Above the Fog

On this week’s episode of Above The Fog with Jen Chien, hear from Dr. Destiny Thomas, an Anthropologist Planner, and Founder and CEO of Thrivance Group, which works to bring culturally restorative concepts into the lived experiences of their communities. Dr. Thomas developed the Thrivance Theory, a dignity-infused community engagement method, which creates a framework for engaging people about the built environment in a way that helps them thrive. Let Destiny’s story fill you with hope and a sense of belonging.

Valerie Francisco-Menchavez describes her journey from Filipino immigrant, undocumented student, to tenured Professor of Sociology at SF State. Francisco-Menchavez describes her migrant upbringing and how the sense of community she found there inspired her to work for care workers and share their stories. Find relief from election anxieties and listen to Valerie’s endearing story of hope and perseverance.

Award-winning audio journalist Jen Chien, Kanwalroop “Roop” Kaur Singh describes moving through the painful complexities of personal and political history as a Punjabi Sikh American woman to become an agent of change. She’ll offer personal stories from growing up in the Sikh community of the South Bay as well as her years at UCLA School of Law – and how those experiences intertwine. Roop’s expression of resilience will be a healing balm for you in these weeks leading up to the election. Listen & be lifted.

We go all the way back to the beginning in "Learning to Walk", exploring the origins of human walking with Dartmouth paleoanthropologist Jerry DeSilva. We also explore walking with disability with educator and poet Noemi Sohn.

Two tightrope walkers, two stories. One is a clown, the other a student of Zen. Both walk on wires, alone, suspended above earth. One loses a lover because of his ego. The other loses his ego to find himself.