In this episode of our podcast, we are joined by Liz Childs Kelly, the author of the book "Home to Her: Walking the Transformative Path of The Sacred Feminine." Liz shares with us her journey of co-creating the world she wants to live in by trusting in flow, trust, and faith, rather than following a rigid ten-step formula. Liz tells us about how inspiration struck her one morning, leading her to write her book, but how it took a few more years of living before it could be finished. The...

In this episode, we talk to Ain Bailey, the founder of New Seneca Village, as she shares her insights on the Gratitude Blooming card #17, Humility, represented by two connected violets. Ain shares how nature is her first community and how important it is to be in relationship to land for land's sake. She feels the unwavering presence of nature, from the big sky to trees, and how they make her feel seen and known. We delve into her recent big move from the San Francisco Bay Area of...

In this episode, we sit down with love researcher, relationship coach and matchmaker Soniyah Singh to explore the Gratitude Blooming card #39 Grace, represented by a rose. Soniyah shares her journey of discovering her passion for helping people become the love they want, and how she believes that healing and attracting the right kind of love starts from within.  We discuss the courage it takes to look within and the importance of taking a pause, as well as the dangers of hiding behind...

In this episode, we sit down with Ariel Loh, the composer and producer behind Window Seat, to discuss his newest album, The Garden of Healing. This album is a collaboration with Gratitude Blooming and was inspired by the themes and art from our beautiful card deck. We discuss the 10 themes of the album, which range from Forgiveness to Patience, and how each piece of music reflects the intention behind each theme. Ariel also shares with us his creative process, which involves utilizing a...

This week, we sit down with Adam Rosendahl, the founder and CEO of Late Nite Art, to explore the theme of Celebration through the metaphor of a bouquet of flowers. Adam reflects on his journey into facilitation and art, including a transformative experience of being blessed as a baby by a monk who noticed that he had "the hands of an artist". Adam also discusses the power of art and music to help people feel seen and connected, and how Late Nite Art uses an arts-based methodology to support...

In this episode, we have a captivating conversation with Jim Herr on the theme of curiosity. Jim discusses the importance of self-reflection, looking behind the curtain we create, and questioning who we are. He shares his personal journey of self-discovery and how he overcame the fear of being an imposter or not being good enough. Jim highlights the significance of recognizing our own power and, like Spiderman, the responsibility that comes with it. He shares how he found his purpose in...

In this episode, we are joined by Emily Golding, Executive Director of Amplifier, a nonprofit design lab that builds art and media experiments to amplify the most important movements of our times. Together, we explore the Gratitude Blooming theme of Choice, represented by the spring rose.  Emily shares her journey of embodying choice, teaching the joy of choice, and leaning into how ideas incubate in young people.  She also discusses the concept of time dignity and how it impacts our...

How do you handle "life mountains?" In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Georgina Miranda, a mountaineer, athlete, social entrepreneur, and explorer. Georgina shares her journey and how it led her to discover the power of mindset and inner strength. She discusses the challenges she faced, including climbing Mt. Everest and the implosion of a previous business venture.  Georgina learned that life will give you lessons and the lessons will only get harder if you don't listen.  She...

In this episode, we dive into our relationship with the natural world through the Gratitude Blooming theme of community, represented by the Bleeding Heart flower. Our guest, Ryland Engelhart, co-founder of Kiss the Ground, shares his thoughts on how we can improve our relationship with nature by spending time and attention on it.  He invites us to imagine building a relationship with nature like having good friends, and emphasizes the importance of tending to and reveling in the living world....

This week, we interview Katrina Spade, the founder of Recompose, a company that provides funeral service by composting the dead. Inspired by the Gratitude Blooming Wildcard - Lilac, Katrina shares her personal journey and experiences that led her to this work, including her childhood growing up in rural New Hampshire and her background in architecture and design. She explains how composting and gardening were a part of her early awareness of the cycles of life and death, and how her work with...

In this episode of the podcast, "Impermanence - embracing loss," we dedicate it to our beloved podcast producer, Brian Vasquez, who recently passed away. Brian was a self-taught and Grammy-nominated audio producer who never forgot the magic of audio and had a deep appreciation for the craft. He will always be remembered for his love for sound and storytelling.  Brian’s love for audio began at two years old with his first Fisher-Price cassette recorder. On any given day, this small wonder of...

In this podcast episode, Belinda Liu and Omar Brownson sit down with the multi-talented Kameron Green to talk about her relationship to time and how she uses this time of year to reflect on her accomplishments, set intentions, and create an ongoing practice for the new year.  Kameron shares how the pandemic has changed her, both personally and professionally, and how she has shifted her focus on self care, reprioritized her values, and let go of things that no longer serve her. She also...

Join us for a special episode of the Gratitude Blooming Podcast as we explore the theme of forgiveness with author and optimist Simon Sinek. In this captivating conversation, we delve into Simon's personal and professional experiences with forgiveness and how it has impacted his life.  Simon also shares his thoughts on the concept of heartfulness as the new mindfulness and offers some valuable advice on embracing chaos and finding direction without a map. As we enter the new year, this...

