Headlined Guests
Headlined Guests that have appeared on BBS Radio TV
Anne Leighton's Poetry Book, THE LEIGHTON EXPLOSION
Officially Released!
Our second segment of the show today welcomes another special guest … Anne Leighton who is president of Anne Leighton Media * Music Services * Motivations a multi-faceted company that helps artists who need development, marketing and/or promotional services in their careers. Some of her clients include … Ian Anderson/Jethro Tull/Martin Barre, Blackmore’s Night, Grand Funk Railroad, Gentle Giant, Orleans, KKB (with Bruce Kulick), Shun NG & Magic Dick, The Strawbs, The Family Stone, and Jann Klose to name just a few.
Anne’s worked in radio at WZIR-Buffalo, WRNW-Briarcliff Manor, WFUV-Bronx, WBUZ-Fredonia, and was an editor at HIT PARADER magazine, plus freelanced for a number of magazines including FELINE WELLNESS, CATFANCY, MUSCLEMAG INTERNATIONAL, INSIDE KARATE/KUNG FU, GOLDMINE, and CREEM. Anne’s play’s include REACH FOR THE SUN, which was performed by Poets Repertory Theater of Long Island, ONE WAY TO HEAVEN performed by the San Antonio Living Church, and THE PASSION OF MARY which was read at the Kingsbridge Library Center in her hometown of the Bronx.
Her latest project is Anne Leighton's Poetry Book, THE LEIGHTON EXPLOSION which will be released on October 15th.
I’ve worked with Anne for several years now and she’s one of the best in the business.
It’s my pleasure to welcome Anne Leighton to The Ray Shasho Show!
CHRIS FLISHER is a nationally recognized astrologer, and is an accomplished artist, teacher, speaker, writer, and radio host. In an effort to fuse his skills together, Chris also draws on his deep knowledge of astrology to create individual soul maps as well as healing mandalas. Astrology provides direct insight into the characteristics of the person, while the spiritual art of the mandala reflects the tangible experience of the healing soul. Using these time-tested tools Chris is able to guide people towards fulfilling their true purpose. Here are some recent Testimonials from clients.
Chris sees astrology and the mandala as complementary tools, which together bring about greater understanding of the Self and provide guidance and optimism for challenging and changing times. His desire to share this unique approach led him to launch “Turning of the Wheel” in September of 2007, an online radio show discussing art, astrology and spiritual adventure.
Chris is a long-standing member of the National Council for Geocosmic Research and contributes a weekly astrology column for several news publications and produces weekly astrology videos that are also available each week via YouTube. Chris has been a weekly contributing radio host of Turning Of The Wheel which is celebrating its seventh year of continuous broadcasting. He is always available for private astrology consultations.
An artist for our times, Chris’ work is regularly shown in galleries, cafes, and public art events in and around New England. He was selected by the U.S. Department of State, Arts In Embassies program to represent the United States in the embassy in Praia, Cape Verde where his artwork is on loan through 2015. He traveled to Cape Verde as a guest of the US ambassador in the summer of 2013 to host workshops for three orphanges in Cape Verde. He also participated in an international symposium on the mandala in Rome and exhibited in the highly-acclaimed Pool Art Fair in New York City. He also creates custom-commissioned art based on the unique characteristics of the birth chart, which are one-of-a-kind reflections of an individual's uniqueness.
Additionally, his art has been licensed by publishers, art skins, puzzles and more. Chris also teaches classes and workshops, and is available for speaking engagements, radio interviews, and live astrology readings.
Chris is an avid music writer and published poet. Chris was formerly the co-host of two nationally-syndicated radio talk shows, both of which focused on alternative methods for facing the challenges of life, love, and evolving. He is currently on the docent staff at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum and a regular contributor to numerous community adult education programs where he teaches both astrology and the art of the mandala.
Michael C. Irving, Ph. D. Bio
Dr. Michael Irving knows pain. In Toronto, Canada he works at Wings Neural Rehab with brain injury clients, accident and trauma victims and those suffering with debilitating chronic pain. He loves his work and gains much satisfaction from seeing people make remarkable transformations in their experience of chronic pain and emotional distress. For more than 30 years he has been working with posttraumatic stress in survivors of single incident trauma and those with a history of long-term profound child abuse. His doctoral studies in professional psychology and pre-and perinatal psychology gave him an understanding of emotional trauma and trauma resolution outside the domain of language. Dr. Irving has found that mind-body tools, techniques and strategies he learned and developed in dealing with the psychological wounds of child abuse survivors, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and early pre-and perinatal trauma were remarkably effective in controlling physical pain and even eradicating chronic pain.
Dr. Irving understands the experience of pain beyond his professional training. On a deep level his work with helping others cope with, and resolve pain, is informed by a personal history of being a child abuse survivor, living with decades of posttraumatic stress and chronic pain, overcoming a heart attack and stroke. On the lighter side, his understanding of pain management greatly helped him in meeting the challenges of running five marathons in 12 weeks to celebrate turning 65-years-old.
Whether Dr. Irving is working with trauma victims, child abuse survivors, individuals post-cardiac event, head injury victims, those suffering with chronic pain or seniors he coaches to complete a marathon he works from a foundation that living from the heart is living for the heart. His view is that wellness for the heart is much broader then a biological pump and its associated plumbing. Full-hearted health is living in all areas of one’s life from what we truly mean by “Heart”. Heart disease and other diseases can be greatly impacted by “Heart” dis-ease. We become dis-eased and then diseased when we experience deterioration of “Heart” -- love, emotions, relationships, purpose and meaning, kindness, gratitude, art and aesthetics, spirit, mindfulness, patience, courage, appreciation of nature and the connection to others.
Dr. Irving has developed a comprehensive approach to helping post cardiac event clients with mind body tools and resiliency skills for healing and quality of life. His wellness for the heart program, “Twelve Wisdoms of Wellness for the Heart”, is based on twelve tenants of: Family and Friends, Listen to your Heart, Take Charge, Stress Reduction, Harmony and Balance, Heart Healthy Food, Exercise for Life, Health Care Team, Medicines and Supplements, Meditation and Relaxation, Visualization, Spiritual Connection. Dr. Irving comes from the perspective of adding “Heart” to each of these areas is fundamental to healing and prevention with all diseases.
Dr. Irving has worked in business, in education, as a psychotherapist and a sculptor. He has published and lectured on art, myth and psychology, been featured in newspapers and magazines and has appeared on radio and television. He is a Board Member of the Toronto Native Child and Family Services. He has won awards in art, business, community peace building and for his work with children. Dr. Irving has exhibited and sold sculpture in a wide variety of mediums for more than 40 years. His stone and bronze sculptures are in private and corporate collections and have been exhibited internationally. He has received more than two million dollars in art project support and grants from individuals, foundations, government agencies and major corporations.
