As a child Maia spent much of her time living in the world of nature, communicating with animals, plants, insects and the earth. Being highly sensitive she felt the emotional and physical well being of the humans and animals around her.

When a dear friend was challenged with a health problem Maia had an intimate understanding and sense of what this was like. Apart from viewing the physical body she was able to feel the emotions that were stored and see how they contributed to the physical challenges.She literally felt the discomfort, which propelled her into a journey of self discovery to understand what she was feeling. She also came to realize that she could receive information from people and animals from all parts of the planet, without having previously met them or having them in her presence.

The desire to understand these gifts and the responsibilities involved, perhaps inspired her great interest over the years in holistic wellness, in particular how to nourish the body, mind and spirit.

During these formative years, Maia adopted wild horses and burros and utilized her communication abilities and principles of nature and energy to work with them in a manner of comfort, cooperation and mutual respect with great success. Her mother would often look out the window with amazement to see her ride by on one of the new arrivals.

As a teenager, Maia was particularly moved by the books, The Power of Positive Thinking, by Norman Vincent Peale, and Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill.. At sixteen she began an experiment working with a young horse and herself. The goal was to take her horse from the back yard to the national championships utilizing The Power of Positive Thinking as a guide.

This goal might seem unrealistic and impossible, especially with the fact that at the time Maia had very little experience showing or training horses. She had only been to the national championships once herself, but she was very determined and wanted to see if this could really work. Maia was diligent in changing her manner of thinking and her use of energy in thinking about the goal, and in working with her horse in her training and preparation.

The following year, at seventeen, Norman Vincent Peale’s then tattered book traveled with her throughout all the preparation to their first championship, and ultimately to the national championships in Kentucky where she succeeded in surprising her parents and the audience with the success of an unknown horse, and an unknown rider/trainer. This achievement and the determination behind this accomplishment continue to be an inspiration and some of the same principles help her clients accomplish their goals and fulfill their dreams today!

Maia chose the field of holistic nutrition to deepen her understanding about the power of humans to create environments and lives that not only nurture themselves, but also align with the highest good for all life. Maia was awarded a Ph.D. in holistic nutrition in 1996. Having completed her formal education in holistic nutrition, Maia felt passionate about sharing what she had learned. In addition to carrying on her animal communication practice, she devoted six years to counseling teenagers from various backgrounds instilling the unlimited potential of humans to experience the fulfillment and satisfaction of achieving their goals. Maia came to understand that fulfillment in life is generated primarily by an attitude or manner of relating with oneself. This primary relation serves as the foundation for well-being, contentment and relations with others, and the environment.

With Maia's sincere desire to make a difference and her joy in encouraging others to their success she discovered her own sense of purpose and realized her talent as a mentor and coach in life. In addition to her work in communication with animals, Maia, has twelve years of life mentoring experience. She delights in working with clients to build lifestyles of balance, including the essential elements for fulfillment, giving rise to passion for life itself. Maia lived in the Galapagos Islands, Andes Mountains and The Amazon rain forest for two and a half years, from 1999 to 2002. In the Amazon she had the opportunity to live in a remote region with a tribe of nearly extinct indigenous peoples. During this time in South America she enjoyed communicating with the native peoples, amazing creatures, and the plants of these regions.

Maia is a talented artist, as well as a writer. Maia has three new books. Maia encourages clients to listen to the life around them, including plants, animals, insects and the earth. She believes that we all have the gifts to listen, to live naturally with ease and grace, and she empowers clients with how to do this.

With multi-platinum recordings, Broadway shows, Disney Animated Films, a best-selling book on metaphysics and a teaching and lecturing career that spans the nation, David Friedman is truly someone who has made a major mark not only in all areas of Show Business but in the New Thought Movement as well. From We Can Be Kind to Listen To My Heart, Help Is On The Way, We Live on Borrowed Time, Trust The Wind, I'll Be Here With You and hundreds more,  David has written songs of inspiration, love and hope that take on new emotional meaning in these challenging times.  With 6 Broadway shows, his own Off Broadway Show, 9 Disney Films, 3 television series, frequent appearances as a regular guest on the Today Show,  and recordings by such artists as Diana Ross, Barry Manilow and Nancy LaMott to his credit, David has, in recent years, come to realize that his true mission in life is to help heal and enlighten people by sharing the life-lessons he has learned throughout his illustrious career.  