As we transition to a new year, we revisit the concept of tenacity and how it is represented by the dandelion. The dandelion is a symbol of transformation, going from a yellow flower to a white puff ball to seeds. Similarly, we can transform our minds by practicing gratitude and shifting our focus from negative thoughts to positive ones. This helps us to cultivate a growth mindset and become more resilient. As we enter the new year, it's a good time to reflect on this theme of tenacity and...

In this intimate conversation, we look back and look forward on the year and the lessons our team has learned from being in close connection to nature.  Belinda talks about how nature has been a profound and lifelong learning experience for her and how it is accessible and universal to everyone.  Omar shares about the importance of gratitude and mindfulness in allowing us to adapt to change and be present in the moment.  Arlene reminds us of the eternal and our shared humanity through...

In this podcast episode, author and therapist Jor-El Caraballo talks about the importance of presence, permission to grow, sensitivity, memory, security vs. safety, and belonging.  He compares himself to an orchid, a plant that needs very little water, and encourages listeners to focus less on creation and more on spontaneity. He also mentions the importance of consent, disclosure, and reflection in order to save us from the shadow, which is more than the addict of our psyche. We hope...

At the heart of Gratitude Blooming is art. All the art is an attempt to bring some kind of healing into the world.  According to the artist and co-founder Arlene Kim Suda, even if the expression of a work reaches just one person at a time, it feels like the slow work needed to build the momentum to create the world we hope and dream to live in. This week we talk more about the power of art - both creating and interpreting it.  Inspired by Oren Slozberg, the Executive Director of Commonweal,...

What can bloom from your vulnerability? This week, we explore the theme of vulnerability represented by the winter rose with zazen practitioner Angela Oh. She invites us to imagine vulnerability as choosing the unknown, even if it’s scary. Being vulnerable means walking hand-in-hand with courage.  Angela Oh is a renowned civil rights lawyer (though she would never say that of herself) turned Zen priest turned mediator. She shares how to listen to nature and to be in “right relationship”....

We're taking a step back this week to explore the question of "Why gratitude?".   One answer is self-care. The brain has a biological bias to focus on the negative and gratitude disrupts this bias. This negative instinct sits in our amygdala, which while only the size of an almond is nearly as old as the dinosaurs.  The other "why gratitude", and the one that is truer to our hearts, is because we are human beings and yearn for a deeper connection to each other and the world around...

Our Full Length Conversation with VC Tang on Self Care inspired by the Allium Triquetrum/3-Cornered Leek (Card #10)  We're cooking up some gratitude this week with this long-form interview with VC Tang on the theme of self care as it relates to community care.  We hope this conversation inspires you to nourish yourself by cooking and eating with others! VC is an author, cook, and martial artist who happens to have an MBA and an entrepreneurial spirit.  She just released her first cookbook...

Our full-length conversation with Pastor Keith PK Jenkins on Growth and the Grapevine (Card #33) This week, we’re excited to preview an upcoming episode on the theme of Growth and the grapevine by sharing our long-form interview with Pastor Keith PK Jenkins. Keith is a strong leader who through humility and compassion gains access to the hearts of other leaders. His honesty and integrity creates opportunities for him to be a bridge builder. He effectively communicates cross-culturally and...

Teacher and thought partner Norma Wong (Norma Ryuko Kawelokū Wong Roshi) joins us to reflect on everything from ancestry to neuroscience to her own childhood influences. Abbot of Anko-in, an independent branch temple of Chozen-ji, Norma articulates the Collective Acceleration of this moment, which also serves as the title and inspiration for the second season of our podcast.  Inspired by the Gratitude Blooming theme of remembrance and the poppy, Norma challenges us to exercise more choice....

This week’s theme of Wholeness embraces both the light and shadow. Artist Arlene Kim Suda shares this inspiration from Jun'ichirō Tanizaki — 'Were it not for shadows, there would be no beauty.’ We are encouraged to remember the beautiful grays and that our wholeness will never destroy us.  Joined by the intuitive and thoughtful strategic advisor and executive coach Stephanie Ervin, she reminds us that “We are more than our jobs that we show up to do.”  Her company is named Feathership and is...

Life is not a script. It is a conversation. Life is going to life. How are you connected to it?  Cultural anthropologist and culture keeper Dr. Erika Powell shares when she learned to pray from a Lakota elder. In a meadow in South Dakota, the elder shared: everything is alive and everything is listening to you.  Before this moment, she asked whose inbox was getting my prayers. When she connected to the life all around her, everything changed.  She says, your purpose is to be human and to have...

Being there for each other. That’s the core inspiration for bar owner and author Cedd Moses. He says, “It’s not worth growing unless we can be there for each other.” He is on the path to redefine the hospitality industry with his bars and company Pouring with Heart, which is also the title of his new book: Pouring with Heart: The Essential Magic Behind the Bartenders We Love. This week we explore active listening, moving from technical skills to human skills and with Cedd Moses we are...