Are you feeling grateful? December marks the season of gratitude and giving. Autumn boasts cooler weather and nature’s spectacular showcase of colorful leaves on shrubs and trees as we ramp up for holiday festivities. We show our appreciation for living. Have you bought a designer bag at a discount price only to find out that it was a fake? How can you reduce your chances of buying counterfeit products? There are red flags to be aware of and you’ll find out how to be a more s

By Cynthia Brian “Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.” Henry Ward Beecher Are you feeling grateful? Although I feel thankful for every day that I walk on this earth, after such a tumultuous twenty months, this year my heart is overflowing with appreciation. Throughout these times, my garden has been my sanctuary, my refuge, and the place where I recharge. The abelia is blooming and that makes me cheerful. Autumn is a splendid season with cooler weath

It is the season of giving and gratefulness. Because of COVID-19 and the restrictions on travel last year, this thanksgiving has more significance than others in the past have had. Maggie and Rose co-host while sharing their individual thoughts on gratitude and their Thanksgiving traditions. They interview sixteen-year-old country music sensation, Mikayla Lane in a conversation about her music, career, and holiday habits. Mikayla is outgoing and effervescent as she describes

Are you vaccinated? If not, why not? Sidney hosts a program focusing on inoculations and interviews author Marisa Reichard about her newest novel, A Shot at Normal. A Shot at Normal focuses around 16-year-old Juniper Jade who — after contracting the measles — sues her anti-vax parents for the right to be vaccinated. Written pre-pandemic, the book is a powerful and timely story about justice, family, and taking your shot, even when it seems impossible. With his segment, Innova

http://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1519/Digging-Deep-with-Goddess-Gardener-Cynthia-Brian-Butterflies-are-free.html https://blog.voiceamerica.com/2021/11/12/if-a-butterfly-flutters/ Butterflies are Free By Cynthia Brian “If a butterfly flutters its wings in Brazil, could it cause a tornado in Texas?” Edward Lorenz, meteorologist Almost everyone has heard of the “butterfly effect”. Originally based on weather and climate predictions, it has become a metaphor for the e

https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1518/Digging-Deep-with-Goddess-Gardener-Cynthia-Brian-Gremlins-of-the-garden.html https://blog.voiceamerica.com/2021/10/27/garden-gremlins/ Gremlins of the Garden By Cynthia Brian “Gnome and elf and fairy, Witch and ghost make merry On this last of dear October’s days.” Lettie. C. Van Derveer, Halloween Happenings, 1921 The howling, nipping, and barking of the coyote send shivers down my back. Although they hunt throughout the day,

Biology is the study of complicated things that have the appearance of having been designed with a purpose. Richard Dawkins Why is biology important? How can we understand genetics? Nihal hosts a program based on biology and genetics. He interviews teen author from New Zealand, Lucy Xu who wrote a creative and captivating retelling of the basic concepts of genetics through illustration and fantasy, The Scent of Genetics. It simplifies the complicated and technical scientific

By Cynthia Brian “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” F. Scott Fitzgerald The earth trembled. The fires raged. The stock market crashed. October has notoriously become a month when disasters great and small occur. No matter what transpires, life goes on and nature always prevails. After a summer of extreme heat, cooler weather is a welcome gift. The benefit for gardeners is that the soil is warm making it perfect for rooting, especially when we receive

https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/133879/misogyny-sexual-harassment-and-conflict What is misogyny and what determines sexual harassment? This is a serious topic that host Ruhani tackles along with reporter Rose. Both women are grateful that they are respected and taken seriously. Sexual misconduct is so ingrained in our society that many people, mainly women, feel unsafe in workplaces, doctor’s offices, and even places of worship. The media acts as a watchdog, exposing the

https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/133752/feminism Since host, Ruhani, was born on International Women’s Day, her family have always joked that she is a natural-born feminist. During these troubling times, it is critical to uplift women and broadcast every woman’s voice, so no one is left behind. In the segment, American Connection, Maggie says that “as a feminist, i want to make sure that my feminism includes all people, which is where intersectionality comes to play.” She

