LISTEN UP

For our 8th and final episode of season 1 Shawn passes the mic to Olympian and Aquatics Educator Jamal Hill, a native of this city of Champions. Besides winning Bronze at Tokyo 2021, Mr. Hill is also known for his game changing non-profit: Swim Up Hill, the mission of which is to provide specialized swim education that is tailored to the specific needs of low-to-middle income communities which continue to be affected by disproportionately high drowning rates. Please enjoy, and thank you for listening to IPL's Listen Up podcast.

To celebrate Native American Heritage month, FIRST CHAPTER FRIDAYS presents a story written by and featuring a Lipan Apache. In the mystery novel, Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger, Ellie is determined to solve the mystery of the death of her cousin who appears to her in her dream right after his death. Ellie is gifted with the ability to ask ghosts of animals to return from the afterlife (like her ghost dog Kirby) and the Lipan Apache culture, spirits, and beliefs are real to her. Will Ellie get the justice she seeks?

Out of all of our senses, vision seems to be the most important to the vast majority of us. The eye is a major, miraculous sensory organ - we humans rely very heavily on our sight to process information about the world around us. Eyes serve a key role in social interaction. Eyes represent so much to us culturally and spiritually - ranging from the Mal de Ojo to "windows to the soul." Yet when it comes to self care, most of us overlook the importance of eye care beyond the occasional eye exam. Today's episode serves as a reminder to be kind to your eyes, perhaps incorporate a few of the suggestions to ease dryness and fatigue, and learn a succession of simple acupressure exercises to soothe all-too-common eye strain.

In our 7th episode of Passing the Mic, Shawn speaks with John Paizis of Performing Arts Studios West. Mr. Paizis’s studio serves individuals with developmental disabilities and has been a community institution since the mid-1990s. The rich history of the acting studio is covered in this chat, along with some personal history of the founder. Listen in to hear how Mr. Paizis is fostering an impressive range of talent including actors, musicians, composers, and production industry professionals.

FIRST CHAPTER FRIDAYS presents Lily and the Octopus, by Steven Rowley, published in 2016. If you ever loved a pet, and especially if you are among the many of us who have depended upon a furry-faced companion to provide comfort during the ongoing pandemic, Steven Rowling's funny and profoundly moving novel will resonate deeply. Ted, the novel's first-person narrator, is a lonely writer struggling with the failing health of his aging dachshund, Lily, who is the one "person" who has always been there for him.

In this 6th episode of Passing the Mic, Adult Librarian, Stacie Galli speaks with the co-founders of the specialty coffee house Sip & Sonder, Amanda-Jane Thomas and Shanita Nicholas. The women provide insight into their approach to running a successful business, emphasizing the importance of intentionality in their work, why it was important to them to open Sip & Sonder in Inglewood, and how they were able to stay open during the pandemic. The women also highlight the nonprofit they started, Sonder Impact, and how it is an important component of their approach to entrepreneurship.

FIRST CHAPTER FRIDAYS presents Kindred by Octavia Butler, published in 1979. Enjoy this classic science fiction which incorporates time travel and is modeled on slave narratives.  Told from the point of view of the protagonist, Dana, who travels back in time to save the life of a drowning white boy and risks losing her life in process. This book skillfully captures a variety of subject matter and genres as it combines the storytelling of a slave memoir, the excitement of fantasy, and an intriguing historical lore. This is a novel of rich literary complexity. 

Join us for NIGHTMARE BEFORE BEDTIME a Storytime series for Adults and Teens. This installment is a short story taken from Scary Stories 3: More Tales to Chill Your Bones by Alvin Schwartz published in 1991 to keep you up at night. It is a tale of two brothers who create a doll named Harold to keep them company but the doll comes to life. Nighty night...

Today's episode focuses on Mindful Movement, with expert advice from Fully Present: The Science, Art, and Practice of Mindfulness, by Susan L. Smalley, PhD and Diana Winston, teaching us that "[l]earning to be aware and to relate to your body and to relate to your body with acceptance and kindness, rather than suppression, seems to improve how you treat your body." Listen in and try the guided Walking Meditation. 

In this 5th episode of Passing the Mic, Shawn speaks with Penny Pearl, one of the many talented Soul Line Dancing teachers who utilize the outdoor space of Inglewood Public Library to keep seniors active and moving. The conversation covers topics such as: the definition of Soul Line Dancing, the differences between Soul Line Dancing and Zumba, some of Penny’s favorite artists to dance to, how Penny took up the hobby, and just how important this activity is for the social, physical, and mental well-being of those who take part.

FIRST CHAPTER FRIDAYS presents the first of fifteen short stories entitled The Master of the Minimalist written by Amy Hempel. Longlisted for the Pen/Faulkner Award, one of Time's 100 Best Books of the Year, and one of NPR's Best Books of 2019, Hempel reveals writing at her most compassionate and spirited, as she introduces characters, lonely and adrift, and searching for connection.  Ravishing, heartbreaking, and powerfully concise, Sing to It is an “exquisite collection” (The Wall Street Journal) and a “quiet masterpiece by a true American original” (NPR).

FIRST CHAPTER FRIDAYS presents This is Not a Ghost Story by Andrea Portes, published in 2020. It is a teen paranormal mystery/thriller novel that follows Daffodil who housesits a mansion for the summer before college. The longer she is there, the more she experiences supernatural things and repressed memories come back to her which include memories of her old boyfriend Zander. It’s a story with a twist ending that you’ll just have to read yourself to find out. 

Join us for NIGHTMARE BEFORE BEDTIME a Storytime series for Adults and Teens. This installment is from an anthology of stories about witches and witchcraft by Richard Dalby aptly titled, Tales of Witchcraft. The Yew Tree by Shamus Frazer features an abandoned valley and a loathsome yew tree with a legend. During the sixteenth century witch-mania, a Halloville woman was hanged as a black sorceress and her corpse impaled with a yew stake. On the gallows, she swore to return as a winged demon and exterminate the village, hence this half bird, half tree abomination. Martin, a surveyor, takes a cottage on the outskirts of Halloville while he plots the course of a new reservoir. Martin takes immediate dislike to a yew tree that seemingly uproots itself at will.  Martin does his best to avoid it after dark, even if it means taking the scenic route to the cottage. Nighty night...

--Journaling our dreams can be a tool to help us achieve greater mental, emotional, psychological, and spiritual balance/well-being. --It connects us to our creativity. Creative outlets are necessary to our overall sense of wellbeing and wellness. --The best way to utilize our dreams, or improving dream recall, is by keeping a dream journal. --We spend up to 30% of our lives asleep, a percentage of that time dreaming. Something all humans have in common, yet our own dreams are very unique and personal to us. Only makes sense to pay attention to this aspect of our lives - which we spend a considerable amount of time doing. --The episode will explore tips for beginning a dream journal practice. Some quick notes on dream interpretation (mostly: that it is very individual. Dream "dictionaries" are fun but not necessarily that useful on an individual level. Pay attention to patterns, recurring themes). --NOTE: Seek professional help if grappling with serious trauma, if having nightmares or disturbing dreams. This is not something you should work through on your own.

In this fourth episode of Passing the Mic Shawn speaks with Percell, the owner and founder of Simply Wholesome Organic Market. Listen in to learn how he took his passion for personal wellness and fitness and transformed it into one of the most significant Black Owned businesses in the city of Los Angeles. Insights include Percell’s approach to stocking the shelves as well as his sentiments on personal growth and finding one’s path in life.

FIRST CHAPTER FRIDAYS presents Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin.  This book was recommended by Robert Kingi of KingiKaju from Passing The Mic episode published on August 23rd.   A true leader takes 100% ownership of everything in his domain, including the outcome and everything that affects it. This is the most fundamental building block of leadership that cuts across all other principles. It applies to leadership at any level, in any organization.  Extreme Ownership teaches readers the lessons that two US Navy SEAL officers obtained during their service. These officers led the most highly decorated special operations unit of the Iraq War. In Extreme Ownership, they apply powerful leadership principles from the battlefield to business and life. Through life-threatening experiences, the two authors learned that leadership is the most important factor responsible for success.

In celebration of the first day of autumn, POETRY OUT LOUD recites a poem by Robert Lee Frost published in 1912. This poem personifies nature and the seasons but can be interpreted as love and moving forward. 

FIRST CHAPTER FRIDAY presents Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez, a Pure Belpre Award winning book, in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which is celebrated mid-September through mid-October. Listen to the first chapter of this book, where the main character, Camila wants to play fútbol and study in America but doesn’t get the support from her family. They hold on to ideas that girls don’t belong on the soccer field, but that doesn’t stop Camila from dreaming and succeeding in the sport. It is a book about holding on to your dreams despite the expectations of others.

Join us for NIGHTMARE BEFORE BEDTIME a Storytime series for Adults and Teens. This installment is a short story titled “Six Boy Coffins,” taken from the book, The Merry Spinster: Tales of Everyday Horror by Daniel Mallory Ortberg. It is a story about six brothers who are banished by their mother for their safety when their father declares they will die if the next child born is a girl. Indeed a girl is born and she goes through lengths to make up for the suffering she believes she caused her brothers. With fairytale vibes this short story may make you feel a bit creeped out. Nighty night...

This exercise is called Hello Moments and is taken from the book Mindfulness for Teens in 10 Minutes a Day: Exercises to Feel Calm, Stay Focused & Be Your Best Self by Jennie Marie Battistin published in 2019. This exercise helps you focus on the present. At times we can focus on the past or the future, and forget to be present in the now.