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David Jerome (AKA Play Write) talks about his "loss of faith" moment, the impact it had upon his sense of belonging, and how it led him to truth-seeking in all contexts. We discuss the moral moment the world is having, cancel culture, and the downside of inclusion. David casts his light on the concept of grace and the nature of all things and all that is. In this timely and thought-provoking episode, David gives listeners much to consider.

GUEST BIO: David is a Toronto-born writer, playwright, speaker, teacher, and therapist in training. With a background as a former minister, he brings a unique perspective to his work. David is known as a thought leader in discussions surrounding race, identity, masculinity, well-being, and restorative practice. As a writer and playwright, he delves into grief, loss, shame, mental health, and truth-telling themes.

David is the author of Pray You Break his self-published poetry collection, and is also developing a new piece centred on the GRACE Principle, a framework he created during his time as a college lecturer and corporate DEI educator.

Find David and Pray You Break at DavidLewisPeart.com.

Like David, Pray You Break is a rare and exquisite expression of life and love. The words. The imagery. Its truth. The book takes its reader on a heart-rending journey.

Do yourself a favour…visit David’s page. Tap the link. Buy the book. Take in its words. Pray you break.

The piano piece that accompanies David's reading of Pray You Break is by Dean Lobo (AKA Unlearn).

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INSIDE STORIES exists to foster connection in a world suffering and dying from disconnectivity. It seeks to examine the stories we tell and don’t tell and how that impacts us.

The INSIDE STORIES PEOPLE in PLACES PODCAST examines specifically our relationship with Place and its influence on our ways of existing, our beliefs about ourselves and others, and our sense of belonging…or not.

Send us a Text Message.

Yucca talks about life growing up in Toronto's Little Jamaica, her soul-connection to nature and her Nahuat roots, and how her insatiable curiosity was born. She shares ideas for decolonizing finance and the ways each of us can benefit from adopting and integrating an Indigenous worldview into our daily lives.

GUEST BIO: Yucca, a vibrant soul, who proudly identifies as a Mestiza woman having Pipil, Lenca, and Spanish ancestry stemming from Cuzcatlan, presently known as El Salvador. Yucca’s veins carry the spirit of her resilient Nahuat ancestor’s wisdom, love, and knowledge. She believes true well-being extends beyond the physical—embracing mental, emotional, and spiritual balance.

Whether it’s meditation, yoga, or connecting in or with nature, she finds joy in fostering connections with self and others within the community. Her diverse identities and experiences shape and inform her worldviews, and she holds a strong belief that the work we do out lives us, that our contributions in life will serve those before us and those after us. Yucca has found and embraced her art—the art of painting financial pictures—and has the honour of playing the role of Treasurer with Reset.

Yucca's quest for growth and knowledge is fuelled by her curiosity. She has the courage to ask questions and lots of them!

She is super excited to embark on this next chapter with Reset.

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::

INSIDE STORIES exists to foster connection in a world suffering and dying from disconnectivity. It seeks to examine the stories we tell and don’t tell and how that impacts us.

The INSIDE STORIES PEOPLE in PLACES PODCAST examines specifically our relationship with Place and its influence on our ways of existing, our beliefs about ourselves and others, and our sense of belonging…or not.

Send us a Text Message.

Photo Credit: Cherie Wai

Christie Wong (AKA Pom) weaves together the fabric of her Self and brings us an episode that is contemplative and meditative while simultaneously challenging the status quo with each new thread revealed. She talks about what it means to her to find belonging in third culture, how integral art and creativity are to our human existence, and the ways she believes we can benefit from embracing ritual and slowing down.

GUEST BIO: Christie is a 1.5-gen Hong Kong Canadian, third culture kid who happens to be a multidisciplinary artist and traveler working with natural pigments, textiles, photography, cacao, stories, and illustration. She thinks of herself as a visual poet and a gathering space for multitudes of ideas to alchemize into slices of aliveness.

