Alana Sheeren, words + energy

A year of transformation

By

I had no idea what I was signing up for when I decided to record a weekly interview for a full year. It was a ton more work than I bargained for. There were moments of frustration and tears, weeks when I stayed up late on a Wednesday night editing Thursday’s interview, and at one point this spring I almost gave up.

But I didn’t.

Because my heart opened wider with every interview I did and I knew that someone, somewhere, needed to hear what these phenomenal men and women had to say.

I was blown away by my guests and how willing they were to tell their stories. Some of them were sharing intimate details publicly for the first time. Of the people I invited to be a part of Transformation Talk, two didn’t respond to my request, one had to say no (after saying yes) for personal reasons, and three people had scheduling difficulties so we never recorded. I had a fear of the no when I started and was deeply honored that so many said yes.

Over the course of the year I noticed that:

~ I said “wow” a lot. And “beautiful”. I meant it every time.
~ I was moved to tears often, even though I’d heard some of these stories before.
~ I need better lighting in my office.
~ I wish I’d been more aware of how we’d look in split screen when I first started. It took me a while to figure that out (Here’s a great interview prep list from Alexandra Franzen).
~ I wished I’d had a scheduler and editor on staff (but it was all me).
~ Sometimes, even when you pray to the Skype gods, technology doesn’t work the way you want it to.
~ I always got nervous before the interview aired, hoping the other person would like it. Only once did someone ask to re-record.
~ I could ask people questions about their personal journeys and inner terrain all day.
~ Saying yes to this idea changed me. Perhaps soon I’ll be able to articulate exactly how.

There are a ton of people I want to interview who don’t fit the specific model I set up and there are others I just didn’t get to. So there may be more interviews in my future. ~grin~

In the meantime, I’m gearing up to do things a little differently this fall (more on that soon) and I hope you’ll catch up on all the Transformation Talk interviews you missed. Just click on the Transformation Talk category in the right sidebar and it will pull them all up for you.

Sending you love as you live your own transformation.
Alana

 

Transformation Talk with Christina Rasmussen

By

Welcome to Transformation Talk. Every Thursday for a year, starting in September 2012, I’ll post an interview with someone who is a force for good in the world. These men and women have either deepened their passion or found their calling after experiencing a loss, trauma or diagnosis.

I want to broaden the conversation around grief and its transformative power. My hope is that in their words you’ll find echoes of your story. In their inspired actions, you’ll see yourself and your immense possibility.

*Special Request: The technology of Skype is amazing and imperfect. Please listen with your heart and forgive the occasional blips on the screen.

Today is the 50th and final interview in the year-long series. Holy wow! I can hardly believe it. What a year it has been. I had no idea what I was taking on when I had the idea for this in the summer of 2012. I’ll be posting some thoughts on the whole process soon, but right now I’d like to introduce Christina Rasmussen of Second Firsts.

Christina’s husband died of colon cancer, leaving her a young widow with two little girls. Her experiences after this profound loss eventually led her to found Second Firsts, a warm and wonderful community where she shares her Re-entry Model for living after loss. Her first book, Second Firsts: Live, Laugh and Love Again will be hitting bookstores this fall. Today she shares her powerful story of loss and transformation. I’ve long been a fan of Christina’s writing and work, and am thrilled to have her here in the final Transformation Talk interview.

Bio and link to download the audio version are below. Running time is 38 minutes. If you’re receiving this via email, click through the title to view the video.

Right-click or Control-click here to download the audio version.

From her website, Second Firsts:

As the founder of Second Firsts, Christina Rasmussen spends her time speaking, coaching and helping thousands of people to rebuild, reclaim and re-launch their whole lives — using the most powerful tool for personal reinvention: the human mind. Before creating Second Firsts, Christina worked as a therapist + crisis intervention specialist. But after losing her husband to colon cancer, Christina experienced the agony of sudden loss, firsthand. With two daughters in tow, she began the tender process of transforming her tragedy into a new career, a renewed sense of purpose, and a life of joy + laughter. Second Firsts was born. But as she points out: “This has never been about my story. This is about the work of Re-Entry. It’s about choosing to dance, laugh, love + live again.”

Christina’s first book — Second Firsts: Live, laugh and love Again — will be released by Hay House in the fall of 2013. She’ll also open the doors to her new action oriented non profit social network — The Life Starters — in early 2014.

“If you’re lost. . . if you’re gone. . . if you can barely absorb the words on this screen. . . I want you to hold this truth in your heart: when it’s your time to go, you won’t wish you’d spent more time grieving — you’ll wish you’d spent more time living.” Connect with Christina — and 77,000+ Second Firsts fans — on Facebook and 20,000 followers on Twitter.

Transformation Talk with Natasha Wozniak

By

Welcome to Transformation Talk. Every Thursday for a year, starting in September 2012, I’ll post an interview with someone who is a force for good in the world. These men and women have either deepened their passion or found their calling after experiencing a loss, trauma or diagnosis.