Dr. Irving offers practical information and guidance through counseling, trainings, seminars, publications, audios and videos and internet educational materials to address concerns of pain control and eradication, stress management and heart health.
Lily Earthling: Energetic overview of 2015
I am a Internal Researcher for our Organic Earth and Organic Sun, the current Matrix System and the return to the Original Earth Timeline.
On my path of self-discovery and through a process of disintegrating the programs and belief systems I found my own Spirit.
Working with Planet, nature and animals I found a way to harmonize my own spirit with Earth, creating a strong connection with our Mother-Planet.
Through this connection I was able to plug into the Organic core of this Intelligent and conscious Being where everything organic is communicating with everything else organic.
Through this connection I learned that Our Planet has a plan for Humanity and All life on it. This plan is absolutely brilliant and it will take Organic Earth and Organic Sun out of the Matrix System and back to the Original Earth Timeline.
I am discovering and revealing Earth Human Plan.
On this show we are looking to address :
As we are getting to the end of the Year we are looking to have a energetic overview of 2015 and talk about 2016 and challenges that Humanity may face
How we can keep in > Zero< point through these challenging times.
We are also looking to talk about how we can continue and keep mark with our self and collective healing process
How we can start manifesting organic Human reality......
Definitely 2015 had huge impact on the whole humanity...
Station#1 to listen: 1-716-7480150 >> to interact :1-888-627-6008
Lisa Marie is a professional speaker, executive coach, consultant, and workshop facilitator specializing in feminine leadership and a regular blog contributor to the Huffington Post.
At age 8 my father died abruptly and my mother became emotionally unavailable for many months. I can distinctly remember believing that I was not as good as other people, because I didn’t have a dad. The feeling snowballed into a major inferiority complex throughout most of my childhood. Around adolescence, I began blossoming and made the decision that the more insecure I felt in any situation, the higher I would hold my head to appear outwardly confident. Though this started as a coping mechanism for feeling insecure and intimidated, I unknowingly was learning how to “act as if” and eventually I truly did become confident.
In the business world, this attitude born of my childhood trauma worked to my advantage, and I confidently pursued my career. It was natural for me to bite off more than I could chew, but I just kept focused on what I brought, and trusted that I could figure the rest out as I went along. I spent over 20 years in senior sales and marketing roles at hi-tech Fortune 500 companies and was recognized as one of the 200 most influential women in my industry. I went after what I wanted, stayed focused on my goal, instead of where I lacked.
In my personal relationships, specifically the romantic ones, I could not have been more opposite. My childhood wounds of feeling abandoned, and subsequently, ’less than’ translated into; I am not okay without a man. Over and over again, I gave my power and worth away to keep a boyfriend, partner, or husband. It was a pattern that created immense suffering throughout much of my adult life and led me down the path of a 15 year personal development and spiritual journey to finding peace and happiness within.
Then, as if a brick hit me over the head, my true “a-ha” moment came. I realized there were many women in the world experiencing the same thing that I had experienced. I knew with certainty that my healing and transformation on the personal side, combined with my years in a successful corporate career, had groomed me perfectly to work specifically with professional women. I could work with them to develop the clarity, courage, and confidence to play big and lead authentically by overcoming self-doubt. I could use my experience to encourage other women to use their inherent natural feminine strengths.
I love working with women to ignite their own passion and purpose, and most importantly realize that, they are the one they have always been waiting for. I now work to create a bridge that connects the conventional business world to personal development and mindfulness – It is fulfilling work that I love!
Carole Gold is a lawyer, trained mediator, podcaster, author and intuitive.
Carole is an Intuitive Coach who guides individuals in navigating change and finding purpose. In fact, everything Carole does is built upon the foundation of allowing Intuition to be her guide. She has written “The Lightworker’s Handbook: A Spiritual Guide to Eliminating Fear” and is working on two new books. Kali’s Journey is a co-authored children’s book helping children understand loss, love and intuition. “The Cardinal Principles: 12 Principles for Surviving Change” is her most exciting work thus far. It’s about the Universal Principles that transcend the physical world and exist to provide us with a framework for conscious living. It will be both a book and 12 part You Tube presentation
Johnny Alpha comes from a background in the 50's in the navy, along with his mother and aunt who were both in the navy. From a very young age he was a subject of the MK Ultra project, but his memories have now come back to him fully. He was one of the first men to arrive on Mars on a test expedition, before the time of the super soldier program. Now he is coming forth to share his experiences and information.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgdcW7t8LKyFkdisSIIdOQg/feed
BRAD HOFF is an independent journalist, teacher, and Marine veteran. He is the founder and managing editor of Levant Report and has written for Antiwar.com, Foreign Policy Journal, Assyrian International News Agency, Medium News & Politics, Strategic Culture Foundation, Commonweal Magazine, Third World Resurgence Magazine, and others. His work has been referenced in publications ranging from The Huffington Post to The Daily Beast to Headline and Global News (HNGN) to Middle East Eye, as well as by RT News, CounterPunch, WikiLeaks, The Daily Mail Online (UK), and many others.
A Marine in Syria by Brad Hoff
Silhouettes of Beauty and Coexistence before the Devastation
He who has not lived in the years before the revolution cannot know what the sweetness of living is.
— Talleyrand, via Bertolucci, from the 1964 film Prima della Rivoluzione
IRAQ, LIBYA, SYRIA… Countries ripped apart through sectarian and political violence in the aftermath of cataclysmic external interventions: American invasion and occupation in Iraq, NATO intervention in Libya, and international proxy war in Syria. Mere mention of these countries conjures images of sectarian driven atrocities and societal collapse into the abyss of a Hobbesian jungle. And now it is commonplace to just assume it’s always been so. Increasingly, one hears from all corners of public discourse the lazily constructed logic, “but they’ve always hated each other”… or “violence and conflict are endemic to the region.” But it was not always so — I found a place of beauty, peace, and coexistence in a Syria that is now almost never acknowledged, and which risks being forgotten about. But Syrians themselves will never forget.
I SERVED IN THE MARINE CORPS during the first years of the Iraq War and was a 9/11 first responder while stationed at Headquarters Battalion Quantico, 2000–2004. I thought I knew something about Iraq upon the start of our new “war on terror:” Arab culture, with its intrinsic primal religious passions and resulting sectarian divisions, must be brought to heel under Western values of pluralism, secularism, and equality if peace and stability are to ever have a chance. This was a guiding assumption among the many Marine officers, active and retired, that I conversed with during my years at Quantico. Iraqis and Middle Easterners were, for us, abstractions that fit neatly into categories learned about by viewing a C-SPAN lecture, or perhaps in a college class or two: there are Sunnis, Shia, some dissident sects, they all mistrust each other, and they all want theocratic states with their group in charge.
