Art, Community & the Sacred Pause with Lisa Lightman

Art, Community & the Sacred Pause with Lisa Lightman

In this episode of Hello Kind Soul, I sit down with Lisa Lightman at the Petaluma Arts Center in California — a painter, retired criminal justice professional, and deeply thoughtful human who has spent her life weaving together community, creativity, and compassion. Lisa shares how working in the courts, diverting people from jail into treatment, exposed her to both the beauty and the heaviness of the human experience. Through it all, art became her lifeline — a practice that soothed and “saved her soul” while she helped others rebuild their lives. We explore: * Her path from public policy and criminal justice to full-time art * How being an artist shaped her leadership and decision-making at work * The way creativity fuels risk-taking, innovation, and new possibilities * The magic of community art centers as “third places” where people truly connect * Simple ways to get involved in art and community, even if you feel unqualified * The power of showing up, joining, and not staying isolated * Lisa’s lifelong relationship with meditation and the “sacred pause” * Why solitude is essential for her creativity and inner peace * How she built a new life and community from scratch after moving to Petaluma * What community means to her — as family, support, and shared life * What it really means to be a kind soul * Her gentle but powerful advice to anyone struggling: reach out and ask for help This episode is a love letter to everyone who feels disconnected, unsure, or “not creative enough.” You don’t have to be an artist to belong in creative spaces. You just have to walk through the door. —Ebony Support the show [HTTP://www.buymeacoffee.com/Hellokindsoul] Want to support us? Buy us a cup of coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/hellokindsoul [https://buymeacoffee.com/hellokindsoul]

Accountable & Compassionate: Leadership Lessons with Phyllis Newhouse

In this episode of Hello Kind Soul, I sit down with powerhouse leader Phyllis Newhouse to talk about what real leadership looks like behind the titles, accolades, and headlines. Phyllis brings her full self to this conversation — the woman who grew up in a big family, the veteran who served 22 years in the military, the CEO who leads thousands, and the human being who still checks in with her 12-year-old self. We explore: * How growing up in a “tribe” taught her value, contribution, and community * Why success is incomplete if it doesn’t include impacting others * Her ROCK philosophy: Resources, Opportunity, Connection inside organizations * The story of an employee challenging her on healthcare — and how accountability shaped her response * Why great leaders must be willing to sit out front and take the darts * How faith and keeping God at the center steady her, even in high-pressure seasons * The concept of your life as an ecosystem — and how she keeps hers aligned * What to do when God puts you on a “ground hold” and nothing is moving * How she talks to herself in seasons of disappointment * The practice of reclaiming your younger self and letting that version of you be proud * Her daily question: Who do I want to be today? She closes with a powerful word for anyone doubting their worth, direction, or purpose — and a beautiful definition of what it means to be a kind soul. If you’re a leader, a dreamer, or someone fighting to get back up again, this one is for you. —Ebony Support the show [HTTP://www.buymeacoffee.com/Hellokindsoul] Want to support us? Buy us a cup of coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/hellokindsoul [https://buymeacoffee.com/hellokindsoul]

Herbal Wisdom, Energy Work & Ancestral Healing with Gina

In this episode, I sit down with Gina, the brilliant healer behind Zorro & Leona, to talk about what true holistic healing looks and feels like in real life. We explore herbal medicine, massage, energy work, Chinese medicine, movement, emotional health, and how all of these systems work together to keep us well — or warn us when something is out of balance. Topics include: • How herbs shaped Gina’s earliest understanding of healing • The body as a feedback system — and why so many of us ignore it • Emotional pain, organ health & somatic storage • What Chinese medicine teaches us about chi flow • Preventive care vs crisis care • Why holistic healing should be accessible • Cultural healing traditions and community care • How healers protect their own energy • Reiki as energetic medicine • How to reconnect to your body without shame • The role of movement in longevity • The truth about individualism vs collective well-being Gina ends with a powerful message for anyone who feels like they’re barely hanging on. This conversation is nourishing, grounding, and full of practical wisdom. —Ebony Support the show [HTTP://www.buymeacoffee.com/Hellokindsoul] Want to support us? Buy us a cup of coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/hellokindsoul [https://buymeacoffee.com/hellokindsoul]

How Black Men Heal Together: A Conversation with Rodney Thomas

In this episode, I sit down with Rodney Thomas, founder of Center Forward, to talk about what happens when Black men finally take off the mask they were forced to wear. We explore Rodney’s lived experience, the weight of silence, how masculinity is defined and redefined, and what it means to build community that heals instead of harms. We also dive into:  • The moment he realized mental health was real  • Why Black boys are told “don’t you cry,” and what that does to the body  • How childhood narratives turn into adulthood wounds  • What real brotherhood looks like  • How to recreate healing circles in your own community  • The signs someone needs to be checked on  • Grace, accountability & telling the truth  • What Rodney wishes he could tell his younger self  • Practical advice for anyone struggling right now This conversation is tender, honest, and full of wisdom.  It’s an invitation to breathe, to feel, and to belong. Support the show [HTTP://www.buymeacoffee.com/Hellokindsoul] Want to support us? Buy us a cup of coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/hellokindsoul [https://buymeacoffee.com/hellokindsoul]

Black Men & Mental Health (Part 2): Accountability, Brotherhood & Asking for Help

In Part 2 of our two-part conversation, I sit with Ronnie Thomas and a powerful circle of men in Chicago to talk about what happens after we tell the truth: accountability, humility, and the courage to ask for help. We explore how to build (and protect) safe spaces, why joy belongs in manhood, and why healing isn’t a solo mission. Listen for: tangible ways to support a brother in crisis, stories of starting over, and reminders that this too shall pass—when we walk together. Follow the show: @HelloKindSoulPodcast Host: Dr. Ebony Green Support the show [HTTP://www.buymeacoffee.com/Hellokindsoul] Want to support us? Buy us a cup of coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/hellokindsoul [https://buymeacoffee.com/hellokindsoul]