The You Matter Movement was created to respond to what has been described as the deepest principle of human nature… the CRAVING to be appreciated. It’s not just a want, a need or a desire, like food and shelter.
THOSE ARE TANGIBLE THINGS… THIS IS LITERALLY WIRED INTO OUR DNA AS HUMANS, THE UNENDING CRAVING TO FEEL VALUED AND APPRECIATED.
The deepest principle of human nature is the CRAVING to be appreciated. It’s not just a want or desire and it’s more important to us than sex or money. That’s why I created my You Matter Movement, to positively impact the lives of a Billion people. If we can get One Billion to believe they matter, then the ripple effect will touch the lives of everyone on the planet.
The You Matter Movement is a key driver in my mission, to get a Billion people to believe they matter, on a deep level… that ripple effect can impact all 8 Billion people on the planet!
I grew up near Baltimore, Maryland and in college ended up getting an internship at a local TV station, where I became a producer and reporter, winning an Emmy Award for my efforts. After 15 years I moved on and I have been in the health insurance and life insurance business (mainly health) for 22 years.
About 13 years ago I discovered personal development and self improvement, joined a Mastermind group (just 4 of us) and began tracking and managing my goals, activities and contributions… and most importantly, my growth, as each day I strive to be the very best version of myself.
Besides the Emmy Award, I have authored two books, written the preface for another, started a Storytelling Blog called The Sunday Series, another called Storytelling for Business, felt my calling/mission to positively impact the lives of a Billion people and in doing so found my You Matter Movement and The You Matter Show podcast. I am currently working on my You Matter book, with the goal of completing it by mid-December.
I’m recently re-married and have two beautiful daughters, Sophie (23) and Emily (21). I currently live in Pikesville, Maryland.
All of our shows/interviews are done by donation, if you enjoyed this show please support us here with either a one-time donation or subscribe and support, thank you. and please support Our Forgotten Children’s anthology and help to bring this book into production.
Sara’s View of Life with Sara Troy, on air form November 21st
Reflecting on my current situation, I find myself grappling with a significant decision regarding the timeline of a project or task at hand. The pressing question I’m facing is whether this needs to be wrapped up within the current year, or if it’s feasible and acceptable to let it extend into the next year.
As I sit here, considering the workload and responsibilities that are already lined up for the next few weeks, I’m leaning towards the realization that extending the timeline into next year is not just a possibility, but perhaps the most practical choice. This decision isn’t made lightly; it’s born out of a realistic assessment of my current commitments and the scope of work that remains.
The conclusion that ‘the answer is yes’ to extending the deadline into the next year is a reflection of my understanding of the situation. It takes into account various factors such as the quality of work, my well-being, and the potential benefits of allowing more time to ensure that the task or project is completed to the best of my abilities.
As I make this decision, I’m aware that it may necessitate clear communication with any stakeholders involved. It’s important to convey not just the change in timeline, but also the reasoning behind it, ensuring that everyone understands and is on board with this revised plan.
Navigating through these considerations, I feel this approach will ultimately lead to a better outcome for the project and for myself.
It’s indeed okay to not push an agenda and to go with the flow. This mindset can be particularly beneficial in situations where forcing a course of action might lead to unnecessary stress or complications.
The idea that encountering resistance could be an indicator that either the situation or we ourselves are not ready for a particular change or action is quite insightful to oneself. It suggests a level of awareness and adaptability that can be crucial in both personal and professional contexts.
Resistance, whether internal or external, often signals that there might be aspects of a situation that haven’t been fully considered or understood yet. It might mean that more preparation is needed, or that circumstances aren’t conducive to the desired course of action. In such cases, taking a step back, reevaluating the situation, and allowing things to unfold more naturally can lead to more harmonious and effective outcomes.
Embracing this approach can also involve a degree of patience and open-mindedness. It allows for the possibility that there might be alternative paths or solutions that haven’t been considered yet, and that these might emerge more clearly when not forcing a specific agenda.
In summary, going with the flow and being mindful of resistance is a valuable strategy. It encourages a more responsive, rather than reactive, approach to challenges and opportunities.
All of our shows/interviews are done by donation, if you enjoyed this show please support us here with either a one-time donation or subscribe and support, thank you. and please support Our Forgotten Children’s anthology and help to bring this book into production.
Ignite Your Heart and Soul with Sara Troy and her guest Karen Michalson, on air from November 21st
We are Speaking of law, madness, alienation, music, creativity, divinity, and other interesting matters, and how to ignite the creative spirit amongst the chaos.
Karen Michalson, musician and author of several award-winning novels, including THE MAENAD’S GOD and THE ENEMY GLORY TRILOGY (ENEMY GLORY, HECATE’S GLORY, and THE KING’S GLORY) returns to continue our conversation about the ancient spiritual war against art and creativity, which is really a war against our true selves.
Is creativity (not just in the arts, but in all areas of human endeavor), an inalienable aspect of being human, and if it is, why do so many of us feel the need to hide it? Where does this unearned sense of shame around being our true selves come from? Why should external forces dictate how we see and know ourselves? Other topics to be continued from our 8/28/23 podcast include:
Alienation. Why some people are cynical and ‘done with society’?
