Real Eyes Realize

This REAL Eyes Realize podcast episode with Christopher Robinson highlights the journey of finding one’s circle of influence over time, trusting in the village around you, being honest with who you are and the opportunities in front of you, and being genuinely grateful for the leaders who provide open-door moments for growth on a personal and professional level. It is as vulnerable as it is inspiring and vivacious. We take time to go layers deep and inquire about how to find a level of happy in the here and now, and dance with grace and dignity.Christopher Robinson. Christopher is a seasoned facilitator, program manager, and leadership development professional with over 15 years of experience supporting large organizations across industries—from retail to technology. He is recognized for his engaging and energetic facilitation style, exceptional communication skills, and proven ability to drive change management initiatives. Chris excels at designing and delivering impactful training programs using a variety of modalities, and is highly regarded for his talent in building strong relationships and lasting partnerships.Outside of his professional pursuits, Chris is passionate about exploring new cultures and destinations, spending quality time with family and friends, and staying active through fitness and sports.

This REAL Eyes Realize podcast episode with Pear Urushima is an honest and insightful conversation about a successful marketing executive in the tech sector figuring out how to unleash her creative spark, make friends with her inner critic, and become a successful author and filmmaker in her “retirement” years. Her recent documentary, “Because of You, I Am” has won accolades at foreign film festivals and her poetry book titled “When the Critic Sleeps” is a vulnerable peek inside the ways in which our inner critic can be integrated into the whole of who we are versus running the show. Pear Urushima. Author, poet, writer, publisher, producer, and filmmaker. Pear Urushima is founder of Kanreki Productions, is a third-generation Japanese American with a background in marketing, production, directing, and writing, and hails from Los Angeles. With over 25 years of experience in Silicon Valley’s high-tech marketing and branding landscape, she has skillfully navigated countless creative challenges. Her portfolio highlights the intricacies of marketing, multimedia content creation, and storytelling. Her corporate experience gave her the foundation to leap into producing and publishing new works independently. In addition to Kanreki Productions, she founded Slow Drum Press as a woman-owned small business based in California. Both ventures were born from a commitment to community service—to share stories, poetry, and prose from and for people who quietly inhabit the earth, whose voices are an integral part of our culture.

This is Part Two of our REAL Eyes Realize podcast episode with Ciprian (“Chip”) Rarau because the first one barely scratched the surface of the partnership between humanity and artificial intelligence. This episode dives in deeper, particularly looking at what responsibilities we humans have as technological advancements continue at rapid rates. We investigate the importance of presence, contrast, integration with nature, connection, and values for “Waking Up” both individually and collectively.Ciprian Rarau. Ciprian Rarau is a seasoned entrepreneur and software engineer from Romania, where he discovered his natural aptitude for software engineering during high school. In 2004, he moved to Canada, drawn by the opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship. As a father of two and an entrepreneur at heart, Ciprian has founded two companies in Canada. His latest venture, Wisk.ai, is a software solution designed for the restaurant industry. As the co-founder and CTO of Wisk, he has successfully led the company to become venture-backed and profitable, with a team of 20 employees. Four years ago, coinciding with the Covid pandemic, Ciprian became deeply engaged in yoga and meditation, attending retreats and focusing on reconnecting with his body and inner self. Influenced by thinkers like Eckhart Tolle, Alan Watts, Michael Singer, and Tara Brach, Ciprian has embraced practices centered around awareness and mindfulness. He views the mind as a separate tool rather than the entirety of his being, striving to shift from mental to heart-centered living. This journey has enhanced his ability to focus, be present, and fully experience life as it unfolds.

Our REAL Eyes Realize podcast episode with Angela & Rick Miller is one where they talk honestly about the difficulties of divorce and how they both navigated “life even after” to a place of love, hope, and a beautiful blended family. They do not sugar-coat how difficult divorce and break-up can be, but with helpful resources, a loving close group of friends and family, and strong faith, they moved through the grieving process and into a state of thriving.This podcast episode touches upon the bumps and beauty of finding true love after what feels like devastation. Bottom line: love and life are possible after Plan A disintegrates and Plan B can be beautiful.Angela Miller. Angela is a thriving woman and supports high school girls with direction and purpose at a college preparatory all-girls school in Omaha, NE - Marian High School.  She has lived in Omaha for most of her life and is mom to two beautiful children, Brooks and Alexa, and a new step-mom to four additional children through her marriage to Rick.  She enjoys working with youth and seeing the world through the lens of ease and enjoyment. She also enjoys walking her dog Luna, hosting family dinners with her newly blended family, and laughing as much as possible!Rick Miller. Rick is a business professional with 25+ years of financial services experience in the insurance and leadership industry. A results-oriented driven salesperson who effectively provides a high level of customer service. He is an outside-the-box thinker who relies on a combination of data and relationship management to grow sales and create successful partnerships with key clients. In the same light, he is loving father to four beautiful children and a new step-dad to two more given his union with Angela.

