Episode Twenty-Two - Dr. Ha Vinh Tho

In this interview, we hear from Dr. Ha Vinh Tho, the Program Development Coordinator of the Gross National Happiness Centre in Bhutan. Tho is also the founder and chairman of Eurasia Foundation, a humanitarian NGO,  a visiting fellow at several universities and a Buddhist teacher in the Tradition of Vietnamese Zen Buddhism, who was ordained by Thich Nhat Hanh. We speak about the history and meaning of the Gross National Happiness Index and how it can be a better index for measuring happiness, health, and wellbeing in a country. For more information, visit Dr. Tho's blog and Bhutan's Gross National Happiness website.

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Episode Twenty-one -Inez Aponte

In this interview, we hear from Inez Aponte, the founder of Growing Good Lives, an organization dedicated to bringing about a socially and environmentally just economic system by putting values, needs, and wellbeing at the heart of economic development work. Inez is a storyteller, facilitator and community organizer who uses the Human Scale Development Approach in her workshops and seminars. We talked about how she came to do this work, why we need a different way of talking about the economy, and the role of story and language in encouraging lasting behavior change.

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Episode Twenty- Robin Murray

Below is an interview with Robin Murray, a prolific industrial and environmental economist who was a key player in the birth of the fair trade movement. He has alternated working for innovative economic programs in local, regional, and national governments, with academic teaching and writing. His recent work focuses on new waste and energy systems and on projects in the social economy. In this interview, he describes his life as an economist, gives us a detailed alternative economic history from World War Two to the present, and describes hopeful signs of the emergence of the new economy especially in relation to connectivity and cooperation. 

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Episode Nineteen- Jane Baraz

In this interview, we hear from Jane Baraz, a mindfulness and mindful self-compassion teacher and leader in the Bay Area and beyond. We spoke about her personal relationship to Buddhism, the benefits to practicing mindfulness, and the classes and programs that Jane teaches both locally and abroad. Jane also gifted us with a highly-portable activity that we can utilize any time called a "Self-Compassion Break." Jane is currently in the Heavenly Messengers Program Spirit Rock and teaches Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) at UCSF's Osher Center for Integrative Medicine and Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) at the Women's Cancer Resource Center in Oakland. Jane also enjoys teaching Awakening Joy workshops with her husband, James Baraz, in California and internationally. To get in touch with Jane to learn about upcoming classes and workshops, e-mail her at jbbaraz@gmail.com 

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Episode Eighteen-Pamela Weiss

In this interview, we hear from Pamela Weiss, a Buddhist Meditation Teacher, Coach, and the Founder and Chief Wisdom Officer of Appropriate Response. Pamela leads us in a guided meditation, shares her experiences as a female Buddhist teacher and business owner, and discusses her intention to empower more authentic leaders in our world. 

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Episode Seventeen- MJ Jones

In this interview, we hear from MJ Jones, a Black queer and genderqueer writer, musician, activist, and educator based in Oakland. They currently write for Everyday Feminism, are an active member of multiple Black and queer-led direct action groups, and work in the field of higher education as a tool of liberation. We spoke about issues of racial equity, queer and trans* liberation struggles, and intersections of identity. 

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Episode Sixteen- John Kinyon

In these two interviews, we hear from John Kinyon, an inspirational speaker, author, and teacher of communication that integrates compassion, mindfulness, and universal connection. John is also the co-developer of the Mediate Your Life training program, which grows out of the work of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) and a co-author of the book, Choosing Peace: New Ways to Communicate to Reduce Stress, Create Connection, and Resolve Conflict. John spoke about NVC and how nonviolent communication strategies and internal and inter-personal mediation strategies can create social change and improve our relationships with ourselves and others. 

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Episode Fifteen- Joanna Macy

In this interview, we hear from Joanna Macy PhD, a highly revered local eco-justice philosopher, activist, and leader. Joanna is a scholar, teacher, and a practitioner of Buddhism, Systems Theory, Gaia Theory, and the Deep Ecology Movement. At 86, she moves through the world with profound wisdom, passion, and the rare gift to inspire us to move from despair into empowered action for the earth and all living beings. To learn more about Joanna and the work that she does please visit http://www.joannamacy.net/ This interview originally aired on Women Hold up Half the Sky on KALX Berkley 90.7FM

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Episode Fourteen- Pennie Opal Plant and Rosa Fallon

In this interview from 4/25/15, we heard from Pennie Opal Plant and Rosa Fallon two community organizers in the Bay Area about the movement against the Fossil Fuel Industry and specifically the WestPac Oil Project in Pittsburg, CA. Pennie discussed the role of indigenous peoples' in initiatives to protect the environment including leading communities in Healing Walks. And Rosa spoke about the details of the WestPac Oil Project including it's health risks and potential ramifications. Pennie and Rosa also shared many local and national resources involved in this historical effort to protect communities and the environment including the Pittsburg Defense Council, Sunflower Alliance, Idle NoMore, Bay Area Refinery Corridor Coalition, 350.org, Sierra Club, Forest Ethics, and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

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Episode Thirteen- Dawn Haney

In this interview, I spoke with Dawn Haney, a co-director of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship. The mission of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship (BPF), founded in 1978, is to serve as a catalyst for socially engaged Buddhism. Their purpose is to help beings liberate themselves from the suffering that manifests in individuals, relationships, institutions, and social systems. Dawn Haney brings her passions for social justice, good non-profit management, and the dharma to her role as Co-Director for BPF. We spoke about Dawn’s professional and personal journey to the Director role, BPF as an institution, and current issues and topics within mindfulness and Buddhism. We also examined a variety of social issues including racism, community activism, and gendered violence from a Buddhist perspective.This interview originally aired lived on KALX 90.7 FM on Women Hold up Half the Sky on February 28th, 2015.

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Episode Twelve- Bie Aweh

In this interview, I spoke with Bie Aweh, a UC Berkeley Staff Member and Social Justice Facilitator. On campus, Bie is a Resident Director, the Advisor of the Unity House LGBT Theme Program, and an advocate for Cal's African/African American community. She completed her M.Ed. in Social Justice Education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and her B.A. in Political Science and Women's Studies, with a minor in Race, Culture and Power, from the University of New Hampshire. She has served as a facilitator for intergroup dialogue courses on topics such as race, class, gender, and social justice and is passionate about identity development, liberation, creating inclusive communities. We talked about social justice, anti-blackness, allyship, and the importance of healing.This interview originally aired live on KALX 90.7 FM Women Hold up Half the Sky on January 10th, 2015. 

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