Tranquility Du Jour

A Paris Year with Janice MacLeod. In this week's edition of Tranquility du Jour, Janice shares the inspiration behind her new beautiful book, how life has changed since writing Paris Letters, her favorite spots in Paris, and kindly assists me in pronunciation {lots!}. Giveaway: leave a takeaway from this podcast in the comment section below by Friday, August 11 to enter to win a copy of Janice's new book!   Upcoming Events Writing in the Woods in West Virginia: October 27-29 Yoga, Mindfulness + Creativity in Costa Rica: February 17-24 Yoga + Art in West Virginia: May, 2018 TBA Featured Guest: Janice MacLeod-Lik I am the artist behind Paris Letters, a painted letter series sent out via snail mail to those who crave getting fun snail mail from the land of fromage, rosé  and lippy waiters. After a childhood in Canada that was just dysfunctional enough to make me funny, I became an advertising copywriter and eventually an associate creative director. Most of my time was spent in top agencies throughout t

Finding Your Inner Artist with Susan Prolman. In this week's edition of Tranquility du Jour, learn how to transition from a person who doesn't make art to one who does, ways to improve your artistic skills, and a few books to assist your artistic journey.   Direct download: Tranquility du Jour #401: Finding Your Inner Artist Upcoming Events Writing in the Woods in West Virginia: October 27-29 Yoga, Mindfulness + Creativity in Costa Rica: February 17-24 Yoga + Art in West Virginia: May, 2018 TBA Featured Guest: Susan Prolman Susan Prolman is an advocate by nature. Susan has lobbied against factory farming and for environmental protection in Washington, DC for years. She served as Executive Director of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and as Director of International Campaigns for The Humane Society of the United States. While a student at Georgetown University Law Center, Susan helped to create the school's first animal law course. Earlier, she served as New Hampshire State Director for pr

Celebrating 400 Episodes and 12 Years. In this week's edition of Tranquility du Jour, hear the lessons I've learned since starting this podcast and what's bringing me inspiration these days.   Direct download: Tranquility du Jour #400: Celebrating 400 Episodes and 12 Years Upcoming Events Writing in the Woods in West Virginia: October 6-8 Yoga, Mindfulness + Creativity in Costa Rica: February 17-24 Yoga + Art in West Virginia: May, 2018 TBA Tranquility du Jour Savvy Sources Mentioned in Podcast HTC10 Use code podcast400 to save 20% off books, e-books, perfume, tea and CDS today through Friday, July 15 First podcast episode in September 2005 OKJA and The Last Pig Goodreads What Makes You Come Alive blog post The Busy Trap New York Times article Francine Jay's The Joy of Less Social Media Eye candy on Instagram Pin along with me on Pinterest Let’s connect on Facebook Follow moi on Twitter Watch via YouTube Tranquility Tips + Tools Shop slow locally-made, eco-friendly fashion: Tranquili

Creating Big Sky Yoga Retreats with Margaret Burns Vap. We discuss her move from a corporate career in NYC to starting a yoga studio in DC to forming Big Sky Retreats in Montana. You'll learn the hardest and best parts of running the business and how her practice has evolved over the years. Direct download: Tranquility du Jour #399: Creating Big Sky Yoga Retreats    Upcoming Events Writing in the Woods in West Virginia: October 6-8 Yoga, Mindfulness + Creativity in Costa Rica: February 17-24 Yoga + Art in West Virginia: May, 2018 TBA Featured guest: Margaret Burns Vap Margaret is the founder of Big Sky Yoga Retreats and creator of Cowgirl Yoga™. Her relationship with yoga began more than a decade ago, when she began attending Jivamukti Yoga and took up the practice in an attempt to balance her hectic New York City lifestyle and corporate career with cosmetics giant L’Oréal. A few years and several hundred down dogs later, she traded in her designer duds for yoga pants – and moved to Washington DC t

Make Peace with Your Mind with Mark Coleman. Learn the two essential skills needed to navigate life's storms, how to free yourself from the inner critic, tools for dealing with the inner critic, and the therapeutic power of nature. Direct download: Tranquility du Jour #398: Make Peace with Your Mind   Upcoming Events Yoga and the Animals: June 24 Writing in the Woods in West Virginia: October 6-8 Yoga, Mindfulness + Creativity in Costa Rica: February 17-24 Yoga + Art in West Virginia: May, 2018 TBA Featured guest:     Mark Coleman is the author of Make Peace with Your Mind and Awake in the Wild.  He is the founder of the Mindfulness Institute and has an MA in Clinical Psychology. Mark has guided students on five continents as a corporate consultant, counselor, meditation teacher, and wilderness guide. He lives in Northern California.  Visit him online at MarkColeman.org. Tranquility du Jour Savvy Sources Find Mark Website Facebook Twitter YouTube Mark's books Mentioned in Podcast You Can Be