With this in mind, David recently wrote a book entitled The Thought Exchange – Overcoming Our Resistance to Living a Sensational Life, and spends a great deal of time traveling around the country lecturing, giving concerts and teaching Thought Exchange principles in corporate settings, New Thought churches, schools and private sessions. Most recently, David appeared in the 2012 documentary film The Thought Exchange, based on his work. The film was directed by Usher Morgan and co-starred Lucie Arnaz, Arje Shaw and others.

Fellow Jazz musician and activist Gilad Atzmon who visited, interviewed and actually played music with Trevor LaBonte, tells the story of our guest better than anyone.  Here is his article...

The War Against Trevor (LaBonte) by Gilad Atzmon

Until two years ago, Trevor LaBonte was one of the most successful Jazz artists in Texas. He had been performing every night and in the most prestigious venues. He was the first-call guitar player for many of Austin’s prominent musicians. But then it all changed.

Gilad Atzmon: Trevor you were a local Jazz hero, what happened?

Trevor LaBonte: An activist named Craig Berlin, owner of  Pro-Tape Staff in Austin, organized a campaign  to destroy my career by terrorizing the entire Austin music community. He creates Facebook posts in which he tags 50 or 60 important people in town, and reports to them that I am a ‘Nazi,’ an ‘Anti-Semite,’ and a ‘holocaust denier.’ Berlin demands that everyone must do everything in their power to make sure I never play another note in public. At first, most people ignored him, but  then others took up his cause, including the radio DJ Andy Langer from KGSR, helping to make sure I have become a hate figure and completely ostracized.

Let me understand correctly, you didn’t publish a book or even an article, all that vile campaign against you was launched because you expressed some thoughts on your own Facebook page? Is it correct?

--Yes, that's what happened. 

How have your friends reacted to this onslaught?

--They are confused and afraid, mostly. Many of them quietly agree with at least some of what I say, and they are still friends with me.  But understandably, they are scared to be listed in a performance announcement with me, since they would be certain to draw the hissing and screeching and boycott of Craig Berlin's fans. Most of my friends are sad and just want to play music together.  Anyone who tries to stick up for me, or just moderate the witch hunt against me,  risks being similarly attacked themselves. And the attacks are vile.

Musicians are not used to being vilified for unusual opinions I guess that it would be correct to argue that the entire Jazz community is strictly speaking terrorized by this Jewish campaign to ostracize you.

-- Many of the musicians in Austin are  Jewish and are among my friends. The campaign against me  is being orchestrated by about 10 Jewish people who have publicly agreed amongst themselves that I have fallen ‘gravely mentally ill’, must be taken immediately to a ‘psychiatric institution’ and be ‘heavily dosed with meds.’

This sounds familiar..

-- One  recommend that I be castrated by chainsaw.

This is clearly more radical treatment than the traditional rabbinical circumcision apparatus..

--There were many other violent threats and fantasies, which are an interesting and revealing
response to my mission statement: I advocate universal human rights and opposition to supremacism, violence and corruption of all forms, Jewish, Christian or otherwise. I also believe in the free exchange of ideas and free speech.

I have now met your beautiful and kind girlfriend and your lovely parents. I saw a lot of fear, it seems that everyone around you is subject to harassment by Berlin and his defamation troopers, I even learned from venue owners that they were harassed by Berlin and his klan. Have you ever spoke to Craig? Did you meet him?

--We have only communicated briefly on Facebook. He keeps me blocked now, so I can't even see what he is saying about me, let alone defend myself. I have no choice except to just let him go crazy for the world to see. I hope this demonic ranting  helps people to understand the rampant madness raging in such obsessed minds.

I obviously looked at the accusations against you and they are indeed vile, You are quoted questioning on FB  "If Hitler was an evil dictator, then why did he have broad public support? Why did Germany love him so much?

This is obviously a legitimate and valid question. However when I visited your FB page I realized that you push it a bit further, you question the Holocaust official narrative. You ask “what about those ‘gas chambers?’ Where are they? Why were they never found?”  Trevor, do you realise that such questions are banned by in European countries? Why do you think there is an attempt to stop Holocaust revisionism? Why are you chased, what are they afraid of?