My first visit to the region while desiring to study Arabic in 2004, just after completion of active duty service, and while still on the inactive reserve list, began a process of undoing every assumption I’d ever imbibed concerning Middle East culture, politics, and conflict. An initial visit to Syria from Lebanon was the start of something that my Marine buddies could hardly conceive of: Damascus became my second home through frequent travel and lengthy stays from 2004 to 2010, and was my place of true education on the real life and people of the region. While fellow service members were just across Syria’s border settling in to the impossible task of occupying a country they had no understanding of, I was able view a semblance of Iraq as it once was through the prism of highly stable Ba’athist Syria.
The other dominating interest that drew me to Syria was the country’s ancient churches and Christian communities. Discovery of the much neglected truth that the region has always been much more diverse than tends to be acknowledged did much to undo the false assumptions of my Texas Baptist childhood. I must admit that I grew up with the usual American stereotypes of the Middle East. To most Americans, the notion of Middle Eastern Christianity sounds like an oxymoron — or is at the very least highly suspect. Many Arab and Eastern Christians are asked, upon arriving in the U.S. for visit, work, or immigration, “when did you convert from Islam?” During the post 9/11 Bush years, when Syria as part of the “Axis of Evil” became a central formulation of U.S. foreign policy, such common cultural assumptions became even more deeply ingrained. How could one be a Christian and a citizen of a “rogue” Middle East state? And yet, Christians have called Syria their home for many hundreds of years prior to the foundation of the modern nation-state of Syria.
As I began to learn more about the multi-ethnic and religiously mixed kaleidoscope that is modern Syria, I marveled at how such a country could live in relative peace and stability in a region commonly perceived to be one of the most historically tumultuous and war racked on Earth, and I had to go and see for myself.
Damascus is a modern, bustling city. Manfred Schweda
DURING MY FIRST WEEKS in Damascus, I was pleasantly shocked. My preconceived notions were shattered: I expected to find a society full of veiled women, mosques on every street corner, religious police looking over shoulders, rabid anti-American sentiment preached to angry crowds, persecuted Christians and crumbling hidden churches, prudish separation of the sexes, and so on. I quickly realized during my first few days and nights in Damascus, that Syria was a far cry from my previous imaginings, which were probably more reflective of Saudi Arabian life and culture. What I actually encountered were mostly unveiled women wearing European fashions and sporting bright makeup — many of them wearing blue jeans and tight fitting clothes that would be commonplace in American shopping malls on a summer day. I saw groups of teenage boys and girls mingling in trendy cafes late into the night, displaying expensive cell phones. There were plenty of mosques, but almost every neighborhood had a large church or two with crosses figured prominently in the Damascus skyline. As I walked near the walled “old city” section, I was surprised to find entire streets lined with large stone and marble churches. At night, all of the crosses atop these churches were lit up — outlined with blue fluorescent lighting, visible for miles; and in some parts of the Damascus skyline these blue crosses even outnumbered the green-lit minarets of mosques.
Just as unexpected as the presence of prominent brightly lit churches, were the number of restaurant bars and alcohol kiosks clustered around the many city squares. One could get two varieties of Syrian-made beer, or a few international selections like Heineken or Amstel, with relative ease. The older central neighborhoods, as well as the more upscale modern suburbs had a common theme: endless numbers of restaurants filled with carefree Syrians, partying late into the night with poker cards, boisterous discussion, alcohol, hookah smoke, and elaborate oriental pastries and desserts. I got to know local Syrians while frequenting random restaurants during my first few weeks in Damascus. I came into contact with people representative of Syria’s ethnically and religiously diverse urban centers: Christians, Sunni Muslims, Alawites, Druze, Kurds, Armenians, Palestinians, and even a few self-declared Arab atheists. The characterization of Syrian city life that increasingly came to my mind during my first, and many subsequent visits and extended stays, was of Syria a consciously secular society when compared to other countries in the region.
Nights full of parties and dancing in Syrian homes. Author is behind the camera quickly overcoming his prior false orientalist stereotypes.
IN THE MORE TRADITIONAL COUNTRYSIDE, life moved at a slower pace. From my experience in villages from the Hauran region in the South, to Homs countryside in central Syria, there arose a common theme: a duality of work (typically agriculture) and family oriented leisure — with the year regulated by a pattern of village celebrations for weddings, baptisms, graduations, birthdays, and religious festivals. Movement of time in the village seemed to bring with it a palpable “lightness of being” — especially in the more picturesque mountain villages in places like the Valley of the Christians (Wadi al-Nasara) near Homs. The typical Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays in most any Syrian village were spent with extended family and village friends gathered on a patio around a slow burning coal barbeque pit. This is not unlike an American style barbeque, but the Syrian version tended to last for eight or more hours, and was sometimes a village-wide affair that easily extended to an evening party with live music. Women socialized while making kibbe and tabbouleh by hand (an hours-long affair) — so that food preparation itself became a kind of natural social ritual. Men exchanged news and speculated about village rumors, fanned the slow burning coal and endlessly sipped tea, strong Arabic coffee, and smoked cigarettes or hookah pipe.
Though much is now said of Syria’s sectarian divisions, religiously mixed villages were everywhere, and operated not much differently from religiously or ethnically homogeneous villages. If there was a party on the occasion of a Muslim holiday, Christians and Alawites came out and joined in on the feasting and traditional dancing. During Christmas and Easter parties, or for the Feast of St. George, Muslims were heard giving a “Merry Christmas” and other greetings of respect to Christians, and joined in on the festivities. In the multiple mixed Druze and Christian villages of the ancient Hauran region, there were common-use village party grounds situated near the main entrances to villages, which were used to celebrate weddings and national holidays. If a wedding took place, it was expected that all families of the village would come out — whether the wedding was Muslim, Druze, or Christian. The village patriarchs, including the local Orthodox priest, the Catholic priest, and Druze cleric, would attend the joint celebration.
Qraya is an example of one such diverse village set amidst the black volcanic crusted plains of the Hauran region (from the Aramaic word which means “cave land”). A somewhat recently erected gray and white concrete mosque memorial commemorating the “Great Syrian Revolution” — the 1925–1927 revolt that solidified Syrian national feelings during the French Mandate period, towers over the sleepy village. In 2009 the Syrian government, in an official ceremony, interred the remains of celebrated Druze patriarch Sultan Hilal al-Atrash there. He led what was initially a mass Druze revolt against the French, which had been ruling Syria since the close of World War I. What began as a Druze revolt primarily focused in southern Syria’s Jabal al-Druze (literally “Druze Mountain”) was soon joined by Sunnis, Christians, and Alawites. This represented Syria’s first popular movement toward nationalism which reached “street level” across the different segments of French-ruled Syria. Reflecting the far reaching impact and diverse appeal of the anti-colonial revolt, al-Atrash famously said, “Religion is for God, the fatherland is for all.”
