Thinking it Through

Embracing the Highs and Lows of a Musical Journey with Cellist Rosa Thompson Vieira

In this riveting episode, we dive deep into the inspiring life and musical journey of accomplished millennial cellist, Rosa Thompson Vieira. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Rosa has honed her skills to the level of a concert cellist, joining the prestigious Rochester Symphony and earning a living as a freelancer and teacher. Beginning by recollecting her earliest foray into music and tracing her path to professional cellist, Rosa shares her strategies for maintaining growth and adaptability in a capricious economic landscape.

Experience her humble beginnings with the cello, uncover her transformation from a shy novice to a stage enthusiast, and learn how she continues to resonate her passion during times of global crises. Despite facing career hardships, Rosa remains adamant, showing adaptability to continue enhancing her skills and propagate her love for the cello.

Our conversation with Rosa stretches beyond her musical life, and she candidly shares the challenging times she faced during her self-imposed break from music, ensuing self-reflection, and the discovery that detours sometimes lead right back to earlier passions. Her engaging narrative offers a glimpse into how one can carve a fulfilling career out of a childhood hobby with relentless passion and perseverance.

She then traces back to her rekindled relationship with music, her decision to resume her performance degree at the University of Minnesota, and the adventurous journey she undertook thereafter. She shares how she effectively transitioned into teaching, her initial inhibitions, and her unique methodologies in training different age groups.

Her story is a testament to the unexpected twists and turns the path to achieving dreams can take, from founding the Roma Duo to creating a quartet with her peers. With a tale encased with travel, gigs, trials, and rewards, her interview is not just an inspiration but a invaluable guide for anyone seeking a career in the arts or teaching.

Finally, Rosa discusses her future ambitions and how despite the worldwide turmoil, she commits to enriching the music industry through various outdoor performances, continuing grad work, and her enduring love for the cello. Come, join us on this enlightening journey into the life and craft of an extraordinary cellist like Rosa Thompson Vieira.

From Navy Kid to Yoga Guru with Kat Southern

In this enlightening episode of 'Thinking It Through' podcast, host John Lund jets off to Hawaii to interview a renowned yoga instructor, Kat Southern. With a backdrop of the Big Island's natural beauty, John and Kat unfold a fascinating conversation about Kat's colourful life journey and the path that led her to yoga.

Discover the intimate details of Kat's early life; from her nomadic childhood due to her father's career in the navy to how her love for movement and dance evolved. Kat's recount of a traumatic boating accident that left her with a lifelong aversion to boats adds an unexpectedly gritty dimension to her story.

Kat's love for learning takes center stage as she speaks about her multifaceted academic pursuits in physical education, psychology, and French. A riveting revelation on her introduction to yoga holds the listeners captive. Kat shares how her exposure to yoga was not just for recreation but also a helpful solution to dealing with her scoliosis.

Experience Kat's inspiring life story and find out how a Navy kid found solace and became a beacon of strength through yoga while leaving mainland America to make the tranquil island of Hawaii her home. From wavering between different loves and interests to building a life around her passion for yoga, Kat's journey is a testament to resilience and the pursuit of fulfilling one's life purpose.

From her formative years to finding her life purpose at 38, Kat's tale is compelling and heartwarming. Listen as she attributes her path in yoga to people and experiences in her life, such as her controversial psychology professor and early dance classes.

Woven into the fabric of her narrative is Kat's philosophy of embracing life's challenges as learning opportunities and the harmonious coexistence within a diverse community. Her impactful anecdotes on how yoga has transformed not just her life but those of her students as well, make for an inspiring listen.

Kat's journey, marked by continual growth and evolution, provides valuable insights on overcoming trials, exploring various interests, and ultimately, surrendering to a calling that brings fulfilment and inner peace.

Writing it Down, the Evolution of Trent Zelazny

Trent Zelazny is a Santa Fe fiction author and writer. In this hour-long podcast, Trent recounts his life as the son of a famous international writer and the attendant lifelong issues surrounding growing up in a dysfunctional family. Trent not only describes his journey and process as a writer but also shares as a man bent on surviving the emotional traumas of youth.

