Editor

How to Distribute & Promote a Podcast

Posted by Editor on
0
Categories
How to Distribute & Promote a PodcastSocial media network or people communication diagram drawn on paper using red color pen

Now that you have learned what you need and how to start your own podcast or radio show, it’s time to learn how to drive engagement and distribute your podcast to create a loyal audience. 

Promote on social media 

There are a variety of social media platforms to promote your brand on and it’s important to utilize as many as possible to promote your podcast or show. You want to use social media to generate interest in your podcast before launch and continue to promote it while new episodes air. 

We recommend using soundbites, videos, teasers and the promotion of guest interviews to drive engagement for your podcast.  You can create 15-second soundbites, upload them to SoundCloud and then share them on Twitter to tease the episode 24 hours in advance.  This is one popular option to give your audience insight into the episode. 

You can also video your podcast recordings and share that via Instagram as another option to help engage your listeners. Canva is another great tool to create quote images with links to your podcast episode. Another tactic is to share the episode once it has launched multiple times throughout the day on all social media platforms your podcast is active on. 

Social media is a powerful engagement generator to help you and your listeners share your podcast and its episodes. 

Release multiple episodes on launch day 

When you’re ready to launch your podcast or radio show, we recommend having at least 3 episodes upon launch for your listeners to have multiple episodes to listen to. Many podcasts and shows have received negative reviews when they’ve launched with just one episode because they wanted more content. 

Multiple episodes at launch can also give your audience an opportunity to connect with you and your co-hosts (if any) and create demand for new episodes. 

Turn the audio into a YouTube video 

This tactic is a great way to drive potential SEO for your podcast and generate more engagement. Naming your video “Interview with…” or other highly searched keywords when you upload the video to your YouTube channel can help to generate SEO and allow new listeners to discover you. 

To convert your audio to video, you can use tools such as Windows Live Movie Maker or iMovie for Mac users. Then using tools like Videvo or Pexels, you can grab free stock video footage to create a simple, engaging video that your audio plays over. 

We recommend doing this for every episode to create more engagement and drive any potential SEO to your show’s site or podcast platform(s). 

Transcribe the audio 

Another great SEO tactic is to transcribe the audio from your show and use it to create blogs or articles. You don’t necessarily have to use the entire episode, you can use sections with tips or highlights to create a blog that drives SEO and captures leads. 

Services like Rev and Fiverr are both great depending on how long your show is. Rev is $1 per minute and Fiverr is around $5 on average. 

Submit your podcast to aggregators or podcatchers 

Podcatchers and aggregators are fancy terms for apps that play podcasts. The most popular places to list your podcast are obviously Spotify and the Podcast app on iOS. However, there are dozens of apps and sites that collect and play podcasts that can help with discovery. 

Here’s a quick list of the most popular ones: 

  1. Stitcher 
  2. TuneIn 
  3. Overcast 
  4. Podcast Addict 
  5. Castro 

Any and all of these services are great to drive additional engagement to your podcast. We recommend reaching out to each app directly to ensure a great experience for your listeners. 

Be a guest on other podcasts or radio shows

To promote your podcast, become a guest on your friend’s or other creator’s shows. This allows you to touch a wider audience and allow them to connect with you and your point of view. 

Booking guests for podcast episodes can be difficult, but if you plan properly you can build an interview calendar and find opportunities to reach out to new podcasts to be a guest. Some podcasts look for regular guests to come on and share their story, expertise or comedy to their audience. This opportunity is a great way to drive engagement for your show as well. 

We recommend finding a listing of podcasts in your niche by visiting the Podcast listing page and searching podcasts in a range of categories. 

With so many podcasts and shows being created today, it’s important to find ways to engage and promote your podcast to draw in an audience. If you’re interested in starting your own radio show, VoiceAmerica can help you get started with a full team of experts to support you every step of the way. Contact us today to learn more. 

6 Products You Need to Start a Podcast 

Posted by Editor on
0
Categories
6 Products You Need to Start a Podcast 

Podcasts are on the rise and knowing what products you need to get your show off the ground can be hard. From microphones to pop filters, we’ve put together a comprehensive list of necessary (and optional) products for you to start your very own podcast. 

 Computer 

The most critical component to your podcast and the piece of equipment that will help you create your show is your computer. From editing to marketing and distribution, your laptop will be critical to your podcast creation. Podcasting isn’t as demanding as professional music production so you may be able to use a device you already have. 

Microphone 

The microphone is one of the most particular items you will need. You can’t use just any microphone and we don’t suggest using any built-in camera or microphone in your computer or phone. Those devices tend to pick up more ambient noises and background sounds that will sound less professional. 

Your voice is the most powerful tool you have for your podcast, so you will we want to be sure to have a microphone that makes you sound clear and professional. There are a variety of microphones on the market, for beginners starting out in podcasting, a USB microphone is simple to plug into your computer and start recording. For those who want more flexibility, an XLR microphone might be the way to go. 

Headphones 

When you’re recording anything from podcasts to music, you need to be able to monitor the audio. Headphones are your go-to to monitor audio quality and background noise so you can eliminate retakes. 

