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Submitted by Douglas Newsom on 19 April 2021

Headlined Guests

Guest Occupation: Cosmic comic alter ego of writer, humorist, performer and uncommontator Steve Bhaerman
Guest Biography:

SWAMI BEYONDANANDA (aka STEVE BHAERMAN)

Swami Beyondananda is the cosmic comic alter ego of writer, humorist, performer and uncommontator Steve Bhaerman. The Swami, whose favorite yoga pose is tongue-in-cheek, is the spokesperson for a new non-religion, FUNdamentalism (accent on “fun”). Says the Swami, “We are strictly non-dominational.”

Steve was pursuing a career as a teacher and writer, when a funny thing happened. The name “Swami Beyondananda” flew into his head on day in 1979. As Steve tells it, “I got struck by enlightening during a brainstorm.”

The following year, when he and a cohort were casting about for a comic mascot for their ground-breaking holistic publication, Pathways in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Swami’s name popped back up. The first issue of Pathways in January, 1980 featured an ad spoofing the old Famous Artists ads. This ad was for Famous Guru’s Schools, and the headline proclaimed, “We’re looking for people who want to draw … on higher consciousness.” The piece included some mock testimonials, including: “Dear Swami … loved your leadership training … please send followers.”

Before long, Swami was the most popular feature in Pathways, as he held forth on topics such as “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sects” (“… unbridled sects can lead to unwanted misconceptions …”), Teach Your Dog to Heal (“… being around friendly canines generates healthy hormones called puptides …”), Tantrum Yoga (“… the latest rage on the path to ire consciousness”), and Be There Now, Swami’s ultimate take on bi-location (“… the first time I stepped outside my body, I was beside myself with excitement …”).

After Pathways ceased publication, the Swami’s articles began to appear in national publications such as the old East West Journal, and local publications in Philadelphia, Austin, Salt Lake City, among others. When Steve decided to pursue comedy as a full-time career in 1985, the Swami was the obvious vehicle. (You can read the surprising story of the first words that ever came out of Swami’s mouth in the e-book, Wake Up Laughing: An Insider’s Guide to the Cosmic Comedy.)

Anyway, shortly after his first public performance as Swami in 1985, Steve met his wife-to-be Trudy, and a year-and-a-half later, they took off in a van and trailer and launched the Swami and Trudy show. And the rest … is mystery.

In the course of nearly twenty-five years of purveying cosmic comedy and healing laughter, Swami has had a successful, long-running monthly column, Ask The Swami, has written four books (Driving Your Own Karma … When You See A Sacred Cow, Milk It for All It’s Worth … Duck Soup for the Soul … Swami for Precedent: A Seven-Step Plan to Heal the Body Politic and Cure Electile Dysfunction), and produced a half a dozen comedy cassettes (sorry, not available on 8-track) and CDs.

He has been on stage with the great sages of the past quarter century, and even performed for Swami Satchidananda’s 80th birthday party in 1994, along with Hollywood celebs and international recording artists. He has gained a reputation for being both pointed and compassionate (his comedy has been called “irreverently uplifting”), and over the past decade, his comedy has become more political.

(“I know,” Swami says, “that many people don’t want to go there. But there has already come here.”)

In recent years, the Swami has performed at numerous political events, including the Transpartisan Alliance Citizens Summit, the Network of Spiritual Progressives Conference, the Department of Peace Conference, the Praxis Peace Institute Economics of Peace Conference, to name a few.

Swami’s latest venture is to combine his non-religion of FUNdamentalism with the non-politics of the newly-formed Right to Laugh Party (“one big party … everyone is invited”), to create one big evolutionary up-wising to overgrow the current dysfunctional system. He will also be launching his radio feature, Karma Talk this year — to give folks from all over the world to ask the Swami answerable questions, and receive his questionable answers.

Guest Category: Arts, Performing Arts, Comedy, Entertainment, Kids & Family, Philosophy, Society and Culture
Guest Occupation: Composer, pianist, director, performer
Guest Biography:

ALBY POTTS

Playing piano and writing music since childhood, Alby’s career has led him into a wide variety of musical spheres. As a composer, Alby’s CD Dreaming For Real charted number one nationally on independent radio stations, and received international airplay. It was also featured on inflight programming on Delta and Singapore Airlines. Alby’s piano composition Joy, Hope, and Peace appeared on George Winston’s Grammy nominated album Montana-A Love Story. Film credits include Season of Change, Frozen in Fear, and Dance, and Alby’s original ballet music has been featured in the repertory of the Rocky Mountain Ballet Theater and LA’s Lineage Dance Company. 
 
