Inclusivi-TEA Podcast

In today's episode, we talk with Jacelyn P. Johnson, actress, producer, casting director, writer/director from Minneapolis, Minnesota by way of L.A. with a love for stories about complex and imperfect people. She is committed to exploring untapped perspectives, utilizing experimental techniques to express psychological states, and exploring somatic experiences, sexuality. Jacelyn likes to create in multiple mediums but finds filmmaking to be the most fulfilling.

Jacelyn is the Founder/Creative Director of JahPenée Productions a Los Angeles & Minneapolis based Film/T.V. Production Company that provides pre - to- post production through outsourcing projects, creative consulting and casting services, with a primary focus on the ‘under-dog’ of the industry. JPP has provided over 200 job opportunities within the entertainment industry. 

Jacelyn wrote and starred in a mini-documentary about skin bleaching in the black community, "New Afrikan", head wrtier and executive producer for a vampire dramedy about a vampire that bites ass, “Vasspire” (Season 1 & 2) webseries. Jacelyn recently wrapped her first feature film debut documentary, “WeNext Artists”, telling the unsung music scene story of an underrepresented impoverished community on the East Side Saint Paul, Minnesota. Jacelyn executively produced, wrote and directed the film. It will be released Spring 2022. Jacelyn will soon begin shooting the trailer for a pilot she wrote, RAIN Summer 2022.

Jacelyn is currently planning several industry events highlighting local talent and community. Infectiously ambitious, Jacelyn started an independent boutique music label and publishing company, 42Music. Steadfast, she has several artists under her label in the booming genre of Afrofusion/AfroPop. She is also writing several television series catering to the lgbtq community and mental health, by exploring stories that ignite the familiarity in the human experience no matter the choice of gender or sexual preference.

Jacelyn is the grant receiver of the Creative Arts Individual Grant - Minnesota. Jacelyn has won acting awards from various film festivals and has held a presence at the historic Pan African Film Festival, Hollywood Film Festival, Black Hollywood Film Festival, REEL Comedy Film Festival, Denton Black Film Festival, Bitesize Film Festival and more with raving reviews regarding her performance! She is a focused trendsetter with a grateful heart for he community and an innovative giant on her way to quickly becoming a mogul.

Grab a cup of tea and join us for conversations, laughter, and community building focused on environmental, social and economic justice. With wonderful guests and our partners, Alliance for Sustainability (www.afors.org), Black Iowa News (blackiowanews.bulletin.com), and Inclusivi-TEA Collaborative (https://www.facebook.com/groups/inclusivesustainability), we pledge to work together to cocreate a future where the earth and everyone on it thrives. Alone, you can make a difference. Together, we can make THE difference.

Grab a cup of tea and join us for conversations, laughter, and community building focused on environmental, social and economic justice. With wonderful guests and our partners, Alliance for Sustainability (www.afors.org), Black Iowa News (blackiowanews.bulletin.com), and Inclusivi-TEA Collaborative (https://www.facebook.com/groups/inclusivesustainability), we pledge to work together to cocreate a future where the earth and everyone on it thrives. Alone, you can make a difference. Together, we can make THE difference.

Grab a cup of tea and join us for conversations, laughter, and community building focused on environmental, social and economic justice. With wonderful guests and our partners, Alliance for Sustainability (www.afors.org), Black Iowa News (blackiowanews.bulletin.com), and Inclusivi-TEA Collaborative (https://www.facebook.com/groups/inclusivesustainability), we pledge to work together to cocreate a future where the earth and everyone on it thrives. Alone, you can make a difference. Together, we can make THE difference.

Grab a cup of tea and join us for conversations, laughter, and community building focused on environmental, social and economic justice. With wonderful guests and our partners, Alliance for Sustainability (www.afors.org), Black Iowa News (blackiowanews.bulletin.com), and Inclusivi-TEA Collaborative (https://www.facebook.com/groups/inclusivesustainability), we pledge to work together to cocreate a future where the earth and everyone on it thrives. Alone, you can make a difference. Together, we can make THE difference.