Some podcasters choose to use earbuds, but high-quality, noise-cancelling headphones can ensure the sounds doesn’t reach the microphone to interrupt your recording. 

Mixer  

An audio mixer is designed to help improve your audio quality with more control over sound levels, inputs, outputs and more. It can be really beneficial in circumstances where you have remote or call-in guests. For the best mixers for any budget, you can check out our blog here.

Pop filter 

Another critical piece of equipment for you to capture high-quality audio is a pop filter or windscreen. Pop filters are designed to prevent or minimize the sound of your “P’s” and “B’s” by absorbing the blasts of air before the sound makes its way to your phone. 

Recording and editing software 

You have all the tools you need to start recording, now you need to record. There are a lot of free recording software solutions online. Apple users can use GarageBand for both recording and editing your shows. 

Once you have recorded your podcast, you will need to be able to edit it. Many podcasters use Adobe Audition which gives you a lot of editing options for post-production. 

Optional products or things to consider  

A sound-proof space 

Podcasts can be recorded anywhere from nearly any device today. However, having a space free from distractions and outside noise can be incredibly beneficial. A soundproof space can make editing and recording much easier and more professional for your listeners. Soundproof padding or folding soundproof barriers are easy solutions for new podcasters as well. 

A vanity URL 

If you want to grow your podcast, you will want to give your users a place to easily leave reviews so you can get feedback and improve your show. The best ways to do this is to get yourself a vanity URL. Vanity URLs are links that allow you to direct traffic to your reviews on a streaming platform. It’s an easy way to save you from giving a long website address and simplifying the process for your audience.

Design software 

Another optional product that can help elevate your podcast is a design software. This is to design your social media content and cover art for your show. The design can help to engage and draw in listeners and should be indicative of your topic. Be sure to consider color, font size, word length and more considering it is a small image for your audience to see on their devices. 

Staring your own podcast can be financially cumbersome, but having the right tools is important to your success. Additionally, there are a lot of inexpensive products and free software to help you get started. If you are interested in starting your own podcast or radio show, VoiceAmerica already has all the tools and producers to help you get started with a built-in audience. To learn more, reach out to our team. 

What Are Radio Shows And Podcasts?

Posted by Editor on
0
Categories
What Are Radio Shows And Podcasts?Podcast icon neon. Podcast light signs. Sign boards, line art light banner. Vector Illustration

Recent development has brought many changes to our society. Unlike earlier times, when people could only read news via a newspaper, now they can listen to radio shows and even watch or listen to podcasts on any digital device. Due to this, people are becoming open about various topics. 

In addition to that, public discussion is gaining immense popularity. Talk radio and podcasts are where several people come together to talk about a particular subject. It is very intriguing to be a part of such services. 

There are several mediums where people share views on talk radio. It is a specific service that is available to every individual. You can listen to these shows while sitting in your home or driving to a location. It is not only convenient but an effective way of mass communication.

You can find several news talk radio shows over radio stations, television and the internet. Using these methods, people talk about a variety of genres like health, science and sports. But out of all these subjects, podcasts about influencers are gaining a lot of attention. 

Introduction to Podcasts and Radio Shows

A radio show is a live broadcasting service where people can gain information about a specific topic. We also have news talk radio shows. This type of content focuses on sharing news-related ideas. The discussion is based upon the positive, negative or neutral side. And, depending on the panel, the entire scenario can continue for many hours.

Another popular medium of interaction is a podcast. There is one main difference between a radio show and a podcast. A radio session is mostly conducted for a live audience. By contrast, a podcast is usually an audio recording that is played at a given time. But the basic ideology between both of these methods is the same.

Recently, podcasts have become very much like radio shows. People have started producing live podcasts that attract a large number of people. In some cases, the audience can even interact with the panel members via a live chat system. Popular websites like YouTube and Twitch also allow people to watch live podcasts. This has completely changed the “broadcasting” landscape.

Nowadays, people want to learn how to grow their business or improve their life. They try to gain as much information as possible about these types of topics. Because of the increase in demand of topics like these, podcasts about influencers are becoming insanely popular. Several websites have started a dedicated channel to stream any influencing content. With these talk shows, people can learn mental tricks that can help them evolve.

How Can You Host A Radio Show?

Do you want to become a host? You need to consider two critical aspects before starting your radio show.

Skills required

  • Understand your audience: This is the essential step of starting a radio broadcast. You need to know more about who you are interacting with and how to reach your target audience. The more you know, the better your show will be.
  • Listen carefully: Be observant about various topics. Also, try to acknowledge the given topics that your audience is talking about to provide content they want to listen to.
  • Have a personality: Having a firm voice with a positive attitude is needed for a venture like radio or podcasting. Having this positive attitude will make you stand out from the crowd.
  • Enjoy and go with the flow: Sometimes, you need to relax and let things sort out all their own.

Idea and tools needed

  • Conceptualization and branding: If you want to host a radio show, you must create a concept and brand name to target specific people. 
  • Gather a set of equipment: One can easily find a decent computer, headphones, microphone and a mixing setup online or at specialized electronics retailers. Just assemble and install all of these components together to create your broadcasting system.
  • Have sound knowledge: This is a final but crucial step of hosting. Whether you want to be a talk radio host or a technological expert, everything requires knowledge. So, gather some articles, gain some information and then think about the topics you want to discuss on your radio show or podcast.

