An on-going series with Joanna Rush

Today we are #LiveintheHive with our special guest, actor, activist and playwright, Joanna Rush. Joanna and I share similar experiences in our career trajectories. Our first chapter was spent performing, in our 2nd chapter we added becoming a seminary trained and ordained Interfaith Minister, and in our 3rd act, we’ve layered on the roles of activist and political junkie, loudly sharing our own voice in our artistic expression.

I had Joanna on #TheEdgeofEverydayPodcast in April of 2024 for Episode 8: The Edge of Artistry, Aegism, and Activism, during which we talked about her most recent one woman show, No Malarkey!, directed by the late great Lynn Taylor-Corbett.

We recently decided to hold a series of conversations around the topic of how ARTISTS serve in challenging times. What is the role of the ARTIST and the need for the arts in the rise of authoritarianism?

Artists are facing censorship, funding cuts, and fear under DJTs second term - as political repression reshapes the cultural landscape. How are artists of all ages and genders showing up to move the needle forward and address the issues of today?

This is the foundational first of what we hope will be many conversations exploring the many tendrils of resistance and how, in these times of revolution, artists can serve in supporting the emerging narrative about culture, populism, social resentment and economic scarcity.

We touch on…

• Her show, No Malarkey! shifted during the campaign, when Biden passed the torch to VP Kamala Harris and ultimately, she set down the project, due to a confluence of issues.
• She is creating a unique celebration of life for Taylor – Corbet, which includes a portion of No Malarkey!
• Mining comedy in painful, dark times.
• Her dual citizenship – the beauty of Ireland vs the strife in the US.
• Came home from Ireland to perform a reading of Sinclair Lewis’ It Can’t Happen Here on October 27th, the exact date that #MAGA was gathering in Madison Square Garden, mimicking the NAZI gathering in MSG in 1939.
• The power of Tik Tok is another artist format in which to share your voice. She is creating a series of monologues for Tik Tok.
• We open the door on understanding how defunding The National Endowment of the Arts is affecting all Americans.
• Technocracy and the Tech bros – beginning to understand this vision for a new global order.
• The ability of AI to locate on-line resisters is causing fear and anxiety.
• Resource: www.ArtisticFreedomInitiative.com
• All this and so much more.

Full bio and information:

www.JoannaRush.com

@Joanna.Rush71

@NoMalarkeyPlay

Connect with your host Sandra Bargman:

• Website
• YouTube
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

Today we continue with Part II of our special 2-part series dedicated to Mothers.

We are #LIVEintheHive with my special guests, 3 women I adore, to continue talking about the complexities and paradoxes of MOTHERHOOD, the complicated mother-daughter relationship, care-giving a parent, the joy of having children, the choice not to have children, the care taking of Mother Earth and the mentoring of young people.

Meg Flather is a two-time Bistro Award winner and a four-time Manhattan Association of Cabaret and Clubs (MAC) Award winner. Meg has released eight CDs of her original music, authored Home Shopping Diva. . . Lessons, Lyrics and Lipstick - and Hold On Tight . . . a love story. Her one-woman musical, Hold On Tight, partners her original songs and stories from her book of the same name about caring for a parent with dementia, for which she received the award for Best Storytelling Show from The United Solo Theatre Festival.

https://megflather.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@megflatherable

Ann Kittredge has worked on and off Broadway, TV, concert halls, and regional theaters nationwide, hes been a parent advocate and leader in the NYC Public School System, and as a cabaret performer has won multiple awards, including a 2025 Bistro for her album, Romantic Notions

https://www.annkittredge.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@AnnKittredge

Harriet Shugarman is one of the leading voices in the global parent climate movement, the founder of ClimateMama, and the award-winning author of "How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate, Turning Angst into Action." Harriet is the chair of the Advisory Council for Our Kids Climate, an anchor organization connecting national and grassroots groups from more than 50 countries working on intergenerational organizing and engagement strategies. Harriet is a mentor and leader with the Climate Reality Project and the recipient of the prestigious Climate Reality Alfredo Sirkis Memorial Green Ring Award.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrietshugarman/

https://www.instagram.com/climatemama/?hl=en

“Let us dedicate this new era to mothers around the world, and, also to the mother of all mothers — Mother Earth. It is up to us to keep building bridges to bring the world closer together and not destroy them to divide us further apart.” – Suzy Kassem

Connect with your host Sandra Bargman:

• Website
• YouTube
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

Today is May 15th and we just celebrated Mother’s Day here in the US – and this special two-part series is dedicated to Mothers.