Grab a cup of tea and join us for conversations, laughter, and community building focused on environmental, social and economic justice. With wonderful guests and our partners, Alliance for Sustainability (www.afors.org), Black Iowa News (blackiowanews.bulletin.com), and Inclusivi-TEA Collaborative (https://www.facebook.com/groups/inclusivesustainability), we pledge to work together to cocreate a future where the earth and everyone on it thrives. Alone, you can make a difference. Together, we can make THE difference.

Grab a cup of tea and join us for conversations, laughter, and community building focused on environmental, social and economic justice. With wonderful guests and our partners, Alliance for Sustainability (www.afors.org), Black Iowa News (blackiowanews.bulletin.com), and Inclusivi-TEA Collaborative (https://www.facebook.com/groups/inclusivesustainability), we pledge to work together to cocreate a future where the earth and everyone on it thrives. Alone, you can make a difference. Together, we can make THE difference.

Grab a cup of tea and join us for conversations, laughter, and community building focused on environmental, social and economic justice. With wonderful guests and our partners, Alliance for Sustainability (www.afors.org), Black Iowa News (blackiowanews.bulletin.com), and Inclusivi-TEA Collaborative (https://www.facebook.com/groups/inclusivesustainability), we pledge to work together to cocreate a future where the earth and everyone on it thrives. Alone, you can make a difference. Together, we can make THE difference.

Grab a cup of tea and join us for conversations, laughter, and community building focused on environmental, social and economic justice. With wonderful guests and our partners, Alliance for Sustainability (www.afors.org), Black Iowa News (blackiowanews.bulletin.com), and Inclusivi-TEA Collaborative (https://www.facebook.com/groups/inclusivesustainability), we pledge to work together to cocreate a future where the earth and everyone on it thrives. Alone, you can make a difference. Together, we can make THE difference.

Grab a cup of tea and join us for conversations, laughter, and community building focused on environmental, social and economic justice. With wonderful guests and our partners, Alliance for Sustainability (www.afors.org), Black Iowa News (blackiowanews.bulletin.com), and Inclusivi-TEA Collaborative (https://www.facebook.com/groups/inclusivesustainability), we pledge to work together to cocreate a future where the earth and everyone on it thrives. Alone, you can make a difference. Together, we can make THE difference.

Grab a cup of tea and join us for conversations, laughter, and community building focused on environmental, social and economic justice. With wonderful guests and our partners, Alliance for Sustainability (www.afors.org), Black Iowa News (blackiowanews.bulletin.com), and Inclusivi-TEA Collaborative (https://www.facebook.com/groups/inclusivesustainability), we pledge to work together to cocreate a future where the earth and everyone on it thrives. Alone, you can make a difference. Together, we can make THE difference.  A special thanks to our sponsor for today, TwentyFourSevenBlac. More information can be found at www.twentyfoursevenblac.com. Thank you again to our sponsor.

Grab a cup of tea and join us for conversations, laughter, and community building focused on environmental, social and economic justice. With wonderful guests and our partners, Alliance for Sustainability (www.afors.org), Black Iowa News (blackiowanews.bulletin.com), and Inclusivi-TEA Collaborative (https://www.facebook.com/groups/inclusivesustainability), we pledge to work together to cocreate a future where the earth and everyone on it thrives. Alone, you can make a difference. Together, we can make THE difference.

Grab a cup of tea and join us for conversations, laughter, and community building focused on environmental, social and economic justice. With wonderful guests and our partners, Alliance for Sustainability (www.afors.org), Black Iowa News (blackiowanews.bulletin.com), and Inclusivi-TEA Collaborative (https://www.facebook.com/groups/inclusivesustainability), we pledge to work together to cocreate a future where the earth and everyone on it thrives. Alone, you can make a difference. Together, we can make THE difference.

Grab a cup of tea and join us for conversations, laughter, and community building focused on environmental, social and economic justice. With wonderful guests and our partners, Alliance for Sustainability (www.afors.org), Black Iowa News (blackiowanews.bulletin.com), and Inclusivi-TEA Collaborative (https://www.facebook.com/groups/inclusivesustainability), we pledge to work together to cocreate a future where the earth and everyone on it thrives. Alone, you can make a difference. Together, we can make THE difference.

Grab a cup of tea and join us for conversations, laughter, and community building focused on environmental, social and economic justice. With wonderful guests and our partners, Alliance for Sustainability (www.afors.org), Black Iowa News (blackiowanews.bulletin.com), and Inclusivi-TEA Collaborative (https://www.facebook.com/groups/inclusivesustainability), we pledge to work together to cocreate a future where the earth and everyone on it thrives. Alone, you can make a difference. Together, we can make THE difference.

Grab a cup of tea and join us for conversations, laughter, and community building focused on environmental, social and economic justice. With wonderful guests and our partners, Alliance for Sustainability (www.afors.org), Black Iowa News (blackiowanews.bulletin.com), and Inclusivi-TEA Collaborative (https://www.facebook.com/groups/inclusivesustainability), we pledge to work together to cocreate a future where the earth and everyone on it thrives. Alone, you can make a difference. Together, we can make THE difference.

In episode two of our podcast with Christopher Bell, Christopher further explains his work and his passions and tells us a story.

Christopher C. Bell Jr. was born a black male in the mid-1930s, and raised in Campostella, a small, poor, Negro suburb of hard-wired, racially segregated Norfolk, Virginia; one of the most progressive cities in Virginia.  He luckily dodged many of the pitfalls that endangered many of his friends as he escaped into Boy Scouting and reading.  Chris attended Virginia State University, obtained a degree in Chemistry, and upon graduation was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

Chris served twenty (20), bitter-sweet years in the army and retired as a Major.  Twelve (12) of those years he served overseas and most of the time his duties required him to serve elbow to elbow with the natives of the country concerned.  He served 2 years in Germany; 5 years in France; 2 1/2 years in Korea; 1 year in Vietnam; and 2 years in Ethiopia. Chris credits his foreign living and travelling with opening vistas of sensitivity and awareness in his “made in America” mind, and moved him toward more self-examination and critical thinking about things he had always taken for granted. While in the army, he completed a Masters of Education (Ed.M.) degree from Fitchburg State College in Massachusetts.

After retirement from the military, Chris resumed his graduate studies.  He earned a Certificate of Advance Graduate Studies (CAGS) in Administration, Supervision, and Social Policy from Harvard University Graduate School of Education, and a Doctor of Education Degree (Ed.D.) in Organizational Development from Boston University Graduate School of Education. Dr. Bell’s employment history includes; managing and supervising Job training programs in the U.S. Department of Labor, mid-level management positions in the District of Columbia School System, and serving as a management analyst at the U.S. Department of Education

Dr. Bell’s studies of the works of scholars and his own observations regarding the workings of the societal structures that surround human beings have led him to conclude that one of the root causes of what he defines as the White Superiority Syndrome is the “White male God and White Male Savior myth” promoted by Christianity.  This White Superiority Syndrome promotes a feeling of racial superiority in White people and prompts them to build a white racist culture.  This White Superiority Syndrome promotes a sense of racial inferiority in Black people and prompts them toward behavioral patterns of self-abuse, low self-expectations, and self-disparagement.

Dr. Bell has concluded that racism is an inherent feature of the” White male God and White male savior myth” that is taught by Christianity, and he has committed himself to explain this problem to all who will listen.  He teaches that black people must free themselves from believing in this “white god, white savior myth” if they are to ever see themselves as beautiful, and as competent, and as deserving of life’s treasures as they imagine white people to be.  Other black educators, psychologists, and thinkers have written tangentially about the need for black people to stop believing in this “white god and white savior myth” in order to authentically feel equal to white people, but most of them have gone unheeded.  Dr. Bell dares to write “right on.”  He trusts that his small contribution in his book “The Belief Factor and the White Superiority Syndrome” will help the “new” theological change-makers of the twenty-first century to begin their work in earnest.

In episode two of Lori’s interview with Darius Ross, Darius talks about his hopes for the future and the passions that drive him, offers some advice, and tells us a story.

Darius Ross, A 35 yr veteran of entrepreneurship and real estate (real estate investing, brokerage sales, Property management and acquisition) whose life’s path has gone from inner city struggles including poverty, violence ,eviction and foreclosure to the corporate suites. Along the way through those struggles He used those guerilla transitional skills to create a lucrative business and become a philanthropist & social activist. Who has fought and been a spokesperson for the following causes :the estate taxes,the minimum wage, the Pre-K program in NYC and Millionaire Tax.  Darius has also won numerous Who’s who awards and has been a Past member of Carnegie Hall Junior Board among other Civic boards!

Facebook.com/dariusross            Twitter.com/dacatman.        Instagram.com/darreexec

Song “Beautiful Too” Written and Sung By: Teghan Devon

In this episode of Inclusivi-TALKS Sustainability, Liz Loeb, Civil Rights Attorney and Associate Director at Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light, talks about working at the intersection of racial justice and climate justice; the forces that drive and empower her; and how the pandemic has shifted her experience of nature.

Liz Loeb is a civil rights attorney and community organizer with twenty years of experience working in political and social movements for justice. A graduate of Brown University, Liz holds a law degree from NYU School of Law and a Ph.D in critical social theory from the NYU Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Liz has worked as an international human rights attorney with the Center for Constitutional Rights and as an attorney with the national ACLU criminal justice project, where she was part of the litigation team that won the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case Safford v. Redding, which led to a national prohibition against forced strip searches in public schools. Liz led the successful statewide campaign to defeat the 2012 Voter Restriction amendment and recently served as Co-Director of Kaleo Center for Faith, Justice & Social Transformation.

Liz currently works as the Associate Director of Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light, with a special focus on civic engagement, relational organizing, and collective resourcing. Liz is a highly sought after trainer, facilitator, and speaker, and has supported local and national groups in organization development towards dismantling white supremacy and building the conditions of shared liberation.

In addition to her organizing work, Liz is a 500 hour registered yoga teacher and an active member of Shir Tikvah synagogue in Minneapolis. Liz lives on Dakotah land in Northeast Minneapolis with her partner Sarah and their dog Chloe.

You can reach Liz at liz@mnipl.org

Song “Beautiful Too” Written and Sung By: Teghan Devon

In our second episode with Myron Lowe, co-hosted by Abigail Matthew, Myron talks about his passions and hopes for the future and tells us a story.

Myron Lowe, M.S.Ed. Educational Psychology, is a Certified Professional Coach and leadership consultant. Myron works with organizations and communities to generate innovative collaboration, vitality, and wellbeing. He works with leaders to create environments of understanding and transformative learning. His experience includes more than two decades of executive leadership roles in strategic planning, collaborative initiatives, and innovative program design. He has transformed organizations using natural systems principles to navigate through complex challenges with purposeful engagement.

Song “Beautiful Too” Written and Sung By: Teghan Devon

In episode one of our podcast with Myron Lowe, Lori is joined by guest host, Abigail Matthew, who talks with Myron about growing up in Chicago, how he got where he is, and how he developed his deep commitment to sustainability.

Myron Lowe, M.S.Ed. Educational Psychology, is a Certified Professional Coach and leadership consultant. Myron works with organizations and communities to generate innovative collaboration, vitality, and wellbeing. He works with leaders to create environments of understanding and transformative learning. His experience includes more than two decades of executive leadership roles in strategic planning, collaborative initiatives, and innovative program design. He has transformed organizations using natural systems principles to navigate through complex challenges with purposeful engagement.

Song “Beautiful Too” Written and Sung By: Teghan Devon

In Episode 2 of Lori's interview with Andrés Bustamante, Founder of Persona Contemporary, Andrés shares his life philosophy and passions, advice for young creatives, and how he thinks about sustainability.

