The Tenderness Revolution

In this podcast episode, author and poet Katie Colombus speaks to the Tenderness Revolution about the art of truly listening and her volunteer work with the U.K.-based charity, the Samartians.

"Listening helps us be there for others, to support them in tough times, and to strengthen our relationships with partners, family, friends and colleagues. From opening up a conversation with someone who might be struggling, to how to use gentle encouragement to help others share their stories, How to Listen demonstrates the power of listening without judgement and draws on the extensive experience of Samaritans in offering practical advice to apply to your own life," according to her book description. Her book contains useful tips from trained Samaritans on how to talk and address the emotions that are deep down within us.

Read more about her book here.

You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

The show's launch co-creator and producerAisha Chowdhryedited and produced this episode.

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

April Stearns was 35 years old when she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer, shortly after having her daughter. Through the traumatic events that shaped her life since cancer, she found escape in storytelling, not just her own story; but being an avenue for other women "too young" to get breast cancer.

Four years later, April launched Wildfire Magazine, a publication specifically written by and for women in similar circumstances. In this episode, April talks honestly and openly about the emotions she experienced after her cancer diagnosis; guilt, fear, grief, and the unpredictability that comes once one enters "cancerland." Cancer has fundamentally changed April's life, and she is not afraid to talk about all the good, the bad, and the ugly that comes with such a life-changing diagnosis.

You can follow her on Instagram.

The show's launch co-creator and producerAisha Chowdhryedited and produced this episode.

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

Allie Bailey is a British ultra-marathon runner. She has been hailed as an "inspirational female adventurer" by the Guardian newspaper. Whether she is running across Lake Khovsgol in Mongolia, crossing the Namib Desert, running the full length of the Panama Canal, or crossing Scotland on Packraft and foot, she is always doing something remarkable. She is also the founder of Ultra Awesome, co-presenter for the Bad Boy Running Podcast, and Ambassador and presenter for The National Running Show. She is also a sponsored athlete for Beta Running (Injini, Ultimate Direction, and Katoola) and 2XU.

Allie puts it best on her website, "Ultimately the thing I am most proud of is inspiring other people to get out and discover how brilliant they can be and how brilliant the world around them is. I’m not superwoman or a professional athlete. I’m someone that has struggled to find where they fit and that suffers (like a lot of people) with depressive demons, anxiety and existential misery. That fades when I am out doing what I do best with people that I can see are changing their lives. That is so, so special. And I am so lucky to be able to do it for a living."

You can follow her on Instagram.

This episode was edited and produced by the show's launch co-creator and producerAisha Chowdhry.

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

Michelle Becker is a licensed marriage and family therapist and mindful self-compassion teacher who knows that human beings thrive in healthy, well-connected relationships. Yet, that’s not always our experience. She also recognized that most of us are underdeveloped in skills that are fundamental to those relationships – compassion, and wisdom.

She founded Wise Compassion with the bold intention of changing the way we relate to each other. Through workshops, keynotes, podcasts, live events, and online education, Michelle shares the knowledge and tools required for people to relate to each other better.

You can follow her work on Facebook and on Instagram.

This episode was edited and produced by the show's launch co-creator and producerAisha Chowdhry.

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

British writer, TV, stage, and voice-over actress, Miranda Keeling has done a remarkable thing. By stopping to notice all sorts of things: amazing moments that happen around all of us every day, she's started a conversation about presence. About how, if we all observe each other a bit more in day-to-day life, we can have a remarkable impact on our capacity for empathy, our ability to connect, and our appreciation of the world around us. It's so simple yet so profound.

Her brand new book The Year I Stopped to Notice was published by Icon Books on March 17th, 2022. Her work has been published in 100 Voices by Unbound, METRO, Waltham Forest Echo, Positive News, The Scotsman, Reader's Digest, short story, 'Alouette" in Gains and Losses by Barbican Press, miniature play ‘Bulldog’ for Uncommon Nonsense, Royal Court, 'Panphobia' at Stratford Circus Theatre, 'The Carbon Footprint Detective Agency' at the Arcola.

You can follow her on Twitter and on Instagram.

This episode was edited and produced by the show's launch co-creator and producerAisha Chowdhry.

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

International bestselling author and spiritual teacher, Mark Nepo, exudes deep wisdom and a calm presence that's rare in our world.

During this conversation, Mark describes the immense pain and suffering that he experienced in his 30s while battling a rare form of cancer that spread to his brain. Despite feeling like he'd been pushed to his absolute limits - both physically and mentally - Mark says the experience lead to the philosophy that he's known for today. Which is about having the courage to surrender to an unknowable future. 

Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1951, Mark Nepo is the author of more than twenty books, including the New York Times number one bestseller, The Book of Awakening, which has sold more than a million copies. A renowned speaker, poet, and spiritual teacher, Mark has appeared several times on Oprah Winfrey's show, SuperSoul Sunday, and was chosen as one of her SuperSoul100, a group of inspired leaders using their gifts and voices to elevate humanity, who Oprah has described as the world's biggest trailblazers.  

Visit Mark's websitehere for information about upcoming events. Find him on instagram @mark_nepo. You can purchase Mark's latest book The Book of Soul: 52 Paths to Living What Matters, here

This episode was edited and produced by the show's launch co-creator and producerAisha Chowdhry.

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

Today’s conversation is with the author, Natalie Toon Patton, whose memoir, Wanderlost, is about her journey - an actual physical journey that begins in her childhood growing up in Arkansas in the deep south of America in a fundamental, southern Baptist church, how she was the golden girl of her town, the prom queen, the virgin bride, then a shunned divorcee, and became an outsider as she then moved around the world from the Middle East to Europe and Asia. But it’s also about a long and winding inward journey - spiritually and emotionally - one that she describes as a peregrination.

Her book is described as, “Once the golden girl of her Arkansas town, Natalie finds herself squeezed under small-town shame and rejection after being kicked out of church for getting a divorce. It’s a hard fall off of a sanctimonious high horse, and religious fundamentalism has left her feeling broken and stuck. But she can’t shake the ‘wanderlust woes’ that have plagued her since childhood, so she runs away to the Middle East. As a mostly-sheltered Southerner, she struggles to adapt but is determined to be ‘at home’ in the world.

Natalie Toon Patton writes on the intersection of travel and spirituality, as well as refugee causes. She currently lives in Botswana, Africa with her husband, three children, and Burmese cat named Genghis Khan. Her work can be seen in Sojourners, Relevant, and SheLoves. You can follow her on her Instagram page here.

This episode was edited and produced by the show's launch co-creator and producerAisha Chowdhry.

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

This episode was edited and produced by Aisha Chowdhry.

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

After the sudden death of his wife Joy, 41, from sepsis in 2017, illustrator Gary Andrews turned to his doodle diary, documenting the family's grief in drawings. His scribbles on navigating life without his wife went viral after he shared them.

This episode was edited and produced by the show's launch co-creator Aisha Chowdhry.

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

"When something affects one Ukrainian, it affects all of us. It doesn't matter where we live, whether we are in Ukraine or out of Ukraine." - Tetyana Denford, The Tenderness Revolution.

We are thrilled to announce that we’re launching S2 of The Tenderness Revolution podcast with a special edition episode. In this shorter than usual interview, we highlight the profound words of the brilliant Ukrainian American author and journalist Tetyana Denford. She speaks openly and honestly about the brutal war in Ukraine. Growing up in New York, immersed in the Ukrainian culture of her parents and ancestors, Tetyana witnessed their traditions and stories as a means of understanding herself and the world around her. This helped shape her career as a writer and journalist and her identity as a Ukrainian American woman. Today, she is a crucial voice in the media commenting on the brutal war in Ukraine. Her book, Motherland, is the story of a family secret told through the lives of a Ukrainian couple fleeing the Second World War.

Tetyana's honest conversation about the events happening in our world is an important one that we felt we needed to have. We hope you listen to what she says about the events shaping history right this very moment.

Guest Bio:Tetyana Denford is a Ukrainian-American author, translator, and freelance writer. Her novel, Motherland, was based on a family secret that was revealed by her maternal grandmother, Yulia, only recently. She has also authored 'conversation books,' which include a series of three themed books of poetry and prose. Tetyana grew up in New York, where she currently lives with her husband and three children. She has also lived in Italy and the UK. You can follow her work on Instagram @tetyanawrites

This episode was hosted by the show's creator Yvonne Gavan and produced by the show's launch co-creator Aisha Chowdhry.

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

This episode featuring experiential artist, Barney Steel, is about how we can all open ourselves up to new ways of seeing and being in the world - through the power of curiosity. And features one of the most profound moments of tenderness - that Barney experienced at the age of 11 - that we've heard during season one. Where Barney describes a feeling of being "connected to the deeper mystery of what it is to be human."

