Issue 34 | Face the Current

Issue 34

fAce the current TRAVEL

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CULTURE

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MUSIC

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SPORTS & FITNESS

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HEALTH

C o l o r s o f t h e W o r l d Capturing Vibrancy with Photographer Miguel De La Fuente

Into the Wilderness

Explore & Rewild with Mountain Madness, Olympian Kjersti Buass & Hannah Rheaume

The Human Superorganism

How the Microbiome Is Revolutionizing the Pursuit of a Healthy Life

From Juilliard to League of Legends

Mako Making His Mark

Hekaw

Magical Speech & Symbolism in Ancient Egypt

Fuel for an inspired life.

fAce the current

Editorial

Issue 34

Connect With Us... @facethecurrent www.facethecurrent.com

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The information provided in this magazine is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider.

Save $100 on international treks and climbs, and $50 on all domestic trips. Use code: “facethecurrent” (Valid through July 30, 2022.)

Opinions and other statements expressed by the kind souls sharing their viewpoint, users and third parties are theirs alone, not opinions of Face the Current. Content created by third parties is the sole responsibility of the third parties and its accuracy and completeness are not endorsed or guaranteed. Face the Current Website and third parties may provide links to web pages, web sites, and various resources or locations on the web. Face the Current has no control over the information you access via such links, does not endorse that information, and shall not be responsible for it or for the consequences of your use of that information.

Cover Image Credits: • Front cover. Miguel de la Fuente • Back cover: @bprsnt @chanellesladics | athlete: Kjersti Buaas

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print on demand available at www.facethecurrent.com FUEL FOR AN INSPIRED LIFE. BE YOUR POTENTIAL.

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JOIN THE MOVEMENT

FtC TEAM

Sasha Frate Founder & Editor-in-Chief Sasha is a perspective seeker, adventurer, and explorer. She received her Master’s Degree in Liberal Arts and continues to study a variety of subjects within and outside of the academic setting. Sasha brings her personal moonshot approach to life to FtC, aiming to provide an experience for our global community where we inspire one another to stay curious, never stop exploring, and to live with purpose and to our potential.

sasha@facethecurrent.com Face the Current is an awardwinning aspirational and inspirational magazine and fastgrowing digital destination for all those seeking purposeful, conscious, and connected living. With a double meaning, Face the Current is about living in the now (in the current moment) while also facing life and all it brings as we aspire to be our potential and live with purpose.

Launched with a simple yet powerful mission, Face the Current strives to be more than just a magazine as we work to create a ripple-effect of positive change. Why? Face the Current believes that media can be purpose-driven and inspiring, so we committed to fostering a sense of interconnectedness in the world.

We showcase the very best in people while building connections between family, friends, ourselves, the environment, food, places and to life itself.

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Ainsley Schoppel Co-Editor-in-Chief

Ainsley is a classical pianist, former figure skater, and loves summers at the lake in northern Ontario. She holds an honors BA in Psychology and Arts & Business, and also earned a graduate degree in Hospitality and Business Management while working at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. After working in Toronto on published women-focused research, she moved outside the city to raise her family. While home with her son, she indulges her love of the written word with freelance editing.

ainsley@facethecurrent.com

Sema Garay Executive Designer Sema is the graphic designer behind the development of the image and magazine of Face the Current. He has developed a multitude of projects, including his previous job leading the Creative Department of BG Life Magazine, in Marbella, Spain.

Sema graduated with a Masters Degree in Architecture at ETSA of Sevilla and is proficient in a wide range of design software. He is passionate about all kinds of artistic expressions, and when not active behind the scenes of Face the Current design, you’re likely to find him playing music for Beach Grooves Global Radio or local venues along the Costa del Sol.

sema@facethecurrent.com

Ty Johnson

Creative Director Ty works alongside the founding team to further project development, business strategy and content coordination. Ty received his graduate degree in Political Science from Tulane University while playing baseball. In his last season of competition, Ty led the nation in triples and was selected as the most impressive senior in the American Athletic Conference. He has brought his great team building skills and cooperative mentality over to Face The Current where he hopes to help us improve our social outreach and overall impact. Ty loves people, animals, and spending as much time as possible outdoors.

ty@facethecurrent.com

Issue 34 CONTRIBUTORS

We are a growing team of Up-Standers whose intention is to create positive change in the world through networking, connecting, supporting, and developing our global thought-community at both an individual and a collective level. We are passionate about building our crew of experts and industry leaders to deliver cutting-edge information that is created “by our global community, for our global community.” This issue’s FtC team and contributing crew are based in the U.S, Spain, Canada, Australia, and Egypt.

Dr. Jim Bentz, D.C.

is a Chiropractor, Speaker, Health Coach & Educator, Trainer & the US Leading Practitioner in Neurological Integration System (NIS), a method of restoring communication between the brain and body based on the principle that the brain monitors every cell in the body. He has been in clinical Chiropractic practice since 1985, and has been using NIS as his primary modality since 1997. NIS is a system that incorporates ancient eastern medicine practices with current neuroscience and promotes self- healing through detection and correction of signaling disruption in the nervous system. www.fidalgoislandhealthcenter.com www.facebook.com/drjimbentz

Mohamed Ibrahim

is an Egyptologist, Hieroglyphics Expert & Tour Guide.

Inspired by an equally passionate desire to share his wisdom, Mohamed Ibrahim offers a wide spectrum of knowledge regarding the history, arts, literature, and culture of ancient Egypt. Mohamed was born in Badrashien city which includes Memphis, Sakkara, Dahshur & Abusir, he studied Art and history of Ancient Egyptian, Coptic Egypt & Islamic Egypt at Helwan University in Cairo. He has been working as a tour guide and a teacher of Hieroglyphics for more than 20 years. Mohamed’s extensive knowledge of Ancient Egypt & the later eras along with his background in comparative religions and spiritual studies has enabled him to present his lectures inside & outside Egypt and conduct a variety of successful tours over the years. www.beautyegypttours.com

Lisa Guy

is a well-respected Australian naturopath, author and passionate foodie, with over 18 years clinical experience.

Lisa runs a naturopathic clinic called ‘Art of Healing’ and is an avid health writer and recipe developer for leading publications. Lisa is also the founder of Bodhi Organic Tea, an award winning herbal tea company who makes beautiful unique tea blends all naturopathically blended to enhance health and wellbeing. artofhealing.com.au

www.facethecurrent.com

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issue 34 CONTENT

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Colors of the World: Capturing Vibrancy with Photographer Miguel De La Fuente

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The 2022 Bhutan Snowman Trek: Mountain Madness

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Hekaw: Magical Speech and Symbolism in Ancient Egypt

travel 08. The 2022 Bhutan Snowman Trek: Mountain Madness’ Next Epic Guided Adventure is Calling You 12. Colors of the World: Capturing Vibrancy with Photographer Miguel De La Fuente 20. Women & the Wilderness: Discovering the Wild Within with Travel Blogger, Hannah Rheaume

culture 28. Serving the People for a Kinder and Fairer World: The Social Impact Mission of Luma Legacy’s Kate Glantz 32. Hekaw: Magical Speech and Symbolism in Ancient Egypt

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Women & the Wilderness: Discovering the Wild Within with Travel 6 FACE Hannah the CURRENT MAGAZINE Blogger, Rheaume

36. Leading the Way for a Greener Tomorrow with Maine’s Youngest-Ever Female State Senator: A Close-Up with Chloe Maxmin

music 40. Exploring the Energetic Expression of Modern-Techno DJ, Paradoks

FtC Issue 34

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The Philosophy of Olympic Snowboarder, Kjersti Buaas

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From Juilliard to League of Legends Mako: Making His Mark

44. Lua Flora: The Musical Embodiment of Asheville’s Creative Spirit 48. From Juilliard to League of Legends: Mako Making His Mark

sports & fitness 52. Appreciating the Present and Empowering Change from Within: The Philosophy of Olympic Snowboarder, Kjersti Buaas 66. American Mountaineer Christine Boskoff: Searching For Truth On The Edge Of The Map

health 70. Magic Moon Medicinals Blends Traditional Chinese Medicine & Self-Care 74. Top Ten Ways to Heal Your Gut 78. Putting Microbes Under the Microscope: The Paramount Role of the Human Microbiome with Dr. Rodney Dietert 88. Evolutionary Mismatch: Understanding our Biological Heritage for Better Health

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Putting Microbes Under the Microscope: The Paramount Role of the Human Microbiome with Dr. Rodney Dietert www.facethecurrent.com 7

FtC travel

The 2022 Bhutan Snowman Trek:

Mountain Madness’ Next Epic Guided Adventure is Calling You

By Ainsley Schoppel Mountain Madness is a Seattle-based mountaineering and trekking company specializing in expertly guided adventuretravel. From Kilimanjaro and Mount Everest, to the Matterhorn and Mount Rainier, Mountain Madness offers all levels of climbing, skiing, trekking, and instruction, all around the world.

Now up on the 2022 calendar is Mountain Madness’ Bhutan Snowman trek.

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Experience Bhutanese culture and customs, monasteries, and lush landscape brimming with rhododendron and regal alpine forests. Your trek is sure to be rewarded with breathtaking views of unclimbed summits, high ridges, and deep river gorges. One of the most challenging in the world, the Bhutan Snowman trek crosses several high passes among 22,000+-foot peaks as it explores the most remote regions of Bhutan.

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Photo Credit: Deana Zabaldo

From September twenty-fourth to October twenty-fourth, 2022, join long-time Mountain Madness guide Deanna Zabaldo for an unforgettable adventure to the spiritual land of Bhutan. Nestled high in the Himalayas and bordered by China, Tibet, and India, Bhutan is a constitutional monarchy that remains an ancient and uncolonized country. Traditional Buddhist values are the foundation of the government, business practices, and personal beliefs, and the national philosophy of “Gross National Happiness” is Bhutan’s guiding principle. Cautious in allowing growth and development, tourism is strictly limited to maintain the country’s pristine valleys and the peaks of the Eastern Himalaya.

Experience Bhutanese culture and customs, monasteries, and lush landscape brimming with rhododendron and regal alpine forests.Your trek is sure to be rewarded with breathtaking views of unclimbed summits, high ridges, and deep river gorges. One of the most challenging in the world, the Bhutan Snowman trek crosses several high passes among 22,000+-foot peaks as it explores the most remote regions of Bhutan.

A certified Wilderness First Responder, Zabaldo was also a Peace Corps Volunteer in Nepal and learned about the complexities of international development, regional

politics, caste hierarchy, economic disparity, and modernization, all while hiking through the world’s most spectacular mountains. Her expertise in the area and commitment to client service won her the 2013 World Guide Award. Whether drinking yak milk in nomad tents, or chatting with street vendors, Deanna can create an authentic experience for clients while bringing the culture alive through rapport with farmers, factory owners, and hermit monks. From rice paddies to mountaintop temples, Zabaldo has been moved by the spiritual and cultural vibrancy of the region—and she can’t wait to share it with you.

With the best guide for the terrain and location, you’ll be sure to have an unforgettable trip www.facethecurrent.com

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Photos Credit: Deana Zabaldo

The Snowman Trek starts in the town of Paro, located in a lush valley of rice terraces and hillsides peppered with white-painted monasteries and temples. With highlights including a visit to Taktsang Gompa, one of the most famous monasteries in Bhutan, you’ll see why it’s called the “Tiger’s Nest”—it’s perched on the side of a cliff 3000 feet above the valley floor! Driving to Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital, you’ll scale Buddha point, visit Buddhist nuns and a local art school, and take in the beauty of the luxurious Tara temple. As you begin your trek into the mountains at Koina, you’ll camp by the river’s edge, and as you near Laya, you’ll see local people journeying with their load-laden yaks. After a few days of climbing and acclimating, you’ll climb to an unbelievable view of the

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Kang­Bum, Treigang, and Jejekang­phu Gang mountains. A steep descent into Lunana valley includes a bridge crossing over the Tarina River to reach camp.

Further climbing through peaceful alpine flowers, past cascading waterfalls, and into fir and juniper forests will lead you to the village of Thanza for an opportunity to rest and regroup. Next is the gradual climb to Tshorim to see the beautiful turquoise blue glacier lake, followed by an easy descent along the clear Sasha Chu river. From there it’s a challenging climb with three passes to cross: Phodrang La, Sakela La, and Warthang La. To recuperate, the next day’s trekking ends at a camp complete with a natural hot spring spa.You’ll spend a full day here

relaxing, soaking, journaling—the choice is yours!

Finally, you’ll climb a steep grade through alpine rhododendron and silver fir forests, benefitting from many switchbacks as you ascend and eventually reach Djule La to make camp in an open meadow. In the morning you’ll visit a yak herder’s camp to learn about their daily life before following the glacier river downstream to Bumthang valley. Keep your eye out for wild boar, barking deer, Kalij pheasant, and laughing thrashes as you take one last look over a valley cradling Dhur village.

It’s here you’ll say goodbye to your trekking staff as your driver escorts you to hot showers, comfortable beds, and cold Red Panda beer at your hotel in Bumthang. In the

morning you’ll fly back to Paro—an amenity missing from other guide companies that prefer to end similar journeys with a two-day bus ride—to explore the downtown, shop, and spend your last night in a hotel. As you fly home the next morning, you’ll be firm in the realization that you’ve just accomplished climbs, met people, and seen nature’s untouched beauty in a way that few ever will.

EXTENDED TRIP: MASK DANCE FESTIVAL If you think you might prefer a slightly longer stay in Bhutan, be sure to opt in for the Paro Tshechu extension to enjoy an exciting and colorful display of traditional Bhutanese culture featuring mask dances and other entertainment. Running September twenty-eighth to October twentyeighth, you will drive to a mask dance festival performed at fortresses and monasteries throughout Bhutan.

Monks perform a series of carefully choreographed dances to honor the saint who introduced Buddhism to Bhutan. This is a sacred event and Bhutanese believe that attending this celebration offers them a special blessing for spiritual protection. After the festival, you’ll stay the night in a hotel before returning to Paro for your flight home.

It’s hard not to be enticed by such an extraordinary adventure, so what are you waiting for? Let Mountain Madness and inspiration lead the way along the Bhutan Snowman Trek. Find your passport, dust off that backpack, and get going!

BOOK YOUR TRIP WITH A SPECIAL $100 DISCOUNT OFFER Use code: facethecurrent at www. mountainmadness.com when booking this trip (or any international trek or climb) with Mountain Madness. Same code applies for domestic (US) trips for $50 off www.facethecurrent.com

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Colors of the World: Capturing Vibrancy with Photographer Miguel De La Fuente By: Sasha Frate Photography is the art of capturing and framing a single moment in time.

While each photographer has their own style or personality, Miguel De La Fuente captures bright and powerful images that represent the complex and layered stories behind them. For De La Fuente, photography is not only a creative outlet, it also gifts him with the opportunity to travel and enjoy immersive and educational cultural experiences.

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Born and raised in a small village in Andalusia, Spain, De La Fuente is thankful for his home’s culture and scenery, but traveling the world and learning more about our planet has always inspired and motivated him. Now, De La Fuente is living his dream and traveling around the globe to locales including Greece, Morocco, Spain, Turkey, and Indonesia. Lucky for us, he brings his camera with him everywhere he goes.

he visits. De La Fuente ensures his cultural experiences are well-rounded, thoroughly enjoying sampling local foods and lifestyles as well.

Face the Current connected with De La Fuente to discuss some of the meaningful lessons and most memorable moments of his journeys so far.

Vibrant photos brimming with color and detail are the hallmarks of De La Fuente’s popular photography, and he seeks personal inspiration in the myriad personalities that compose the bustling global marketplaces and streets that www.facethecurrent.com

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Sol in Málaga where you can enjoy the marvelous coves in Nerja. (Its beaches are well known for their crystal-clear water and beautiful landscapes.)

The White Villages Route is a must for tourists (Ronda, Frigiliana,Vejer de la Fromtera, etc.), or Marbella, which is much more than luxury and glamour. Natural features, adventure sports, traditional festivals—you will always have an excuse to visit Andalusia!

SF:You have a vibrant approach to the visual side of your travel storytelling, showcasing the beautiful colors of our world and cultures. Do colorful destinations guide the creation of your bucketlist for travels, and if so, how do you search for and find such locations?

Sasha Frate: Where did you grow up, and did living in this region have any influence on your desire and/or approach to travel?

SF: From a local’s perspective, what are your recommendations for the best things to see and do in Andalusia?

Miguel Angel: I was born and grew up in a pretty small village in Andalusia, in the south of Spain. I am—and have always been—an adventurous person. When I was a child, map books that I found around my home fascinated me.

MA: I am incredibly lucky to be Andalusian. I think this is an usual feeling amongst the population from Southern Spain. Andalusia is the large region in the Spanish country and it has charming features for all types of travelers. Cultural tourism includes architectural jewels such as The Alhambra (Granada), The Mosque of Córdoba, and La Plaza de España (Sevilla), sun and beach tourism with fine and golden sand on the coast of Cádiz, and the famous Costa del

Doubtless, living in a little town strengthened my enthusiasm and desire to get to know new places, people, and different lifestyles. I feel truly happy while I am traveling, carrying my camera with me.

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MA: I love visiting all types of places, but I should confess that I tend to gravitate toward those where my camera and I are able to find the most colorful spots. Before starting my trips, I always take my time creating my must-see list, looking for the points I will be visiting to get the most vibrant photographs—it’s one of my greatest passions. Instagram is a useful platform for this due to all the visual content.

SF: What are some of the colorful destinations on your must-see list that you haven’t yet experienced, and what do you most look forward to at these places?

MA: I have a few destinations in my mind that I cannot wait to see!

The Amalfi Coast of Italy: a colorful seaside town with pastel-colored houses and blooming bougainvillea— the perfect combination for me.

Cuba: not only because of the spectacular photographic reports I will take back, but also the fascinating Cuban culture and the lifestyle of its

people. The Maldives: a dream place with a special inspirational design of perfect natural blue.

What I most look forward to from the places I have visited is always the same: to get to know the way people live, to walk by all the corners around the city, to try traditional and favorite food, and to be part of the people and not just a tourist who sees the most popular attractions. I want to be someone who feels and understands the local perspective.

SF: What are one or two places you’ve visited that have a unique story behind how they choose to use certain colors in their towns?

MA: I choose Greece, for sure. I had always dreamed of visiting the Greek islands since my love for photography awoke within me. In Greece, flowers are mixed with their cobbled streets and white walls creating a beautiful

splash of color. These Islands were like a real paradise for me.

My trip was a care-free journey full of emotions over the Cyclades islands.

Santorini is undoubtedly one of the most breathtaking cities in the world, with marvelous architecture built right on the edge of rugged cliffs that creates an amazing landscape. In Oia, you will discover a magical view to an endless blue from the Aegean Sea. The streets of Mykonos look like they are always ready to take a perfect shot. It is such a gorgeous place to walk around with its perfect white cobbled streets full of colors and lush bougainvillea. Finally, on Paros island, I found some hidden places to avoid the crowded villages and the visit was more peaceful and relaxing.

The Greek culture is well-known for its impressive architecture that the Greek Empire bequeathed, and the sensation that the culture offers you

is extremely extraordinary.

SF: What are some of your favorite natural materials that you’ve seen used on your travels that create beautiful textures and colors everywhere you go in that town/region/area?

MA: I love the natural resources of bougainvillea in Papua New Guinea.

For this reason, I always try to travel in the spring season since it is the time when the bougainvillea flowers are completely bloomed.

In line with the previous question, Santorini shows you the different shades of blue from the seas, and in combination with white walls topped with blue domes, it’s such a unique atmosphere not found elsewhere in the world.

SF: Can you share one or two of your favorite food and/or tea experiences? Where were you, what did you eat/drink, and what www.facethecurrent.com

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made it unique and special?

MA: Each time I drink tea, I remember my trip to Istanbul. After every meal, they serve you a cup of traditional apple tea. As well as Turkish coffee, it’s such a different experience to have a small cup for coffee drinkers who have never tried it in Turkey. The time I was enjoying my Turkish coffee at a restaurant near the Blue Mosque, my girlfriend took my photo and it became my profile picture on Instagram for a very long time.

Regarding food, my favorite food experience was in Morocco.

