Three women click into a Zoom. OMG. Why them? Why now? Why should anyone care? All it takes is one question -- the first question, “How are you?” -- and everything we think we knew about each other can suddenly change. Who are we? How do we come to be who we are? What’s in a name? What’s in a story? What happens when we openly speak our truths? Join me for this week's episode of "The Janus Adams Show" with my guests: authors Hasna Muhammad ("BREATHE IN THE SKY: Poems, Prayers and Photographs") and Gail Straub ("HOME INSIDE THE GLOBE: Embracing Our Human Family"). In this unstructured non-interview, three women click into a Zoom and the rest is a reflection of these tense times, our lives and, perhaps, something of your own: family legacy, the strength to endure amid societal upheaval, the journey of reclaiming identity, the art of holding space for complexity. Traveling the globe through our shared stories, we explore history (up close and personal), current events, justice, injustice, sorrow, and joy. Reading to and for each other, the conversation delivers a timely blueprint for courageous connection. GUESTS - Hasna Muhammad, author, “BREATHE IN THE SKY: Poems, Prayers, and Photographs” website: BirthmarkMedia.com https://www.birthmarkmedia.com/ - Gail Straub, author, “HOME INSIDE THE GLOBE: Embracing the Human Family” website: GailStraub.com https://gailstraub.com/ THEMES - Facing challenging times with hope and solidarity - The meaning and reclamation of identity and legacy - Generational wisdom, vulnerability, and mutual encouragement - Navigating and healing divisions—personal, social, historical - The restorative power of storytelling, poetry, and community MOMENTS YOU'LL WANT TO EXPERIENCE FOR YOURSELF "I am well, I am strong ... There are people around the world, especially those in the war-torn areas, who are starving and dying and bleeding, and they cannot be strong. But I have the opportunity to be strong. ... We must each have our own set of skills, our own ideals and desire to move forward." — Hasna Muhammad [0:04:49] "I read an article recently about prisoners of war and how they maintain hope in those dire circumstances. A key thing they found was this paradox of fully facing how bad It is and simultaneously, equally at the same time, knowing that they'll get through this. I'm wanting to do that. [But] it's not hope, because that's a complicated word." — Gail Straub [0:08:40] "I admit to feeling conflicted. I have a friends who are packing up to leave the country, something I completely understand. On the other hand, I'm the granddaughter of four immigrants, three of whom left relatively privileged circumstances to emigrate to America. Two came with their young children. Two met here. I would not exist had they not dared sacrifice their all and make possible my life. " — Janus Adams [0:13:10] Learn more at JanusAdams.com https://www.janusadams.com/