--Yes, I realize Holocaust revisionism is banned in 17 countries. But America is not one of them. Americans need to use their right to free speech to question traditional history of all kinds. The Holocaust is no different in that respect.

You have also suggested that Jews were highly involved with Bolshevism.  Truth can be offensive, but why is this the case?

-- In this case, the truth is offensive to Jews because, were it to become widely known, their whole narrative of history would have to change. The fact  is that Bolshevism was largely a Jewish supported cause. 

I am not a supporter of Bolshevism nor am I a Marxist, but I would simply argue that Jews used their dominance within the Bolshevik movement in order to promote their ethnic interests. I would agree that Jewish Bolsheviks carried on an element of Judeo centric supremacist righteousness.

-- I asked if Jews ran some of the camps of Gulag Archipelago because they harbored deep racial animosity toward the Russian people. I often like to phrase things as questions, and my intent is to get a historical and intellectual conversation started. Yes, they are pointed questions, and my goal is to lead to the conclusions  I have reached. More importantly, I want  people to question traditional versions of history. It's a very painful process, for me as well as
for others, I am sure. I was shocked and upset to learn that 85% of the Bolshevik/Communist government were actually Jewish, something I did not know because it is not taught in any history class.

How can Hitler be seen as the greatest mass-murderer of all time, when practically next
door, people like Trotsy/Leiba Bronstein, Lazar Kaganovich, and Gengrich Yagoda were running completely amok?.The title of worst mass murderer has many competitors.

What is the solution?

-- I think the best solution would be to discard our "political correctness" standards. We should be able to question any historical or political narrative.  That's the first amendment and I think it was created to allow difficult discussions exactly like these.  This is the only way we can start to approach the "truth" in history. No group, including Jewish people, should be allowed to control history.  In the south, we have not controlled the history of the Civil War and I also think that's a good thing.

Thanks for your time Trevor. I would urge my readers and followers to contact Craig Berlin and to demand that he stop his hate campaign against you at once.  I am pretty sure that the tide will change soon. I had an incredible time staying with you and playing music together. However, for the first time I met a musician who was more outspoken than myself. In fact, never before have I had trouble because of the views of one of my band members. This was pretty funny and a very positive dvelopment indeed.

James Valenti
Internationally Acclaimed Tenor

Internationally Acclaimed Tenor, James Valenti has a voice of Italianate luster and is part of the long-standing tradition of great Italian tenors. The sought after 6’5 tenor, has built a global reputation for his elegant musicianship, commanding stage presence and ardent vocal style.

At age 25, Valenti made his professional debut at the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma where he played Rodolfo in the Franco Zeffirelli production of “La Boheme.” Since his debut, he has scored one triumphal role after another and has had the opportunity to perform in many of the most celebrated citadels of Opera in the world including Teatro alla Scala Milan, Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera House London, Opera National de Paris, Sydney Opera House, Bayerische Staatsoper, Munich, Salzburg Festival, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera and Opernhaus Zürich. He has showcased his vocal ability and acting versatility in a variety of roles such as Rudolpho Valentino in “Dream of Valentino,” Don Carlo in “Don Carlo,” Alfredo Germont in “La Traviata,” Duke of Mantua in “Rigoletto,” Lt. Pinkerton in “Madama Butterfly,” Maurizio in “Adriana Lecouvreur,” Edgardo in “Lucia di Lammermoor,” Werther in “Werther,” Romeo in “Romeo et Juliette” and Doctor Faust in “Faust.” Valenti has also had the pleasure of working alongside some of the greatest opera voices and maestros in the industry including Anna Netrebko, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Thomas Hampson, Simon Keenlyside, Bryn Terfel, Placido Domingo, Leo Nucci, Maestro Gustavo Dudamel, Maestro Antonio Pappano, Maestro Daniele Gatti and Maestro Carlo Rizzi to name a few. Valenti has recorded with fellow opera star, Angela Gheorghiu at Abbey Road Studios in London for her “Tribute to Maria Callas” CD on Virgin/EMI.

Valenti has received a number of accolades in his young career including the New York City Opera’s Outstanding Debut Artist Award in 2008, the Maria Callas Debut Artist Award in 2009 and the Richard Tucker Award in 2010.

