Reach the Stars Podcast

Come get real with photographer & mompreneur, Andrea Cox on this week's episode, "Nobody Has Their Shit Together". We talk about overcoming the starving artist mentality, working on what you love while also being a mom, and about how damaging it can be when we compare ourselves to others.

Andrea has a special coaching program to help artists learn to be artpreneurs! She has two courses available on her site: www.andreacoxart.com! One is a mini-course about doing Virtual Art Shows and the other is a more in-depth course about Becoming An Exhibiting Expert. 

She has put together a special promo for all Reach the Stars Podcast listeners!
Buy "Becoming an Exhibiting Expert" for $297, they get "Virtual Art Show Mini Course "($97 value) for FREE!!!!  Go to https://andreacoxart.com/collections/courses  add both courses to the cart, then use promo code BUNDLEVASFREE at checkout, they will get the mini course for free.  

You can find Andrea here: 
Website: www.andreacoxart.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ajbphotography
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chromavisionfilmartwithandreacox
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/andreacox_dreambuilder
Shootproof: http://www.ajbphotography2.shootproof.com

Show brought to you by Papercraft Miracles: https://www.papercraftmiracles.com
Theme music generously provided by Birocratic: http://www.birocratic.bandcamp.com

Meet Gayle Danley, epic world-famous performance poet and educator! I could not believe that I got to have this conversation with one of my poetry heroines!! We talk mothers and motherhood, poetry, teaching, life and so much more.  She is starting an agency to help performance poets get gigs and to support themselves with their craft.

Gayle Danley's Bio:
Soon after crushing the competition at Asheville's National Poetry Slam in 1994, Gayle Danley entered America's classrooms teaching thousands of children how to access their emotions through the force of words. She performed and taught her way from Maryland Young Audience's Artist of the Year, to National Young Audience's Artist of the Year. She's also both a former national and international poetry slam champion.
CBS 60 Minutes profiled her work with middle schoolers as well as the Baltimore Sun, Washington Post and New York Times.
For the past five years, Gayle's Grieffriend sessions have helped women who are living with AIDS, widows, incarcerated youth and those struggling with drug addiction and recovery use poetry to cope and bravely face life's challenges.

Gayle was recently named Maryland Library Association Poet of the Year.

Fun Fact! She is a line sister to VP Elect Kamala Harris!! (How cool is that??)

You can find Gayle here:
Poetry/Speaker Website: http://gayledanleypoet.com/
Organization Website: http://grieffriend.org/
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/gayledanley
http://www.instagram.com/poetrypros1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gail.danley.9

Brought to you by Papercraft Miracles: https://www.papercraftmiracles.com
Music provided by Birocratic: http://www.birocratic.bandcamp.com

Love this show? Check out our videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD-Jz9RgAwJGfd0x_vm-Cwg

In this week's episode, I talk with Nicole Majewski, an organizer, educator and strong mama who is originally from Buffalo, NY but has been living and growing her family in Mexico for almost 20 years. We talk about how life in the wilds of Mexico is different from the US and more!

You can find Nicole here:
http://www.lifeofastrongmama.org

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/lifeofastrongmama
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lifeofastrongmama

Music provided by Birocratic: http://www.birocratic.bandcamp.com
Brought to you by Papercraft Miracles: https://www.papercraftmiracles.com

This week's guest on the Reach the Stars Podcast is entrepreneur, coach, healer and nomadic goddess, Molly Mandelberg. She is the owner of Wild Hearts Rise Up and host of the podcast Tactical Magic. We talk about her traveling lifestyle where she lives in a tiny house she created out of a 2013 Sprinter van! She even did the electrical work, solar panels and all the insulation herself!

Molly Mandelberg, Founder of Wild Hearts Rise Up, is an expert in helping coaches, healers and visionaries to reach more people. She supports them in creating the strategy, content and systems to have their own heart-centered sales funnel so that they can make a bigger difference (and more money) with less time spent. Finding your perfect niche and catering specifically to those you can best help is a fine art,and one worth mastering. If you want to be inspired to take action, find the courage to reach for more, or get clarity on how to do so, Molly Mandelberg may be the answer you’ve been looking for.