With similar sentiment, Syrians that reject the notion of the contemporary conflict as a mere sectarian driven crises are now often heard to reply with a simple “I am Syrian” when asked about their religious identity.
The cross and the crescent side by side in the historic walled “old city” of Damascus.
I CERTAINLY WITNESSED plenty of examples of Islamic conservatism in Syrian public life, but it was the secular and pluralistic (represented in the diverse population living side by side) aspect that always seemed to dominate, whether I was in Damascus, Homs, Aleppo, or coastal areas like Tartus. Syria’s committed secular identify was confirmed to me more than ever when I first traveled the freeway that wraps around Mt. Qasyoon — the small mountain against which the Damascus urban center is nestled. My speeding taxi passed a couple of expansive foreign car dealerships, but most prominent were a seeming myriad number of windowless entertainment venues, structured like residential mansions, lining both sides of the road. My taxi driver laughed at my perplexed expression and informed me that this was “brothel row” (my translation) — a red light district of sorts. When I later got to know a group of Syrian Christian guys — enough to where I could ask potentially awkward or embarrassing questions — they confirmed, with some degree of shame, that all big cities in Syria have their seedy underbellies (“like your Nevada,” my friend Michel said). Places like brothels and “pick-up bars” were allowed to operate in public, but didn’t necessarily advertise what they were about. The Christians looked upon this “dark side” of Syrian society with no less moral revulsion than local conservative Muslims. Yet, it was explained to me that while the Syrian government was deeply authoritarian in some respects, it generally allowed (and enforced) openness in social and religious areas unparalleled anywhere in the Middle East. Most Americans would be very surprised to learn of such elements in Syrian society that are not much different from what one would find in Europe or the U.S.
This social openness was most clearly to the advantage of Christians and other religious minorities living in a country numerically dominated by the about 70% Sunni Muslim majority. The secular face of the government and civic life allowed Christians to worship freely, and to even display their Christianity very publicly. My first experience of this came one particular winter evening in the Qassa neighborhood near Bab Touma — the expansive and most well-known among the Christian neighborhoods of Damascus. A special dignitary, the Orthodox Archbishop of Finland, was visiting a local church. He was greeted with a parade that took over an entire city street. He processed down the street and into the church with a uniformed marching band leading the way, made up of a local Christian scouting organization.
I witnessed similar displays especially at Christmas and Easter in all different parts of Syria: public processions, church bells ringing loudly, Christmas trees and lights, images of Jesus displayed prominently, church music blaring over loud speakers, and exuberant wedding parties. One small city, Maaloula — an hour northwest of Damascus, even had its annual local public holiday in celebration of the cross which Syrian news depicted as attracting tens of thousands of people.
Beauty amidst encroaching war: the sleepy village of Saidnaya sits at the edge of the now conflict-ridden Qalaman mountains
PRIOR TO VISITING SYRIA, I would have never conceived of the possibility of state TV in a Middle Eastern country actually airing coverage of a Christian festival. My Syrian friend, upon seeing my incredulous gaze as churches were being shown on the main government channel, shrugged and told me, “but this is Syria.” To him, Syria was stood alone in the region as an example of Christians and Muslims living together in peace and as equals. A Syrian could look for confirmation of this to his western border, where Lebanon was still attempting to come to grips with its two decades long sectarian civil war; or he could look immediately east, where Iraq’s ethnic and religious divisions were blowing up under U.S. and Coalition occupation; or north to Turkey, where it was illegal to discuss the Greek and Armenian genocide in public; as well as to the Arabian peninsula — where a culture of Sharia courts and religious police made church only a thing for Western expat workers living their lives within walled ARAMCO communities. But the cross and the crescent appeared side by side in every major Syrian city. Such public pluralism, where Christianity received constant public acknowledgement side by side with Islam, was the greatest surprise upon my initial visit to Syria.
All in all, what I unexpectedly observed in Syria was a high degree of personal freedom not found in other countries of the Middle East. This personal freedom was exercised in all areas of life except for politics — a strange paradox. The government seemed to leave people alone in areas of religion, social behavior, family life, and work pursuits; but political dissent was not tolerated, and Syrians seemed to accept this as a difficult fact of life. The average working class Syrian was resigned to accept the government promise of security and stability in exchange for limitations upon personal political freedoms. With multiple religions and ethnic groups living side by side in a volatile region full of historic and hidden animosities, as well as ceaseless external geopolitical pressures, it seemed a sensibly practical, even if unjust, solution. There was a palpable feeling of an “enforced secularism” binding Syrian society together.
The kind of religious and cultural pluralism represented in the liberal democracies of the West was present in Syria, ironically, through a government mandated “go along, get along” type policy backed by an authoritarian police state. One can even find Syrian Jews living in the historic Jewish quarter of Damascus’ walled old city to this day. I was told, upon visiting their synagogue, that most had gone to Brooklyn, though there were perhaps a dozen families left.
Just prior to early 2011, as the “Arab Spring” movement which had enveloped Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya, seemed to be potentially losing steam, I was deeply skeptical that a mass uprising would gain traction in Syria. Syria had plenty of deep seated problems as a nation run by an old school Arab socialist ruling clique; but too much of the population, especially in the major cities, seemed heavily invested in the status quo ensured by a stable regime, however less than ideal the status quo might have been.
When Assad unexpectedly came to power in 2000 after the deaths of his father and brother, he promised to take Syria into a new, modern age of reform. These were the days of “early Assad,” when many in Washington declared “Assad is a reformer” (Hilary Clinton was declaring this even as late as early 2011). But the Syrian government has always been much more than a dictator, or even a ruling family. Even should President Assad desire reform, the old elites which form the outer circles of Ba’ath influence provide a strong “check” on what even he might hope to enact. The economic fortunes of these institutional elites were dependent on the Assad status quo, and this made the type of drastic change that leaders in Western capitals suddenly demanded practically impossible. In addition, the middle class families of the most populace cities, especially Damascus and Aleppo, were not discontent enough to go to the streets. This, not too much unlike middle-class Americans who merely shrugged when mass government abuses like domestic spying and pervasive government breaking of Constitutional rights were definitively revealed in 2013.
