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Submitted by Douglas Newsom on 19 April 2021

Headlined Guests

Guest Occupation: Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist for Progressive rock legends Gentle Giant, and Record producer/Record Executive
Guest Biography:

D   E   R   E   K   

S   H   U   L   M   A   N

'GENTLE GIANT' PROGRESSIVE ROCK LEGEND

& MUSIC EXECUTIVE

SPECIAL GUEST ON THE RAY SHASHO SHOW

Formed in the late 60's by the Shulman brothers, GENTLE GIANT is known as the paradigmatic progressive rock band. With an uncomparable musicianship, they went as far as no one ever did into unexplored grounds in the progressive music, navigating over dissonant 20th-century classical chamber music, medieval vocal music, jazz and rock. The multi-instrumentation capabilities of the musicians gave such dynamic to their music, which set parameters to a whole coming generation up to these very days. They explored Moogs, Mellotrons and Fender Rhodes usage with such majesty! Not to mention other instruments like oboes, violins, cellos and horns among others. 

The band was able to come across the 70's maintaining an outstanding level on their music, altering their style over the years and keeping the quality as only a few bands were able to do. Among their magnificent discography, all the albums from "Acquiring the Taste" through "Playing the Fool" are essential progressive rock releases (with the possible exception of "Interview"). This portion of the band's career would see a fittingly grand conclusion on the live "Playing the Fool" album. What more is there to say about these masters of progressive music?

Renowned music industry veteran Derek Shulman has achieved success sitting on both sides of the desk. Born in the United Kingdom, his introduction to the music business was as lead vocalist with sixties pop sensation Simon Dupree And The Big Sound. Signed to the Beatles’ label Parlaphone, the group enjoyed TV appearances, Top 20 singles and toured Europe extensively. They even secured a talented keyboard player by the name of Reginald Dwight (Elton John) towards the latter part of their lifespan. In 1970 they changed their name to Gentle Giant going on to even bigger acclaim, recording a succession of best-selling record albums and touring the world as a major headlining attraction.

Following his recording career, Shulman became a prominent record executive. Starting as an A&R representative at PolyGram Records, where he rose to the ranks of Senior Vice President, he signed Bon Jovi, Dan Reed Network, Cinderella, and Kingdom Come, among many others. in 1988 he became President and C.E.O of Atco Records (where he signed the progressive metal band Dream Theater as well as Pantera). He also re-established the careers of AC/DC and Bad Company both of whom sold multi-platinum albums under his watch. He then went on to become President of Roadrunner Records overseeing signings like Slipknot and Nickelback. In March 2010 Derek Shulman established a new venture with international music impresario Leonardo Pavkovic called 2PLUS Music & Entertainment.

Gentle Giant—Three Piece Suite is a specially curated selection of songs and compositions from Gentle Giant’s first three albums (Giant, Acquiring the Taste, Three Friends) presented in both 5.1 surround sound and stereo. There are nine tracks from the albums, plus a pre-debut song, remixed by Steven Wilson. The choices were determined by the limited availability of multi-track master tapes from the era. Only a few songs from each album are known to exist as multi-tracks, with the rest presumably lost. For fans of Gentle Giant “Three Piece Suite” is a must have.  For fans of great musicianship and progressive rock this is an incredible insight into the earliest days of this legendary band.

Look for the upcoming GENTLE GIANT: THREE PIECE SUITE release on CD, BluRay, and Vinyl on September 29 on SoulFood Music.  

Pre-Order Links for Amazon & iTunes are linked on  https://lnk.to/GentleGiant_ThreePieceSuite.

For further information visit  https://burningshed.com/index.php?_route_=store/gentlegiant/

Guest Category: Entertainment, Music
Guest Occupation: Executive Director of the South Side Community Art Center in Chicago Illinois
Guest Biography:

Masequa Myers

Executive Director of the South Side Community Art Center in Chicago Illinois

Myers, accomplished Author and Film producer grew up in Chicago before leaving to start a media consulting business in Los Angeles in 1992. Took the helm at the art center as it prepares to celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2015.

The South Side Community Arts Center has long been a haven for Chicago artists of color South Side Community It's been in existence since 1940’s. The Historic Bronzeville institution It has become a tourist destination of choice.

Art Center was established in 1941 by Dr. Margaret Burroughs and other African American artists banded together determined to find a venue to showcase their art.  Through dedicated fundraising efforts, 3831 S. Michigan was purchased as the home of the SSCAC.  President Roosevelt's WPA Initiative paid artists' salaries. The SSCAC is the only African American Art Center of its kind opened under the WPA Initiative to remain continuously open.

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt delivered the dedication speech at the SSCAC Saturday, May 7, 1941 at 3:00p.m.  The event was covered by all major local and national networks of the day. The Southside Community Art Center became a Chicago Historic Landmark in June of 1991

Guest Category: Arts
Guest Occupation: Photographer
Guest Biography:
 

Ellie Sophia Brown’s degrees in psychology and counseling give her a unique artistic perspective.  After dedicating almost two decades working in the fields of social services and mental health, she left her private practice in 2014 to pursue an artistic career in photography. After many years of offering support in moments of struggle and pain, she enjoys celebrating the moments of love and new beginnings she now captures in her images.  Although photography is a new career for Ellie, it is not a new passion.  Ellie’s love for photography began as a young girl assisting her grandfather in his work as a wedding photographer.  