Los Angeles theater credits include musical directing Singin In The Rain (Ovation Award winner) and Miss Saigon (Ovation nomination), Chicago musical directing credits include Into The Woods and Brigadoon (Jeff Award nominations), and Boston area shows include A Christmas Carol, Gentlemen Prefer Blonds, and Music Man. Alby has also played keyboards for national tours of Wicked, Beautiful, Book Of Mormon, West Side Story, White Christmas, Spamalot and many others, as well as numerous LA area productions. Through December 31st you can hear Alby performing in the orchestra for the touring company of Something Rotten at the Ahmanson Theater.
 
Alby has a Bachelor of Music degree from the Boston Conservatory of Music and a Masters from Northwestern University.
Guest Category: Performing Arts, Entertainment, Kids & Family, Music
Guest Occupation: Founder and president of ARME, an animal rights attorney
Guest Biography:

SHANNON KEITH

Shannon Keith is the founder and president of ARME. As an animal rights attorney, Shannon represents animal rights activists in the courtroom, defends dogs on death row, and goes after animal abusers. As a filmmaker, she focuses on stopping the problem at its roots through educational documentaries and has won several awards for her groundbreaking films exposing animal cruelty. As an activist and rescuer, Shannon personally saves animals from abuse, neglect and imprisonment and organizes campaigns against animal exploiting industries. Shannon formed ARME in 2004 and formed ARME’s Beagle Freedom Project in 2010, a mission dedicated to rescuing animals from laboratories.

ARME’s mission is to eliminate the suffering of all animals. This goal is achieved by rescuing unwanted and homeless animals and by educating the public of the vast extent of the suffering animals endure in our society. Through its actions and words, ARME advances the freedom of all animals.

ARME’s EIN is: 55-0882647

ARME is a 501(c)(3) organization which relies on the kindness and consideration of the public’s donations.

Guest Category: Earth & Space, Plant & Animals, Health & Lifestyle, Kids & Family, Pets and Animals, Philosophy, Society and Culture
Guest Occupation: Multi-talented singer/songwriter from Los Angeles
Guest Biography:

GOLD MAN

Jake Goldman (aka Gold Man) is a multi-talented singer/songwriter from Los Angeles. He began playing guitar and piano at a young age and soon developed the ability to captivate audiences with his glassy voice and contagious personality. Jake’s music is sultry and stimulating with its intricate chords, unique, but catchy melodies, and charming lyrics. According to Infectious Magazine, Jake is “on the fast track to the top”, and his music is “an easy listen that will immediately get stuck in your head.”

“Gold Man—Not With Us

by Lex Voight

RIYL: As Tall As Lions, Maroon 5, Into It. Over It.

There are so many things that Gold Man does right. With “Not With Us,” the guitarist and singer-songwriter shows an adept sense of an alternative-soul sound that manages to blend pop and jazz sensibilities in an interesting, new way. It gives his songs this unidentifiable quality, as it seems to borrow equally from indie rock, pop, jazz, soul, and blues in this even-keeled way. Imagine a very stripped back As Tall As Lions with a penchant for more easy jazz tangents and you approach Gold Man’s stylings. It’s a fresh sound, and one that as a project shows a whole lot of potential from this LA-based musician. He just released his first single with a well-attended release party in Venice where the packed room grooved appreciatingly and demanded an encore.”

Guest Category: Performing Arts, Music
Guest Occupation: Author, Radio Host and Producer at Cosmic Reality Radio
Guest Biography:

Nancy Hopkins was an electronic warfare officer for the US Army in the 1970's. Even back then she had learned the dangers of electromagnet radiation. When her brother died of a brain tumor directly linked to WiFi/microwave signals and she tried to tell her family of the dangers - even her family blew her off. Without a solution no one wanted to hear about the problem.

Then in March 2014 Nancy was introduced to a mineral only found in Russia called Shungite. Nancy was on a mission to get Shungite to the masses. In May 2017 the masses included the Bees. Shungite protects against EM/WiFi radiation and her nonprofit corporation Cosmic Reality Shungite, Inc has been creating Shungite products that over 4,000 customers have purchased. While only a few hundred took the time to create a customer testimonial, the internet store has a money back guarantee only used by one person. When the bees came into the picture there was an opportunity to demonstrate Shungite’s magic by saving the bees. It is the story of the bees Nancy will share with us tonight.