About VoiceAmerica

VoiceAmerica, the pioneer of digital radio programming since 1999, is the original digital broadcast company for the production and delivery of Live Internet Talk Radio programming and continues to be an industry leader in Live Internet Talk, podcast audio creation, production, and distribution. VoiceAmerica creates and distributes over 500 unique and innovative radio programs that engage millions of listeners worldwide. Five diverse VoiceAmerica network channels distribute live programs daily that reach a growing domestic and international audience. Listen live at VoiceAmerica Variety, VoiceAmerica Business, VoiceAmerica Health,  VoiceAmerica Empowerment, VoiceAmerica Influencers, and on our Apple and Android devices. Follow VoiceAmerica on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. To learn how to become a host or sponsor on VoiceAmerica.com, call 1-855-877 4666.  VoiceAmerica | Become a Host | Advertise with us | About VoiceAmerica

VoiceAmerica: Leader in Live Internet Talk Radio

Posted by Editor on
0
VoiceAmerica
VoiceAmerica: Leader in Live Internet Talk Radio

VoiceAmerica Talk Radio began in 1999 and premiered on the Internet with a single channel and a linear schedule of live programs. Today, VoiceAmerica has five branded channels ranging from Business to Health & Wellness and over 50 million listeners in 140 countries around the world. 

VoiceAmerica continues to help brands and hosts expand their digital platform to their clients by providing them the opportunity to share their own unique messages, identity, and expertise. 

VoiceAmerica Mission and Vision 

VoiceAmerica’s goal is to create and provide content that educates, inspires, and enlightens any time, any place, and on any device. We continue to pioneer original live talk radio programming and produce exceptional content that emotionally connects and creates a lasting impression with our global audience. 

VoiceAmerica’s Vision for the future of Digital Media: 

  • Expand our position as the leading online network for originally produced live talk radio and be viewed by our clients as an indispensable marketing partner and ongoing collaborator in their success. 
  • Continue our commitment as a dedicated pioneer of new technical breakthroughs and industry leading innovations in both production and online media marketing. 
  • Be a company of high standards and ardent supporter of the inspired values and passionate messe of each radio host. 
  • Serve a greater good in the world by distributing original talk radio programming of high quality and meaningful depth. 

Our aim is to expand our reach by giving our listeners unlimited access to our content through our mobile application and website and provide high quality, informative programs. 

VoiceAmerica Products and Services 

Talk Radio 

VoiceAmerica Talk Radio Network offers five branded channels for a range of audiences. Our channels include Variety, Business, Health & Wellness, Empowerment, and Influencers. Our channels offer hundreds of original programs weekly from hosts that are pioneers and experts in their respected fields. VoiceAmerica Talk Radio is available on any device, anywhere and at any time. 

Television 

We continue to expand our reach with VoiceAmerica TV, a full service television and production company offering worldwide distribution through VoiceAmerica channels, privately owned channels, and shared channels. VoiceAmerica TV offers a variety of shows ranging from Arts & Animation to Science & Technology. Our audience can stream VoiceAmerica TV through any device with an internet connection. 

Live Events 

VoiceAmerica also offers Live and On-demand events through our Talk Radio and TV platforms. These events can range from live business webinars to interviews with leading professionals. We work with our clients and brands to bring them options that will provide the best opportunities to reach their audience and bring our listeners content that will continue to impact their lives. 

Voice Activated Distribution 

VoiceAmerica offers ongoing management and content creation for Amazon Alexa Flash Briefings. The content is created in combination of our Talk Radio transcriptions and blog articles to be turned into the flash briefing. We can customize any content for the Alexa Flash Briefing to ensure that your content is quick, digestible, and makes the most impact. 

Blogs

The VoiceAmerica Blog is another great way to engage and learn from our hosts. Our hosts and listeners can visit the blog to read more about specific topics and learn from VoiceAmerica and our industry leading professionals.  

Why VoiceAmerica 

VoiceAmerica offers a full suite of production and multimedia services in conjunction with our radio and television platforms. From mobile studios to podcast post production editing, we can accomodate our clients and support any and all of their production needs. 

VoiceAmerica works closely with our hosts and brands to provide them with the best opportunities to connect with their audience and our listeners. We have a staff and executive producers dedicated to oversee our host’s shows and promote them through various platforms including social media. 

We are passionate about providing content to our listeners that will educate, inspire, and entertain. Our goal is to create content that impacts you anytime and anywhere on any device.  

VoiceAmerica is a one stop shop for high quality and informative programming no matter if you’re looking to become a host or an avid listener. We’re dedicated to creating an incredible experience for everyone listening and watching VoiceAmerica. 

Greener Pastures, an excerpt from Working on Yourself Doesn’t Work

Posted by Editor on
0
Empowerment
Greener Pastures, an excerpt from Working on Yourself Doesn’t Work

Once we saw a goat put out to graze in a lush field. The grass was high and feeding was plentiful. But the goat wasn’t satisfied. It made a funny picture as it strained toward the field next door. Its front legs were suspended midair, dangling over the fence as it vainly reached for a tempting bit of green just out of reach. Of course the grass wasn’t any richer or higher or more succulent in the next pasture, but try telling that to the goat.