Now as an award winning photographer herself, with published images in several local magazines, she sees photography as a way to advocate for those who might otherwise not be seen.  Her current work “Out of Many: One Community” focusing on the diversity in her city, is being exhibited throughout the Indianapolis area. 

Guest Category: Arts, Business, Education, History, Self Help, Society and Culture
Guest Occupation: practicing attorney, intuitive counselor, certified life coach
Guest Biography:

Formerly a practicing attorney, Kathryn felt called to move to Massachusetts from Illinois, where she is following a path of spiritual seeking and work, including work as an intuitive counselor and a certified life coach.

As an intuitive, she gives readings using spiritual writing, a practice she has engaged in since 1993. She uses this method to obtain the information and guidance that the angels and guides have for you. 

She was certified by the University of New Hampshire as a life coach in 2007 and has been offering my services as a life coach since then. She is open to all clients to whom she can be of service; however, she is deeply interested in helping those undergoing a transition in their lives - whether it is a move, a job or career change, or a loss of someone they love.

She also offer the service of teaching my clients basic meditation skills, and, where needed, will use guided meditations to help her clients.

She brings empathy and insight to her practice, using the particular techniques that most benefit her clients. She also brings the analytic skills that she honed while a practicing attorney. The combination of her skills and training allow her to ask the questions that need to be asked and to provide support and guidance to her clients.

Guest Category: Business, Careers, Kids & Family, Love & Relationships, Philosophy, Spiritual, Access Consciousness, Angel Communication, Psychic & Intuitive
Guest Occupation: American guitarist, best known for his work with World Trade, and Unruly Child
Guest Biography:

BRUCE GOWDY

Bruce Gowdy is an American guitarist, best known for his work with World Trade, and Unruly Child.

Gowdy was a founding member of World Trade with Billy Sherwood and Guy Allison. He later formed Unruly Child with Allison. He was also a member of Stone Fury and has worked with musician Mercedes. He also produced Glenn Hughes‘ From Now On… album from 1994. He toured with the Japanese rock star Eikichi Yazawa for over a decade. He was also in a futuristic space themed show band called Halyx in Disneyland Park, California in the early 80’s, for which he played lead guitar and composed original songs.

Guest Category: Performing Arts, Music
Guest Occupation: World-renowned singer-songwriter
Guest Biography:

MERCEDES

“Born to Rock, Soothe and Stir The Soul”
Mercedes is world-renowned singer-songwriter who was born to rock and bring listener’s worlds together with her sultry voice and universal lyrics and personal experiences that melt the heart.

Breaking down age, gender and race barriers, her rock and soul sound captivates audiences from around the world, soothes and stirs the soul, and ignites the senses as a result of her infusion of symphonic, inspirational and visual elements in all of her work.

Mercedes has worked with the best in the industry including Grammy-award winning producer Mike Shipley who worked with Aerosmith, Def Leppard, Alison Krauss, Shania Twain and more; producer and American guitarist Bruce Gowdy, known for his work with World Trade and Unruly Child; and Multi-Platinum Hip Hop Super Producer Nick Fury.

Her performances have rocked a variety of stages and acclaimed venues including the Hammerstein Ballroom for New York City’s 9/11 Benefit Concert, The Key Club in Los Angeles, The Roxy, Whisky, The Troubadour, The Gig, and The Knitting Factory, among others. Her first commercial album release, “Rock-n-Soul Blvd.,” with breakout single “Hey Baby,” remixed featuring Guérilla Black has been played throughout mixed shows and club circuits in Cleveland, Chicago, Milwaukee, New York and Los Angeles.

When she’s not rocking the stage, Mercedes is the Founder and Creative Director of Jus D’Amour – “A Love Song in A Bottle” – her beauty and lifestyle brand of scents, candles and jewelry inspired by her time as a musician and as the marketing agent for boxing legend, Roy Jones, Jr. and their equally aptly named line, Legend – “The Scent of Victory.”

Mercedes’ newest single, “U Make Me Shine,” a beautiful soul, country and pop-infused tribute to Mike Shipley, who also produced and mixed this track for her before his passing, is now available for download at mercedesmusic.com and CD Baby.

Guest Category: Performing Arts, Music
Guest Occupation: Zoologist, Conservationist, Founder of the Orang Utan Republik Education Initiative, Writer, Ecotour Facilitator and Scuba Diver
Guest Biography:

DR. GARY SHAPIRO

Gary L. Shapiro, Ph.D. began his involvement with orangutans 43 years ago in the field of primate cognition and learning. He was the first person (1973-1975) to teach a symbolic communication system to an orangutan (at the now Chaffee Zoological Park, Fresno, CA) and the first person to have taught sign language to orangutans in the species’ natural environment, the forests of Tanjung Puting National Park, Indonesian Borneo (1978-1980; 1981). One of the orangutans, Princess, adopted Shapiro as her father. Shapiro was able to teach Princess over 40 signs which she used to express her interests in obtaining items and activities of interest as well as describing her environment. During his time in Indonesian Borneo, Shapiro assisted in the rehabilitation efforts of dozens of orangutans confiscated from the illegal pet trade and monitored the phenology of local rain forest ecosystem.