On the world wide web, Christie's can be found here and here.

Follow and find her cacao-related content @sonder.taller

Vestiges is one of Christie's original as-yet-unreleased musical offerings, written and sung by Christie, mixed and Mastered by Michael Friedman.

The book referenced in this episode (and several others) is Belonging: Remembering Ourselves Home, by Toko-pa Turner.

Other Resetters referenced in this episode who have the People of Reset Series' episodes of their own are Aunty Awake and Bliss. At this time Five and Co-Creatrix D (CCD) have not been interviewed for the series. But you might find them at camp.

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INSIDE STORIES exists to foster connection in a world suffering and dying from disconnectivity. It seeks to examine the stories we tell and don’t tell and how that impacts us.

The INSIDE STORIES PEOPLE in PLACES PODCAST examines specifically our relationship with Place and its influence on our ways of existing, our beliefs about ourselves and others, and our sense of belonging…or not.

Send us a Text Message.

Darius Bashar (AKA Wolfee) gets right to the heart of the human condition in sharing what he sees when looking through the lens of his camera, and how he helps his subjects see what he sees (leaving this podcast host momentarily breathless in the process). He discusses the impact growing up with seven fierce women had on his present-day existence—at which point we touch briefly on America Ferrera's iconic Barbie monologue—how he found his way to allowing play to influence every aspect of his life, and how Reset lifted him up from his personal rock-bottom and permanently changed his trajectory.

GUEST BIO: Darius Bashar is a celebrated photographer who works with international celebrities, best-selling authors, and thought leaders such as Seth Godin, Liz Gilbert, Dr. Shafali, Jim Kwik, Danielle LaPorte, Lisa Nichols, and Masai Ujiri.

His work has been featured in world-class publications such as TIME, Apple, Forbes, USA TODAY, Oprah.com, and others.

Darius' specialty is working with speakers, authors, and thought-leaders and his signature photography experiences are his HEARTshots™ and Black + White Experience.

In June 2022, Darius launched a new photography project called NoStrangers.art, which explores intimacy and connection, by taking photos of strangers on the streets of Toronto and asking them one deep question.

Darius is also the founder of Artist Morning, which is an international community of artists, creators, and meditators. He has led and facilitated over 500 group meditations for thousands of people around the world. You can find Darius on the world’s most popular and largest meditation app, Insight Timer.

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::

INSIDE STORIES exists to foster connection in a world suffering and dying from disconnectivity. It seeks to examine the stories we tell and don’t tell and how that impacts us.

The INSIDE STORIES PEOPLE in PLACES PODCAST examines specifically our relationship with Place and its influence on our ways of existing, our beliefs about ourselves and others, and our sense of belonging…or not.

Send us a Text Message.

Hima Batavia (AKA Aunty Awake) discusses her current works, exploring the ancestral stories we hold in our hair. She shares her deeply personal (and ongoing) journey into self-acceptance, and how the co-founding of Reset (yes, THIS Reset) came to pass. This is a very special episode with a truly remarkable woman. If you're curious about Reset's origin story, you'll want to keep it locked and loaded.

GUEST BIO: Hima Batavia (she/her) is an artist, cultural leader and community organizer based as a settler on the traditional territories of T'karonto. She is a co-founder, former co-director and now board member of a grassroots organization called Reset, which promotes social health through play and justice. Currently, she works with the Global Centre for Climate Action at OCAD University. Previously, she has collaborated with organizations including North York Arts, Artscape, Luminato, TED, Newest Magazine, Centre for Social Innovation, Hyman Digital, Staples Studio, Woodgreen Community Services, Parkdale People’s Economy on curatorial projects, learning experiences, design thinking processes, and festival programming and production.

