EpiphanY This and Thats...

Blog Moved Ya'll!

2009-09-27T07:04:00.001-07:00

Dearest Beautiful Blog Followers and Readers who have Bookmarked this,

We moved my blog to a new server which means this blog won't be getting the new posts! All you have to do to join the new blog is go to epiphanychannel.com and click blog and you will see where to sign up to follow the blog in the upper right corner. It has all of these earlier blog entries and comments plus the new ones and has other features also -- like the option to be notified when an entry is posted (or at least it's much more clear how to activate that feature!)

And if you're not a follower but you've bookmarked us, you just need to re- bookmark. So sorry for the extra trouble but this new one is much better according to my web person, and while we were still starting out we thought it was best to go ahead and make the jump -- so there you have it...

Thank you so much for following, reading, caring to spend your precious time sharing with me and all of us at epiphanychannel.com. It is an honor and a lot of fun and, of course, greatly appreciated.

With great respect and gratitude,

Elise

TIPS: TV/MUSIC Launch Week! The Dr. Oz Show, Whitney Houston's Latest Album

2009-09-15T23:00:00.000-07:00

These aren't necessarily epiphany related subjects but I am going to start putting tips up on my blog…because tips are sort of like epiphanies – okay they’re more like discoveries about things that I think are fabulous, but you can have amazing revelations (ie: epiphanies) when you come across things that enhance your life, no? So the first tip will be about a couple of cool lauches that are happening...

The Dr. Oz Show launched yesterday - it's syndicated so you need to check out when it plays in your area but if you like Oprah, and like seeing him and the wealth of information he shares on her show, you'll love this show.

Dr. Oz was one of my first interviews for my book. I've produced several of his YOU! fitness videos that go with his books with Joel Harper and his wife, Lisa. (Joel even made me be in the Yoga video.) The Oz's are the coolest, loveliest people and are doing such great work - they have an amazing non-profit called HealthCorps amongst all the other things they are doing. I thought this 4 minute piece on MediaWeek about the show was interesting, if you want to watch - he even mentions he'll be dealing with epiphanies!

Also, another launch that happened this week (which is also related to Oprah oddly enough - she appeared on her show the last couple of days) is Whitney Houston's latest album, I Look to You - it's been 7 years since her last studio album! I bought the album and really do love it. Especially the songs, I Didn't Know My Own Strength (written by Diane Warren, btw, who's committed to being interviewed for Epiphany), Million Dollar Bill and Nothin' But Love. (I admit it - I have the strangest range of taste in music, everything from artists like Whitney and Jordan Sparks to alt groups like Bon Iver and Brian Jonestown Massacre...go figure...and if you don't have Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago / Blood Bank - RUN, go get it - I don't know anyone who's heard them that don't enjoy them ... immensely.)

Next tip...jeans that make you love your genes...stay tuned...

The Horse Boy Movie Opens this Weekend

2009-09-12T09:37:00.000-07:00

I wrote about the incredible book, The Horse Boy, by Rupert Isaacson on July 30. The documentary that they were shooting as the story unfolded is now out. It is a MUST-SEE from everyone I know who has seen it. Rupert and Kristin (his wife) will be at several of the screenings. I cannot wait to see this & am very excited to say that I think it's going to work out that I will have the opportunity to interview these amazing people! Let me know if you get to see it and what you think. Here is the schedule: The Horse Boy Play Dates & Appearances, and the Movie Trailer, etc. is here.

Back to School...

2009-09-11T23:11:00.000-07:00

It's 11:11pm on 9/11 as I start this blog entry (not on purpose, I am just haunted by 11's, especially lately)...it has been a while since I've been here...yikes, almost 3 weeks...I have been out of town running around in Dallas, Austin and New Orleans and then on a whim, Las Vegas! I got back last night. Some of the running around was work, some was play and most was rest. It's the end of the week that began with Labor Day, marking the end of the summer, entering the beginning of fall and when Monday rolls around, we are all officially, back to school. (I don't know about you, but I still think somewhat in semesters...)