Nourish 360 with Stephanie Horning. We discuss the importance of nourishment, self-care, and connection. Learn how to incorporate more wellness into your life, which nutrient-dense staples to have on hand, and why being bored is important.   Direct download: Tranquility du Jour #397: Nourish 360   Upcoming Events Yoga and the Animals: June 24 Writing in the Woods in West Virginia: October 6-8 Yoga, Mindfulness + Creativity in Costa Rica: February 17-24 Yoga + Art in West Virginia: May, 2018 TBA Featured guest: Stephanie Horning is a certified holistic nutritionist, wellness coach,  and food developer. She recently launched her wellness site and brand Nourish 360 based on the three pillars of health and healing: nourishing the body, elevating self-care, and deepening connection. She also recently released her first e-book, "A Guided Journal For Your Day" to help and encourage men and women take time to strengthen their intuition and listen to the wisdom they hold.  She is passionate about well-bein

Start Right Where You Are  with Sam Bennett. We discuss her latest book, Start Right Where You Are: How Little Changes Can Make a Big Difference for Overwhelmed Procrastinators, Frustrated Overachievers, and Recovering Perfectionists. Learn her tips for handling overwhelm and small, doable changes that can lead to big joy.   Direct download: Tranquility du jour #396: Start Right Where You Are   Upcoming Events Yoga + Art in West Virginia: May 19-21 {sold out} Writing in the Woods in West Virginia: October 6-8 Yoga, Mindfulness + Creativity in Costa Rica: February 17-24 Featured guest: Sam Bennett is the author of Start Right Where You Are and Get It Done. She created The Organized Artist Company to help creative people get unstuck and achieve their goals. She is a writer, actor, teacher, and creativity/productivity specialist who has counseled thousands of artists and entrepreneurs on their way to success. Tranquility du Jour   Savvy Sources Find Sam Facebook Twitter Website Mentioned in Podc

The Teacher Appears  with Brian Leaf. We discuss writing his latest book The Teacher Appears: 108 Prompts to Power Your Yoga Practice, how he chose the 108 prompts for reflection, and the importance of following your spiritual journey. Direct download: Tranquility du jour #395: The Teacher Appears   Upcoming Events Yoga + Art in West Virginia: May 19-21 {1 spot left} Writing in the Woods in West Virginia: October 6-8 Featured guest: Brian Leaf, M.A., is the author of thirteen books, including The Teacher Appears: 108 Prompts to Power Your Yoga Practice and Misadventures of a Garden State Yogi. Brian graduated from Georgetown University in 1993 with a BA in business, English, and theology, and in 1999 he completed a master’s degree at Lesley College, specializing in yoga and ayurveda. He lives in Northampton, Massachusetts, with his wife and two sons.  About The Teacher Appears: 108 Prompts To Power Your Yoga Practice For anyone longing to deepen their yoga practice comes The Teacher Appears, an

MeatLess  with Kristie Middleton. We discuss how eating less meat benefits you, the environment, and the animals, the psychology of change and why it's so hard, and ways to align our plates with our values.   Direct download: Tranquility du Jour #394: MeatLess   Upcoming Events Yoga + Art in West Virginia: May 19-21 {1 spot left} Writing in the Woods in West Virginia: October 6-8 Featured guest: Kristie Middleton is senior food policy director for The Humane Society of the United States and the author of MeatLess: Transform the Way You Eat and Live—One Meal at a Time. She’s a sought-after speaker and thought leader on the topic. Middleton has partnered with the nation’s biggest school districts including Los Angeles, Detroit, and Boston to implement plant-based initiatives such as Meatless Monday. Her work has been covered by national media, including The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and CNN. She holds certificate in plant-based nutrition from T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies.

Eat This Poem  with Nicole Gulotta. We talk about the blend of food and poetry in her new book Eat This Poem, her favorite ways to nurture creativity, and the literary city guides on her website.     Direct download: Tranquility du Jour #393: Eat This Poem   Upcoming Events Yoga + Art in West Virginia: May 19-21 {2 spots left} Writing in the Woods in West Virginia: October 20-22 Featured guest:   Nicole Gulotta is a writer and recipe developer. She's the author of Eat This Poem: A Literary Feast of Recipes Inspired by Poetry, and pens a blog by the same name. She received an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and studied literature at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and son. About Eat This Poem: Food and poetry are two of life’s essential ingredients. In the same way salt seasons ingredients to bring out their flavor, poetry seasons our lives; when celebrated together, our everyday moments and meals are richer and more meaningful. Each of