Most Syrians I knew were deeply fearful of a sudden cataclysm that might send Syria the way of sectarian Iraq, especially a program that took decision making away from actual Syrians. News savvy Syrians even had Western sponsored “democracy experiments” more recent in time than Iraq to consider: Post Gaddafi Libya began to unravel from the moment of its “liberation” by NATO. As international press generally fell silent on new Libya’s slow descent into chaos at the hands of accountable-to-no-one armed militias, it focused its eye on unreformed Syria. A few attempts at Facebook sponsored “days of rage” protests failed to gain any traction inside Syria, to the great disappointment of self anointed “democracy promoters” in the West. I was personally relieved during this brief period of Arab Spring “inactivity” — the examples of Egypt and Libya (and to some extent Tunisia) were making it abundantly clear that the main beneficiaries of this “springtime” were political Islamists from the the Muslim Brotherhood, to Ennahda Party (the Salafist Tunisian party), to the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (an Al-Qaeda linked terror organization). The losers were increasingly the Arab Left, the secularists, and the religious and ethnic minorities.
A destroyed icon from the village of Maaloula, after it was taken over by Western and Gulf backed rebel forces in 2013. Source: Antiochpatriarchate.org
It is simply a self evident premise that the so-called “Arab Spring” has resulted not in greater democracy and individual liberties across the Middle East, but in the political and military ascendancy of radical Islamist groups from North Africa to the Levant. It would shock most Americans to know that Washington has aided, and is currently aiding, radical Islamic groups that are indistinguishable from Al-Qaeda throughout the course of these revolutions. This occurred openly and most directly in Libya through American-led NATO bombing (after which the first flag to fly over the main Benghazi courthouse was that of Al-Qaeda), and has now long been occurring clandestinely in Syria, though certainly an open and increasingly acknowledged secret. The most radical insurgent groups the world has ever seen are now popping up all over Syria. It should come as no surprise that Syria’s vulnerable religious minority communities have been the first to feel the wrath of these groups.
Disturbingly, Syria is now being slowly liquidated of its Christians and other religious and ethnic minorities (or really anyone desiring a pluralistic and relatively secular nationalistic public order) — a reality that was set in motion near the very beginning of armed uprising in Syria. America, NATO, and Arab Gulf countries continue to give political and material support to a Syrian rebel movement that is bent on exterminating Christians, Alawites, Shiites, Druze, and Muslims that don’t share the same radical ideology. One popular chant routinely echoed in rebel dominated areas of Syria is “Christians to Lebanon and Alawites to the sea… .” Sadly, the seemingly endless number of takfiri insurgent groups unleashed on Syria are making good on that promise.
Pre-war Syria was certainly not ideal; but the fruit of revolution — a country thrown into a state of utter chaos and destruction, cyclic violence, and economic ruin for at least years to come — has revealed itself to be, for most common sense people, the greatest of all possible evils.
Brad Hoff served as a Marine from 2000–2004 at Headquarters Battalion, Quantico. After military service he lived, studied, and traveled throughout Syria off and on from 2004–2010. His website is LevantReport.com and he currently teaches in Texas.
Bio, David Manning
Born in 1963, David was a highly psychic child, hearing voices, and having out of body and mystical experiences from very early in life. A hugely dysfunctional addict family life and an early and major pattern of sexual abuse were formative experiences in David's life, and he was himself using solvents by the age of eight.
Conscious spiritual life began at the age of 27, when the voices of his childhood returned. David went on to study psychic development and spiritual healing for over six years at London's College of Psychic Studies.
Very quickly he was offering workshops and giving readings and gaining a reputation as a gifted healer and intuitive. His addicted background had not at that stage been resolved, and proved to be a major sticking point for David. The pain and confusion of living as an addict, along side a very deep spiritual calling almost cost him his life.
Soon after giving up alcohol and drugs in 2000, David was diagnosed with an HIV related liver cancer, which was medically speaking considered to be terminal. It proved to be a profound and deeply healing and guided journey, which forced a choice in David's self destructive psyche. The choice he made was to stay on the planet, and within a few weeks of setting the clear intention to live, the cancer had inexplicably disappeared.
What followed was a deep descent into the shadow that David had avoided for so long. The repressed memories of childhood surfaced, leading to deep healing of old wounds.
He trained went on to train and work in garden design, but always his major interest was in the mystical worlds.
Sound has long been a part of David's approach to healing. No formal training in this method has been undertaken. Rather, a Native American shaman on the inner plains, who told David, "I am you in another life", leads healing ceremonies and songs for clients. The sounds have a profound healing impact on energy fields, patterns of trauma and dis-ease.
Today, David runs an energy work practice mainly over Skype, distance or location being no bar to the impact of the work. David sees deeply into the stories, structures and patterns in energy fields and works with sound, and focused intent to help these locked patterns to release.
He has an ability to weave story, sound and energy together in healing journeys for large groups of people, leading them into deep collective wounds in order to bring release and freedom. He works as an agent of change for landscapes and collective consciousness, and acts as a genetic initiator, awakening ancient star strands of DNA in individuals and collective fields.
He has recently become aware that his next phase of work involves the surfacing of deeply submerged Atlantean memories for the collective, as we awaken to the gifts we used to live.
WE THE ONES
We The Ones – 7 piece Folk Rock Band, focusing on an array of harmonies while spreading a melodic folk tale heartbeat of the collective consciousness! The collective is made up of members Salome Gasviani, Richard Vagner, Ryan Bratton, Tim Keller, Trevor George, Boris Vagner and Effrain Ramirez.
Mission/Bio :
We The Ones is a musical odyssey converging around spiritual and philanthropic activism.
Created in 2013 with the mission of using music as a vehicle in spreading awareness of global issues while gathering a like-minded collective.
We The Ones revolves around the belief that we, the entirety of consciousness, are intrinsically one. We are one energy that lives on this planet together.
We are all the ones to enable change within our lives.
SYDNEY BROUILLARD-COYLE
Sydney Brouillard-Coyle is an empowered, passionate 14-year-old from Windsor, Ontario, who shows us that no matter what our age, size or colour – we can all make a difference.
She has been fundraising and volunteering since she was six. In 2012 she appeared at We Days all across Canada and confidently proclaimed that she will one day be the Prime Minister of Canada.
Sydney is a change-maker who proves, each day, that children are not just the future – they are the present.
Testimonials
“I was struck by young Sydney’s level of comfort on stage. Indeed she thrives on speaking to large groups. The powerful message that Sydney brought to the mature audience moved them so much that no one was left in their seat! Sydney represents hope for the future.”
