Drag THINGING!, Belonging, and Honoring Your Anger With CYRO

Original Air Date: November 9, 2020

Honor your anger. Honor your pain.

CYRO’s words resonated deeply with me – like a bell used to awaken your spirit.

This isn’t just an interview.

It’s an awakening. It’s a residence. It’s a healing.

I am so grateful that CYRO took the time to sit down and share their passionate and powerful wisdom with all of us.

Leah Kirby, also known as CYRO, creates theatre that incites change and incorporates non-western techniques in order to explore social, economic, and political issues through a non-traditional format. 

They are an activist, theatre maker, actor, writer, and drag thing named CYRO. 

CYRO is a Queer, Non-Binary, DRAG THING! 

They bring strength, beauty, and awareness to the stage with acts like 'Run Rabbit', exploring the struggles of gang induction and violence within black communities, and 'I am not your', a piece that delves into black masculinity within a non-binary body and shows the beauty it can exude by stripping back the facade. 

They use spoken word, movement, composition, Lip syncing, and storytelling within their work to incite change through artistic calls to action.

I am telling you: this interview is everything you have been looking for in a THE Celebration episode.

Do yourself a favor. 

Hit play.

You can learn more about Cyro through their website, or you can follow them on Instagram.

tomearl.me/cy

Listen to "Drag THINGING!, Belonging, and Honoring Your Anger With CYRO" on Spreaker.

Moving Beyond Fear and Embracing your Experience With Nurjahan Boulden

What fear have you been carrying that you are ready to set down?

What would it look like to move beyond fear and embrace your experiences?  

This week’s episode provides a bold and courageous reflection on these questions. 

My guest, Nurjahan Boulden, was 21 years old when she was shot with an assault rifle in an attack that killed the man next to her. 

That one night changed the trajectory of her life. 

Even as she moved on to become a teacher and mother of three, PTSD and complications from the bullet wound continually threatened her future. 

13 years later, she is now recognized as America’s leading coach for survivors of gun violence who are ready to Feel Safe Again™. 

Fear has been a companion of mine during 2020. I have a feeling I am not alone in this. 

Rather than numbing myself or hiding from it, I have made it a goal to confront, get to know, and investigate my fears. 

A significant part of that journey is listening to the stories, wisdom and reflections from others who are on that same path. 

This episode with Nurjahan is one that I listen to often when I need a reminder of the inner-power that I, and all of us, possess.

For the astute listener keeping track at home, you’ll note that this episode originally aired May 13, 2019. 

As I was re-listening to it this week, I knew that the messages and insights Nurjahan shares could really serve a lot of us at this very moment. 

Even if you distinctly remember listening to this episode when it first aired, I passionately urge you to give it a re-listen. 

The experiences you have gained over the past 1.5 years will allow you to gain new gifts as you re-listen. 

Trust me. 

Do yourself this favor of hitting play. 

Thank you, Nurjahan, for sharing such a vulnerable, authentic, and empowering interview. 

Listen to "Moving Beyond Fear and Embracing your Experience With Nurjahan Boulden" on Spreaker.

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.

Drag THINGING!, Belonging, and Honoring Your Anger With CYRO

Honor your anger. Honor your pain.

CYRO’s words resonated deeply with me – like a bell used to awaken your spirit.

This isn’t just an interview.

It’s an awakening. It’s a residence. It’s a healing.

I am so grateful that CYRO took the time to sit down and share their passionate and powerful wisdom with all of us.

Leah Kirby, also known as CYRO, creates theatre that incites change and incorporates non-western techniques in order to explore social, economic, and political issues through a non-traditional format. 

They are an activist, theatre maker, actor, writer and drag thing named CYRO. 

CYRO is a Queer, Non-Binary, DRAG THING! 

They bring strength, beauty and awareness to the stage with acts like 'Run Rabbit', exploring the struggles of gang induction and violence within black communities, and 'I am not your', a piece that delves into black masculinity within a non-binary body and shows the beauty it can exude by stripping back the facade. 

They use spoken word, movement, composition, Lip syncing and storytelling within their work to incite change through artistic calls to action.

I am telling you: this interview is everything you have been looking for in a THE Celebration episode.

Do yourself a favor. 

Hit play.

You can learn more about Cyro through their website, or you can follow them on Instagram @cyrodragthing

Listen to "Drag THINGING!, Belonging, and Honoring Your Anger With CYRO" on Spreaker.

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.

Gifts for My Child Episode 7

Featuring: Shelby Birch, Moses Weir, Walter Wally B. Jennings, and Jessica Estevez

Wow! Can you believe it?! This is the final episode of the ‘Gifts for My Child’ series. For those of you just tuning in – I highly recommend you start with episode 1 of this series. 