Nancy is an author, radio host and producer at Cosmic Reality Radio.

Guest Category: Education, Entertainment, Alternative Health, Energy Healing, Paranormal, Inspirational, Access Consciousness, Psychic & Intuitive, Technology
Guest Occupation: Activist/Filmmaker
Guest Biography:

MATTHEW LANDMAN

Matthew Landis is a Washington DC native and University graduate, who not only holds an MBA but was firmly entrenched in the financial world when he decided to take a break and become a filmmaker.  It was while pursuing this goal he worked on an organic farm in Humboldt County, California and close to nature.  This is when Matt noticed that anticipated weather patterns did not appear, rain fronts vanished in seeming correlation to the persistent white lines in the sky.

Matt, like many of us, stumbled upon Geoengineering of the Weather while working on a farm in the Pacific Northwest.  Observation led to research which led to awakening which led to devoted activism.  The more he became aware of what was happening in the skies and the toxins falling to earth, the GMO foods and their link to glyphosate and pesticides and the poisons contained in vaccines the more passionate he has become to put a stop to them.  Matt’s passion and energy knows no bounds and he is known to “walk the streets” talking to people and handing out flyers to each “jam session” he hosts where recently I was able to catch Matt on September 9th, 2016.

In May of 2016 Matt hosted what he calls his first annual Global Chemtrail Summit in Vancouver, Canada which featured not only Matt himself as speaker but some of our activist greats such as Elana Freeland, Amanda Baise, Patrick Roddie, Terry Lawton, Harry Rhodes, Scott Stevens and Eric Cypher.  Not only was this event a resounding success but Matt has vowed to have a Global Summit every year until there is an end to this toxic assault in our skies.

In the meantime Matt continues to devote his life everyday to the project, determined to bring transparency and scrutiny to our air.  As awareness is cultivated and strategic actions developed, Matt has made a documentary film about the aerial assault being inflicted upon us titled FrankenSkies.

Frankenskies - A film by Matthew Landman

FrankenSkies is an 80 minute social change documentary regarding the Solar Geoengineering/Chemtrail agenda that affects every living being on earth. The struggle of bringing awareness to this subject, despite the obstacles of a socially engineered populace and the military industrial complex with its endless resources, is palpable in this awakening truth feature.

An impeccably timed eye opening expose, the film reveals the campaign to normalize chemical cloud formations via atmospheric aerosol dispersals. Up against a normalization timetable encompassing a controlled media and an indoctrinated educational and political system, activists ask the question : Is your silence your consent?

A shocking informative film on climate engineering, frequency control and CIA manipulation, the film’s narrative unfolds through a historical timeline of experimentation on humanity, bringing us to a modern day laboratory that encompasses the air we breath and dictates when and where the sun shall shine, or not…

Matt’s motto is “Be the change you want to see in the world.”  Let us all be that change.

A few of Matt Landman’s Facebook pages include Actual Chemtrail Activists, ACTivists Europe United, ACTual ACTivists and Franken Sky

Guest Category: Earth & Space, News, Science, Theory & Conspiracy
Guest Occupation: Actor, Writer, Books, Film, Children's Books, Speaker, Inspiration, Motivation, Love Advocate
Guest Biography:

Scott Stabile is a writer and actor, known for The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure and Dartss.  Scott's inspirational posts and videos have attracted a huge and devoted social media following. His previous works include Just Love, Iris, and the Li’l Pet Hospital series. A passionate speaker and love advocate, Scott runs daylong empowerment workshops nationally and internationally.  What happens when you fully commit yourself to love? Endless good, insists Scott Stabile, who found that out by overcoming plenty of bad. His parents were murdered when he was fourteen. Nine years later, his brother died of a heroin overdose. Soon after that, Scott joined a cult that dominated his life for thirteen years before he summoned the courage to walk away. In his book Big Love, his insightful and refreshingly honest collection of personal essays, Scott relates these profound experiences as well as everyday struggles and triumphs in ways that are universally applicable, uplifting, and laugh-out-loud funny. Whether silencing shame, rebounding after failure, or moving forward despite fears, Scott shares hard-won insights that consistently return readers to love, both of themselves and others. 

