Feeling Good Episodes

With our friend and author/illustrator/singer/all-around artist extraordinaire, Vanessa Brantley-Newton, we discuss Perceiving together (also the meaning of Synesthesia), and overcoming adversity is the topic. We discuss thriving in life and building a toolbox for overcoming anything in life. We get into the concept of HOW WE ARE SEEN vs SHOWING PEOPLE WHO WE ARE. And of course, we get into the etymology of today's topic: OVERCOME. To reach Vanessa or learn more about her work: https://www.vanessabrantleynewton.com/ https://www.instagram.com/vanessabrantleynewton/ If you want a website like ours: https://www.podpage.com/?via=fawn

the art of friendship; we've talked about the different kinds of friends, the art of friendship, people along the way who changed the direction of our path, our understanding of life, the trajectory of our heart. It happens in different ways. It could be good or bad. I'm really mostly talking about the good. We've talked about this on other episodes. For example, one of my favorite episodes that we did was the one on "The Weird Friend". remember Matt. That's where through the etymology and from our own personal experience, we understood the original and true meaning of the word weird, which meant, or means fate chance, fortune destiny, like totally magical. Some friends are people who meet us on the path for a few seconds. I think all meetings are all pre-planned meetings. Have you ever had a friend or been in the presence of a person who weaves magic all around? Have you ever had that friend with mountain-moving words; with such elegance and style, with great command, with power…

We analyze the true definition of awkward and Fawn explains her own awkwardness, then Matt does also, and then we talk about the geniuses in history who were considered to be awkward and discuss the brilliance and sadness of Turing and how our society can be so cruel to such brilliant people. Support our show by subscribing, telling others, and or with COFFEE https://www.buymeacoffee.com/friendlyspace If you want a website like ours: https://www.podpage.com/?via=fawn

Weird is not what you think it is. The word "weird" is normally defined asstrange peculiar disturbingly, different, or odd, right? No, this is not what this is.  This episode is about the real meaning of "weird" and the power to control destiny, and the people that are our destiny and what becomes a magical fate.We get into history and mythology and discuss "Weird Sisters", The NORNS, the three fates, the goddesses who controlled human destiny. Who is in your life? who are these people? And are they an external force? Are they an internal force? Are they people that you meet along the way? Are they your friends? How does, how is your fate tied up in friendship? How does destiny work in this realm? Support our show by subscribing, telling others, and or with COFFEE https://www.buymeacoffee.com/friendlyspace If you want a website like ours: https://www.podpage.com/?via=fawn

This episode continues our series for teens with our friend Maya Holland, founder of Tools for Teens, a meditation-based healing service that provides teenagers with ways to navigate personal and social matters through the use of energy medicine. To sign up for privates, group classes and read her blog about attending University in London, visit mayasimone.com Website: mayasimone.com  Email: maya@mayasimone.com Instagram: @maya.holland Support our show by subscribing, telling others, and or with COFFEE https://www.buymeacoffee.com/friendlyspace If you want a website like ours: https://www.podpage.com/?via=fawn

Today we are talking about energy balances and imbalances; how energy imbalances can result in physical things, how energy creates things, how thoughts create things. This episode continues our series for teens with our friend Maya Holland, founder of Tools for Teens, a meditation-based healing service that provides teenagers with ways to navigate personal and social matters through the use of energy medicine. To sign up for privates, group classes and read her blog about attending University in London, visit mayasimone.com Website: mayasimone.com  Email: maya@mayasimone.com Instagram: @maya.holland Support our show by subscribing, telling others, and or with COFFEE https://www.buymeacoffee.com/friendlyspace If you want a website like ours: https://www.podpage.com/?via=fawn

Rules to live by! Support our show by subscribing, telling others, and or with COFFEE https://www.buymeacoffee.com/friendlyspace If you want a website like ours: https://www.podpage.com/?via=fawn

Friend breakups are just as painful as romantic break-ups. We have some strategies and stories to share that will have you feeling better. Support our show by subscribing, telling others, and or with COFFEE https://www.buymeacoffee.com/friendlyspace If you want a website like ours: https://www.podpage.com/?via=fawn

Sawubono is the South African Zulu word for "Hello, WE see you, and by seeing you, we bring you into being." Each person you meet, you're actually meeting their family and their ancestry, which means each one person is never alone. You are never alone. Not only are we meeting an individual, an individual person, but we are also meeting a lineage and we're giving respect to all of them.You can walk around the world. And it's not about you, depending on people's luggage and their experience; everyone sees you differently. So to be hung up on "how am I seen by this person or this culture," it's ridiculous because everyone has a different lens on it. This episode is about seeing. Support our show by subscribing, telling others, and or with COFFEE https://www.buymeacoffee.com/friendlyspace If you want a website like ours: https://www.podpage.com/?via=fawn

We are celebrating one year of talking about the art of friendship around the world. And today we have with us what I promised on the very first show "The Mentor" that explains this whole podcast; that our girls would be in on the episodes. They have been working behind the scenes and the past year have become introverts (can you blame them, with all that's happened in the world the past 2 years? Support our show by subscribing, telling others, and or with COFFEE https://www.buymeacoffee.com/friendlyspace If you want a website like ours: https://www.podpage.com/?via=fawn

This episode came about as we had a guest that was so hateful and wrongly accused Matt of "manipulation" because he likes to present people with favors. Wanting to clear things up from that conversation, Fawn wanted to make sure Matt explained (before he was so rudely cut off), one of the many ways to really connect with people.   This one act is something that you can do, to kindly, respectfully, and compassionately relate to people. And it's a simple thing; one that is really important for everyone to know about. This is also to correct a wrong that was done to Matt (referring to a rude guest we had). We're talking about a favor.  Do you know what "favor" actually means? the etymology, the origin, the Latin which is spelled FAVERE. The etymology, the background, the root of favor originally means: show kindness. Isn't that beautiful?