So while I was in Dallas, I actually went back and visited the grammar school I attended and interviewed my 5^th Grade Teacher, Carol Lanning, for Epiphany. God Bless Facebook – she actually found me on there. This woman is what I consider a ‘Master Teacher.' What is a 'Master Teacher,' you ask? Put it this way -- every kid she taught, if they are on Facebook, is her friend, and every single person I’ve ever talked to who had her as a teacher says that the year they were in her class was one of their favorite years of all time...okay, we were 10 when she taught us and we’re still saying that!!

I always wondered what it was about her that made her different, that touched us all so much. In my case, I always said I thought it might be something along the lines about her ‘seeing’ me – truly ‘seeing’ me for who I was at the ripe old age of 10...I know, it sounds ridiculous, but that is how she made me feel and somehow her recognizing me in this way gave me confidence that I’d never felt before and has been something I have been able to drawn upon throughout my life. Maybe she did that for all of us. I've never really been able to clearly articulate or truly figure out what she did that was so special and what her secret was for being a Master Teacher. I have found Master Teachers are not common - I've only had about 5 my entire life and that's a lot for most people. I want to know what the secrets are to this magic they hold. Carol Lanning, my first Master Teacher, definitely had that magic and now I was going to have the opportunity to interview her for Epiphany! I was thrilled! I had no idea what she was going to say, but I was sure whatever it was, it would probably be interesting and insightful. I showed up after not seeing her for over 20+ years and it's weird, but it was like not that much time had passed. So Carol (it's still bizarre for me to call her that, I still kept calling her Mrs. Lanning) told her epiphany story on camera, and guess what? Yep. Gorgeous. I won’t give it all away but I wanted to share what her quote is from this epiphany…

‘If you believe in a child, they will succeed.’

Think about that for a second …

‘If you believe in a child, they will succeed.’

Yes. That was her secret. The key to what what she did for us. She truly, really, absolutely believed in us. Completely without question. It was real. When someone believes in you like that, the confidence that is instilled and what becomes possible is endless. She did this for all of us in her class. She said the hard part was convincing children that she truly did believe in them, but once she did, they bloomed.

I told the story of her epiphany to a group of my friends at dinner the day I conducted the interview and we all had tears in our eyes by the end. (and Mrs. L herself had teared up when she told it, much to her surprise...) I think this story was so moving to all of us because we can all relate in some way…to our own kids, to our spouses, our sisters and brothers, boyfriends or employees – whoever is close to us in our lives...

After thinking about this for a while, I have come up with this theory: If we don’t truly believe in the people closest to us, we need to really look at why. Why don’t we believe in them? If we really don’t believe in them to succeed or grow or do well or be trustworthy, etc., we need to figure out why we don't and we need to try to change that. (If in the case of a relationship outside of a child, you can't change yourself to believe in a person, the relationship should seriously be looked at and considered.) In my opinion, it’s imperative, especially when you’re dealing with your own children and your significant other. It’s that important. And if and when you do believe in them, the job is to make sure beyond any doubt that they know it – that they truly know and believe that you do believe in them. I think many times we don’t realize that they don't know we believe in them – they never believe that we believe in them and that is crippling to a degree. Think about it...if the people closest to you in your life don’t believe in you, who will? It makes it SO much harder to believe in yourself, and if you don’t believe in yourself - again, the question is: who will?

'If you believe in a child, they will succeed.'

...a simple, yet extremely profound and very important realization that, for me at least, really extends beyond children -- but this is definitely one for all parents, guardians, teachers and anyone else dealing with children everywhere...

See, Carol Lanning, Master Teacher, still teaching me 20+ years later! (and she’s now teaching gifted children in Math and Science using a lot of Harry Potter stories and situations to teach her classes, so I’m right, she is magical...for real...)

