Wednesday, May 7, 2025

This May, take action, raise your voice, and help change the conversation around mental health!





This May, take action, raise your voice, and help change the conversation around mental health! Since 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has been a driving force in addressing the challenges faced by millions of Americans living with mental health conditions. Now, more than ever, NAMI needs you to be part of this movement. Whether by sharing your story, spreading awareness, or advocating for change, every action helps break the stigma and build a more supportive world for all.




Theme: “In Every Story, There’s Strength”

Mental health journeys are unique, but the strength found within them is universal. “In Every Story, There’s Strength,” highlights the resilience and diverse experiences that shape mental health journeys within our community. NAMI’s campaign celebrates the power of storytelling to fuel connection, understanding, and hope for those navigating their own mental health path.  Each story shared is a testament to the possibility of recovery and the strength that lies within us all.


Turn Your Struggles into Strength—Let’s Build Hope Together

Every challenge you’ve faced has shaped you into who you are today. By embracing and sharing your experiences, you empower others to do the same. Together, we create a movement of courage, healing, and connection. Share your mental health story with us by sending in a video, a message, a quote, or using #MyMentalHealth on social media.
How To Share Your Story
visit: Mental Health Awareness Month | NAMI



Sample questions to start sharing your story:What do you wish people knew about mental health?
  • What misconceptions about mental health do you encounter in your work?
  • What have you learned on your mental health journey?
  • How does your mental health impact how you show up within your community?
  • What do you share with your friends or family in moments when they need support?
  • How do you help reduce stigma surrounding mental health?
  • In one word, describe your mental health journey?
  • What inspires you to support mental health — in your life, work, or community?
  • What motivates you to be an ally in the mental health movement?



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Monday, May 5, 2025

May is National Bike Month - WhimCycle bike festival May 14th!

 


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Coming up 5/7 at 9:30am - Chinese Vietnamese American award-winning filmmaker, storyteller, and author Elizabeth Ai talks about her debut feature documentary NEW WAVE


A California native, Elizabeth Ai is a Chinese Vietnamese American award-winning filmmaker, storyteller, and author. Her debut feature documentary, NEW WAVE, premiered in competition at the 2024 Tribeca Festival, earning a Special Jury Mention for Best New Documentary Director and critical acclaim from The New York Times, Vogue, IndieWire, Los Angeles Times, and San Francisco Chronicle. The New York Times selected it as a festival Critics’ Pick, calling it “a soft scream of a film” about ’80s Vietnamese diaspora culture, while Vogue praised its revelatory storytelling.





She is the author of New Wave: Rebellion and Reinvention in the Vietnamese Diaspora and an Emmy winner and nominee for her branded content with ESPN, VICE, and National Geographic. She created the original pilot for VICE/Munchies’ Bong Appétit, which was later picked up for a series on Viceland. Her producing credits include Dirty Hands, Saigon Electric, Ba, and A Woman’s Work: The NFL’s Cheerleader Problem.

An alum of Sundance, Tribeca, Berlinale, and Firelight Media, Ai’s work has been supported by the Center for Asian American Media, Cinereach, Ford Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Friday, May 2, 2025

Coming up April 30th 9:30am - Director, Center for Student Wellness & Health Promotion Doug Everhart, UC Irvine shares details about the Comprehensive Wellbeing Initiative Town Hall May 7, 2025


LISTEN
to this week's show
featuring Doug Everhart



This week marks the inaugural U.S. Health Promoting Campuses Week in honor of the 10th anniversary of the Okanagan Charter, which was developed by health promotion professionals to guide colleges and universities to be leaders for developing and modeling health-promoting principles. (UC Irvine adopted the Okanagan Charter in 2021.) As part of this effort, the campus is hosting the Comprehensive Wellbeing Town Hall on May 7 in Middle Earth housing, where students, staff and faculty are invited to learn more about what we are doing to support being a health-promoting university.
Event Overview

In 2001, UCI became one of the first eight campuses in the United States to adopt the Okanagan Charter and become a globally-recognized Health Promoting University. Since that time, we have worked to put into place the infrastructure to support this project, called the Comprehensive Wellbeing Initiative (CWI). This CWI Town Hall is an opportunity to share what has been going on with the initiative over the last few years, as well as an opportunity to get personally involved.

The Town Hall will feature:

– Updates on the four pillars of the CWI: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; The Natural & Built Environment; Sustainability; and Culture of Wellbeing

– Guest speakers from Cornell University and the University of Saskatchewan (Canada), will share their experiences and research with health-promoting universities

– Opportunities to network and engage on priorities for the future.