This deep sense of curiosity is expressed through Barney's work with the experiential design studio, Marshmallow Laster Feast, where, along with his co-founders, he creates multi sensory installations. In this episode we discuss the myth of separation and how it impacts on consumerism and climate change: "If you feel separated from the natural world it's much easier to treat it as a commodity," And the power of experiential art. "For me, virtual reality is a world that can help to expand your perception and enable you to see things that are happening all of the time. From the bacteria in your gut to the trees breathing, it helps you to see the rich world around us that we're not aware of," Barney Steel, is an artist whose visual imagination has taken him from directing music videos for bands such as Depeche Mode to exhibiting immersive experiences at The Sundance Film festival and London's Saachi Gallery. He is currently the founder and creative director of the design studio, Marshmallow Laser Feast, that uses science as a springboard to explore the mystery of life. Barney currently works in south east London where he lives with his partner Sandra and their son, Elio.

Look up some of the amazing work that Marshmallow Laser feast do on instagram @marshmallowlaserfeast

This episode was produced by Yvonne Gavan and sound engineered by Brogan Molloy. 

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

Seeing other people fully - as more than how they look or what they say, is hard and takes courage. Buying a coffee for the person in the queue behind you on a cold day, or not lashing out when someone upsets you means not giving into the fear of 'what ifs' and putting kindness before everything else. And this week's guest, Debbi Marco, journalist and author of The Power of Kindness, Inspiring Stories: Heart-Warming Tales and Random Acts of Kindness from the Coronavirus Pandemic, asks us to see behind the behaviour and pause in order to "strengthen our kind muscle". 

In this episode we discuss the buddhist concept of common humanity, global acts of kindness that occurred throughout the world during the covid pandemic and whether or not the world is becoming a more kind place. There is so much down-to-earth wisdom in this conversation. It'll make you think about your own actions while also inviting you to trust in the greater good that's possible in all of humanity. And hopefully help you find the courage to be more kind. Sit back, have a listen and enjoy! Debbi Marco has written for a wide range of newspapers from The Daily Telegraph to The Sunday Mirror. She also features regularly on BBC radio, is a an experienced copywriter and ghost writer as well as being the author of five books, The Power of Kindness, being her most recent. Debbi currently lives in London with her husband and two children. You can find her on twitter @DebbiMarco and her most recent book The Power of Kindness, Inspiring Stories, Heart-Warming Tales and Random Acts of Kindness from the Coronavirus Pandemic, is available to buy from all good booksellers including Waterstone's and Amazon. 

This episode was produced by Yvonne Gavan and sound engineered by Brogan Molloy.

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

If you don't want to feel full of hope, sadness and joyful inspiration all at once while listening to a podcast episode, then this week's conversation might not be for you. Because in this interview, poet, doula and former model and actress, Ebony Gilbert, opens up about her background and what led her to seek a fast paced, glamorous career in the public eye, fall into drug and alcohol addiction and then blame herself for her son, George, being born with disabilities.She also talks about being diagnosed as an adult with ADHD and mild autism, her journey into self compassion and her experience of being a special needs mum to her six-year-old son, George. One of the most incredible things about this conversation is the way Ebony so openly shared so many of the difficult and traumatic experiences she's been through and then reflected on how she's been able to deal with them. Ebony Gilbert was talent spotted by a top London model agency at the age of 13, and went on to work as a Page 3 glamour model and then actress, appearing in a number of films. She featured in all of the newspaper gossip columns but while Ebony seemed to have an amazing career, she was also battling an addiction to drugs and alcohol. After going through rehab she met her partner, Steve, and became pregnant with her son, George, who she describes as the love of her life. Weeks after the birth, Ebony and Steve discovered that George was blind and he has since had multiple diagnoses including learning disabilities and autism. Ebony lives and works as a doula in east London and her acclaimed new poetry collection, This Skin I'm In has just been published by Blood Moon POETRY. You can find her on instagram @_ebonygilbert_ and her book This Skin I'm In is available from @bloodmoonpoetrypress

This episode was produced by Yvonne Gavan and sound engineered by Brogan Molloy.

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

This week we have something a bit different for you on The Tenderness Revolution Podcast. Our conversation with Nidhi Pandya circles around the idea of how we can all show tenderness towards our bodies - and live a happier, healthier, and fuller life - by learning about the ancient practice of Ayurveda. During the episode, Nidhi discusses the main principles behind Ayurveda, an ancient system of medicine that originated in India thousands of years ago and treats humans as complex individuals whose health is defined as a state of balance in both their internal and external environments. And is based on the idea that the whole of life is sacred. We learn that there are three very quick and easy practices that we can do every day to improve our mental and physical health and bring more tenderness into our experience of life. We also talk about the three main body/ mind types and the different food flavours and textures that best suit each one. And learn how our beliefs - which are usually formed in childhood - shape the way we experience the world. Unless we develop a simple meditation practice as a way of bringing awareness to these beliefs and reducing the impact they have on our daily choices. Nidhi Pandya is an expert, practitioner, and speaker on Ayurveda. Growing up with four brothers and two sisters in India as the granddaughter of an Ayurvedic practitioner, the main principles of the ancient system were etched into her psyche from birth. She moved to New York in her twenties to work in marketing for a large drug company, but soon realised that "If the whole of my life is about pursuing the truth then I'm probably not suited to this world that's all about manipulating the truth," and left to forge a new career path in Ayurvedic health. Nidhi is currently working on two books plus an Ayurveda-inspired method to intuitive wellness called The Inner Climate. She also runs an Ayurvedic practice in New York where she lives with her two daughters.