Guest Category: Arts, Business, Entertainment, Health & Lifestyle, Physics & Metaphysics, Psychology, Self Help, Spiritual, TV & Film
Guest Occupation: Author, Speaker, Columnist
Guest Biography:

Throughout his lifetime, Dennis Merritt Jones has been on a quest to inspire and lift people to a higher expression of life. His personal vision is to guide people to their purpose, knowing that when one fully awakens to who they are and why they are on the planet, they begin to naturally share their gift with humankind and, in the process, create an enriching life for themselves and the world around them.

Guest Category: Physics & Metaphysics, Spiritual
Guest Occupation: Organizer and Advocate for Travel Safety
Guest Biography:

Sheryl and Allen Hill have turned  grief into a mission.  They are founders of the only nonprofit working on travel and tourism consumer protections.  They lost their 16 year old son Tyler...but they want to help others be better prepared to bring their loved ones home.

Guest Category: Business, Education, Health & Lifestyle, History, Kids & Family, Travel & Leisure
Guest Occupation: USA Tour Guide Specialist
Guest Biography:

Paula Reynolds is the founder of the American Tour Guide Association. She is a Certified Travel Industry Specialist and a leader in hospitality when it comes to tourism.  Paula is passionate about travel and decided to make it her career. She started on the west coast and migrated to the east coast and now serves all 50 states. Paula has traveled to 38 countries and still counting. One of the qualities Paula brings to the industry is custom itineraries based on American themes. American Tour Guide Association won 2017 Best Tour Services in the USA by Lux Hospitality and is nominated for 2018 

Guest Category: Arts, Business, Entertainment, Travel & Leisure
Guest Occupation: weknownotwhatwedo.net
Guest Biography:

Mitch Russo: If you sell or license software, marketing automation, coaching or training programs or have any kind of "transformational" process, Mitch can show you how he creates multi-million-dollar divisions for his clients. His #1 Amazon Best Seller: The Invisible Organization, blueprints the entire process of going Virtual and the benefits of having a virtual company. His expertise ranges from creating virtual organizations and coaching networks to building, growing, running, selling and buying technology companies for the last 3 decades. He was the CEO and President of Business Breakthroughs with Tony Robbins.

Gaylynn Baker is an award-winning writer/director of 25 years. Recently she released her third documentary: We Know Not What We Do, which gained international attention with world-wide distribution by Silicon Beach.  Gaylynn was a keynote speaker for World Film and International Film Festival in Jakarta, and is the writer of the original screenplay Gifts of Gratitude and her second book, We Know Not What We Do, is a companion book to the documentary film. Her other documentaries won awards: THE TRAIL OF PAINTED PONIES, narrated by Ali MacGraw, also shown on PBS, and WHEN BUFFALO ROAM, narrated by Peter Coyote.

Guest Category: Arts, Business, Entertainment, Health & Lifestyle, Physics & Metaphysics, Psychology, Self Help, Technology, TV & Film
Guest Occupation: Director African American Programs Senator John Heinz History Center
Guest Biography:

Samuel has over 25 years experience in museum and historical society institutions. He has served as manuscript curator for some of the most important historical resources in African American history. An award winning curator, writer, editor, lecturer, and researcher Samuel has numerous publications in peer review journals, encyclopedias, books, magazines, newspapers, and has written or edited three books, "Soul Soldiers: African Americans and the Vietnam Era (editor);" "Through the Lens of Allen E. Cole: A Photographic History of African Americans in Cleveland, Ohio (co-author)," and "The Civil War in Pennsylvania: The African American Experience (editor)". 

Samuel serves as the Immediate Past President of the Association of African American Museums and has been a member since 1992. He has also served on the executive council of Association for the Study of African American Life & History (ASALH); and former vice president of the Dr. Edna B. McKenzie Branch of ASALH in Pittsburgh. He is a member of the Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society of Pittsburgh.

Guest Category: Arts, Education, History, Society and Culture, Travel & Leisure
Guest Occupation: Author, Education reformer, four-term councilmember, perennial mayoral candidate, Republican, now Independent
Guest Biography:

Carol Schwartz’s devotion to the District of Columbia began in 1966, when she came here to teach special education. Carol was first elected to the Board of Education in 1974, where she served until 1982. Subsequently, she was elected four times (1984, 1996, 2000, 2004) to an at-large seat on the D.C. Council, leaving in 2009. Carol, a former Republican and now Independent, ran for Mayor several times (1986, 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2014), twice against Marion Barry. As a Republican, she garnered as much as 42 percent of the vote in a city where Democrats have accounted for nearly 80% of the electorate.

