Everyday Magic for Ukraine

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► Tell us about you and your podcast

My name is Colleen Thomas. I'm a certified Meditation and Mindfulness teacher based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Daily Magic for Peace is a meditation podcast designed to help those not directly impacted by Russia's war to support those who are. The show debuted on Apple Podcasts at #37 in the U.S and at #11 in Australia. Each episode is under 10 minutes. The listener is invited to grab a simple item such as a bowl of water or a candle. Together we calm our minds and use the item to do a short ritual to send good energy to Ukraine. Intentions we have focused on include: Asking for open lines of connection between family members, sending protection to members of the press, and honoring our agency as witnesses and helpers.
Starhawk reminds us that magic works best when paired with real-world actions, so I invite my listeners to choose something from this list of Creative Ways to Support Ukraine: https://ever-changing.net/ukraine

► Why & how did you start this podcast? 

When Russia invaded Ukraine one year ago, I wanted to go and fight. I literally wanted to get on a plane and somehow get my body onto the front line as quickly as possible. As strong as this impulse was, I knew I would be of very little help on the front lines. I have no military experience and at the time of the invasion I was recovering from an injury and could not even walk!
So I turned to what I do best in times of crisis: Magic!
While the ritual is the focus of each episode, the true goal of the podcast is to help witnesses deal with any secondary trauma they might be experiencing so they can remain committed to supporting Ukraine's quest for freedom. As U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, "We can't become numb to this. We can't normalize this." I'm fairly sure he wasn't thinking that magic might be part of the solution, but I think it is!

► How'd you find the time and funding to do this podcast?

I was actually already producing Shame Piñata, a monthly podcast, when Russia invaded Ukraine. I found the idea of starting a second (and daily!) podcast extremely daunting, both in terms of hours in the day and stamina. However, since the situation was so dire, I knew that I wanted to make a deep commitment of some kind. I fund the show myself. I consider it to be the foundation of the monetary contributions I am able to make toward peace in Ukraine.

► What do you gain from podcasting?        

Jumping into immediate production on a 5-day-a-week show taught me so many things. I learned how to work quick and lean (no transcripts, no unique episode images). I learned how to edit on 1.5 speed. I learned how to wring every podcasting minute I could out of my daily schedule (including recording during my lunch hour). I realized how many skills I had already developed as a podcaster, from keeping my audio files organized to networking in the community. And I realized that leading meditation is my calling. It was a challenge for me to come out in this way as a podcaster. I had been playing it safer in hosting the Shame Piñata podcast which follows an interview format. It was time to lead the circle!

► How does your podcasting process look like? 

At first I was producing at all hours to release 5 shows a week. Now, one year on, my goal is to produce 2 episodes per week. I work one month ahead, recording and editing about 10 episodes at a time.
The basic flow is: Write a list of intentions I feel called to share and can comfortably lead the listener through (asking myself: Do I know enough about this topic? Can I feel the flow of how this energy wants to move? Am I ready to speak on this topic?), intuit what object would be best to ritualize the intention, record, edit, listen, fix, QC, release attachment to each episode, publish and promote on social.

► How do you market your show?

I was purchasing promo placements on Aubrey back when it was still a thing. I've done promo exchanges with colleagues. This month I will be releasing a set of Instagram reels (on per episode) and sharing them on IG stories. I buy a 1-week membership to Hashtag Expert every 6 months or so to get updated hashtags.

► What advice would you share with aspiring (new) podcasters?

I highly recommend the resources available at training.npr.org, prx.org, airmedia.org, and womensaudiomission.org
One piece of advice I would offer is to learn to trust your voice, physically and spiritually. Begin to notice any patterns of tension in your neck and throat throughout the day. Then see if you can notice any sensations in these areas when you're in front of the mic or preparing to do an interview (or even having a hard conversation with a friend). Bring compassion to anything you might sense. Guide yourself with love through any tension, finding your way slowly toward the moment when you realize you are fully trusting your voice. Stay committed - this can take years!

► Where can we learn more about you & your podcasts?

Podcast Website: https://dailymagicforpeace.com
About Me: https://ever-changing.net/about
Instagram: instagram.com/shamepinata
Facebook: facebook.com/shamepinata
Twitter: twitter.com/shamepinata
Email: shamepinata@gmail.com