Yuliana Kim-Grant's Phoenix Tales

Yuliana Kim-Grant
Yuliana Kim-Grant's Phoenix Tales

Like the Greek mythology of the Phoenix rising from the ashes, women live a multitude of lives in one, never cease to amaze in displaying their strength, transforming their situation, usually in the face of challenges. Whether it is career setbacks and resets or true personal transformation, each story adds to the tapestry of what is Phoenix Tales. Hope you enjoy the show! Follow to get notified on new episodes and please share your rating or voice message. New episodes are available every Thursday. For more information, visit: https://www.yulianakimgrant.com/phoenix-tales-podcast

  1. 07/20/2023

    Honoring the Fragility of Life with Jimin Han

    Honoring the Fragility of Life with Jimin Han Today Yuliana is joined by Jimin Han, the author of the novel, A Small Revolution. Born in Seoul, Korea, Jimin grew up in the United States, eventually attending Cornell University and earning an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College. Her writing can be found in a number of publications, and A Small Revolution, her first novel, has appeared on many ‘Best Fiction’ and ‘Must Reads’ lists. Jimin currently teaches at The Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College and Pace University, and today she takes us on the journey of how the passing of her mother left her heartbroken but still gave her strength to continue writing. Jimin begins by delving into the event that redirected the course of her life - her mother’s passing, how that event strongly affected her, and the further strain it put on her relationship with her father. She discusses how she channels rage and becomes more protective of her energy and space as a writer, and describes the way that realizing how fragile life can be makes us slow down to catch our breath. The episode rounds off as Jimin talks about playing the piano, be it Beethoven or ABCs, and how it resonates with her life. Having learned just how very precious each and every day is in our lives, Jimin has gained much wisdom which she shares with listeners here today.   Episode Highlights: The event that redirected the course of Jimin’s life - her mother’s passingStepping into our own after a parent’s deathHow rage made Jimin more protectiveThe concessions Jimin madeHow a sense of mortality affects our decisionsJimin’s second bookNavigating a strained relationship with a parentThe preciousness of time and how it makes us slow downGetting comfortable in a certain amount of discomfortPlaying the piano   Quotes: “As writers, we want to make complex characters, we want to live in the nuances of feeling.” “As writers, we need to be more protective of our time and our sort of emotional and mental space.” “I feel that a lot of the lessons that she was able to teach me, I feel that I still carry her with me.” “What...I want my children to learn from me, and what I wanted them to be able to say is ‘Yes, my mother did write the book she wanted to write.’” “I wish I'd recorded her. I wish I had been able to stay up and listen to everything else she wanted to say. I look back and I wish I'd been able to spend those moments.” “Every day is so precious.” “How is it that we just assume life is just going to go on? And yet we have to make plans. That’s the best way to live is to make those plans.” “I didn't give myself that breathing space and now, I try to schedule a few big things a week, as opposed to, in a day. Maybe a few things in a month as opposed to a week...just not forcing yourself.” “I've just learned that if I wait a little longer, then the answer comes." “I think what it taught me ...that... for many years...and I will just speak for myself that I had made a lot of concessions and I feel that after my mother died I was able to see more clearly how I should be more protective. As writers we become more protective of our time, sort of emotional and mental space. All of that has become more clear to me.“ Links: Phoenix Tales Homepage Phoenix Tales on Instagram Phoenix Tales on Spotify a...