What pastures are you straining after? Most people are strenuously reaching toward what they think will make them happy or satisfied, straining toward something more, better, or different. The problem with this is that there is always something else that needs to be bought or produced in order for you to be happy or satisfied. Truthfully, in this moment, you can only have what you have. Anything you yearn for robs you of the possibility of reveling in the richness of your life.

People get so driven by where they are going that they miss their lives. You may actually be rushing ahead to finish this book, trying to answer some question or fulfill some agenda. While you are trying so hard to get something from the writing, you are not actually there for the reading.

Many of us live our lives as if we are looking through a telephoto lens on a camera. A telephoto lens focuses in on an object in the distance and excludes everything peripheral to that object. So you miss everything happening around you. Instantaneous Transformation is more like a wide-angle lens. It holds everything in focus whether it is close up or far away, and there is three-dimensionality and depth to what you see. The telephoto lens, on the other hand, makes things much more two-dimensional or fl at; you lose the depth of fi eld. When people are lost in a change modality, they feel annoyed when things “intrude” and interrupt their flow toward where they are headed. In a transformational approach, life becomes a dance of noticing what is rather than a tense experience of trying to exclude everything that does not seem on track to producing the things we think we want in the future to make us happy or fulfilled.

Working on Yourself Doesn't Work by Ariel & Shya KaneIt could be said that life is an unfolding, moment to moment, and we have preferences that frequently disagree with how life unfolds, because we are trying to get somewhere rather than be where we are. We think something better is going to come along because this isn’t it, when in fact this moment is all there is. This moment IS it.

People are so busy worrying about what they don’t have or how it is going to turn out in the future, they rarely allow themselves to really relish and enjoy the way things are right now. Life becomes a worry about what isn’t, rather than a celebration of what is. For if we, like the goat, invest our energy only in wanting what we don’t have and lusting after tantalizing goals currently out of reach, satisfaction is set aside for a mythical someday that never comes.

Since 1987, internationally acclaimed authors, seminar leaders, radio show hosts and business consultants Ariel and Shya Kane have acted as guides, leading people through the swamp of the mind into the clarity and brilliance of the moment. Find out more about the Kanes, their seminars in NYC, in the UK, Germany and Costa Rica, the Say YES to Your Life! Meetups their work has inspired, their Being Here radio show or join their email newsletter. Also get information about their award-winning books.  Their newest book, Practical Enlightenment, is now available on Amazon.com.

3 Leadership Lessons from Hiking the Camino Trail Across Spain

Posted by Editor on
0
Business
3 Leadership Lessons from Hiking the Camino Trail Across Spain

This post is a guest post by Victor Prince.  The best way to become a better leader is to better yourself. Sometimes taking on a big adventure on your vacation is a great way to do that. Pilgrims from all over the world have walked the Camino de Santiago trails across Europe for centuries, making their way to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, North-West of Spain. Today, more than a pilgrimage, the Camino is an unforgettable experience and unique journey. The pilgrimage to Santiago has never ceased from the time of the discovery of St. James’s remains in 812 AD, though there have been years of fewer pilgrims, particularly during European wars. This post is the companion to Voice America interview between Maureen Metcalf and Victor – The Camino Way: Lessons in Leadership from a Walk Across Spain.

Last month, I hiked 200 miles (320 kilometers) over two weeks on the ancient Camino de Santiago pilgrimage trail in Spain. It was my third Camino in five years. I go back because I have found the Camino to be more than just a fantastic trail. The Camino provides a unique social learning opportunity as I meet and share an intense experience with fellow hikers from around the world. It also provides me alone-time to reflect on my own life and career. After my first Camino, that combination inspired me to post a blog here on LinkedIn about the lessons I learned. That blog snowballed into a book deal with HarperCollins. This third Camino taught me three different, but equally powerful lessons.

1 – Find a Train to Jump On – During a stop on my book tour in June, I met a couple of readers who were interested in walking the Camino but had not yet made it happen. When they asked me if I was going again, I told them about my August trip, which was timed to celebrate the release of the Spanish-language version of my book. They were nice folks, and in the spirit of the Camino, I told them they would be welcome to join me. I didn’t think anything would come of it, but three weeks later I got an email. They had decided to do it and had gotten the time off work. About six weeks later, we all met for the second time on a morning in St. Jean Pied de Port, France and climbed over the Pyrenees Mountains together into Spain (see picture). Many miles later, we parted at the end of the trail in Santiago de Compostela as fellow Camino pilgrims – and new friends.

Leadership Lesson – If you have a big, difficult goal and you find someone else with that same goal who has a plan to achieve it, jump on that train with them!

2 – Test Your Boundaries – Before Columbus discovered the Americas in 1492, many Europeans believed that Cape Finesterre in Spain (pictured) was the western-most point in Europe, and thus represented the end of the world. After reaching the end of the Camino trail, many of these medieval pilgrims continued on for a few more days of walking to see for themselves. These pilgrims must have felt a surge of confidence after walking across Spain – something that may have seemed impossible to them before they did it. They wanted to see for themselves if other supposed limits were really true as well.