Today we are #LIVEintheHive with my special guests, 3 women I adore, to talk about and to HONOR the wonderful complexities and paradoxes of MOTHERHOOD, the complicated mother-daughter relationship, care-giving a parent, the joy of having children, the choice not to have children - and the mentoring and nurturing of young people.

So many stories told, so many surprises, so much vulnerability, and so much laughter. You’ll just have to listen, because I have no notes. 😊

Meg Flather is a two-time Bistro Award winner and a four-time Manhattan Association of Cabaret and Clubs (MAC) Award winner.Meg has released eight CDs of her original music (all of which are available on Apple music). Meg has also authored two books that are now available on Amazon: Home Shopping Diva. . . Lessons, Lyrics and Lipstick - and Hold On Tight . . . a love story. Her one-woman musical, Hold On Tight, partners her original songs and stories from her book of the same name about caring for a parent with dementia, for which she received the award for Best Storytelling Show from The United Solo Theatre Festival.

https://megflather.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@megflatherable

linktr.ee/megflather

Ann Kittredge is keenly aware of the chapters she has lived: in chapter 1 she enjoyed working on and off Broadway, TV, concert halls, and regional theaters nationwide. Chapter 2 was spent as a parent advocate and leader in the NYC Public School System, taking time off from pursuing her career to raise her children. In chapter 3, Ann returned to performing and immersed herself in the cabaret world where she has won multiple awards, including a 2025 Bistro for her album, Romantic Notions, and was also chosen as a top 5 albums of 2024 by The Broadway Radio Show.

https://www.annkittredge.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@AnnKittredge
t.ly/PPxXF

Harriet Shugarman is one of the leading voices in the global parent climate movement, the founder of ClimateMama, and the award-winning author of "How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate, Turning Angst into Action." Harriet is the chair of the Advisory Council for Our Kids Climate, an anchor organization connecting national and grassroots groups from more than 50 countries working on intergenerational organizing and engagement strategies. Harriet is a mentor and leader with the Climate Reality Project and the recipient of the prestigious Climate Reality Alfredo Sirkis Memorial Green Ring Award.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrietshugarman/

https://www.instagram.com/climatemama/?hl=en

Quote at end of show by – Suzy Kassem

Connect with your host Sandra Bargman:

• Website
• YouTube
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

Happy May Day! This episode was recorded on Earth Day, April 22, and drops on May Day – some very potent energy!

Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on April 22nd, aimed at raising awareness and promoting environmental protection. It's a global movement where individuals, communities, and organizations unite to take action and address environmental and climate crisis issues.

May Day's cultural significance is deeply intertwined with spring goddesses and pagan rituals… its roots lie in ancient celebrations of fertility, nature, and of spring at its peak, often linked to deities like Flora (the Roman goddess of flowers), and Maia (the Greek goddess of fertility), and to the Celtic holiday, Beltane.

Here in the US, the government is rolling back every regulation and law they can to rape our environment, decimate our ecosystems, and dominate our Mother EARTH. The Patriarchal paradigm on parade for all to witness – a system built on separation. From body, from land, from lineage, from the sacred.

What will it take to know the Girl God, the sacred feminine? Today we are #LiveintheHive with Trista Hendren, author, speaker, visionary founder of Girl God Books and ONE POWERFUL voice, mother, and leader in the dismantling of the patriarchal mindset and the remembrance and return to the wisdom and mystery of the Divine feminine, and to the ancient truth of kinship, reciprocity, and inter-being.

