In this episode of the Journey of My Mother’s Son podcast, I talk with, Ben Oofana.

From a very early age, Ben was drawn to indigenous cultures and their spiritual practices. He was particularly fascinated by the paranormal. Native Americans, like peoples of other indigenous cultures lived with a foot in two worlds, relying on the assistance of supernatural forces to assist them in their everyday lives.

By the age of 12 Ben was reading everything he could find about tribal cultures. Around the age of 14 Ben began to learn of the traditional medical, psychological and spiritual practices of a number of different tribes of North America. It was then that Ben decided that if he ever found the opportunity, he would train under a traditional American Indian doctor.

While still in high school, at the age of 17, Ben decided to live among the people he loved and admired and moved to a community of predominantly Kiowa and Kiowa-Apache Indians. During this time, Ben immersed himself completely in the culture and participated in the tribal dances and spiritual and healing ceremonies. It was there that Ben met his mentor, Horace Daukei, the last surviving traditional Kiowa doctor (Medicine Man). He immediately recognized Ben’s capacity to become a healer. Ben felt very fortunate because very few apprentices are chosen during a doctor’s lifetime.

Ben formally began his apprenticeship under Horace at the age of 20 and continued for the next three years. As his assistant, Ben was able to see firsthand the phenomenal results of these traditional medical practices.

After a succession of destructive relationships in his mid-twenties, Ben realized that he was reenacting the traumas of his childhood and adolescence. Being very intuitive, he began to develop an entire series of intensive meditation practices to facilitate the awakening of the innate healing intelligence residing within the body and mind.

Ben began to explore a wide range of therapeutic interventions and soon thereafter returned to the ancient practices he had learned while training with his mentor Horace.

Ben later went on to train with Chinese Master Sifu Li Tai Liang. He has since incorporated these practices that have their roots in the ancient Taoist lineages.

As Ben continued to progress in his own healing journey, he could see these changes being reflected back to him in the people he attracted into his life and in his relationships. Ben began to facilitate this healing process for others, enabling them to let go of unhealthy attachments. By releasing what no longer served them, they were able to attract healthier companions with whom they could create more meaningful and deeply fulfilling relationships.

Ben has over the years combined the elements of all these practices and interventions into a comprehensive system to facilitate the healing of the body and mind, heartbreak and other deep emotional wounds.

To find out more about Ben, check out his website at https://benoofana.com/.

In this episode of the Journey of My Mother’s Son podcast, I talk with Lois Letchford.

Lois is the author of the book, "Reversed: A Memoir," which chronicles an extraordinary journey of overcoming daunting odds, offering inspiration and hope to parents and educators navigating desperate situations. At the age of 39, while teaching her second son how to read, she stumbled upon her own "learning difference," an unexpected revelation that ignited an unwavering pursuit for answers.

With sheer determination and unyielding resilience, she confronted challenges and battled self-doubt head-on, proving that no obstacle is insurmountable. Through relentless effort, she witnessed the transformative power of perseverance, achieving significant milestones and experiencing profound personal growth.

She discovered the immense value of trusting her instincts. This experience led to her appreciating literacy learning as being more than a “set of skills to acquire.” Embracing foundational knowledge of “how children and adults learn,” and adopting a growth mindset, she unlocked true potential, shattering self-limiting beliefs.

Guided by the philosophy of living in the present moment, she learned to appreciate the inherent beauty of the journey itself. As the founder of Lois Letchford, Language, Literacy, and Learning tutoring, She is dedicated to assisting others facing similar challenges. Her memoir serves as a beacon of hope, sharing the mission and vision of empowering individuals with dyslexia.

"Reversed: A Memoir" stands as a testament to triumph over adversity, offering not only inspiration and motivation but also a profound sense of hope for all who read it.

To find out more about Lois, check out her website at https://www.loisletchford.com/.

In this episode of “The Journey of My Mother’s Son” podcast, Sandy and I talk about our trip up the Oregon Coast, into Washington, and eventually across the border into Canada.

After almost two years in the making, we were excited to meet our friends and grandson, Alex in Great Falls, Montana to start our 3-1/2-month journey throughout Canada and Alaska. Even though we had only been in Canada for a little over two weeks when we recorded this episode, we have already seen so many amazing things and made incredible memories.

Traveling with this group of friends has been absolutely awesome so far.

We can’t wait to see what the rest of the summer has in store for us.

In this episode of the Journey of My Mother’s Son podcast, I sit down and talk with Greg Peterson.

Greg is the host of the Urban Farm Podcast and the founder of The Urban Farm.

“What if there was a garden and fruit tree in every yard?” This is a question that Greg ponders every day. For over 32 years he created on of one of Phoenix's first environmental showcase homes for urban farming. The 1/4-acre yard featured a primarily edible landscape with over 80 fruit trees, rainwater and greywater harvesting, solar applications, and extensive use of reclaimed and recycled building materials.