Rev. Canon Linda Nixon and Nancy Harvey, co-chairs, EnviroAction Committee for the Diocese of Huron
“Sydney is a powerhouse. Her ability to draw an audience to her is something to see. Whether speaking to 20,000 or 20, her intellect and charm quickly win everyone over, and her passion delivers the coup de grace.”
Christopher Carnegie, LVO, Hon. Assistant Private Secretary to TRH The Earl & Countess of Wessex, and Founding Director, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Charter for Business
Full Biography
Sydney Brouillard-Coyle
An empowered, passionate 13-year-old from Windsor, Ontario, Sydney Brouillard-Coyle wants to change the world. And even though she has very publicly stated her intention to become the Prime Minister of Canada in 40 years, she’s by no means waiting to take real action. In fact, she provides an incredible example for youth across the country of how it doesn’t matter what age, size or colour we are – we can make a difference.
Starting at age six, Sydney rallied her church community to make sandwiches for a downtown mission. At the age of nine she not only engaged her school to fundraise for a women’s shelter, but also create a garden in order to grow fresh produce for its kitchen. After inspiring fellow participants at Me to We’s Take Action Camp in 2012, Sydney was invited to speak at We Days all across Canada where she shared the stage with Molly Burke and Marc Kielburger. And that’s where, at the age of 12, she proclaimed to tens of thousands that her dream is to one day occupy the country’s top office.
In the summer of 2013 Sydney travelled to Kenya on a Me to We trip to gain further insights into the life journeys of her peers. She believes deeply that the world can be a better place and enjoys challenging others to light their sparks and make a difference. Sydney’s confidence and commitment are an inspiration to behold – she is a change-maker who proves each day that children are not just the future – they are the present.
Ryan Divish is an American sportswriter, blogger, media personality and the Seattle Mariners beat writer for the Seattle Times. Divish grew up in Havre, Montana and played college baseball at Dickinson State University. Ryan worked for the Tacoma News Tribune from 2006-2013 where he covered the Seattle Mariners, University of Washington football and Tacoma Rainiers.
Michelle is one of the creators of 'The Spiritual Guidance Network'. Michelle received her doctorate in Naturopathy, from the American institute of Natural Healing in November of 2000. She also holds a certificate in clinical hypnotherapy from "The Hypnotherapy Training Co." and is both certified and registered by the American Board of Hypnotherapy. She is also a Reiki Master-Teacher.
The Spiritual guidance network has been designed specifically individuals along a personal path to empowerment and spiritual growth!
Read more: http://spiritualguidance.proboards.com
HARLAN ELLISON has been called “one of the great living American short story writers” by the Washington Post; and the Los Angeles Times said, “It’s long past time for Harlan Ellison to be awarded the title: 20th Century Lewis Carroll.”
In a career spanning more than 40 years, he has won more awards for the 75 books he has written or edited, the more than 1700 stories, essays, articles, and newspaper columns, the two dozen teleplays and a dozen motion pictures he has created, than any other living fantasist. He has won the Hugo award 8½ times, the Nebula award three times, the Bram Stoker award, presented by the Horror Writers Association, six times (including The Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996), the Edgar Allan Poe award of the Mystery Writers of America twice, the Georges Méliès fantasy film award twice, two Audie Awards (for the best in audio recordings), and was awarded the Silver Pen for Journalism by P.E.N., the international writer’s union (this prestigious accolade was presented for his columns in the L.A. Weekly, titled “An Edge in My Voice,” in defense of the First Amendment). After writing the columns for only 29 weeks, he beat out candidates from the L.A. Times, the N.Y. Times, and the Washington Post. He was presented with the first Living Legend award by the International Horror Critics at the 1995 World Horror Convention. He is also the only author in Hollywood ever to win the Writers Guild of America award for Most Outstanding teleplay (solo work) four times, most recently for “Paladin of the Lost Hour” his Twilight Zone episode that was Danny Kaye’s final role, in 1987. In March (1998), the National Women’s Committee of Brandeis University honored him with their 1998 Words, Wit & Wisdom award.
He has drawn attention to the art of writing by performing the remarkable feat of actually creating and writing and completing stories in the windows of bookstores (in Paris, London, New York, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New Orleans and elsewhere) in full view of large audiences; stories that have gone on to win major awards and literary prizes. To gain background for his first novel, dealing with juvenile delinquency, he went under an assumed name and ran with a kid gang in Brooklyn’s dangerous Red Hook section for ten weeks. He has covered and written about civil rights marches, riots, antiwar demonstrations and other scenes of civil unrest. His two books of TV essays, THE GLASS TEAT and THE OTHER GLASS TEAT, have sold millions of copies and are currently being taught in media classes in more than 200 American Universities.
Ellison has traveled with rock groups such as The Rolling Stones, and his novel of the scene, SPIDER KISS, is called by music critic Greil Marcus “…the finest novel about the world of rock in the past quarter century.”
In a 1980 landmark lawsuit he sued and beat ABC-TV and Paramount Pictures for $337,000 when they plagiarized a television series he had created. This was the famous Brillo/Future Cop case.
Among his most recognized works, translated into more than 40 languages and selling in the millions of copies, are DEATHBIRD STORIES, STRANGE WINE, APPROACHING OBLIVION, I HAVE NO MOUTH & I MUST SCREAM, WEB OF THE CITY, LOVE AIN’T NOTHING BUT SEX MISSPELLED, ELLISON WONDERLAND, MEMOS FROM PURGATORY, ALL THE LIES THAT ARE MY LIFE, SHATTERDAY, and STALKING THE NIGHTMARE; and as creative intelligence and editor of the all-time bestselling DANGEROUS VISIONS anthologies and MEDEA: HARLAN’S WORLD, he has been awarded two Special Hugos and the prestigious Milford Award for lifetime Achievement in Editing.
His latest publications include: THE ESSENTIAL ELLISON (Nemo Press, 1987; Morpheus International, 1991), an enormous 1,000+ page, thirty-five year retrospective of his work (this year, THE ESSENTIAL ELLISON has been expanded to reflect a fifty-year career in writing); ANGRY CANDY (Houghton Mifflin, 1988), winner of the 1989 World fantasy award for best Short Story Collection and listed in the ENCYCLOPEDIA AMERICANA ANNUAL as one of the major works of American Literature for 1988; HARLAN ELLISON’S WATCHING (Underwood–Miller, 1988) a compilation of 20 years of film criticism; THE HARLAN ELLISON HORNBOOK (Penzler Books & Mirage Press, 1990); HARLAN ELLISON’S MOVIE (Mirage Press, 1990); DREAMS WITH SHARP TEETH (Book-of-the-Month Club, 1991); MEFISTO IN ONYX (Mark V. Ziesing, 1993); MIND FIELDS (Morpheus, 1994) with Polish artist Jacek Yerka; I, ROBOT: THE ILLUSTRATED SCREENPLAY (based on Isaac Asimov’s story-cycle; Warner Books, 1994); THE CITY ON THE EDGE OF FOREVER screenplay (Borderlands Press, 1995, and White Wolf, 1996); SLIPPAGE (Mark V. Ziesing, Houghton Mifflin, 1997); and the coffee table edition of “REPENT, HARLEQUIN!” SAID THE TICKTOCKMAN (Underwood Books, 1997) with paintings, rendered by Rick Berry.