I was very moved by our passionate conversation. With so little to be sure of in these challenging times, I took great comfort in the probing vulnerability that was shared.

We touched on…

• Trista walks between many worlds. She was raised in a conservative Christian home and later wanted to become a pastor, only to realize there was no genuine leadership role for her in this denomination. She shares her story of her discovery of feminism, her Interfaith curiosity and conversion to Islam, and how living in Lebanon was life changing.
• The power of female sacred art and iconography, and the importance of the curated art she’s used on book covers for Girl God Books.
• She shares the story of how her daughter inspired her to write The Girl God, the subsequent trilogy, and the evolution to starting Girl God books.
• What presses most on Trista is the time we have left! Women must regain their inner knowing – and we must improve our education of young women. Leaders must be held accountable.
• The enormous need for self-care in these challenging times.
• Her leading edge is her focus on the Palestinian genocide.
• The need for and power of ceremony and ritual and the incredible creation of a 2-ton concrete sculpture of The Goddess of Willendorf by her beloved husband on her property in Norway. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Venus-of-Willendorf
• All this and so much more…

You can find more about Trista Hendren's projects at www.thegirlgod.com

Resources:

https://www.instagram.com/grandmothersagainstgenocide/

https://www.instagram.com/mothersagainstgenocide/

https://mariannebergvall.substack.com/p/norways-prime-minister-accused-of-complicity-to-genocide?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true

Connect with your host Sandra Bargman:

• Website
• YouTube
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

Happy Birthday to Me! I have a fun ritual that I do every year on my birthday – I try something new – something really physical – and something I’ve never done before. For example, one year I ziplined, I did hot yoga one year – one year I went pole dancing, one year I attended a sweat lodge – this year, I’m going rock climbing!

I love this ritual – and my loyal listeners know how I adore ritual – because it reminds me to keep thinking outside of the box and to let go of what may be MY “tried and true”. It’s an act that symbolizes for me starting this next year of my life with boldness and an embrace of change.

And that is what being on the edge of everyday is all about…

Today we are #LIVEintheHIVE with our special guest, actor, singer, podcast host, psychotherapist, multi- hyphenate Extraordinairre and master storyteller, Susan Lambert.

Susan and I share a deep love of the exploration of liminal space.

I love being in a liminal space. It’s why I adore ritual. Ritual is an invitation into s liminal space for transformation. And I know it’s why I boldly embrace change – or – at least most of the time. It’s why I call myself an Edgewalker.

So what is liminal space?

Listen in on this moving conversation to find out. We touch on…

• What is the definition of liminal space?
• Susan leads with the identity of connector – connecting people and ideas.
• She is a liminal space explorer (AKA Edgewalker) – most often walking between the worlds of artist and helper/service leader and shares about the similarities of the worlds through her discovery of “being known” with both clients and audiences.
• Her first experience of liminal space as a young person.
• Our shared understanding of being on stage, of performing theatre, as being in liminal space.
• Bridgebuilding is a skill of someone who resides in liminal space.
• Susan shares her discovery of the power of choice in the difficult industry of show business. And her experience of tumbling between a few liminal spaces to create a way to have and be both an artist and a healer.
• The rough edges of letting go and the death of who we think we should be.
• Succumbing to the rabbit holes of potential and promise, and learning that dreams can shift and evolve.
• How wanting to be in liminal space shows up in her creative and therapeutic work.
• Her audio book, The Wild Edge of the Heart: Susan shares the idea for and journey of bringing to life the poetry of 12 women poets and donating the proceeds to The National Institute for Reproductive Health. https://nirhealth.org/
• The willingness to forgo the answers and to live into the questions, in Life, therapy and in artistic expression.
• Our shared love of Salon – it’s ability to connect, build community, inspire, and create belonging in these challenging times, and the possibility of her performing in my salon space, The Plum at TH2. www.theplumth2.com

Watch Video: https://maximizeu.life/the-edge-of-everyday/

Find Susan:

https://www.inthebalance.life/susan

https://www.wildedgeheart.com/

https://bsky.app/profile/susanlambert2.bsky.social

Connect with your host Sandra Bargman:

• Website
• YouTube
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

Happy April Fools day!