Leadership Lesson – When you have some belief that is limiting your potential, test it. Sometimes you will realize a big wall in front of you is just a bubble waiting to be burst if you just poke it.

3 – Seize Safe Moments to Try Crazy Things – After I walked to Finesterre, I was tired and not looking forward to retracing my steps on the 40 minute walk back to my hostel. I didn’t see many other options. Then I decided to try something I had never done before – hitch-hiking. While I never recommend getting into a car with complete strangers on the roadside, I knew this would be the safest place I would ever try it. Because the road went to the “end of the world,” everyone driving back were tourists like me headed back to town. It was a busy road in broad daylight and I had my phone on me, so I stuck out my thumb. Just before the five minutes I had given myself to try it ended, a nice couple of French women pulled over. We chatted a bit in English before I took up their offer to jump in their back seat. Five minutes later I was back in town with a couple of new friends – and a new story.

Leadership Lesson – Take advantage of very low risk situations to try out constructive new things. For example, on one solo business trip early in my career, I popped into a karaoke bar I walked by to sing a song. I hadn’t had many chances to do public speaking before, and that helped me fight stage fright in a low risk environment since I knew nobody in that town.

Sometimes a vacation can be a great way to do something that helps you in life after the vacation is over. If you are looking for an adventure that can help you long after the vacation is over, it is hard to beat the Camino – a trail people have been walking for over 1,000 years.

As a reader of this blog and listener to the interviews, please consider enrolling in one of the innovative leadership online leader development program. For additional tools, we recommend taking leadership assessments, using the Innovative Leadership Fieldbook and Innovative Leaders Guide to Transforming Organizations, and adding coaching through our online innovative leadership program. We also offer several workshops to help you build these skills.

About the Author: Victor Prince is a Corporate Trainer and Certified Executive Coach who teaches strategy, communication and leadership skills to clients around the world. His latest book, The Camino Way: Lessons in Leadership from a Walk Across Spain (HarperCollins Leadership, 2017), has been a Top 100 Amazon bestseller in 8 categories and was listed as a top business book of 2017 by Canada’s Globe and Mail newspaper. Earlier in his career, Victor was a consultant at Bain & Company, a marketing executive at Capital One, and the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. He has an MBA in Finance from Wharton. Learn more at www.victorprince.com.

Born to Be Wild

Posted by Editor on
0
Empowerment
Born to Be Wild

Cynthia-Glacier-solheimajokull, katla geopark.jpg

“All journeys have secret destinations 

of which the traveler is unaware.”

~Martin Buber

Volcanoes, glaciers, highlands, prairies, lava flows, fire, ice. Nature untouched and untamed.

Iceland.

Blue Lagoon, Iceland.jpg

Resting on the boundary where the North American and Eurasian Tectonic plates meet, Iceland is a country of intense volcanic eruptions, boiling hot springs, rushing rivers, venting steam, spouting geysers, powerful waterfalls, ice caves, aqua blue lagoons, northern lights, and minimal sunshine. With a population of only 338,378 and a median age of 38, most people live in the capital of Reykjavik. Iceland, a country of fierce contrasts, is geared for the rugged and the youthful.

lavaformations-plants.jpg

I visited this wild, wild country recently during the season of “the midnight sun”” when darkness never comes and sleep is elusive. Twilight reigned supreme allowing for plenty of exploring and hiking adventures. Summer in Iceland was freezing cold with unpredictable blustery North Atlantic weather, gray skies, menacing clouds, bone-chilling rain, and gusty winds. Sunshine in any minimal amount was not on the agenda. My daily wardrobe included gloves, faux fur hat, layers of clothing, double mufflers, boots, and a warm raincoat. Naturally, a bathing suit was always packed in my bag for that daily dip in a “secret” hot springs lagoon where the natives and visitors come to warm up.

Cynthia-skogafoss waterfall, katla deopark, iceland.jpg

As a traveler who dives into the culture of a nation, I wanted to indulge in the Icelandic cuisine. To supply fresh vegetables, hothouses operate year round using geothermal energy providing tasty and nutritious veggies to augment a diet of fish and meat. Dining out is expensive. The average price for a green salad was thirty dollars. Everything I ordered at authentic local restaurants was unique and delicious with the exception of fermented shark which was the most disgusting, foul smelling, horrid tasting item I’ve ever experienced. I spent a full day sick to my stomach after just a few nauseating bites, yet this is considered an Icelandic winter staple.