Moroccan cuisine is pretty particular and delights palates of all travelers, but take into account that you have to open your mind to savor new tastes.

SF: Marketplaces and local shops are often fun and interesting places to experience local

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goods and culture. As you love to hit the colorful spots, what has caught your eye along your travels that you found fun and interesting?

MA: Marketplaces and local shops are the best way to discover the culture of the place you are visiting.

Moreover, local shops are perfect spots for photography lovers since you can capture the real essence of the lifestyle in a particular location.

Chefchaouen, widely known as the Blue Pearl, is one of my favorite destinations in Morocco. It is full of local shops that decorate its narrow streets, and I can’t remember how many times I have gone to this town.

It is located relatively close to where I stay, so every single time that I visit it, I feel right at home. Here it is easy to find an explosion of colors, and there exists a beautiful tone of blue everywhere.

SF: Nature often gifts us with pops of color and contrast, creating beautiful scenes and dreamy environments to wander through or sit within and enjoy.

From cacti to flowers, fruit trees and more, you’ve captured a lot of this beauty on your travels!

What are some of the top locations you’ve discovered that were hard to leave, even though you left with beautiful and memorable captures?

MA: One of the most impressive natural places I have ever visited is Kelingking Beach in Nusa Penida (Indonesia). Getting there was quite an adventure! We went by ferry from the island of Bali and once there we rented a motorcycle to get to the beach.You have to drive over dirt roads, but it was well worth it. The beach views from above are quite a spectacle for your eyes and are a delightful refreshing sensation that I will never forget.

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One of the most impressive natural places I have ever visited is Kelingking Beach in Nusa Penida (Indonesia). Getting there was quite an adventure!

We went by ferry from the island of Bali and once there we rented a motorcycle to get to the beach. You have to drive over dirt roads, but it was well worth it. The beach views from above are quite a spectacle for your eyes and are a delightful refreshing sensation that I will never forget.

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Marbella is not only for luxury tourism; that is mainly focused on the luxury marina and shopping complex of Puerto Banús. Marbella is also home to one of the most beautiful and charming old towns in Spain—a hidden gem itself. Walking along the seafront is a relaxing FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE moment we enjoy when there’s nothing planned, especially at sunset.

Another country that fascinated me by its nature is the U.S.A. I traveled with my friends and we did The West Route by car passing through four states. We stopped at Yosemite and the Grand Canyon. Getting lost in the sequoia forests and being able to enjoy the views from above the Grand Canyon was an incredible experience and one I highly recommend.

SF:You often travel with your partner Nuria, a native to another beautiful location: Marbella, Spain. Are there any hidden gems, a must-visit eatery and/or beach that you/she would recommend in the Costa del Sol region?

MA: As I mentioned before, Marbella is not only for luxury tourism; that is mainly focused on the luxury marina and shopping complex of Puerto Banús. Marbella is also home to one of the most beautiful and charming old towns in Spain—a hidden gem itself. Walking along the seafront is a relaxing moment we enjoy when

there’s nothing planned, especially at sunset. There is a site I recommend to everyone who visits Marbella: the wooden bridge which projects out into the sea. Local people will help you to get there!

La Costa del Sol is an amazing place to live; there is always something to do.

SF: As a travel duo, what are some favorite (unique and/ or particularly memorable) activities you’ve done together?

MA: Nuria and I love traveling— our second date was a crazy and improvised trip to Morocco! After it, we knew we could continue to create unique memories together.

All countries and all adventures have something special, but from my experience, one of the best experiences as a travel couple is our trip over the island of Bali and Nusa Penida. We explored the island by scooter, and we loved it!

You are in total contact with the people and nature, and it gives you

a lot of freedom when it comes to moving around. We got up early in the mornings—about 5:00 am—and we got ready for new adventures to make the most of every day we spent there. We always say that if we had the opportunity to live in a place other than the one we do right now, we’d choose Bali just to spend several months far away from the stressful European way of life.

Another experience that I personally loved was crossing the Strait of Gibraltar on a friend’s small sailboat.

We left from the port of Málaga and spent four days sailing by the sea, visiting various cities in northern Morocco.

For us, this is just the beginning and we look forward to new experiences together.

ymore info: www.delafuentecam.com Instagram: @delafuentecam www.facethecurrent.com

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FtC travel

Women & the Wilderness: Discovering the Wild

Within with Travel Blogger, Hannah Rheaume

BY Sasha Frate With over fifty-two thousand followers on Instagram, Brekenridge, Colorado native Hannah Rheaume is going places.

Literally.

Having never traveled outside of the U.S. prior to 2016, starting a travel blog felt like a leap into the unknown.

However, with trips to Thailand and Hong Kong, Hannah quickly realized that she wanted to share her newfound passion for travel to connect with likeminded people the world over. Six months later, Rheaume quit her public relations job and booked a one-way ticket to Australia to begin her new career and new life.

Now, her blog, Women & the Wilderness showcases everything travel-related, including destination guides, road trip highlights, travel tips, and resources for living and traveling more sustainably. Rheaume’s podcast also highlights women in the wilderness and focuses on self-growth, self-doubt, overcoming fears and obstacles, love and loss, and journeys up mountains, through forests, and across oceans. For Hannah, Women & the Wilderness is a reminder that being a woman in the wilderness has everything to do with discovering the wild within.

In a revealing and relatable exchange, Face the Current and Rheaume discuss the power of fear, thwe practicality of accessible sustainability, the call for ethical travel, and finding the path to happiness in the here and now.

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Life moves so quickly, especially when you travel for a living—it’s always the next thing, the next place, the next experience, so it’s easy to forget little moments. But those “in betweens” are where the soul of the experience is.

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Sasha Frate:You’ve shared reflections on the notion of “missing” a person or a place, observing how part of what you miss is who you are in those moments in that place and/ or with that person. Some people prefer to leave it all undocumented and simply immerse in the moment, while others (myself included!) love to capture as many details as possible to be able to revisit and relive moments and memories.

What is it about the person you are in those moments and the “in betweens” that feels so worth holding onto?

Hannah Rheaume: For me, photos have always been my time capsule; a way for me to remember details.

When I look at a photo of a past trip or experience, I am immediately transported. I can remember how I was feeling, what I was thinking, the smell of the atmosphere, all of the little details that I would have otherwise forgotten.

Life moves so quickly, especially when you travel for a living—it’s always the next thing, the next place, the next experience, so it’s easy to forget little moments. But those “in betweens” are where the soul of the experience is.You might think summiting a mountain is the peak of the experience, but when I think back, I first think about all the hard work, the moments I wanted to turn around, what I was thinking, and how I was feeling. A single photo brings all of that back for me.

It isn’t always the destination or the experience itself, but rather the little moments that create that full circle memory.

• Be patient: the love you deserve is coming • There are so many beautiful days ahead that you will want to be alive to see

• Don’t waste money on “things” • You are beyond worthy • Stress less—it always works out • Do the things that make YOU happy

SF:Your community compiled the following list of advice that they’d give their younger selves:

• Don’t put your dreams on hold for anyone; go after what you want despite others’ opinions

• You’re not mean or uncaring if you set boundaries and say “no” to something

• Explore, do more

• Slow down, there’s no rush

• Be brave www.facethecurrent.com

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Bravery is crucial when it comes to chasing the things you want most out of this life, and it was an essential mindset on the days I wanted to give it up.

HR: Slow down, there’s no rush; be brave; you are beyond worthy.

There’s so much pressure to “figure it out”, whatever “it” is for you, but there is no rush. I am a firm believer that everything works out as it should, in time.

I’m often told “it takes guts to do what you did” (quit my job to travel and move across the country, solo), and it wasn’t until recently that I really identified it as bravery. It was always just the thing I did. But bravery is crucial when it comes to chasing the things you want most out of this life, and it was an essential mindset on the days I wanted to give it up.

The feeling of being worthy is a

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doozy of a lesson to learn, but it is essential. Without self-worth, what do you stand for? How can you show up in the experience that is this life?

They are lessons that I learned in the first twenty-eight years of living, and first four years of traveling.

SF: Fears can be so gripping and create barriers that prevent us from reaching the places and accomplishing the feats we desire. It can also be difficult to trust, let go, and move through it.You shared a beautiful capture of facing your fear of deep, dark water to enjoy an amazing hot spring in Utah, but aside from murky waters (yes, this one gets me too!), how have you moved through and beyond other fears that you’ve faced, and do you

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SF: What are your personal top three?

feel you were “rewarded”?

HR: Honestly, I’d say I’m scared more often than not. When I first started traveling, I won an Instagram contest that allowed me to travel (out of the country for the first time) with a complete stranger for two weeks.

I’d never left the U.S. before, and to do so with a stranger? Terrifying.

Something told me to go for it anyway, and so I did. Without that one experience, my life would likely look entirely different today.

I’ve often found that taking those risks are worth it, and that’s something I remind myself even when it comes to the little fears. Right now, I’m working through hiking alone in a new wilderness (Colorado) that I’m not familiar with. It feels a lot like hiking for the first time— unfamiliar

and new—which is strange because I’ve been doing it for so long and I am used to solo hiking! But I think you kind of said it: moving through fear is the best way to get through fear. The saying, “Be afraid and do it anyways,” really hits home for me.

really happened in early 2020. When I could no longer travel, I found other ways to satiate my need for constant learning—sustainability was it for me.

I read the book How to Give Up Plastic

by Will McCallum, and my world was instantly turned upside down.

SF:You’ve mentioned that your interest in sustainability really hit over the past year, and you’ve implemented a long list of changes in your routine to support this. It’s great that you’ve also made clear that “sustainability is accessible” and doesn’t have to involve major changes like solar panels on your home or buying an electric car. How did the snowball effect happen for you?

I’d always viewed sustainability in the large ways you mentioned—solar panels and electric cars—but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

That book shows how accessible more sustainable choices are!

Furthermore, the author provides facts about plastic use followed by actionable, affordable ways for consumers to decrease their use and eventually give it up completely—in every facet of your life.

HR: My interest in sustainability

And beyond sustainability in terms of plastic, it overflowed in ways I

never imagined. I switched over to non-toxic cleaning products and laundry detergent, use natural beauty products, limit hormone disrupters, shop organic, thrift shop more than ever before, and quit fast fashion (for the most part). How to Give Up Plastic was just the start; a snowball effect of sorts.

SF: “If you’re not careful, your whole life could be, ‘I’ll be happy when...’”

While 2020 was a year-long (and counting) wake-up call, many people reassessed their lives and made major changes toward doing more of what makes them happy (within the new boundaries of a pandemic, of course). Not everyone has the luxury of hand-picking their www.facethecurrent.com

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You’ll make mistakes, you’ll have good and bad days along the way, but keeping the goal at the forefront will remind you it’s all worth it.

SF: “Go to the places that remind you how tiny you and your problems are.” What was this place for you, and can you share another favorite “lesson” from mother nature, (who seems to be so great at putting things into perspective for us when we spend time with her)?

HR: India was that place for me. It reminded me how big this world is; how there are so many different corners of the earth filled with people living a completely different life, oftentimes with so much less.

And when it comes to Mother Nature, not a day spent with her goes without a lesson. For me, most lessons come when climbing mountains. Every time I summit, I’m reminded: you can do hard things— mentally and physically.

dream job or having all their bucket list experiences, but what are some rules of thumb you like to live by that help guide people on this path towards doing and being happy NOW? HR: I’ve always said, “If it doesn’t light you up from the inside out, it isn’t worth it.” And totally—accessibility is a thing. But everything is within your power. I didn’t get to where

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I am overnight, I didn’t come from a wealthy family, I was raised by a single mother, I asked for advice from people who were where I wanted to be, and I took the small but necessary steps and things began to align. Whether it’s a trip you want to go on, a job you want to apply for, a house you want to build—anything— take the necessary steps to get there.

It’s all within reach.

SF: “And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul,” is a well-known and popular quote by John Muir that is widely repeated by “forest bathers” and nature lovers. While the focus of this quote leans on the notion that we can become more heart-centered and less driven by our minds if we let go of monkey mind and reinvigorate our spirit, might you say that it is in these forest bathing moments that we find more clarity in our mind? Essentially, we don’t lose it, we find it, correct?

HR: I couldn’t agree more! We totally find our minds, our true essences, when we return to nature. It’s almost this primal experience of returning to

that from which we came. Whenever I need clarity or a solution, I always find nature helps. It always has the answers. It always calms the monkey mind.

SF:You once said that you’ve, “Always been someone that does things a little differently;” that you feel too much, love too hard, and dive head-first into all the things you’re passionate about. Isn’t this what we need more of—more empathy, feeling, compassion, love, and living life with passion and purpose?

HR: I totally think it’s what we need more of! But I also think that’s an unpopular opinion/way of thinking when it comes to mainstream society.

Some people really view those things as “too much”. I’ve always wanted to be the “too much” kind of person rather than the “not enough”. I don’t

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want to reach the end of my life thinking, “I should have done more.”

That would be so disappointing.

SF: In terms of showcasing travel experiences, social media (particularly Instagram) has really created quite a juxtaposition for many content creators to sell “the dream” while also questioning if it is their dream.You spoke to this in a recent podcast episode—can you share a recap?

HR: A juxtaposition indeed! The last year has really been a wake-up call, as we mentioned above, in terms of doing the things that really light you up. There’s a lot of pressure on creators to constantly share all these experiences. More often than not, we don’t even have time to digest the experiences we’re sharing, my past self included. When it comes down to it, being a content creator is a job,

and a full time one at that! With that definitely comes perks and pits, but I think a lot of people from the outside looking in only see the perks of it— they don’t get to see behind the lens, per se.

SF:Tell me about your podcast, Women & the Wilderness. What types of guests do you invite on, and what are some of the things you discuss and share?

HR: Women & the Wilderness is inspired by my own search for stories about women and their deep connection to the outdoors; a connection that has completely changed my life. Cultivating this relationship and harmony with the wilderness has given me the space to discover its innate importance and connection to this life. When I couldn’t find this kind of podcast, I created it myself!

Women & the Wilderness is inspired by my own search for stories about women and their deep connection to the outdoors; a connection that has completely changed my life. Cultivating this relationship and harmony with the wilderness has given me the space to discover its innate importance and connection to this life. When I couldn’t find this kind of podcast, I created it myself!

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The limit does not exist on topics we cover. I’ve had a naturopathic doctor on, a woman that’s working toward summiting the Seven Summits, a content creator that visited every national park in the U.S., the list goes on. It’s not so much about the wilderness, it’s about the women, their stories, and how the wilderness and outdoors contributes to the way in which they show up in their dayto-day lives.

SF: How has the podcast evolved from your own initial search for stories about women and their deep connection to the outdoors, to a current growing community?

HR: It’s really been a jump-off point.

It’s morphed from conversations on the podcast to conversations happening in my DMs, in the

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Facebook group, and now group trips! I am so excited to see where this next year brings Women & the Wilderness.

SF:The three Rs have typically been “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”, but you recently shared a twist on that with “Rewilding, Reusing, and Regeneration”. What was your takeaway and reflection on that discussion, and do you think this “twist” on the three Rs could be a useful/inspiring perspective and mantra for sustainability?

HR: Totally! We are creatures of habit, and until we shake it up, we really don’t look outside of our bubble. It doesn’t take more than five minutes outside to realize how connected we are to this planet, and that is why I love spending so much

time outside! When we go outside, this interconnectedness is hard to ignore; it’s blatant. And for me, it was no coincidence that when I started spending more time outside, I started to explore sustainability more.

I realized how much joy, peace of mind, and balance five minutes in the forest was bringing me, and I simultaneously realized the ways in which I wasn’t treating this planet with respect. That disconnect just didn’t sit well with me, and like I mentioned before, sustainability can feel super unattainable, almost elitist, until we step back and find ways to make it accessible to our individual lifestyles. It’s all about making it work for you while creating a healthier, happy planet.

SF:The mountains have really called you in many directions

to explore! What are the top three mountain regions you’d highly suggest?

HR: The Rocky Mountains! For me, these high peaks represent so much, but the sheer magnitude of them leaves me speechless. The challenges they pose and the unspoiled beauty and mystery of them are things I will be in awe of for the rest of my days.

The Appalachians! Growing up in Maine, I really got to know these mountains. Rough, rugged, rooted, and rocky terrain—I’ve never experienced anything quite like it. They might not be as tall as the Rockies, but they are no less beautiful and awe inspiring. They are certainly challenging in their own right.

The Himalayas. I haven’t been, but I’ll get there one day.

These mountains are home to some of the most spiritual people on this planet. Their personal and cultural connection to the mountains that surround them is something I want to understand and experience myself. It’s this unspoken understanding of how powerful mother nature truly is.

SF: Eco-tourism is becoming increasingly known and sought after, but you speak to ethical travel as being important as well. How do you differentiate eco from ethical travel, and what would you describe as key factors for people to take an “ethical” approach to their travels?

Travel itself is harmful to this planet, whether we’re talking emissions, single use plastics, displacing animals for human infrastructure, chain restaurants infiltrating locations that are becoming popular for the sake of profit, loss of languages and sacred land—the list goes on. Because we travel, these things happen. But, with awareness of our impacts on the environment, local people, and the local economy of the places we visit, I truly believe we can create positive change.

Awareness is the first step to taking a more ethical approach to travel. Here is an entire blog post about ethical travel.

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When I think eco, I think planet. When I think ethical, I think people and planet.

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HR: When I think eco, I think planet. When I think ethical, I think people and planet.

ymore info: https://womenandthewilderness.com/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/women-thewilderness/id1522900151 https://open.spotify.com/show/2dgsMxBPQQcZAzR9FXnema?s i=CPKpI6MGQeeyJpGRJtggqw www.instagram.com/hannahrheaume/ www.facebook.com/groups/womenandthewilderness www.facethecurrent.com

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FtC culture

Serving the People for a Kinder and Fairer World: The Social Impact Mission of Luma Legacy’s Kate Glantz

by Sasha Frate Kate Glantz is a growing force in the field of social impact, currently serving as Head of Social Good at Luma Legacy, a segment of Luma. Society faces multiple urgent and existential issues, and Luma Legacy not only aims to address the root causes of these issues, but it is willing to take creative bets to solve them. To do this, Luma Legacy functions as a technology and content venture studio developing very early-stage ideas that focus on radical solutions. As the inaugural Head of Social Good, Kate is pursuing initiatives that might not adhere to traditional models of social impact.

Over the last twelve years, Kate has developed a track record of creating vibrant, breakthrough, corporate social impact partnerships, programs, and brand campaigns.

She previously served as the Senior Director for Economic Opportunity and Empowerment at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, overseeing business-led coalitions to advance economic opportunities and equality for marginalized communities.

Prior to that, she led regional social impact efforts at Lyft, where she created and scaled philanthropic initiatives across the USA and Canada. Before moving into the private sector, Kate worked on public health initiatives for the U.S. government, including serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tanzania and Senegal.

Recently, Kate harnessed the work ethic she learned from her mother (a now retired entrepreneur) and founded her own startup, Heartful.ly, which enables couples to create charitable wedding registries.

Now, in a chat with FtC, Kate opens up about the power of equity, the ways in which we can think practically about social impact, and the promising business model of incorporated change that is helping to inspire consumers to do their part and lead the way into a fairer and better functioning society.

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Sasha Frate: How long have you been involved in work and/or projects related to “social good”, and why did you get involved in the beginning? How did your work in the Peace Corps influence your path?

Kate Glantz: The short answer— always. From a young age, I’ve been driven by an unrelenting curiosity about the world and a deep desire to connect with my surroundings. I truly believe that people are so much more alike than different, and I tend to put myself in situations outside of my comfort zone to seek out the underlying threads that connect us. Serving in the Peace Corps reinforced this long-held belief that no matter where you were born, your gender, race, religion, etc., we all mostly want, need, and deserve the same universal things. The reason I pursued a career focused on positive social impact is because until equity and access to fundamental rights is secured under the law, humanity can’t realize its full potential. Imagine how

we could all prosper and accomplish amazing feats if everyone had what they needed to live well.

SF:You’re said to take a more “out of the box approach” towards social impact. What is your personal definition of social good and social impact as it pertains to a company incorporating/building it into its practices/operations?

