Modern Day Flappers

Have you ever had the opportunity to have a long and deep conversation with someone who's book transformed your life?  That happened to me when I interviewed Dr. Marcia Mount Shoop. Unlike the tragic movie The Fault In Our Stars, my experience meeting the woman behind the book was incredible.  I was nervous but her gentle presence helped me relax within minutes.  I continued to learn what it means to live my faith in my body or, in theology words, understand embodiment. Her book Let the Bones Dance gave me poetry and prose to help navigate the issue of sexual violence on college campuses in my thesis.  Her book Touchdowns for Jesus and Other Signs of Apocalypse opened my eyes to the good and need for healing in sports. I'm in good company the New York Times interviewed Marcia too. You should also follow Marcia's Blog.

Check out Sarah Wilke's incredible work at the Upper Room!

Pastor of Nancy Webb Kelly United Methodist Church and Associate Director of Community Care Fellowship A song that inspired Toi: I’m Still Holding On Another story about Toi's incredible Work

Good Friday is a day for lament.  Jeannie Alexander speaks to the sorrow of prison while at the same time speaks words of hope and restoration about the future.  This conversation is tough, but it's one of the best interviews I have ever had and my heart and mind are still wrestling with our conversation. Modern Day Flappers is a podcast dedicated to exploring women's identity beyond traditional scripts.  My hope is for listeners to discover their own story in the lives of the women interviewed and cultivate love for themselves and those around them.    This interview with Jeannie Alexander was recorded in the 4th Story Theatre at West End UMC Wednesday night event called Current. Jeannie Alexander served as the Head Chaplain at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution for three years until September 2014. Prior to that, she was the volunteer chaplain for two years. As chaplain, she facilitated the creation of an unprecedented number of programs for insiders, both in minimum security and on “death row.” Before

A podcast dedicated to exploring women's identity beyond traditional scripts My hope is for listeners to discover their own story in the lives of the women interviewed and cultivate love for themselves and those around them. Things I learned this season: 1 -- I didn’t realize this Modern Day Flapper journey was really about how hard it is sometimes to be a woman pastor. 2 – I have the most amazing friends. 3 – Men have stories of how they can’t live up to the traditional scripts too. It’s hard for everyone. Season Two of Modern Day Flappers will be released in March of 2015. I am so excited about some of the women I have reached out to interview – but I am also thinking that I might interview a few men! Now I’m going to talk about some of my favorite moments: Fran: “I don’t think you know who that woman is yet.” You never know who will be inspired by the ashes… Heather Lefkowitz -- How do we make peace with scripts? Emily: Have you experienced the tension between: “I need to not care what anyone thinks about

More about Carolyn: http://www.theatercraftinc.com/www.theatercraftinc.com/Carolyn_German.html       ·      Nashville Cultural Arts   ·      Why is nudity always one sided?   ·      The status quo is allowed to step in and say “you’re crazy.”   ·      Glen Campbell – Dreams Of The Everyday Housewife   ·      Lucille Ball -- Biography   ·      “I think about the void that history has given us not because women weren’t doing anything but because people weren’t paying attention… I think for the most part people are busy getting the breakfast on the table and mortgage paid.  I think there is a void of knowledge of the types of contributions women have made.”   ·      As an artist I try to take in lots of input.  I want to know how people think, talk, react.   ·      Writing is NOT like having a baby.   ·      Burden of Justice: 1863   ·      Signs of a New Day: The Z Alexander Looby Story:   ·      The Story Builders   ·      Breaking a stereotype: You get to choose who you want to be   ·      Being a Theatre

Next Modern Day Flapper interview with Megan Black!

Dreaming with Caren Tiechman My guest today is Caren Tiechman who currently works for Living in the Green -- a set of adaptable, facilitated circle practices that provide a framework for discerning, designing, launching, and funding grassroots missional ministries.  https://www.facebook.com/livinginthegreen.sewanee She earned her certificate in Dream Work from Marin Institute for Projective Dream Work in Fairfield, CA: http://www.jeremytaylor.com/mipd/index.html She has a certificate in Spiritual Direction from the Haden Institute in Hendersonville, NC: http://www.hadeninstitute.com/. Caren is a mother of four sons, ages 18 to 23, whom she loves, adores, is astonished at, and enjoys immensely. Caren lived the traditional script for years. How do you reconcile living the script? Woke up a passion through serving in Antioch Joe March in Little Women by Louisa May Alcott -- http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91245378 Women Mystics Theresa of Avila inward journey to come back out. Catherine of

http://lorimechemmusic.com/ http://www.nashvillejazz.org/ A respected jazz pianist, composer and educator, Lori Mechem, along with her husband Roger Spencer, has lived in the Nashville area since 1988. In addition to directing production shows and conducting musical theatre, she has performed with artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, Red Holloway, Jimmy Smith, Cal Collins, Roy McCurdy, Terry Gibbs, Pete Christlieb, Edie Gorme, Bobby Militello, Kirk Whalum and Donna McElroy. A native of Anderson Indiana, Lori received a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana.Lori's first CD, "Welcome to Brazil" was nominated for "Best Jazz Album of the Year" by the Nashville Music Awards in 1997. In 2003, Lori's second CD, "Shiny Stockings, rose to #26 on the jazz charts. In 2005 she released a Brazilian Christmas album on Village Square Music. Since then she has released three more CD's: "April in Paris" (a second Count Basie album), "The Dream of Life" (original meditation music), and "Retu