4-wheeler, field of buttercups.jpg

What interested me most was the ever-changing unique landscape on this small isle bordering the Arctic Circle. I was mesmerized by the plethora of wildflowers, grasses, and moss carpeting the island. Flowers sprouted in the cracks of lava flows, spilled down the sides of volcanoes, and grew on the edges of the glaciers. While riding Icelandic horses ( a small sturdy breed endemic to Iceland only) through the countryside, miles and miles of blue lupines filled the fields as far as the eye could see. In the 1950s seeds from Alaskan lupines were scattered in a few regions of Iceland to help with erosion and soil improvement. They have now naturalized, much to the delight of visitors and the chagrin of the populace who have denoted lupines as invasive weeds that crowd out indigenous plants and stunt the growth of hungry sheep. Acres of buttercups, wild perennial sweet pea, angelica, mustard, hawkweed, lady smock, Arctic sea rocket, meadowsweet, wild strawberry, gentian, Lady’s mantle, marsh marigold, cornflower, yarrow, violets, and Iceland poppy hugged the ground. The dandelions grew to almost two feet tall and are harvested as a nourishing edible. Lichen and moss covered the fields of lava. The treasured Icelandic moss is said to be so delicate that a single footprint will take a hundred years to regenerate. iceland moss.jpg

iceland lupins.jpg

Autumn is an auspicious time to sow wildflower seeds in America. What makes a flower a wildflower? Basically, wildflowers grow happily without any human cultivation. they live and thrive within an interactive plant community. Many wildflowers are native to a certain region and when they freely reproduce in another area, they have naturalized.

Gullfoss Watrfall-Golden Circle.jpg

If you’d like to introduce wildflowers into your landscape, decide on the species you want and buy seeds from a trusted company. Make sure the plants are not an invasive species. (You can always check the USDA plant database at https://plants.usda.gov/java/)

angelica near a river:volcano, icleand.jpg

Sow seeds directly into the ground or into containers. Make sure seeds are protected from winter chills and marauding birds.

Here’s my list of beautiful wildflowers that will easily domesticate:

Blackeyed Susans (Rudbeckia)

Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)

Buttercups

California Poppy

Columbine (Aquilegia)

Coneflowers (Echinacea)

Coreopsis

Lupines

Mustard

Penstemons

Wild perennial sweet pea

Yarrow

If flowers can flourish in the extreme climate of Iceland, they will go wild in our temperate gardens. Create secret destinations that are born to be wild!

wildflowers,iceland.jpg

“Wild thing.

You make my heart sing.

You make everything.

Groovy!

Wild Thing

I think I love you.” The Troggs

lava.jpg

Happy Gardening. Happy Growing.

Read more: https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1216/Cynthia-Brians-Gardening-Guide-for-October-Born-to-be-wild.html

Cynthia Brian

Cynthia Brian, The Goddess Gardener, raised in the vineyards of Napa County, is a New York Times best-selling author, actor, radio personality, speaker, media and writing coach as well as the Founder and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are1® 501 c3. 

Tune into Cynthia’s Radio show and order her books at www.StarStyleRadio.com.

Buy a copy of her new books, Growing with the Goddess Gardener and Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers at www.cynthiabrian.com/online-store. 

Available for hire for projects and lectures.

Cynthia@GoddessGardener.com

www.GoddessGardener.com

Cynthia Brian'Growing with the Goddess Gardener book.jpg

More Love, More Intimacy and Less Conflict for Couples – With Jonathan Robinson

Posted by Editor on
0
Empowerment
More Love, More Intimacy and Less Conflict for Couples – With Jonathan Robinson

 

In a recent episode of my radio show, Uplift Your Life: Nourishment of the Spirit, Jonathan told us the key to having a happy marriage is in becoming a great communicator, not just a good one. He pointed out that we all want to be appreciated, loved and understood. The best way to get someone to hear you is to first make sure they feel heard and understood. Then they are open to listening to your perspective. He showed us that the word intimacy translates to “into me see.” In other words, be vulnerable, allow your partner to see into you. With 30% of couples being from different political parties, the techniques that Jonathan teaches are more needed now than ever. These techniques are also effective for social justice and communication, leadership and team building within businesses. They are so powerful that Jonathan visits jails and within 10 minutes he is able to change the minds of people who identify as Nazis and have killed because of it. He said it works every time. Jonathan learned some of his strategies by talking with people like the Dali Lama and Oprah. He generously shared with us some techniques that he uses every day with his wife to keep the love alive and prevent conflict. To listen to this show, I encourage you to click here.

Dr. Paula’s Tip of the Week

My Tip from my e-book, 33 Tips for Self-Empowerment is: Bring in Positive Energy: The color pink is emotionally healing and will lift your spirits. When you feel fear, you can shift your energy. Ask God/Goddess/The Universe to fill you with pink light. See pink light coming from the heavens, through the top of your head and moving through your whole body. Enjoy the feeling of peace. You can use pink in other ways as well. Pink flowers on the table, especially roses, create a positive mood. Use pink touches around your home, including the bedroom. Depending on your tastes, this can be subtle or more pronounced. Other possibilities are to burn pink candles or wear pink clothing or jewelry. Rose quartz attracts love and can be placed around the house, in your bedroom, worn as a piece of jewelry or put in your pocket or purse. If you don’t have access to a store carrying rose quartz in your area, it’s easy to purchase on the internet.

Dr. Paula’s Silver Lining Story

Relationships are far more complicated since the last presidential election. After some of the experiences I’ve had recently, I’m beginning to believe that online dating sites need to add the question: who did you vote for in the last presidential election and would you vote for them again given what you know today? I think it would save people a lot of time and unpleasant experiences. If this is the case with dating, what must it be like in a marriage that existed before 2016?