The fool archetype in literature, often seen as a wise fool or jester, is a character who, through seemingly simple or foolish behavior, challenges authority, speaks truths others can't, and acts as a counterbalance to societal norms, often with humor and resilience.

Today we are #LIVEintheHIVE with our special guest, actor, comedian, choreographer, playwright, multi- hyphenate extraordinairre and master storyteller, Melinda Buckley.

She has written and performed several solo shows, her latest being, MOTHER (and me), which will be the focus of much our conversation.

MOTHER (and me) is a fast-paced 75-minute piece that uses the power of theater to bring people together around an important issue: Alzheimer’s, and the struggles families face while caring for a loved one, utilizing the power of humor and resilience.

Melinda and I have so much to talk about, so many similar experiences on our journeys, but, in particular, the themes of the artist as healer and the complicated, somewhat consuming mother-daughter relationship. In this April Fools episode, we explore the edges between story telling and grief, caregiving and advocacy, and humor and healing. Where they meet is where the power of the artist emerges.

Find Melinda: : www.motherandmetheplay.com | www.oneupsolo.com

In this episode we touch on…

• The service leader/artist identity and how Melinda stepped into this identity by doing this very personal and vulnerable show. Admitting some of the ego-centric emptiness that can, at times, be felt in the business of show.
• Melindas relationship with her larger-than-life mother, her phenomenal backstory of intrigue and drama, and her courageous embrace of becoming a single mother.
• The complicated and potentially co-dependent Mother-Daughter relationship within show business.
• The difficulties within the family of coming to terms with her Mother descending into Alzheimers.
• To deal with her grief and overwhelm, Melinda began to journal all she was experiencing and learning and these writings became the spark to create her poignant and hilarious solo piece, Mother (and me).
• Booking the show in the New York Fringe, and welcoming the help of other artists and producers to develop the show and bring it to many other venues in NYC and regionally, as well as in solo festivals.
• Her edges explored: Summoning her courage to vulnerably share such a deeply personal story.
• The unexpected wisdom she discovered about death and dying.
• The complicated emotions she experienced by not being with her Mother when she passed.
• Care-givers as teacher and models for staying present to death and grief.
• The profound healing power of comedy and laughter.
• The jaw-dropping statistics of the growth of Alzheimers in the US – and Melindas growing understanding of advocacy during her care-giving as well as through doing her shows and offering talk backs in conjunction with Alzheimers Association.
• Her new play, Color My World, non-biographical, about early on-set.

For festival schedule: www.helltownplayers.org

Watch Video: https://maximizeu.life/the-edge-of-every

Connect with your host Sandra Bargman:

• Website
• YouTube
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

Today’s episode was recorded in January of 2023 and it is a
wonderful conversation I had with one of my most favorite
people, author and spiritual teacher, Gloria Karpinski.

I met Gloria at the end of my 1 st year of seminary when she came to speak at the Ordination Ceremony for The New Seminary at St. John the Divine. She became a trusted mentor and friend – and I went on to produce + narrate the audio version of her book, Where Two Worlds Touch. (A short clip from the narration has been inserted in one of the original commercial breaks)

It was such a JOY to revisit the conversation! I am so deeply moved by Glorias depth of wisdom, her connection to spirit, and her practical, down-to-earth and gentle teaching style. We reminisced, laughed, told stories, and Gloria weaves her very powerful messages from spirit throughout our conversation. Her words are more prescient than ever.