Molly has a free quiz on her site to help you figure out what kind of thought leader you are!! Take the quiz here: http://wildheartsriseup.com/quiz

You can find Molly here:
Website: https://www.wildheartsriseup.com/
Podcast: http://tacticalmagic.libsyn.com/
Learn more about living in a tiny mobile house and see pics and videos of her van and the build-out process here: https://www.wildheartsriseup.com/van-life/

Brought to you by Papercraft Miracles: http://www.papercraftmiracles.com
Music provided by Birocratic: http://www.birocratic.bandcamp.com

If you're one to fall in love with infectious laughter, then this episode this for you! My guest this week, Michael Farrow, is a singer/songwriter, poet, performer, activist and general bundle of magic. He spends his days striving for and living in black joy and it is so obvious. Hear his story, learn some new things and hear a couple of songs from his new album, "Keep Your Cake Eat the Rich" which is available on all streaming apps.

You can find Mike here:
http://www.farrowband.com

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/michaelsolofarrow
http://www.facebook.com/myqf
http://www.facebook.com/farrowband

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/fkaunicrn

Get his new album , "Keep Your Cake Eat the Rich" here: https://open.spotify.com/album/59owFV19n0uy2u7QlyOu0Z

Support Mike and his band on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/farrowband

This week's show features Kanishka, a young CEO who came to America for college from Dubai and ended up a serial entrepreneur at 23.

We talk about his assimilation into American culture, starting businesses because of parties and breakdancing...seriously.

We also talked about this book: "The War of Art" by Steven Pressfield
https://blackirishbooks.com/product/the-war-of-art/?add-to-cart=159&variation_id=288

You can find Kanishka here:
http://www.yamumedia.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kanishka-wanninayaka/

Definitely check out this organization he helped found during COVID to help connect local business owners: https://www.facebook.com/GROW-Buffalo-Business-116425230216926

Watch a video of this episode here: https://youtu.be/u_kLwqW-vi8

Music generously provided by Birocratic: http://www.birocratic.bandcamp.com

 "Life Alchemist" Josh Tan and I have a great conversation about ditching what you're "supposed" to do in order to live a more fulfilling life.  We chat about changing careers, becoming your own boss, life during the pandemic and about being kind to other people online.

BONUS! Free 5 minute guided meditation at the end!!

You can find Josh here:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/joshtan5D
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/alignunleash
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/josh5D
Website: http://www.joshtan.net
Free Guided Meditations: https://youtube.com/channel/UCMia_7XaKBVsWSb-e0FtKUA

Anyone who wants to discover more can fill out the Session Intake
https://docs.google.com/forms/u/2/d/1DqSHA_UhKxRaxK07FLfAEuiyCZbou5HleXoDES_pQYg/edit?chromeless=1

We also talked about setting up a book review/book club episode where we discuss "The Way of the Peaceful Warrior" by Dan Millman. Interested in that? Join our list here to be notified about the live Q&A about that book: http://www.papercraftmiracles.com/reachthestarspodcast

Theme music generously provided by Birocratic: http://www.birocratic.bandcamp.com

On this intimate episode "Sharing What You've Got: The Gift the Opens the Way", you get a glimpse into the life of a mompreneur-- paper flower artist Amity Libby! We talk about staying focused, time management, and making art as pain relief...all while her daughter is running around the room...talk about multi-tasking mamas!

There are so many little nuggets of wisdom in this show but one of our favorite lines is: "You will never regret the time you put in, showing up for something that makes you feel alive."

You can find Amity here:  http://www.flowerandjane.com
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/flowerandjane
http://www.instagram.com/libbyridgeblooms

We also talked about this: https://www.creativity-portal.com/articles/abby-connors/e-paul-torrance-creative-manifesto.html#.X4CUWZNKhm8

Music generously provided by Birocratic: http://www.birocratic.bandcamp.com

On episode 10 of Reach the Stars Podcast, our guest, Nicholle Overkamp shows us how to overcome stereotypes, hardships, injuries and failures to come out on top with a kick-ass attitude. She is a financial advisor and business & money coach who branched out to start her own firm when she was just 24!