I know one woman who doesn’t ever voice her opinion to her husband or his family on topics like gun control or President Trump’s actions. She made that choice in order to avoid arguments or a divorce. But is the price too high? Have we forgotten how to disagree in a civil way? Can we even have a healthy, supportive relationship with someone who doesn’t share our values or would you want to be married to someone who doesn’t share your values? It’s true we can’t agree on everything, but on some matters the divide is too great to look the other way. Just like friendships and family relationships are being affected by our current administration, so are marriages and dating.

Recently I had two challenging experiences with men I met online. Both men were spiritual with shared interests and everything sounded great until the topic of guns came up. Suddenly men who had been talking about how we are all one and sharing deep spiritual experiences and beliefs became people who were totally out of sync with those beliefs. One man has three bird feeders and lives on the water so he can commune with nature. That same man told me how automatic weapons should be legal and they aren’t the reason so many people have been killed in recent mass shootings. I felt like he became a different person. My silver lining was in the way I handled the conversation. Since we were on the phone, I tried having a logical and respectful discussion. By the third attempt, it became clear to me that such a conversation with him was not possible. Since he was lecturing me and didn’t want to hear my opinion, I finally talked over him and said that I was going to hang up since we weren’t having a real conversation. I then wished him success in finding someone who shared his values. I was pleased that I didn’t allow myself to be drawn into a shouting match or to be intimidated. At one point, I remember asking myself if this was a deal breaker. After all, I do live in Texas and guns are a way of life for a lot of people. I needed to be conscious about where I draw the line. And yes, it was a deal breaker. So I don’t have to ask myself that question again. I can’t and won’t disregard my values for any reason, including, or maybe, especially for a relationship.

The second man also challenged me to examine my values and to understand more deeply the complexity of another human being. Again, all was going well until he started telling me how happy he is that our President is a bully because he can stand up to his North Korean counterpart. Again, my opinion was irrelevant. In fact, he was fully engaged in our conversation until I disagreed with him. He tried to change the topic. I said I had listened to his opinion and I would like him to listen to mine. At that point, he picked up his smart phone and  started reading email while I spoke. As with the previous man, I was getting clear signals that his opinion was the only one that mattered. I’m not willing to be in a relationship with that level of disrespect. As I was saying good-bye, he started talking about his mother who had died of cancer. He couldn’t finish the sentence because he was overcome with tears. I wasn’t able to bring closure in that moment because he left abruptly. To my surprise, he wanted to go out again and contacted me several times even after I said that our values were too different for a relationship to work. My silver lining was witnessing the complexity of a person who is steeped in spiritual learning, has a tenderness that led to sobbing over the death of his mother and also thinks that guns and President Trump are good for the USA. Again my values and boundaries were tested. I know who I am and where I draw the line and I also have more compassion for people whose own values are contradictory and they don’t even realize it.

After a lifetime of abuse, the main silver lining for me was that I consistently chose to end relationships with men who are not willing to listen to me. I have been saying that we must speak up and voice our opinions. That’s true in our personal relationships as well as in the public arena of social justice, the environment, civil rights, and respectful treatment of all living beings.

For Previous Shows Like This:

FREE CHAPTER, THE ULTIMATE CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING PROCESS, FROM MY BEST-SELLING BOOK, NOTHING BUT NET

To learn more about my unique process that removes hidden blockages, helps you solve your most challenging problems, and achieve success with ease and speed, sign up for my newsletter and receive the chapter as my gift: sign up here

CONTACT DR. PAULA TO SCHEDULE YOUR COMPLEMENTARY 10 MINUTE PHONE CONSULTATION

Dr. Paula, The Life Doctor, has helped hundreds of thousands of people improve their health, wealth and relationships through her writing, coaching, and speaking. Contact her today to get started on your personal journey. Recently Dr. Paula Joyce, PhD was chosen by Expertise as one of the 16 Best Life Coaches in Dallas.

Cell: (214) 208-3533

Email:  paula@paulajoyce.com

To learn more about Dr. Paula, please visit her website at www.paulajoyce.com.

To hear more shows from Uplift Your Life: Nourishment of the Spirit, please click here.

 

Organizational Issues Have Developmental Levels

Posted by Editor on
0
Business
Organizational Issues Have Developmental Levels

 

This is a guest post written by Terri O’Fallon and Kim Barta. It is the companion to Voice America interview between Maureen Metcalf, Terri O’Fallon and Kim Barta – How Organizational Maturity Aligns with Developmental Maturity.

All collectives, including families, corporations, and businesses of all kinds have issues that need to be faced. Usually the way we work with this is to take a shotgun approach—that is, we try the intervention that seems most likely to work given our experience and understanding of the concern. However, there is a much more effective and efficient way to approach any troubling process that we encounter in our collectives.

All collectives have a center of gravity world view. This means that collectives have a structure that is built on a particular belief system, and this is concretized in the mission statement, the policies and procedures and norms of the organization, and the kind of systems that they use to organize their work together.