You can find her on Instagram @my_ayurvedic_life. 

This episode was produced by Yvonne Gavan and sound engineered by Brogan Molloy.

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

This episode features Dr Omar Reda, an author and consultant psychiatrist who devoted much of his career to helping people recover from psychological trauma caused during the Libyan civil war. And has said that he loves working on the front lines, taking care of the voiceless, the forgotten, and those living in the shadows and on the margins of society. Yet he also acknowledges the multitude of more subtle ways that trauma can show up in our lives. In his book, Untangled, he explores the impact that trauma can have on children and their families while emphasizing the capacity that we all have to heal even from extreme adversity through shared courage and compassion. Dr Omar moved from Libya to the United States in 2002 and currently lives in Oregon with his wife and their three daughters where he works as a psychiatrist for the nonprofit - Providence Health system. 

This episode was edited and produced by the show's launch producer, Aisha Chowdhry.

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

For this episode, we interview CBS TV correspondent and award-winning journalist, Debra Alfarone. She is a business owner, a speaker, and a coach for experienced and budding TV journalists. Debra dropped out of high school, and faced many challenges while living in New York City, but that never stopped her from fulfilling her dream of becoming a reporter. Now you can frequently see her face on the prime time show, CBS Evening News. Debra puts it best on her website, “I had ZERO connections and even LESS confidence. If I can GTFO of my head to create my dream life, you can create anything.” She works in Washington, DC, where she lives with her husband Josh and two rescue dogs, Murray and Baxter. She a new book coming out soon called "Sh*t I wish I knew in my Twenties."

This episode was edited and produced by the show's launch producer, Aisha Chowdhry.

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

This episode features British radio and television presenter, Matthew Stadlen, known for his BBC interview series five minutes with - that saw him interview over 200 celebrities while holding a large countdown clock. And his weekend talk radio show that covered numerous contentious issues over the course of its four-year run. Born in Hammersmith, London in 1979 to Nicholas Stadlen, a high court judge, and Frances Stadlen, he attended St Paul’s public school and Cambridge University, and despite being a high achiever throughout his life he has spoken openly about his struggles with anxiety and OCD - both in the way it’s affected his life and how he’s chosen to deal with it. He speaks openly and honestly about an issue that affects so many of us - yet is so often misunderstood.

This episode was edited and produced by the show's launch producer, Aisha Chowdhry.

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

Author and parenting expert Dr. Laura Markham is a trained clinical psychologist who earned her PhD at Columbia University has worked extensively as a parenting coach, as well as a writer, speaker, and advocate for a parenting style that emphasizes connection and empathy over discipline. She is also the founder of the hugely popular parenting website, AhaParenting.com which provides insights and advice to parents of children from babyhood to the teen years. And is based on the idea of an aha moment that she describes as a “lightning flash of insight when suddenly we see things from another perspective, and everything has the potential to be different.” Her books include Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids: How To Stop Yelling and Start Connecting and Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings: How to Stop the Fighting, and Raise Friends for Life. She has two grown-up children and currently lives in New York with her husband.

This episode was edited and produced by the show's launch producer, Aisha Chowdhry.

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

Malebogo Molefheis a former national basketball player from Botswana who, at the age of 29, was brutally attacked and shot eight times by her former partner who subsequently committed suicide. The attack left her with a spinal cord injury, confining her to a wheelchair for the rest of her life. Unsurprisingly, this experience profoundly changed Malebogo’s experience of the world. But rather than isolating herself from society and falling victim to negative thoughts, she chose to connect with other women and girls with disabilities who are often at even greater risk of domestic violence and now uses her profoundly traumatic experience to motivate, empower, and educate and inspire others.

This episode was edited and produced by the show's launch producer, Aisha Chowdhry.

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

In the first episode, season one, of The Tenderness Revolution, we chat with Clover Stroud, Sunday Times bestselling author of My Wild and Sleepless Nights. Clover is a prolific journalist and mother of five who lives in rural Oxfordshire with her husband Pete and their family.

This episode was edited and produced by the show's launch producer, Aisha Chowdhry.

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

A preview of the podcast launching in September.

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