You can find Nicholle here:
http://www.wilcoxfinancialgroup.com
http://www.powherhousemoney.com

On Instagram:
http://www.instagram.com/powherhousemoney

Buy her book, Money Bitch, here: https://powherhousemoney.com/product/money-bitch/

Theme music provided by Birocratic:
http://www.birocratic.bandcamp.com

In Episode 9 of Reach the Stars Podcast, I interview the multi-dimensional being, Lionel Nazario! He is a writer, martial arts instructor, personal trainer and coach, actor, model and more! If you think our host, Janna, is an excitable person, buckle up, because the two of these people together is an explosive party of excited, fired up energy.

We talk about his journey through the criminal justice system that started when he was just 19 years old (serving a 3-9 year sentence for a non-violent drug conviction), how he not only survived but thrived in spite of that experience. We talk about how he went on to not just assimilate back into society after his release, but to author two books, make a name for himself in the health and fitness world and, most importantly, became an amazing father.

Learn more about Lionel here:
http://www.lionheartedliving.com/
On Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/lionheartedliving
Buy his Health Improvement book, "5 Things You Can Do Now" here: http://www.lionheartedliving.com/pages/download-5-things-you-can-do-now
Buy his amazing novel, "Long Night Moon" here:
https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B006GFNVX6&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_0rHBFbB393VR8

This week's episode features renowned historian and writer, Jay Weixelbaum. We talk about history, Nazis, the Holocaust and finding strength while fighting against fascism. We also talk about the struggles with having a partner who is transgender and dealing with family members who don't support the people you love.

Here are some articles that Jay wrote:
Essay on hope: https://medium.com/@jason.weixelbaum/observations-on-hope-5b03a8ea7f9d?source=friends_link&sk=585c11a03fa8783f02e7e6228b6aa0e2
Saving the jobs of GM workers: https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2018/12/19/how-save-jobs-gm-workers/
Regulating social media companies: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/made-by-history/wp/2018/03/29/why-its-time-to-regulate-social-media-companies-like-facebook/
(And tons more essays, articles and research on his blog below).

You can find Jay:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JayWeixelbaum
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=15454467
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jasonweixelbaum/
Blog: https://jasonweixelbaum.wordpress.com/

This week, I talk to Nancy Eckerson! She is an intuitive writer, spiritual coach and psychic medium! We talk about serendipitous moments, magical miracles and weird shit!

You can find Nancy here: http://www.nancyeckerson.com

In episode 6 of Reach the Stars Podcast, hang out for an afternoon of education, connection and discussions of reparations with poet, educator and facilitator, Adam Falkner. We talk about the intersection of personal history, white fragility and the framework of the new normal that is possible in the world. 

We also discuss the importance and influence of teachers who think outside the box, why you should always listen to your mother and why it is so great to cultivate multiple selves in your life.

You can find Adam Falkner here:  http://www.adamfalknerarts.com/
Buy his new book, The Willies, here: http://bit.ly/thewillies
On Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/adam_falkner
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adamfalknerarts
Check out his performance poetry here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h6mZKfcGdc

And the books we talked about: 
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/566247/white-fragility-by-robin-diangelo/
June Jordan: http://www.junejordan.com/
Audre Lorde: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/audre-lorde

On the 5th episode of Reach the Stars Podcast, travel back in time to 1999 when internationally renowned poet, author and actor, Carlos Andrés Gómez, had just discovered slam poetry. Learn about his decade of dominating the poetry slam world and his journey out of that world and into one of winning book awards instead. And learn about your host, Janna Willoughby-Lohr's own journey into and out of the slam poetry scene.

During the "Five Questions time" at the end of the show, Carlos talks about his unique attitude towards failure and how he believes that it is necessary to fail in order to accomplish anything.