The Bee Cottage Story with Frances Schultz. We talk about her House Beautiful magazine series on the makeover of her house, Bee Cottage, that turned into a book, what she learned and how she changed during this emotional process.   Direct download: Tranquility du Jour #392: The Bee Cottage Story   Upcoming Events   Tranquility du Jour Live: March 30 Yoga + Art in West Virginia: May 19-21 Writing in the Woods in West Virginia: October 20-22 Featured guest:   Writer, artist, traveler, and tastemaker, Frances Schultz is a contributing editor for House Beautiful magazine and writes also Veranda,Indagare, The Wall Street Journal and others. Former on-air host of the cable show Southern Living Presents, She is author and co-author of several books on design and entertaining. Her latest, The Bee Cottage Story—How I Made a Muddle of Things and Decorated My Way Back to Happiness is now in its sixth printing. Frances was the 2015 recipient of the Horticultural Society of New York’s Award of Excellence and

One Month Post-Detox with Tim Mooney. We talk about our recent 10-day detox (confessed through my Detox Diaries), how we're doing one month later, and what changes we've incorporated from the experience. Tune in for tips on going through a detox, our love/hate relationship with sugar, and an intro to intermittent fasting. Direct download: Tranquility du Jour #391: One Month Post-Detox   Upcoming Events Virtual Retreat: March 11 Tranquility du Jour Live: March 30 Yoga + Art in West Virginia: May 19-21 Writing in the Woods in West Virginia: October 20-22 Featured guest: Tim Mooney serves as General Counsel and Director of Operations for Tranquil Space, Hip Tranquil Ventures and TranquiliT. He also serves as a board member of Tranquil Space Foundation. Tim maintains a solo law practice focusing on a small number of nonprofit clients. He is also the founder of Nineball Media, an independent podcast and social media production outfit based in Washington, DC. Most recently, Tim has discovered the joy

In this week's episode, "Making a Transition," I chat with Melanie Feeney about my decision to go back to school in social work, the associated challenges, and tips on making tough transition decisions.   Direct download: Tranquility du Jour #390: Making A Transition   Upcoming Events   Virtual Retreat: March 11 Tranquility du Jour Live: March 30 Yoga + Art in West Virginia: May 19-21 Writing in the Woods in West Virginia: October 20-22 Featured guest: Melanie Feeney is originally from Ireland and resides in Provo, Utah. A project manager by trade and a breast cancer survivor by circumstance, she believes that life is what you make of it. She spends an inordinate amount of time snuggling with her dachshund and cat on the couch while sipping tea and reading a book. She loves being organized and is passionate about the learning journey of life itself. She believes that we can choose transformation, and we can learn lessons and grow from anything that life throws at us. After recent breast cancer treat

In this week's episode, Less = More with Dara Zycherman, we discuss minimalism, ways to downsize, and her favorite organizing tips.   Direct download: Tranquility du Jour #389: Less = More   Upcoming Events   Yoga, Creativity + Mindfulness in Costa Rica: February 18-25 {2 Spots Left} Virtual Retreat: March 11 Tranquility du Jour Live: March 30 Yoga + Art in West Virginia: May 19-21 Writing in the Woods in West Virginia: October 20-22 Featured guest: Dara Zycherman is the quiet mind and entrepreneur behind Less = More, a lifestyle consultancy that helps people create well-organized spaces in their homes and offices with a focus on reducing waste and simple living. One of the original staff of the U.S. Green Building Council, Dara spearheaded the launch of the first certification for neighborhood development and was instrumental in the launch of the latest version of the LEED rating systems. While at USGBC, Dara worked part-time as a professional organizer, but last year decided to turn her side proje

In this week's episode, PhD in You  with Julie Reisler, we discuss her use of "life designer," the role journaling has played in her life, intentional eating, and her new book, Get a PhD in You.   Upcoming Events   Yoga, Creativity + Mindfulness in Costa Rica: February 18-25 {2 Spots Left} Virtual Retreat: March 11 Tranquility du Jour Live: March 30 Yoga + Art in West Virginia: May 19-21 Writing in the Woods in West Virginia: October 20-22 Featured guest: Author and Life Designer™ Julie Reisler authentically shares in her book, Get a PhD in YOU, the extensive personal-growth wisdom that came from her own struggles with body image, relationships, and feeling "not enough." Julie has a master’s degree in health & wellness coaching and more than twelve certifications around health and well-being. Julie speaks all over the country on how to design your best life and has over 12 years of TV/Film, voice-over and on-camera hosting experience. She is a mama of two, happily remarried, and in love with her

