Conversations from Here...

Hosted by Dana Ziegler

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Jan 2024

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About the show

Welcome to Conversations from Here with me Dana Ziegler. These candid, unfettered talks create connection and inspiration across the human story. These are the sharings of how we came to be ourselves, how we found our life’s purpose and how we made it from there to here. I speak with performers, artists, artisans, creators, innovators, entrepreneurs and other remarkable people about what they do and how they came to do it. Also, the music you hear on this show is performed, as always, by Brad Watson.

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49 recent

January 18, 2024Episode 491 hr 6 min

Episode 49: David Scharff-- Part II

On this episode of CONVERSATIONS FROM HERE, we have the second installment of my chat with DAVID SCHARFF, teacher of Tibetan Buddhist meditation. The plan was to talk more about his teacher Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche, but the conversation took at deep dive into what became a primer on Vajrayana Buddhist practice and an exploration of its commonalities and differences with Judaism and Christianity. Sounds not unlike the beginning of a joke where a Buddhist, a Christian and a Jew walk into a bar... Great talk, fascinating stuff! Link for David: Compassion Unlimited— Solutions for Design and Mind https://compassionunlimited.net/

December 27, 2023Episode 481 hr 17 min

Episode 48: David Scharff

On this episode I speak with the brilliant and delightful DAVID SCHARFF. He talks about the New York music scene in the later 1970s-- CBGB, Mudd Club, Max's Kansas City, et al-- as well as his Borscht Belt beginnings and, later, how he came to find his Tibetan Buddhist teacher Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche. This is the first of two parts-- Part 2 arriving as a separate episode-- given there was so much to cover. A wonderful talk-- both fun and fascinating! I hope you enjoy it.

November 5, 2023Episode 4728 min

Episode 47: Where to Start-- Staying Steady Through Uncertainty

In this installment of CONVERSATIONS FROM HERE, I speak once again with my friend and collaborator, DR. JESS LAKIN. Jess is the founder of Mother Tree Healing Arts. She is a holistic life coach, meditation guide, healer, sound bath facilitator and creator of transformational retreats for women. Here we explore the concept of "Staying Steady Through Uncertainty"-- discussing the importance of having a practice, creating structure and nurturing connection to mitigate fear or anxiety. This episode is part of our wellness series "Where to Start." May you find inspiration-- and may it assist you on your path. Links for Jess Web Site: https://www.jesslakin.com Instagram: @jess.lakin @mothertreehealingarts Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mothertreehealingarts YouTube: @mothertreehealingarts Links for Dana Web Site: www.zenbodyliving.com Instagram: @zenbodyliving

October 8, 2023Episode 4646 min

Episode 46: Where to Start-- Creating Alignment

On this episode of CONVERSATIONS FROM HERE, I speak once again with my friend and collaborator, DR. JESS LAKIN. Jess is the founder of Mother Tree Healing Arts-- holistic life coach, meditation guide, healer, sound bath facilitator and creator of transformational retreats for women. In this chat, we explore the concept of Creating Alignment-- what it is and how to do it. This episode is part of our wellness series "Where to Start." May you find inspiration-- and may it assist you on your path. Links for Jess: Web Site-- https://www.jesslakin.com/ Instagram-- @mothertreehealingarts @jess.lakin Facebook-- https://www.facebook.com/mothertreehealingarts YouTube-- @mothertreehealingarts Links for Me: Web Site-- www.zenbodyliving.com Instagram-- @zenbodyliving

September 26, 2023Episode 451 hr 11 min

Episode 45: Alexandra & Matthew Walworth of AMO Pianos

On this episode of Conversations from Here, it's Piano Day-- a Love Story! I speak with Alexandra and Matthew Walworth of AMO Pianos in Lebanon, TN-- about their shop, the nuts and bolts of piano structure, the care and feeding of pianos, the different qualities of various brands and how two shy people working at Cracker Barrel years ago came together to later become premiere piano technicians serving the greater Nashville area. Fascinating talk! You'll never look at a piano in quite the same way again... Enjoy!

