The Loss Encounters

Dancer Zazel-Chavah O'Garra has leveraged her loss of mobility and radiant optimism to push creative boundaries for dancers of all abilities. A New Yorker with Caribbean roots, her talent as a dancer took her from Broadway to stages across Europe. She graced the cover of Essence magazine twice during her career as a professional model.

However, her journey took a challenging turn when severe fatigue unveiled a benign brain tumor in 2003, leaving her partially paralyzed after surgery. Undeterred, she decided to explore movement within her physical range. In 2014, Zazel founded the ZCO/DANCEPROJECT, an inclusive dance company that celebrates the abilities of all individuals. Her innovative approach has garnered recognition from the Kennedy Center's Very Special Arts Program, underlying her belief that we must expand the boundaries of creative expression.

“I tell the dancers, there are no limits," says Zazel. "If you have mobility issues, just let it come from your heart and your soul.” In this interview, Zazel delves into the evolution of her creative process and her bold ambition to produce a groundbreaking musical for people with disabilities, aiming to challenge societal norms.

Explore

• Website: Zazel-Chavah O'Garra
• Instagram: @zazelchavah
• ZCO/DANCEPROJECT

Connect with Melissa Ceria and watch video clips of the interviews on Instagram @thelossencounters.

To discover more about this interview series and read transcripts, visit thelossencounters.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do relationships evolve and strengthen after one partner undergoes a significant change? This question has shaped the life of author Lee Woodruff. In 2006, Lee's life took an abrupt turn when her husband, renowned journalist Bob Woodruff, was gravely injured by a roadside bomb while on assignment in Iraq. Overnight, Lee was thrust into the role of caregiver. "When the bad thing happens, you can get bitter or you can get better," she says. Today, Lee and Bob are co-founders of The Bob Woodruff Foundation for Veterans and Military Families. In this conversation, Lee discusses the importance of self-care in times of difficulty, growing together through significant change, and our duty to support veterans and caregivers.

Learn more about Lee Woodruff at:

• leewoodruff.com
• Instagram: @leewoodruff
• The Bob Woodruff Foundation

Books by Lee Woodruff:

• In an Instant: A Family’s Journey of Love and Healing
• Perfectly Imperfect
• Those We Love Most

Lee's articles on caregiving in AARP

To discover more about this interview series and read transcripts, visit thelossencounters.com. Connect with Melissa at @thelossencounters.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is our society’s definition of success harming young people’s ability to feel they matter? In this enlightening episode, we delve into the profound effects of our achievement-driven culture on young people's social connections and sense of self-worth.

Dr. Sarah Bennison, an educator and founder of Trinity School's Office of Public Service in New York City, discusses how the pressure to succeed is making many question their significance and their roles in society.

In response to these pressures, Sarah, together with Jennifer Breheny Wallace, author of Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic, initiated The Mattering Movement. This initiative, spurred by the concerns of parents regarding their children's struggles, now equips teachers and youth with tools and an upcoming curriculum designed to foster purpose and strengthen community connections.

Together, we explore the nonstop pressure of grind culture, the psychological research behind mattering, and the broader implications for different phases of life where people may be vulnerable to low levels of mattering. Sarah shares practical steps for parents and educators to foster a sense of mattering. Learn how redefining success to prioritize this can create healthier, more connected communities.

Explore More:

• Website: Mattering Movement
• Instagram: @matteringmovement
• Discover Your Mattering Metric

Connect with Melissa Ceria and watch video clips of the interviews on Instagram @thelossencounters.

Discover more about this interview series, sign up for the newsletter, and read transcripts at thelossencounters.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brad Rouse, a Harvard graduate, was a successful New York theater director when he fell into a spiral of addiction. In 2008, he pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy charges and served a year at The Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn. Today, Brad assists defendants as they face sentencing. “Jail is a penalty box, it’s not a coffin,” he says. “And if you think that jail is the end of your life, that doesn’t get you moving through that chapter of your story.” Brad discusses his journey from addiction to advocacy, what it takes to move through the justice system, and coming to terms with the shame and secrets we can hold in our stories.

Learn more about Brad Rouse at bradrouse.com and connect with him on LinkedIn.

To discover more about this interview series and read transcripts, visit thelossencounters.com. Connect with Melissa at @thelossencounters.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we delve into the loss of animal sounds in our natural environment with Bernie Krause, a pioneer in the field of sound ecology. For over five decades, Bernie has traveled to the farthest reaches of our planet, capturing the symphony of nature's voices. His mission: To raise awareness about the urgent need to preserve these precious sonic environments. Bernie's work explores the beauty of the natural world and the impact of climate change and human activities on animals and their habitats. His work is a clarion call for us to recognize and address this growing environmental threat.

Bernie's journey as a bioacoustician started on a different note. Originally a musician, he's worked with artists such as The Doors and Stevie Wonder, and his recordings have graced countless documentaries, exhibitions, and film scores, including Apocalypse Now and Rosemary's Baby. His touring sound exhibit, "The Great Animal Orchestra," offers a breathtaking journey into a digital soundscape that captures the vastness and vulnerability of the natural world. He invites us to ponder an important question: Could the secrets hidden within soundscapes hold the keys to solving some of life's greatest mysteries?

Join us as we discuss the beauty and fragility of our planet's natural soundscapes and the urgent need to protect and preserve them for future generations.

Websites to Visit:

• Wild Sanctuary
• The Great Animal Orchestra - Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain

Books by Bernie Krause

• The Great Animal Orchestra: Finding the Origins of Music in the World's Wild Places
• The Power of Tranquility in a Very Noisy World
• Voices of the Wild: Animal Songs, Human Din, and the Call to Save Natural Soundscapes (The Future Series)
• Wild Soundscapes: Discovering the Voice of the Natural World
• Bernie Krause: The Great Animal Orchestra

Connect with Melissa Ceria and watch video clips of the interviews on Instagram @thelossencounters.

To discover more about this interview series and read transcripts, visit thelossencounters.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.