A major attraction since she moved to Southern California 30 years ago and formed her Latin band, violinist Susie Hansen and her musicians perform an infectious blend of salsa and Latin jazz that has the audiences smiling and dancing. This year her band is celebrating their 30th anniversary with lots of prominent performances.

Popular from the start, the Susie Hansen Latin Band mixes together infectious Latin rhythms with jazz improvising, vocals in both Spanish and English, recognizable standards and strong soloing from players. They play salsa, cumbia, charanga, merengue, bachata, bolero, cha cha cha and Latin jazz. The result is music that inspires dancers yet also rewards a close listen.

Susie Hansen was born and raised in Chicago. Her father James Hansen played violin with the Chicago Symphony for 37 years and attended many of their concerts with her family. She had a violin lesson every Sunday with her Dad and practiced hours every day. Having other interests and skills, Susie earning two Masters Degrees in Engineering from MIT, but music proved to be a stronger calling.
Susie played classical chamber music, worked in Boston for two years performing swing, bluegrass and original string band music with Strings Attached, and then was a member of Trapezoid, a popular folk band in West Virginia.

Returning to Chicago in 1980, she formed her own jazz quintet. The turning point of her musical life occurred when her quintet was playing at Taste Of Chicago, a huge festival in Grant Park. “The band playing before us was Victor Parra’s Mambo Express All-Stars,” Susie reported. “Victor stayed to hear our group, and afterwards he asked me to join his band for their regular Monday gig at the Moosehead Bar and Grill. I told him that I did not know much about mambo, but he said that I’d get it, and I’d love it. And he was right. Harmonically the music is based in jazz, which I already loved, but the Latin rhythms are just more compelling than I ever imagined. It has that drive that really hooked me on Salsa and Latin jazz.”

After moving to Southern California in 1988, Hansen sat in with jazz musicians like Billy Mitchell, John Bolivar, Sal Marquez and the dynamic charanga band Bongo Logic. She got her first break three months after arriving in LA when Cuban master drummer Francisco Aguabella invited her to join his band. “I played his trombone book on my electric viola, so I learned really fast how to transpose from bass clef!” Throughout 1988 and 1989, she was a member of several other Latin groups, bands led by Bobby Matos, Long John Oliva, Papa Conga, and Candy Sosa, and became a recognizable and important part of the local Latin music scene well before she formed her own Latin band in 1990.

The Susie Hansen Latin Band is well represented on Susie’s three recordings: Solo Flight (named by Latin Beat Magazine as one of its Top 100 Independent Latin Jazz Recordings), The Salsa Never Ends (includes “La Salsa Nunca Se Acaba” which is popular around the world), and her most recent, Representante de la Salsa. Each of these recordings features a variety of Latin dance styles and Latin jazz, especially salsa and cha-cha-cha, with the occasional bolero and merengue.

Her ensemble features the masterful Daniel Castillo from Venezuela on lead vocals in Spanish and percussion, and the soulful Kaspar Abbo from London on lead vocals in English and electric guitar. Susie not only plays electric violin, but is the band’s musical director and sings both bilingual lead and background. The powerful montuno-maester Joe Rotondi plays keyboards and hails from Hollywood. Bassist Brian Wright is from Colombia and supplies the heart-beat of the band. Drummer Tony Shogren’s heritage is Peruvian, and he provides the driving force of the rhythm on timbales. When they play with their bigger band, Roberto Cascante from Costa Rica joins them on percussion, David Stout on trombone, and Tim Messina on sax and flute.

Some of LA’s finest and best-known Latin jazz and Salsa musicians have been long-time members of Susie’s band – percussionists Tiki Pasillas, Jimmy Branly, Joe DeLeon; bassists Rene Camacho and John Belzaguy; singers George Balmaseda and Eddie Ortiz. The Susie Hansen Latin Band plays between 100 and 150 gigs every single year. Among some of the highpoints have been appearances at the Playboy Jazz Festival, Norfolk VA Latino Music Festival, the Toronto Jazz Festival, Fiesta Broadway, the San Jose Jazz Festival. The great Cuban singer Celia Cruz and master percussionist Giovani Hidalgo have performed with her band. Apart from the band, the violinist has had opportunities to perform with Tito
Puente, Paquito D’Rivera, Orquesta Broadway, Orquesta Aragon, Vikki Carr, and Jose Rizo’s Jazz on the Latin Side All-Stars, and she particularly treasures having played with Orquesta Los Van Van both in Los Angeles and in Havana, Cuba.