On the Board of Education, Carol was elected Vice President a then unprecedented three times and was a champion for educational reform to increase test scores and for the creation of Banneker Academic High School. On the D.C. Council, her many accomplishments included lowering taxes, creating the Department of the Environment, and spearheading sick and safe leave for workers, making D.C. the second jurisdiction in the country to do so. Carol also strengthened D.C.’s Whistleblower Protection Law to become the toughest in the country, and was known for her strong oversight which greatly improved city services. She also unearthed and stopped numerous government “sweetheart deals,” earning her the title of “Best Friend of the D.C. Taxpayer” from Washington City Paper.

Carol has also shown her commitment to public service by contributing her time, her energy, and her voice to a wide array of community causes. Her volunteer work has included serving on the Boards of the Metropolitan Police Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs for 25 years (where she became its first woman President), the Whitman-Walker Clinic (where she was elected Vice Chair) for 17 years, the Hattie M. Strong Foundation for 20 years, and the Community Advisory Board of the Kennedy Center for three decades. In addition, she is currently on the Board of the Humane Rescue Alliance, the National Council of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, and the National Advisory Board of the John Wayne Cancer Foundation.

For her work on behalf of the District, Carol has received the National Capitol Area Leadership Award from the Human Rights Campaign, the Whitney M. Young Award for Community Service from the Greater Washington Urban League, the Three Decades of Leadership Award from the Washington Metropolitan Area Council of Governments, among many others, and has recently been inducted into the D.C. Hall of Fame. In early 2016, Mayor Muriel Bowser appointed her to the Board of Ethics and Government Accountability.

Born January 20, 1944, in Greenville, Mississippi, Carol spent her childhood in Midland, Texas, where she attended public schools, worked in the family store, and helped care for her brother and only sibling Johnny, an individual with intellectual disabilities, who passed away in 2004. She graduated from the University of Texas in 1965 with a degree in elementary and special education. She has three adult children, all of whom are proud graduates of the D.C. Public Schools.

On October 26, 2017, Carol released her autobiography entitled 'Quite a Life!: From Defeat to Defeat … and Back' which is available at caroldc.com, amazon.com and at these local bookstores: Politics and Prose, Busboys and Poets, Upshur Books, Capitol Hills Books, Bridge Street Books, East City Bookstore, Walls of Books, and the Howard University Barnes and Noble.

Guest Category: Business, History, Kids & Family, News, Politics & Government, Self Help, Society and Culture, Variety
Guest Occupation: Lisa Nichols, 6 time best-selling author and world-renowned speaker, and the Motivating the Masses team for three transformational, power-packed days. Motivational Speaker, Life Coach, Teacher
Guest Biography:

LISA NICHOLS is one of the world’s most-requested motivational speakers, as well as media personality and corporate CEO whose global platform has reached and served nearly 30 million people. From a struggling single mom on public assistance to a millionaire entrepreneur, Lisa’s courage and determination has inspired fans worldwide and helped countless audiences break through, to discover their own untapped talents and infinite potential.

As Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Motivating the Masses, Inc. – one of the country’s only publicly traded personal and business development training companies – Lisa has helped develop workshops and programs that have transformed the lives of men and women, and altered the trajectory of businesses throughout the country and across the world.

Lisa is also a best-selling author of six books, and her 7th book ABUNDANCE NOW, published by HarperCollins. In ABUNDANCE NOW, Lisa continues her journey with her fans, providing a clear and practical blueprint for personal success, drawn directly from the life experiences of its beloved author. ABUNDANCE NOW is the follow-up to Lisa’s New York Times bestseller, NO MATTER WHAT.

Lisa’s extraordinary story of transforming her own life from public assistance for her family to leading a multi-million dollar enterprise is the inspiration behind her bold mission to teach others that it is possible to do the same. Today, fans worldwide revere Lisa for her mastery of teaching people how to accomplishing unfathomable goals and tap their limitless potential.