KG: My definition of social impact is being a good neighbor. Whether you’re focused on your actual neighborhood, a workplace, or even a country, how might you create initiatives and policies that position you as a good neighbor to the people who live and work there? As it pertains to a company, this means centering your work in service of your community of employees, customers, residents, etc. Rather than parachuting in with all the answers, listen first and forge partnerships with established leaders and organizations that have been doing the work long before you arrived

on the scene. Impact also tends to be most effective and well received when it leverages a company’s superpower. Rather than focusing on something unrelated to the core business, companies should reflect on what asset or expertise they already have that can add value in new and often overlooked places.

SF: Luma Legacy was launched in 2020 to pursue initiatives that would improve root causes to society’s problems. What is Luma Legacy’s approach to identifying the root causes?

KG: Luma Legacy’s vision is to help forge a fairer, kinder world for everyone. When identifying which root causes to address first, we examined what was standing most in the way of a more harmonious society. We identified apathy and intolerance as two of the driving forces seeking to divide us and as such, are dedicating our time and resources to fostering more empathy, compassion and tolerance in places where it’s needed most. www.facethecurrent.com

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Luma Legacy’s vision is to help forge a fairer, kinder world for everyone. When identifying which root causes to address first, we examined what was standing most in the way of a more harmonious society.

KG: All of Luma’s pursuits across our segments are at the intersection of art, technology, and culture. Luma Features is dedicated to creating highly imaginative and emotional films and just wrapped production on its original first feature film, The Silence of Mercy. Luma Launch is a venture fund focused on supporting companies such as Zero Grocery that are solving some of the world’s most pressing issues, and Luma Pictures is a world-renowned visual effects studio that has been working and creating beautiful visuals on incredible films, like Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Black Panther, and Jojo Rabbit for nearly twenty years.

SF: For a company to dedicate an entire role/position to social

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SF: Luma pursues “meaningful and imaginative” across the arts, technology, and culture. What are some examples of media created within these segments/ categories?

good, it really demonstrates that the drive and initiative is going beyond the individual and non-profit organizations to companies and brands wanting to stand behind causes and further initiatives they care about. Can you share a bit about your current role at Luma Legacy and the types of initiatives that are being pursued?

KG: I’m proud to lead the charge on Luma Legacy, a segment of Luma dedicated to advancing civic values and nudging society toward a more empathetic, tolerant, and equitable future. While this is a wildly ambitious agenda, our goal is to influence and shape more positive cultural narratives that help people feel safe, included, and excited about their role in society. In its first stage, Luma Legacy exists as a sandbox to model ways we can engage

and uplift humanity outside of the traditional ways of doing things. We’re developing initiatives that come to life in different segments of pop culture like music, art, and food that are intended to galvanize people around a shared sense of joy and community.

SF: With your previous experience working at Lyft, can you share the “why” behind their interest and actions toward building social impact initiatives and how you helped to scale these initiatives?

KG: The why behind social impact initiatives at Lyft was always centered around reimagining cities around people, not cars. From making it easier to ditch your car and reduce your carbon footprint to helping underserved communities get to critical appointments and services, we sought to add value to people’s lives through rides. This thesis led

SF: While you’ve introduced, helped build, and scale social impact initiatives for different companies, you’ve also done this for your own entrepreneurial endeavor when you founded your own startup, Heartful.ly, that enables couples to create charitable wedding registries.

Why did you create this alternative to the traditional gift registry?

KG: I believe that moments of joy and celebration are powerful times to build a legacy and there is no more symbolic moment to share the love than a wedding.

The idea first came to me when I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tanzania. My friends were living their fabulous twenty-something lives in the U.S. and I was living in a rural village trying to fund a toilet construction project at our primary school. Unsurprisingly, there was a constant sense of whiplash from straddling these two worlds. It was while browsing a friend’s wedding registry that I had the idea to fundraise for toilets like they were gifts. Instead of asking for general donations, I let people know that $20 would cover a bag of cement, or $5 was a pound of nails. Framing it like that resonated immediately and the project was funded in three days. It wasn’t until my late twenties, however, after years in

international development and moonlighting as a “professional” wedding guest, that I saw a real opportunity to create a meaningful alternative.

SF: I like to think that a vast majority of people would gravitate toward these types of opportunities (like you’ve created with Heartful.ly) to have a positive impact when given the opportunity, and therefore the more people are made aware of these options to participate and engage with companies offering social impact initiatives through their work, the more the ripple effect of positive impact will really start to scale at truly inspiring rates. Have you noticed this type of effect through the various companies and initiatives in which you’ve been involved?

KG: We are in the midst of a fundamental shift in how companies operate and position themselves to consumers and employees. Whereas traditional corporate social responsibility tended to happen in a silo separate from the business, today’s leading brands are embedding impact into their business model.

Whether it’s ensuring materials are sustainably and ethically sourced, commemorating cultural moments like Pride and Black History Month, or incorporating a one-to-one giving model or a round up and donate feature, brands are increasingly making it simple and impactful for consumers to engage in a way that truly compounds with scale.

ymore info: Stay up to date with Luma Legacy at

Luma.inc/legacy

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The Lyft Grocery Access Program was an initiative that offered subsidized rides to the grocery store for thousands of low-income families and seniors living in food deserts and became the blueprint for other cornerstone social impact initiatives that to this day provide rides to job interviews, the polls, and more.

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to some of the work I am most proud of developing. The Lyft Grocery Access Program was an initiative that offered subsidized rides to the grocery store for thousands of low-income families and seniors living in food deserts and became the blueprint for other cornerstone social impact initiatives that to this day provide rides to job interviews, the polls, and more.

www.facethecurrent.com

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FtC culture

Hekaw: Magical Speech and Symbolism in Ancient Egypt

By Mohamed Ibrahim “Heka” is a very important and historical ancient Egyptian word. The kings of ancient Egypt were always represented holding the nekhekh and the heka—the flail and the crook.

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deeply magical. To decode the heka, it is important to understand that ancient Egyptians believed in the power of words and the power of their sound. There is a kind of The nekhekh is described as a whip music to the written texts inside (flagellum)—a symbol of punishment the “temples and tombs”, and it is and submission—while the heka is said that if the texts are read with detailed as the crook of the shepherd; a musical performance, a magical a symbol of control and leadership. activation will happen.

Heka means “ruler”, but originally it To look further into hekaw’s magical meant “the controller; shepherd”— connection, ancient Egyptians the one who leads and directs the wrote “ntr”, meaning god, next to crowds. An alternative meaning is famous names we now know and “the courthouse”—the place where mistakenly call “gods and goddesses”. silence is expected, and respect However, ntr (or neter) is taken by is given to the judge. In this form, the Romans and it became the Latin “heka” is singular, and according to word “naturae”, meaning “nature”. ancient Egyptian grammar, it can be When viewed through this lens, the pluralized by adding “w”. ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses But what exactly are these tools? Are they scepters? Are they symbols of power and submission? Or are they magical implements?

Through deeper exploration of the heka—the source of many important words in ancient Egyptian symbolism —we can see that its roots are

are forces of nature, not deities. For example, Neter Hathor is the lady of music, representing sound with harmony, resonance, and rhythm.

Ancient Egyptians believed that the

spoken word of neter Ptah was part of the story of creation, and daily rituals in the temples combined hymns and spoken rituals of neter Ptah.

Weret hekaw is the original title of Isis, and it is a title that can be given to anyone who can create great magic. Neter Isis was wellknown in ancient Egypt as a great magician, however weret hekaw doesn’t mean “great magician”—it means “great magic”. Therefore Isis is the great magic itself, also known as the original inventor of magic. By replacing “t” with “d”, weret becomes wered/werd, and werd hekaw in Arabic means daily reading, or daily repeated texts.

In this instance, hekaw includes this symbol of man with his hand or finger inside his mouth; it means magical spells.

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The form above of hekaw uses different symbols, and the symbol papyrus at the end means that this is a magical “written” spell.

The next title appeared this way in some temples, like Satet temple at Elephantine Island and Hatshepsut temple at Luxor, depicting two hands with a cobra in the middle. One interpretation of this is the action of waves or vibrations. The wavy shape of the cobra represents energy, and it is specific to healing or other venerable activities.

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Isis has a very interesting symbol containing the tyet knot, otherwise known as the belt of Isis. It is akin to a large scarf or shawl—colored blood-red—and before she does her magic, Isis must unfold the shawl and place it on a table or the ground before she begins.

The male form of the title weret hekaw is wer hekaw, and this title belongs to Seth, the elder brother of Isis and Osiris. Like Isis, Seth is also magical and possesses the same power and ability. He also wields the wass scepter, also known as the scepter of power.

Magic is science and natural elements combined together to create unexplained phenomenon. A big part of magic in ancient Egypt is rooted in alchemy, but another powerful element of ancient magic is hekaw: sound vibrations.

Everything in life has a frequency, and when you know the right frequency for the thing you want, magic will happen.

Remember the famous phrase “open sesame”—open yourself to it and let the good vibrations flow.

ymore info: www.beautyegypttours.com

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FtC culture

Leading the Way for a Greener Tomorrow with Maine’s Youngest-Ever Female State Senator: A Close-Up with Chloe Maxmin

By Ty Johnson The future of the planet depends on people like Chloe Maxmin. A resident of Nobleboro, Maine, Maxmin grew up on her parents’ farm and fell in love with the woods and surrounding natural environment. Now, she has channeled that inspiration and made it her life’s mission to protect the wild.

Born in 1992, Maxmin has been a community organizer for more than sixteen years, founding the Lincoln Academy Climate Action Club when she was in ninth grade and co-founding Divest Harvard while attending Harvard University.

For her work with the Climate Action Club—particularly her focus on recycling batteries—Maxmin received the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes and gained the support of over 70,000 students when she challenged Harvard College on their fossil fuel investments.

With tremendous experience working on a variety of political campaigns, Maxmin was elected to the Maine House of Representatives in November of 2018 and became a state senator in November of 2020. Maxmin is the first Democrat to represent her district, Maine House District 88, and is the youngest female senator in state history.

Her time in office has already led to the introduction of the Green New Deal (a plan to invest in green energy and technologies) as well as additional bills aimed to strengthen community and environmental efforts.

A fierce commitment to her home state and its residents has given Maxmin a strong foundation on which to build her political career. With an impressive past and an even more promising future, Face the Current wanted to connect with Maxmin to reveal the motivations and processes behind her life’s work.

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My family and community raised me to focus on values. Are you a good neighbor? Are you a good person? Do you show up to celebrate, mourn, support, checkin? We didn’t identify people as Democrats or Republicans.

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Ty Johnson: When you were in high school, you started the Climate Action Club and took a stand against climate change. What inspired you to become passionate about the environment at such a young age?

Chloe Maxmin: The answer is very simple: I love my home. I love my community, our environment, our way of life. As I grew up in rural Maine, I began to understand that the greatest threat to all that we love is the climate crisis. And so, I started to get involved and see what I could do.

TJ:You have a great love for nature and are fighting to

protect the entire planet, but more specifically the woodlands and people of Maine. Is there anything in particular about the people or environment of your home state that inspires you?

CM: My family and community raised me to focus on values. Are you a good neighbor? Are you a good person? Do you show up to celebrate, mourn, support, checkin? We didn’t identify people as Democrats or Republicans. It wasn’t until I got to college that I realized how important those words are out in the world. Because of this, I’ve always cared more about our culture and who we are rather than

what we are. I also grew up amidst farms and fields and lakes, ice fishing, snowmobiling, fishing, and swimming.

My family operated a small farm, and I was always outside helping my dad keep our animals and land happy and healthy.

TJ: By proposing the Green New Deal to the Maine legislature, you are attempting to push towards a future with more American investment in green energy and green technologies.

Why do you believe it is important for Maine and the United States to be strongly positioned when it comes to green energy industries? www.facethecurrent.com

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CM: For rural states like Maine, our economic vibrancy is intricately tied to the health of our environment.

Our state relies on fishing, tourism centered around our natural resources, forestry, and agriculture— all industries that depend on a healthy environment. To stand up for the environment and green energy is the same thing as standing up for Maine’s economy, which is why it’s so important for Maine to be a leader in tackling the climate crisis.

Green Hero by Rolling Stone and have received many awards including the Brower Youth Award and the Samantha Smith Award for youth activism. How are you able to stay so focused on and committed to your goals?

TJ:You have been named a

TJ: Upon receiving the Gloria Barron Prize for Young

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CM: I do this work for my home. I won’t stop fighting until I know that it is protected and safe. I’m rooted in what I love, and that’s how I stay focused.

Heroes, you said, “I want the environment to remain sacred, animals to remain in their natural habitats, and humans to thrive in a harmonious relationship with nature.” Do you have any specific mentors who helped inspire you to become so passionate about the human relationship with earth?

CM: Not that I can remember. I grew up so in love with the nature around me. It’s always where I’ve felt most comfortable and known.

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I do this work for my home. I won’t stop fighting until I know that it is protected and safe. I’m rooted in what I love, and that’s how I stay focused.

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TJ: As a state senator you represent a wide variety of people. How do you connect with your district to get to know the population and to educate and teach more about your movements?

CM: Great question! Most of this process happens on the campaign trail, which is one of the reasons why I believe in reimagining how we can campaign to really reach out to folks and understand what people are thinking in your district. I do a lot of door knocking. In 2020, I knocked on 13,314 doors by myself— about a third of my entire District. Our team made 86,000 contacts total in 2020. Through this outreach, I get a really good sense of who my District is, what folks are thinking, and what they might think about certain issues in Augusta. While I am in office, I make extraordinary efforts to talk with everyone, on both sides of an issue, through phone calls, emails, and meetings. I also have held “Coffee with Chloe” every single month since I was elected in November 2018 to hold a space for constituents to share their issues, get updates on what’s happening in Augusta, and connect with community around politics.

ymore info: www.facebook.com/ChloeForSenate https://twitter.com/chloemaxmin www.facethecurrent.com

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FtC music

Exploring the Energetic Expression of Modern-Techno DJ, Paradoks

By Ty Johnson Kobe Motmans’ love for music and nature can only be described as one thing: extreme.

The Swiss-Belgian producer known as Paradoks resides between Barcelona and Zurich but draws inspiration from environments the world over.

Motmans’ unique and fresh perspective on life helps him to express his energetic self through music while remaining grounded by life’s simpler offerings.

Paradoks has performed a variety of incredible sets out in the wilderness, including a location deep in the mountains of Switzerland. He recently returned to Purified Records— Nora En Pure’s imprint—with a stunning track entitled “Flourish”.

Both beautiful and powerful, the music of Paradoks creates a rhythm and vibe that keeps listeners dancing and has garnished the support of artists such as Tale of Us, Lost Frequencies, Pete Tong, Tiesto, Lane 8, and Nora En Pure.

Face the Current connected with Kobe Motmans to discover more about his background and experience in music, and to highlight his thoughts on planetary and personal health.

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Ty Johnson: Music is an art form that is universally enjoyable.

When did you first become interested in the development and creation of music, and how has it impacted your life since?

Kobe Motmans: It started when my parents wanted to sell our unused piano. The day they were going for it, I asked them to wait: I wanted to give it a try. Then I started watching YouTube tutorials on how to play songs which later evolved into teaching myself how to read sheet music, and then composing and playing my songs in a few concerts further along the line. Then I had a particular interest in electronic music and realized the infinite creation potential of these software on the computer. I have been making music ever since. A few years later, I realized that this is really what I want to do and have since been focusing almost solely on making a living out of music. I think of it every day and every night. Needless to say, music has definitely impacted my life a lot.

TJ:With your most recent release, “Flourish”, you have returned to Purified Records with Nora En Pure. What can you tell us about your experience working with this imprint and community?

KM: Nora En Pure not only makes and plays great music, but she is also an amazing human. I’m very happy to work with her as she is very available and puts a lot of care in the music she releases and the people she works with. I had met a lot of “difficult” people in the music industry, therefore getting to know Nora was special and it’s good to work with such professional people.

TJ:You have a very strong connection with nature and have streamed sets from deep in the mountains and a variety of other scenic settings. How would you describe the feelings and

emotions you get while playing your music in such beautiful and natural environments?

KM: I do have a deep connection with nature, absolutely. Nature really helps to put things in perspective, and it redefines what’s important. Hearing the birds or looking at a beautiful landscape brings all your attention immediately to your surroundings.

As a musician, my mind is either very often occupied by future plans and “what could be if I do this…”, or by musical ideas and inspiration. On the one hand, this helped me a lot to get where I am today, but sometimes these constant thoughts can get tiring. Therefore, nature is one of

those remedies to let go a bit.

When doing my set from the mountains in Switzerland, I had accumulated a lot of stress: preparing a good set that was 100% my music, setting everything up on the day, and a lot of other necessary things to think of. But once I started playing and really realized the scenery I was immersed in—playing only my own music—I let go and really enjoyed it.

TJ:You ride horses, hike, and love to explore the wild. How do you feel about climate change and other issues related to the environment and planetary health? www.facethecurrent.com

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KM: Of course, this affects me a lot.

I have a feeling that we are going through a very difficult moment in history, both regarding climate change and COVID. Recently, I also saw some footage of how the world has changed in fifty years, and it’s scary. But instead of being terrified, I prefer to choose hope. After all, we are smart beings and have incredible potential, so I have faith in technological discoveries that could solve these climate issues.

TJ:Your music is very melodic and powerful, instantly making the listener want to dance along and feel the beat. What are you trying to portray to your

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audience with your music, and how do you hope to impact the people who experience it?

KM: The idea is to maintain a certain energy to keep you dancing but combine that with beautiful moments.

I love the feeling of powerful music creating that rush of adrenaline that gets you to let go and just dance, but I also love emotional music that gives meaning to our days. It’s not easy to find a balance between both, but that’s what I’m trying to transmit—dance music that is musically appealing, that you could both feel in a loud club or festival, but also that you could just listen to whenever. Essentially, I

want to transmit what I feel. I want people to be united all together and accompany me in my little world to let go of any worries for a moment.

TJ: Since the pandemic, there has been a significant drop in the number of live shows and events that are taking place around the world.You and many other musicians have adapted by performing virtually, including the use of live streams. Do you think that it is necessary to perform in person, or are the online substitutes enough to connect with your fans?

KM: Online substitutes will never be enough. This would directly contradict what I said just above: the feeling of unity and community on a dance floor.

I can’t wait for things to get back to a certain degree of normality; I can’t wait to play in real life with people not having to worry about social distancing.

Live streams were a good way for us to show that we are still here and are still doing what we love. I think people appreciate that we continue doing this in a way, and this is also why I still release dance music in times where there are no dance floors. That way, fans also have new content to listen to and dance to at home. But no, this won’t replace the real thing and I can’t wait for this pandemic to be over.

TJ: With healthy living at the forefront of many peoples’ minds, there is much debate about how best to go about living a holistic lifestyle. Are there any specific routines or tasks that you do to take care of your body or mind?

KM: I try to do sports around three to four times a week, and I meditate regularly. I should also try to eat healthier, but that is my biggest weakness and a point I have to improve on. I think what is also important is to take time off every day to go for a walk. But most importantly, see or call important friends. We are social beings and the feeling of loneliness can be very destructive to your mind. It’s a feeling I have sometimes on my path as a musician, because I do everything myself. I have no team and am alone in my endeavor. Therefore, seeing or calling good friends or family that actually understand what I am going through is really important to take care of my mind.

ymore info: www.paradoksmusic.com/ www.instagram.com/paradoks.music www.facebook.com/paradoksmusic www.facethecurrent.com

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FtC music

Lua Flora: The Musical Embodiment of Asheville’s Creative Spirit

By Ty Johnson Asheville, North Carolina’s vibrant culture comes to life through intricate art scenes and historic architecture. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the city boasts an impressive downtown art district filled with galleries and museums.

One of Thrillist’s “America’s Twelve Greatest Music Cities”, Asheville regularly produces stars in the music industry.

Roberta Flack, Luke Combs, and Chase Rice are some examples of the extraordinary locally raised talent.

While the road has been paved, there currently exists a new wave of talent eager to display their artistic visions and expressions to the world. Lua Flora is riding that wave and endeavors to do just that. Their music combines backgrounds of bluegrass and classical music and is also inspired by the likes of Steel Pulse and Culture.

