J. Steven Svoboda is founder and Executive Director of Attorneys for the Rights of the Child (ARC), a federally and state-certified non-profit corporation Steven founded in early 1997. Steven graduated summa cum laude from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1983, received a Master's Degree in physics from the University of California at Berkeley in 1985, and then graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1991. Currently in addition to serving as Executive Director of ARC, he works as a patent lawyer in a well-known Bay Area firm and practices human rights law in Berkeley, California. In July and August 2001, Svoboda traveled to Geneva on behalf of ARC to consult with the United Nations’ Sub-Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, making oral and written submissions, the latter of which became part of the official UN record and the first document ever accepted by the UN focusing on male circumcision.

His publications include “A Rose by any other Name: Rethinking the Similarities and Differences between Male and Female Genital Cutting," with Robert Darby, Ph.D.,Medical Anthropology Quarterly, Volume 21, Number 3 (September 2007), pp. 301-323 (a critical examination of the differential treatment given to studies of male genital cutting and female genital cutting), “Gender Equity and Genital Integrity,” in Bodily Integrity and the Politics of Circumcision: Culture, Controversy, and Change (G.C. Denniston et al., eds., Plenum/Kluwer, 2006); “Educating the United Nations about Male Circumcision,” in Flesh and Blood: Perspectives on the Problem of Circumcision in Contemporary Society (G.C. Denniston et al., eds., Plenum/Kluwer, 2003); "The Limits of the Law: Comparative Analysis of Legal and Extralegal Methods to Control Child Body Mutilation Practices,” in Understanding Circumcision: A Multidisciplinary Approach to a Multidimensional Problem (G.C. Denniston et al., eds., Plenum/Kluwer, 2001); and "Prophylactic Interventions on Children: Balancing Human Rights with Public Health," with Frederick M. Hodges and Robert S. Van Howe, in the Journal of Medical Ethics, October 2001.

Steven’s article “HIV and Circumcision: Cutting through the Hyperbole” was published in the November 2005 issue of the Journal for the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health. Penn & Teller shot a full-length feature on male circumcision broadcast in 2005 in which Svoboda’s and ARC’s work are prominently featured. Steven is the circumcision correspondent for KKZZ in Ventura, California, having appeared on that radio station numerous times.

Over several years and with the assistance of volunteer attorneys, ARC put together a compilation of worldwide statutes regarding FGM. ARC cooperates with numerous other organizations to leverage its work to protect both male and female genital integrity. In 2002 he received the Human Rights Award for his work with ARC from the International Symposium on Human Rights and Modern Society. ARC’s work has been recognized by Harvard Law School, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Men’s Health Magazine, and numerous other well-known organizations and publications. He has represented plaintiffs in several state and federal lawsuits to protect genital integrity.

Steven coauthored a gender studies textbook with Dr. Warren Farrell and Dr. James Sterba, published in 2008 by Oxford University Press and entitled, Does Feminism Discriminate Against Men?: A Debate. Steven is also Public Relations Director and Board Member of the National Coalition of Free Men (NCFM), the world’s largest and oldest men’s rights organization. He has published over 150 reviews of books relating to masculinity and men’s rights, and is a long-standing columnist for GRIP Magazine, having published over 40 installments of his column entitled, “Gender, Law, and Fatherhood.” He is a patent lawyer in the San Francisco Bay Area and an expert tournament chess player. He also likes dancing and being silly. Steven is a proud husband of a pediatrician and a proud father of a boy and a girl.

Bernice Yoder, is a 9 year pancreatic cancer survivor. Berenice says: I will be a nine year pancreatic cancer survivor this coming November. When I found out I had cancer, I had no idea what pancreatic cancer was. It had never touched my immediate or extended family. It was something you heard of or read about, not something that happened to you.