I am so grateful to all of my friends who shared their time, their love, and their wisdom with Jayanma by participating in this project. 

There are so many intentions and aspirations that went into this project. One of the main ones being that I want Jayanma to know that there is a community of people ready to listen and be there for her. 

As a new dad, these interviews have been such a resource! 

I am so excited for Jayanma to listen to this as she gets older. I envision her checking them out 32 years later, and reflecting on her dad creating them while he was 32 and preparing for her arrival. 

Wow. What a fun thought. 

Speaking of – I’d love to hear your thoughts on this project. And, as always, if you have any advice or reflections on any questions I asked my guests, please send them in!

Thank you so much for listening to this series! 

Listen to "Gifts for My Child Episode 7" on Spreaker.

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.

Gifts for My Child Episode 6

Featuring: Alex Sullivan, Dermot Givens, Irmina and Ace Vedo

Episode 6 of ‘Gifts for My Child’ has arrived. This will be the second to last episode. If you haven’t yet, be sure to start with episodes 1 & 2 so you can learn the context behind this series. 

There have been moments where I am holding Jayanma and listening to these interviews and I just get tears in my eyes. The advice, words of wisdom, and love that people shared just brings me such joy. 

As you’re listening to this week’s episodes, be sure to let me know if you have any additional reflections you’d like to share!

Enjoy. 

Listen to "Gifts for My Child Episode 6" on Spreaker.

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.

South Africa, Service and Birthday Reflections with Shelby Birch

On this week’s episode I interview author, poet and activist Shelby Birch from her Peace Corp assignment in South Africa.

 Shelby shares some of the highlights and surprises of her service. She also reflects  on her activism, and how overcoming challenges, has helped shape her worldview and aided her in becoming her best self. 

 Shelby brazenly tells her story through her writing, and her strong belief in wisdom, artistic freedom, and expressionism shines through. Her most recent published book, ‘Lit’ is a powerful illustration of how she uses poetry as a mirror to examine issues on womanhood, blackness, awkwardness, and heartbreak.

You can follow Shelby Birch on Instagram @shelbybirch

Listen to "South Africa, Service and Birthday Reflections with Shelby Birch" on Spreaker.

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.

Listening to Your Inner Voice

The answers that we seek are already within us.  All of the resources, the resourcefulness, the energy, and the time that you need to accomplish everything within your purpose is right there, already within you.

This understanding allows us to recognize the true potential we have within.  Along with this mindset, there are applicable and practical tools that you allow us to tap into the answers within.

One of the greatest assets and important skills to develop is listening to our inner voice.  A key to unlock that, is developing the questions we are asking.

Your free gift for this episode is the "Unlock Your Inner Voice Reflection Guide." 

Want to take a deeper dive? Check out this week's podcast!

Listen to "Listening to Your Inner Voice" on Spreaker.

Prefer to listen on iTunes?

How Do You Measure Success?

Have you ever felt that you got exactly what you wanted, but when you got it, it didn't feel like what you thought it would?  Or have you felt that you work for something so hard, but once it
was there, this is not what I thought it would be?

We've all been there, that's why it's important to, any time you start something, ask yourself, how am I defining success?

In this video - I'll go over exercises and questions you can use to create your definition of success.

This episode has a podcast that dives deeper into this subject.  If you enjoyed this video, you will love the podcast.  Check it out below!

Prefer to listen to the podcast on iTunes? Click here or the link below.

This is About Happiness!

This episode is about happiness. Your happiness! Here's how we can infuse happiness into our life. www.tomearl.com

This is about happiness!  When is the last time you have written down all the things that make you happy?  Have you compared those to the things that you are currently doing? 

Let's reflect this week on does what makes me happy match with what I am doing.  In this video is an exercise you can do to walk yourself through this process.  You got this!

This episode also has a podcast that goes deeper into the content.  It is on the same subject but goes more into depth.  Check it out!

Prefer to listen to this podcast on iTunes? Click here! 

The Power of Your Story

The most valuable asset with have is our personal stories. What is a story about your life you want to share?

Everyone has a story.  It is one of the most powerful assets you have and it is always with you.  Have you ever felt that your story wasn't worth sharing? Have you ever felt that its small or boring and nobody would care?  Amazing things begin happening when we share our personal story.  Something you've experienced might not seem like it at first, but it could be the key someone needs to unlock new understanding. 

Let's start simple, think back on your life, where is a place you have been that holds significant meaning for you? 

You can also listen to the audio:

Click here to listen to it on the itunes podcast.