So here's to Master Teachers, End of Summers and Beginnings of Falls...Happy Back to School, ya'll - may all our ‘Schools’ be as colorful, fun, and as full of lessons and magic as Hogwarts ~ Cheers!

Life Advice From Old People

2009-08-23T15:37:00.000-07:00

I love this...hilarious and poignant. He really is guerilla in his approach of getting interviews from 'old people.' He chases people down in the check out line at Whole Foods! I should try to get this guy's greatest epiphany...(and figure out how to follow this blog!)

http://www.lifeadvicefromoldpeople.com/

News, Authors, Race Car Drivers and more....

2009-08-19T12:54:00.000-07:00

Last week was so busy I haven't time to check in here and I see I now have new followers! hooray! welcome! since we're so small now, I can do that, yes? : )

We just got our first press coverage! The First30Days.com did a profile and then sent out a newsletter about Epiphany yesterday. I was interviewed for the profile but had no idea she was going to feature us in a newsletter that she sends out every day. I received mine at 11:11am - the 11:11 phenomenon has been something that I have experienced over the past several years...I'm sure some of you know what I'm talking about and have experienced it, too...but anyway, that is a story for another day...if you've never checked out the First30Days.com site -- RUN! (to it, that is...) It's wonderful and has SO much great information...her daily newletters are perfect in execution I have to say - short, sweet, to the point and full of great information...here are the links to the Epiphany stuff and you can explore the site - signing up for the newsletter is super easy, too...

http://www.first30days.com/profiles-of-change

http://www.first30days.com/profiles-of-change/Elise-Ballard

I also did 3 new interviews last week with people with amazing epiphanies...Mark Thornton, who left his job of COO of JP Morgan Europe to become a meditation teacher and expert and wrote the best-selling book, Meditation in a New York Minute: Super Calm for the Super Busy, after his greatest epiphany; Ali Afshar a renowned, world-record holding race-car driver; and Andrea Buchanan, a director/producer/writer and author of the wonderful book, Note to Self.

I filmed all of them so their videos hopefully will be going up on the site in the next month or so...I wish they could go up sooner but I am leaving for Texas and New Orleans tomorrow to do interviews and see my family and friends and experience some Texas heat! (Everyone thinks I'm crazy but I miss hot summers - LA gets hot but not like Texas or New York and somehow it hasn't even felt like it's been summer to me this year and now it's almost over - so I'm heading south to try to claim some summer magic before we enter fall...) BUT I think some of my other videos that we've been working on will be able to be posted in the next week or so, so I'll keep you posted! Hope you are having a magical summer and enjoy these last lazy (yeah, right) days of August...

Ali Afshar in his office where we shot his interview in Santa Monica, CA.

My awesome crew, Drew and Sergio...

Andrea Buchanan (right) and me in her office in Los Angeles.

Julie and Julia Movie Revelation

2009-08-09T10:55:00.000-07:00

Of course I saw Julie and Julia opening weekend (see blog 7/30)...Makes me want to wear pearls and listen to old standards and even - gasp - cook! or eat rather...you come out of the theatre practically salivating and dreaming about what you're going to eat next...

It is about love - love of food, love of significant others, falling in love, maintaining love, loving your work, your family, your friends, finding out what you love, and finding love with others in society, too, as both women find they are loved and appreciated by people who love what they do. It is a great movie - thank you, Nora Ephron, for doing another film that clips along, is funny, moving, uplifting, and you learn something - about a slice of history (Julia Child's) at the very least. The film is based on the books, 'Julie and Julia' by Julie Powell and Julia Child's book, 'My Life in France.' Merryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci, Chris Messina (who I've actually seen work in a class I was in and have never been more moved by someone's work in class ever - therefore, I wasn't surprised when he was so good and his character was so real, that I simply got lost in the reality of the film and forgot I knew him!), and all of the other actors were superb. Everyone I was with loved the film and we all give it enthusiastic thumbs up - WAY up! Guys have even been enjoying this film so it's a great choice for co-ed outings...

