Welcome back to Aging with Grace and Purpose.

Today's episode features Ms. Bircan Ünver, a Turkish-American author, activist, producer, and founder of Light Millennium, a charitable organization dedicated to global human advancement.

For more than two decades, she has worked to promote dialogue, education, and global citizenship, demonstrating how values rooted in Anatolia can inspire action on an international stage.

Please visit her multimedia platform below. (If you read their "Contact" section, you will find something really refreshing.)www.lmglobal.org (Current and activewww.lightmillennium.org (Archive website 1999-2018)

How can dance change the lives of people living with Parkinson's disease?

In this episode of Aging with Grace and Purpose, I talk with David Leventhal, Program Director of Dance for PD®, about the remarkable intersection of dance, neuroscience, healthcare, and human connection.

David explains how movement, music, and imagination help people rediscover confidence and joy while living with Parkinson's disease. We also discuss neuroplasticity, Narrative Medicine, creativity, and why the arts play an essential role in healthy aging.

As David beautifully says,

"At heart, there's art in heart."

This conversation is for anyone interested in Parkinson's disease, healthy aging, the healing power of the arts, and the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit.

AKO, Actress and Producer:In this episode, we are joined by the versatile AKO, a celebrated New York-based actress, director, playwright, and founder of the theater company Amaterasu Za.

AKO continues to make a significant impact as a key figure in both the local and national theater scenes. While preparing for the upcoming Off-Broadway premiere of Izumo no Okuni this November, she shares her artistic journey and insights, taking time from her demanding rehearsal schedule to speak with us.

Keiichiro Hirano is one of Japan's most celebrated contemporary novelists. In this conversation, we discuss his journey from Japan to New York, his philosophy of "dividualism" (分人主義), the role of literature in modern society, and how living abroad has influenced his writing and perspective.

His deeply psychological fiction explores profound and universal themes such as self-love, relationships, and acceptance, and spans short stories, historical novels, essays, love stories, and literary sci-fi. (From his English website: https://en.k-hirano.com/profileen/(From his official English website: https://en.k-hirano.com/profileen/）

Awards include:・120th Akutagawa Prize for Eclipse（Nisshoku）(1999)・59th Education, Science and Technology Ministers Art Encouragement Prize for New Writers for Breach（Kekkai） (2009)・19th Prix Deux Magots Bunkamura for Dawn (2009)・ the Watanabe Junichi Literary Prize for At the End of the Matinee（2017）・ The Yomiuri Prize for Literature for A MAN (2019）・ the Kobayashi Hideo Prize for Theory on Yukio Mishima (2023）

Welcome back to the full episode of Ms. Bircan Ünver, a Turkish-American author, activist, producer, and founder of Light Millennium, a charitable organization dedicated to global human advancement.Please visit her multimedia platform below. (If you read their "Contact" section, you will find something really refreshing.)www.lmglobal.org (Current and activewww.lightmillennium.org (Archive website 1999-2018)For more than two decades, she has worked to promote dialogue, education, and global citizenship, demonstrating how values rooted in Anatolia can inspire action on an international stage.

Today's episode features Ms. Bircan Ünver, a Turkish-American author, activist, producer, and founder of Light Millennium, a charitable organization dedicated to global human advancement.Please visit her multimedia platform below. (If you read their "Contact" section, you will find something really refreshing.)www.lmglobal.org (Current and activewww.lightmillennium.org (Archive website 1999-2018)For more than two decades, she has worked to promote dialogue, education, and global citizenship, demonstrating how values rooted in Anatolia can inspire action on an international stage.

In this episode, we are honored to welcome AKO, a distinguished New York-based actress, director, playwright, and founder of the theater company Amaterasu-Za. AKO’s influence spans local and national theater, where she continues to leave an impact on audiences and fellow artists through her dynamic contributions. As she prepares for the upcoming Off-Broadway premiere of OKUNI (Izumo no Okuni) this November, AKO shares her creative journey and insights, taking time from her busy rehearsal schedule to speak with us. This is the Part 2 of AKO's interview.

Featuring AKO, Renowned Actress, Playwright, Producer, and Founder of Amaterasu-Za Theater. The 2024 Disney series "Shogun" has won Emmy Awards and Grammy Awards.

She played a key role in depicting the "Iyo no kata" the wife of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. In this episode, we are honored to welcome AKO, a distinguished New York-based actress, director, playwright, and founder of the theater company Amaterasu-Za. AKO’s influence spans local and national theater, where she continues to leave an impact on audiences and fellow artists through her dynamic contributions. As she prepares for the upcoming Off-Broadway premiere of OKUNI (Izumo no Okuni) this November, AKO shares her creative journey and insights, taking time from her busy rehearsal schedule to speak with us. This is the Part 3 of AKO's interview.