For example, a common belief system is what we call a 3.5 /Modern/Achiever perspective. The predominant basis of this kind of collective is looking to the future, with a creative imagination of what that future can hold for the collective. Goals and outcomes are set by a CEO with input from others, and a plan is put into place with timelines and data points and benchmarks along the way to achieve the goals of the organization. The organization has a hierarchical structure with the CEO at the top and a series of managers (of managers of managers, etc.) who supervise the part of the organization they are responsible for and who organize their areas to support the goal orientation and the outcomes of the organization as a whole.

Another belief system is the 4.0 Post-modern/Pluralist belief system.  An organization that is formed around this belief will be relatively flat, because the 4.0 belief system doesn’t include much hierarchy—everyone has a voice. Leaders may set a direction for the organization without a lot of specificity and steer the organization in the moment based on what comes up, being very responsive to the complex adaptation that may be needed.

Regardless of the belief system that an organization is based upon, any and all collectives run into struggles of some type. These struggles (issues) are also organized around a belief system. It is very helpful to know the belief system that these issues are organized around. There are three kinds of issues.

  1. An existential, or leading-edge issue. The organization or collective may be growing into a later level belief system. For example, a 3.5 Modern collective may begin pressing into the working with more complex adaptive systems (a 4.0 Post-Modern, Pluralist complex adaptive systems belief) while it is organized structurally around a 3.5 Modernist system. This can cause quite a bit of confusion! If you handle this from a breadth issue of 3.5, you will not solve the problem. The solution lies in moving the 3.5 culture to a 4.0 culture.

 

  1. There may be issues around robustness and breadth—that is, everyone is working well together at a 3.5 Modernist level, but some of, or the whole of the organization is missing some critical skills that will keep it intact. This often has to do with technological advances, and we see businesses lose their cutting edge because they aren’t on the cutting edge of the next level of technological skills. Their organizational belief structure may be the same, but they may have an issue of not being able to reformat their business related to these new discoveries. For example, the business of processing films into pictures (slides, negatives, etc.) has all but gone by the wayside because of the technologies of cameras on cell phones and immediate access to photos online. Failing to build skills around the new technology can cause problems in the business as a whole. Not all breadth issues are large. There are many smaller issues that fit in this category that may not be noticed. Even though failing to notice them won’t put you out of business, the effect of these kinds of issues are real and have an effect. These effects will materialize even if you remain faithful to your 3.5 mission, values, and structural beliefs organizationally. The solution does not require a new structure at 4.0 to adapt, but it does require you to utilize your 3.5 structure in a new, expanded way.

 

  1. The third area is related to the darker issues in a collective. Regardless of whether the structure you have is at the 3.5 Modern level or the 4.0 Post-modern level, these issues relate to the underlying hidden beliefs that cause harm in part of or all of the collective. For example, there may be a very negative story about the organization that the employees believe and impart into any new employee that comes into the organization. “We have a bad reputation here.” “The powers that be don’t care about us.” “This is not a good place to work.” If these rumors are true it is imperative that they are cleared up if an effective, efficient organization is to flourish. This is a positive thing. However, it is not uncommon for these kinds of beliefs about the collective to remain even if everything has been improved. Perhaps changes have been made, but the past, negative, belief systems and stories within the organization haven’t changed. This kind of issue is a ‘shadow’ issue and usually falls into the category of negative gossip which can be handed from participant to participant. The negative gossip issue often comes from an earlier developmental level (2.5 Traditional belief system). This requires us to go back into the history of our collective culture and address it overtly and create a new story of healing and robustness.

When an issue arises in your collective/business/organization, it can be very helpful to look to see what kind of issue has arisen. Each level of issue demands an entirely different intervention. If you apply the wrong type of intervention to the issue (i.e. a leading-edge issue when the issue is a breadth or robust issue) the intervention can actually make the problem worse and create a new unnecessary issue that you will have to contend with in addition to the original one you are trying to solve.

As a reader of this blog and listener to the interviews, please consider enrolling in one of the innovative leadership online leader development program. For additional tools, we recommend taking leadership assessments, using the Innovative Leadership Fieldbook and Innovative Leaders Guide to Transforming Organizations, and adding coaching through our online innovative leadership program. We also offer several workshops to help you build these skills.

About the Authors

Terri O’Fallon’s Ph.D. has focused the last 13 years on “Learning and change in Human Systems” as an applied researcher. She has worked with hundreds of leaders studying the interventions that most effectively result in developing leaders who can effectively implement change. She has her PhD in Integral Studies California Institute of Integral Studies. She is the co-founder of two organizations. She and Kim Barta have created STAGES International, an organization that focuses on how the STAGES (developmental) model can support insights into our own growth as people, leaders, guides, coaches, and the kind of impact these insights can have on our influence in human collectives.

Kim Barta MA is an internationally recognized licensed professional psychotherapist, coach, spiritual guide, and speaker. His work and insights spring from grounded experiential practice with self and others in his cross cultural and lifelong experiences. Currently, Kim has teamed up with Dr Terri O’Fallon to present workshops and trainings internationally in a new model of human development designed and researched by Dr. O’Fallon.

Terri and Kim run Stages International’s mission is to offer programs and services to individuals and organizations based a unique developmental model. www.STAGESinternational.com

Enjoy this blog? Please spread the word :)

RSS
Follow by Email
Facebook
fb-share-icon
Twitter
Tweet