Vivian Canci Foulke tells her story of grief and loss, as well as hope and kindness. She bears her truth, and lets us peek into the story of her life through the eyes of someone who has dealt with hardship on multiple levels: loss of parents, loss of a best friend, loss of a marriage … and yet, through it all, she is encouraged by the kindness and positive impact of listening to people share their stories. Through this framework, “The Narrative Initiative”, a labor of love developed by Vivan and her soul friend Dr. Lorraine Dickey, they have created positive ripple effects in the healthcare industry.Vivian Canci Foulke: BSN, IBCLC, and the Executive Director of The Narrative Initiative (TNI). As a certified TNI facilitator, she works by bringing diverse healthcare professionals together to address cultural challenges in the workplace, and helping create narrative sessions and workshops to benefit healthcare professionals and patients. She expertly presents the perspective of nursing as a balance to the perspectives of TNI founder Dr. Lorraine Dickey.Vivian is also a senior nurse with nearly 30 years of experience working with high-risk infants, their parents, families, and healthcare professionals for all disciplines at The Children’s Hospital at Lehigh Valley Health Network in Pennsylvania. She is a strong advocate of the principles of Person-Centered Care/Patient-and-Family-Centered Care (PFCC) that guide her daily work with families and colleagues at the NICU. 

Manoj Chalam discusses the great mono-myth of the Hero’s Journey through the lens of Hindu and Buddhist archetypes, as well as his own life experiences. Some of you may recall Manoj was our very first interview guest, along with his wife Jytohi Chalam, two beloved Vedic philosophy teachers of our REAL Eyes Realize host, Christina Roberts Enneking. Jyothi’s soul has passed on as she has joined the great Atma (auspicious nature of consciousness), and Manoj discusses life after the passing of his life partner, among other topics.

Johnny is a survivor: he’s endured multiple forms of abuse, suicide attempts, and has found a way to move from his greatest wounds to a wisdom that rocks our world with messages of hope, tenacity, and levity. Johnny talks candidly in his two TED talks about his journey, and his tagline is: “the real miracle is that he lived to tell the tale”. In our REAL Eyes Realize podcast, we are lucky to dive into the levers Johnny looks at as important to play with in life, and those that simply don’t matter. In his light-hearted and witty approach, he shares a range of personal experiences and the ways in which he has navigated his way through mental health challenges ranging from OCD, bipolar disorder, PTSD and more. He’s gone from not being able to touch food or hug people to fully engaging in life, on his terms. We are thrilled to introduce you to the “Mental Health Rockstar” of our times, Johnny Crowder.

Jane is the Founder and Executive Director of The Coaching Fellowship, a leadership development program designed for women leading efforts for positive social impact. This organization offers individual coaching and opportunities for connection with empowered women leaders worldwide, an important building block for cultivating strong leaders who care: care for the environment, care for the greater good of the community, and care for one another deeply. In addition, Jane has recently released a new book, “Unlocked, How Empowered Women Empower Women”, which includes short stories that highlight impactful female leaders working to propel women and girls forward. In telling their stories, Jane shows how these pioneers are creating lasting change and how we can apply their trailblazing lessons to our own lives. This book was written during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, where it is said (according to the World Economic Forum), women lost 36 years of progress in 2020 in terms of gender equality in the workplace, due to the pandemic. That is an entire generation of progress lost. There is work to do and Jane helps us understand what we can do to support prosperous growth for all.

While traveling through the Sacred Valley of Peru from December 27, 2021 - January 6, 2022, with these two master teachers Roberto & Rene, and good friend Gv Freeman, we enjoyed experiences of deep cleansing on physical, psychological and spiritual levels. At the end of our trip, I had a dream. That dream was to introduce people to their teachings, and furthermore to their personification of spiritual depth with no ego and an abundance of love. I wanted to provide this special podcast episode on my birthday, and offer to anyone wishing to make a donation to a cause close to their heart, that invitation. When I asked Robert & Rene if they would be open to an interview on REAL Eyes Realize podcast, they said they work with people face to face in order to see what is important for healing. That is hard over a podcast platform, then they could feel my heart and intention was pure, and said “of course, Princesa. Happy Birthday!” I introduce to our listeners these two incredible teachers, and their teachings. If listeners are so inclined and fund a cause that lights a lantern in your heart, giving to something or someone that matters deeply to you, please donate. I have initiated a Go fund Me campaign for two causes that matter to me and you are invited to donate there, if desired.

This podcast features Jennifer Prugh who is a business owner, author, creative artist, and community builder. She shares with us a compass for making business decisions that are conscious and kind, as well as prudent and profitable. She shares her history from pushing against social constructs to finding yoga, teaching yoga, and inevitably building a business seen as a sanctuary for all who call Breathe Together Yoga their healing space. We’ll discuss the pivots that were needed in the midst of COVID-19 uncertainty and understand guiding principles, like meditation, that keep kindness and compassion at the forefront of how we show up in this world.

This podcast features Anne Heffron who is a screenwriter, book author, and an incredible writing coach. She compares writing to poop. She surmises, “What if we realized writing is as basic a function as pooping … it is within us and wants to get out! We also don’t sit around and evaluate poop either. Think about that.” What a world it would be if we all felt free enough to write from an authentic and true place within. Anne relates her coaching to a “stick of dynamite” when it comes to helping her clients move past rules and the learned structure of writing, and our inherent editing mind, and teaches people how to find their authentic voice and the question their life is here to answer.

This podcast features Jessica Eastland as she gets REAL with us on the struggles illustrated by her father’s fight with ALS and also the grace with which her family moves through challenges when life throws hard things at you. Jessica is an educator and a positive community builder committed to raising awareness and support for non-profits working to end ALS (ALS Association, ALS TDI, I Am ALS).