We are pleased to announce that lunch will be served following the presentations, providing an excellent opportunity for networking and further discussion. In order to support a sustainable/green event, remember to bring your reusable silverware, and refillable water bottle as there is a water filling station in the foyer.

This is a fantastic opportunity to engage with the UCI community and contribute to the ongoing development of our campus wellbeing initiatives. We look forward to seeing you there!

Please RSVP by Friday, May 2.





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Coming up April 29th at 9:00am - Ivan Williams – Award-Winning Producer, Entrepreneur & Changemaker



LISTEN
to this week's show
featuring Ivan Williams

Ivan Williams is the powerhouse behind films like LARPer fan favorite Knights of Badassdom, romcom Big Stone Gap, the dramedy Ramona at Midlife, the film festival sensation Secret Mall Apartment, the acclaimed National Geographic–linked documentary The Wonder and the Worry and the recent German Academy award nominated film Köln 75. After a successful corporate career at ARCO and BP, Ivan transitioned into entertainment, producing socially resonant projects across film, Broadway (First Date), digital series, and the top-ranked podcast Hidden History Happy Hour. His work explores everything from AI and disinformation (How to Build a Truth Engine, executive produced by George Clooney, Grant Heslov, and their Smokehouse Pictures) to climate change, urban resistance, and gender equity (This Changes Everything, American Academy-recognized documentary on gender misrepresentation in Hollywood).


His films have premiered at many key festivals, including the Toronto International Film Festival, South by Southwest, Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, Bentonville, Woodstock, Hot Docs, Cleveland International, Leeds (UK), Big Blue Festival in Newport, Oregon, Woods Hole (MA), and Newport Beach, California. He even screened his climate change-related films in front of world leaders at events like the Aspen Institute’s Climate Summit and in Dubai at COP28.

A veteran Naval Reserve intelligence officer, Ivan holds a B.S. in chemical engineering from Oregon State University and an MBA from UC Irvine. He lectures as an adjunct professor, participates in major university initiatives, and speaks at campuses across the U.S. He is also the founding CEO of Outer Limits Productions, Wildbrush Media, and Nexus4AI—ventures redefining storytelling at the intersection of entertainment, technology, and impact.

In addition, Ivan co-founded Eco ArtLab and Eco DesignLab, two nonprofit organizations that develop ecologically themed performances, films, and digital tools for creatives.

Don’t miss this inspiring conversation about how one producer is using Hollywood—and beyond—to drive real-world change.

Ivan's recent film KÖLN 75 just earned four German Film Academy Award nominations!  That’s Germany’s version of the Oscars!!!


https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/2025-german-film-award-nominations-announced-1236164986/


Following our phenomenal world premiere at Berlinale, a small group of our cast and crew embarked on a cinema tour across 10 cities (Köln → Bonn → Düsseldorf → Frankfurt → Wien → München → Zürich → Leipzig → Hamburg → Berlin). Along the way, we were met with sold-out theaters, fantastic discussions, and standing ovations—a truly unforgettable experience.

Since then, our theatrical run has only grown! KÖLN 75 opened in 138 cinemas across Germany, and this week, we are expanding to 144 cinemas. Even more exciting, we currently have the highest “admissions per screen” average of all films! The hope is to stay in theaters for a long time, and I couldn’t be happier

Are sales are moving fast! You may have seen the announcement in Deadline: https://deadline.com/2025/02/berlin-film-koln-75-mala-emde-john-magaro-sells-europe-asia-1236304997/. We have closed deals for 14 territories so far and are in negotiations for the UK and US. Other major territories, including Asia, Australia, and Latin America, are still to come!

On the festival front, KÖLN 75 will be screening at Sofia, Barcelona, Istanbul (opening night film), Copenhagen (opening night film), and Taipei. Our Italian distributor is also targeting the Rome Film Festival, with more festival announcements to come!

As for release dates, we already know:
• France – June
• Italy & BeNeLux – Fall



Additional projects:
Ivan will about some of the following latest films that have just been released, about to be released or are on a special screening campaign:

  • Ramona at Midlife (released i2/2025 on TVOD platforms)
  • How to Build a Truth Engine (George Clooney executive produced this with us and we are doing special screening events in Europe and soon in the U.S.)
  • Black Diamond (released 1/2025 on TVOD platforms)
  • Köln 75 (World premiered at Berlinale last month and is already in over 200 theaters in Germany, and the Benelux countries. In the next few months it will be in theaters in over 14 other territories across the globe.)
  • Secret Mall Apartment (begins touring the U.S. with a launch In the Providence Place Mall (site of the secret apartment), in Providence, RI on 3/21/25, and them get to L.A. on 4/3/2025 at the cool Eagle Rock Vidiots store and then in DTLA at the Alamo Draft House theater on 4/4/2025).
RAMONA AT MIDLIFE


Trailer
RAMONA AT MIDLIFE - Official HD Trailer - Comedy (Rosemarie DeWitt, Yvonne Woods, Josh Radnor)
youtu.be


The film is currently streaming on Amazon, Apple TV and Google Play and will be screening in person for one night at The Wayfarer Cinema in Highland Park, IL, on May 8.