    33 min
  2. 07/06/2023

    Welcome to the Phoenix Tales Podcast

    Welcome to the Phoenix Tales Podcast Show Notes:  Welcome to the premier podcast episode of Phoenix Tales, a show about women overcoming challenges in their lives, and, like the Phoenix, being reborn with their lives reimagined. Joining our host, Yuliana Kim-Grant, this week is Ginger McKnight-Chavers, author of In the Heart of Texas. A graduate of Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service and Harvard Law School, Ginger was a practicing lawyer when challenges in her personal life inspired her to pursue another course, resulting in her own Phoenix Tale which she shares with listeners here today. Ginger begins the conversation by describing those challenges which she faced, the traits she possessed which kept her moving forward through them, and how she came to possess them. She goes on to describe the insecurities she faced in her career as a woman of color, her feelings of being an imposter and the impact this had, her advice for empty nesters on re-engaging with the world, and giving yourself permission to pursue your passion. The episode concludes with Ginger sharing the song that she feels best describes her life. Eloquent, insightful, engaging, and thoroughly inspirational, Ginger and her tale of remaking her life provide the perfect foundation and springboard for what you can expect to hear in upcoming episodes of the Phoenix Tales podcast. Episode Highlights: The challenges that redirected the course of Ginger’s lifeThe traits that kept Ginger moving forward through her challenges and how she came to possess themThe insecurities she faced in her career as a woman of colorHer feelings of being an imposter and the impact upon herGinger’s advice for empty nesting listeners to re-engage with the worldGiving yourself permission to pursue or reignite a passionThe one song that describes Ginger’s life Quotes: “I stopped seeing myself as an attorney who just liked to write in my spare time to taking writing seriously, and it transformed my life.” “I'm the kind of person that thinks about things and analyzes them before I react for better and for worse.” “I just became this sort of serial kind of multitask or tunnel vision kind of machine.”                                                                                              “As a writer, you know, I think most of us feel like an imposter.” “You belong there, but there's just a little something going on underneath the surface.” “You're watching the world in order to navigate it because you feel like you're not one of those people that just waltzes down the red carpet.” “You're always on the lookout for a situation that could be harmful or dangerous.” “Am I at the in-law's house or in my family home? Just that undercurrent of you're never sure when someone's going to push you out the door.” “It is a blessing to have really supportive and grounded parents and grandparents that were very active in your life.” “Black women are the biggest demographic of readers in America.” “I went with a small press, I hired my own publicist. I had already plotted out what I wanted to do, and who I wanted to...

    31 min
  3. 06/15/2023

    Expressing the Fullness of Who You Are with Kim Thai

    Expressing the Fullness of Who You Are with Kim Thai Joining our host, Yuliana Kim-Grant, this week is Kim Thai, an Emmy-award-winning producer, writer, activist, and mindfulness teacher. She is the founder of GaneshSpace, a community organization dedicated to creating spaces to dismantle internalized oppression and explore identity through the lens of intersectionality. Kim shares her Phoenix Tale today of how she rediscovered herself after her divorce. Kim begins the conversation by sharing the event that redirected the course of her life: her divorce. She talks about experiencing heartbreak and turning to yoga at the time and how this event set her on a path of discovering her life and finding independence. In this self-discovery, Kim found herself exploring her sexuality and embracing her queerness. She discusses the challenges of being the only person of color in a room and how her life experiences have made her create impacts geared towards encouraging diversity. She also talks about unlearning the generational trauma passed on to her from her parents’ experiences as refugees. The episode concludes with Kim talking about Ganesh and sharing the one song that describes her life- a song about acceptance and stepping into the world and knowing you’re enough. Episode Highlights: The event that redirected the course of Kim’s lifeExperiencing heartbreak in divorceFinding yoga in a time of needHow Kim embarked on a journey of independence and self-discoveryKim’s exploration of her sexualityWhat does queer mean now? - Kim’s pieceThe challenges of growing up as an Asian American in TexasObserving from a distance as one different from othersGenerational trauma- staying in survival modeMigrating to TexasKim talks about GaneshThe one song that describes Kim’s life. Quotes: “It was a very interesting time for me in the next couple years to be able to really kind of find myself and find the parts of me that still needed to be woken up when to be discovered.” “We both had that sort of mindset that we were each other's person.” “We kind of grew into different people than we were when we first met at 17. ” “It was a lot of deep diving of getting reacquainted to the core of who I was.” “I didn't have to necessarily completely understand who or why I was attracted to someone and or have to identify, but it was more just me being open to it. And that was really the practice for me at that point.” “I don't want to be put into a box, I don't like want to have to restrain my identity in any way, whether it's my sexual identity, or my racial identity, my gender, whenever in order to fit a system that may or may not be able to really let me express the fullness of who I am.” “My boundary has become a lot more clear. And I'm a lot more strong at holding it with when it comes to discussions about race” “I’m Asian all the time!” Links: Phoenix Tales Homepage Phoenix Tales on Instagram Phoenix Tales on Spotify Phoenix Tales on Facebook Kim's Homepage GaneshSpace...