We begin with Socrates and the history and meaning of "APOLOGIA". How we should defend what we believe is true. We use Socrates as an example of the result of what happens when we go against the status quo. How can we stay safe and sane?And when mistakes happen, how do we apologize?  How should we apologize? When is it ok not to apologize?  We discuss the reasons why we fight and how we can reach a loving point.

Bonsai trees are intended to bring the core aspects of nature: balance harmony, and simplicity. It's said that when we consider the natural flow of the environment, these three characteristics, should anything occur to disrupt it (nature) will always restore itself. There is always a natural harmonic balance to things. In looking at the trees and their scale, on so many levels we can realize how much bigger the trees are than manmade structures. And if you look at it, a tree (nature), is way, way, more massive than anything that we make. The act of caring for bonsai trees is nurturing in it's profound sense. And when giving from the heart, the giver benefits as much as the receiver. By bonding through nature, the Bonzai plant's meaning is enriched and it becomes our teacher. I thought that was beautiful. And it calls to friendship too; all relationships, by bonding, by bonds, things are enriched and it's a teaching moment. We teach each other. The more we provide and nurture for one…

The English word ego is the Latin word for, “I”.  Literally translated, ego means "I". If you were to write, "I love you" in Latin, you would write "ego amo te" It's interesting how people feel  the need of having that triumph over you. Why does that happen? It probably comes from some trauma where the person did not feel as important. So they have to really hold up that part of themselves to say, “I am important.” Perhaps what we need is rituals in our society where when you do something (you accomplish something) that you have a party about it, like a ceremonial "yay. I did it!”

This episode we focus onRevolution vs Evolution and the Art of A Coherent Community During Turbulent Times and we begin with the etymology of revolution: to turn; to roll back. The definition is really revolt, which originally meant to renounce allegiance, which is really interesting since we're always talking about friendship and community and family; the family that we create, but to renounce allegiance that's revolution. Revolution is also a change in paradigm. Evolution is an opening of what was a rolled up and opening of what was rolled up. We discuss the  cause of fear and division. Fawn gives the example of Santa Monica and how the utopia bubble was getting thin, when things became more (here's the four letter word - "busy"), where people began becoming more and more busy, didn't play as often, didn't have happy hour meals as often and began to get quiet in conversation. The family began to dwindle. The free, wild, uncontrollable laughter  didn't happen as much. Things felt…

Roundtable #3 Today we celebrate our friend, Beth Hewitt’s book “The Power of Scripting” which teaches exactly how to go about having the life we dream of. We speak of visualization and the utter joy and delight of a moment. We also come together to create a vision for a better world.

PLAY – We begin to find out why Fawn’s nick name is “The Wookie” and why she struggles with playing all the great games: Pictionary, Scrabble, cards, music… We know all the great things friendship does for us spiritually, physically, emotionally, and the same, same is true about play.  Play is a source of relaxation. It feels our imagination, our creativity, helps with problem solving skills, and helps our emotional wellbeing. It takes our mind off of stuff. It helps with brain function, changes our perspective and even helps generate optimism.  And most importantly, it builds relationships and connections. Play is a basic need. In this episode Fawn and Matt talk about the science and emotional component to this very important and basic need and relate it to our lives, friendships as well as the power plays in corporations.

We begin with Rumi as food for thought and get right into it. Fawn challenges Darwin’s theory and uses the unlikely friendships as an example of how wrong Darwin’s theory is. Nature relies on cooperation and mutual aid, not competition. It's not about competing for survival. We're here to help each other. As the conversation gets even deeper, we talk about how compassion has a life force, that it's the glue and the foundation for love. Love doesn't last without compassion, which leads us to explore the role our jobs have in shaping our lives and how we can turn that around. We also have the 90 second rule to allow your to fully experience and feel, after which brings you freedom from negative emotions. Stay tuned for the last half of the episode as Matt really goes for it and lays down some fabulous wisdom.

Could the loneliness epidemic have been rooted initially from the family unit, where we learned how to treat each other? As the family dynamic has changed over the last few generations, so now have friendships. Fawn and Matt also discuss the role of the corporate/job world and how that has influenced our relationships and where we go from here.

Fawn and Matt talk about treating the outer world (and your inner world) as your home and everyone in it as your special guest.Treating strangers, people you know, to people you work with and even advisaries as if they are your guests and assuming the role of a party host and creating a space to have people feel at home (no matter where we are).

Fawn and Matt share stories of friends along the way that shifted everything in their lives for the better. Fawn gets emotional about her friend "Subculture Joe" (Jason) and how he made a profound impact on her and on the city of Seattle. Fawn and Matt also debate free will as Fawn shares her thoughts on destined meetings and how even the people you pass by on the sidewalk could be special preplanned connections.

Fawn describes how "Be Friendly World" and this podcast began and the mentor who was the catalyst. She describes Santa Monica, the kind of utopia that existed within a community in Los Angeles and how after traveling around the world as a documentary photographer she noticed the growing disconnect in our society, a loneliness epidemic that exists, and how to resolve it.