Shapiro received his doctorate in Zoology in 1985 from the University of Oklahoma then returned to Indonesian Borneo (1986) to conduct post-doctoral freshwater ecology studies in Tanjung Puting National Park. Shapiro’s interest in the freshwater ecology of Borneo was an extension of the research projects he conducted while being employed by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (1982-1985). He spent 28 years as a government scientist, first as a biologist with the Army Corp of Engineers, then as a planner with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and finally with California EPA in the Department of Toxic Substances Control where he worked as a Hazardous Substances Scientist and an emergency responder. He retired in 2014.

Shapiro was the co-founder and vice president of the Orangutan Foundation International from 1986-2004 where he administered and oversaw the activities supporting research and conservation in and around Tanjung Puting National Park. He participated in the 1993 Population and Habitat Viability Assessment in Sumatra and authored or co-authored various papers on orangutan linguistics, cognition, conservation and ethics. In late 2004, Dr. Shapiro and his Indonesian wife, Inggriani, were inspired to create the Orang Utan Republik Education Initiative (OUREI), a nonprofit project, in response to the education needs underscoring the crisis facing orangutans today, particularly in Sumatra. In Sumatra, the orangutan is Critically Endangered. In 2007, the Orang Utan Republik Foundation (OURF) and OUREI Indonesia (OUREII) were established as legal organizations to support the programs of OUREI in Indonesia.

The goals of OURF and OUREII are to transform the attitudes and values of Indonesian people regarding the orangutan and its rain forest habitat such that they become the stewards of their forests and wildlife. Shapiro’s philosophy is to enroll the Indonesian people to become the educators. Shapiro’s efforts have lead to the establishment of Orangutan Caring Week in Indonesia as well as the Orangutan Caring Clubs of Indonesia.

Through OUREI, Shapiro facilitated the establishment of the Sumatran Orangutan Education Consortium, a group of Indonesian NGOs that assisted in putting on an education conference, workshop, and summit in Sumatra (2006). Shapiro administered an education program to reduce the human-orangutan conflict in Sumatra through the administration of US Fish & Wildlife (USFW) funds to the consortium members. He also co-administers a successful Indonesian scholarship program with two local NGOs.  130 Orangutan Caring Scholarships have been given out since 2006. Shapiro also oversees the LP Jenkins Fellowship for Orangutan Research, given in honor of his late mother, which has helped Indonesian and foreign graduate students in their field research. Additionally, through OURF, he administers the Mobile Education & Conservation Unit (MECU) with the Orangutan Caring Club of North Sumatra to bring human-orangutan conflict reduction programs, tree-planting and sustainable farming activities to villagers living near orangutan habitat. Seeking and implementing solutions of sustainability for local people through education and innovative collaborative projects is the key to saving Indonesia’s great red ape and other species.

Shapiro returns to Indonesia each year to facilitate OURF’s programs in Jakarta, Sumatra and Borneo. He also conducts ecotours to Borneo and Sumatra, and he is an avid SCUBA diver. Shapiro also lectures to audiences of all ages in both English and Bahasa Indonesia when he has the opportunity.

Guest Category: Earth & Space, Plant & Animals, Health & Lifestyle, Pets and Animals, Society and Culture
Guest Occupation: Engineer of the mind – body – soul, Composer of moments and Writer Cassandra M. Bauer, Founder of LEVEL UP.
Guest Biography:

CASSANDRA M. BAUER

Engineer of the mind – body – soul, Composer of moments and Writer Cassandra M. Bauer, Founder of LEVEL UP.

Cassandra lost her brother Jason in April of 2013 to a heroin overdose; at the same time battling with her own addictions and unhealthy programing. Alone, struggling, continuously checking out of the game, Cassandra created and manifested a car accident just six months after losing her brother on 11.11.2013 @ 1:11 a.m.

Waking up alone, confused in that hospital bed, the only thing she was sure of was seeing Jason on the other side.

”When I woke up in the hospital bed, I was alone. Confused, scared with the only lingering recollection being seeing Jason on the other side telling me, ‘You are not alone Cass, I am here. But you need to go back. You are to create a channel to allow everyone to know they ARE NOT ALONE. Please remember you are not alone.’ There was never a moment inside of me where I didn’t believe in this. I knew I had seen him, clear as day, he was in the same hospital gown, the one I had said goodbye to him in before his funeral. I knew I had felt him, I knew my truth in that moment. I knew IT WAS MY moment.