*I recommend that all bachelors have a garden. It will give them the experience of being a parent.” Richard Goodman One time when I was the celebrity garden guest on an HGTV program, the discussion turned to relationships and family. My advice was like Richard Goodman. I announced that relationships and parenting are like gardening. They require being present, constant nurturing, detailed attention, consistent efforts, and sometimes sacrifice. If you can grow a plant, you ca

What is your emergency plan if a disaster occurs? Is your “Go Bag” packed and ready/ Where will you go? Who will you contact? What things do you need to do to prepare in advance in case the worst happens? As you start going back to enjoy a restaurant experience, there are some new rules of participation. Are you polite and use manners when you go out to eat? Restaurants are run by people who work hard to provide a service to diners. You’ll get the low-down on how to act, comm

Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future, and renders the present inaccessible. Maya Angelou Diya Hituvalli and Ruhani Chhabra confront racism with all its ugly ramifications on Express Yourself!™. Ignorance contributes to racism. It’s critical to educate yourself and be open to learning and listening about other cultures, perspectives, and traditions. Pay attention to communities and surround yourself with diversity to understand others. Rebuild you

By Cynthia Brian “Tickle it with a hoe and it will laugh into a harvest.” English Saying Every September I think about two major garden projects that transpire throughout the autumn season: harvesting and bulb buying. Fall boasts a spectacular bounty of pears, Asian pears, grapes, apples, tomatoes, tangerines, blackberries, walnuts, kiwis, and more. The last of the peaches and nectarines are being picked while festivals celebrating the end of the fruit and vegetable collecti

How has the isolation of the pandemic affected human relationships? Do we feel more connected to strangers than our loved ones? Are intimate relationships strained? Did you feel closer to fictional characters more than real ones? Who were your pandemic partners? Planet Earth is on a catastrophic collision course. The effects of climate change are pervasive and with greenhouse gases rising, irreversible damage is imminent. Floods, hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, and drough

Be the Star You Are!® 501 c 3 charity launched on 9/9/1999 with just a few volunteers with a dream to empower women, families, and youth by providing positive media messages, increased literacy, and tools for living. No one realized that 22 years later, BTSYA would be a recognized as a top non profit for arts, culture, and empowerment, especially for teens. Founder and Executive Director will celebrate the anniversary with an overview of the amazing history of this grassroots

https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/133179/womens-safety Have you ever felt frightened or intimidated when out walking alone? Have you ever wondered what you should do if approached by an attacker? Sadly, this is the society that we face where everyone, but mostly women, have to fear when going outside because of the horrible things that humans do to one another. Hosts Diya Hituvalli and Nihal Gill offer tips to keep you safe. Diya has created a FREE app called KeepMeSafe. I

Humans are social beings and we like getting together. With warm weather predicted for the next two months, gathering in our gardens for a picnic, barbecue, or just a chat will be a safer method of communing. Fete the final days of summer with a casual gathering or formal gala. A setting in nature sets the tone for a festive, friendly, and safe celebration for the benefit of everyone. Get vaccinated! Are you addicted to video games? What about social media, your phone, emails

https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1514/Digging-Deep-with-Goddess-Gardener-Cynthia-Brian-Garden-gatherings.html “We need to teach people that the environment has a direct bearing on our own benefit.” Dalai Lama It’s official. The Pfizer vaccine has received full and final approval by the FDA with the Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines soon to follow. The CDC stated that if we want to spend time with people who don’t live with us, outdoor activities are the saf

Earth is in peril. Severe droughts parch some areas while torrential rains flood others; gargantuan wildfires consume whole territories while freakish ice storms crash city grids. These and other environmental stresses are flaming human conflict and inflaming our health and the wellbeing of the animal kingdom. Hosts Ruhani Chhabra and Diya Hituvalli interview environmentalist author, Andrew Michael, about his e-book, Arising Soul Pals: Keep Your Eyes on the Rise, to illustrat