    33 min
  4. 06/01/2023

    Love, Pain, Grief, and Learning How to Overcome with Cat Partheniades

    Love, Pain, Grief, and Learning How to Overcome with Cat Partheniades On this week's episode, Yuliana welcomes Catherine ‘Cat’ Partheniades to the show to talk about the moment she found out she was adopted. She was 30 when this happened, and shortly after this discovery, both of her adoptive parents passed away. Today she chats with Yuliana about reckoning with her parents’ lies, experiencing resentment, and her intense periods of drinking to repress the emotions she didn’t know how to deal with or even want to deal with. It was only upon finding her biological family that she found solace in her identity and her parents’ decision to withhold information from her. After coming into contact with her birth mother through Facebook, Cat remembers meeting her in Brazil as a blissful moment where she finally found the missing piece that she hadn’t quite been able to place in her life before. Kim and our guest go on to talk about both Cat’s birth and adoptive parents, and the pair close out the episode by talking about her experience healing from grief and complex emotions. It’s certainly been an interesting ride for Cat Partheniades, but, as you will hear, she doesn’t want this narrative to dominate her life. After all, she is so much more than that. Episode Highlights: Cat finding out she was adopted at 30 Her parents’ liesExperiencing resentment toward her parents Setting pain asideFeeling like she’s betraying her parents Finding her biological family through FacebookThe quest for Charlotte’s birth momReunification with Charlotte’s biological familyCharlotte’s coming outIdentity strugglesHealing from griefEd Sheeran’s Photograph Quotes: “Facing the health challenges of both her parents, she finds out that she's adopted, even amid the pain of losing her parents and this life altering discovery, she finds a way toward acceptance of her life and more importantly, herself.” “I did get into contact with my biological family, and at that point in time, I finally felt that I was at home with myself— with the universe in a sense - because when I met my biological family, that's where I belong, in a sense. It has nothing to do with the adoptive side not loving me or anything like that.” “I knew that because growing up, my father was Greek, my mother was Brazilian. And the story that they told me was, they tried to have a baby for like, 16 years, and I was the miracle baby. And instead of having me here in the States, where my mom had no family, they decided to take my mom to Brazil to be around family.” “I think initially, I was so overwhelmed with knowing that I was going to lose my parents, then eventually dealing with grief. I wish I didn't have to deal with the adoption part of my life. I found it to be very overwhelming, to be very honest. I did a great job in hiding those feelings from people.” “When you look at the bigger picture, how can I be mad at people that wanted to love me and protect me so hard? That's what I kind of started to learn and that's what gave me peace with everything.” The moment I saw my bio mom, I knew it was her. How did that feel? “Oh my god, I felt like I was floating. I felt like I wanted to throw up and cry. It was just so overwhelming, but it was so beautiful. My wife got to witness all the emotions all at once where she told me the story. She told me that everyone in the family knew about me. And she also told me that she's been waiting for me for 33 years to contact her because when she gave me away for adoption, she left me with a letter. When I wanted to, I could contact her, but my family never gave me that letter. Thank God for Facebook. ” “Thankfully, they're both really great people, both sides of my bio family are amazing and

    31 min
  5. 05/25/2023

    Finding Peace and Purpose in a Journey through Healing with Dana Heller

    Finding Peace and Purpose in a Journey through Healing with Dana Heller Holistic self-care specialist Dana Heller joins Yuliana today to share her inspiring story with listeners. From the life changing doctor’s visit where she found out she had a brain tumour, to her experiences going through multiple surgeries, Dana has come out the other side to help others going through what she did and helping them to feel empowered and healthy once again. The conversation begins with Dana talking about the event that changed the course of her life - finding out she had a pituitary tumor. She goes on to describe her experience after the first surgery and radiation treatment, the emotions she dealt with knowing she was battling something chronic, and finding meditation and yoga in tough times even when she was let go at work. Dana also details the impact the illness had on her relationships with her parents and how she continues to share her  journey and help others that are in the beginning stages of their diagnosis. The episode concludes with Dana sharing the one song that describes her life, ‘Don’t Worry, Be Happy’, which reinforces her belief that ‘life is too short to just be average and not happy’. Episode Highlights: The challenging event that redirected the course of Dana’s lifeDana’s experience after the first surgeryThe importance of the growth hormoneFinding the silver lining in tough timesSeeking solace in helping othersNavigating the relationships with friends and family.Dealing with health and careerGoing through the tough daysThe one song that best describes Dana’s life   Quotes: “I think when I found out that I had to have the second surgery, that was when they kind of hit me, the doors came open, and the feelings that I didn't feel at the beginning of it all came out.” “Trying to find acceptance and surrender on some days is easier than others.” “I've been through this journey to hopefully be able to help somebody else that is in the beginning stages of whatever's going on.” “There's something beyond strength to be able to face that and face it in a way where you then just start to live your life managing this part of your life, and not letting it become the whole of your life.” “Life is too short. And I just want to be happy. Worrying does nothing for me, whatever has happened in the past has happened, and worrying about the past or worrying about the future, and then you're not in the present.” Links: Phoenix Tales Homepage Phoenix Tales on Instagram Phoenix Tales on Spotify Phoenix Tales on Facebook Dana Heller.Com Dana’s Instagram