Andrés Bustamante @andresbustm is an interdisciplinary artist born in Cali, Colombia based in Nashville, TN. He attended Watkins College of Art followed by a self-taught, experimental practice. Curiosity is a catalyst to malleable mediums, exploring the abstraction in human emotion and human existence.
Informed by his immigrant experience at a young age led him to existential questions about reality, exploring concepts of human divinity as a reflection of the unseen, and researching the abstract mystery of life reflected in psychonaut journeys. Unquenched awe and wonder inspire his creative process.
Bustamante is passionate about community empowerment, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the visual arts. To provide opportunities for underserved communities to engage in creative play, nurturing awe, and wonder. Empowering communities with art fund-raisers, workshops, and murals via his organization, Persona Contemporary @personacontemporary

Song “Beautiful Too” Written and Sung By: Teghan Devon

In Episode 1 of Lori's interview with Andrés Bustamante, Founder of Persona Contemporary, Andrés talks about the importance of creative play, being a political refugee from Columbia, and the healing power of creativity.

Andrés Bustamante @andresbustm is an interdisciplinary artist born in Cali, Colombia based in Nashville, TN. He attended Watkins College of Art followed by a self-taught, experimental practice. Curiosity is a catalyst to malleable mediums, exploring the abstraction in human emotion and human existence.
Informed by his immigrant experience at a young age led him to existential questions about reality, exploring concepts of human divinity as a reflection of the unseen, and researching the abstract mystery of life reflected in psychonaut journeys. Unquenched awe and wonder inspire his creative process.
Bustamante is passionate about community empowerment, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the visual arts. To provide opportunities for underserved communities to engage in creative play, nurturing awe, and wonder. Empowering communities with art fund-raisers, workshops, and murals via his organization, Persona Contemporary @personacontemporary

Song “Beautiful Too” Written and Sung By: Teghan Devon

In Episode 2 of Lori's interview with Alison O'Neil, Founder of Beauty Becomes You, Alison talks about sustainability, her goals and passions, and her advice for people interested in aesthetic health.

L’Oreal Paris Woman of Worth, charity founder of Beauty Becomes You, Alison O’Neil is a long-time leader in the arena of Aesthetic-Health. Her unique focus, training and experience with thousands of products and patients in dermatology, psychology and cosmetology has led her to have a comprehensive understanding in what works and what is only hype in the realm of personal care products and treatment cosmetics.
Sourcing ingredients and products that work is a favorite past-time which led her to BioZymes via the Colombian Consulate in Atlanta, Georgia five years ago. Alison was introduced to the visiting originator and to the science that showed the healing benefits of BioZymes which she witnessed could truly be translated into effective cosmetics. It was then that she pledged to help a small, family owned company who she believed had more than just hope in a bottle bring their technology of BioZymes to the world.

Song “Beautiful Too” Written and Sung By: Teghan Devon

In part 2 of Lori's interview with Kara Ward-Tobin, Kara talks about moving to California, her passions and dreams, and the need for Hollywood to become more positive and shares a story about a childhood trip to Disney.

Kara Ward-Tobn is originally from Alabama and graduated from Arizona State University. After graduating she spent a year working for the Walt Disney Company in Florida before ultimately moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. She’s done everything from working as a showrunner for Maysoon Zayid to becoming an Executive Assistant to some of Hollywood’s rich and famous. When she not working, she is creating and storytelling. Kara a theatre artist and film maker, who is working on several indépendant projects at the moment

Song “Beautiful Too” Written and Sung By: Teghan Devon

In this episode of Inclusivi-TALKS, Lori talks with Kara Ward-Tobin about moving to Hollywood, working as a celebrity assistant, writing screenplays, creating a sustainable future, and her commitment to changing the culture of Hollywood through increased diversity and representation.

Kara Ward-Tobn is originally from Alabama and graduated from Arizona State University. After graduating she spent a year working for the Walt Disney Company in Florida before ultimately moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. She’s done everything from working as a showrunner for Maysoon Zayid to becoming an Executive Assistant to some of Hollywood’s rich and famous. When she not working, she is creating and storytelling. Kara a theatre artist and film maker, who is working on several indépendant projects at the moment.

Song “Beautiful Too” Written and Sung By: Teghan Devon

In Part TWO of Lori's interview with Sean McBride, Sean talks about his love for Antarctica, explains the link between what happens in Antarctica and what happens in the rest of the world, describes his goal of flying an electric plane from Antarctica to the South Pole, and shares several stories.

Song “Beautiful Too” Written and Sung By: Teghan Devon

In this episode of Inclusivi-TALKS Sustainability, host Lori Myren-Manbeck talks about sustainability and why she chose to call her new book, You Can Save the World...In Fact, You're the Only One Who Can.