To tie this into epiphanies, (you knew I had to do it, this is the EpiphanyChannel blog, after all), I spoke in my earlier blog about how Julie has an epiphany to write a blog and thus began her project that developed into a book and now this film. Well, in the film, it shows Julia Child also had an epiphany - but hers is more gradual - the epiphany that she is to cook and that is her 'calling' so to speak, is a more gradual process, but she realizes it and life unfolds from there. This film shows 2 kinds of epiphanies that I am noticing with my project - sometimes people have instantaneous epiphanies like Julie did: in one moment practically, she decided to do a blog and did it and it changed her and her life almost immediately. And then there are ones like Julia had where you are changing over time and the epiphany is when you realize that this has been happening and that you have changed which tends to give you a new perspective and way of approaching things in life. Both are epiphanies, just unfolded in different ways.

ps:

for the possible monday blahs...some trailers for upcoming films I think will be interesting...enjoy.

It's Complicated, directed by Nancy Meyers, Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin (Comedy)

2012, directed by Roland Emmerich, John Cussack (Action, Drama)

The Stepfather, Sela Ward (Thriller)

Epiphany: I was a Baseball Virgin!

2009-08-07T22:18:00.000-07:00

Get your mind out of the gutter, this isn't Bull Durham...but before Tuesday I don't think I've ever been to a professional baseball game! It struck me that this is strange because baseball is in my very genes, considering my grandfather had played in the minors, which my date said truly does feed most of the players into the majors. So for my first professional baseball game, I saw the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Milwaukee Brewers in Dodger stadium 17-4, and it was, well, simply awesome...It was a beautiful night and we had rock star seating - 2 rows from the field and the owner of the team was a few seats down with the dugout nearby where a fight sort of broke out at the end - so seemingly baseball-ish to me, it was exciting. Other highlights: tons of bats broke when they hit the ball, a guy ran out onto the field in the middle of the game and about 5-6 cops ran and tackled him after chasing him for a while, and then Manny Ramirez hit a home run! Which apparently has not been the norm since he's come back from being suspended for allegedly using steroids. The reason I was especially excited to be a few feet from Mr. Ramirez while he waited and warmed up to bat is this: since I am not a sports fanatic (embarrassingly not at all), and he is one of the few baseball players I'd heard of and is a hero out here, when I put together a wish list for Epiphany, I put him down as a sports figure I wanted to interview. Actually, since his suspension, I'm even more curious to know what his greatest epiphany might be. So anyway, here was this one sports figure I'd had on my 'wish list' of potential interviews and there he was - right there in front of me! and I happened to have my camera in my purse...(it was so fun I'm starting to research other sports figures I could interview - I'm actually interviewing a race car driver next week...any other suggestions, send them on in...)

hitting the home run...

at the end, the players all do the 'good game/congrats' thing and I asked my friend why they don't do it with the other team and he replied, "This isn't Little League." Well.

I still think it would be nice but, then again, maybe dugout fighting would cease to exist...

Epiphany, Epiphany Project, EpiphanyChannel.com, wha?

2009-08-03T13:33:00.000-07:00

It was pointed out to me that some people might just stumble upon the EpiphanyChannel Blog and have no idea what it is. Oh. I don’t know why but I assumed that everyone would only come to this blog via the website – shows you how well-versed I am in the world of blog - SO, in case you have stumbled upon this blog having no idea what EpiphanyChannel.com is or who I am...here is the trailer about the Epiphany Project and book for your viewing pleasure. All of these interviews have been conducted 'guerilla style' with just me, my camera and these amazing people who have shared their greatest epiphanies in life with me and you can go see, hear and read about them on the website (and the quality of the video is much better there, too)...I have done other interviews for the book that weren't filmed, and there are more filmed ones coming - some are still being edited, and some are lined up to film as I write this - so keep coming back and stay tuned! (and please go check out the website and share your stories and suggestions if you are so inclined! I’d especially love to know whose greatest epiphanies in life you’d like to know about…)

thanks and have a good one!