A noted media personality who has appeared on Oprah, The Today Show, the Steve Harvey Show, and Extra – just to name a few, is also celebrated for the impact she has on the lives of teens. Through Lisa’s non-profit foundation Motivating the Teen Spirit, she has touched the lives of 211,650 teens, prevented over 3,800 teen suicides, supported 2,500 dropouts in returning to school, and has helped thousands reunite with families.

Among the prestigious awards and honors bestowed upon Lisa for her extensive work are the Humanitarian Award from the country of South Africa, The Ambassador Award, and the LEGO Foundation‘s Heart of Learning Award. The City of Henderson, Nevada named November 20th as Motivating the Teen Spirit Day; and the City of Houston, Texas named May 9th as Lisa Nichols Day for her dedication to service, philanthropy and healing.

Lisa lives, plays and works in the greater San Diego, California area and on stages around the world, working alongside her world-class team committed to Motivating the Masses.

Guest Category: Business, Entertainment, Health & Lifestyle, Philosophy, Physics & Metaphysics, Psychology, Self Help, Spiritual, TV & Film
Guest Occupation: Co-founder and spokesman, "The Few, The Proud, The Forgotten"
Guest Biography:

I am Mike Partain, a co-founder and public spokesman for an organization called "The Few, The Proud, the Forgotten."  From 1953 until 1987, the base water supply for Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, was highly contaminated with industrial chemicals. For the past decade I have served as a community representative to the estimated one million Sailors, Marines and their families potentially affected by the Camp Lejeune contamination. I have testified twice in Congress and I am recognized as an expert on those issues.  I was invited as a special guest to the White House in 2012, for the signing of the Janey Ensminger Act into law. Much of our fight for justice was chronicled in the award winning documentary "Semper Fi: Always Faithful."

Guest Category: Medicine, Military, News, Politics & Government, Science, Self Help, Society and Culture
Guest Occupation: writer/author/environmentalist
Guest Biography:

Pax of Wildly Women by VC Bestor

Predators balance Mother Nature. So Farraga takes time off from menopause to run a charity - Fanged Wilds and Women Program - to inspire others around the world to protect the most dangerous animals in natural habitats.

Very few ladies end up being eaten.

They are, however, targeted by extremists to whom one word is an unspeakable obscenity: Eco-feminism. Many can't even pronounce the word. What can the ladies possibly do to defend themselves?

Besides patrolling holistically herded livestock at the margins of wilderness, the micro-finance recipients also market apparel that - theoretically - repels animal attacks. For instance, F.W.W.P. uniforms are garish, since bright colors can indicate toxic unpalatability. Celebrities espouse the style as a trendy statement.

Fashion models, snobs and the hoi-polloi head toward climate collapse. F.W.W.P. anti-poaching squads stand up to opponents - even environmentalists, and fanatics of every stripe - and ultimately Save the World.

All proceeds go to Fanged Wilds and Women Program (501c3 NonProfit)- THANKS!

Who Are We? We are YOU - everyone who is ready to use the wilderness within

to protect nature.

That's us.

Ladies have unique qualities to channel.

Love of animals can be the engine for us to save our own habitat.

Instead of killing predators, we grow personally by identifying with tigers, bears... and... yes, even cougars.

Our imaginations can affirm the danger in the world's jungles and forests. Our choices can turn deserts back into grasslands... and suburban backyards into the Wild West.

Enliven our planet & ourselves! 

Click on photo above to read V.C.'s BLOG!

Science alone won't save nature,

and neither will Faith.

However, saving nature makes each one of us fully

human.

 

Like FANGED WILDS on Facebook!

Fanged Wilds and Women Program is a 501c3 Tax-Exempt Non-Profit Organization.

Guest Category: Earth & Space, News, Politics & Government, Society and Culture
Guest Occupation: Writer, poet, sculptor and a deep thinker
Guest Biography:

GAIL MICHAEL

Gail Michael is a writer, poet, sculptor and a deep thinker. For the past 4 decades, she has been on an eternal search to understand the meaning of her life and to heal her deep childhood wounds. She finally realized that every being and situation that comes before us has a message and this is where the healing begins.

Her career in corporate America spanned 20 years when she realized she had to resign and follow a dream to the Island of Capri to write a novel. So she did. Once on this enchanting island in the Mediterranean and alone with her thoughts, old memories, fears and anxiety bubbled up. She had to address them to forgive her innocence and release them. Only then was she able to step off the island and travel throughout Italy and Greece. Her internal growth and clarity and this picturesque backdrop created the character Roxanna and the story in her latest book, Unveiling Rosanna. Roxanna’s story is loosely based on Gail’s experiences and adventures.