For months prior I would drive to work and create countless illusions around myself being in a hospital bed. All the love that would show up for me… all the people that would come and ’finally’ care about me. The hours I spent channeling this illusion was the energy in which created my now reality. The reality I was now awake with. The reality of: WE COME IN THIS WORLD ALONE AND WE GO OUT OF IT ALONE. BUT IT’S ABOUT WHO WILL YOU BECOME WHILE YOU ARE HERE? THAT’S A FUCKING REALITY CHECK POINT I NEEDED TO SIT WITH. Am I going to go back to the life I was living? The one that was obviously no longer serving me? Was I going to continue to numb out of the game? Or was I finally ready to make the proper steps to powerfully checking back into the game?

I sat in that hospital bed for days, hours, secondsc MOMENTS. And I made a decision in those moments. I AM LOVE. I WILL WORK DAY IN AND DAY OUT TO BECOME A DEEPER AND DEEPER FORM OF LOVE. ONE THAT WHEN YOU ARE FACED WITH IT YOU HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE TO FIND THAT POINT WITHIN YOURSELF THAT MAYBE YOU FORGOT ABOUT OR RAN FROM OUT OF FEAR AND ALLOW THAT TO FLOW AGAIN. NO CHOICE BUT TO REMEMBER THAT LOVE THAT WE ALL HAVE. OUR BIRTH PLACE… OUR HOME… I was to become the perfect mirror. I was to become the warrior within each and every one of us, the one within my brother to fight for these wings. To fight for the real peace, the one within. From that moment on I have never been alone. I had finally found myself. I HAD FINALLY LEVELED UP.” – Cassandra M. Bauer

After years of intense isolation unwiring her own fear and rewiring with her deepest form of love, Cassandra found and channeled her company LEVEL UP.

LEVEL UP is a movement for RADICAL FREEDOM, it has become a HOME for angels to find their wings to FLY again or lay their wings down and know it is always OKAY to just BE. LEVEL UP is here as a social movement, a daily conscious intention, a way of life and a conscious commitment to SELF.

Along the journey of creating her OWN fairy-tale she is in the process of writing THE LEVEL UP METHOD. A guide on how to Unwire the Fear. Rewire with Love. A deep exploration on how to uncover your personal legend and live into your moments to create your ultimate fairy-tale.

LEVEL UP is a mirror of living a life where YOU get to create your story to uncover the TRUTH of why YOU chose this TIME, THIS REALM AND THIS DIMENSION.

86,400 Moments in a day. How many MOMENTS are you checking into the game? Consciously showing up for? Consciously choosing into?

How many MOMENTS go by where you feel Unheard? Unseen? Or Misunderstood? OR HAVE NO IDEA WHERE YOU EVEN ARE?

The truth is most of us stop listening to ourselves and stop truly seeing ourselves for the beautiful creations that WE ARE.

From years of compromising our truest wants, needs, and desires we HIT THE WALL and learn to silence our voice, and not look directly in the mirror. We begin to numb by daily distractions, old wires, stagnant energy, substance abuse or relationships that no longer serve us.

Through years of abuse, pain and suffering which led to her death, Cassandra understands the depth of what it feels like to flow through this world lost, numb and invisible. The struggle of wanting to check back into this game. What it is like to HIT THE WALL, LITERALLY and metaphorically.

Ask yourself a question in this moment: Are you ready to see yourself? Are you ready to hear yourself? To REPROGRAM yourself? To FREE YOURSELF?

“TO UNDERSTAND IS TO BE FREE”-Baruch Spinoza

Cassandra Mary Bauer, Founder, I am LEVEL UP

Guest Category: Health & Lifestyle, Kids & Family, Philosophy, Psychology, Self Help
Guest Occupation: Soul Singer and Guitarist
Guest Biography:

RUNSON WILLIS III

Runson Willis III is a L.A. native with a true southern soul. He was raised in the church where he learned how to sing and play guitar which he has more than 10 years of experience in. He writes and produces his own music.

Runson Willis III was born in Los Angeles, CA in 1986. Raised with his two sisters by a strong single mother, he comes from a place of rich musical inspiration and deep faith. Runson’s influence was varied from a young age, citing Chopin’s symphonies, Robert Johnson’s modern blues, Motown hits, and 90’s alternative rock as a part of his musical tutelage. Though he sang in choir throughout his childhood, it wasn’t until he was 19 that Runson found his real instrument — his guitar.

He never misses a note. With over 10 years of experience with the guitar combined with his extensive performing and touring record, Runson Willis III is finally ready to embark on his solo career. The Los Angeles based artist, calls on his idles, Isaac Hayes, Aretha Franklin, Woody Guthrie and Willie Nelson as constant reminder of the level of greatness he is working toward. With roots in the deep south, you can hear the soul in every lyric he sings and note he plays. Runson is geared up and ready to bring his music to the world! From his own words:

“this guitar is noisy, beat up and it may have a lot of scratches on it. But it’s true, it’s lasted a long time and it hasn’t gone anywhere. And I think it’s like me.”

