The Playground Ascend Now

We know moving to a different country can be difficult and everyone needs help with adjusting to a new place. Aki, Celine, and Ryoko will share their experiences living in various countries and studying in international schools worldwide. 

It can feel hard sometimes, but if you are willing to adjust, and learn from friends and other cultures, you will gain a lot of new friends, and experiences, and it will build you as a person. So try to enjoy the changes life brings you.
Notes:👘 Aki is from Japan but lived in the USA, and now, in Jakarta. 00:26🇯🇴 Ryoko connects mainly with Japan and Celine with Jordan. 02:10🇺🇸 Aki found moving from the USA and adjusting to Indonesia hard. 02:55🤯 Shock and worry are the usual emotions when moving to another country. 03:15😍 Experiences with Intercultural schools: Celine loved having amazing support and being around different cultures. 05:51🏯 This is the first international school for Ryoko: communicating in English, sharing cultures and being more open than in Japan. 06:24⭐ Tips for moving: being open-minded to new things and doing your best. 08:31

 
The NHS is the UK's National Health Service, established in 1948, and in this episode, we talk about issues NHS faces: low pay, inadequate resources, and staff strikes. Nurses feel burnt out and unsupported, with a lack of resources to provide adequate care and while the rest of medical staff demand better compensation for their long hours and heavy workloads, the government faces challenges in increasing NHS funding without raising taxes or worsening inflation.

However, finding a compromise is essential to address issues like long waiting times and ensure the efficiency of the healthcare system. This episode teaches us how to get Info from reliable sources and how to see things from different perspectives when making decisions on everything in life. 

Notes:▶️ The NHS was started in 1948: it had many ups and downs. 0:42
📈 In 2022 the NHS had 1.6 million patients per day, and it employed 1.5 million people. 2:29
👩‍⚕️ There have been many strikes in the UK, related to the NHS: the shortage of medical staff. 3:15
👉 Increase of income taxes: the easiest way for the government to increase spending on the NHS. 6:25
🤔 What the prime minister had to say on government spending. 8:11
🎯 Aarav's opinion on the solutions regarding NHS funding. 10:02
Link:Connect with us : www.ascendnow.org 

 Rysa analyzes the most important aspects and practical details of true crime, sensationalized by the media. The investigation doesn't stop even after the case is closed, and this case is very odd.
When an entire family is found hanging from the ceiling of their quaint home in Burari, Delhi, it seems as they agreed to a mass suicide. But as the investigation progresses... Some secrets are uncovered, and this theory is challenged. 
The unfortunate case of shared psychosis brought awareness to the public about family structures and lack of critical thinking and mental health. What happened with the family of 11 who were found hanging from the ceiling?
Notes: 🥛 Grocery store opens at 5:30 every morning: neighbor finds a horrible scene. 1:40🚔 Police were called, it was a family suicide: maybe it was a murder, but there were no signs of struggle. 04:43🤔 Was this a ritual or planned suicide: 7-day banyan tree ritual? 06:23☹️ The final ritual: they thought they would be saved. 12:04
Links:👉 Connect with us: www.ascendnow.org

Theater can open many doors - to the worlds inside of you and outside of you.
Dhiya Aiyer is a theatrical student who loves being on stage. Her life was transformed on stage during her first play when she realized her social anxiety was gone and her true self appeared. 
The liberation on stage is the essence of Dhiya’s life and the freedom she feels while creating using drama is helping her discover more deeper levels of herself and society. Her personal growth is tied to the stage and storytelling and her goal is to explore drama even more because not all about drama is acting - there are so many paths and branches to learn from. Self-expression through creativity in theater is huge, and for Dhiya it is important to be eccentric and authentic. The joy of imagination in theater is limitless - try it out. 
Show notes:Notes😍 Drama got into Dhiya’s life when she was nine: she got her first role even though she was shy. 01:17🤯 Seizing all opportunities in front of her: getting in the head of character. 03:55🤓 Addressing political, sociological, and all other issues through theater: practitioners Constantine Stanislavsky and Bertolt Brecht. 06:02💎 Creating your monologues: there is no limit to your imagination. 07:53🌺 Theater helped Dhiya to release her anxiety and find her voice. 09:48🗣️ Dhyia is also a storyteller: techniques that can be used to tell a story. 11:00🎭 Drama is not just acting: directing, producing, management, dancing, teaching. 13:27
Links:
Connect with Dhiya: www.instagram.com/dhiya.r_aiyer
Connect with us : www.ascendnow.org 

In this episode, we are learning about a new culture and traditions. Our guest Izmer from Malaysia who now lives in Cambodia talks about his experiences with fasting during Ramadan. Fasting is practiced in the Muslim world, in which they do not eat until sunset. Fasting builds gratitude and humility with people, and empathy for those who don’t have food to eat. After 4 weeks, Muslims celebrate Eid in mosques and with their families. 
🇰🇭 Izmir now lives in Cambodia. 00:50 🍳 What is fasting; 13 hours without water and food. 01:52 😇 Izmer finds fasting easy: what to do when you are hungry? 02:35🌇 After the sunset, people get to eat, but not all people will fast. 03:22🤩 What is Ramadan: being humble and self-disciplined. 04:54🕌 Muslims are building their character through fasting: Eid al-Adha celebration.07:15 

Mark is interviewing authors of Animarathon - a radio station in Jakarta featuring a growing selection of ani songs and nurturing anime culture. Today we will hear all about the passions of anime lovers - crushes, nice characters, and why fans are collecting figurines. Hear all about the three distinct types of anime enthusiasts and the emotional side of anime that may bring a tear or two and how Animarathon started their cool journey.
 Show Notes:
📻 Animarathon is a special super cool anime music program. 00:34
💥 Only radio station in Jakarta with ani songs: the anime community in Indonesia is growing. 03:24 
3️⃣ There are three types of listeners: anime is a very polarized scene. 04:52
💰 Mark purchased his favorite figurine for a lot of money: cosplayers, gamers, and collectors. 06:48
🔥 Digimon, Dragonball Z, Pokemon, Bunny Girl Senpai: the first shows that got them into anime. 09:11
🥰 Mark’s enemy crush: Infinite Stratos and Laura Bodewig. 10:29
🎶 Inspired by anime shows: music, DJs, Moe Shop, Porter Robinson. 11:23
🎥 Cool series and movies to watch: Detective Conan, Blue Lock, 
🧜‍♀️ Top 3 female characters and top 3 anime: yes, boys do cry with anime. 16:10
🎙️ Funny stories about Animarathon show: listeners coming in the show. 22:47
🌞 How Animarathon chooses songs for the show. 24:52
 Link:Connect with us : www.ascendnow.org