The group already shows great experience and chemistry with the promise of deepening connection and success in the years to come. While Lua Flora gears up for more shows in the fall, they will also release singles throughout the year, including “Little Butterfly”—their most recent single available now via streaming platforms. Face the Current connected with Evan Button (vocals and guitar) to learn more about the group’s origins and sound.

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Ty Johnson: Lua Flora is based out of Asheville, North Carolina in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

How have the surrounding mountains and nature influenced the sound and feel of the group?

Evan Button: Being primarily an acoustic group, the natural tones are a big part of our sound. Especially on this song, it’s all about the nature and beauty that we are surrounded by.

And through our instrumentation we hope to highlight that rawness and natural beauty.

TJ:There is a smooth and sincere vibe to the music that you guys make, blending the genres of folk, reggae, and world. Who or what are some of the biggest inspirations and motivations when it comes to the production of your songs?

EB: We all come from different backgrounds, musically and culturally.

Our biggest motivation is to find that balance where each of those backgrounds is represented. Roots reggae-acts like Steel Pulse and Culture have been some of my major inspirations, but the other guys have big bluegrass and classical backgrounds. I think each of those influences shine in different ways on this track.

TJ:Your newest single, “Little Butterfly”, was inspired by a collection of Alan Watts’ lectures.You said, “Little Butterfly came out of the need to not feel lonely when I moved to a new city.Through those lectures, I found that I was surrounded by everything I needed.” Can you give us a short

glimpse into the mind and ideas of Alan Watts that led to the creation of this piece?

EB: The one Alan Watts concept that really started this whole idea for me is that a human is no different than a blade of grass. Each are extensions of the universe. Just like a human, a blade of grass is living and breathing.

It may not have the same intellectual capabilities that are ultimately connected to the ego, but it is an equal partner in this journey.

TJ: “Little Butterfly” explores the connectivity of human beings to every living organism, and the way in which this relates to a positive mindset. How do you find peace or solace in the fact that we each play our part in a much bigger picture? www.facethecurrent.com

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Being primarily an acoustic group, the natural tones are a big part of our sound.

Especially on this song, it’s all about the nature and beauty that we are surrounded by. And through our instrumentation we hope to highlight that rawness and natural beauty.

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EB: It is hard to feel alone when surrounded by thousands, if not millions, of living beings all the time.

Yeah, I might not be able to have conversations with them, but there is energy there that you can feel when you are open to it. That has helped me find comfort in many challenging times. A walk in nature can instantly rebound my mindset due to that fact, and I will always be thankful for that.

crucial element of this. It has certainly caused me to be more open and patient. One of the most motivating feelings for me is when a listener shares how a song helped them through a challenging time, as that is how a lot of these songs start out for me. Getting to share that connection with someone is unparalleled.

TJ: When it comes to the music industry, it is very important to get your songs out there and engage with your fans. How do you make sure to stay connected with your fans and listeners, and how do these individuals influence the songs that you create?

TJ: Lua Flora is comprised of yourself (vocals, guitar), Sean Gorham (bass, charango), Hinton Edgerton (mandolin, bass, harmony vocals), and Austin Martin (percussion), and you have been playing together for more than six years. What are some of the memorable moments that stand out from the group’s time together?

EB: Especially during the past year, this has primarily been through social media. I think taking the time to listen to everyone’s perspective is a

EB: Late nights crammed into a car.

Those conversations are special. Also, that moment when we get to hear what a song eventually becomes, from

its beginning in our rehearsal space, is one of my favorites. Especially on “Little Butterfly”, the entire team put so much energy and thought into the production and it was such a big moment to hear the final product.

TJ:You guys really seem to be finding your style and getting comfortable playing with each other. What can you tell your fans about your upcoming plans for the group?

EB: This single is the first of a batch of songs we recorded earlier this year. We will be dropping those steadily for the remainder of 2021 and look forward to getting back to shows this fall.

ymore info: www.luaflora.com Instagram: luafloramusic www.facethecurrent.com

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From Juilliard to League of Legends

Mako Making His Mark

By Ty Johnson Alex Seaver, professionally known as Mako, is a critically-acclaimed producer, songwriter, and musician. Mako has worked alongside some of the most talented people in the industry, including Lindsey Stirling and Illenium. His recent collaboration with Stirling, “Lose You Now”, has amassed over three million views on YouTube in just three months.

Other projects of Mako’s include “Rise” and “Legends Never Die”, two worlds anthems for League of Legends—one of the most popular multiplayer online battle games in the world. Together, these songs have been played over 245 million times on Spotify alone.

Before he was Mako, Seaver dived head first into music at a young age and worked hard to earn a full scholarship to The Juilliard School. Although he didn’t necessarily expect a career in the music industry, Seaver has always had an intimate love for and connection to the art of sound, and his creativity, intelligence, and musical background blend together in an impressive body of work.

Due to the pandemic, Mako has been confined to the studio since his last concert in September of 2019.

In a delightful conversation that saw him share his experiences and creation process, Face the Current caught up with Seaver to learn more about the man behind the music.

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After all these years of producing, I still get so happy hearing other artists remix my material.

You sort of get lost inside of your own music (so much time spent tinkering and sculpting and figuring out what you want the piece to feel like), and it’s just so damn fun to have all of that turned upside down immediately when somebody else interprets your material in their own voice. I don’t think I’ll ever not enjoy that.

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other artists remix my material.You sort of get lost inside of your own music (so much time spent tinkering and sculpting and figuring out what you want the piece to feel like), and it’s just so damn fun to have all of that turned upside down immediately when somebody else interprets your material in their own voice. I don’t think I’ll ever not enjoy that.

Ty Johnson:You recently shared your highly anticipated Fable Remix LP on all platforms.

The album does a great job of highlighting a wide variety of electronic talent while also showcasing your versatility and skill as a musician. What is your favorite part of releasing this project with so many featured artists?

Alex Seaver: After all these years of producing, I still get so happy hearing

TJ: League of Legends and Riot Games have enlisted you to co-write and co-produce many of their top songs to date, and you have worked on songs for video games and TV series. How is writing a song for a designed purpose different from solely writing for self-expression or your fans?

AS: This is a really great question and it deserves a long answer, but I’ll try my best not to bore people. I tend to put these two types of pieces into completely different buckets. Music in service of a larger goal or for a specific client, and music as a form of self expression. I find that I deeply

dig bouncing between these two buckets; they both can be supremely challenging, and generally, always for very different reasons. When I’m hired to write music for something, the initial challenge is diving deep into the head of the person hiring me.

What do they want? What do they think they want? When they say they want something “upbeat”, how do you figure out which drums to reach for or which styles and influences to call on? There’s an enormous amount of trust that you build; you have to stay incredibly humble and dedicated to understand their vision—building those boundaries firmly for yourself to play in. Conversely, sometimes that blank page of a Mako track can be pretty scary. I don’t always feel like I have stories to tell when I sit down to write, and searching for words that I want to say can lead me towards some of the more rare bouts of writer’s block that I might encounter.

There I go rambling, but I think a lot about this stuff and I really enjoy the challenges. www.facethecurrent.com

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I think pursuing a career as risky and competitive as music requires a really healthy dose of dreamy naïveté (haha). If you ask too many questions, you can really freak yourself out—and it requires a full-blown “plunge” to work.

TJ:Your rich and complex musical background includes graduating from The Juilliard School after receiving a full scholarship as a musician. When did you first fall in love with music or think about becoming a musician?

AS: I sort of remember sixth-ninth grade being a really special fog of learning the trumpet and french horn, being naturally good at both of them, and just enjoying the hell out of myself. It wasn’t until high school that things got a little more serious and I started to fall head over heels into classical music, specifically. It’s almost psychotic to think about it now, but I never even had the flicker of a thought like, “Is a career as a professional french horn player even the life you want for yourself?” I just kinda dove deep without asking too many questions. I think pursuing a career as risky and competitive as music requires a really healthy dose of dreamy naïveté (haha). If you ask too many questions, you can really freak yourself out—and it requires a full-blown “plunge” to work.

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TJ:You have an amazing voice alongside production expertise and incredibleinstrumentation. With so many unique assets and talents, you are sure to have much continued success. What can you tell us about your plans for the future?

AS: Aw, thank you! I’ve been doing a lot of thinking during COVID about my career ahead, including what sort of goals I have and where I’d like to be ten years from now etc. It’s honestly still pretty fuzzy for me—I can often get pretty stressed about feeling like I’m trying to juggle three completely independent career paths in music at the same time, all of which deserve my complete focus and attention.

I feel really lucky that I branched out wide enough to be pulled in several directions: as a songwriter, a film composer, and an artist. For the time being, I’m just sort of keeping myself honest by only taking on projects that feel sincerely inspiring to me, and just trusting that the rest will figure itself out. I didn’t really get to where I’m currently at with a ton of foresight (I never expected to be doing the things I’m doing now), but I’m really happy! So, I feel like I won’t tinker with that process.

TJ: Illenium and Lindsey Stirling are some of the people with whom you have collaborated. How do you decide who to team up with and what is it like to work with such talented and acclaimed musicians?

AS: It’s the greatest. It’s also really fun to be in the room with genuinely world-class artists and just chop it up about music.

Nobody I’ve ever worked with feels like they’re “bigger than the room”—it’s all just insanely hardworking folks that love making music and want great ideas to come to life. It’s not like all these fabulous people are knocking on my door or anything (haha), so it definitely doesn’t feel like, “I’m deciding to work with ‘xyz’.” It’s just exciting to get the opportunity to link up with these people. However, I do have some artists in mind that I’d kill to work with, so I think in the years to come I might get a little more proactive about reaching out—we’ll see.

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It’s also really fun to be in the room with genuinely world-class artists and just chop it up about music. Nobody I’ve ever worked with feels like they’re “bigger than the room”—it’s all just insanely hardworking folks that love making music and want great ideas to come to life.

AS: It’s probably the greatest experience I feel like I get to have in this career. Not all music is meant to be profound or especially deep or important. But sometimes a story like Lindsey’s is told to you and you get to throw yourself deep into it because of how compelled and inspired you are by it. I think all artists get DMs like these, when fans have the courage to open up and share the impact that music has had on them; to share stories from their life. It’s really healing and intimate, and one of the most cherished aspects of doing this stuff.

TJ:Your music consists of many

different styles and genres.

Is there a particular type of song you that you most enjoy creating?

AS: That’s a pretty fun question!

Sometimes I’m kind of quick to respond that the quicker ones are more fun just because they don’t terrorize me so much. But I have a really visceral memory of “Coyote” and “Parable” off my latest album being such demanding and allencompassing experiences, and I actually got a little depressed after finishing them. I realized I wouldn’t get to wake up anymore and explore all the sounds inside of them, push them around, and breathe them to life. I also deeply enjoyed making my first two worlds anthems at League of Legends (“Rise” and “Legends Never Die”), because of the people I got to work with and the insanity of working on a project heard by so many people.

TJ:Your real name is Alex Seaver, but professionally you are known as Mako. What is the story or inspiration behind your stage name?

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TJ: “Lose You Now” is a recent collaboration with Lindsey Stirling that combines classical music with modern technology and style in a beautiful and powerful way. This song touches the listener in a deep and profound sense through the emotions of love and loss. What is it like to use your music as a tool to connect with people on such meaningful subjects?

AS: Logan, my old partner in Mako, came up with it! It’s from Final Fantasy: his favorite video game.

TJ: In order to accomplish all that you do, you must have an extremely busy schedule. Is there anything that you do in your routine to help remain balanced and healthy?

AS: This is the million-dollar question (haha). I’m not very good at this. Exercise usually comes into play when I’m tracking my mental health. I’ve learned that I really like taking adventurous international trips, but since we’ve been shut down this past year, I’m pretty shelled up. I love partying, but it’s the same as travel— not so much going on right now.

Usually anything that can yank me out of the studio is a net positive for my ability to keep fresh and happy.

ymore info: https://itsmako.com/ www.facebook.com/itsmako www.instagram.com/itsmako/ www.facethecurrent.com

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FtC sports

Appreciating the Present and Empowering Change from Within: The Philosophy of Olympic Snowboarder, Kjersti Buaas

By Ty Johnson Kjersti Buaas embodies the energy and curiosity of the human spirit. Her life path has been paved with accomplishments achieved throughout her incredible snowboarding career, but perhaps more impressive is the underlying simplicity that shines through her actions and teachings. The four-time Olympian currently spends her days deeply connected with nature as she spreads awareness on sustainable van living. Buaas exemplifies the positive ripple effect that can be accomplished when someone is passionate about what they do.

From designing and demonstrating sustainable vans, to guiding and lecturing on the practice of breath work, so much of what Buaas does is designed for positive change. She strives to be the best version of herself each day, constantly creating the future she envisions. Buaas sees a tomorrow where individuals are motivated to focus on the inner work necessary to allow for bigger movements to take place.

With the health of our planet in a state of urgency, Kjersti Buaas works with many nonprofits like Protect Our Winters, Lonely Whale, and Project Drawdown with Paul Hawken to fight for a better tomorrow. She and her partner, Chanelle, founded PRSNT Adventure Retreats to guide and empower women through the experiences of outdoor sports and excursions.

Buaas possesses a unique mindset and drive that inspires positivity and appreciation. Face the Current spoke with her to discuss her motivations, outlook, story, and more.

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Photo Credit: Melissa Riitano

Photo Credit: bprsnt | chanellesladics

Ty Johnson: Currently, you and your partner Chanelle are living out of a converted sprinter van, demonstrating its accessibility and spreading awareness on sustainable van living. What challenges and joys have you encountered throughout this process?

Kjersti Buaas: Yes, Chanelle and I have converted a sprinter van and we are now traveling around in it.

We named her Lady Luna and she is powered to go anywhere with fourby-four, off-grid systems, designed and built to get lost for days in comfort! This winter was our first proper winter in the van, and it was magical. We traveled to different Ikon Pass resorts in California, like Tahoe, Mammoth and Big Bear.

Waking up in the van is so special.

The walls are made from beautiful bamboo that we made and stained ourselves with non-toxic oil. We have

a shower and a composting toilet.

The kitchen is eighteen feet long because we love cooking! The van is insulated with wool and we made sure not to use harmful chemicals and materials in the process, as it’s a small space and living and breathing in toxins is no good. I usually do meditation first thing when I wake up. Breathing calmly and consciously sets me up for a day of joy. I don’t really need much to happen; life feels good as it is in the meditative state of mind. After that I love making a fresh pot of coffee and enjoying it as I look outside the window. When we were on the road this last winter, we were blessed with fresh snow. Some mornings I climbed up on the roof to wipe off all the snow from the solar panels. It’s such a fun, adventurous way to explore life, nature, and an active lifestyle—always on the move!

TJ:You have a permaculture design certificate, are a

Wilderness First Responder, and are a certified meditation teacher and teacher of presence.

What fuels your desire to continue learning and expanding your abilities as a human being?

KB: Yes, I love learning and expanding my knowledge, especially when it comes to planetary and people health. I earned the permaculture certification back in 2012 on the Big Island in Hawaii, learning about plants and getting my hands dirty.

Nature’s own systems are so clever!

We humans tend to want to rip everything out, quickly labeling things as weeds. Learning how to work with nature, not against it, using all its properties and designing smart systems, you learn to think differently.

And permaculture principles can translate into anything really—I absolutely love it! I use permaculture in other areas of life, too. It’s the same with meditation and being www.facethecurrent.com

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I really love learning about the body, the brain, and the mind. The latter two are such an endless journey. The human mind is so powerful; it can lead you to better health or drag you down into the mud. That is why YOU must be the boss, the captain, the queen of the castle. When you are in charge, when you are aware of what that means, life, relationships, and your experiences here on earth start to unfold in a healthier, more enjoyable way.Your mind is not only your brain, but also your whole self and all your cells. That’s why they say, “You can do anything you set your mind to,” it really isn’t about what you set your head to—it’s what you are telling your whole body and all the trillions of cells that you embody!

That’s why when we truly want something, we feel it in our whole body, tingling on a cellular level.

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Add more light and more awareness every day. Then, you will see that your inner light can turn any darkness, suffering, and pain into awakening, joy, kindness, and love.

Photo Credit: @bprsnt | @chanellesladics

present—I bring that into everything I do. It creates a closer bond to nature, a stronger connection to myself and to others, and it deepens experiences and enriches activities. I truthfully and wholeheartedly love to be fully present. That is my fuel and also why we named our company and retreats PRSNT. I really enjoy learning new things—anything from building things (we are remodeling a cabin in Norway right now), making

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sourdough bread from scratch, a new sport (I am getting more into outdoor climbing) or a new language (I love to be able to communicate with people with different backgrounds and culture). There is always so much to learn, and that realization alone fuels me. I believe that learning is an important part of staying healthy. It expands me at the same time as it helps me peel back the layers.

The last fifteen months have been filled with challenges beyond what most of us could imagine. The world is a different place than we knew it before the pandemic hit; a challenge that has changed most people’s lives and is persisting longer than most of us can bear. But challenging times build resilience and strength, and maybe this situation is almost forcing us to ignite that built-in endurance, flexibility, and strength that live deep inside us. This does not have to be experienced as an aggressive power, yet a peaceful power; an inner warrior power, built to last. Start by asking yourself, “Can I breathe even deeper into this challenge? Can I anchor even more in the present moment? Can I feel abundantly free even if I feel ‘trapped’? Can I channel more peace, light, and love in a time when the external world is in chaos?”

The answer is, “Yes you can!” and acceptance and non-resistance are the key. Accept and fully embrace whatever this moment holds for you.

Feel your emotions fully, but don’t become your emotions. Feel your body and feel your breath, so next

time when you want to give up, keep feeding that feeling of your inner peaceful warrior. Add more light and more awareness every day. Then, you will see that your inner light can turn any darkness, suffering, and pain into awakening, joy, kindness, and love.

TJ: “Queen of Style” is one of the many titles that you have earned over the years, and you are well-known for the intention and focus that you place into every outfit and moment. How do you stay so positive and energetic both on and off the mountain?

KB: Thank you. I hold that title high as snowboarding for me has always been about style and expression.

Style is a form of expressing passion, individuality, creativity, love, strength, joy and presence. When I am on my snowboard, I love to pretend that I am dancing; dancing on the snow, connecting with my body, and making each move stand out.

Style is about expressing your true soul—YOU being YOU! No stress, no struggle, just ease, flow, and joy.

Photo Credit: Gosia Aulejtner

You mention focus and intention in relation to style. I really connect with that as I love to get lost in whatever I do and allow myself to feel that moment to the core. That can be through sports or something totally different, like making sourdough bread or playing my ukulele. Style is so fun, and I love to get dressed up in whatever I am feeling like that day.

We can be whatever we want in this life, so why not have fun with it? You get to play your character out fully, wholeheartedly, and share that style with others. Style is also a form of communication.You can tell someone how you feel by painting something in your style. I believe everyone can be an artist and everyone has their own, unique style.

Colors inspire me, for example.

When I wear something yellow it positively affects my mood. Blue calms me and red or pink can give me an extra boost. Green and more earthy tones ground me. I get a lot of energy from being outside in nature and I really try to always put the fun first. It helps me not take life so seriously and that gives me energy

and fuels me with passion to take on any challenge. Movement helps move “stagnant” energy through me, so it does not get stuck and drain me.

Therefore, I make sure to integrate playful activities in my schedule every day.

TJ: Passions of health, wellness, and the environment seem to motivate and drive you forward as you pursue your personal goals. With so many achievements already under your belt, where are your sights set for the future?

KB: After I stopped competing in snowboarding, it became very important to me to take care of my body and stay as healthy as possible.

As an athlete, I did take care of myself to a certain extent, but I realized after many years that my body had taken quite a lot of trauma. I had asked it to do A LOT and didn’t give it the attention it needed. Through years and years of impact and injuries I finally decided that my new goal in life was going to be overall health.