SECRET MALL APARTMENT

Secret Mall Apartment | Official Trailer HD
youtu.be

We have been or will be on over a 100 theater screens around the U.S. since March 21st.


BLACK DIAMOND
After moving into a secluded cabin, a young woman and her boyfriend meet a local cowboy handyman, turning their idyllic life into a deadly triangle of lust, obsession, and murder.

Black Diamond Trailer #1 (2025)
youtu.be



Along with KÖLN 75, Ivan helped release four feature films in the last four months.


But more are on the horizon…..,


I have another film I produced called, THE WONDER AND THE WORRY, coming out later this year. The documentary explores the careers of Chris Johns, former Editor-in-Chief of National Geographic, and his daughter, Louise, a freelance photographer, through the lens of family, photography, and the power of visual storytelling . It examines the soul of journalism and its role in preserving a planet facing environmental challenges. The film also delves into the history of National Geographic and the transformation of the media landscape





| Films at OSU | Oregon State University
films.oregonstate.edu

Ivan Williams
Producer and CEO
Outer Limits Productions, Wildbrush Media and Nexus4AI
FoothLLrancher@gmail.com
949-632-2172



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Sunday, April 27, 2025

Hiromi’s Sonicwonder - a stellar performance at Irvine Barclay Theatre


Jazz pianist Hiromi performed April 24th at Irvine Barclay Theatre at the UC Irvine campus. Her new jazz fusion, groove-heavy project called Sonicwonder featured Adam O’Farrill on trumpet, Hadrien Feraud on bass and Gene Coye on drums.




Hiromi's Sonicwonder

Thursday, April 24, 2025 at 8pm

Artist Sponsor
Christopher and Lynne Ramsey

Hiromi: Piano & Keyboard

Adam O’Farrill: Trumpet
Hadrien Feraud: Bass
Gene Coye: Drums

Hiromi is a Yamaha Artist


About Hiromi

For over two decades as a recording artist, the jazz piano phenomenon Hiromi has transitioned seamlessly from one spellbinding project to the next. Along the way, she has earned a reputation as one of the most electrifying live performers in jazz history and a global ambassador for the genre. Her many accolades include a widely acclaimed NPR Tiny Desk Concert with over 2 million views, a performance representing her native Japan at the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, and a 2024 Award of the Japanese Academy for Best Music Score for the animated feature Blue Giant. She is also a Grammy Award winner for her collaboration with fusion legend Stanley Clarke. Her artistry is—borrowing a word favored by The New Yorker—“dazzling.”

In 2023, she released Sonicwonderland, introducing what may be the most expressive, dynamic, and versatile band of her career. Known as Hiromi’s Sonicwonder, the group features Hadrien Feraud on bass, Gene Coye on drums, and trumpeter Adam O’Farrill. Together, they expand on Hiromi’s signature musical alchemy—blending the spirit of classic jazz-rock fusion with classically rooted virtuosity, infectious funk, vibrant pop elements, and, through O’Farrill’s trumpet, the cutting edge of acoustic jazz.

The album also did a remarkable job of capturing Hiromi’s mastery as a live entertainer. As The Guardian noted, “Sonicwonderland is perhaps the closest thing to Hiromi’s onstage exuberance.”

But that was only the beginning.

Over the past two years, Sonicwonder has continued to tour and collaborate regularly, deepening their chemistry and bold, intuitive interplay. The results shine on Hiromi’s new Concord release and 13th full-length studio album, OUT THERE, where the group’s powerful connection meets the pianist’s extraordinary compositional talents in perfect harmony.

As Hiromi explains, “On Sonicwonderland, I had the concept and the songs first, and I was looking for the people who could play the music in the ideal way that I had in my mind.

“Being with this group for well over a year,” she continues, “playing a lot of shows together and understanding each other, I started to see more of their strength and what shines in them the most. So I started to write music with them in mind.”