Guest Category: Performing Arts, Music
Guest Occupation: Psychic Medium, Ordained Spiritualist minister and Reiki Master/Teacher
Guest Biography:

Winter Brook is a psychic medium, Ordained Spiritualist minister and Reiki Master/Teacher. She holds a B.A. in English summa cum laude from Boston College and a Juris Doctorate cum laude from St. John’s University School of Law. Sheis a non-practicing attorney in good standing with the State of New York who chose to close her law practice to pursue Mediumship as a fulltime profession. Her mediumship training includes completion of the Morris Pratt Institute coursework on healing, mediumship and ministry, Pastoral Skills as well as multiple week long intensive workshops with leading international practitioners in the field of mediumship today at Arthur Findley College of Psychic Sciences (UK), Omega Institute, Banyon Retreat (UK) (including James Van Praagh, Tony Stockwell, Mavis Patilla and others). In addition, she has also taken seminars and trained with local mediums on Long Island and across the country.

Winter Brook maintains her office at 171 Main Street, Northport, New Yorkwhere she conducts private and small group readings as well as holds classes to teach others how to tap into or strengthen their own psychic and mediumship abilities. Her classes have been featured on FIOS TV1 in segments entitled “Intuition” and “Be Ever Present” concerning intuitive development and meditation practice. She has lecturedand demonstrated mediumship at public libraries, civic groups, spiritualist churches, large fundraisers, colleges, historical societies and metaphysical groups both here on Long Island and across the country. She currently co-hosts an internet radio show called the Wisdom of Spirit with Rose & Winter brook as well as been interviewed on other radio shows. She has been a contributing columnist to a professional on line newspaper and wellness websites.She also participates in fundraisers, house parties and long distance healing. She holds monthly meditation and healing circles as well as Reiki certification and attunement classes under the Usui Shiki Ryoho tradition.She was accredited and certified by ASSMPI as a mental medium and a Spiritualist minister. Her mediumship program is recommended by a committee comprised of librarians for all libraries across Long Island (85). She is currently developing her physical mediumship and regularly sits for trance.

A strong proponent of volunteer humanitarian service, whileactively involved in Rotary International, Winter Brook served as a director for a program called “Gift of Life” which provideslife saving corrective heart procedures to children in need. Her efforts contributed to the program expanding from 20 children per year to over 60.She was recognized for her efforts by being named Rotarian of the year for 2003, (2) Paul Harris awards and 2005 Woman of the Year for the Northport area by the Times of Northport and 2005 Volunteer of the year for the town of Smithtown for her volunteer humanitarian efforts. In addition to her duties as director of hosting, she also travelled to Honduras and Guatemala to participate in clean water projects, tour orphanages, meet and addressRotarian groups for grant partnership programs and toured and met with medical clinics as a representative of Rotary’s Gift of Life program. She has also participated in the Adopt a Platoon program writing letters to our deployed servicemen and women, hosting mediumship demonstrations from her office to raise funds for various charities who provide toys for needy children during the holidays, train service dogs for returning disabled veterans, Secret Santa for needy local families and a host of other activities. She is currently sits on the Board of Directorsof the Northport Chamber of Commerce where she sits on committees concerned with the well being of our youth.

In addition to her professional and charitable pursuits she is the single mother of two girls, the youngest of whom she adopted as a single mother as well as an avid animal lover, currently having 2 cats and 3 dogs living in her home.

Guest Category: Entertainment, Health & Lifestyle, Kids & Family, Self Help, Spiritual, Variety
Guest Occupation: Certified Grief Recovery Specialist
Guest Biography:

Laura Jack teaches compassionate communication and how we can relate to one another more effectively during the challenging moments in life. Her mission is to cultivate a culture of compassion, starting with self, and to create a better understanding of loss and its accompanying grief.

Guest Category: Relationship Counseling
Guest Occupation: Novelist
Guest Biography:

Reyna Grande is an award-winning novelist and memoirist. She has received an American Book Award, the El Premio Aztlán Literary Award, and the International Latino Book Award. In 2012, she was a finalist for the prestigious National Book Critics Circle Awards, and in 2015 she was honored with a Luis Leal Award for Distinction in Chicano/Latino Literature. Her works have been published internationally in Norway, South Korea, and Mexico.

Her novels, Across a Hundred Mountains, (Atria, 2006) and Dancing with Butterflies (Washington Square Press, 2009) were published to critical acclaim. In her latest book, The Distance Between Us, ( Atria, 2012) Reyna writes about her life before and after illegally immigrating from Mexico to the United States. An inspirational coming-of-age story about the pursuit of a better life, The Distance Between Us is now available as a young readers edition from Simon & Schuster’s Children’s Division–Aladdin. It has received a 2017 Honor Book Award for the Américas Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature and a 2016 Eureka! Honor Awards from the California Reading Association, and an International Literacy Association Children’s Book Award 2017.