Rosa Thompson-Viera - A Professional Cellist in Love with Her Work

The second of a series of interviews with some of the creative and energetic millenials of Minneapolis and St. Paul, this conversation reviews the musical performance journey of Ms. Rosa Thompson-Viera - a professional cellist now residing in St. Paul.  Challenged like so many of us during the pandemic, Rosa has been able to stay active as a teacher/performer and student of the cello. Our conversation runs about 45 minutes. 

Zoe Prinds-Flash, In Frame

In this first in a series of interviews with millennial women of Minneapolis/St. Paul, Zoe Prinds-Flash shares her journey and workings as a professional photographer. As a serious photographer determined to thrive, her story is one of hope in this age of total chaos due to COVID-19. From selling lemonade as a kid to becoming a successful independent businesswoman, Zoe's professional and personal evolution has been one of collaboration and seeking mentorship as needed. In this 40 minute conversation, Zoe and I share a few tales and she recounts her life and business in Minneapolis. We - as all Americans except Iowans, Dakotans, Oklahomans, the Fox Nework, etc - zoomed from a safe distance in April of 2020.

To learn more, you can contact Zoe at Zoe Prinds-Flash Photography on Facebook or through her webpage  http://www.zoeprindsflash.com/

The Avant-Garde Life and Musings of Jada Griffin

"It’s my belief that we have a poignant longing for deep and vivid communion with art. Where empathy, compassion, vision, imagination, and love exist, a communion that might be called holy." Jada Griffin

This initial hour-long conversation unearths the beginnings and a bit of the continual evolution of Santa Fe's Jada Griffin; a painter, writer, and dancer. Her life's journey continues to unfurl for the sake of art and community. 

Jada would especially like to thank her friend, David Bentley - he the current President of Chose Local Media and publisher of the Portland Interview magazine. In the Spring of 2018, Jada published here a tribute of her late partner, Thomas Paul Augustine.

More samples of Jada's written and painted work and her contacts can be found on her webpage: https://avant-garde-art.com/

 

...it's worse without a nurse. Part 2

The way to get it done...or... it's worse without a nurse. Part 1.

In a brief review of her life's work, Sue shares in this Thinking it Through double episode how she was able to put the pieces together to create the first professional nursing program for the University of South Dakota and bring health professionals to previously unreachable Americans in that state. Her energies were also important in establishing a similar program at St. Cloud State University a couple of decades later. With intelligence, empathy and care, and plenty of political savvy, Sue's career in education and health care has made a significant impact on hundreds if not thousands of people of the northern plains. 

 

Becoming an Anthropologist in The Land of Enchantment

Nancy Nelson is a native midwesterner who migrated to New Mexico and had a successful career as an anthropologist - in particular, working and teaching at the University of New Mexico and Wake Forest University. As she describes in this interview, her life included a number of incredible adventures leading to her eventual doctoral study of street vendors in Bogata, Colombia in the latter part of the 20th century. 

Stated clearly and making a difference, Roger Williams

Born in Cannon Falls some 82 years ago, Roger Williams became a servant of the state of Minnesota for some 32 years prior to retirement. Roger embodies the hard working, civic minded responsible state employee that has been dynamic and effective in improving the lives of others while seeking little recognition for his efforts.

If you've been camping in the state of Minnesota or enjoying the educational information found at state sites (historical, monuments, parks, etc.) in part you owe your comfort and experience to the hard work of people like Roger who carefully worked on making Minnesota outdoor sites - including Voyageurs National Park - accessible to all. 

For the last 15 years of his career, Roger served as the Director of the Minnesota Office of Dispute Resolution. Under his guidance and creativity, he assembled an office dedicated to resolving disputes without litigation.

His skill in working and collaborating with highly diverse groups of people from all over the state during his career speaks to his unique talents and passions.