Woven into that goal of health, at the core of it all, was presence. I

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realized, both through my sports performances and from diving deeper into the art of meditation, that I couldn’t be truly fulfilled, healthy, or happy, without often tapping into the essence of presence, my true self. The truth is, the magical key everyone talks about resides in your core. It’s the key to awakening; the key to selfrealization and self-expansion. There’s nothing special about it, yet at the same time it is so profound. On this journey, I also realized how important nature is for human health. I have always loved and connected deeply with nature, but we can always dive deeper, look closer, and be more in tune with all life that exists. These days I love to just sit and observe little details in nature, like the tiny veins on a green leaf, gardening, listening to the birds—just being present more often. I used to do that as a kid with my grandma and now it’s come back full circle.

There is a certain vibration we feel when in nature that heals us from the inside out. I find that both meditation and nature help me to naturally feel present. In the present moment, I find a strong sense of calm, peace, and connectivity. I think it is only

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for so long that we humans can be merely surrounded by city buildings and traffic noise, while trying to stay connected to nature at the same time. Nature is a sanctuary—a necessary place of connection—that is crucial for expansion and evolution.

My new path has become centered all around physical, mental, and planetary health and the ways in which I can level-up in all these areas. My sights for the future are to keep expanding that awareness and share it with as many people as possible.

TJ: Stretching over two decades, your snowboarding career has led you to compete in the Olympics four different times. How have you been able to maintain the mental and physical strength needed to stay at the top of your sport for so long?

KB: Playfulness! I have always been a very playful human. In fact, when I first started traveling for snowboarding at the age of fourteen, I said to myself, “Make sure to follow your heart and have fun! If you are no longer having fun, do something else or change your mindset.” I often look

to that fourteen-year-old wisdom.

Children are inspiring because they tend to be so present in what they do, meaning they are doing it for the simple joy and fun of it. They are alive and creative. I firmly believe that for anything to have longevity, it needs to be fun and fulfilling. The journey will feel daunting and stressful, and we are likely to give up. Acts and tasks that are primarily conducted as a means to an end (just reaching the top of the mountain; just getting promoted; just getting a raise; just getting more attention) will not last or feel very fulfilling over time.

To be honest, throughout my career I have had moments where I felt ashamed for spending a lot of my time (and life) playing and having fun.

When I was just twenty-two, I sat next to a businessman on the plane traveling to Japan (I got upgraded to business class for free by the airline) and he asked me, “When are you going to grow up and get a real job?

When are you going to wake up to reality?” I felt a strong urge to disagree. Is my job not a real job? Is life not meant to be enjoyed? Are we not here to thrive? Do I have to suffer? I kept my thoughts to myself

Photo Credit: @dronenettno | @northernalpineguides

Photo Credit: David Malacrida

and just nodded politely, but in my heart I knew better. In my early twenties I already strongly felt that suffering can be optional if we are aware that we have a choice. I am not saying we will never encounter problems and challenges—in fact, problems are inevitable, and life is meant to be challenging. But a challenge can be fun, and a problem can be solved without stress and too much thinking. Did you know that in the flow state we have a 500% better chance of solving a problem? That is so amazing!!

I also really like to challenge myself.

That is one of the reasons I like to push myself in snowboarding. We grow from problems and we can feel meaning in finding their solutions if we choose to. Another interesting concept to be aware of is that when we solve one problem, the mind comes up with a new one to tackle. For most of us, “problems” and challenges come with a certain

degree of suffering (inner resistance to the current state). We get caught up in our thoughts and emotional drama and think, “Why is this happening to me?” or “This is not fair!” or “I wish I was not here and that this situation was different.”

When we resist, the situation persists.

When we let go, things will start to flow. With flow and awareness we can more easily honor the present moment and recognize that even if there are problems, we don’t have to suffer.

After that chat on the plane with the businessman, I continue to travel the world with my snowboard. As I strapped into my board and played in big arenas like the Olympics, I made sure to stand strong in my philosophy of always putting fun first and wearing my heart on my sleeve.

Since then, over twenty years later, I have been to five Olympics, won an Olympic medal, and even coached at the Olympics. I am proud of these

accolades, but I am prouder to say that I made a career built around fun, movement, and love for snow. The latter is what kept me so motivated for all those years! I wasn’t trying to find a sense of self or identity in the doing, instead I just enjoyed it for the sake of joy.

I am confident that having fun is more than okay! I no longer excuse myself for integrating playfulness into my life because it’s such a big part of health. In fact, my inner child needs to be everywhere for me to go anywhere.

I am far from being free of suffering and who knows if I will ever feel free of it in this lifetime. I still experience many moments of unease, jealousy, fear, and resistance every day, but I am becoming more and more aware that I hold the key to getting myself out of that mental prison. Playfulness is my guide because it’s a sustainable approach that motivates me and breathes fun into anything. www.facethecurrent.com

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TJ:Your lengthy career includes accomplishments such as medaling in the Olympics, X games, and U.S. Open.

How can you describe the differences between free riding a mountain and the experience of competing in one of these prestigious events?

KB: I love freeriding. It is an aspect of snowboarding that I am exploring more now that I am not competing, and I especially love splitboarding.

It provides the perfect combination of action and stillness, and I use my own body to power up the mountains. As I walk, I observe my own heartbeat and become in-tune with the landscape and surroundings.

Sometimes my mind becomes so still that I become fully #prsnt—the state of “no mind”—and this connects me even closer to the mountains. As a bonus, it helps me to stay safe and confident. Every time I have suffered from an injury in snowboarding, it

was because I was not present; my mind was everywhere else and not in my body. Combining the act of action and stillness is an art, so I always make sure to take a moment to ground myself and breathe deep before I ride down. The freeride down is such a divine experience; floating through the terrain, carving my path in the fresh snow.

Snowboarding, especially freeriding, is ZEN to me.

I competed in the freeride world tour one year and that was an intense experience. There was so much to learn in a very short time, and you only get one shot in those events: one ride down the mountain.You don’t get any actual physical practice on the run and can only prepare in the mind. I used visualization a lot in these competitions and tried to clearly see the line and run I wanted to do.

I love the contrast between freeriding and parkriding. Competing on a

playing field that is more manmade (like the X Games or the Olympics) is a different experience than freeriding, yet still very enjoyable, fun, and playful. I would say it is challenging because there is more noise, and there are more people and obstacles to navigate. In competition it becomes even more crucial to be aware that you have a choice to listen to your “inner body” rather than your “chattering mind”.

Thoughts, fears, and emotions can be so distracting and actually throw you fully off your game if you let them overtake you. It can be nervewracking and unbearable to stand on the top of the drop-in with shaky legs and a pounding heart.Your ability to tap into that inner stillness and hold space for a strong sense of calm and intense presence becomes very important. There is a connection to the moment that clicks in right before I drop; everything becomes silent and I become still. I love that challenge.

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Combining the act of action and stillness is an art, so I always make sure to take a moment to ground myself and breathe deep before I ride down. The freeride down is such a divine experience; floating through the terrain, carving my path in the fresh snow. Snowboarding, especially freeriding, is ZEN to me.

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Photo Credit: @bprsnt | @chanellesladics

Photo Credit: @bprsnt | @chanellesladics

As an athlete, I have had to learn to dance with fear and I try to bring that insight with me everywhere I go. The truth is, there will always be opportunities to feel scared—fear does not just go away—you just have to do the work. Inner work revolves a lot around becoming more conscious. With this awareness, you suddenly get to choose to trust yourself rather than just hoping for fear to go away. Fear tends to disappear when we become present.

In fact, the times I have accomplished my best results in life are the times when I was afraid to send it, but I did it anyway. To me “sending it” does not mean being reckless, but rather taking a moment to ground myself and feel the presence that lives inside me.

“Inspired” means “with spirit” and it connects you to the power that underlies the universe. Conversely, “desperate” means “without spirit”, lacking clean, dynamic energy. In this space, where I’m led by my spirit and

heart and not by my mind, I can do anything I want and attract anything I desire.

reality. It literally comes flying into your life and knocks your socks off.

It’s like the best powder day ever!

I want to use my background and platform as an athlete to remind people to trust themselves and just go for it! Going for it does not mean you need to hit the biggest jump—start small and build up— just make sure you hit the jump! Be confident and set the navigation for your life. Be the captain of your own ship. Whenever you doubt yourself (because you will), turn your focus inward for a bit, meditate on it, feel the emotional journey and let it all go. Place those beautiful dreams and desires into a timeline of your life: visualize it, see it happen, and feel it in your whole body. Then, come back to trusting that you will attract exactly what you need in your life at the time you need it. And then, boom! When you least expect it, your desired dreams, thoughts, emotions, wishes, and manifestations become your new

TJ: Meditation and breath work have given you the ability to access inner peace. How important is it for you to share the knowledge and practices that you have learned with others?

KB: Yes, you are absolutely right.

I first learned meditation when I was competing in snowboarding, preparing for big events like the X games and the Olympics. I found that my mind was often wandering, I could not clearly focus, and I had trouble sleeping deeply before competition.

So, I found some online classes, and the techniques I learned really helped me. Meditation became a tool for me to navigate the stress and challenges that often come with competition in a lighter, more playful, and intentional way. I found a calmer mind space to www.facethecurrent.com

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From sports and meditation, I have learned to let go of the eternal need to win or acquire more while keeping that enthusiasm, power, and energy that fuels me, motivates me, and inspires me to show up and play the game.

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Photo Credit: @bprsnt | @chanellesladics

operate from, to use when I was in action and in relaxation. I continued meditating and learning more about it, eventually getting a teacher’s certification. In 2018, I was the head coach for the Olympic Slovakian Snowboard Team, teaching focus, positive mindset, meditation and mindfulness, and how to bring it into sports and performance.

But a healthy mindset is not only for athletes.You are much more likely to be successful when you are enjoying the journey in a free and liberating way, no matter what it is— sports or another profession. From sports and meditation, I have learned to let go of the eternal need to win or acquire more while keeping that enthusiasm, power, and energy that fuels me, motivates me, and inspires me to show up and play the game.

Today I am really enjoying sharing these tools with others; tools that have been helping me so much both on an individual level, with groups, and with businesses. I feel called

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to pass on the beautiful tools and traditions of meditation and the art and teachings of “presentness”, because everyone can access inner stillness and peace. Everyone has a true self; an inner power to draw strength from. Our minds are surely an adventure worth exploring.

I believe health and wellness have to start with ourselves, from within.

Through my own internal work, I have learned about the benefits a dedicated fitness routine has for my overall health and happiness, including movement and meditation.

Every day I aim to do two twentyminute meditation sessions, but to be fully transparent, some days it can be challenging to find space and time to practice. This especially happens when family is around, or I have a long “to do list”, or if I am really stressed out. With that said, I know how beneficial a consistent meditation practice is, so rather than getting frustrated when I can’t do my regular practice (or skipping the

meditation altogether), I’ve learned to find a way to flex and flow with whatever is going on around me. One solution that I absolutely love is to practice moving meditation. This style of meditation can be integrated into activities like running, swimming, and snowboarding. In fact, you might even feel like you have been meditating while immersed in these activities.

The reason for this is that when we connect with our bodies and breath, we naturally become a part of the PRSNT moment, because the body and our breath is always present.

When we systematically apply a technique of breath awareness to an activity, we draw the attention of our minds into the moment and practice what is called a moving meditation.

It’s like when you just get “lost” in the activity but with an added layer of mindfulness. The result is a strengthened capacity to return to the PRSNT moment. In day-to-day life, when stressful situations arise, this is a great tool to have in your tool belt. When we say yes to the

Photo Credit: @patrikpaulinyi

#prsnt moment we also say yes to the unlimited potential to feel life to the fullest. This is where the universal intelligence and natural flow resides.

I ought to live through spirit instead of the conditioned mind, and I try to remember that I am life and life is me.

The movement or exercise I do is inspired by yoga and natural terrain, mostly using body weight to integrate stability, strength, and balance. Nature is always a fun environment in which to move the body, with such a wonderful variety of smells, sounds, and visual beauty. I love this time to connect with my body, open any blockages and get the energy flowing.

Movement generates energy, so if you are feeling sluggish or tired, a little bit of exercise can do wonders. It does not have to be long or involve a bunch of equipment. If you can be outside, surrounded by some greenery or nature while moving the body, that adds an extra energy boost, ensures you are enjoying the moment, and will help set you up for

the rest of the week.

I draw a lot of inspiration from the forest, the body sensations it gives me, and the natural sounds when I teach meditation and breathwork.

I want to bring the teachings of combining meditation, nature, and movement to as many people as possible. These feelings of bliss and joy that I feel in a meditative state of mind are what I call feelings of “presentness” and wisdom, but they are not only available after a big hike or an activity. I also channel and draw power from these feelings in moments when I don’t feel as good, like when I’m in a noisy environment or when I’m feeling fearful. With that said, being active in nature is something I prioritize because it injects me with those happy feelings; it reminds me to laugh and not to take myself or my thoughts too seriously. Nature acts as a key to unlock the vibrant garden that lives inside all of us.

When I teach, I realize that people tend to have similar questions, experiences, and concerns. Many people are simply scared to look inward, in fear of what they will see or experience. Therefore, I am passionately creating content, videos, and tips to help people of all walks of life kickstart their meditation practice.

TJ: As one of the two founders of PRSNT Adventure Retreats, you guide and empower women through outdoor adventures and activities. Can you describe how you decided to start this program and give us a little insight into the experiences so far?

KB: Chanelle and I love nature, and no matter where we are in the world, we find that nature always feels like home. In the forest we tend to breathe deeper. On the top of the mountain, after a strenuous hike, we open up and let go of our fears. By www.facethecurrent.com

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the river, we flow with more ease. We become vulnerable and can let down our guards of separation because nature’s grandness makes us realize that we are only small pieces of a bigger picture.

A central goal for PRSNT is to inspire as many people as possible to spend time in the elemental outdoors, developing a deeper connection to nature, to each other, and to themselves.

That is also why we founded PRSNT back in 2010. It started as an idea we had while we were camping in Mt. Hood, Oregon. We noticed there was a lack of a community for women who love backcountry snowboarding/ splitboarding/ski-touring or for those who want to get into it. We chatted with several women who said they usually just go with their boyfriends/ husbands but feel that they can’t keep up and often get left behind.

These women also expressed that they would love to be a part of a community of like-minded women who also love to eat healthy and practice yoga and meditation. So, we decided to start hosting women’s adventure retreats and mindful outdoor experiences.

At the retreats, we focus on human-powered activities to play and explore in nature, such as splitboarding, skiing, arctic surfing, yoga, meditation, reflection circles, healthy living and eating, fjord dips, sauna, climbing, music, and community building. We love the growing community of adventurous ladies that come together to learn, support, and care for themselves, one another, and for Mother Nature. This past year has been challenging to host any retreats, but we are excited to continue this amazing journey, connecting more women from all over the world. It is so special to get to share our passion for nature, the mountains, the ocean, and to actively use our bodies while also taking moments to be still and

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@bprsnt⁠ with other empowering women.

TJ:Through a variety of nonprofit and volunteer work, you have utilized your platform as a force for good. How has your work with organizations like Protect Our Winters, Lonely Whale Foundation, and Keep A Breast impacted you personally?

KB: We can’t ignore the fact that the health of our planet is in a state of urgency. We need to act and do something different in order to reverse and rebuild what has been worn and torn down. Natural playgrounds are being polluted and resources are being rapidly depleted.

Therefore, I am passionate about using my platform as a professional athlete as a force for good and I work with many nonprofits like Protect Our Winters, Lonely Whale, and Project Drawdown with Paul Hawken. I learn so much from them

Photo Credit: @bprsnt | @chanellesladics

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We can’t ignore the fact that the health of our planet is in a state of urgency. We need to act and do something different in order to reverse and rebuild what has been worn and torn down. Natural playgrounds are being polluted and resources are being rapidly depleted.

These organizations have taught me that in order to continue to enjoy nature we need to take responsibility and take care of our natural resources, including all life that lives within it. This is how it should be because we all come from nature and so it is our responsibility to take care of it. They are paving the way for how we can all be environmentalists and activists. Protect Our Winters has launched the @pow_action_ fund where real action on policy can happen! That has affected me personally because the action steps are loud and clear. I know and understand how to help, and I love to take action. Since there is power in numbers, the more who join, the more impact will be had. Head over to POWActionFund.org to learn more about our mission, initiatives, and ways to get involved. Together, let’s turn our passion into purpose and realize the true potential and power we have when we come together in community.

getting contaminated, and animals are trapped in our mindless line of trash.

I often ask myself, “Can the state of We let the ego (our subconscious, our planet be a reflection of what programmed mind) sit in the driver’s is happening on our inside?” As a seat as we (the awareness) are asleep. collective, we humans are not so This gets us into trouble all day long, healthy—we have so many individual wrapped up in our thoughts and problems. We waste; we suffer; we beliefs, comparing and constantly care about shallow things; judge each finding ways to separate from other other for looks, gender, color, and human beings and creatures, and from beliefs; we are always on the hunt, nature. I think this is an important hustling to “make it” in this world. topic to speak about and we can We mindlessly rip out what we help turn things around for the identify as weeds and pollute the land. better of our planet. I am connected We eat unhealthy food; we expose with the Kind Humans Movement our bodies to far too many harmful who are spreading the simple yet chemicals and toxins. We don’t profound message of kindness. Start move enough and we have more being kind to yourself, make healthy diseases than ever. Meanwhile, the choices, and let that kindness ripple earth is getting warmer, oceans are outwards. I love and adore the people

Photo Credit: @bprsnt | @chanellesladics

and they have the bandwidth to get all the way up to government level.

I’m a part of the @protectourwinters athlete alliance and I see what an amazing job #pow is doing to help protect our winters and beyond.

behind Keep A Breast Foundation who educate people about how to be preventative in relation to breast cancer. We should act and incorporate healthy choices, both for ourselves and others, before it’s too late.

Taking care of natural resources should be a part of our awareness and actions every day. At the same time, it is fun and important to collectively celebrate Mother Earth with our social megaphones. Social media can help us amplify our voice to help protect the planet, and most of us carry a desire for a better way; a hope that we will somehow leave this world a better place than we found it. www.facethecurrent.com

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Photo Credit: @bprsnt | @chanellesladics

I integrate and invite the amazing messages and important work of these non-profit organizations and the companies I believe in, like Zeal Optics, on my social media outlets, in speaking opportunities, workshops, projects, and in our women’s adventure retreats. At our retreats, we aim to inspire outdoor people all over the world to get involved and help act on climate.

The Earth needs us now, but we don’t need to act from fear. We need unconditional love infused with a peaceful warrior attitude; energy and playfulness; knowledge and cooperation. All this is accessible at this moment, right now. We need a systemic change on all levels in politics, business, sports, agriculture etc. When we change from the inside out, when we work on transcending the old, outdated mindset, we can change everything and inspire each other along the way.

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TJ: Capitalism creates a large level of responsibility for the consumer, as we have the option to shop around and choose where we spend our dollars. Why should people look into and support responsible companies that you’ve worked with, such as Zeal Optics?

KB: I love working with @zealoptics because they are a company with integrity. I have learned that the people behind ZEAL are adventurous, curious, and creative individuals who work as a unit to provide progressive, durable, plant-based eyewear for the outdoor lifestyle. Through my perspective #zealoptics is a respectful leader in the snow and outdoor industry, who creates the change we wish to see with style! I support companies like ZEAL Optics who embody environmental values and act on them, because I know that together we are stronger. The “buy

a goggle plant a tree” initiative is a testament to their action, working with the national forest foundation to help with reforestation. Project Drawdown that I mentioned, is currently showing that forest protection and restoration are some of the top solutions right now.

We can’t hide the fact that most consumer products are impacting planetary health in maybe more negative ways than positive, so designing with sustainability in mind is key. I love that ZEAL Optics is using recycled, plant-based materials in their production. That is one of the reasons why I was attracted to the company in the first place.

I have also taken a stand on singleuse plastics like plastic straws, and that is why I am supporting Simply Straws, a reusable straw and drinkware company founded by the Sladics family. I am proud to be an ambassador for this amazing message

Photo Credit: @bprsnt

and help end single-use plastic straws and other single-use plastic items.. ⁣I know how detrimental plastic straws are to animals and the oceans, and therefore I encourage you to sign the @simplystraws pledge, I #PledgeAgainstPlasticStraws, and commit to not using plastic straws and/or using a reusable straw instead.