In July, Valenti took on the challenging title role in Verdi’s “Don Carlos” at the Caramoor Festival which The New York Times noted his “dark-centered, expressive tenor.” Recently, Valenti performed as a guest soloist during Christmas Eve Midnight Mass at New York City’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Currently, Valenti is expanding his musical repertoire and preparing for a number of exciting roles for the 2013 and 2014 seasons. Valenti is scheduled to perform as Cavaradossi in “Tosca,” Don Jose in “Carmen” and will be making his triumphant return to the Metropolitan Opera as he performs in “Madama Butterfly” in April 2014.

When Valenti is not performing, he gives his time to many organizations close to his heart such as Children International (which he is currently a celebrity ambassador), UNICEF, Greenpeace, PBS and NPR. Valenti always makes time in between his rigorous performance schedule to give back to young emerging artists and has given master classes at University of Texas, University of Arizona, Northwestern and University of Minnesota.

Forbes has called Leigh Steinberg "the greatest sports agent in history."  Steinberg's career as a sports agent has spanned over 40 years.  Steinberg's client list has included Steve Young, Troy Aikman, Warren Moon, Howie Long, Mark Brunell, Dusty Baker, Lennox Lewis, and many more!

James Valenti
Internationally Acclaimed Tenor

Internationally Acclaimed Tenor, James Valenti has a voice of Italianate luster and is part of the long-standing tradition of great Italian tenors. The sought after 6’5 tenor, has built a global reputation for his elegant musicianship, commanding stage presence and ardent vocal style.

At age 25, Valenti made his professional debut at the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma where he played Rodolfo in the Franco Zeffirelli production of “La Boheme.” Since his debut, he has scored one triumphal role after another and has had the opportunity to perform in many of the most celebrated citadels of Opera in the world including Teatro alla Scala Milan, Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera House London, Opera National de Paris, Sydney Opera House, Bayerische Staatsoper, Munich, Salzburg Festival, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera and Opernhaus Zürich. He has showcased his vocal ability and acting versatility in a variety of roles such as Rudolpho Valentino in “Dream of Valentino,” Don Carlo in “Don Carlo,” Alfredo Germont in “La Traviata,” Duke of Mantua in “Rigoletto,” Lt. Pinkerton in “Madama Butterfly,” Maurizio in “Adriana Lecouvreur,” Edgardo in “Lucia di Lammermoor,” Werther in “Werther,” Romeo in “Romeo et Juliette” and Doctor Faust in “Faust.” Valenti has also had the pleasure of working alongside some of the greatest opera voices and maestros in the industry including Anna Netrebko, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Thomas Hampson, Simon Keenlyside, Bryn Terfel, Placido Domingo, Leo Nucci, Maestro Gustavo Dudamel, Maestro Antonio Pappano, Maestro Daniele Gatti and Maestro Carlo Rizzi to name a few. Valenti has recorded with fellow opera star, Angela Gheorghiu at Abbey Road Studios in London for her “Tribute to Maria Callas” CD on Virgin/EMI.

Valenti has received a number of accolades in his young career including the New York City Opera’s Outstanding Debut Artist Award in 2008, the Maria Callas Debut Artist Award in 2009 and the Richard Tucker Award in 2010.

In July, Valenti took on the challenging title role in Verdi’s “Don Carlos” at the Caramoor Festival which The New York Times noted his “dark-centered, expressive tenor.” Recently, Valenti performed as a guest soloist during Christmas Eve Midnight Mass at New York City’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Currently, Valenti is expanding his musical repertoire and preparing for a number of exciting roles for the 2013 and 2014 seasons. Valenti is scheduled to perform as Cavaradossi in “Tosca,” Don Jose in “Carmen” and will be making his triumphant return to the Metropolitan Opera as he performs in “Madama Butterfly” in April 2014.

When Valenti is not performing, he gives his time to many organizations close to his heart such as Children International (which he is currently a celebrity ambassador), UNICEF, Greenpeace, PBS and NPR. Valenti always makes time in between his rigorous performance schedule to give back to young emerging artists and has given master classes at University of Texas, University of Arizona, Northwestern and University of Minnesota.