Her artistic practice focuses on reimagining social systems by embodying a politic of care, interconnectedness, and well-being by applying critical research methods, world-building, decolonial gestures, and durational performance to create immersive and participatory experiences. Over the years, her work has been shown at Summerworks Festival, Geary Art Crawl, Myseum Intersections Festival, The Annex Hotel, and Kajal Magazine and covered in the Toronto Star. Most recently, she was awarded a Canada Council for the Arts grant to expand her show, Higher Hair.

The episode begins with a moving and meditative audible excerpt from that durational performance as it was expressed at SummerWorks 2023 and upon which Hima collaborated with Nikola Steer, AKA Paradise.

Find Hima on Instagram @hima_batavia

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RESET is a non-profit social enterprise that addresses loneliness by creating liminal and permanent social infrastructure including adult summer camp, pop-up playgrounds, and more.

The Reset Living Room is located in Little Jamaica at 634 Vaughan Road in Toronto.

Camp Reset is an annual four-day tech-free, "no-work-talk" immersive experience that takes place at a traditional summer camp in Bancroft, Ontario, where participants are invited to choose alternate names and engage in rest and play.

At Camp Reset, Lara Margaret Marjerrison is known as Gem.

After Camp Reset 2023, Gem/Lara found herself pondering what, specifically, brought together 250 people from such diverse backgrounds and lived experiences. The People of Reset Series is an exploration in search of the through-line.

Learn more about Reset.

Support the Show.

::

INSIDE STORIES exists to foster connection in a world suffering and dying from disconnectivity. It seeks to examine the stories we tell and don’t tell and how that impacts us.

The INSIDE STORIES PEOPLE in PLACES PODCAST examines specifically our relationship with Place and its influence on our ways of existing, our beliefs about ourselves and others, and our sense of belonging…or not.

Send us a Text Message.

Photo Credit: Zahra Siddiqui

Dean Lobo (AKA Unlearn) shares his brilliant perspective on what it means to be queer, the importance of grace, and how play and rest are radical acts in a world bent on transactional productivity. This conversation is as warm and wonderful as Dean himself. It's a treasure of an episode and could be used in educational settings the world over.

GUEST BIO: Dean is a queer, racialized settler and a soul searcher. His immigration to Canada opened doors for him to explore and affirm his queerness, all while reflecting on the themes of self-identity, home, and belonging.

A communicator at heart and by profession, Dean has actively championed 2SLGBTQ+ human rights through his work as a journalist, educator, and communications strategist.

Dean is thankful to the Reset community for introducing him to the radical acts of rest and play, something he hopes to embody and put into daily practice, while unlearning what ceases to serve.

The episode begins with a haunting cover, by Dean, of Coldplay's Fix You on the piano.

Connect with Dean on Instagram @deanpianist

Learn more about The 519.

Purchase Shikhandi: And Other Tales They Don't Tell You.

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RESET is a non-profit social enterprise that addresses loneliness by creating liminal and permanent social infrastructure including adult summer camp, pop-up playgrounds, and more.

The Reset Living Room is located in Little Jamaica at 634 Vaughan Road in Toronto.

Camp Reset is an annual four-day tech-free, "no-work-talk" immersive experience that takes place at a traditional summer camp in Bancroft, Ontario, where participants are invited to choose alternate names and engage in rest and play.

At Camp Reset, Lara Margaret Marjerrison is known as Gem.

After Camp Reset 2023, Gem/Lara found herself pondering what, specifically, brought together 250 people from such diverse backgrounds and lived experiences. The People of Reset Series is an exploration in search of the through-line.

Learn more about Reset.

Support the Show.

::

INSIDE STORIES exists to foster connection in a world suffering and dying from disconnectivity. It seeks to examine the stories we tell and don’t tell and how that impacts us.

The INSIDE STORIES PEOPLE in PLACES PODCAST examines specifically our relationship with Place and its influence on our ways of existing, our beliefs about ourselves and others, and our sense of belonging…or not.

Send us a Text Message.