This illness changed my life. It gave me more will to live, to be able to finish raising my then 13-year-old daughter who had just lost her dad 15 months before. It taught me to fight, and to never give up. There is always hope even through the pain and grief and anger that is part of this terrible illness. I am proud to say I am a survivor of one of the deadliest cancers

Tara and Steve Mann, are Co-Founders, CEO and President of Cancer Crackdown. (This is a continuation of an interview started last show). Cancer Crackdown is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit organization, their passion is to help fighters take their battle with cancer to the next level. They are unique in that they fight alongside those battling this disease. They develop plans and help fighters and survivors to be successful in following them to reach their overall health goals. They offer a wide range of resources and encouragement for those fighting, those surviving and those that wish to prevent this disease. We all have a choice in this battle against cancer, to survive or to prevent!!

Their mission is to be the trusted source of knowledge regarding natural therapies to defeat cancer and remain cancer free. We partner with fighters and survivors by supporting and navigating them through their battle. Together, they develop a unique plan that is specific to each individual and instills in them a fearless approach to winning the battle.

Cancer Crackdown started as a small group on Facebook in January 2012 with a few people who wanted to share some information on tips and best practices during chemo. Cancer Crackdown has grown and we are now serving cancer fighters all over the world!!

Cancer fighters that can no longer take chemo or choose not to are in dire need of accurate information and guidance. Due to the vast amount of information available and many untrustworthy sources on the internet, it makes it difficult for us to make decisions about what is viable information and thus dissuades many from knowing what is worth trying. We have and will continue to research topics of interest and ensure credibility of sources. We help put patients in contact with proper practitioners in their area and locate services for them that may benefit their treatment. We are in the process of building on the services we are able to provide to cancer patients that we are so fortunate to partner with during their difficult time.

Philip (Phil) Carpenter is the Manager of Psychosocial Services for Community Hospices.  Mr. Carpenter has worked in the metropolitan Washington area in end-of- life care since 2000 when he began providing bereavement counseling and spiritual care for  a small hospice in Prince George’s county.  He then served as Director of Faith and Community Outreach and later as Director of Family Services for a larger hospice that served the entire metro DC community.  In recent years he has worked as Program Director for a pediatric palliative care collaboration and then as Bereavement Specialist and Program Officer with Hospice Foundation of America, and as Program Manager for the palliative care team and the complex, chronic care team for Children’s National Medical Center.  He has a deep passion for quality end-of-life care and a great desire to talk with the residents of the DC area  about their options for receiving this care.  A graduate of The University of Georgia, and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity), Mr. Carpenter is active in a faith community in Virginia, and enjoys time with his family and participating in local musical organizations. 

Mark Waldman has authored 14 books, including the national bestseller How God Changes Your Brain which Oprah selected as one of the nine "Must Read" books for 2012. Considered one of the world’s leading experts on consciousness, communication, spirituality and the brain, Mark is on the Executive MBA faculty at Loyola Marymount University. He also teaches at Holmes Institute.

His research has been published in journals throughout the world and his work has been featured in Time Magazine, the Washington Post, the New York Times, Forbes, Entrepreneur, and Oprah Magazine. He has appeared on hundreds of radio and television programs, including PBS and NPR, and his TED Talk has been viewed by more than 100,000 people. He received the Distinguished Speaker award from the Mind Science Foundation. 

His new book, co-authored with Andy Newberg, is called How Enlightenment Changes Your Brain, and his brain-training program, NeuroWisdom 101, will show you how to get there and achieve life-long satisfaction. NeuroWisdom is used in schools, health centers, and businesses throughout the world.

This is my story, my spiritual journey and why I am here to serve. I spent over 30 years in the Technology field as a Software Engineer and IT Professional. I have been thinking that there must be more to enjoying life than sitting behind a desk and computer all day long. Personal happiness, joy and stress free living is my goal.



I have been studying Science of the Mind for over 25 years and continue to read and study many metaphysical and self-help books in an attempt to figure out who and what I truly am. I always try to keep an open mind about every topic of conversation and always treat people the way that I want to be treated, with love, respect, kindness and caring. I found that if I follow my intuition (that little feeling or voice inside) it is always right and if I didn't there is always a consequence, whether it be good or bad. 