    30 min
  6. 05/11/2023

    Thriving After Illness with Dr. Susan Lovelle

    Thriving After Illness with Dr. Susan Lovelle Functional medicine practitioner, Dr. Susan Lovelle, joins Yuliana today for a truly fascinating conversation. Currently the Founder and CEO of Premiere Wellness, Dr. Susan spent 14 years as a professional ballet dancer after which she became a physician specializing in plastic surgery. In her current role with Premiere Wellness, she is thrilled to now be supporting women to heal from the inside out. In this week’s episode, she shares her tale of how she made life changes and regained control of her health after landing in the hospital multiple times, and how these events propelled her into finding a new purpose in helping others and making a difference in their lives. Dr. Susan begins by recounting the event that redirected the course of her life - an illness that landed her in the intensive care unit three times. She then talks about her experience as the only plastic surgeon for miles and miles where she lived, how this took a toll on her health, and her subsequent commitment to make dietary changes and practice yoga.  Dr. Susan also delves into the health disparity found in African American communities and how she started a functional medicine practice to help others achieve wellness in a holistic manner. The episode rounds off with her advice regarding how to make changes in your life - listen, let go, and live.  As Dr. Susan states, the song “I am not Finished” resonates with her life, a fact that is made abundantly clear through her courageous and inspiring phoenix tale here today. Episode Highlights: The challenging event that redirected the course of Dr. Susan’s lifeDr. Susan’s experience as a plastic surgeonFinding herself in intensive careMaking changes after a relapseTransitioning from plastic surgery to functional medicineExploring the health  disparity in the African American communityStarting a functional medicine practiceSteps to mastering your energy at any ageHow to go about making a change in your lifeThe one song that resonates with Dr, Susan’s life Quotes: “I pushed myself to where I ended up in the intensive care unit three times in the space of one year.” “It's time to stop believing that I can do everything and be everything to everyone. It was time to start taking care of myself.” “When I first decided I wanted to go into medicine, it was because I wanted to make a difference in people's lives, and I just realized that, you know, I can make a better difference long term by doing functional medicine.” “Food is a very important part of the culture of African Americans.” “Listen, let go, and live.” “Sometimes … you realize that this is not right for you at this particular point, that you might need to let go a little so that you can then reach out for something that's better. ” “Whatever it is that floats your boat, that makes and brings joy into your life, is what you need to be doing, especially at this stage in life.” Links: Phoenix Tales Homepage Phoenix Tales on Instagram Phoenix Tales on Spotify Phoenix Tales on Facebook Premiere Wellness Homepage

    33 min
  7. 04/27/2023

    Embracing and Preserving Democratic Values with Tzveta Raynova

    Embracing and Preserving Democratic Values with Tzveta Raynova This week, Yuliana is joined by Tzveta Raynova, a media executive in New York City and former international student from Bulgaria, who shares her journey of overcoming the difficulties of obtaining a student visa in the US, especially after the events of September 11th. Tzveta highlights the complexities of immigration policies and the difficulties faced by foreign students, and recounts how, despite these challenges, she was able to succeed and become a proud US citizen who is fiercely committed to democracy. In this thought-provoking conversation, she and Yulaina discuss their fears and concerns about the erosion of democratic values and the possibility of authoritarianism in the US. Tzveta shares her personal experiences growing up in an authoritarian country and how it has shaped her views on freedom and democracy. She reflects on her journey through business school during the Great Recession and facing unemployment, before delving deeper into the current state of the country, discussing how changing rules surrounding elections are making it harder for people to make their voices heard. Drawing upon their shared experience of the impact that uncertainty and fear have had on their lives, Yuliana and Tzveta underscore the importance of preserving democratic values for future generations - a powerful and timely message for us all to heed. Episode Highlights: Tzveta’s experience as an international student in the US and the challenges she facedThe impact of September 11th on her personal and professional lifeThe complexities of immigration policies and how they can affect international studentsTzveta’s journey to becoming a US citizenHer commitment to defending the values and ideals of democracyExperiences, fears and concerns with authoritarianismImportance of democracy and freedomReflections on life experiences and uncertaintyConcerns about the future and the erosion of democratic valuesThe song that aligns with Tzveta’s vision of the world Quotes: "I came to the US for college originally from Bulgaria, and as an international student, you're governed by your student visa and what that permits you to do once you graduate." "Literally ten days after my internship wrapped, 9/11 happened." "I know how the world changed after that terrible day." "I've heard stories from friends who are of Middle East descent all of a sudden getting pulled out of security lines, airports, getting asked questions." "What terrifies me is being ruled by an authoritarian leader." "The elections during those Communist times were just perfunctory functions. They were not real." "One of the beautiful things about this country and democracy in this country is that people can organize and make their voice heard and that elections matter." "And if the rules of how elections are run are changed so that regardless of what the people want, their chosen elected officials don't actually end up taking office, then we are in really dangerous territory." “Don't stand on the sidelines. Get involved. At the minimum, make sure you vote, if you can.” “‘Vivir Mi Vida’, which means ‘live my life’... is a song that I love listening to overall because it's kind of a song that you listen to both in good times and in bad, and it reminds you to keep staying in the present, focusing on the positive - that all sort of the painful moments or difficult moments will pass.” Links: Phoenix Tales Homepage Phoenix Tales on...