May (1996) saw the publication, by White Wolf Publishing, of EDGEWORKS: The Collected Ellison (Vol. #1). This first of a series of 20 volumes of the collected fiction, essays, teleplays and columns contains the books AN EDGE IN MY VOICE and OVER THE EDGE, with completely revised, updated and expanded manuscripts…the variorum texts! November (1996) saw the publication of the second EDGEWORKS omnibus, containing the books SPIDER KISS and STALKING THE NIGHTMARE. In rapid succession White Wolf Publishing also released volumes 3 and 4 of the EDGEWORKS series.
Ellison served as Creative Consultant on the revival of the CBS-TV series The Twilight Zone until late November of 1985, at which time he resigned (to considerable media attention) due to network censorship of a script dealing with racism that he had written and was in the process of directing. From 1993 until 1998 and the end of the series, Ellison also served as Conceptual Consultant on the popular syndicated hit series Babylon 5. Recently, Ellison adapted his short story “The Face of Helene Bournouw” for a Showtime cable series.
“The Human Operators” (based on a short story co-written with A.E. van Vogt), aired early in 1999 as part of the Outer Limits series.
Also a member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), Ellison has voiceover credits on many shows including Pirates of Darkwater, Mother Goose & Grimm, Space Cases, Phantom 2040, The Sci-Fi Channel and Babylon 5 (in the episode titled “Ceremonies of Light and Dark” Harlan plays the Voice of the B5 computer, and in the episode “Day of the Dead” you can hear him as “Zooty”). Ellison’s first TV appearance as a fictional character was also on Babylon 5 in the episode “The Face of the Enemy.” He played a Psi-Cop opposite Walter Koenig as “Bester.” His latest acting role was as the mysterious “Grifter” in the series Psi Factor. Mr. Ellison has also done many Spoken Word recordings (most recently for Audio Literature’s series of recordings; including Mr. Ellison’s short story collection MIDNIGHT IN THE SUNKEN CATHEDRAL) and has received Grammy nominations for his recordings. For six years, he was the weekly commentator on The USA Network’s Sci-Fi Buzz show. He continued in the role of weekly commentator for Galaxy Online with his on-screen series Working Without A Net®.
On 30 April 1999, Mr. Ellison won two Audie Awards (presented by the Audio Publishers Association to honor the best in audio recordings) in the categories of Solo Narration, Male, for reading Ben Bova’s CITY OF DARKNESS (published by Dove Audio) and Multi-Voiced Presentation, as part of an all-star cast reading THE TITANIC DISASTER HEARINGS: THE OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT OF THE 1912 SENATORIAL INVESTIGATION by Tom Kuntz (published by Dove Audio).
Ellison won a Bram Stoker award for his collection of stories THE VOICE FROM THE EDGE (Volume 1). A follow-up collection titled, MIDNIGHT IN THE SUNKEN CATHEDRAL, is currently available.
Mr. Ellison worked as a consultant and host for the radio series 2000X, a series of 26 one-hour dramatized radio adaptations of famous SF stories for The Hollywood Theater of the Ear. The series was broadcast on National Public Radio (NPR) in 2000 & 2001. Ellison’s classic story “Repent, Harlequin!’ Said the Ticktockman” was included as part of this significant series, starring Robin Williams, with the author in the role of Narrator. Harlan Ellison was awarded the Ray Bradbury Award For Drama Series: For Program Host & Creative Consultant: NPR Presentation of 2000X.
Harlan Ellison can be heard as the voice of the insane god-computer AM in the CD-ROM computer game, the bestselling I HAVE NO MOUTH, AND I MUST SCREAM. Though Mr. Ellison doesn’t even own a computer, he has amazed the world of electronic entertainment by creating and implementing a cutting edge “ethical scenario” that one reviewer lauded as “…a game that challenges both intelligence and wisdom, and in this longtime gameplayer’s experience, it stands practically alone in the gaming landscape.” Ellison reprised his role as the voice of the evil computer AM in the broadcast adaptation of I HAVE NO MOUTH, AND I MUST SCREAM for the BBC radio series Chillers.
In 1990, Ellison was honored by P.E.N. for his continuing commitment to artistic freedom and the battle against censorship. He lives with his wife, Susan, inside the Lost Aztec Temple of Mars, in Los Angeles.
Harlan Ellison’s 1992 novelette “The Man Who Rowed Christopher Columbus Ashore” was selected from more than 6,000 short stories published in the U.S. for inclusion in the 1993 edition of THE BEST AMERICAN SHORT STORIES.
After three years in production, January 1995 saw the debut of Ellison’s own ongoing, monthly comic book from Dark Horse called HARLAN ELLISON’S DREAM CORRIDOR. In its first year of publication the graphic narrative magazine garnered such overwhelming and unanimous rave reviews—and the original stories Ellison wrote for each issue won so many awards—that in August of 1996 the magazine was re-launched in book-style format, with more pages, as HARLAN ELLISON’S DREAM CORRIDOR QUARTERLY.
“Chatting with Anubis,” an original short story written especially for HARLAN ELLISON’S DREAM CORRIDOR #4, won The Deathrealm Award for The Best Short Fiction of 1995 and the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in Short Fiction which was given out by The Horror Writers Association in June 1996. At the same awards ceremony, Harlan Ellison was also given The Lifetime Achievement Award. His latest collection, SLIPPAGE, won the 1998 Locus Poll Award as Best Story Collection.
On 22 June 1998, Ellison’s career reached a dizzying summit when he became the answer to a clue in the Double Jeopardy round of that evening’s broadcast of the television game show, Jeopardy.
He is a frequent guest on ABC’s Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher.
In January 2001, Mr. Ellison signed to develop his award-winning Outer Limits script, DEMON WITH A GLASS HAND, for Miramax’s Dimension Films as a theatrical feature. He is working with director David Twohy whose previous credits include: THE ARRIVAL, PITCH BLACK, G.I. JANE, and THE FUGITIVE. Other Ellison works currently in the pipeline for film and TV include: “Along the Scenic Route,” optioned by Paramount Pictures.