Reyna is a member of the Macondo Writer’s Workshop founded by Sandra Cisneros. Currently Reyna teaches creative writing, travels across the country and abroad to give presentations about her books, and is at work on the sequel to The Distance Between Us

Born in Iguala, Guerrero, Mexico (where 43 college students disappeared in 2014), Reyna was two years old when her father left for the U.S. to find work. Her mother followed her father north two years later, leaving Reyna and her siblings behind in Mexico. In 1985, when Reyna was going on ten, she left Iguala to make her own journey north. She entered the U.S. as an undocumented immigrant, and later went on to become the first person in her family to graduate from college.

After attending Pasadena City College for two years, Reyna obtained a B.A. in creative writing and film & video from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She later received her M.F.A. in creative writing from Antioch University. Now, in addition to being a published author, she is also a sought-after motivational speaker at high schools, colleges, and universities across the nation.

From award-winning author, Reyna Grande, an eye-opening memoir about life before and after illegally immigrating from Mexico to the United States.

Born in Mexico and raised by her grandparents after her parents left to find work in the U.S., at nine years old, Reyna enters the U.S. as an undocumented immigrant to live with her father. Filled with hope, she quickly realizes that life in America is far from perfect. Her father isn’t the man she dreamed about all those years in Mexico. His big dreams for his children are what gets them across the border, but his alcoholism and rage undermine all his hard work and good intentions. Reyna finds solace from a violent home in books and writing, inspired by the Latina voices she reads. After an explosive altercation, Reyna breaks away, going on to become the first person in her family to obtain a higher education, earning a college degree and then an M.F.A. in Creative Writing.

At a time when immigration politics are at a boiling point in America, Reyna Grande is an important public voice for Mexican Americans and immigrants of every origin. The Distance Between Us has the power to change minds and hearts.

Guest Category: Arts, Education, Entertainment, Society and Culture
Guest Occupation: Anti-sex Trafficking Activist and Founder of Game Over
Guest Biography:

A Survivor herself, Elle Snow is fighting sex-trafficking through her nonprofit GAME OVER which provides advocacy, training, and education on the subject of sex trafficking.

Elle is currently providing educational training to youth groups, community members, service providers, social workers, medical staff, foster parents, victim advocates, and law enforcement agencies throughout the nation. 

Elle is a two-time Soroptimist Ruby Award winner and has been recognized by Congress and Senate Members for her work in the anti-trafficking movement. She is a member of Soroptimist, The Survivor-Leaders Institute, and The National Survivor Network. ​

Elle is CO-creator of Jane Doe in Wonderland, a play written by Dell' Arte students; Kate Tobie, Erin Johnson, and Grace Booth. 

Elle is also currently a Speaker on The Rebecca Bender Initiative Speakers Team, as well as  Founder/Board President of GAME OVER. 

GAME OVER

”Our mission is to provide education, advocacy, and renewed hope to sex trafficking Survivors, while educating the public and training professionals on how to identify and liberate the sexually trafficked.”

Guest Category: Education, History, Kids & Family, Politics & Government, Psychology, Self Help, Sex, Society and Culture, Spiritual
Guest Occupation: Chief Legal Officer, Veterans Community Project, Kansas City, MO
Guest Biography:

Bryan Meyer is the Chief Legal Officer of the Veterans Community Project of Kansas City, Missouri.  He is a former Marine Corps helicopter Crew Chief.  During his time in the Marines he was attached to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 355. He deployed to Iraq in March of 2003, participated in Operation Shining Express (which was support of rescue efforts of the U.S. Embassy during the Second Liberian Civil War), and he deployed again to Iraq in August of 2004. During these deployments, his unit provided assault support and casualty evacuation.

After the Marine Corps, Bryan moved backed home to Kansas City where he attended the University of Missouri Kansas-City earning a Master’s in Public Administration and a Law Degree.  Bryan worked as a practicing attorney at a Kansas City law firm until leaving to co-found Veterans Community Project.

He is also active with the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association Military Matters Operating Committee, UMKC School of Law Young Alumni Association and Here’s Waldo Neighborhood Association. 

Guest Category: Business, Education, Military, News, Self Help, Society and Culture
Guest Occupation: Climate Justice Organizer, Environmental/Labor Activist, D.C. Area Food Justice Activist
Guest Biography:

Jeremiah Lowery is a Climate Justice Organizer currently working part-time with Chesapeake Climate Action Network to pass a carbon fee-and-dividend policy in the District of Columbia. An environmental and labor activist, he has worked on issues ranging from expanding green spaces in DC to environmental justice to workers’ rights to early childhood education.

Jeremiah has also worked with and organized low-income residents in the Washington, DC metropolitan area on issues, such as political empowerment and sustainability.

He’s also hosted “To Heal DC” on WPFW 89.3 FM Pacifica Radio, a radio show that focuses on health, environmental and labor issues.  Jeremiah has also worked on educational policies for the DC government.

Previously, Jeremiah was the Research and Policy Coordinator at Restaurant Opportunities Center-DC (ROC-DC), which aimed to improve working conditions for the restaurant workforce in Washington, DC.

He is currently a political appointee to the first DC Food Policy Council, a member of the Board of Directors of the Sierra Club-DC Chapter, a member of the Steering Committee of DC for Democracy and a lead organizer of the Universal Childcare Campaign.