Coming from a scientific background I have always been analytical and have to know the details of how everything works. I have learned about the various religions, psychic abilities, scientific theories, art and music and realize that none of these things are separate. I have learned about belief systems and how every individual has one. I learned that there is a common element to everything in my world and it is ENERGY! It is everywhere and in everything! At times it is difficult to understand and wrap my mind around the concept.



I believe that we are energy beings or spirit and we create our own worlds by our belief systems. When I think with focus and intent, I manifest that experience, whether it be positive or negative. I am learning to be aware of what I'm thinking so that I don't create negative experiences. I have created UEM to provide YOU with healing modalities such as massage, reiki, sound, vibration and gemstone therapies to assist you in stress relief by using these methods to calm your nervous system, relax your tense muscles and cleanse and re-align your energy fields in an attempt to return your physical body to optimal performance.



Won't you join me in relaxing, renewing and enjoying our physical existence here on Mother Earth?

THE RAY SHASHO SHOW WELCOMES EWAN CURRIE

 GUITARIST, LEAD SINGER AND SONGWRITER FOR THE SHEEPDOGS

Trends come and go, styles fall in and out of fashion, but The Sheepdogs remain steadfast in their commitment to rock n’ roll excellence. Since their inception, the band has always sought to play the kind of music they themselves love: “Pure, simple, good-time music,” as singer/guitarist Ewan Currie puts it. It’s no surprise, then, that the band’s fifth LP, Future Nostalgia, is firmly rooted in the rock tradition that listeners have come to expect from the boys.

The idea was simple: find a nice, quiet, secluded place and make a record packed with all the hot guitar licks and sing-along choruses they could muster. So the band holed up in a rented house in the remote, idyllic setting of Stony Lake, Ontario, and set about creating a studio where they could work all hours of the day. “We wanted to cut out all the noise and get back to a place where we could just fully immerse ourselves in music,” says Currie, who took on production duties for the album. “We worked hard, but we also made sure to keep it loose and have ourselves a good time.”

Future Nostalgia is the middle ground between the JUNO-winning, platinum-certified Learn & Burn, which spawned the rock radio staple “I Don’t Know,” and its equally successful follow-up, 2012’s The Sheepdogs, featuring the instantly-recognizable, Gold-certified singles “Feeling Good” and “The Way It Is.”

The former was recorded by Currie and the band in their hometown of Saskatoon before they were propelled to fame as the first unsigned band to grace the cover of Rolling Stone, pressure free and at their own pace. Its follow-up, however, recorded in Nashville with producer and Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney, was a much more formal and rigid studio experience. This time, the band aimed to combine the successes and lessons learned from these opposite ends of the recording spectrum.

Future Nostalgia builds upon The Sheepdogs’ foundation of feel-good vocal harmonizing and nasty guitar jamming. “Our musical journey has been about trying to find how we sound our best,” states Currie, and the album represents the pinnacle of their progress thus far. That’s made immediately clear from the opening riff of “Downtown,” an undeniable straight-up rocker that sparkles with the warmth of summer. Down at the other end of the street is “Bad Lieutenant,” which walks a dark and sexy strut courtesy of bassist Ryan Gullen and drummer Sam Corbett, who also tear up the furious “I Really Wanna Be Your Man.”

Newcomers Rusty Matyas and Ewan’s brother Shamus Currie, on guitar and keys respectively, bring a new spirit to the wistful back porch vibes of “Same Old Feeling” or the brooding melancholy of “Jim Gordon.” Elsewhere, the ominous groove of “Help Us All” calls to mind the bleak violence of Blood Meridian as sung by Sly & the Family Stone, punctuated by a devastating trombone solo from Shamus.

Now, The Sheepdogs are eager to embark on the next leg of their journey, which will involve many miles logged and stages played. “I’m excited for people to hear the album, because it’s a labour of love,” Currie says proudly. “Now, it’s just about getting it out there and getting people into it.”