Sonicwonder unites world-class musicians from strikingly diverse backgrounds. French-born Hadrien Feraud is a fusion virtuoso, often compared to the legendary Jaco Pastorius. Gene Coye, a Chicago native who grew up playing in church, blends technical brilliance with a deep, soulful sense of groove and rhythm. Brooklyn-raised Adam O’Farrill—part of a jazz dynasty that includes his father, Arturo, and grandfather, Chico, both Latin jazz icons—is widely regarded as one of the most innovative and influential trumpeters of his generation. On the album, O’Farrill explores bold new sonic textures using electronics—an element Hiromi actively encouraged him to develop and showcase.

“[Bass legend and collaborator] Anthony Jackson always told me that a first-class musician can do anything,” Hiromi says. “You don’t really have to put them in one genre or one category.” Knowing that anything she composed would be met with outstanding performances, Hiromi let her fiercest ambitions run wild when crafting the music for OUT THERE. “It all comes from curiosity,” she explains. “I think curiosity is the key to everything. How can you express yourself more? How can you write more?”

The core of OUT THERE is its four-part title suite, which Hiromi would like fans to hear as a focused front-to-back listen. “I know that these days streaming gives you one song at a time,” she says, “but I hope they listen to it straight through, giving them a whole new experience.” The suite is nothing less than a tour de force, and certainly deserves undivided attention.

It opens with the rapid-fire melody of “Takin’ Off,” shared nimbly on the frontline between Hiromi and O’Farrill, and traverses the sly ’70s fusion grooves of “Strollin’,” which calls to mind Herbie Hancock, George Duke and Grover Washington Jr. “Orion” follows, with bold and triumphant bookends that could score a great work of science fiction. Hiromi wrote it as a kind of “answer song” to “Polaris,” included on Sonicwonderland. Both compositions reflect the fact that “stars are a guide,” she says. “You know where you are if you look up at the sky. You can go toward an adventure; there’s nothing to be scared of.” The suite closes with “The Quest,” which unites the chopped-up rhythmic thrust of current jazz with the synth pleasures of vintage prog-rock.

Hiromi crafted the suite, chock-full of thrilling twists and turns, as a celebration of our post-pandemic moment, when we can once again live with a sense of exploration.

“Now is the time to go out there and find something new,” she implores. And that sense of excitement isn’t exclusive to the suite; rather, it defines OUT THERE in its entirety.

The album opens with “XYZ,” the very first track Hiromi released as a recording artist back in 2003. A high-octane burner, it takes on a fresh dimension with O’Farrill’s trumpet, evoking the adventurous spirit of avant-garde Blue Note records from the 1960s. “That song has always been very special to me and to fans,” Hiromi says, describing it as a “signature Hiromi song.”

Another standout is “Yes! Ramen!!” — a wild, genre-blending tribute to Hiromi’s all-time favorite food. The track bursts with infectious synth hooks, ska-inflected rhythms, turbo-charged disco beats, a thunderous Black Sabbath-style riff, cutting-edge jazz improvisation, elements of contemporary classical music, and more. “Whew,” indeed. The band shares her passion for ramen — especially O’Farrill and Coye — and they make a point to visit as many ramen spots as possible while on tour. “For this song, it felt like scoring the film I imagined in my head,” Hiromi explains. “As the scenery changes, so does the music — a new restaurant, a new style.”

Hiromi’s “Pendulum” appears in two versions on the album, including a vocal rendition featuring Michelle Willis, best known for her work with Becca Stevens and the late David Crosby. A longtime admirer of Willis’ artistry, Hiromi describes her as “a beautiful voice and a deeply talented musician.”

The track’s arrangement blends ballad and midtempo jazz with the smooth allure of neo-soul, creating a rich, emotive atmosphere. The original lyrics—co-written by Willis and Hiromi—reflect on the ebb and flow of life. “It’s about how life comes and goes,” Hiromi explains. “Life moves like a wave, or like a pendulum. You just have to go with it.”

Later in the album, Hiromi presents a beautiful, contemplative solo piano version of “Pendulum,” a piece she’s been performing live for the past few years. “What I enjoy most about playing solo piano is exploring the softest dynamics I can achieve,” she explains. She relishes the quiet intimacy of these moments, allowing the subtle nuances of her instrument to shine. It also gives the audience a chance to breathe—a moment of calm after the high-energy fireworks of the full band.

The finale of Hiromi’s new album is also OUT THERE’s most delightful track: “Balloon Pop,” which is as much of an earworm as anything currently on the Hot 100. (And with O’Farrill on trumpet, its hummable theme summons up Miles Davis’ hook-filled ’80s recordings.)

