Since my interview with sociobiologist Rebecca Costa, I’ve been thinking about predictive analytics and the concept of the “greater good”. I’ve been wondering is “greater good” a high enough standard by which to decide on a course of action given the systemic biases that exist in our societies? The answer is no, not while systemic…
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Season two of Changes BIG and small will begin in two weeks. In the meantime, I have this bonus episode for you.I interviewed Sebene Selassie in episode 39. At the end of the episode, we discussed a change that I’d made in my life.
I’d been learning about Wim Hof and the health benefits of cold showers and I was curious to explore it. There are many purported benefits to cold showers.
Find the full show notes at https://changesbigandsmall.com/43
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Kim Curry got his first gig through his dad who was a radio guy. Thirty-three year later, when running the most listened to radio station in Miami, Kim was forced into retirement with a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. In this conversation, I speak with Kim to learn about his journey and how he’s managed this significant change in his life.
Kim is the author of Come Get Me Mother, I’m Through! and The Death of Fairness. The second book was published after our interview on June 11, 2020.
Contact and follow Kim at krcurry.com, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
You can connect with Damianne on the Changes BIG and small website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube. You’re also invited to join the Changes BIG and small Facebook community.
I’m taking a holiday for the next few weeks, but I will be back in your feed with a new episode of changes big and small after that. In the meantime, feel free to go back and check one of the previous episodes.
Find the full show notes at https://changesbigandsmall.com/42
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Kevin was born in Detroit in August 1967 two weeks after the riots that changed that city forever. It was out of these amazing circumstances his life began. It is out of these experiences he tells his story; a story of struggle and joy, pain and passion, and most of all hope. You can learn more about Kevin and his work, or invite him to your school or organization at kevinhofmann.com
Your Challenge Invitation from Kevin
Pretend your best friend’s son was unjustly killed. How do you think you would help them?
Understand that as a community of color, when we see one of our own being killed, we take that as if they are part of us; they’re part of our family. I need you to see that and understand that.
Another thing I encourage them to do is if you truly believe that you’ve seen the inequalities in society and you want to help, then we ask that you join us in these protests or doing something to make a change.
And if you’re really, really, really committed to change, it means that you’ve got to go back and do the research and vote in a way that’s going to create the change that we need. So you need to go back and research locally the candidates who support things like prison reform and are against the horrible way that we treat immigrants.
You can find all Kevin’s contact links at kevinhofmann.com
You can connect with Damianne on the Changes BIG and small website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube. You’re also invited to join the Changes BIG and small Facebook community.
Find the full show notes at https://changesbigandsmall.com/41
Join the Changes Big and Small Facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/changesbigandsmall1/
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John Neral, MA, CPC reawakens, energizes, galvanizes and innovates the mind think of employees, corporations, associations and systems. He is a celebrated executive/career and professional development coach and an in-demand, mindset-shifting public speaker.
Prior to this, John served as a professional development manager of an instructional coaching program in the District of Columbia Public Schools system (DCPS); a mathematics educator for 16 years, and a state educational assessment specialist (DC). He’s also been a longstanding corporate consultant for Fortune 500 giant, Casio America, Inc. and a Training and Staffing Director for an Educational Non-Profit (AIR). He now leads John Neral Coaching, LLC, one of the most progressive, mindset-shifting professional and organizational coaching and public speaking firms in the U.S. and is the author of the new book, SHOW UP – Six Strategies to Lead a More Energetic and Impactful Career.
Contact and follow John through his website, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram orTwitter.
Connect with Damianne through Changes BIG and small website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or YouTube
You can find all the past episodes of the podcast on the website and subscribe to automatically receive new episodes every week. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend or family member. I am sending you best wishes for good health and happiness. Have a great week.
Find the full show notes at https://changesbigandsmall.com/40
Join the Changes Big and Small Facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/changesbigandsmall1/
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Sebene Selassie is a teacher, author, and speaker who explores the themes of belonging and identity through meditation, creativity, and spirituality. Born in Ethiopia and raised in Washington, DC Sebene began studying Buddhism 30 years ago as an undergraduate at McGill University, where she majored in comparative religious studies. She has an MBA from the new school where she focused on race and cultural studies. For over 20 years, Sebene works with children, youth, and families, nationally and internationally for small and large not for profits. Her work has taken her everywhere from the Tenderloin in San Francisco to refugee camps in Guinea, West Africa. A strong believer in the power of arts-based learning, she has planned, coordinated and taught a variety of creative programs, including intergenerational photography, digital storytelling, and youth media. Sebene is a three-time cancer survivor of stage three and four cancer. Her first book You Belong: A Call for Connection will be released by HarperOne in August.
You can connect to Sebene on her website, sebeneselassie.com. She’s a teacher also on the 10% Happier app. And there are lots of great meditations from one minute to much longer ones.
You can connect to me on the Changes BIG and small website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube. You’re also invited to join the Changes BIG and small Facebook community.
Remember that change begins with one small step. Have a lovely week.
Find the full show notes at https://changesbigandsmall.com/39
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Samira is a 26 year old mixed race girl born in Czechia. She now lives in London. She is in Prague right now, and she actually came over for us to have the chat. You can see more about her on Instagram at afrikakidsczsk and also at darealsamira.
For more information you can visit https://changesbigandsmall.com/38.
Please go to changesbigandsmall.com, to connect with me or to apply to be a guest on the podcast. You can find all the past episodes there as well and subscribe to automatically receive new episodes every week. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend or family member.
Join the Changes Big and Small Facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/changesbigandsmall1/
I am sending you best wishes for good health and happiness. Have a great week.
