about family, friendship, and finding your place in the world.

A longtime Seattle resident, Robert is the critically acclaimed author of The Tracy Crosswhite series and the David Sloane series. His works have sold millions of copies around the world and garnered multiple awards.  He will be appearing in person at a book launch event on April 25th in Burien.

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Inspirational, Non Fiction, Social Issues, Women's Issues

MAR 05: Roseann Lake’s Leftover in China & Brad Meltzer’s Ordinary People Change the World

There is a quiet cultural revolution going on in one of the world’s biggest superpowers.  Chinese men traditionally do not want their women to be well-educated or high achieving, but the women of China are taking a stand.  Leftover in China: The Women Shaping the World’s Next Superpower is a revealing look at some of the women who are changing the way China operates.

Author Roseann Lake is The Economist’s Cuba correspondent. She was previously based in Beijing, where she spent time as a television reporter and journalist. Her China coverage has appeared in Foreign Policy, The Atlantic, Salon and Vice, among others.

Our second guest today became frustrated a few years back as he realized his three children were idolizing princesses and reality stars; as a history buff, he knew that there were better heroes for his kids to look up to.  Inspired, Brad Meltzer created his wildly successful Ordinary People Change the World series to educate kids on real heroes throughout the history of mankind.

Brad Meltzer is a #1 New York Times bestselling Fiction author, and has the distinction of being the only author to also appear on the bestselling list in the Children’s Books, Non-Fiction, Advice, and Comics categories.  He is also a noted History Channel host.

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Conservation, Environment, Journalism, Science

Oct 28: Visiting Greenpeace Onboard the Rainbow Warrior ~ PODCAST

 

Vicki St. Clair onboard Greenpeace's the Rainbow Warrior, Seattle.

Onboard the Rainbow Warrior, Greenpeace, Vicki St. Clair

Today Vicki takes a field trip with Greenpeace Captain Joel Stewart and Senior Campaign Manager Jackie Dragon onboard the Rainbow Warrior to discuss some of their current projects, as well as how they respond to criticism of Greenpeace at large. They also give an inside point of view on the controversial arrest of the Arctic 30 by Russia.

Captain Stewart shares the importance of marine preserves and the health of the Bering Sea to our ecology. He discusses why fish farming is not a good solution for ecosystems or feeding humans — and why that won’t even matter unless we get climate change and CO2 under control.

Jackie Dragon shares details of a new species, more on the science of the Bering Sea, and why it’s critical to the survival of Native Alaskan communities. By the way, the Rainbow Warrior was specifically built for this campaign, making it a unique ship. If you can get down to visit it on tour, do it!

Conversations Live with Vicki St. Clair airs every Monday at noon Pacific on KKNW 1150AM and 94.9FM HD.

 

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