The nature of divinity; creativity as a way into some kind of higher reality; imagination as a sacred space
How creativity is an art of rebellion – and a healing force
The degree to which reality and fantasy inform each other
Whether creating a private world is a subversive act against a toxic culture.
Michalson explores these ideas in THE MAENAD’S GOD, the story of a spiritual war that’s been fought for thousands of years; the war between the ancient arts of music, poetry, and love; and the equally ancient forces of artistic envy, oppressive law, and authoritarian religion:
Boston 1992. Pete Morrow is an alienated FBI agent whose only escape from the colleagues and society he despises is through reading literary classics. When his boss sends him to warn away a drug dealer on an obscure army base, he discovers a murder and becomes obsessed with Jade McClellan, a mysterious man from Toronto whose rock band just performed at the crime scene. Tough-guy Morrow has never been in love before—but Jade is almost magical, an embodiment of myth and literature who creates living fantasies that rapidly become the only thing Morrow values in his otherwise miserable life. But there’s a problem. Morrow is investigating a mafia family that is investing in Jade’s musical career. Being open about their relationship could get both of them killed.
THE MAENAD’S GOD was selected as a finalist for the 2023 IAN (Independent Author Network) Book of the Year Awards, in the LGBTQ+ Fiction category.
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Mental Health Awareness with Sara Troy and her guest Jaime Pineda (pin eh da), on air from November 21ST
Listeners will learn how to use simple, time-tested techniques to control anxiety and recover their creative nature.
Segment Idea-Transform an Uncontrolled Mind into a Creative Mind in 4 Simple Steps
This is a segment about how four simple steps can help you shift from an uncontrolled mind to a creative and calm one.
Big idea: From the pandemic’s stresses and aftershocks to the state of the world, many of us can’t seem to shut off our brains. We experience a nearly constant noise of fears and anxieties that can block out our awareness of the present and our peace of mind. But a highly effective technique can quiet our brains, getting them under control.
Why it matters: Mind storms keep us obsessed on the past, snagged on trying to protect ourselves from old injustices. Succumbing to this state of mind can derail our work, our lives and our relationships, keeping us from moving forward or finding happiness and peace. But the mind we’re born with is anything but hectic — and that’s what we need to find again.
Key messages: Neuroscience expert Jaime A. Pineda, PhD shares four highly effective strategies for shutting down our uncontrolled thoughts and finding a place of deep creativity and calm. RUBI is an easy to remember yet powerful technique that brings the mind back to its original unencumbered state.
The author can also discuss:
• How to recognize the illusion of separation.
• Why it’s so important to understand what we face.
• How to find the right balance between living in the past and living in the present.
• How to implement answers to ground ourselves in the now.
The source: Jaime A. Pineda, PhD is Professor of Cognitive Science, Neuroscience, and Psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego, and the author of many widely cited papers in animal and human cognitive and systems neuroscience, as well as two books of poetry on mind-brain relationships with an emphasis on spirituality, mysticism, environmentalism, and social activism.
For centuries, spirituality has told us that the answer to life’s problems lies within us, if only we would realize that we are more than what we imagine. Now, scientific understanding is showing us the way. For humans, anxiety is the background “fever” that never breaks but can often get much worse. Whether the causes are individual, relational, cultural, or pandemic problems, when they occur, they affect our ability to live a joyful and creative life. This often means getting mired in uncontrolled mind loops and incessant circular thinking, making us feel helpless and stuck. In this book, Jaime Pineda shows how the dynamics of anxiety and incessant rumination reflect uncontrolled creativity, and how using simple, time-tested techniques we can learn to control the chaos and recover our creative nature.
The key to the solution is to understand that the intellect only helps to some extent, but by itself cannot solve its own problem. What we need is a mind that can, in a nonjudgmental way, distance itself from the thought patterns that trap us. We are born with an incredible, original mind that quickly becomes obscured by the fever of fear and anxiety. But we can recover this mind quickly. Pineda teaches us how to recognize the basic problem and find the solution through a series of steps and techniques that help bring us out of the loops and recover a cleaner mindset that enables us to move beyond the static of anxiety.
Jaime A. Pineda, PhD is Professor of Cognitive Science, Neuroscience, and Psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego, and the author of many widely cited papers in animal and human cognitive and systems neuroscience, as well as two books of poetry on mind-brain relationships with an emphasis on spirituality, mysticism, environmentalism, and social activism.
All of our shows/interviews are done by donation, if you enjoyed this show please support us here with either a one-time donation or subscribe and support, thank you. and please support Our Forgotten Children’s anthology and help to bring this book into production.
“for the LOVE of Music” with Sara Troy and her guest Gene-O, on air from November 21st.
Gearing up for the release of “Time for Change,” the infectious, insightful and timely debut single from Classic Twist – the fresh, grooving and innovative, multi-genre duo he’s formed with veteran writer/producer Kevin Flournoy – renowned R&B/jazz singer/songwriter Gene-O played the track for some industry movers and shakers in their home base of Southern California. Their response was auspicious – it reminded them of a modern version of “We Are the World.” If ever the planet needed a hopeful and uplifting new anthem to inspire us to look past our differences and come together in a spirit of love, the time is now.