In 2003 UrbanFarm.org was created as an online portal for urban farming education then in 2015 Greg created the UrbanFarmPodcast.com. The podcast is designed to help fulfill Greg’s passion of spreading the word about growing your own food and sharing new and seasoned gardener’s epic stories.

To find out more about Greg and what he is doing in sustainable farming, check out his website at https://www.urbanfarm.org/.

In this episode of the Journey of My Mother’s Son podcast, I sit down and talk with Morgan McCarver.

Morgan was born and raised in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Her work is inspired by her female mentors of past and present, as well as her connection to Victorian corsetry through her scoliosis journey. She received an art degree with a ceramic’s concentration and a double minor in art history and business in 2019 from Anderson University in Anderson, SC.

McCarver had the honor of receiving the 2019 Outstanding Art Major Ceramics Award her senior year. As a 2020 701 Center for Contemporary Art prize finalist, she had the honor of being the youngest artist to ever make it that far. She is a multi-award-winning artist who recently received an Artist Support Grant to attend a national ceramics conference. She has had the honor of displaying her work in 2 solo exhibitions, “FemininiTEA” 2020 and “The Strength of a Wildflower” 2022. She recently completed a residency at Edgewood Cottage in Blowing Rock Summer 2023 and participated 2022 as well. McCarver has studios in Asheville, NC and Spartanburg, SC. Her art can be found in various galleries around the Carolinas and Tennessee.

Her first book, “God the Artist: Revealing God’s Creative Side Through Pottery,” was just recently released with Morgan James Publishing on January 9, 2024.

To find out more about Morgan, check out her website at https://www.morganmcccarver.com/.

In this episode of the Journey of My Mother’s Son podcast, I sit down and talk with Catherine Gairard.

Born in Peru into a low-middle-class family, Catherine faced financial barriers that hindered formal music education. Undeterred, she dedicated herself to self-study, cultivating a passion for music that eventually became a driving force in her life. Early on, she showcased her artistic flair by participating in school events, be it through dance, reciting poems, acting, or singing.

Guided by her father, an artist himself, she delved into the world of drawing. This early exposure laid the foundation for her artistic journey. The pursuit of theater studies followed, shaping her understanding of the performing arts.

In 2014, she ventured to Europe, aspiring to forge a career in acting. However, the cultural transition proved challenging, and she found solace and direction during travels to the Netherlands and Spain. There, she embarked on a serious exploration of music, initially through free online courses and later under the guidance of private tutors in singing, harp, piano, composition, and music production.

By 2023, she embraced a new chapter as a digital nomad, exploring Mexico and Greece. Currently, she is constructing her own campervan, a mobile haven for creating music while immersing herself in inspiring locales worldwide. Looking ahead, her sights are set on a program that began in April 2024, steering her toward a career as a soundtrack composer for movies and video games.

To foster a closer connection with her audience, she curates an exclusive online community, sharing more intimate aspects of her life. Through this, she aims to build a supportive space for fellow enthusiasts and those intrigued by her artistic journey.

To find out more about Catherine, check out her website at https://www.catherinegairardmusic.com/.

In this episode of the Journey of My Mother’s Son podcast, I sit down and talk with Walt Morgan.

Walt is a professional Integral Coach who partners with clients from all walks of life to achieve the personal and professional developmental goals that are most important to them.

He served in the U.S. Navy for 23 years as a helicopter pilot and retired at the rank of Commander. He has also been an associate professor, teaching leadership and management and an in-house leadership consultant, coach and facilitator for a Fortune 200 healthcare company.

Walt lives in Boulder, Colorado with his wife Dana, their two teenage children and Hank, the dog. He loves exploring the backcountry with dear friends and a fly-fishing rod.

To find out more about Walt, check out his website at https://www.tliftcoaching.com/.

In this episode of “The Journey of My Mother’s Son” podcast, Sandy and I talk about our travels through California and the loss of our best travel companion, Youk.

The end of April was very difficult for us and we’re still working through the grief process. Youk crossed the Rainbow Bridge on April 24, 2024. It was certainly the most difficult thing that we’ve had to deal with since we’ve been traveling. Youk brought joy to such a large part of lives. We literally planned our life around his schedule and well-being. In return, he gave us unconditional love and countless memories that will last the rest of lives.

He was a larger-than-life personality who impacted the world in ways we never could have imagined. Countless people from all over the world have reached out to us since his passing to let us know how much they loved our best-selling author pup.

In addition to Youk, we talk about our travels through several national parks in California (Joshua Tree, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Yosemite, and The Redwoods), our project at the Southern California Railway Museum, our night under the Golden Gate Bridge, our Pacific Coast Highway Adventure, and of course, reconnecting with friends.

We’re still loving our nomad life, but it certainly has been an adjustment as our pack shrank from three to two.

To read my full blog about Youk’s last ride, click here.