“When intuition hits you that loudly and clearly, it’s definitely not something to ignore." - Cheryl Furer

Cheryl and I met at a vegan restaurant in Salt Lake City years ago and became friends while sharing dessert. We are still in contact and I continue to be amazed by her story, wisdom and talents. In this episode, we talk about everything from the importance of learning accurate histories of race in America, rediscovering her own sexuality and sensuality through pole dancing and her journey to becoming a midwife as part of her justice and healing work.

For over 20 years Cheryl has studied nutrition, herbs, supplements, coaching and wellness. She is a Certified Professional Midwife, Certified Homeopath, and Integrative Health Coach. And my friend!

Taped in Dec 2020

We kick off Season 2 with a very special guest: Snehal Desai. Snehal is a brilliant director, playwright, producer and community leader. He is the Producing Artistic Director of East West Players, the US's largest Asian-American theater company and the longest running theater of color in the country.

In this episode, we talk about nurturing a life-long desire for effecting change, using art to reflect our current moment, tackle taboo topics and increase representation for Asian, Pacific Islander, Desi American artists and identities.

“All our lives are intersectional. Art reflects this life back to us.” - Snehal Desai

More about Snehal:

Snehal Desai is the Producing Artistic Director of East West Players, the US's largest Asian-American theater company and the longest running theater of color in the country. Before this time, Snehal was a freelance director working across the United States and the UK. He is a member of the Asian Pacific American Media Coalition (APAMC) and serves on the boards of the Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists (CAATA) and Theater Communications Group (TCG). Snehal found a home at East West Players because he found it to uniquely stand at the intersection of artistry and social justice. As an artistic leader, he has sought to raise awareness on social issues that affect Angelenos by personalizing them through storytelling.

Episode Taped Nov. 2020

Napoleon Tavale is an artist, teacher and story-teller. We talk about learning how to tell stories from watching children and our families, the need for connecting with others (especially in a pandemic), being a “drunk baby” and the power of prayer.

Napoleon Tavale (he/him) is a storyteller who was born in American Samoa and raised in St. Paul, MN. He is most known for his acting roles on primetime television shows such as: Hawaii Five-O, American Horror Story, General Hospital, Criminal Minds, NCIS: Los Angeles, Grey’s Anatomy, and more.

Tavale’s education includes a BA in Theatre Arts from Whittier College and an MFA in Acting from the University of Virginia. Tavale is a multi-passionate artist as an actor, writer, producer, singer, dancer, and he teaches Drama at East West Players theatre in Los Angeles. His favorite sport to play and watch is basketball and he is currently enjoying the Midwest autumn season quarantining with his family.

Taped September 2020