I want to broaden the conversation around grief and its transformative power. My hope is that in their words you’ll find echoes of your story. In their inspired actions, you’ll see yourself and your immense possibility.

*Special Request: The technology of Skype is amazing and imperfect. Please listen with your heart and forgive the occasional blips on the screen.

Today’s interview is with jewelry artist Natasha Wozniak of Natasha Wozniak Designs. When I first met Natasha last year, I was struck by how unique her work is. Then I read the story of how she came to work with metal and I knew she needed to be a part of this series. Natasha talks about some of the major turning points in her life – her father’s death when she was 13, her two years of studying and making statues in Nepal, and living in New York on and after 9/11.

Bio and link to download the audio version are below. Running time is 30 minutes. If you’re receiving this via email, click through the title to view the video.

Right-click or Control-click here to download the audio version.

Here is Natasha, in her own words:

I began my journey as an artist during my teenage years, working in a custom jewelry shop and taking classes in as many mediums as possible. I decided at the age of 15 that I was to become an artist working in metal. That decision led me to study metalsmithing at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and beyond.

People always ask where I learned my skills, and I have to include the two years I spent in Nepal making sculpture alongside the makers of Buddhist statuary in the Kathmandu Valley. In addition, there was the time I spent as a bench jeweler in New York, turning out rings and earrings by the hundreds (and occasionally thousands) for various designers.

As a curious visionary and seeker of beauty, I have explored many parts of Asia, with an eye for the art along the way. Along with the visual impressions, the stories of the people, places and legends were collected as my imagination took flight.

These journeys make their way into each piece of jewelry that I create. Whether it is a tale from the Silk Road, an Indian legend, or the emotions of a classical Balinese dancer as she steps onto stage, I believe that your jewelry should tell a story.

Now that I work every day in my own studio, I have chosen the gratifying process of hand-fabricated jewelry. My day to day schedule includes making one-of a-kind rings, new work for my current collections, groups of work for the galleries that represent me and most recently, wall pieces that incorporate jewelry techniques.

When I am not making jewelry, I enjoy studying various dance styles and practicing capoeira.  I also occupy myself exploring the food, languages, music and art of many countries in Asia.

Find Natasha at NatashaJewelry.com

P.S. After we stopped recording, Natasha mentioned that she does a significant amount of custom jewelry for widows and others who are grieving. The photos below are of a custom ring, and a locket that contains ashes. I wanted to share them with you as well.

Wrought Inlay Locket Photo Front view

Transformation Talk with Michele Lisenbury Christensen

By

Welcome to Transformation Talk. Every Thursday for a year, starting in September 2012, I’ll post an interview with someone who is a force for good in the world. These men and women have either deepened their passion or found their calling after experiencing a loss, trauma or diagnosis.

I want to broaden the conversation around grief and its transformative power. My hope is that in their words you’ll find echoes of your story. In their inspired actions, you’ll see yourself and your immense possibility.

*Special Request: The technology of Skype is amazing and imperfect. Please listen with your heart and forgive the occasional blips on the screen.

Today’s interview is with intimacy coach and founder of the Hot Love Revolution, Michele Lisenbury Christensen.  After becoming a mother, she realized she couldn’t stay in her marriage if the level of physical intimacy remained the same, but she also didn’t want to leave her husband and the father of her child. So she set out on a quest to make “monogamy the hottest place on earth”.

This is from her website and I think it explains the revolution beautifully:

“Your body, your mind, and your spirit all suffer when you settle for lukewarm love.  And what an insult to the amazing person you married, to have a less-than-amazing connection between you?!  When the two of you tap Hot Love, it’s like a (safe!) nuclear reactor: you light up not only your bodies and hearts, but your careers, your parenting, your creativity, and your social activism. Intimacy is the most potent source of human power there is.  You can harness it to create anything.”
~ Michele Lisenbury Christensen

A quick note: there are adult topics of conversation in this interview. It’s not for little ears, or the workplace (unless you have headphones).

Bio and link to download the audio version are below. Running time is 40 minutes. If you’re receiving this via email, click through the title to view the video.

Right-click or Control-click here to download the audio version.

Michele Lisenbury Christensen instigates everyday sensuality using yoga, brain science, and candid tales of personal trials and triumphs.  In the past 15 years, she’s co-crafted a playful smokin’ 12+ year marriage, had two happy kids, and been a trusted advisor to more than 2000 couples, business owners, and high-level corporate leaders around the world.  She helps men masterfully handle their partners,  women open to receive, and couples create lasting love and renewable passion.

Toe-curling pleasure on a daily basis gives Michele the rocket-fuel to serve and scintillate her clients and her readers at www.hotloverevolution.com.  Visit now to take the free Hot Love Check-Up and learn what’s limiting the intimacy and pleasure in your relationship.

Desire

This site is secure