Cara Jones Speaks

Jackson Murphy, better known as LIghts camera Jackson has been critiquing films since he was only 7 years old.   He has made appearances on many popular radio and television shows including Fox & Friends, Live with Regis & Kelly and twice on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He became the youngest winner to date of a New York Emmy Award for “On Camera Talent and as the youngest member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association Jackson also appeared on the “Critics Choice Movie Awards” in 2013.  

Cynthia M. Ruiz is an Author, Professor, Commissioner, Inspirational Speaker and Leadership expert. Receiving over 50 accolades and awards for her leadership and service to Los Angeles. She currently serves as a LA City Commissioner overseeing the multibillion-dollar pension portfolio for City employees. She has received the prestigious Hollywood Chamber “Women of Distinction Award, the HOPE “Ray of Hope” award and the Weingart, “Women Building LA Award. Twice the California Apparel News has listed her on their renowned List of Influential People and LA Weekly showcased her in their people addition. Cynthia has over twenty years of experience teaching and public speaking. She is the author of “Finding Sane Relationships in a Crazy World” (English & Spanish) a self-help book and “Cherokee Wisdom- 12 Lessons for becoming a Powerful Leader”. She appeared in Discover the Gift (movie/book) with such notables, as is Holiness the Dala Lama, Michael Bernard Beckwith, Jack Canfield and many more. Her career has placed her in many leadership roles including President of the Board of Public Works for the City of Los Angeles where she had oversight of 5,000 employees and a billion dollar per year budget. She has worked as an Executive at the number one container Port in the US and has successfully run her own business. Cynthia holds a Masters of Science Degree in Counseling and has completed a Leadership Course at Harvard University, John F Kennedy School of Government. Coming from blended cultures (Latina and Native American), she enjoys a passion for life and an appreciation of the gifts of Mother Nature. Cynthia knows the importance of giving back and always strives to stay humble. As a Latina she has a passion for women empowerment. Her Cherokee values have inspired her to teach others the lessons she has learned through her books and workshops. She lives in Los Angeles where she enjoys the diversity of a metropolitan city.

Ginny Scales-Medeiros grew up in poverty and abuse. The authority figures in her life tried to normalize the trauma but Ginny knew there was more beyond the definition of normal she was being taught. In her book,”What is normal,” she tell her story through the character Sue. Normal is relative, and Normal for Sue growing up was High School dropout teenage parents, backwoods strict Baptist rituals, paedophiles, poorly made clothes…living in a trailer that is now a chicken coop. Now, Normal is discovering the power of lying, stealing, alcohol, drugs and mastering the Art of Selling along the way. Normal is making Headline News, inventing a new product, landing in a movie and creating a real, not ‘normal’ life. Virginia “Ginny” Scales-Medeiros is an American author and inventor known for her novel “What is Normal?”, inventor of world-renowned black-light sunless tanning system, also starring in “What is the Electric Car?” Check out our interview and feel inspired.

Guylaine Vallée became a much-loved and respected fixture on Quebec television and radio, helping people achieve their dreams. From meeting motivational speaker and author Wayne Dyer, visiting Mother Teresa and traveling to Varanasi, India, to reading the palm of pop superstar Ricky Martin to an inner journey seeking self-knowledge through Kriya Yoga, Guylaine Vallée never rests on her quest. How does a small-town girl from Quebec defy convention and become a Vedic palmist to the stars? Guylaine Vallée’s debut autobiography, The Happy Palmist, charts her tumultuous journey from unhappy teen to fulfilled healer and wellness consultant. New York Times best-selling author Steve Erwin (Left to Tell) helped Vallée craft her story, drawing out the rich details of heartache and elation that fills this chronicle of loneliness, hope and redemption.

My interview with Shawn Smith will open your eyes to how the world needs to change it’s perception of persons with Dis-Abilities. By working with an asset based approach Shawn speaks to businesses and organisations about the opportunity to work with people who are uniquely gifted.

Lachi is a vocalist, songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist and author based in New York City. Legally blind, Lachi has definitely faced her fair share of adversity, but, instead of letting it get her down she used it to rise up, empower not only herself but all those who experience her creative flare for life.

Jennifer Tourangeau was once told by a doctor that there was little hope for her but she ignored those statements and became determined to find a way to make her dreams happen no matter what. In the beginning of her journey as an art student she created the music video, “Dream Big and she tries daily to live by the phrase, “I’m going to do it, watch me.” And do it she has. Jennifer has been the recipient of a number of awards including two from Spirit Seekers as a Youth Role Model, as well as a 7 Sacred Teaching Award from National Aboriginal Day 2010. I caught up with Jennifer and her extremely supportive partner Mary, to talk to her about all she has accomplished and how she likes to inspire others with her art work and her powerful story.