Carlos's long-awaited, full-length poetry book, Fractures, is the winner of the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry, is due out in October 2020 and you can pre-order your copy here: https://uwpress.wisc.edu/books/5990.htm

His chapbook, HIJITO, was the winner of the Foreword INDIES Gold Medal, IndieReader Discovery Award, Broken River Prize & the International Book Award for Poetry.
Order HIJITO (#1 SPD Bestseller): https://platypuspress.co.uk/hijito

And (as if he wasn't awesome enough), his OTHER best-selling book, a memoir called Man Up--Reimagining Modern Manhood, can be purchased here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/311620/man-up-by-carlos-andres-gomez/9781592408078

And in case you have never heard his poems out loud, go here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1593846697582433&extid=7cY8LLRWmxbbMsdF
https://youtu.be/IObvCZs2lF4

Find out more about Carlos here:
http://www.carloslive.com
http://www.instagram.com/carloslive

BIO: Carlos Andrés Gómez is a Colombian American poet, speaker, actor, and author of Fractures, winner of the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry, Hijito, winner of the Broken River Prize and a #1 SPD bestseller, and the memoir Man Up: Reimagining Modern Manhood, released by Penguin Random House. A star of HBO’s Def Poetry Jam, TV One’s Verses and Flow, and Spike Lee’s #1 box office movie Inside Man with Denzel Washington, Carlos’ honors include the Sandy Crimmins National Prize for Poetry, Atlanta Review International Poetry Prize, Foreword INDIES Gold Medal, and the International Book Award for Poetry. A genre-transcending multi-hyphenate, he partnered with John Legend on Senior Orientation, a program to counteract bullying and champion inclusive masculinity among high school students. Carlos is a proud Latinx and father.

On Episode 4 of Reach the Stars Podcast, dive deep into creativity, partnership, activism and love with one of the most inspiring couples you will ever meet, Edreys & Alexa Wajed! They are both artists practicing in several different mediums and all while parenting two boys.

Find them here:
http://www.eatoffart.com
http://www.edreys.com
http://www.instagram.com/eatoffart
http://www.instagram.com/edreys
http://www.instagram.com/byalexajoan
http://www.instagram.com/madebymek_ (this is their teenage son who makes custom hand-painted sneakers) (WHAT!!!?????)

Come hang out as we discuss entrepreneurship, coworking, and starting fresh on Episode 3 of Reach the Stars Podcast with Marie Rachelle.

You can find Marie here: http://www.convergencecoworking.com
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/marierachelle_

Here's the link to Lindsay Katt's video of her song, "Alone Together" that was mentioned at the end of the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJBS7...

Here's the link to Jen Sincero's website for the book, "You're a Badass at Making Money" that Marie mentioned: https://jensincero.com/shop/

And just for fun, check out Maude White because she is freaking amazing: http://bravebirdpaperart.com/

In the second episode of Reach the Stars Podcast, dive deep into processing grief, prioritizing self-care and finding peace, during the times of COVID-19 and beyond.  Our guest, Stephanie Kennedy is the owner of Reach Digital Media Solutions and is a leader in the entrepreneurial community.

You can find her here: https://www.reachdigitalmediasolutions.com/
On Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/stephanieann_
                          http://www.instagram.com/reachdms

Theme music for Reach the Stars Podcast generously provided by Birocratic. You can find his music at www.birocratic.bandcamp.com!

In the first episode of Reach the Stars Podcast, go on a journey with former public school teacher turned homeschooling yogini mama, Jen Mergler. Learn about her decision to leave teaching professionally and to pull her own kids from structured schooling and her path into teaching yoga through sharing pictures of herself doing yoga in her underwear on Instagram.

You can find Jen Mergler on Instagram at:
www.instagram.com/the_bookish_yogini
(Her blog, Unabashed Honesty, can be found here: https://unabashedhonesty.wordpress.com/)

Jen teaches yoga at Yoga Parkside where they have been teaching virtually throughout the pandemic so you can take her classes from anywhere. Sign up through the link above.

Theme music for Reach the Stars Podcast generously provided by Birocratic. You can find his music here!

Intro to the Reach the Stars Podcast series!

Host Janna Willoughby-Lohr shares the reason behind the creation of this podcast. Jump into new episodes weekly starting August 1st, 2020.