From 1983 to 2003, Gail’s poetry was published by the International Library of Poetry, Noble House and the Amherst Society. In 2002, her first nonfiction book was published, I Am a Thousand Winds That Blow, the Healing Power of a Remarkable Death, the story of her mother’s battle with cancer.  In 2005, she was invited to co-author in the Giving Gratitude Series, Wake Up – Live the Life You Love with Deepak Chopra, Dr. Wayne Dyer, Greg Scott Reid and others.

The Passions of Roxanna was released in 2008 after Gail’s time in Italy but she eventually pulled it from her publisher to rewrite it and change the story from the place where she is today. “We can only write from what we know,” she says. “I could never have written this revised story before because I had not healed all those parts of me that needed attention.”

Her desire has always been to inspire and entertain others with her books, articles, poetry and sculptures.  Her life experiences have taught her loving kindness, compassion and empathy for others and finally herself. She is now enough.

No matter where she is in her day, Gail continues to pinch herself and asks, “How does it get any better than this?”

Guest Category: Arts, Entertainment, Kids & Family, Philosophy
Guest Occupation: Singer Songwriter
Guest Biography:

KATHERINE TERRIEN

Katherine Terrien is a Seattle, Washington, born and raised, singer/songwriter. From a young age she would be found singing at the top of her lungs to family members, but has since taken her boisterous personality to the stages and streets of L.A.. At age twenty-five, she plays around at local venues and hopes to bring her mellow, soulful music to the people of this world wherever that may lead. Keep up to date with her on her Instagram for upcoming shows and events and on Youtube for new videos!

Guest Category: Performing Arts, Music
Guest Occupation: Navy veteran
Guest Biography:

Lidia Caton was born in Trinidad and Tobago and later moved to the United States where she joined the U.S. Navy.  She became a U.S. citizen when she was on active duty.  She joined the Navy in 1979 and initially left active duty in 1981.  She then served a few years in the Navy reserves, and in 1988 she returned to active duty.  Between 1988 and 2006, she served on a number of ships, including the USS McKee (AS-41), the USS Dixon (AS-37), the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), and the USS George Washington (CV-73).  During her Navy career, she traveled the world on multiple deployments, with stops in many countries.  She retired from the Navy in 2006 as a Petty Officer First Class, SW/AW Mess Specialist/Culinary Specialist.  Since her retirement from the Navy, she has worked for Home Depot, Florida Youth Academy, General Dynamics and most recently for Veteran Choice. She also does volunteer work with the Veterans Court in Hillsborough County, Florida.   She earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from Everest University.  She is our guest on The Veterans News Hour to discuss several topics, including serving in the US Navy, the VA’s Veterans Choice program, and veterans’ treatment courts.

Guest Category: Military, News
Guest Occupation: Vice President and Director of Health Policy at AIDS United
Guest Biography:

William D. McColl, Esq., the Vice President for Policy and Advocacy for AIDS United, has been an advocate on behalf of the HIV/AIDS community, alcohol and other drug treatment and reform issues and criminal justice reform for more than 20 years. He works on implementation of health care reform, strengthening Medicaid, Medicare and the Ryan White CARE Act, implementation of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, syringe service program issues and ending HIV-specific prosecutions, increased punishment, and government-sponsored discrimination against people with HIV.

Prior to joining AIDS United, McColl worked to shape national policies on syringe exchange, treatment instead of incarceration and drug policy reform as the national affairs director at Drug Policy Alliance. As director of government relations and later executive director of NAADAC: The Association for Addiction Professionals, he worked on alcohol and substance abuse parity legislation and state level licensing issues. Earlier, McColl served in the U.S. Air Force as a Deputy Missile Combat Crew Member advancing to the rank of Captain in the U.S.A.F. Reserve. A native of Michigan, Bill earned his law degree at the University of Maryland School of Law where he wrote the first major law review article on drug courts. He also holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Michigan and an M.S. in International Relations from Troy State University.

AIDS United’s mission is to end the AIDS epidemic in the United States.

Guest Category: Business, Health & Lifestyle, Kids & Family, Politics & Government, Self Help, Society and Culture, Variety