From their cramped Saskatchewan jam space to gold and platinum records and shows with rock icons, The Sheepdogs haven’t strayed from their goal of sharing pure, passionate rock n’ roll with anyone who’ll listen – and Future Nostalgia is packed with it.

THE SHEEPDOGS have announced the release of the highly anticipated follow-up to their 2012 award-winning self-titled LP. FUTURE NOSTALGIA arrived everywhere on October 2nd, 2015 via Warner Music. Produced by lead vocalist and songwriter Ewan Currie alongside engineer Matt Ross-Spang (former engineer at Memphis’ Sun Studios) the 18 freshly-minted tracks on Future Nostalgia were recorded in the quiet and idyllic setting of Stony Lake, Ontario, a conscientious choice by the band to ensure they kept all distractions at bay and the recording process as natural as possible. The band, comprised of Currie, Ryan Gullen (bass/vox), Sam Corbett (drums/vox), Shamus Currie (keys/horns) and Rusty Matyas (guitar/vox), set up camp up for several weeks in a rented house in the remote country where they trucked in equipment to build a studio in order to record their latest effort.  Says Currie “We worked from morning ‘til night, but we kept it loose, had a real good time, and came away with a rock n’ roll record”.

The latest record has many flavours showcasing the band’s creative license when left to their own devices ranging from the catchy, signature-sounding single “Downtown” to the introspective and soulful groove of “Bad Lieutenant” to “Help Us All”, a fresh take on a vintage vibe featuring a trombone solo from Ewan’s brother Shamus. Another highlight is the laid back, good-time, backyard jam “Same Old Feeling”, as well as the closing 6 tracks which flow one into the other to create a cohesive medley, much like the band did on their 2010 LP Learn and Burn.

Formed in Saskatoon in 2006, The Sheepdogs have received widespread acclaim for their bold and beautiful take on classic guitar rock, evinced on three self-funded, independently released albums.  The band’s hard work, determination and impressive chops have earned them a fervent fan following, leading to the accumulation of various achievements and awards including four JUNO awards, seven JUNO nominations, Gold certification for The Sheepdogs and Platinum certification for Learn and Burn. The band’s 2012 self-titled LP debuted at #1 on the Top 200 SoundScan Chart, and garnered three #1 singles at Rock Radio including Gold certified tracks “Feeling Good” and “The Way It Is”. As impassioned on stage as they are on record, The Sheepdogs have spent much of their musical lifetime on the road playing innumerable headline shows and festival appearances worldwide. 

Tracklisting

01. I'm Gonna Be Myself

02. I Really Wanna Be Your Man

03. Downtown

04. Jim Gordon

05. Bad Lieutenant

06. Jim Sullivan

07. Back Down

08. Help Us All

09. Take A Trip

10. Same Old Feeling

11. Nothing All Of The Time

12. Darryl & Dwight

13. Where I Can Roam

14. The Bridge City Turnaround

15. Plastic Man

16. Giving It Up (For My Baby)

17. I Get By

18. Where I Can Roam (Reprise)

EMMETT SKYY

MUSIC HIGHLIGHTS

• “Love Leads To Nothing” single/video release Dec. 2015 – Produced by Jeff Trott (Sheryl Crow, Josh Radin)

• Currently in studio with Chris Seefried (Fitz and The Tantrums, Andra Day)

• Performed at 2015 57th Grammy Awards with Beyoncé, John Legend and Common

• Performed with Beyoncé at 2015 Stevie Wonder Tribute show

• Performed with Josh Groban 2015 private CBS show

• Headlined Saving Innocence fundraising gala

• Marvin Gaye performance – private tribute in Las Vegas for the Gaye family

• NBA Game Opener – Opened for Phi. 76ers, original performance with modern ballet company (The Rock School)

FASHION / MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

• Truth ring line to be released Jan. 16. Co-design collaborator with Edward Vardis (jewelry) • Model for Waraire Boswell (custom designer for professional athletes)

• Featured in Ford Explorer commercial and Clear Spot commercial