In this process, we should remember that the point is not to judge each other but to INSPIRE and help educate where we can. We are all in different life-situations and we are only creating separation and imaginary walls when we judge someone negatively. What we need to do is to have compassion and understanding for each other. That way, we can get together and work together because that is what Earth actually needs from us.

TJ: At the youth sustainability conference held at the United

Nations HQ in New York, you spoke on breath work. What are some small efforts that people can make in moving towards a positive and sustainable future?

KB: Yes, that was such a fun experience. I was given the chance to speak on a topic I care for and that I think can positively impact the future of the world and its people. I chose breathwork/present moment awareness meditation because I think change and sustainability must start from within.

More than ever, a new human mindset is necessary—a mindset where hierarchy, money, and fame are not primary goals. Some call it a new earth, some call it an elevation of the collective human consciousness.

I believe that as individuals, this is one of the most powerful things we can do: work from the inside out.

One simple, conscious breath is

enough to trigger that awareness; to open up our hearts and minds, and to see more clearly. Pass this on to the children and future generations, because when we allow ourselves to “Be” more, we naturally remember the feeling of being connected. And to care deeply for something, we need to feel connected. In a state of Being, we can access solutions and take action that goes far beyond what we could ever do in a state of fear, anger, or resentment. That is why I chose to use that opportunity at the UN to connect people with their breath and body.

ymore info:

www.kjerstibuaas.com www.prsnt.co GUIDED NATURE MEDITATION www.ecovanbuild.com IG: @kjerstibuaas | @bprsnt FB: Kjersti Buaas | PRSNT www.facethecurrent.com

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FtC sports

American Mountaineer Christine Boskoff: Searching For Truth On The Edge Of The Map

By Ty Johnson Extreme outdoor sports have increased in popularity over the years as more people seek nature provided thrills.

Although dangerous, curiosity leads individuals to all edges of the planet in search of adventure. Something special occurs when you submit yourself to the wild and unpredictable elements of Earth. Chirstine Boskoff was an American mountaineer who fully embodied this mentality.

Climbing mountains requires complete commitment as well as tremendous preparation, but for Boskoff the breathtaking views and treks were much more than just a hobby. Those who were lucky enough to know her personally understand all that climbing meant to her.

Boskoff saught joy and truth with her entire self, and never let fear or doubt slow her down. Born and raised in Appleton, Wisonsin, she is the only American woman ever to summit six 8,000m peaks. In 1997 Boskoff and her husbad Keith purchased Mountain Madness, one of the world’s leading mountaineering schools/guides, from the estate of Scott Fischer.

Later in her climbing career she would focus on conquering first ascents of lower, lesser-known peaks in Asia.

Boskoff’s life tragically ended in 2006 when she and her climbing partner Charlie Fowler attempted to summit Mount Genyen in China. Edge of the Map

by Johanna Garton delves deep into the life and connections of the legendary climber. Face the Current reached out to discover more of Garton’s insights and perspective gained throughout the research and writing process.

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Ty Johnson: When your mother first mentioned Christine Boskoff, she pointed out that you two had gone to high school together. How did this make you feel, and what have you learned while writing this book that has brought you so deeply into the life and story of Chris?

Johanna Garton: Though her story stood on its own merits, the fact that we’d gone to high school was a real clincher in deciding to pursue the project. By the time I’d spent a few years getting to know Chris and her legacy, I felt a type of sisterhood with her based on our similar upbringing and interests. As a journalist, I tried to be quite objective, but ultimately her lingering energy drove the passion with which I wrote. I suspect that energy is something we all hope to leave behind when we leave this earth!

TJ:Your mom put in around ten years of research before she

passed the project on to you.

How helpful was it that she had already begun on this process, and what did that change for you along your creative and writing steps?

JG: It was a mix of emotions at first, from sadness that she’d no longer be able to continue the book herself, to the exhilaration of knowing what I was now holding onto: a story that I could craft into something unique within the mountaineering narrative genre. She had intended to write more of a traditional biography, but I was more interested in writing an adventure story. She hadn’t drafted any chapters, though she had done a ton of research that took many months to sort through. After I began writing, I consulted with her occasionally when I needed advice on direction or character development.

She was able to read the final, published version of the book when it was first released six months ago.

TJ:The story and life of Christine Boskoff is truly unique and inspirational, and also involved many other interesting people.

How did you handle the pressure and responsibility of sharing these tales to the world?

JG: Because I wasn’t interesting in writing a “gotcha” book with salacious details of her life, it was relatively easy for me to convey my intentions to her friends and family.

Conversations almost always seemed to flow smoothly and naturally. I wanted them all to feel heard and I wanted to be able to shape her story into something that felt balanced. As humans, we act as many versions of ourselves to many different people. I felt my job was to capture the most authentic picture of her possible, so all her loved ones would recognize her. If they didn’t completely agree with the portrait I painted, I hoped that they would at least understand the process that I took. www.facethecurrent.com

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I was really aiming to write a mountaineering book for non-mountaineers. The messages of Chris’s life include those of resiliency and humility, and ultimately transcend her sport.

JG: Often writers come to a project like this with a framework that they’re very attached to before they start talking to others or doing research. I was quite the opposite. I had a few threads I knew I wanted to cover, but I very much let the research and interviews drive where I decided to go. My outline was written in pencil, not pen, shall we say! It was critical for me to write in a style that would feel accessible to people who love adventure stories, but without all of the technical details that sometimes accompany these books. I was really aiming to

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TJ: Although most of us wouldn’t dare to endure the strenuous climbs that Edge of the Map highlights, how do you think that everyone can benefit from reading about the journeys and people celebrated in this book?

write a mountaineering book for non-mountaineers. The messages of Chris’s life include those of resiliency and humility, and ultimately transcend her sport.

TJ: Chris’ story is very intriguing, as she was truly one on a kind.

Some of the emotional aspects include her relationship and life with Keith, and her transition into finding a new partner in Charlie Fowler. How important are these human elements in shaping the full picture of Chris as a person?

JG: Those parts were absolutely critical to weave into the story.

Prior to Edge of the Map, almost no books existed in the category of mountaineering lit that focused on an American female mountaineer.

In addition, it was very clear to me that most books in this genre are

written by men, and many of them lack the personal depth of character I was able to see in Chris’s journals in particular. So yes, I knew that what I wanted to write was going to have humanity and depth of personality, something I think can be missing in other mountaineering narratives and makes Edge unique.

TJ:You spent a lot of time getting to know Chris through her journals and immediate family, especially her mother, Joyce Feld. How can you describe the relationship and bond that you and Joyce built, and how important was she to sharing Chris’ entire story?

JG: Oh, she was and still is a fabulous woman full of wit and lightness.

Getting to know her certainly helped me understand Chris much better.

Joyce and I have stayed in contact and

she’s become almost like a second mother to me. Which is ironic, given that she lost her daughter to the mountains and I’ve slowly lost my mother to Parkinson’s, which led me to the story in the first place. Life weaves these funny webs all the time, doesn’t it?

TJ: Edge of the Map describes the process and complications of discovering where to look for Charlie and Chris when they went missing on Mt. Genyen, as they didn’t actually obtain permits for their climb. What did you learn about the various difficulties and expenses involved in the climbing world that surprised you?

JG: I had a ton of questions about the sport when I started, and this is one of the reasons I found the project so compelling!

I wanted to understand the motivations and drive of climbers. Though this is a timeless question that can be answered a hundred ways, I do feel I better understand parts of this mentality now. It’s become clear to me that, like a passion ANY of us have, the desire to climb high peaks comes from a sense of feeling alive. While many outsiders perceive mountaineers to have a death wish, in actuality climbers are following deep feelings and emotions.

Because there’s this elevated level of risk, I think the sport draws people who feel entitled to criticize choices climbers make. Most passions that the rest of us have rarely are criticized with such scrutiny. That became a source of frustration for me, and I think it can be for climbers/ mountaineers.

Quite simply, they believe that without climbing, they wouldn’t be living their authentic lives, just as the rest of us would feel if we were not pursuing more conventional passions such as parenting, fostering animals, worshipping God, traveling the world, etc. Certainly families and children add a complicating factor, but I do believe most climbers take into consideration those in their lives when weighing the level of risk

well as possible. If she could give the rest of the world one piece of advice, what do you think it would be?

JG: I believe she’d encourage us to look within ourselves for the answers we’re seeking about who we are, what we want out of life, what brings us joy, etc. She believed fiercely in tuning out the noise as much as possible and seeking a life that was true and joyful, even if it was unconventional. I’ve tried to carry that into my own life and I hope readers do as well!

TJ: As you mention in the author’s note at the end of the book, you travelled to see Mt. Genyen, the location where Charlie and Chris’ lives came to a sudden end. How can you describe your experience there, and what encouraged your trip?

they accept within their sport. That said, there were many controversial moves that Chris and Charlie took on that last expedition, including not obtaining an expensive permit and deciding to climb a mountain that was considered sacred. All of these decisions I realized are deeply personal, for better or worse, and can define how the world views each climber in both life and in death.

TJ:Throughout the process of researching and telling this story, you got to know Chris as

JG: Transformative is the word that comes to mind.

I very much believed that I needed to walk the steps Chris and Charlie had walked in order to understand the beauty in their last few weeks.

The trip to Genyen helped make sense of it all for me.

I understood all that they saw in magical, undiscovered places. It helped me come to a place of peace with their deaths, and then translate that sense of peace to the last pages of their story. So many mountaineering books end in tragedy and though this one does as well, there is absolute inspiration in the end. That trip helped me craft those last bits.

ymore info: https://johannagarton.com/ Instagram: johannagartonbooks www.facethecurrent.com

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Magic Moon Medicinals Blends

Traditional Chinese Medicine & Self-Care

By Ty Johnson

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been preserved and passed on for thousands of years, and techniques and knowledge of the craft have essentially remained unchanged through time. Chinese medicine revolves around the concept of Qi; the vital life force flowing within human beings.

Yin and yang represent the opposite and complementary components of our Qi. An alteration in the yin or yang of an individual can lead to the occurrence of disease or illness. However, when our Qi is in balance, total health can be achieved.

Jaclyn Schlindwein, licensed Acupuncturist, Eastern Medicine Practitioner, and founder of Magic Moon Medicinals, carries on the traditions of TCM as she works to improve the health and wellness of her patients by revolutionizing holistic self-care. Schlindwein grew up in the Pacific Northwest and established her bond with the earth from a young age. Memories of running barefoot along the edges of the Salish Sea remind Jaclyn of her grounded roots, and she continues her nature-inspired life by working as an environmental educator in the Caribbean and Hawaii. During this time, she also served as a naturalist for Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment program.

Following her environmental work, Schlindwein started her journey into the field of Chinese medicine. After receiving her master’s degree from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine, she started her own practice. The mission: advocate for the ultimate happiness, health, and wellbeing of her patients. Face the Current reached out to Schlindwein to discover more about the story of Magic Moon Medicinals.

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Magic Moon Medicinals believes in the energetics of the substances with which we surround ourselves. It is because of this that our products are made with only the best ingredients and intentions.

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Ty Johnson: Healthcare practitioners commit a large quantity of time and energy to the practice of helping others. What first called you to become a Chinese medicine practitioner?

Jaclyn Schlindwein: After snorkeling coral reefs and hiking through rainforests for nearly a decade, I realized that in order for people to view their outside environment as precious enough to protect, they must first care for and see themselves as sacred. This was when I was called to become a Chinese medicine practitioner. TCM teaches that humans are microcosms of the larger universe, interconnected with nature’s powers.

TJ: Along with traditional practices and wellness plans, you have created medicinal bath products and essential roll-ons through Magic Moon Medicinals. What inspired you to create and offer natural medicinal products?

JS: As a licensed acupuncturist and Eastern medicine practitioner, the idea of medicinal baths was born while creating wellness plans. I have learned that my patients love it when I prescribe “homework”—things that they can do at home to be proactive in their own treatment. I have found that not only does it give them a sense of empowerment around their own healing process, but the action of setting intention and taking accountability in one’s own health journey is very powerful.

Throughout the years, I have seen patients struggle with treatment plan recommendations that involve major lifestyle changes. However, when I write a treatment plan for a patient that tells them to go on a hike or take a bath, almost every patient returns to their next treatment glowing from a good dose of bathing (whether it be forest bathing or water bathing) and a renewed sense of wellbeing. Being a huge bath lover myself, I found myself combining many of my

passions (aromatherapy, stone medicine, and herbs) and decided to create one little, yet potent healing tool: medicinal bath products and essential oil roll-ons.

Pretty soon, I started sharing them in my practice, and I watched the positive and almost immediate impact they had on my patients. And that is how Magic Moon Medicinals was born. Magic Moon Medicinals’ products are an empowering, fun, relaxing, and unique way for everyone to play an active role in their own self-care and wellness.

TJ: There is a lot of competition in the healthcare industry, so it is important to bring something special with your brand. What is unique about Magic Moon Medicinals?

JS: Magic Moon Medicinals believes in the energetics of the substances with which we surround ourselves. It is because of this that our products are made with only the best ingredients and intentions. www.facethecurrent.com

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For example: -All of the herbs we use are wild crafted or sourced from companies that use organic and sustainable practices, non-GMO verified, and Earth Kosher.

-Our essential oils are organically sourced and are extracted using traditional artisan methods so that the oil is fully bioactive and can perform therapeutically in the way it was intended. They are chosen based on the teachings of Peter Holmes and his ideas regarding clinical aromatherapy and traditional Chinese medicine.

-The stones that were chosen were handpicked based on the teachings of Jeffrey C. Yuen, an eighty-eighth generation Daoist priest, who utilized stones for healing based on classical Chinese medical principles.

-All products come with instructions on how to use the medicinal stone after the bath by encouraging patients to use the stone on suggested acupressure points. If using our acupoint essential oil roll-ons, the product comes with instructions focusing on the ideal acupressure points on which to roll the blend.

-Products are made in accordance with the Chinese Body Clock to further fill them with intention. For example, the Earth Element Bath Bomb is made between the hours of seven and eleven in the morning.

TJ: You put a lot of effort and intention into the planning and creation of your products, and are extremely passionate about what you do. Do you have a couple of your favorites that you would like to recommend?

JS: Of course, and thank you! Here

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are two of my favorites: Ohm My Goddess! Essential Oil Blend Made with rose, jasmine, and neroli, and infused with rhodonite crystal: Our acupoint essential oil roll-on blends are made to be rolled on corresponding acupressure points and massaged into the skin.

Essential oils can be absorbed and work their magic on the points and their corresponding meridians. For the Ohm My Goddess! Essential Oil Roll On, we recommend rolling it onto acupressure points CV-6, LV3, and SP-6 . We give everyone an acupressure point reference card so that it is easy to locate points. And of course, you can roll on the blend

anywhere and anytime you like for its aromatherapy benefits as well!

Rose, jasmine and neroli all have a feminine yin energy that reminds us of our inner wisdom and intuition. This essential oil blend warms and regulates Qi leaving you feeling Ohm-mazing! It can be used to treat imbalances associated with PMS and moon cycles. Rhodonite is a tonifier and helps with all Qi deficiencies including weakened immunity, inflammation, and anxiousness. It also helps with opening the heart to radical self-love.

Earth Element Bath Bomb “Nourishment”

Made with the Chinese herb, chen pi (orange peel), lemongrass, and sweet orange essential oils, and infused with citrine crystal. Our bath bombs are thoughtfully made using Chinese herbs, stone medicine, aromatherapy, and magic. Some of our herbs are wild crafted, while the rest are organically and sustainably sourced. We recommend turning your bath into a ritual by setting intentions for healing with the power of your thoughts to enhance the effectiveness of this sacred and ancient medicine. We give recommendations on acupressure points so that you may use the stone to press the point and further activate healing.

This bath bomb balances the earth element, which is responsible for the way in which our bodies take in nourishment. Uplifting and refreshing in scent, citrus is excellent at improving digestion. In Chinese medicine, it is associated with the spleen and stomach organs that transform food into nutrients—the source of both Qi and blood. Citrine also tonifies spleen Qi, bettering digestion to help strengthen immunity and improve chronic fatigue by boosting energy.

Use the citrine stone after your medicinal bath by placing the stone at acupuncture point CV-6 (two inches directly below your belly button) or CV-8 (directly over the belly button) to assist with improving your ability to receive nourishment.

TJ: You definitely know what you’re talking about when it comes to holistic health and Chinese medicine! Are there any other services or projects that you offer and would like to share a little about?

JS: As previously mentioned, I have found a great deal of satisfaction in providing wellness and lifestyle plans for my patients. I am overjoyed when I am able to offer alternative prescriptions to the drugs that many people have been prescribed through Western medicine.

Chinese wellness and herbal consulting are available to all interested. You can learn more through my website and social media listed below!

Magic Moon Medicinals also has a Maui based sister company, Maui Moon Medicinals. All of the herbs we use are organically sourced from local island farms. It is important to us that we support our local economy and protect our island’s natural resources. Even our packaging is earth conscious and eco-friendly!

ymore info: www.magicmoonmedicinals.com Sister Company: www.mauimoonmedicinals.com Chinese Wellness and Herbal Consulting: www.magicmoonmedicine.com

www.facethecurrent.com

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Top Ten Ways to Heal Your Gut

By Lisa Guy Poor gut health can have a huge impact on your physical and emotional health. An unhealthy gut can put your whole body out of balance and lead to a myriad of health issues including anxiety, depression, lowered immune function, weight gain, digestive issues, and an increased risk of autoimmune diseases.

Looking at ways to maintain a healthy gut mucosa (lining) and balanced gut microbiota is vital for good health and wellbeing, and for the prevention of disease.

HERE ARE THE TOP TEN WAYS TO HEAL YOUR GUT: 1. INCLUDE RESISTANT STARCH IN YOUR DIET Resistant starch is a type of dietary fibre that’s not digested in the small intestine. Instead, it’s fermented in your large intestine by your gut bacteria. The by-product of this fermentation process is the production of short-chain fatty acids, namely butyrate and acetate, which provide fuel for your beneficial gut microbiota, help keep inflammation in check, and ensure the integrity of the gut lining (1,2).

Resistant starch is considered a prebiotic food as it helps our beneficial gut microbiota to grow and flourish in the digestive tract. For optimal gut health, you should include a variety of fibre-rich sources in your daily diet including resistant starch found in wholegrains, legumes (lentils, chickpeas, red kidney beans, baked beans), nuts, some seeds, starchy vegetables (potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, cassava, taro, sunchoke or Jerusalem artichokes, and yucca), and firm green bananas.

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2. SUPPLEMENT WITH COLLAGEN Taking a collagen supplement is beneficial for your gut health. Found in the skin, muscles, bones, blood vessels, tendons and the digestive tract, collagen is a type of protein that is abundant in the body.

Collagen supports gut health as it contains high levels of the amino acids glutamine, glycine, and proline which are important for maintaining the integrity of the gut mucosa. Collagen supplementation is useful for treating leaky gut and inflammatory gut conditions as it reduces inflammation and helps repair and heal the intestinal lining.

Hydrolyzed collagen peptides are easier for the body to breakdown and absorb, which is important for people that have gut issues and problems with the proper absorption of nutrients. Collagen peptides dissolve well into hot or cold drinks like tea, smoothies, coffee, hot chocolate, and soups.

maltodextrin have been associated with intestinal inflammation and damage in animal studies (6).

Maltodextrin made from corn, rice, potato, and wheat, is commonly added to processed foods like puddings, sauces, desserts, and powdered drinks as a thickener, filler, and preservative. According to a number of studies, maltodextrin can alter your gut bacteria composition which leaves you more vulnerable to infections and disease. It can also impact mucosal barrier function, increase intestinal inflammation, and deplete immune health by suppressing the growth of beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract while encouraging the growth of pathogenic bacteria (7,8).

4. STEER CLEAR OF ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS Researchers have found that artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, sucralose, saccharine, and acesulfame potassium-k commonly found in low-sugar and diet products have a toxic effect on our gut microbiota (9).