Song “Beautiful Too” Written and Sung By: Teghan Devon

In this episode, Lori talks with guests, Linda Myren and Darlene Maahs.  Linda, who is Lori's mom, and Darlene have been friends for about 50 years.  Darlene and Linda tell stories, talk about their creative outlets, and remind listeners to "try things," because you never know what you might like.

Song “Beautiful Too” Written and Sung By: Teghan Devon

Deb Edwards is a lighting designer, a Young Living representative, and a smart, kind, and interesting human.  In this episode of Inclusivi-TALKS Sustainability, Deb talks about her creative path, designing lighting for the artist Dale Chihuly, what sustainability means for her, and "feeling like a princess" when her uncle gave her a carriage ride for her fifth birthday.

Song “Beautiful Too” Written and Sung By: Teghan Devon

On today's episode, Lori talks with blogger Mike Hosey about his passion for sustainable living, his blog, Think Sustainability, and about his desire to make the world a better place.  We find out that Mark's passion for the environment sprung out of witnessing the effects of a tsunami when he was eleven years old.

Song “Beautiful Too” Written and Sung By: Teghan Devon

In this episode of Inclusivi-TALKS Sustainability, Lori talks with artist Netia Worley about her 70 year art career, the various paths her art has taken, her passions, and her recommendation that artists "try it all" because you never know what art you will love until you do it.

Song “Beautiful Too” Written and Sung By: Teghan Devon

In Episode 3, we continue with Lori, co-host Shannon Crossbear, filmmaker Rita Davern, and Ramona Kitto Stately, We Are Still Here Minnesota, Project Director, are joined by Melody Gilbert, Director and Producer of Rita's documentary Stories I Didn't Know.  The film explores the role Rita's family played in the takeover of Minnesota land from Dakota people in the 19th century.  Participants share stories about the movie, as well as personal projects and goals for the future.

Song “Beautiful Too” Written and Sung By: Teghan Devon

In Part II, Lori, co-host Shannon Crossbear, filmmaker Rita Davern, and Ramona Kitto Stately, We Are Still Here Minnesota, Project Director, are joined by Melody Gilbert, Director and Producer of Rita's documentary Stories I Didn't Know.  The film explores the role Rita's family played in the takeover of Minnesota land from Dakota people in the 19th century.  Participants share stories about the movie, as well as personal projects and goals for the future.

Song “Beautiful Too” Written and Sung By: Teghan Devon

Episode 2: In part two of our podcast with Charles J. Malki, Charles talks about his passions and inspirations, describes his "holy place," offers some advice for young biologists and gardeners, and tells us a story.  You can hear more from Charles on the IV Organics Channel on Youtube.

Song “Beautiful Too” Written and Sung By: Teghan Devon

Episode 1: In this episode of Inclusivi-TALKS, Lori talks with Charles J. Malki, biologist, speaker, organic gardening expert with IV Organics, and Author of Saving The World With The Home Garden.  In part One, Charles talks about his long-standing love of gardening, his commitment to creating a sustainable future, and his passion for organic gardening.  You can hear more from Charles on the IV Organics Channel on Youtube.

Song “Beautiful Too” Written and Sung By: Teghan Devon

In this episode of Inclusivi-TALKS, Lori is joined by co-host Shannon Crossbear, filmmaker Rita Davern, and Ramona Kitto Stately, We Are Still Here Minnesota, Project Director.  Rita and Ramona talk about the making of Rita's documentary, Stories I Didn't Know, and the evolution of their friendship.  The film explores the role Rita's family played in the takeover of Minnesota land from Dakota people in the 19th century.

Song “Beautiful Too” Written and Sung By: Teghan Devon

Episode 2:  In Part Two of Lori's interview with Rachael Z Miller, Exploratory Scientist, Creator Of the Cora Ball, Ocean Lover, and National Geographic Explorer, Rachael talks about her life philosophy, her advice for younger scientists, and exploration on the Hudson River.

Song “Beautiful Too” Written and Sung By: Teghan Devon