But the violinist’s main focus is always her own band. A crowd pleaser with its rhythmic energy and drive, the Susie Hansen Latin Band has performed before hundreds of thousands of people through the years. They appeal to a wide and enthusiastic audience with their mixture of famous and traditional salsa numbers, infectious original compositions, and Latin-style interpretations of American jazz standards. Their solos are compelling, and the dance floor is always packed!

Cynthia Rivard is a spiritual teacher, business strategist and environmental advocate. Having come into a spiritual awakening later in life, she is keenly aware of religious paradigms and cultural perceptions of new age concepts and instead teaches a timeless wisdom that has been diluted over the ages. There is a golden thread of truth that is woven throughout all of the world’s religions and cultures, and it is this thread that underpins her teachings and will help us to create the next chapter for humanity – our Golden Era.

Through a meteoric upleveling of channeling skills, Cynthia has become a crystal clear seer for awakening humanity to the next chapter of its evolution. Raising consciousness and saving humanity from extinction due to the effects of climate change are the first priority, which she illuminates in “Hope for A New Era.”

With a long career in executive leadership, Cynthia believes in the power of compassionate communication and egoless leadership to drive improvements in society. When the world is solely governed by individuals who focus on the good of all, the earth will come to know peace, prosperity and a healthy environment.

You can learn more about Cynthia at https://www.cynthiarivard.com/. All proceeds of Hope for a New Era will be donated to https://globalrisingtide.org/, the purpose driven, conscious leaders’ community she founded that is contributing to raise human consciousness and end global warming.

Dana Sutton is a tutor, coach, and parent with decades of experience working with children and young adults. While raising her children, she spent evenings tutoring students from primary through to first and second year post-secondary, as well as coaching and instructing various athletics. Dana currently owns her own business providing consulting, payroll and accounting services for businesses in the Okanagan. A keen athlete while growing up, Dana enjoyed fastball, ringette, volleyball, hockey, martial arts and skiing (both in water and downhill). These days, when she isn’t busy with work or grandchildren, Dana can be found reading a book or riding her motorcycle (an Indian Scout) throughout the Okanagan, where she lives with her husband, Ray and their two Old English Sheepdogs, Guinness and Misty. Guinness, Misty and Bailey (Misty's predecessor) can be found as background characters in many of her stories.

"When I was raising my children I always focused on being open with them.  I don't believe there are any "off-limit subjects". If my children were asking about something, or had been exposed to something, then I worked hard to help them understand using age-appropriate language; even when the topic was uncomfortable for me.

When I started writing children's books, and especially with the topic in Maddie Finds Her Place, I really focused on that strategy.  My experience is that, if the language is framed well, then children at each age level receive exactly what they need and are capable of understanding the conversation."   ​-  Dana Sutton

My guest, JJ Brighton is a Galactic Channel, Light Language Mentor, Gridworker, and Ambassador of the Council of Star Mothers. She activates crystalline ascension templates and supports others in unlocking their soul’s codex through light language and multidimensional remembrance. As the creator of the Multidimensional Soul Integration modality, JJ guides a global Starseed community through mentorship, group journeys, and over 100 light language activations shared on her YouTube channel. Based in Los Angeles, she weaves planetary service with grounded family life alongside her partner of 27 years.  

Hear JJ speak and channel live at the West Virginia Chanel Panel event: https://debbidachinger.com/channelpanel 

Dr. Juliette Engel moved to Moscow in 1999 and founded the Angel Coalition to combat human trafficking. Over the next ten years, the Angel Coalition grew into an underground railroad that assisted thousands of victims. She also co-founded Moscow’s municipal orphanage staff training center, Women and Children First, and a nationwide program of community center support for single mothers, the Babushka Brigade. Her life was a constant collage of travel and adventure with a cluster of Russian colleagues and friends. She sweated in banyas and jumped into frigid Siberian lakes, traveled by train and bus to small villages on the steppes, and ate blinis with honey in Novgorod and smoked fish on the shores of Lake Onega. She sailed the great Volga River, delivering aid to orphanages and getting to know the kids, watching them grow over the years and trying, often in vain, to keep them safe. She came back to America in 2010 when her protégé was murdered by traffickers and Russian Military Intelligence warned her that she would be next. She is currently living in the Washington DC area and writing her memoirs.

