Shows
Reflections with RajaCheryl Furer -Season 2: Episode 2“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.
2021-03-1437 min
Reflections with RajaSnehal Desai - Season 2, Episode1We 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...2021-02-1830 min
Reflections with RajaNapoleon TavaleNapoleon 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 Th...2020-10-2233 min
Reflections with RajaDr. Janett I. CordovésDr. Janett I. Cordovés and I speak about being a first-generation Cubana, STEM student who pursued a career in higher education, now working on supporting interfaith movement work at IFYC. We chat about how she is harnessing her spiritual gifts of humility, faith and joy to thrive during the pandemic. Janett speaks about the badass women that inspire her and the the importance of Marie Kondo-ing your community (surrounding yourself with people that espouse joy). She also speaks about three important questions she asks her self at various critical moments in her life:
- "What brings m...2020-10-0726 min
Reflections with RajaMia YamamotoMia Yamamoto is a badass. In this conversation, she speaks about finding purpose through the process of undoing shame in the form of overachievement, attending law school, coming out as transgender and using her roles to advocate for and uplift our communities. She asks, "What would MLK, Jr. do if he were alive today? How can we enhance the Black Lives Matter movement? And, how can we mobilize our communities to vote in this critical election?
Mia Yamamoto is nationally recognized civil rights lawyer, community organizer and transgender rights advocate. She was born in the Poston Concentration...2020-09-3035 min
Reflections with RajaHeather BrowningThis week, Heather Browning shares her affinity for change and transition, offering "life snacks" through her new podcast, creating spaces of vulnerability and unconditional love in relationships.
Heather is an educator, daughter, author, podcaster, community member, and friend. She holds 12+ years of experience working within large, complex institutions of higher education to drive their diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging efforts. Heather leads her life with intention and purpose, working towards creating spaces of vulnerability, authenticity, and personal agency for herself and others. She's excited to embark on a new journey that continues to push against societal expectations...2020-09-2336 min
Reflections with RajaDr. Joy L. HoffmanDr. Joy Hoffman reflects on her life as a transracial adoptee, the power of owning our stories, finding community in rural Minnesota and her love of Shawn T workouts.
Dr. Joy Hoffman (she/her/hers) is an independent consultant with a focus on equity, inclusion, and socially-just practice and leadership. She served as a student affairs practitioner for 24 years, 17 of which were in multicultural affairs. She has spoken at national and regional conferences, and facilitated workshops for colleges, universities, and community organizations on topics related to inclusive and equitable practice and leadership. During her career, Dr. Hoffman s...2020-09-1640 min
Reflections with RajaDr. Joshua Moon-JohnsonDr. Joshua Moon-Johnson talks about being a multiracial educator, navigating multiple spaces but never really belonging, discerning a Christian-centered sense of purpose, and the power of empathy.
"I think if we knew how to teach empathy, we would live in a different world.”
We also explore topics of addressing anti-Blackness in our communities, cancel culture, church-based dance teams and finding one's voice.
Dr. Joshua Moon-Johnson (he/him) has nearly two decades of experience as a social justice focused educator, author, speaker, and consulting. He currently serves as the Dean of Student Services at Amer...2020-09-0935 min
Reflections with RajaSurya KalraIn this episode, Surya and I speak about her journey of organizing, being a new mom and remembering 4am walks with social activist Baba Amte.
In addition to being one of the coolest people I know, Surya Kalra is an Organizer with the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF). For the past 10 years she has developed her craft in the Bay Area, San Antonio, Texas, and Los Angeles, where she currently resides. She lives with her husband Rafael Paz Parra, And baby Kalyani Mayahuel. Surya is passionate about cooking, capacity building for local communities and finding new spaces for s...2020-09-0423 min
Reflections with RajaSuresh Ramdas - Mr. Gay India 2019Suresh Ramdas speaks about his journey to becoming Mr. Gay India 2019 through reflections on childhood bullying, self-acceptance and being an advocate for social change in India. We share stories of coming out, navigating family expectations and personal values, using privilege to empower others and continued work in self-love/acceptance.
Content warning: suicide ideation, violence and trauma.
Suresh Ramdas works as an LGBTQ+ advocate for inclusion in the corporate space. As an out gay man, he is also the winner of Mr. Gay India 2019. With 14+ years of total experience in Customer Support and in the space of Divers...2020-08-2640 min
Reflections with RajaKristina WongJoin this conversation with Kristina Wong as she shares her journey as an artist, mask-making with her Hello Kitty sewing machine, exploring trauma and developing care systems during a pandemic.
Kristina Wong is a performance artist, comedian, writer and elected representative who has been presented internationally across North America, the UK, Hong Kong and Africa. Her work has been awarded with grants from Creative Capital, The MAP Fund, Center for Cultural Innovation, National Performance Network, a COLA Master Artist Fellowship from the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, as well as eight Los Angeles Artist-in-Residence awards. Center The...2020-08-1931 min
Reflections with RajaDr. Maisha BeasleyDr. Maisha Beasley shares her journey empowering Black female students and the power of finding humor in life.
A Bay Area native, Dr. Beasley was raised by a family engaged in community based programs and resources for the underserved. This principle led her to pursue higher education. She went on to graduate from San Diego State University with a B.A. in Communication, University of the Pacific with a M.A. in Higher Education Administration, and from University of San Francisco with an Ed.D. in International and Multicultural Administration. During her 20 year tenure as a s...2020-08-1228 min
Reflections with RajaDr. Tabatha L. Jones JolivetDr. Tabatha Jones Jolivet speaks about honoring ancestors, education as a tool for social change and the importance of the Black Lives Matter movements.
Dr. Tabatha L. Jones Jolivet is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Higher Education at Azusa Pacific University. She holds a PhD in Education from Claremont Graduate University, where she received the Winifred Hausam-Helen Fisk Award for Distinction in the Study of Higher Education. Her dissertation, “’A Peculiar People’ and Their ‘Strange Freedom’: The Spiritual Habitus and Wealth Cultural Workers Employ in Liberatory Higher Education Praxis,” explored the intersectional phenomena of spiritual...2020-08-1240 min
Reflections with RajaDr. Cherjanet LenzyDr. Cherjanet Lenzy talks with me about spiritual healing, coming out and embracing one's own journey, especially during a global pandemic.
Dr. Cherjanét D. Lenzy completed her doctoral degree in Higher
Education and Student Affairs Leadership at the University of Northern
Colorado. Her research interests include intersectionality of Black
Women, activism, and metaphysical spirituality. Prior to pursuing her
PhD, she worked in Student Affairs for ten years mostly situated in the
areas of diversity, social justice and inclusion. She is also a Reiki Level
III practitioner and she re...2020-08-1230 min