Sugar alcohols including mannitol, sorbitol, erythritol, isomalt, and xylitol—commonly used in chocolates bars, and chewing gums—haven’t been found to be damaging to the gut mucosa or microbiota. However, when consumed in large amounts, sugar alcohols can cause digestive complaints such as excess gas, bloating, and diarrhoea. Xylitol is usually better tolerated than other sugar alcohols and it also has a beneficial effect on oral health by helping to reduce cavity formation (10).

Instead of using fake sugars that can negatively affect your digestion and gut health, choose a natural sweetener instead like brown rice syrup, raw honey, coconut nectar, date paste, and pure maple syrup to add a little sweetness to baked goods, breakfast cereals, desserts, smoothies, and drinks.

3. AVOID FOOD ADDITIVES Research suggests that synthetic emulsifiers commonly added to processed foods like the polysorbate series, negatively impact gut health. These man-made emulsifiers are added to processed foods to stop them from separating and to extend their shelf life. They aren’t easily broken down by our digestion and have been found to impair intestinal barrier function which allows antigens and bacteria to cross the gut mucosa into the blood stream. Emulsifiers can also cause inflammation and changes to the gut microbiota, leading to intestinal damage, bacterial overgrowth, and an increased risk of inflammatory bowel disease and metabolic syndrome (35).

Other common food stabilisers and additives like www.facethecurrent.com

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5. EAT MORE FERMENTED FOODS

7. GELATIN

Including fermented foods in your daily diet is an important way to boost your gut health and digestion.

Fermented foods are considered probiotic foods as they contain live bacteria that help increase beneficial microbiota in the gut. It’s important that we have a good balance of these beneficial gut microbiota for a strong functioning immune system and for the healthy production of our feel-good neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine. When our gut microbiota is out of balance, certain harmful bacteria can activate immune cells to produce inflammation that can damage the intestinal lining.

Gelatin is pure collagen powder made from beef bones.

Adding grass-fed organic gelatin powder to dishes is another easy way to increase your collagen intake and help support your gut health. Use gelatin to make healthy desserts, jelly, or gummies, or add some to thicken soups and stews.

Probiotics are found in fermented foods such as yoghurt, kefir, miso, kavass, kimchi, kombucha, sauerkraut, and other fermented veggies.

6. GUT-HEALING BONE BROTHS Using bone broth is a wonderful way to give your next soup or casserole a nourishing boost. Bone broths made from chicken, beef, lamb, or fish bones contain collagen that help soothe, nourish, and repair the gut lining. Bone broths are easy to digest and are a popular healing food for anyone with leaky gut.You can easily make bone broths at home and use them as a nourishing base for soups or stews, or as a warm wholesome drink.

Strawberry and Coconut Gummies: Ingredients: 2/3 cup full-fat coconut milk 1 cup diced strawberries 3 tbsp raw honey or pure maple syrup 6 tbsp grass-fed organic gelatin

Method: Blend strawberries, coconut milk, and honey in your blender.

Pour through a strainer to remove any seeds.

Pour mixture into a small saucepan over low heat.

Sprinkle in gelatin and whisk until combined. Cook for

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around five minutes until it starts to thicken.

10. GUT NOURISHING NUTRIENTS

Pour into your moulds or into a square container and place in the freezer for thirty minutes until set.

There are a number of important vitamins and minerals the body needs for optimal digestion and to reduce intestinal inflammation to help maintain and restore the gut mucosa.

Remove your gummies from the mould and cut into cubes if you’ve used a square container. Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.

8. HEALING HERBAL TEAS

• Vitamin A is found in high levels in cod liver oil and eggs, and beta-carotene (which is converted into vitamin A in the body) is abundant in orange and yellow fruits and veggies, and green leafy vegetables.

• Good sources of zinc include red meat, chicken, seafood, eggs, dairy, legumes, nuts, and wholegrains.

• B vitamins are found in red meat, fish, chicken, eggs, dairy products, brown rice, legumes, seaweed, and dark green leafy vegetables.

• Good sources of quercetin include black grapes, raspberries, broccoli, kale, onions and apples.

• Beneficial unsaturated fats including omega-3 essential fatty acids are found in oily fish, avocado, raw nuts and seeds (e.g., chia, flax, hemp) including their oils and pastes, and extra virgin olive oil.

REFERENCES: 1. Koh A, De Vadder F, Kovatcheva-Datchary P, Bäckhed F. From Dietary Fiber to Host Physiology: Short-Chain Fatty Acids as Key Bacterial Metabolites. Cell. 2016 Jun 2; 165(6):1332-1345.

2. Hideo Ohira, Wao Tsutsui,Yoshio Fujioka. Are Short Chain Fatty Acids in Gut Microbiota Defensive Players for Inflammation and Atherosclerosis? J Atheroscler Thromb. 2017 Jul 1; 24(7): 660–672.

3. Csáki KF (2011) Synthetic surfactant food additives can cause intestinal barrier dysfunction. Medical Hypotheses 76: 676–81.

Sipping on gut-soothing, anti-inflammatory herbal teas like chamomile, ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, and licorice can help ease inflammation of the gut and promote healing.

Slippery elm, aloe vera, and marshmallow are also lovely soothing herbs that are used to heal the gut mucosa.

Calmative herbs such as peppermint, aniseed, cinnamon, fennel, ginger, and chamomile have been traditionally used by herbalists to alleviate digestive complaints such as excess gas and bloating.

9. GLUTAMINE Glutamine is an amino acid that is the primary fuel source for the cells that line the gut. It helps repair and strengthen the gut mucosa by tightening up the openings in the gut wall, preventing large undigested food particles and toxins from entering the blood stream. Glutamine also helps soothe the gut by suppressing inflammation. Glutamine supplementation is recommended for anyone with a leaky gut, Crohn’s disease, or any type of inflammatory bowel condition.

4. Chassaing B, Koren O, Goodrich JK et al (2015) Dietary emulsifiers impact the mouse gut microbiota promoting colitis and metabolic syndrome. Nature 519: 92–6.

5. Cani PD & Everard A (2015) Keeping gut lining at bay: impact of emulsifiers. Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism 26: 273–4.

6. Arnold AR & Chassaing B (2019) Maltodextrin, Modern Stressor of the Intestinal Environment. Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology 7: 475–6.

7. D. Partridge, K.A Llyod et al. Food additives: Assessing the impact of exposure to permitted emulsifiers on bowel and metabolic health – introducing the FADiets study Nutr Bull. 2019 Dec; 44(4): 329–349.

8. Kourtney P. Nickerson and Christine McDonald. Crohn’s Disease-Associated Adherent-Invasive Escherichia coli Adhesion Is Enhanced by Exposure to the Ubiquitous Dietary Polysaccharide Maltodextrin. PLoS ONE. December 12, 2012 9. Liang Chi, Xiaoming Bian et al. Effects of the Artificial Sweetener Neotame on the Gut Microbiome and Fecal Metabolites in Mice. Molecules 2018, 23(2), 367.

10. Kauko K. Makien. Gastrointestinal Disturbances Associated with the Consumption of Sugar Alcohols with Special Consideration of Xylitol: Scientific Review and Instructions for Dentists and Other Health-Care Professionals. Int J Dent.

2016; 2016: 5967907.

ymore info: www.artofhealing.com.au http://www.bodhiorganiictea.com www.facethecurrent.com

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Putting Microbes Under the Microscope: The Paramount Role of the Human Microbiome with Dr. Rodney Dietert

By Sasha Frate Rodney Dietert, Ph.D. is an internationally known author, lecturer, scientist, media personality, and educator. While a professor and now a professor emeritus at Cornell University in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and a faculty member in the Cornell Institute for Comparative and Environment Toxicology, Dr. Dietert has published peer-reviewed papers in more than seventy scientific journals ranging from environmental health and pediatric medicine publications to nutrition, metabolism, immune, neurological, and reproductive journals. He has been president of the Immunotoxicology Specialty Section of the Society of Toxicology and previously led Cornell’s programs in immunology, toxicology, and risk reduction of breast cancer.

His current book, The Human Superorganism: How the Microbiome is Revolutionizing the Pursuit of a Healthy Life, focuses on the microbiomes throughout the human body and their critical role in maintaining the equilibrium of our health. In part one of Face the Current’s fascinating discussion with Dr. Dietert, he shares his thoughts on topics including our current soil practices and regenerative agriculture, pre and probiotics, the effects of cesarian sections on microbiome development, the impact of travel on our body’s microbes, and the negative effects of emulsifiers on the gut.

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practices we need to revisit because the microbes that we inherited were rich, diverse, and functioning because of those food practices.

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The important thing to recognize is that we’re complex organisms. The microbiome contributes to most of our genes— ninety-nine percent of all our genes and metabolic potential comes from our microbes, not from the human chromosomes.

Rodney Dietert: The important thing to recognize is that we’re

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Sasha Frate: Many people believe that ancient ways of doing things do not fit with today’s modern living. When it comes to ancient foods, can you explain how and why we should still be modeling certain food practices? What should we return to and how might our species’ health look different in the future if we were to return to these foods and practices?

complex organisms. The microbiome contributes to most of our genes— ninety-nine percent of all our genes and metabolic potential comes from our microbes, not from the human chromosomes. Our ancestors had certain food practices, but the twentieth century brought us the capacity to have frozen foods shipped everywhere. This changed things a lot, including our diet and how our food is produced—what we’re really consuming. In the end, this has not been to our benefit. So, there are

An example of this is fermented foods. If you look around the world through time, every single culture in Asia, Africa, Europe, South America, etc., had particular fermented foods.

Of course they were fermenting foods because it helped to preserve them, but at the same time, it produced bacteria that were friendly and helped the metabolism and physiology of our ancestors.

In modern times, we have gotten away from that. In my own family, my paternal grandfather was from Europe and he grew up regularly eating sauerkraut. My father ate it as well when he was a child, but in my family, my mother didn’t really know how to prepare it and she didn’t particularly like the aroma. This eating practice waned, and by the time I was born my parents weren’t eating it much anymore and so it was lost.

I’m finding that my story with those two generational changes is very common. I talk to a lot of people and they say, “Yeah, my ancestors used to eat kimchi,” or other ancestral foods like miso. Current generations have gotten out of that habit, but now we’re trying to return to it.

While that’s a very good thing, we need to test drive these foods because it could turn out that some of them work better for you than others. This is part of the conditioning that happened over thousands of years through your ancestral line. For instance, if my European ancestors and their microbes were not used to digesting certain Asian food components, the actual result for my health might not go as well in reality as it might look on paper. So, test drive them; you’ll be able to tell! The gut’s a good reflection of whether you’re doing something useful. www.facethecurrent.com

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I advocate: revisiting fermented foods and participating as much as you can in regenerative agriculture. In fact, get your hands out in the (non-glyphosate treated) soil when you can, too!

There is also a rich tradition of how foods were produced with soil that was microbiome-rich and practices that diversified crops. If you’re talking about food-producing animals, you can either have a phytonutrient depleted source of beef and chicken or you can have one that’s very rich. It literally depends upon the foodstuffs that go into the animal feed as well as the grazing practices.

Regenerative agriculture is so critical!

So that’s what I advocate: revisiting fermented foods and participating as much as you can in regenerative agriculture. In fact, get your hands out in the (non-glyphosate treated) soil when you can, too!

SF:There’s so much that goes into all of it—it’s not so cut and dry. I feel like we’re lacking a lot of education, even in basic nutrition, but then we’re also missing these other important elements. So, it’s a holistic picture that needs to be treated on all these different

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levels, because it’s not just the food we eat. We must look at the agriculture and the food processes, and like you said, food storage is critical. It’s also about the process of storing food after it’s grown, including length of storage, delivery method, and whether food is seasonal.

RD: Absolutely. I can give you one example of people not even realizing or knowing about that. Currently I’m working in human health and am professor emeritus in the veterinary college at Cornell, but I was hired in the seventies into the poultry department. The focus then was to have naturally healthier chickens and they wanted me to breed and produce naturally healthier chickens that didn’t need lots of drugs— including prophylactic antibiotics.

There was a salmonella outbreak in the late eighties into the early nineties and it affected a lot of the U.S., particularly the east coast. It was devastating because eggs and meat were contaminated, and it put

humans at risk. The solution came from a Finnish scientist’s research.

He posited that in commercial chicken operations, since we control the lighting, housing, and feed, why not modify the diet? Why not add useful bacteria to the feed that will block salmonella? This concept was originally called “competitive exclusion”, but now it’s called “colonization resistance”. This is a broader way of defending against potentially dangerous microbes that could infect you and cause inflammation. In this case, they used Lactobacillus acidophilus in the chickens and it solved the problem.

The meat and eggs were now safe to eat.

We hear a lot about the horrific practice of prophylactic antibiotic use in animal feed, and it truly was terrible, but we don’t actually hear about the probiotic use that started in the eighties in major commercial poultry production as a natural defense.

We need to pay attention to that lesson because one of the problems we have right now is the emphasis on a frontline defense against infectious agents. We’re in the middle of the COVID pandemic, and not many people are talking about having a balanced immune system beginning with defenses within the microbiome, i.e., colonization resistance. The frontline defense is managing your microbes in the gut, in the airways, urogenital tract, and on the skin, and we don’t see that message as much as we should. We need to start embracing our microbes and taking care of them and insisting that our physicians do the same.

toxic products from the arsenic while others protect you against the arsenic. When you pay attention to managing those microbes for better health, you get real personalized medicine.

There’s also a plant-derived heart drug called digoxin that has been used for decades. It has a very narrow efficacy range, so physicians have to be very careful—it can be effective, ineffective, or lethal. We now know that the actual dose delivered to the patient is determined

SF: Right—wonderful! You mentioned in your book, The Human Superorganism, that we are not a single species ourselves, but rather we are comprised of numerous species that make us whole. How do you see viewing humanity from this perspective will change our understanding and our approach to move beyond the familiar notions of treating the whole human?

RD: You might notice that the locations of the microbiome are what an infectious disease microbiologist would say are the “portals of entry”. They are where pathogens like viruses, bacteria, and fungi can get in such as the airways, the gut, the genital tract, and the skin barrier. This is where microbiomes are and they serve as our filters and gatekeepers.

For instance, the microbiome filters the food we eat and determines what metabolites we’re going to get out of food. Even further, if we ingest some water that happens to have some arsenic in it, its danger varies among different individuals based on their gut microbiome because some gut bacteria make incredibly

therapeutics need microbiome metabolism to work, and in the UK it was determined that fifty percent of patients benefited from cancer therapeutics while the other half did not—and that’s the data over a decade! The efficacy can be closer to a hundred percent if we install the required bacteria to metabolize those drugs. This is a clear example of a situation that should be approached in a microbiome-first manner for better health.

SF:Yes, that’s incredible! Just thinking of it in terms of being the filter or the translator—if you’re missing some of that filter because the microbiome is damaged or altered, then what’s happening in your body? It’s a very different perspective, because we generally think of ourselves as one being when we choose our diets and our lifestyle, but when you break it down, we’re actually many thousands of beings.

RD: Right, and those species make vitamins like vitamin K that we absolutely need, so you do not want to be microbiome depleted.

We have seen the outcomes in lab animals, so we know that it’s the starting point for a healthy life.

We need to ensure that we have the microbes that should normally be there during development and adulthood as well.

by one single species of bacteria in their gut. By measuring the level of that bacteria and then adjusting the dose of the medication or the level of the bacteria, lethal outcomes can be avoided.

Quite frankly, we should be doing that in every case with drugs! A large percentage of drugs affect the microbiome and that can be important because some need the microbiome. For instance, cancer

SF:You’ve mentioned that we have destroyed our microbiome by about thirty-five to forty percent as a population in the United States, and this certainly has its ramifications. What have you identified as the primary causes of destruction and what are their common ramifications?

RD: I think we’re down by about forty percent as seen in research pioneered by Dr. Martin Blaser www.facethecurrent.com

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and his wife. First of all we need to look at Cesarean (C) sections.

Beyond those that are medically necessary, elective C sections have been increasing. C-section deliveries break the critical seeding of microbes from mom to baby and that may be the single most damaging thing that can occur. It’s not that it’s totally irreversible, but it’s a lot of work to correct the physiology and the state of the immune system. So, you get bigger bang for your buck by managing the pregnant woman, childbirth, and the first critical one hundred days. Physicians conducting short-term analyses may say, “Oh, the baby looks clean—we checked at six months and everything looks great.”

What they don’t do is look at seven years and see type one diabetes, childhood obesity, asthma, and all the comorbid autoimmune, allergic and inflammatory conditions.

I’ve told OB-GYNs that they’re managing the health of two generations and they need to manage mom’s health microbially. If she’s carrying a so-called noncommunicable disease

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like diabetes, or if obesity or asthma are issues, then there’s a really good chance that the microbiome is dysbiotic. This means it’s out of balance; it’s less diversified and more restricted. There’s a community of bacteria that flourish and cause inflammation when things are not as diverse. Whatever mom has is what gets passed to the baby through natural childbirth, so mom’s the primary source for the baby’s bacteria. It’s not that other sources don’t exist, but with something like c-sections you then default to, “Well, it isn’t mom. So guess what? It’s the hospital.” The hospital environment and attendees are going to be contributing to the baby’s microbiome, and that’s probably not what you want for your baby’s health.

Second is food and the way we’ve changed it. My career was spent in safety testing for the immune system, particularly the infant immune system. I can tell you that because the microbiome was never considered in the safety testing design, food, environmental chemicals, and drugs were never screened for safety as

they apply to the microbiome; we have had some very unpleasant surprises in the last five to eight years in terms of things that were deemed “safe” by the FDA or the EPA that are not.

SF: Not surprisingly.

RD: I have a lecture in the fall at the FDA and I’ll be delivering this message:You didn’t test for it then, but you know the importance of the microbiome now. No excuses—no excuses at all.

SF: When some of these things have been implemented at such a large scale, the challenge is that it’s difficult and costly to make changes. Some of the changes were implemented to help prevent food loss or improve crop production (pesticides, monocropping etc.). On that scale, I see it as a challenge to make the shift toward healthier practices.

But, I think the awareness is starting to increase and people are asking for that change with regenerative agriculture.

RD: Right. And you really must question why something like glyphosate was approved for worldwide, widespread use when it’s labeled as an antimicrobial. We know that’s what it does, and it does it through the food chain. So, that’s the kind of mistake that never should have been allowed, in my opinion.

SF:To that note Rodney, why would we also take something similar when we know that we need to be in contact with bacteria and microbes? We’re applying chemicals to our skin and our body to kill everything, but we still need a lot of it.

response—that allows asthma to persist? If we don’t do that, many asthmatics are going to end up with other conditions that will need drugs and medical or caregiver assistance, resulting in polypharmacy. To me, that is the epitome of healthcare failure.

So, I think we need that education— we need to provide tools because there are very few doctors’ offices where microbiome is the first thing discussed, and yet it should be.

SF:Yes, absolutely. Whether it’s to get back to work right away, for the sake of convenience, to get baby in childcare, or just to return to a former lifestyle, another trend in infancy that RD: Exactly. Education hasn’t filtered I’ve noticed is shortening the through. This is just my opinion, but a breastfeeding period. I do know physician will see a potential disease that some people have health and counter with a prescription that issues that prevent them from is medically coded for that issue. But breastfeeding, but a lot of people no one’s paying attention to what are going to formula very fast. that means over a lifetime and that’s So, if you have a cesarean and the problem. What we now know reduced breastfeeding periods, is there is a cascade of so-called I think that there’s a lack of comorbid diseases that occur and education and awareness around nobody’s taking responsibility for that. that joint effect.

I would contend it’s the treatment of the symptom rather than the curing RD: The reason that breastfeeding of the condition that causes that. is so critical is there is now recognized to be Bifiodobacterium For example, with asthma you longum ssp infantis (B. infantis), one want to reduce the symptoms specific bacterium that is critically and make them manageable, but important for the infant and is how many physicians correct the provided through breast milk. It immune problem—the inflammatory becomes a predominant resident

in the newborn’s gut and is one of the best metabolizers of human milk oligosaccharides. The majority of the food in breast milk cannot be digested by our intestines, and these complex sugars can only be digested by microbes—particularly B. infantis and its friends in the gut.

The baby immediately needs B. infantis and it needs the human milk oligosaccharides to feed it and nurture the progression of the microbes in the gut and the development of the immune system.