Olivia Atkin is a multifaceted leader celebrated for her innovative approach to helping individuals and businesses launch, optimize, and elevate their podcasts. Host of the globally acclaimed "Achieving Success with Olivia Atkin," her podcast reaches listeners in over 40 countries across all seven continents—a distinction that underscores her expertise and global impact in the podcasting industry.

As the founder of Achieving Success LLC, Olivia provides high-ticket clients with comprehensive services, including podcast strategy, titles, descriptions, uploads, SEO, and workflow optimization. Her tailored approach ensures clients achieve exceptional growth, connect with international audiences, and deliver professional, polished shows that stand out in a competitive market.

In addition to her podcasting achievements, Olivia is the visionary behind Turn To Designs, an apparel company dedicated to supporting the U.S. Coast Guard. Inspired by her passion for honoring those who serve, Turn To Designs creates custom apparel for active members, veterans, family members, and anyone who wants to show their support for the brave individuals who protect and serve our country. This mission-driven endeavor is a testament to Olivia’s commitment to making a meaningful impact across industries.

With a Bachelor’s in Business Management, a minor in Sports Studies, and an MBA specializing in Supply Chain, Olivia combines academic excellence with real-world innovation. Her industry-leading credentials—including SHRM-CP, CAPM, CPIM, and Green Belt Six Sigma certifications—enable her to deliver streamlined processes and remarkable results for her clients.

Beyond her business ventures, Olivia is the author of "Achieving Success in Career Development" and a TEDx speaker whose talk, "Defeating Your Biggest Enemy...You!" has inspired audiences worldwide to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. Whether launching a podcast, refining an existing one, or supporting a cause close to her heart, Olivia’s passion, expertise, and strategic vision empower her clients and customers to achieve success on their terms.

Partner with Olivia Atkin to bring your podcast dreams to life—or show your support for those who serve through Turn To Designs. Success, service, and impact await.

A ten year resident of Arlington, Virginia, Dr. Ben Pearl has been a practicing physician in the Arlington and McLean area since 1992.

Recently selected as one of the Washingtonian Magazine’s top sports doctors, he is a graduate of the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine. He is a consultant at NIH and he is on an advisory board at FDA.

Dr. Pearl was recently featured in the Washington Post Magazine depicting his passion for skiing and teaching. He has had television interviews with Dr. Nancy on MSNBC on barefoot running and provided foot health information for News Channel 8.

Dr. Pearl is a fellow of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine. He is the team podiatrist for the District Track Club, an elite Olympic development track team in Washington DC.He serves as medical director for the SUNY New Paltz high school cross country camp. He offers foot and ankle care to patients of all ages.

He has also been a consultant at the National Institutes of Health and the FDA, and is currently a Fellow of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine.

Dr. Pearl has a special interest in sports medicine, which is enhanced by his own participation in running, bicycling, and ski instruction.

Dr. Pearl has authored a number of articles on podiatric health. He also blogs regularly on foot care and athletic performance at Docs for Jocks.

Special Guest: Sreelatha (Sree) Meleth.

“FREEING OURSELVES - Women Standing Tall!

Dr. Sreelatha (Sree) is an EFT Practitioner, Statistician and Coach, with a focus on helping women of colour and courageous immigrants build a profitable business, leveraging her inner strength, her personal story and cultural depth.

Sree was raised in a Hindu Nair family by a devout father and an agnostic mother. She was working her way through the typical teenage angst of trying to decide whether she believed in God or not when she lost her mother in a plane crash at the age of 19.

While moving across three continents and living in over 40 different homes, as her physician husband worked through post-graduate training, Sree raised two wonderfully successful children, she earned three Master's degrees and a doctoral degree. However, Sree is the poster child for the Imposter Syndrome.

The Words Women and Wisdom Radio Show is all about strong women. I showcase women who have risen from tragedy to triumph and are now out in the world leveraging their experience to help others make impactful change. Listen for her full story!

More about Dr. Sree here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sreelathameleth/

Attended: University of Alabama, University of Saskatchewan, AnnaMalai University, Mumbai University

Ph.D , M.A, M.S., M.A, B.A, Applied Statistics, Community Health & Epidemiology, EFT Practitioner,