Jeff Harry (AKA Uche) and I discuss the epidemic of loneliness, key contributors and potential solutions, the essential nature of play, and how it once stopped a war for a day. This episode is high energy and a bit of an intense ride. Buckle up! And stick around until the end, when Jeff shares two of his tried and true methods for welcoming play back into your life. Give them a try and let us know how you go.

GUEST BIO: Jeff Harry combines positive psychology and play to heal workplaces. He's been featured in the NY Times, Mashable, Upworthy, Huffpost, Shondaland, Wired, NPR, NatGeo, & Forbes.

You can find Jeff on all socials @jeffharryplays

Watch a short film of the Christmas Truce of 1914 here. It really happened.

Read more about the Blackfoot Nation's Beliefs here. If you are able to find an article on this topic by a Blackfoot author, I would love you to share the link with me please.

::

RESET is a non-profit social enterprise that addresses loneliness by creating liminal and permanent social infrastructure including adult summer camp, pop-up playgrounds, and more.

The Reset Living Room is located in Little Jamaica at 634 Vaughan Road in Toronto.

Camp Reset is an annual four-day tech-free, "no-work-talk" immersive experience that takes place at a traditional summer camp in Bancroft, Ontario, where participants are invited to choose alternate names and engage in rest and play.

At Camp Reset, Lara Margaret Marjerrison is known as Gem.

After Camp Reset 2023, Gem/Lara found herself pondering what, specifically, brought together 250 people from such diverse backgrounds and lived experiences. The People of Reset Series is an exploration in search of the through-line.

Learn more about Reset.

Support the Show.

::

INSIDE STORIES exists to foster connection in a world suffering and dying from disconnectivity. It seeks to examine the stories we tell and don’t tell and how that impacts us.

The INSIDE STORIES PEOPLE in PLACES PODCAST examines specifically our relationship with Place and its influence on our ways of existing, our beliefs about ourselves and others, and our sense of belonging…or not.

Send us a Text Message.

This episode is dedicated to the family and friends of Michael Murray in his memory.

Nikola Steer (AKA Paradise) talks about her roots in the Thorncliffe Park neighbourhood of Toronto, her passion for weaving together contrasting and complimentary aspects of art and the architecture of life, and her passion for play and wonder.

GUEST BIO: Nikola Steer is a polyonymous and multidisciplinary artist with an ever-expanding practice in visual, performance, photography-based, and immersive experience arts. She is perhaps best known for her award-winning burlesque career as Coco Framboise. In her creative consultancy she serves artists as a curious coach and savvy provocateur, and she collaborates with organizations to uplift values, catalyze contacts, and make deeper offerings. She considers wonder to be among her most passionate tools to re-human humanity. Those who know her best know that she’s a silly menace in the DMs, speaking mostly in GIFs after 10 pm. And if you can’t find her at a party, check under the piano — she knows it’s the most magical spot to lie in the room.

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RESET is a non-profit social enterprise that addresses loneliness by creating liminal and permanent social infrastructure including adult summer camp, pop-up playgrounds, and more.

The Reset Living Room is located in Little Jamaica at 634 Vaughan Road in Toronto.

Camp Reset is an annual four-day tech-free, "no-work-talk" immersive experience that takes place at a traditional summer camp in Bancroft, Ontario, where participants are invited to choose alternate names and engage in rest and play.

At Camp Reset, Lara Margaret Marjerrison is known as Gem.

After Camp Reset 2023, Gem/Lara found herself pondering what, specifically, brought together 250 people from such diverse backgrounds and lived experiences. The People of Reset Series is an exploration in search of the through-line.

Learn more about Reset.

Support the Show.

::

INSIDE STORIES exists to foster connection in a world suffering and dying from disconnectivity. It seeks to examine the stories we tell and don’t tell and how that impacts us.

The INSIDE STORIES PEOPLE in PLACES PODCAST examines specifically our relationship with Place and its influence on our ways of existing, our beliefs about ourselves and others, and our sense of belonging…or not.