Last week, Jeremiah spearheaded a national Sierra Club resolution to support DC statehood, which will be taken up by its Board of Directors.

Jeremiah is a native Washingtonian and a 2008 graduate of the University of Maryland.

Guest Category: Earth & Space, Health & Lifestyle, History, Kids & Family, News, Politics & Government, Self Help, Society and Culture, Variety
Guest Occupation: authore, spiritual teacher, healer
Guest Biography:

A profound near-death experience enhanced what author, healer and spiritual teacher Alex Hermosillo (HER-MO-SEE-OH) was already born with —a unique gift to heal. To date, he has helped over 7,000 people dealing with physical ,   emotional, spiritual illness or chronic pain, often with miraculous and spontaneous results. His new book, A True Story of the HOPE, HEALING and MIRACLES details his extraordinary journey to Heaven, Angelic encounters and miraculous healing abilities, along with inspiring client success stories and take home techniques that anyone can do. He is the founder and creator  of Mastery of Energy Healing, a simple, non-invasive healing technique that helps individuals return to their natural state of health, well -being, and joy. Alex also teaches healing    practitioners, nurses, physicians and anyone interested in healing. With love,

compassion and a light heart , Alex provides guidance from his innate connection with the Angelic and Heavenly realms, and shares with us now how to tap into our God-given ability to heal ourselves and assist others in healing, so we all may experience a peaceful happy and heal thy life, what he calls “Heaven on Earth.”

Alex has had profound healing and spiritual experiences in his life. In 1996, the gift of healing was awakened within him when a woman handed her dying baby girl to him and she spontaneously healed. Soon after, another gift was given to

Alex through a near-death experience in a hospital emergency room where he learned there is no death—only a new beginning. Now, he is one of the most highly sought after spiritual healers and teachers in the world. For over ten years, Alex has been offering energy-healing services and has assisted in healing from ailments, including heart disease, cancer, tumors, chronic migraines, grief, depression, and much more. He is the founder of Mastery of Energy Healing, a healing center located in Phoenix, AZ and in addition to his book that chronological his life experiences and the wisdom he gained on ‘the other side,’ he also recorded a therapeutic audio meditation CD, “Meditation to Heal your Mind, Body & Spirit: I Now Release, I Now Bring In.”

With the gift that was given to Alex, along with his experiences of healing, research and dedication, he developed a quick, simple and effective energy healing method called, Mastery of Energy Healing (M.E.H.). M.E.H. is a gentle, non-invasive healing technique that assists individuals in releasing the energies and memories of non-nurturing thoughts, emotions and patterns that cause illness. Through the MEH releasing process, individuals experience a release

of anxiety, stress, worries, fear, confusion, and aches and pains, allowing for greater clarity, peace of mind and relief from symptoms of illness.

This simple yet powerful technique allows an individual to heal emotionally, mentally and physically. With great devotion to humanity, Alex touches the lives of thousands through his one-on-one private sessions, group sessions, healing prayer requests, lectures and classes. He travels nationally, as well as offers his services from his home base in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.A. He has presented at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, the International Association for

Near-Death Studies, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Southern Arizona Veterans Health Care System and the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine. He has been featured on Fox 10 News, ABC-15, and CBS-5 (Phoenix), and more.

You can listen/read further information here:

Fox News Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTfikf50Z_U

Guest Category: Medicine, Science, Self Help
Guest Occupation: Therapist, writer
Guest Biography:

 

Dr. Jamie Turndorf is known to millions as Dr. Love, through her website AskDrLove.com--the web’s first and immensely popular relationship advice site since 1995. Dr. Turndorf's life took a shocking turn 10 years ago, when her beloved husband, Emile Jean Pin (who the Dalai Lama named as one of the 50 men of all time who was one with God) died in her arms while they were vacationing together in Italy. Her husband's astonishing manifestations, often in front of witnesses, proved to her that we don't die, and our relationships aren't meant to end with bodily death. She tells her amazing story and introduces her new grief therapy method in her no. 1 international bestseller, Love Never Dies: How to Reconnect and Make Peace with the Deceased, which has been translated into 34 languages. For 2.5 years, her Love Never Dies radio show was number 1 on the Hay House radio network, surpassing the shows of spiritual giants like James Van Praagh, Wayne Dyer and Caroline Myss. Currently, the Love Never Dies radio show airs over the DreamVision7 Radio Network, which broadcasts in 136 countries.

Main website: www.askdrlove.com

Facebook: /askdrlove; /drjamieturndorf; /loveneverdiesbook; thecallingbook.

Private Facebook group: Grief, Mourning and Heartache: There is Hope

Twitter: @askdrlove; @LoveNVRDiesbook @readthecalling

Instagram: DrJamieTurndorf

Guest Occupation: Activist, Truth Sharer, Inspirational Motivator, Writer, Public Speaker
Guest Biography:

Jordan Sather is a young, inspiring truth seeker and activist hailing from the Pacific Northwest. His spiritual awakening occurred while in college, which he proceeded to drop out from to find his greater path. After working in the natural health arena for 7 years, he ventured into online media and education in order to diversify his message to include all esoteric and hidden truths that he believes humanity needs to learn. He shares his perspectives online through his" Destroying the Illusion YouTube channel", which has gained over 36,000 subscribers and 3 million views; on Facebook, where he has 10,000 followers, and at speaking engagements around the country.