In this episode we touched on…

• Remembering our true identity: I AM a being of Light vs the roles we play every day.
• The calling of community + mentorship
• The centerpiece of our evolutionary spiral is the restoration of the Divine Feminine in the human consciousness.
• Her book, Where Two Worlds Touch, is a model of the concept of ‘the edge of every day.’ Our greatest edge is the
  fear of change.
• Intentionality of incarnation: The four types of energies to make evolutionary turnings.
• Gloria shares how her work with Spirit and Life Attunements expanded and evolved.
• The rise of the Divine Feminine and our understanding of YINness.
• What is a pragmatic visionary? What is paradox?
• All this and so much more…
  
  Watch video:
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIdejXUlzq4&t=947s
  
  

Gloria is a holistic counselor, spiritual director, teacher and author. Her
seminars as well as her individual in-depth Life Attunements emphasize the relevancy of universal spiritual principles to everyday life and the inter-dynamics of mind, body, emotions and spirit.

She is the author of three books: Midnight Rainbows, A Memoir with
Messages from My Spiritual Quest (audio only), Where Two Worlds Touch: Spiritual Rites of Passage and Barefoot on Holy Ground: Twelve Lessons in Spiritual Craftsmanship, both published by Ballantine Books.

Full bio.
www.GloriaKarpinski.com

Connect with your host Sandra Bargman:

• Website
• YouTube
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

Today we are #LIVEintheHIVE with the multi-talented and multi-award-winning performer, host and raconteur, RICHARD SKIPPER, for a spirited conversation about the power of positivity, the rough edges of ambition and embracing our third act potential, the shifting landscape of the NYC cabaret scene, and of course, we’ll hear juicy stories from his treasure trove of performance history.

Richard is best known for his impersonation of Carol Channing for twenty years and for chronicling the history of the beloved musical Hello Dolly, by Jerry Herman, which recently celebrated its 60th anniversary in his show.

In this episode we touch on…

• Richard Skipper Celebrates Hello Dolly, his show weaving songs and stories about Hello Dolly and his relationship with Carol Channing - with guest appearances from the many performers who have been a part of the Hello Dolly family. www.CallonDolly.com
• Our innate desire to be seen, heard, and connected.
• Leaving social media, and letting go of its addiction, anxiety, and time consumption.
• The power of stepping out of our comfort zones and asking for what we need and want.
• “Richard is the embodiment of Hello Dolly”. What drew Richard to impersonate Carol Channing for 20 years and to embrace the powerful and timeless message of Hello Dolly, one of taking chances and thinking outside the box that resonates still in these challenging times.
• With his encyclopedic knowledge of the history of Hello Dolly, Channing herself urged Richard to write a book.
• The Shadow aspects of impersonation work.
• While this wasn’t my direct question, Richard shares the understanding of the fundamental difference between impersonation and drag.
• An ambitious life vs. a Third Act mission – the edge between an ambitious life and a simpler life of ease.
• The power of positivity vs negativity bias, and what living on the edge of everyday means to Richard.
• We spoke of a follow-up conversation about the future of the cabaret community.
• All this, and so much more…

Richard Skipper is a celebrated entertainer, writer, and master of ceremonies - and has built a reputation as a multi-talented performer with a passion for Broadway, cabaret, and classic Hollywood entertainment.

Richard is perhaps best known for his tribute performances as Carol Channing, the iconic star of Hello, Dolly! His portrayal of Channing earned him widespread acclaim, and he became one of the most well-known Carol Channing impersonators in the entertainment world.

In addition to his dynamic cabaret performances, Richard created Richard Skipper Celebrates, a series of live events, interviews, and blog posts that honor various figures in show business, covering a wide range of topics, from Broadway history to classic Hollywood, featuring interviews with notable entertainers, singers, and theater personalities.

Watch on YouTube: https://maximizeu.life/the-edge-of-everyday/

Find Richard:

www.RichardSkipper.com

www.CallonDolly.com

https://bsky.app/profile/richardskipper.bsky.social

Richard Skipper Celebrates on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RichardSkipperCelebrates

Connect with your host Sandra Bargman:

• Website
• YouTube
• Instagram
• LinkedIn