EpiphanY book recommendations...

2009-07-30T14:48:00.001-07:00

Lately, people have been asking me for recommendations of books for summer reading...I recently have completely two amazing autobiographical accounts that, yes, happen to deal with epiphanies...

Oddly enough, both of these authors are from Austin (Austin has been my home off and on for years). One lives there now and the other was raised there but now lives in New York. Both books have films based on them as well - coming out very soon in fact!

The first book is The Horse Boy by Rupert Isaacson. This is an incredible story of parental love and the quest these parents go on to heal their autistic son. I laughed out loud, gasped, cried, and could not put it down. The documentary they shot while on their journey, primarily on horseback in Outer Mongolia, meeting with shamans who could possibly heal their son, is going to be released in September. It was a huge hit on the festival film circuit, including the big ones - Sundance and South By Southwest. Rupert is now adapting the book for a narrative film as well. For me, this book is an example of the human capacity for exceptional, boundless love and the endless possibilities and opportunities that can occur because of it. I have met Rupert in Austin and he is quite dashing, fun and definitely extraordinary. His wife, Kristin is amazing, too, and hopefully I will be interviewing them for the book. They have set up a foundation and school for children with autism with proceeds from these projects and individual donations.

The second book I just finished, which actually made me brave enough to give in and write a blog is Julie and Julia by Julie Powell. I have had the book since the summer of 2006 when I picked up a hardback signed copy in BookPeople, my favorite indie bookstore in Austin, the day after Ms. Powell had a booksigning...I'm so bummed I missed her now. Obviously, I was an idiot and never even read it, but because there is such a hoopla about the new Nora Ephron film with Meryl Streep and Amy Adams (and also Chris Messina, who plays Julie's husband and might not be as famous but is an incredible actor and great guy), I looked for it on my shelf the other day and decided I needed to sit down with it. Again - couldn't put it down. Girl has epiphany that her life is stagnant and dead end-ish and she needs to create a project that stimulates her before she turns 30. She swipes her mother's copy of Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking and decides to cook all 524 recipes in it over the course of a year and blogs about it, having no idea what she's doing in either the kitchen or the blog. Cut to...she is now a big-time author, writes full-time, still blogs, and has a BIG-time movie out based on her book. And we all live happily ever after...gotta love stories like this, especially when they're true! Funny, smart, real, actually makes you want to cook (which is beyond odd for me) and wear pearls (ditto) and brings back childhood memories of watching Julia Child on TV which was made no sense and was completely over my head at the time (and probably still is) but mesmerized nonetheless, and I can't wait for the film which opens August 7.

Epiphanies about Gifts and Talents...

2009-07-29T16:02:00.000-07:00

Goodness, it’s already Wed.?! Where does the time go?! I think time truly might be speeding up, it’s not just our imaginations - but that is a subject for another day…so anyway, my awesome team of Monty Bass, my video editor, and Sarah Farrell, my web designer, have been putting the finishing touches on the website over the last few days so we can finally officially launch. Oddly enough on Sat. night (yes, I know, I have such an exciting social life lately), Monty and I had just finished editing Ariane De Bonvoisin’s Epiphany interview when out of the blue she called to invite me to attend the 11:30am Agape church service the next day to hear Michael Beckwith speak - she had VIP tickets. I was like, 'you need tickets to attend church??' but I said I'd meet her there at 11am.