Betty Nixon started her work career as a high school teacher in Anniston, Ala. and eventually became a Metro Councilwoman and two-time mayoral candidate in Nashville/Davidson County; Videos during the time of her campaign: http://youtu.be/aFzqJG7sU6c, http://youtu.be/Egn2zgckYLU, http://youtu.be/ZojONV4X7dw.  She was Deputy press secretary to Tenn. Gov. Ray Blanton; Managed a few campaigns: including the state campaign for Mondale/Ferraro presidential campaign, state campaign manager for U.S. Sen. Jim Sasser for his successful 1988 re-election campaign and served as as a professional staff member of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Intergovernmental Relations.  She chaired the board for the Metro Election Commission.  She worked at Vanderbilt University as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Community, Neighborhood and Government Relations. Betty also attends West End UMC and was willing to host my Modern Day Flapper release and 30th birthday party – all my friends were inspired by her! · She is the fourth gener

Modern Day Flappers is a podcast dedicated to exploring women's identity beyond traditional scripts.  My hope is for listeners to discover their own story in the lives of thewomen interviewed and cultivate love for themselves and those around them. My guest today is Lis Valle we met at Vanderbilt Divinity School because we both love the intersection of visual and performing arts and the ways they help us explore our faith.  She is currently a Ph.D. student at Vanderbilt University in the Homiletics and Liturgics Program. She has more than 30 years of experience in acting, and more than 20 years of experience directing and using theatre as a means for education and transformation. She also has a law degree from University of Puerto Rico.  Lis is an ordained ministry in the Presbyterian Church (USA). She is the mom of Jotam (21) and Kemuel (13).  Is there anything she hasn't done ...A story about the first time Lis learned about cultural stereotypes. “I learned to bat the ball and run home to turn the rice.”D

  My guest today is Emily Kilbourn we met as camp counselors at Warren Willis United Methodist Camp in central Florida and that friendship has grown into one of my deepest and most meaningful in my life.  Emily has a Master's degree in Counseling and is currently working toward her license as a Professional Counselor. She worked on the road in the music industry for 4 years and still hops back on the road from time to time to work at events for Compassion International. She's a self-proclaimed tea aficionado (but for real – knows a lot about tea!).       ·      Anam Cara which means “soul friendship” -- John O'Donohue    ·      The feelings of being not enough and too much at the same time.  Have you ever felt this way?   ·      Lake Radnor   ·      “Wild in a way that can’t be tamed” on an African Safari   ·      Brene Brown Shame, Belonging Compassion, Connection – Connections Curriculum –  shame resilience.   ·      Have you experienced the tension between: “I need to not care what anyone thinks about me a

Modern Day Flappers is a podcast dedicated to exploring women's identity beyond traditional scripts.  My hope is for listeners to discover their own story in the lives of the women interviewed and cultivate love for themselves and those around them. My guest today is Heather Lefkowitz we met at Vanderbilt Divinity School.  She’s most happy when she’s learning new things, affirming people’s gifts and talents, and laughing – she laughs a lot – For 15 years she worked in higher education.  She also is an improviser both teaching and performing.  She has helped me, companies, and educational realms to be better communicators and make our mission and vision clear.  She is also a member of Music City Improv: https://www.facebook.com/musiccityimprov/reviews   ·      Childhood in the 70s with divorced Parents ·      Nora Ephron – collection of essays she wrote in Esquire ·      What do you think about the “country kitchen”? ·      TJ Jagodowski – improve and the one “right” word. ·      How do we make peace

Photos and links at ModernDayFlappers.com “I don’t think I know who that woman is yet.”What does it look like to be ready?What is the blueprint?Erykah Badu - On & On Eartha Kitt on love and compromiseWhat does it mean to fit into someone else expectation?Alice WalkerJames BaldwinNella Larsen’s character Helga CraneVisitations from Billie HolidayInspirational books: In search of our Mother's Garden and The Temple of my Familiar by Alice WalkerYou never know who will be inspired by the ashes…Twilight Zone episode “The Eye of the Beholder”Spirit birthright is queen “above what is petty”  “Someone who does not settle for less than what they are worth.”

A few weeks ago I shared late night nachos at Sunset Grill in Hillsboro Village with two of my dearest friends, Ben and Elizabeth.  We had just watched the movie Boyhood across the street at the Belcourt.  Boyhood is the kind of movie that would show at the Belcourt –a non-profit movie theatre specializing in documentaries, artstic, and innovative films.  The director, Richard Linklater, filmed the same cast over twelve years and, like the title suggests, it’s about childhood and growing up.  Literally the boy actor grows into a man before your eyes.  So, we were discussing the movie over nachos and Ben says, “I can’t help but think about what the movie would have been like if it were about girlhood.”I laughingly said, "You would say that!"  (Ben might be more of a feminist than I am because of his deep appreciation for Marylynne Robinson’s poetry, fiction, and prose…) and replied, “What would the movie womanhood look like?”  I rambled on, “What if I filmed my best friends over the next ten years and see what