In this week's episode, Communicating with Animals with Amelia Kinkade, we discuss how she got started as an animal communicator, ways to communicate with animals, and stories from her latest book, Whispers from the Wild.   Upcoming Events Tranquility du Jour Live: January 12 Mindfulness Urban Retreat in DC: January 22 Yoga, Creativity + Mindfulness in Costa Rica: February 18-25 {4 Spots Left} Yoga + Art in West Virginia: May 19-21 Writing in the Woods in West Virginia: October 20-22   Featured guest:   Amelia Kinkade is the author of Whispers from the Wild, as well as Straight from the Horse’s Mouth and The Language of Miracles. The founder of Ark Angel Society and The Language of Miracles Institute online, she has devoted her life to using her gifts to communicate with animals. Visit her online at www.ameliakinkade.com. Tranquility du Jour Savvy Sources Find Our Guest Facebook YouTube Website Social Media Eye candy on Instagram Pin along with me on Pinterest Let’s connect on Facebook Follow m

In this week's episode, The Voice of Your Dreams with Aaron Anastasi, we discuss finding our voice, how to have increased productivity, and tips for healthy living. Direct download: Tranquility du Jour #386: The Voice of Your Dreams   Upcoming Events Facebook Live Event: December 30 at 8pm ET New Year's Eve Mini Retreat in DC: December 31 {Sold Out} Tranquility du Jour Live: January 12 Mindfulness Urban Retreat in DC: January 22 Yoga, Creativity + Mindfulness in Costa Rica: February 18-25 {4 Spots Left} Yoga + Art in West Virginia: May 19-21 Writing in the Woods in West Virginia: October 20-22   Featured guest: Aaron Anastasi is a Southern California native who graduated with a master’s degree from Princeton Theological Seminary, where he studied philosophy, psychology, and theology. He’s also a serial entrepreneur with online businesses such as Superior Songwriting Method, Signing Success, and the internationally recognized, Superior Singing Method, an online singing lesson program that grosses seve

In this week's episode, The Stress Solution with Dr. Arthur P. Ciaramicoli, we discuss the importance of empathy, the ramifications of stress, and ways to work with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to reduce stress in your life. Direct download: Tranquility du Jour #385: The Stress Solution   Upcoming Events Facebook Live Event: December 30 New Year's Eve Mini-Retreat: December 31 Tranquility du Jour Live: January 12 Mindfulness Urban Retreat: January 22 Yoga, Creativity + Mindfulness in Costa Rica: February 18-25 Yoga + Art in West Virginia: May 19-21 Writing in the Woods: October 20-22   Featured guest: Arthur Ciaramicoli   Arthur P. Ciaramicoli, EdD, PhD, is the author of The Stress Solution: Using Empathy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Reduce Anxiety and Develop Resilience. He is a licensed clinical psychologist and the chief medical officer of soundmindz.org, a popular mental health platform. He has been on the faculty of Harvard Medical School and chief psychologist of Metrowest Medical Cent

In this week's episode, Moving Water with Christine Mason Miller, we discuss the process of writing her memoir, what she hopes readers will take away from it, and how her definition of family has evolved. I also read the draft introduction to HTC10.     Direct download: Tranquility du Jour #383: Living with Uncertainty   Upcoming Events Hip Tranquil Chick 10-Year Online Celebration: December 4 New Year's Eve Mini Retreat: December 31 Tranquility du Jour Live: January 12 Yoga, Creativity + Mindfulness in Costa Rica: February 18-25 {Save $150 if signed up by 12/1} Yoga + Art in West Virginia: May 19-21   Featured guest: Christine Mason Miller Christine Mason Miller is an author and artist who has been guiding others toward a meaningful life for more than twenty years.  Her experience with writing, publishing, licensing and teaching have established her as an experienced, compassionate authority on how to bring dreams to life, particularly those related to writing and publishing a book. Her online cou

In this week's episode, Living with Uncertainty, I share a few practices and resources to help with suffering. Direct download: Tranquility du Jour #383: Living with Uncertainty   Upcoming Events Hip Tranquil Chick 10-Year Online Celebration: December 4 New Year's Eve Mini Retreat: December 31 Tranquility du Jour Live: January 12 Yoga, Creativity + Mindfulness in Costa Rica: February 18-25 {Save $150 if signed up by 12/1} Yoga + Art in West Virginia: May 19-21 Tranquility du Jour   Savvy Sources Post-Election Resources Mentioned in podcast Pema Chodron's Practice of Tonglen Teaching Rick Hanson's Practice "Take Heart" Teaching The Powerful Reason Americans Are Wearing Safety Pins Join the Women’s March on Washington January 21 Join Donate $20 on January 20 to Planned Parenthood Daybook 5.0 {12 copies left} Hip Tranquil Chick: Share Your Story Social Media Eye candy on Instagram Pin along with me on Pinterest Let’s connect on Facebook Follow moi on Twitter Tranquility Tips + Tools My 5 B