Um, okay. Wow. I saw why you needed tickets. Well, they weren't really tickets but someone had assured her seats. I thought surely this was ridiculous and what could possibly warrant such a big deal for church? There was this huge line outside like we were going to a concert or something. Well...now I get it. I ended up getting seated on the front row and experienced one of the most fun, most involved, most joyous and engrossing church celebrations I've ever witnessed. Michael Beckwith is amazing which is why he is world-renowned and on the national and international scene. (He's in the film, The Secret, and has appeared on Oprah and Larry King, amongst other shows.) He is so funny, cute, alive, devoted and real. He’s like a Chris Rock of ministers. That's who he sort of reminded me of – the way he talked and laughed and made jokes and paced back and forth on stage and just the energy he put into all of it. Agape endorsed Ariane's book, The First 30 Days, so we met Michael afterwards and he could not have been more real, gracious and super-cool.

I found it interesting that his sermon that day had to do with our gifts and that if we just stick with cultivating our gifts, they will guide us. He says our gifts are not really for us but to serve others and society and if we quit saying, ‘yes, but…(insert whatever excuse you want here)’ and just do what we feel called to do and work diligently on those gifts and talents, even if we’re scared or worried, those gifts and talents will end up guiding us to places we never even knew we could go.

I found it interesting because I don't know if this is total coincidence because it happened with my last blog entry, but his message reminded me of what Elizabeth Avellan, the film producer of Desperado and Spy Kids, had to say in her Epiphany interview:

‘Develop your talents, and they will guide you.’

They both said not to worry about what will happen but to develop, cultivate, and honor your gifts and talents and they will lead and guide you to the next thing along life’s path. That does seem to be a tenet that most of the successful people I have interviewed for Epiphany have embraced…so I’m just sayin’…food for thought...

Welcome to EpiphanyChannel Blog!

2009-07-25T17:53:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the EpiphanyChannel Blog!

Since everyone and their dog, literally, has a blog these days, (I especially like the dachshund blogs, of course - see Lord of the Wiens), I was informed that once I launched my EpiphanyChannel.com site, I needed to have one, so here we are…

I’ll be writing and musing about the Epiphany Project and about epiphanies themselves and epiphanies about epiphanies…but you never know, I’ve never done a blog before, so I’m sure I’ll be musing about other what-nots and going-ons…we’ll see what happens…

For my very first blog entry, I will go with what I would love my watchers and readers to do – suggest and talk about people whose greatest epiphanies they would like to know about. I received an email about Nobel Prize Nominee Irene Sendler recently and have pasted it below. I would love to know what this amazing woman’s greatest epiphany in life was…look at that face!

Irena Sendler - who recently died at 98 years of age, was a 2008 Nobel Peace Prize Nominee.

During WWII, Irena was given permission to work in the Warsaw Ghetto, as a plumbing/sewer specialist. She had an ulterior motive - she knew what the Nazi plan was for Jews...

Irena smuggled out infants in the bottom of a tool box she carried in the back of her truck. She used a burlap sack for bigger children. She also had a dog in the back that she trained to bark when Nazi soldiers let her in and out of the ghetto. The soldiers wanted nothing to do with her dog. The barking covered noises of the infants and children.

Irena managed to smuggle out and save 2500 infants and children before she was caught! The Nazi's broke both her legs and arms and beat her severely. Irena kept a record in a jar buried under a tree in her back yard of all the children she smuggled out. After the war, she tried to locate all parents that may have survived to reunite families, but most had been gassed. The children she could not reunite were placed with foster families or adopted.

Irena was nominated for the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize. She was not selected. Al Gore won for An Inconvenient Truth.

I looked Irena up after getting this email and found her website where you can find loads of information on her and her story (including the fact that Hallmark did a movie on her that aired on CBS in April starring True Blood's very own Anna Pacquin as Irena) and this blurb was on the home page:

“He who changes one person, changes the world entire.”

which reminded me of what G.W. Bailey says in his interview for Epiphany...

'When one life changes, many lives change.'

There was another quote that G.W. shared with me that I love by J.M. Barrie (the guy who wrote Peter Pan). They use it in all the Sunshine Kids' literature, but since it isn't by G.W., I didn't mention it in his interview for the book or website, so I'll share it here:

'Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others, cannot keep it from themselves.'