And therein lies the secret to Hiromi’s monumental success — her rare ability to deliver not only show-stopping virtuosity but also sheer joy. “I love playing ‘Balloon Pop,” she says. “Every audience goes home singing this lick — well after the show has finished. The chord changes are challenging, but still it doesn’t sound complicated. I just wanted to write some songs that are singable, danceable and fun.”

hiromiuehara.com
Hiromi's Sonicwonder - Yes! Ramen!! (Official Music Video)
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Wednesday, April 23, 2025

April 23rd 9:30am - Janeane speaks with journalist Hayley Krischer and her new YA psychological thriller - YOU BELONG TO ME




Hayley Krischer's new book, YOU BELONG TO ME, Hayley explores the world of wellness and beauty, and its profound hold on teenagers—up to the point of cult-ishness. As an experienced culture journalist --see just some of Hayley's pieces here—and mother of a 15-year-old daughter, Hayley is poised to speak on the psychological manipulation around the beauty and wellness industry, and how it inspired her to tell this story. YOU BELONG TO ME was born out of Hayley’s own obsession with the wellness industry, starting from the ‘90s when she worked in a health food store.


“A fast-paced thriller with strong implications in the age of influencers and gurus.” —Booklist


“Krischer spins a tense and fast-paced plot…this page-turning novel highlights the way gaslighting and peer pressure can have devastating consequences.”

—Publishers Weekly


“Intrigue abounds in this story that’s full of thrills and atmosphere”

—Kirkus Reviews


ABOUT THE BOOK
The Substance meets Girl in Pieces, in this new YA psychological thriller exploring the dark secrets of the wellness and beauty world, brimming with sapphic romance, class exploration, and friendship clashes.

Frances Bean has always been content living life on the perimeter. Until she gets paired up for a class project with rich and popular Julia, daughter of famous wellness guru Deena Patterson. The "magic" skincare products, healing sound baths, and extravagant parties of Deena’s company DEEP never really interested Frances before, who wears the badge of goth outcast and bookworm proudly. But face time with the girl she has been crushing on for years is starting to give her a new outlook.

When Frances gets an exclusive invite to a DEEP event, she is blown away by the beauty and luxury of Julia’s world and the group's focus on empowering girls to be their most true selves surprisingly strikes a chord. Before long Frances finds herself invested in DEEP, a whirlwind romance with Julia, and a future that feels hopeful.

But when an infamous DEEP party takes a dark turn, Frances wonders if the allure of being a part of Julia’s life was actually just a deadly distraction…


What if living your most authentic life leaves you dead?


Full to the brim with sapphic romance, class exploration, and friendship clashes, author Hayley Krischer brings readers YOU BELONG TO ME (G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers; Hardcover; $19.99; ISBN: 9780593698389; On sale April 15, 2025; Ages 14+) a new YA psychological thriller exploring the dark secrets of the wellness and beauty world. YOU BELONG TO ME is a mix of Nine Perfect Strangers, the Virgin Suicides, and a touch of The Girls by Emma Cline wrapped up in a psychological wellness thriller.

With an authentic teen voice, Hayley Krischer pulls from her background as a culture journalist to immerses readers in the world of teen girls. We are thrown into the impulsive romance of our main character and the highs, lows and nuances of what it means to long for love and acceptance as a teen. Frances Bean was always content living life on the perimeter. Until she gets paired up for a class project with rich and popular Julia, daughter of famous wellness guru Deena Patterson.


The "magic" skincare products, healing sound baths, and extravagant parties of Deena’s company DEEP never really interested Frances before, who wears the badge of goth outcast and bookworm proudly. But face time with the girl she has been crushing on for years is starting to give her a new outlook. 

When Frances gets an exclusive invite to a DEEP event, she is blown away by the beauty and luxury of Julia’s world and the group's focus on empowering girls to be their most true selves surprisingly strikes a chord. Before long Frances finds herself invested in DEEP, a whirlwind romance with Julia, and a future that feels hopeful. But when an infamous DEEP party takes a dark turn, Frances wonders if the allure of being a part of Julia’s life was actually just a deadly distraction…



About the author

Hayley Krischer is the author of the adult novel WHERE ARE YOU, ECHO BLUE? (Dutton) and three young adult novels SOMETHING HAPPENED TO ALI GREENLEAF (Penguin Teen), THE FALLING GIRLS (Penguin Teen), and YOU BELONG TO ME (Penguin Teen) out April 15, 2025.

She has been a journalist for 20+ years and has written for the The New York Times, The New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic, Marie Claire, Lenny Letter, and more. She lives in New Jersey with her family.
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This May, take action, raise your voice, and help change the conversation around mental health!

This May, take action, raise your voice, and help change the conversation around mental health! Since 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month ha...