Written by Gene-O and produced by Flournoy, “Time for Change” is an emphatic call to action that pointedly reflects on everything we need to do to come together and achieve a better world. Over a unique musical vibe that, true to the fusion-driven spirit of Classic Twist, incorporates elements of pop, R&B, country and rock, Gene-O passionately sings, “It’s time we leave our comfort zone/It’s time for you and I to rearrange things/Cause everybody knows it’s time for changes/It’s time we see the light/It’s time to do what’s right. . .So much love/That’s what we all should be thinking of…”
“We recorded this song and are releasing it as our first Classic Twist single because globally we desperately need to effect major change,” says Gene-O, whose most recent solo albums were the back-to-back releases of Born to Love and Christmas with Gene-O. Having spent years performing around the world (China, Japan and the EU) and the U.S., the singer started his career recording and performing with such artists as Baby Bash, N2Deep, The Jets, Maserati, and Sheila E to name a few. Once designated as Best New Artist of the Month by Talking Smooth Jazz Radio – more recently he has shared the stage with the likes of Brian O’Neal (The Bus Boys), Howard Hewitt, Eric Darius, Dru Hill, Lenny Williams (Tower of Power), Joe, and his mentors, Phil Perry and the late great Ricky Lawson.
“Our world is so crazy right now on so many levels,” he adds. “I had the message in my mind and I felt it was something we needed to do together. Kevin and I talk about these issues all the time. Every time we turn on the TV or listen to the radio, they’re talking about more division. The song, like all of the music we’re making together as Classic Twist, reflects the way we live, just loving people. Love and unity form the concept of everything we’re going to do on this project.”
“As veteran musicians and live performers, we know the joy that’s possible when thousands of people from all different backgrounds and beliefs come together to hear music and experience an elevation of positivity,” adds Flournoy, who has written, performed or recorded over the years with Chaka Khan, Babyface, Donny Osmond, Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, Teena Marie, Jeffrey Osborne, The Pointer Sisters, Jennifer Hudson, Howard Hewitt, Jamie Foxx, The Jazz Crusaders and contemporary jazz greats Boney James, Norman Brown, Kirk Whalum and Harvey Mason.
The duo plans to follow “Time for Change” with several other original singles before releasing an EP or full-length album comprised of new compositions and explosive re-imaginings of classic rock tunes. One of these is the whimsical, high-energy country-soul-rocker “Things are Changing,” a lighthearted song along a similar theme about going out and having some fun. The other is “You’re My Hero,” an inspiring, R&B/gospel flavored tribute to the love of hard- working, self-sacrificing women everywhere that was picked up by an international women’s foundation as their new anthem; Gene-O and Flournoy will be shooting a video for this song this fall. As for the covers, down the road, Classic Twist is excited about presenting their dynamic versions of Simply Red’s “Holding Back the Years,” Journey’s “Faithfully” and Kansas’ “Dust in the Wind.”
The concept of Classic Twist is rooted in the longtime friendship and musical camaraderie of Gene-O and Flournoy, who first played together informally at jam sessions hosted by smooth jazz bassist Darryl Williams at Simply Sharon’s restaurant in Temecula, CA. Sometime later, when Gene-O was at one of Flournoy’s gigs at Felix’s Barbecue with Soul in San Diego, the two got to talking about their mutual musical passions, became fast friends and began gigging together.
Over the years, while perfecting their chemistry doing regular gigs at San Diego area hotspots like Covo and countless high-end parties, the two began talking about developing a unique hybrid style that incorporated two of Gene-O’s all-time favorite genres – country and classic rock – that he never had a chance to record or perform because of his success in jazz and R&B and the popular demand for him to continue in that vein. Flournoy, a veteran arranger and producer who loves those styles as well, helped develop and bring to life some of Gene-O’s new songs in a way that incorporated such elements as banjo and steel and electric guitar. They plan to bring in some of the top musicians in the business to cut each song live like an old school ensemble, leading to a transcendent, one-of-a-kind sonic aesthetic that will inevitably be Classic Twist.
Having sung at church from the age of seven, Gene-O began his professional career at seventeen with a Bay Area band called Sho-fur. He has written, produced and collaborated with mega- producers Felton Pilate, Preston Glass, and Tank as well as contemporary jazz greats Adam Hawley, Blake Aaron, Darryl Williams, Cal Harris, Jr. and Will Donato. Flournoy, who earned a B.A. from the UCSD in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Music Science and Technology, is the owner and CEO of Kay-Flow Productions, LLC, a division of Flournoy Entertainment, Inc. His first major label success as a producer was Big Mountain’s international hit “Sweet Sensual Love.” As an artist/producer, this past year he released two versions of a cover of the Jam/Lewis SOS Band Top 5 R&B hit “Tell Me If You Still Care” – the first featuring Phil Perry on vocals, the second with saxophonist Richard Elliott.
All of our shows/interviews are done by donation, if you enjoyed this show please support us here with either a one-time donation or subscribe and support, thank you. and please support Our Forgotten Children’s anthology and help to bring this book into production.
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