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In this episode of Changes Big and Small, I interview sociobiologist Rebecca Costa. Rebecca D. Costa is an American sociobiologist and futurist. She’s the preeminent global experts on the subject of fast adaptation and recipient of the prestigious Edward O. Wilson biodiversity technology award.
For more information you can visit rebeccacosta.com.
Please go to changesbigandsmall.com, to connect with me or to apply to be a guest on the podcast. You can find all the past episodes there as well and subscribe to automatically receive new episodes every week. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend or family member. I am sending you best wishes for good health and happiness. Have a great week.
Find the full show notes at https://changesbigandsmall.com/37
Join the Changes Big and Small Facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/changesbigandsmall1/
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Currently, I’m focused on a special series exploring equality, justice, and anti-racism. Today, I’m speaking with Bryon Summers who lives in New Jersey. I contacted Bryon after seeing this photo on Instagram. I explained to him that this is why I contacted him. The podcast starts with his response to my confirmation.
Bryon Summers has honed his craft as a portrait photographer, capturing classical images of guests of the hip hop and culture podcast, “The Combat Jack Show”, in addition to hosting two of his own weekly photography based podcasts, “We’re Getting Better” and “Shooting With Shooters”.
Since moving to New York in 2013, Summers has worked on personal photography projects that eventually led to art exhibitions in New York and Washington, DC after taking the stage at a Creative Mornings New York event, Bryon was bitten by the speaking bug. Since then he has used his experiences in media, fine arts and personal life to share with audiences.
In addition to creating ‘We’re Getting Better”. Summers has held educational workshops at universities and agencies about diversity in the media. In 2016, Summers has turned his attention to helping to change the negative narrative of black men with the goal of photographing 1000 men and boys with the “We Love You” project. The series was installed as a mural in DC, as well as online with the Google Cultural Institute.
Amongst other topics, Bryon and I talk about social change movements, being a black man in America and racism, demonstrating and other forms of activism.
Find more work from Bryon including his social links via the weloveyouproject.com and bryonsummers.com.
Find the full show notes at https://changesbigandsmall.com/36
Join the Changes Big and Small Facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/changesbigandsmall1
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This is a special episode of Changes BIG and small. I put out this episode in support of justice for George Floyd, who was killed when a police office knelt on his neck for 8 minutes 46 seconds while he cried for his life. I support justice for Breonna Taylor who was killed in her own home. There is a long list of black men and women who have been killed by the police in the United States including Dominique Clayton, Eric Reason, Tamir Rice, Philando Castile, Eric Garner, Ahmaud Arbery. I’m not American but I kneel with you and support the fight for justice. Black Lives Matter.
Find the full show notes at https://changesbigandsmall.com/35
Join the Changes Big and Small Facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/changesbigandsmall1/
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Renita Betts is a proud wife to her best friend and she loves to be surrounded by positive energy. Her purpose in life is to encourage others to be comfortable with themselves. She’s felt depressed, stuck and invisible. After spending a good portion of her life trying to fit, trying to be loved and validated, she discovered that she doesn’t need someone else to define who she is. She now knows that it’s not about fitting in with others but feeling comfortable with herself. Join us to learn about her journey, with advice to be your own kind, as you define it.
Timeline of the Chat
1:24 – Renita introduces herself
1:53 – Moving around as a child and its impact
3:35 – Learning the meaning of friendship and how to be a good friend
5:57 – The challenge she grew the most from
7:01 – Overcoming failure and changing behaviors to create success
10:20 – Developing self-awareness and self-love, and learning to feel
13:41 – Growth and development through life coaching and mirror talk
15:40 – Motivation for and purpose of Be Your Own Kind
17:26 – Being authentic and true to yourself online
19:48 – Changing location and finding a new job after being laid off
22:40 – Advice for if you’re feeling stuck
24:53 – Using affirmations to get out of your head and change your mindset finding new strategies
26:33 – How life has changed with COVID-19
27:36 – Final advice to. go through the process
30:13 – Where to connect with Renita
I hope that you enjoyed listening to this episode. Please go to changesbigandsmall.com, to connect with me or to apply to be a guest on the podcast. You can find all the past episodes there as well and subscribe to automatically receive new episodes every week. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend or family member. I am sending you best wishes for good health and happiness. Have a great week.
Find the full show notes at https://changesbigandsmall.com/34
Join the Changes Big and Small Facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/changesbigandsmall1/
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Devin Williams is the host of the Sour Topics podcast for men’s mental health and self-help. He is also the blogger of Devinism.com a guide for millennial entrepreneurs. Devin is the father of 4 and lives in Maryland. I interviewed Devin on May 21, so we chat about coronavirus and its effect on his family. Because Devin is considered an essential worker, his routine hasn’t changed that much during coronavirus. Given the topic of Devin’s podcast, we also discuss difficult conversations.
Topics in this episode include work, marriage and separation, raising children, mental health, suicide and depression. Devin shares how he is taking action towards your dreams and he challenges men to a vulnerable act that can improve their marriage. However, this challenge can apply to anyone and any type of relationship.
Go to your partner and ask them what you can do better. And ask them what you are not doing. Give them the opportunity to say the thing that they hold back because they don’t want to cause trouble. Those are the things that cause problems. They carry into other situations and heighten the anger and discontent in your relationship.
Have you had a career change? Come chat with me about it on Changes BIG and small! Apply here.
Please share this episode with a friend or family member that you think might benefit. And for access to more resources and support from a community focused on change and progress, join the Changes Big and small Facebook community.
Find the full show notes at https://changesbigandsmall.com/33
Join the Changes Big and Small Facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/changesbigandsmall1/
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