Guest Category: Education Technology, Energy Healing, Kids & Family, Physics & Metaphysics, Motivational, Access Consciousness, Psychic & Intuitive, Free Energy, Theory & Conspiracy
Guest Occupation: Grief and Trauma Specialist, Keynote Speaker, Author
Guest Biography:

Paula Shaw, CADC, DCEP is a Grief and Addictions Therapist. She is also a Bestselling Author, Keynote Speaker, and Transition Radio Talk Show Host on AM 1170, The Answer.

For more than 20 years, Paula has been passionate about helping people navigate the stress of Challenge and Change. She uses mind/body tools and techniques to help people ease and eliminate stress, depression, anxiety, and the conditions they exacerbate like weight gain, relationship distress, career challenges, lack of energy, and self-destructive, addictive behavior.

Paula is the author of Chakras, the Magnificent Seven (2002) as well as Grief…When Will This Pain Ever End? Finding Your Way out of the Depths of Despair after Profound Loss, which was released June 15, 2015.

Guest Category: Health & Lifestyle, Alternative Health, Kids & Family, Philosophy, Psychology, Mental Health, Personal Development, Inspirational, Motivational
Guest Occupation: Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer, Musician, Actress and Author
Guest Biography:

N  O  N  A    H  E  N  D  R  Y  X 

LEGENDARY 'LABELLE' SINGER

NEW MUSICAL COLLABORATION WITH GARY LUCAS

THE WORLD OF CAPTAIN BEEFHEART

Nona Hendryx (born October 9, 1944), is an American vocalist, record producer, songwriter, musician, author, and actress. Hendryx is known for her work as a solo artist as well as for being one-third of the trio Labelle, who had a hit with "Lady Marmalade." Her music has ranged from soul, funk, and R&B to hard rock, new wave, and new-age. Her family's last name was originally spelled with an "i"; she is a cousin of American musician Jimi Hendrix.

Hendryx was born in Trenton, New Jersey in 1944 where she met fellow New Jersey native Sarah Dash and later met Philadelphia-born singer Patricia Holte (Patti LaBelle). After a short-lived tenure as a member of the Del-Capris, Hendryx and Dash formed a singing group with Holte (once the lead singer of a girl group in Philadelphia called The Ordettes). In 1961, Cindy Birdsong, from Camden, New Jersey, became the fourth member of the group, who became the 'Bluebelles' and signed their first deal with Newtown Records. 

After the release of their debut hit, 1962's "I Sold My Heart to the Junkman", their name altered again to Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles. Hendryx's husky alto differed from Dash's sharp soprano, LaBelle's mezzo-soprano and Birdsong's second soprano. During this tenure, the group became known for their emotional live performances and their renditions of classic standards such as "You'll Never Walk Alone", "Over The Rainbow"and "Danny Boy". The group often found themselves competing against girl groups such as The Chantels, Shirelles and The Supremes. In 1967, Hendryx, LaBelle and Dash were shocked to discover that Birdsong had secretly joined the Supremes after Florence Ballard was ousted from the group by Motown. Different members of the group were in touch with Birdsong over the years. Birdsong's relationships with the Bluebelles healed and they came together again for the ceremony when the group won an R&B Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999.

Back to the current release in question: Gary Lucas and Hendryx starred in a symphonic Captain Beefheart Tribute with Amsterdam's famed 65-piece Metropole Orchestra at the Paradiso a few years ago.  The album was co-produced by Gary and Jesse Krakowand recorded at EastSide Sound in NYC. The World of Captain Beefheart is being released by Knitting Factory Records on November 10th

The World of Captain Beefheart strikes a fine balance between the more bluesy and groove-accessible songs in the good Captain's oeuvre and the more extreme, darker and weirder side. 

Nona Hendryx is a longtime fierce admirer of Don Van Vliet's music, and possesses the huge voice and the commanding stage presence necessary to do full justice to repertoire that originally featured Beefheart's unforgettable multi-octave voice. Although she's best known as a funk/soul great thanks to her long tenure with international hitmakers Labelle (as well as the group's antecedent, Patti Labelle and the Bluebelles) as well as her own excellent R&B-rooted solo outings, she is no stranger to experimental rock territory, having been featured as guest vocalist with cutting-edge ensembles including Talking Heads, Bill Laswell's Material, and Jerry Harrison's Casual Gods. 

To this day, Don Van Vliet remains a cult hero, relatively unknown in mainstream circles. If any album is able to change that, it's The World of Captain Beefheart.

Watch for the release of The World of Captain Beefheart featuring Nona Hendryx and Gary Lucas on November 10th from Knitting Factory Records.

Guest Category: Entertainment, Music