April 7, 2023Episode 4459 min

Episode 44: Dr. John L. Tarpley, MD

In this episode of Conversations from Here I am honored and privileged to speak with John L. Tarpley, MD. He is Professor of Surgery, Emeritus at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the former Program Director for General Surgery Residents there. He has also been the Associate Chief of General Surgery at the VA Hospital and is currently the Academic Dean of the Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons. He is a passionate advocate for patients and doctors alike. He has spent a huge portion of his professional life in Africa-- specifically Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda and Botswana, training young surgeons and ministering to those most in need. "Tarp"-- as anyone in the hallowed halls of Vanderbilt will attest-- is a legendary character who is as humble as he is funny and as knowledgeable as he is wise. We talk about his life and work, discuss some of the challenges with getting medical care in places far from urban centers, his personal love story and an early obsession with college sports. It's a fascinating talk, indeed. Enjoy! More on Dr. Tarpley: https://www.vumc.org/surgical-sciences/person/john-l-tarpley-md https://news.vumc.org/2016/07/26/tarpley-may-be-retiring-but-he-isnt-slowing-down/ https://paacs.net/ Books Mentioned: The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World-- by the His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu & Douglas Abrams https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/533718/the-book-of-joy-by-his-holiness-the-dalai-lama-and-archbishop-desmond-tutu-with-douglas-abrams/ Long Walk to Freedom-- by Nelson Mandela https://www.littlebrown.com/titles/nelson-mandela/long-walk-to-freedom/9780759521049/

March 8, 2023Episode 4332 min

Episode 43: Where to Start-- Nourishing Spirit

On this episode of Conversations from Here, I speak once again with my friend and collaborator, Dr. Jess Lakin. Jess is the founder of Mother Tree Healing Arts-- holistic life coach, meditation guide, healer, sound bath facilitator and creator of transformational retreats for women. In this chat, we discuss ways in which to nourish your spirit. This episode is the third in our wellness series "Where to Start." Great stuff-- I hope you enjoy! Links for Jess: Web Site-- https://www.jesslakin.com/ Instagram-- @mothertreehealingarts @jess.lakin Facebook-- https://www.facebook.com/mothertreehealingarts YouTube-- @mothertreehealingarts

February 2, 2023Episode 4228 min

Episode 42: Where to Start-- Meditation

On this episode of Conversations from Here, I speak once again with my friend and collaborator, Dr. Jess Lakin. Jess is the founder of Mother Tree Healing Arts-- holistic life coach, meditation guide, healer, sound bath facilitator and creator of transformational retreats for women. In this chat, we discuss meditation-- what it is, what it isn't-- and simple ways to begin. After our chat, I offer a basic, yet powerful example of a sitting meditation practice to get you started. This episode is the second in our wellness series. Stay tuned for more! Links for Jess: Web Site-- https://www.jesslakin.com/ Instagram-- @mothertreehealingarts @jess.lakin Facebook-- https://www.facebook.com/mothertreehealingarts YouTube-- @mothertreehealingarts

December 16, 2022Episode 4121 min

Episode 41: Where to Start-- Creating Space for Change

On this episode of Conversations from Here, I speak with my friend and collaborator, Dr. Jess Lakin. Jess is the founder of Mother Tree Healing Arts-- holistic life coach, meditation guide, healer, sound bath facilitator and creator of transformational retreats for women. In this chat, we discuss creating space for change-- both in the outer and inner landscapes. So, for anyone who wants to create space-- whether external (as in physical space) or internal (as in psychological/awareness space)-- we give you some things to consider as places to start. This episode is the first in a wellness series called "Where to Start" where Jess and I will roll out several episodes over the next few months. Our hope is that these discussions will inspire joyful exploration and discovery of your own wellness practices. The great Taoist sage Lao Tse once said, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Here is our offering to help you on your way! Links for Jess: Web Site-- https://www.jesslakin.com/ Instagram-- @mothertreehealingarts @jess.lakin Facebook-- https://www.facebook.com/mothertreehealingarts YouTube-- @mothertreehealinga

September 9, 2022Episode 4035 min

Episode 40: Minding Your Mind-- A Zen Body Living Special

On this episode, we conclude our series of Zen Body Living specials with the MIND... A very big topic, indeed! We explore a very simple meditation technique that will help to hone your awareness, delve into the meaning of mindfulness-- and talk about the magnitude of living with full presence. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did!