What’s been found in the last two years is that B. infantis, digesting human milk oligosaccharides, reduces gut inflammation. It also reduces the risk of allergy and autoimmune disease later in life. Nature is telling us how important it is.

Seven years ago I was asked at a pharmaceutical conference, “So is this microbiome thing a fad?” I said, “Only if you think breast milk is a fad, because those sugars are not for us—they’re for the microbes.”

That’s how critical they are—the first thing that’s going to get fed are the microbes.

SF: What is the current recommended period for breastfeeding?

RD: I’m not the be-all, end-all expert in that area, but I think you really want to get six months if you can. www.facethecurrent.com

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norepinephrine etc.

SF: You mentioned that when howler monkeys are transferred from their wild habitat into captivity in American zoos, their diet goes from about fiftyseven species of plants to one species of plant.They also get their microbiomes from the zoo handlers, so how does this impact the howler monkeys?

And what would you say is a comparable scenario with humans?

When you start introducing food there’ll be a progression off of B. infantis, but the amazing thing is the breastmilk microbes evolve during the breastfeeding process. If you shorten the nursing period, you are not getting the later bacteria and the shift in the milk oligosaccharides that would feed those bacteria.

SF: For those who may not have the option, what are some alternatives to compensate for the ideal pathway?

RD: Milk banks do give you the sugars, and there are companies that have B. infantis probiotics that show promise. They’re a way to try and achieve colonization. If pediatricians are not telling moms those things, then we’re going to miss windows of development.You’ve got to shift the immune system if you want the balance that will give lifelong health.

SF:There’s a lot of discussion about the gut-brain axis, so is

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that something that would be related to newborns developing microbiomes through the breast milk and vaginal delivery?

RD: Yes, I focused on the immune system because that’s my expertise, but all the physiological systems are impacted. The microbiome exerts huge regulatory influences on liver metabolism and even the neurochemistry in the brain. The gut makes more neurotransmitters than the brain, but the microbes are able to control the amount of neurotransmitters from their production in the gut to the brain.

So, yes, the gut-brain axis is huge and it’s something that is controllable.

There are even groups working on psychobiotics that have shown that the solution for major depressive disorder, anxiety solutions, and other neurodevelopmental issues are gut microbes that you need to adjust. Some promote serotonin, some promote dopamine, others

RD: If howler monkeys don’t get their rich diet and have the microbiome diversity, they get things like kidney stones. There’s terrific medical care in zoos, so they can still have long lives, but it’s comparable to lab mice and rats who also have a reduced diversity of the microbiome compared with their wild counterparts. In the howler monkey, the reduced diversity essentially means that they don’t get the metabolites that they need, creating a better chance of pathobionts occurring—the pathogens that take advantage of not being blocked.

When this happens there is a greater likelihood of infections and inflammation, compromised gut lining, and additional health issues. In the end, captive howler monkeys with severely restricted diets are fragile and they lack the resiliency of the microbiome diversity found in the wild population.

A study found that at least one level of analyzing the gut microbes in mice and rats showed that the facility the animals were in made even more difference than their specific breeding. Environment does matter when you’re talking about the microbiome. Where you live, what you put in your body, and the chemicals in your household like cleaners matter a lot. It’s not that your genetics don’t matter, but your

environment’s pretty important in terms of your microbiome. If lab mice and rats (whose microbiomes are influenced by their building, their diet, their caging/bedding, and their animal handlers) are moved to a new building, scientists have trouble reproducing their experiments’ results in the new location. The change in building changes the animals’ microbiomes because each lab animal building has its own specific microbial environment.

SF: When you travel to different environments for a couple of weeks or a month, you encounter very different bacteria. I know when I go to Egypt, my stomach can feel the effects of certain meals or certain locations. I think the bacteria is pretty different.

RD: Yeah, absolutely. I call us the Johnny Appleseeds of microbes. That’s why humans are microbes’ best friend because we travel. When you go into a hotel room, you’re picking up microbes from the prior occupant and you’re leaving behind some of your own. When we have a restricted microbiome in terms of diversity and we don’t have good colonization resistance, then just one little thing like a life-stressor, a different food, or a new exposure to a microbial community can have an effect.

Also, air travel is not known to be wonderful for your microbiome.

Recycled air is not necessarily a great thing.You can’t ensure that you’ll never get sick when you travel, but with preventative medicine, we really should be helping people better protect themselves.

SF: As far as how that’s impacting you with negative side effects, it is probably dependent on how strong your system is prior to or during those travels.

RD: You can get hit with a stressful

travel or a different diet and a pathogen you haven’t encountered before, and that can tip the scales.

Then it’s a matter of building it back.

If a physician prescribes antibiotics, there are few that are single bacterial species specific or strain specific.

So, if they indiscriminately kill your bacterial friends that are producing metabolites that you need, your physician needs to restore those. This is currently not part of an antibiotic treatment regime that enough physicians have on their plate, but they really need to be doing that.

SF:Yes, very important. What would you say are some of the major factors that need to shift within our food systems

and our diets? Do you see the regenerative agriculture movement helping us with this?

RD: Yes. The regenerative agriculture movement is helping a lot. For example, if you include meat in your diet and the animals are grazing on a huge diversity of plants, it turns out that the meat and the fat is very different in phytochemical storage.

You can have a very phytochemical rich diet that will provide you with a lot of the co-factors that you need to support your microbiome and metabolism that is simply absent from feedlot-produced livestock.

Besides sugar, if I had to point to an evil component of food at the www.facethecurrent.com

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To help your gut, look for chicory root, dandelion greens, Jerusalem artichoke, garlic, onions, leeks, asparagus, bananas, cocoa, seaweed, and flax seed. They all have prebiotics; food for beneficial microbes.

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moment, it would be emulsifiers. The major food emulsifiers are incredibly destructive for the microbiome. They wipe out a keystone bacteria species called Akkermansia muciniphila which regulates your mucin layer protecting the one-cell-thick gut lining. These keep pathogenic inflammatorygenerating bacteria away from your intestinal immune cells.

SF:That sounds pretty important.

RD: Emulsifiers like polysorbate 80, carboxymethyl cellulose, and carrageenan kill Akkermansia. This causes leaky gut and activates the innate immune system immediately adjacent to the gut. It’s a good idea to pay attention to that crosstalk between the gut microbiome and the immune system because that’s where your cells are. Once your macrophages are activated, they produce a cytokine storm of inflammation that becomes one of the best paths to metabolic syndrome.

SF: What are a few examples of common foods that contain

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emulsifiers?

RD: Anything that’s smooth, has a long shelf life, and doesn’t want to separate contains emulsifiers. Sauces, salad dressings, some peanut butter, margarine, mayonnaise, ice cream, bread, and processed meats/foods are likely to contain emulsifiers. We need warning labels that say, “This is a risk factor for metabolic syndrome, which can be life threatening.” Consumers need to know that this will damage a key protecting bacteria.

To help your gut, look for chicory root, dandelion greens, Jerusalem artichoke, garlic, onions, leeks, asparagus, bananas, cocoa, seaweed, and flax seed. They all have prebiotics; food for beneficial microbes. A lot of the probiotic supplements that exist come with prebiotics loaded in as well. To get the benefit from them, you have to feed the microbes you want to metabolize in your gut, on your skin, and in your airways.

SF: Probiotic foods like kefir, yogurt, and even alternative milks are widely available, but the term prebiotic is still lesser

known. People aren’t quite as aware of how important prebiotics are and why we should be incorporating them into our diets along with probiotic foods.

RD: The foodstuffs that I mentioned, like leeks, do have high amounts of prebiotics and they are the components that the friendly bacteria will use to grow and reproduce in the gut or in the airways. If you’re eating junk food and a lot of sugar, you will have some bacteria, but they will not be the ones you want, and that’s where you’re going to get into pathogenic inflammatory problems.

SF: It’s kind of simple actually— just some simple whole foods.

RD: Yes, but be careful with fiber— not everyone responds exactly the same way to a given fiber-containing food. That’s why I don’t like the onesize-fits-all recommendations. If you can find the right fiber-containing mix for you, then that’s fantastic and it’s the easiest way to support your microbes: install and feed them.

density, and also what is being fed to the animal products.

RD: Yeah, absolutely. Where do your food animals come from and what is “meat quality”? We need meat products that are loaded with phytonutrients and things that are really going to support your body and your microbes. And we haven’t talked about the environment—the urban wasteland of microbes—which is terrible.

You need to get your kids out to animal petting zoos and animal farms to get them some early experience in those exposures that’ll protect them against allergic and autoimmune diseases. It helps to balance the immune system out and that is critical. If pregnant women live on an animal farm or the infant is born and grows up there, the infant has a reduced risk of allergic disease.

However, this is not the case if there was pesticide exposure.You need those bacterial exposures to make you healthier, but pesticides will wipe out all the benefits.

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In terms of soil, there is a Mycobacterium vaccae that is an anxiety reducer. It helps PTSD. Touching it with your skin and breathing it in will improve your neurological status and it’ll help elevate the production of serotonin in the prefrontal cortex.

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SF: With typical western diets, there is not enough vegetables and fruits, so the variety is already reduced. Fast foods and processed foods are also animal products that don’t have enough phytochemicals, so many people are lacking in phytochemicals through a shortage of vegetables and fruits and through meat consumption.

RD: Absolutely, it can be, and that’s the cycle we’ve gone through.You are the microbes that grew up from what you ate! If you want to grow a lot of pathogens that’ll give you metabolic syndrome and heart disease and cancer, then that’s what will happen.

SF: Diversifying our diets also means looking at the soil that our produce is grown in as far as the phytonutrients and nutrient

If you’re thinking of getting a furry pet and your family is not atopic or already allergic, you need to get the new pet sooner rather than later (e.g. for the newborn and/or infant). It is protective to have a new pet already in place as the young immune system rebalances. Whereas if you think, “I’ll wait until the child’s is six or seven— that’ll be great,” that’s a prescription for a higher risk of pet-driven asthma.

In terms of soil, there is a Mycobacterium vaccae that is an anxiety reducer. It helps PTSD. Touching it with your skin and breathing it in will improve your neurological status and it’ll help elevate the production of serotonin in the prefrontal cortex.

ymore info: www.rodneydietert.com www.facethecurrent.com

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FtC health

Evolutionary Mismatch: Understanding

our Biological Heritage for Better Health

By Jim Bentz, D.C. My father was a great man. He raised nine children, and taught me many of the values that have guided me through life. He was an outstanding dentist and understood that the health of the mouth and teeth reflected the health of the body. Looking outside his profession, he was also a student of human health, interested in a diverse range of health-related topics including nutrition and hormones, and even more esoteric subjects such as energy fields and chakras. He was excited to share these things with his children, and I fondly remember

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our discussions on a wide variety of health-related topics. When I was in my early twenties, he gave me a gift that had a profound impact on me—it was a book by Dr. Weston Price titled, Nutrition and Physical Degeneration. I’ve had this book for almost fifty years and have read it many times.

Dr. Weston Price was also a dentist who understood that dental health reflected overall health, and that dental caries (cavities) were an early sign of systemic health problems.

From 1930 to 1936, he and his wife traveled around the world and visited

different cultures that had not yet adopted the Standard American Diet (SAD) of highly processed foods. His research offers a window into the past that would be almost impossible to duplicate today since most cultures around the world are now heavily reliant on processed foods.

He visited Eskimos and Indians in the far north, natives in the Amazon and the high Andes, Australian aborigines, New Zealand Maori, Pacific islanders, African hunter-gatherer tribes, and isolated farming communities in the Swiss Alps and the Outer Hebrides Islands.

He documented the incidence of dental caries in these groups, noted the rates of infectious disease (tuberculosis mainly), and collected samples of foods they ate for nutritional analysis. When possible, he located groups living in the same area who had abandoned their native foods in favor of processed foods provided by trading posts and missionaries. Below is one of many pictures in this book showing the excellent teeth and facial structure of South Sea Islanders eating a native diet.

In all the groups he studied, the results were similar: those eating a native diet had very low rates of dental caries, from zero to less than two percent of teeth affected.

Neighboring groups from the same cultures and tribes who were trading for or buying processed foods showed a significant increase in dental decay, with between twentyfive to more than seventy-five percent of teeth affected.

The groups that had abandoned their traditional diets for processed food also showed significantly higher rates of tuberculosis. The processed foods they were consuming mainly consisted of white flour, white sugar, jams and syrups, processed vegetable oils and shortening, and cereals.

One of Price’s most striking observations was of the children whose parents were eating these processed foods. Not only was the rate of caries much higher than those of children raised on traditional foods, but there was also a significant alteration in the facial structure of the children born to parents eating processed foods—their dental arches and nasal passages were narrower, and their teeth were crowded as a result. He also noted that a majority of these children were mouth breathers; a condition that is always associated with other health problems.

Dr. Price also postulated the existence of an unknown nutritional factor in certain fats such as butter and fish oil that appeared to provide protection against tooth decay. He observed that all the populations he visited that had very low rates of tooth decay had access to butter from cows pastured on rapidly growing grass, or to seafood—especially fish eggs. Dr. Price called this factor “Activator X”, and his prediction was verified with the discovery of Vitamin K2 (menaquinone) in the 1950s.

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In all the groups he studied, the results were similar: those eating a native diet had very low rates of dental caries, from zero to less than two percent of teeth affected. Neighboring groups from the same cultures and tribes who were trading for or buying processed foods showed a significant increase in dental decay, with between twenty-five to more than seventy-five percent of teeth affected.

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This fat-soluble vitamin has been shown to regulate calcium deposition. In other words, it promotes the calcification of bones and prevents the calcification of blood vessels and kidneys. Therefore, it plays an important role in preventing heart disease, arterial plaque, osteoporosis and tooth decay. Price documented the reversal of dental caries in children when he provided a combination of cod liver and high vitamin butter oil in their diet. Modern diets are significantly lacking in K2 due to the vilification of saturated fats in our culture, and I have explored this in depth in my article The Widespread Epidemic of Disease in America: A Closer Look at the OverConsumption of Polyunsaturated Fats.

Dr. Price’s observations are a classic example of what is known as an “evolutionary mismatch”.

According to Harvard evolutionary biologist Daniel Lieberman, “The fundamental answer as to why so many humans are now getting sick from previously rare illnesses is that many of the body’s features were adaptive for the environments for which we evolved but have become maladaptive in the environments we have now created.”

It’s interesting that even mainstream medicine now calls many of the chronic diseases we suffer from such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, cancer, and autoimmune disease the “diseases of civilization”. These diseases were uncommon until the last few hundred years and are currently increasing at alarming rates.

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It’s interesting that even mainstream medicine now calls many of the chronic diseases we suffer from such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, cancer, and autoimmune disease the “diseases of civilization”. These diseases were uncommon until the last few hundred years and are currently increasing at alarming rates.

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I’ve discussed Metabolic Syndrome in other articles and I believe it is another example of a “mismatch disease”. Metabolic Syndrome arises from disrupted glucose and fat metabolism, and significantly increases the risk of Type II diabetes, heart and kidney disease, cancer, dementia, macular degeneration and neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s. It is characterized by insulin resistance from excess consumption of refined carbohydrates and processed vegetable oils that were only recently available to humans. Our bodies did not evolve to consume these foods and they are now wreaking havoc on our health.

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Our bodies evolved to grow and develop by interacting with our environment. Because of millions of generations of natural selection on these interactions, our bodies need appropriate and sufficient stressors to develop its capacity to adapt to the external environment.

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Unfortunately, there are other mismatches that are degrading our health as well. Because we evolved in environments that required physical activity for survival—without cars and domesticated animals for work and travel—our ancestors were primarily hunter-gatherers for most of our evolutionary past. This lifestyle required somewhere between seven to ten miles of walking or running on a daily basis! Our modern sedentary lifestyle is just the opposite. We park as close as we can to the supermarket, ironically shortening the walk to acquire the processed food we were never designed to eat. We are now seeing unprecedented levels of physical disability as a result of this drastic lifestyle divergence.

cleansers, and antibiotics. We tend to forget that our body is host to a microbiome: trillions of organisms that inhabit our skin, gut, respiratory tract, and other organs. These foreign microbes outnumber our trillion or so cells by ten to one, and are critical to our health.

Another often-overlooked mismatch pertains to our immune systems. Our culture is obsessed with germs and we aggressively disinfect our homes, food, and bodies with an arsenal of germ-killing agents including soap, bleach, steam, antibacterial

There are also several studies showing that children raised in excessively sterile environments have a much higher incidence of allergies and asthma, and this idea has been implicated in the increasing rate of autoimmune diseases. In our quest to rid ourselves and our environment

One of the current theories regarding autoimmune disease is called the “hygiene hypothesis”, first proposed by David Strachan in his 1989 article in the British Medical Journal. His idea was that a certain amount of dirt and germ exposure was necessary for the development of a healthy immune system and has been echoed by Dr. Zach Bush in his study of the human microbiome.

of microbes, we have turned our immune systems against us. Our immune system becomes akin to vagrant youths with no constructive outlet for their pent-up energy. This postulation explains the accumulating evidence that intentional exposure to certain parasites has been very successful in treating autoimmune diseases such multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease.

Our bodies evolved to grow and develop by interacting with our environment. Because of millions of generations of natural selection on these interactions, our bodies need appropriate and sufficient stressors to develop its capacity to adapt to the external environment. Our increasing tendency to separate ourselves from nature and isolate in cocoons of comfort works directly against our evolutionary history. It’s no wonder that while our lifespan has increased, our “healthspan”— the amount of time we live without disease or disability—has decreased. www.facethecurrent.com

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Referring back to Dr. Price’s book, Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, several other authors have also documented the physical degeneration of the human species.

Jared Diamond has authored several books on human prehistory including Guns, Germs, and Steel; Collapse; and Upheaval. In a 1999 article in Discover Magazine titled The Worst Mistake in the History of the Human Race, Diamond describes the archeological evidence of the physical deterioration of humans after they abandoned hunting and gathering for agriculture.

Human skeletons from early agricultural cultures were shorter, had smaller and weaker bones, and displayed more dental decay than their hunter-gatherer counterparts.

While it is unrealistic for modern

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humans to return to a huntergatherer lifestyle, there are several things we can do to prevent and reverse some of the deleterious effects evolutionary mismatches have wrought on us.

• Eat real, unprocessed food.

Processed foods are usually some combination of grain (refined wheat or corn), refined vegetable oil, refined sugar and salt, and chemical additives, flavors, and preservatives. The more refined any “food” is, the more deleterious it is to our health.

Support regenerative agriculture.

Regenerative agriculture uses animals like cows, pigs, goats, chickens, ducks, and geese to naturally till and fertilize the soil while providing meat for

consumption. Food crops can then be rotated on this healthier soil without chemicals and pesticides.

An added advantage is that carbon is sequestered from the atmosphere that has a positive impact on climate change. (This inspiring video sums up a lot of what I’ve discussed in this article.)

Be more active and get out in nature. Exposure to sun and natural environments is one of the best things we can do for our immune systems by raising our vitamin D levels and improving our microbiome.

Hiking in nature has the added benefit of increasing our activity levels that is crucial to better health. Physical inactivity is one of the leading causes of disease and disability.

Don’t be afraid of eating higher on the food chain—this means consuming more animal foods.

Our ancestors relied heavily on animal foods, and they are the most nutrient-dense foods available to us and the only ones providing the K2 factors critical to our health. Sardines, wild fish, fish roe (Ikura), pastureraised butter (Kerrygold, Organic Valley pastured butter), eggs, and

pasture-raised meats are essential health foods.

Vote for the planet with your food dollars. Support local, regenerative farms rather than industrial farming.

We have two regenerative agriculture leaders here in Skagit Valley: Skagit River Ranch and Skiyou Ranch. Buying meat and eggs from them will save your health and the planet! For those of you who don’t have the good

fortune of living in the beautiful Skagit Valley, you can find regeneratively raised foods at US Wellness Meats, Force of Nature, White Oak Farms, and Belcampo Farms.

ymore info: www.fidalgoislandhealthcenter.com www.facebook.com/drjimbentz www.facebook.com/fidalgoislandhealthcenter

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FtC fAce the current

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