    33 min
  8. 04/13/2023

    Lifting Yourself Up and Starting All Over Again with Hourig Messerlian

    Lifting Yourself Up and Starting All Over Again with Hourig Messerlian On the show today, Hourig Messerlian, Senior Director of IT Business at Computing and Information Services - The City University of New York,  joins Yuliana to tell her remarkable and truly inspiring story of how she got to where she is today. Starting with how she fled a country ravaged by Civil War, crossing continents and countries, facing many life altering changes along the way, Hourig now finds herself living an incredibly successful life far from the rubble of a country destroyed by war. She goes far beyond simply surviving, and proves herself to be one who thrives wherever life takes her, defying all odds with her unstoppable spirit and steadfast resolve to never give up. In this fascinating conversation, Hourig delves into the challenging event that shaped her life - a story of fleeing Lebanon during the civil war at 19 to start a new life, how she was brought up in Lebanon and how she met her father for the first time in London where she started this new life. She shares details about moving to New York, going back to college for a degree, despite being in her mid-40s, and shares with us a special memory that she always looks forward to amidst the storm. The episode draws to a close with Hourig’s advice to those who seek to make big changes, and the one song that she feels resonates with her life - a song about hope. As Hourig movingly states, life has made her “someone who decided a long time ago not to take things sitting down and crying her eyes out” – listen in today to hear about this amazing life and the lessons it teaches us all. Episode Highlights: The challenging event that redirected the course of Hourig’s LifeHow Hourig, an Armenian, was brought up in LebanonThe life of an outsider who isn’t afraid to start all over againAlone during the Lebanese Civil WarLeaving Lebanon in perilous timesHourig meeting her father for the first timeSettling into a new life in LondonHer move to New YorkWhy getting a college degree was importantHow Hourig propels forward amidst challengesThe most difficult chapter in Hourig’s lifeA memory that holds a special place in Hourig’s heartAn inner sense of lonelinessHourig’s advice to those who have to make big changesThe one song that describes Hourig’s life Quotes: “It gives one a different outlook in life that nothing is permanent, that tomorrow, who knows, I may have to start all over again. ” “I'm Armenian, if you crush me, I will lift myself up and start all over again.” “There was definitely a second side to my life and my story.” “I'm a very stubborn person, and I don't take to failure too well, or bad luck, or whatever you want to call it. I decided to stay.” “I strongly believe that there's always going to be a window open if a door closes.” “I consider myself lucky that not only do I push myself back up and try again, but I always find a way out of whatever disaster I'm faced with.” “When something's behind me, I leave it behind me. I have almost always succeeded in not having any more concerns, not looking back.” “Go for it, do it, start your life over and over again if you want, if it makes you happy, if it gives you what you're looking for all these years.”   Links: Phoenix Tales Homepage Phoenix Tales on Instagram Phoenix Tales on Spotify a...

    33 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Like the Greek mythology of the Phoenix rising from the ashes, women live a multitude of lives in one, never cease to amaze in displaying their strength, transforming their situation, usually in the face of challenges. Whether it is career setbacks and resets or true personal transformation, each story adds to the tapestry of what is Phoenix Tales. Hope you enjoy the show! Follow to get notified on new episodes and please share your rating or voice message. New episodes are available every Thursday. For more information, visit: https://www.yulianakimgrant.com/phoenix-tales-podcast

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