I met Benzi, the dwarf horse, during my first week of my new position. He was stubborn (like me) and refused to let me lead him around the field. I couldn’t help but laugh that out of all the horses I could have chosen, I chose him. What a reflection of my life! How do horses mirror our leadership styles? How do they help us feel connected and heal? Check out this intriguing podcast with Troy & Tamara who use horses as a way for people reconnect to their strengths, and in my case, laugh at their weaknesses.

Youth around the globe have been showing the world how their voices matter. They have been taking action to create change. From Malala Yousafzai’s activism for female education, to Dr. Ben Barry’s desire, at age 14, to change the fashion industry’s standard of beauty, to Craig Kielburgers dream at age 13 of ending child labour. With a global platform available through social media and the internet there are more options for youth to be a part of the change. Whether it’s volunteering at school, getting involved in ending bullying to becoming a mentor or being an ambassador for greener living, the possibilities of helping to create change are endless. My guests today are two youth facilitators with the globally renowned social enterprise Me to We, who followed their passion in building a better tomorrow by lending their skills to empower youth to make a difference. Some of the youth in my city showed up on a Saturday & Sunday, bright and early, to address some of the issues they felt were important and to talk about how they could make a difference in their community.

I love this interview with Celtic Rock Singer Alan Doyle. He really knows how to tell a story. I come from a small peninsula in Canada called Nova Scotia, which means New Scotland in the Latin. It’s a mix of many different cultures including the founding people of Nova Scotia, theMi’kmaq, as well as the Acadian’s, the British, the African Nova Scotian’s and the Irish & Scottish to name just a few. Our culture is steeped in art, writing, storytelling and my favorite, music. Music is such a part of who I am and musicians have inspired me on so many levels to reach high, overcome the odds and to find the joy within. Whenever you are feeling heartbroken, excited, lonely or pumped up, you can count on music to be there for you supporting your emotions every step of the way. In a previous podcast I told the story of two young girls, Lilly and Courtney, who are advocates for persons with disabilities as well as huge music lovers. They had one major dream in life and that was to meet Celtic Rock singer and songwriter Alan Doyle from the band Great Big Sea. (Photo of Donald MacLellan, Violin, Transatlantic Zodia Ensemble, 2010) If you have never heard of Alan Doyle be prepared to fall in love. Not only is he an amazing musician but he is also an author and an actor and starred alongside Oscar Award Winning Actor, Russell Crowe, as one of his Merry Men in Robin Hood (2010). Most of all he is an amazing story teller and a downright awesome person!   I wanted to reach out to Alan to ask him about his own love of music and how he used that passion as a young boy, living in Petty Harbour Newfoundland, to transcend into the incredible performer he is today.  

Bri Gardner & Erica Teasdale are two young people who want to end sexualized violence and street harassment. A youth led initiative, Catty is a web based tool that helps people experiencing street harassment in Toronto through connecting, educating, supporting, and reporting. Check out our interview and be sure to visit www.carajonesspeaks.tv and follow Catty on social media. Just click the link to Cool Stuff! and find all the ways you can support and connect.

Last year, to help me transition from Nova Scotia to my new home in Alberta, my little sister, Angela, got me a job serving at Mr. Mike’s Steakhouse here in Grande Prairie. We were excited to be working together and living in the same city. Those first few weeks flew by, and as we rushed by each other during the busy day, or when we checked in with each other during our down time,  the similarities in our body language, posture, how we spoke, laughed, and the sheer size of us (we are tall women), became hard to ignore. On our days off we would crave the same food, listen to electronic music (although I was more of a dubstep lover and she digs the electro beats) and chose the same outfits from mall clothing racks. It was uncanny. Take a listen to our conversation, as well as the short audio of my documentary Serendipi-Daughter.

I have been extremely lucky and grateful to have met so many amazing people, one of those inspiring individuals isDr. Barbara Greenberg, author of Teenage As a Second Language, A Parent’s Guide to Becoming Bilingual.  The moment I watched Barbara for the first time discussing youth issues as an expert on the CBS news I knew she I felt her compassion for the youth and all those who wanted to understand how to make their lives better.

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As individuals with different experiences, we almost always act differently when it comes to adversity. What exactly is adversity? If you look on dictionary.com, it will tell you that, “Adversity is an adverse unfavourable fortune of fate. A condition marked by misfortune, calamity of distress.” We all have experienced adversity in some form whether it’s something small like a parking ticket or a larger adversity, such as a death in the family or an illness. How do you react to adversity? Do you go into a rage? Become a victim? Do you simply laugh it off? Or, like my guest today, artist Tina Martel, do you get to a point when you realise, no matter how much positive energy you project onto an adversity, sometimes you have to admit and face the reality that the adversity positively sucks. To order a copy of this incredible book please visit: www.notinthepink.ca