Mr. Ellison’s first Young Adult collection, TROUBLEMAKERS: STORIES BY HARLAN ELLISON, was released in November 2001.
And as Tom Snyder said on the CBS Late, Late Show: “An amazing talent; meeting him is an incredible experience.”
Esther Hunter is a gifted orator, lifestyle & business coach, author and ordained minister, with over 15years of experience hosting women’s conferences and workshops designed to holistically lift women out of the ashes of life into beautiful new beginnings.
As a local church communicator, television, radio media guest, and radio personality, she gives practical demonstrations and strategic leadership insight conveying the dynamics of how faith and action lead to fulfillment of destiny. Esther’s passion is to bring awareness to society of the immense value of the individual, shifting the lives of people from pain to progress, from shame to success, from negative to positive outcomes. She holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, and is currently pursuing a Masters in Counseling degree.
Email: estherhunterministries@yahoo.com
FB: Esther a Hunter, MBA
Twitter: @BeauTfulYou
Jimmy Duggans is a speaker, personal trainer, and wellness coach. He received his M.A from Christian Bible College in Independence, Missouri. He has also completed his requirements for his Doctorate in Theology from Friends International Christian University in Merced, California, (awaiting conferment). He is currently enrolled in Lipscomb University M.S. Exercise and Nutrition Science Program. He served his country proudly for 9 years in the United States Air Force and was honorable discharged. He has also pastured 2 churches, in Mississippi and Tennessee. He has also done mission work in Jamaica and Kenya. Jimmy is an avid fitness enthusiast, and has 31 years fitness experience. He is the author of a book entitled: Faith and Fitness after 40 and has his own personal training business. He has a interest in practical healing, and has a passionate interest in natural, nutrition based Diabetes and cancer cures.
Education:
Friends International Christian University , Doctorate in Theology (awaiting conferment)
Lipscomb University, M.S. in Exercise and Nutrition Science. (Graduate Summer 2015)
Christian Bible College and Seminary, M.A in Biblical Studies and B.A in Theology (2004
“Every man [and woman] I meet is my superior in that I may learn from him [and her]”. - Ralph Waldo Emerson.
In his freshman year of College, Elias Scully discovered his passion.
Instead of studying computer science and following the path that had been designed for him by family and society, he switched majors and decided to study Philosophy.
The experience of finding his passion prompted him to pursue his love for philosophy in the academy where he stayed on that path for about 10 years.
Among the many questions that captured his attention in his graduate school career was finding out how thoughts affected action.
- What drives people to the make the choices they make?
- What moves them to want to excel?
- Why do some people overcome challenges and some give up?
- What strategies and techniques can one use to better manage their mindset and attitude?
- How can one effectively motivate and inspire oneself to keep going despite personal and financial complications and setbacks?
Elias sought answers for these questions from within the field of philosophy. But he didn’t stop there. He also looked for answers in other fields of thought; reading and studying books from clinical psychotherapy, religious studies and even pop psychology. He also spent time observing and studying the way professionals kept themselves in top mental and physical condition. And in this process, he discovered fundamental principles of thought and action that have allowed him to use his energy consciously and to purposefully direct it toward achieving his personal and professional goals.
Despite the results he experienced and shortly before writing his PhD dissertation, he recognized a deep desire in him to do something different. He knew he had a gift to impact people – to move them to actively direct their lives, change their habits and live their purpose. He also realized that the academy was no longer the right place for him to see the full fruition of this gift.
He began to experience this feeling with greater and greater intensity each day until one day the answer he was looking for was there. So he quit his Ph.D and started a personal development website
On his website, Elias writes articles to help people make conscious decisions in their lives and grow in their personal lives and their businesses. And he uses his own example to demonstrate the effectiveness of his strategies and techniques. He does so by taking on personal development challenges and writes about them on his blog. In fact, he is currently in the last quarter of his 90,000 Words in 90 Days Challenge. In this challenge, Elias has been writing 1000+ words every single day on various topics within the discipline of personal development. And he has been publishing those articles every day since August, 1st 2015.
So tune in to the interview to learn how to take your life to the next level.
Chris Cole Founder of eDocHome
Chris Cole had the concept of eDocHome in 2011. He developed that concept into reality in 2013 when eDocHome launched. Since then he has led the company through tremendous growth and brand recognition. Chris has been a leader in the development and implementation of affordable telehealth packages including discount healthcare services. This has allowed eDocHome to gain market traction and consumer/employer acceptance throughout the United States.
Chris started his career in healthcare when he was a partner with a medical alert company focusing on keeping seniors at home, living independently. During this time, Chris built relationships with providers that included a managed telephone medical advice line staffed by registered nurse, which was the building block for eDocHome.
Chris is a very active speaker for the advantages of telehealth throughout the United States and works with other healthcare providers to implement eDocHome into their services.
"Hold your power. speak your truth. come from love." - Anita Roberts
Anita has been working in the field of violence prevention and women's empowerment since 1976. She is the founder and guiding force behind SafeTeen’s internationally acclaimed Community Violence Prevention Programs. Chosen as a Canadian representative on Violence Against Women to the United Nations, Roberts is visionary, inspirational speaker, and award winning author. Her book, SafeTeen: Powerful Alternatives to Violence has been translated into Japanese and Chinese. Roberts has traveled to five continents to empower women, train educators and parents, and teach youth to hold their power, speak their truth and come from love.
Anita Roberts is a dynamic speaker who brings personal narrative, an engaging sense of humour and a passionate presence to her work.
Anita Robert’s TEDxTalk: http://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/TEDxIsfeld-Anita-Roberts-The-Tr;search%3Atag%3A%22TEDxIsfeld%22
Don Wright, who holds a Master's of Education in Counselling Psychology, is the Founder and Executive Director of B. C. Society for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse. This is the first agency in Canada mandated to provide recovery options for males who were victims of childhood sexual abuse, recent sexual assault or domestic violence.
Over the years, Don has acted as a mentor and guide to the other new organizations across Canada that have subsequently been established. Also, a former student, then staff therapist, moved to Japan, his home country, to establish the first agency in that country for male survivors. Don has provided consultation to similar organizations in Great Britain, New Zealand and Australia. He has also provided consultation to the Provincial and Federal governments regarding victims' issues.
In addition to his administrative duties, Don supervises practicum students who have come to BCSMSSA from universities in eight countries. Don is also responsible for providing all of the agency's conference and training seminars across Canada and the US.
He also maintains a case load of individual and group therapy clients. In his words “This is what the agency is all about and I don't want to lose sight of that”.
In 2001, the B. C. Human Rights commission awarded Don the B.C. Human Right Medal of Honour for his pioneering work in this field.
