Tag: Dean Evenson

How to Deal with Stress in Your Life

In this new podcast, Dudley discusses the topic of dealing with stress. Everyone experiences stress. Do you also know that stress can be very contagious? Have you ever noticed that when you’re with people who are calm and relaxed, you tend to be more calm and relaxed yourself? The same principle is true when you’re with people who are stressed out and wound up. You tend to absorb their stress.

We also know stress can cause serious illnesses. It can also weaken your immune system. With this latest pandemic and worldwide quarantine, many of us are feeling a lot of pressure and abnormal stress. Some may be out of work and feeling financial stress. Others may be trying to work from home and take care of families in a crowded environment. People are getting on each other’s nerves. Some may feel ready to explode. Many are worried about getting sick with the virus or losing a family member. Imagine the effects of parental stress on their children. Young kids don’t necessarily understand what’s happening in the world, but they do feel the stress (or peace) of the adults around them.

There are all kinds of stressors — but here’s something interesting. Two people can experience the same exact situation and have a different reaction. It might have to do with family background. It might have to do with spiritual work they have done or not done. But this fact does indicate that it’s not the stress itself that is causing the problem. It is our individual reaction to stress that can negatively affect us. We hope you enjoy this new episode.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Dudley Evenson on Benefits of Letting Go of Attachment

In this new podcast, Dudley discusses the topic of letting go of attachment and how that can lead to more happiness in your life. Letting go can be very difficult but it is absolutely essential to moving on. There are many aspects of letting go that we need to address. It may be a relationship, or it may be an expectation, or it may be the loss of a thing, of something we treasured.

It is interesting to note that sometimes when we are truly able to let something go, it may actually return to us. That does not mean we should expect that to happen, but it might help the process. The main thing to understand about releasing is that without truly letting go, we are blocking opportunities and relationships coming to us that could be beneficial to us. Honest releasing makes space for something even better to come into our lives.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Dean & Dudley Evenson Discuss New Album Seeds of Peace

We are happy to release our 66th episode of our Soundings Mindful Media Podcast. In this episode, Dean & Dudley Evenson are interviewed by Kyle Norris from NPR. They discuss their new album Seeds of Peace and how it came to be. It’s a remarkable story that starts back in 1987, when Dean Evenson and Volodymyr Solianyk first met and started performing music together during a Citizen Diplomacy tour in the former Soviet Union. We hope you enjoy this fun and insightful interview.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

6 Steps to Your Miracle Morning

Do you start your day with a dose of news and then find it’s hard to get all that negativity out of your head? Or maybe you feel overwhelmed by a massive ‘to do’ list and can’t seem to complete all the tasks you have set up for yourself. I recently read a great book called The Miracle Morning: The 6 Habits That Will Transform Your Life Before 8 am and I have been implementing the practices that the author, Hal Elrod, has suggested. In this podcast, I will walk you through these practices and explain how you can use them to improve your life.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Dean Evenson & Phil Heaven Discuss Inspiration Behind New Album EARTH WITHIN

Join Dean Evenson in this heartfelt conversation with Phil Heaven, his longtime friend, collaborator, and co-producer as they reminisce on their creative journey together and their new release Earth Within. The underlying story and choice of instruments aligned to bring this album to life in a unique way. Phil and Dean have made many award-winning albums together and this new LP introduces Douglas Johnson who brings his unique stylings on double bass to their viola and flute. “The idea of bringing the Earth Within ourselves through these low frequencies seemed like a great idea for an album project” says Phil Heaven. “Douglas’ double bass instrument brings the grounding earthy feeling along with the viola, bringing deep resonant tones. You feel the low frequencies in all your body.”Dean Evenson explains why the concept and natural sounds are so important on this album. “We need to honor the earth and understand it as a living being. And when we do that, it opens the whole world through a way of thinking that supports the earth and brings about the harmony as the instruments do on this album, playing the different aspects of life and nature.”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Snake River to Salish Sea Spirit of the Waters Totem Pole Journey

Snake River to Salish Sea Spirit of the Waters Totem Pole Journey across Washington and Oregon supports the indigenous-led movement to remove the Snake River dams and restore salmon runs to health. Orca or Southern Resident Killer Whales (SkaliChelh in Lummi language) depend on the salmon to survive. At the heart of any Totem Pole Journey is Jewell James, master carver of the House of Tears Carvers from the Lummi Nation. Much of his professional life he has been in judicial courts or the halls of Congress advocating for treaty rights to be upheld and Tribal sovereignty respected. He continues the good fight, but often with a large totem pole in tow. 

This totem pole journey is the latest of a dozen journeys made over the past 20 years to educate and advocate. This journey builds upon, strengthens and reaffirms the growing indigenous-led environmental movement across the Pacific Northwest. The journey includes public eventsin metropolitan areas and tribal communities. At each stop, art and culture sparks understanding of our natural heritage. In-person events include ceremonial moments steeped in ancestral knowledge presenting the challenges the region faces—and avenues for cross-cultural collaboration and engagement on solutions. 


For more information: https://www.spiritofthewaters.org

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Interview with musician Paul Horn

We first heard Paul Horn’s album ‘Inside the Taj Mahal’ in 1970 and it blew us away. Then in 1977, Dean Evenson was invited to interview Paul Horn on video at the Boulder Colorado public library. This was quite an honor for Dean who had been playing flute since he was 11 years old; it was another two years before we founded Soundings of the Planet. In this interview, Dean asks Paul about his musical influences and what genre his music fits in. Paul speaks of the improvisational aspects of jazz and the unique kind of music he creates. He discusses his meditation practice and goes into depth about studying at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s ashram in India. He was doing a retreat there when the Beatles arrived! Paul also discovered that he (more than his flute) is the main instrument. He discusses how the music he creates can be helpful in the healing process although he doesn’t call it ‘healing’. When we came across this interview in our video archive, we knew we also wanted to share it as a podcast. Be sure to listen to Dean’s final question which he asks with his silver flute. You can also watch the video on our Soundings Mindful Media YouTube channel.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Racism in America with Clyde W. Ford author of Think Black and Of Blood and Sweat: Black Lives and the Making of White Power and Wealth

In this in-depth conversation, Dudley Evenson interviews award-winning author Clyde W. Ford about his recent book Think Black: A Memoir. Initially, he thought he was writing a feel-good story about his father being hired in 1946 as the first black software engineer at IBM but in researching for the book, Clyde uncovered the shocking story of tech giant IBM and its early involvement with racially biased eugenics work and specifically of its support of Nazi Germany’s atrocities against Jews during World War II. He also discusses his upcoming book Of Blood and Sweat: Black Lives and the Making of White Power and Wealth which follows personal stories of individual black men and women and the role they played in creating American institutions of power and wealth beginning with the first enslaved people brought from Africa to the Jamestown, Virginia Colony in 1619. He also clarifies the concept of Critical Race Theory (CRT) as a legal term relating to systemic racism being deeply and intentionally engrained in the legal, business, and social structures of this country. He addresses the book banning that some states are engaged with and calls on us to look honestly at our history for without truth, there can be no reconciliation.

Think Black: A Memoir

Of Blood and Sweat: Black Lives and the Making of White Power and Wealth 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Dean & Dudley Evenson Talk Loving Partnership

In this podcast, Dean and Dudley Evenson talk about their long-lasting marriage and how they have managed to maintain a loving relationship while raising a family and running a successful business together. In this intimate conversation, the Evensons contemplate some of the principles that have contributed to their having such a fun and meaningful life starting with their auspicious meeting in 1968 in New York’s East Village. They reminisce about coming from very different backgrounds yet still being able to blend their creative lives and be productive together. They speak of their musical path and the recently launched the Peace Through Music Foundation.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Dean Evenson Talks Daily Practice

Dean Evenson shares his daily exercise and mindfulness practices which he does to keep himself balanced and grounded. He enjoys several kinds of exercises as well as meditation, breathing, walking, and personal affirmations. Since he first started doing yoga in the early ‘70s, Dean has kept up a daily practice which has allowed him to stay healthy and able to maintain energy to accomplish the many things he does. As we get older, we may experience health issues which make exercise even more important. In fact, everyone, no matter their age, can benefit from daily physical and spiritual practices. We hope Dean’s personal process inspires you to consider enhancing your own level of self-care.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS