The Gifts of Gab and Godmothers

Godmothers’ lineup of fascinating authors in conversation exceeds even what might have been expected before the September 2024 opening of the high-profile Montecito-adjacent bookstore. Recent guests have included Oprah Winfrey, Meghan Markle, Amanda Knox, and Maria Shriver, to name just a few. 

Those events almost invariably sell out well in advance. But Godmothers – in its mission to disseminate these cultural pearls – has made many of the talks available to watch online for free without having to sign up for the paid membership. These available  sessions include Knox, famous chef Alice Waters, and Grief Is for People author Sloane Crosley. These works and authors are not necessarily to be found in the spiritual or self-help section of the bookshop, but when interviewed by Godmothers’ founders and others, these authors often dive deeper that might be expected on a regular book tour appearance. Visit https://godmothers.substack.com to stream. 

Up soon in person: Kevin Kwan, author of the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy, who will talk about the paperback release of his latest novel, Lies & Weddings, with Goodreads Co-Founder and former Editor-in-Chief Elizabeth Khuri Chandler (June 4). Philanthropy Leader Hali Lee takes the Godmothers stage on June 7 to discuss her book The Big We: How Giving Circles Unlock Generosity, Strengthen Community & Make Change, where she’ll be joined in conversation by Gwyn Lurie, CEO and editor-in-chief of the Montecito Journal and The Giving List. They’ll talk about challenging our traditional understanding of giving in a discussion about everyday people taking philanthropy back from the billionaires; that is, making the world a better place even without much sought-after major financial donations. It seems there is great power in a group of people who come together to do good in their community.

June 9 brings Elizabeth Greenwood, author of Everyday Intuition, which explores the world of human intuition to explore how it can be harnessed to help know – and trust – ourselves more deeply. She’ll talk with author Swan Huntley, whose books include 2024’s You’re Grounded: An Anti-Self-Help Book to Calm You the F*ck Down.

Already sold out is the June 13 conversation with Pinterest Co-Founder Evan Sharp and Twitter and Medium Co-Founder Biz Stone, who are currently teaming up on another tech-based project but will share with Godmothers Co-Founder Jennifer Rudolph Walsh about their personal journeys and their present-day efforts to live with purpose and make space for the sacred. A waitlist is available. 

Visit https://godmothers.com/events

SBYC Seeks Support 

Santa Barbara Yoga Center, which was established in 1992 and is the city’s longest-running yoga studio, has put out a call for financial support as challenges have persisted since the pandemic. The fundraising initiative, which is seeking a total of $35,000, will help ensure that the center, located in a historic building downtown that offers an expansive atmosphere with twenty-foot ceilings and huge skylights providing natural light, can continue to offer a diverse range of classes and events and make yoga accessible to everyone. 

The mission is to continue to cultivate a nurturing and mindful community-based business for wellness and growth, and any donations are gratefully accepted. Those who can give $500 or more will receive an escalating series of benefits that includes class packages, workshops or sound baths, private sessions with a preferred teacher, and personal yoga retreats. 

Upcoming events at SBYC include “Ecstatic Coherence: Sonic Activation of Body, Voice & Spirit” with David Kennet on June 8, when the sound healer will lead a powerful 2.5-hour immersion designed to awaken your full energetic system through mind, body and spirit. Beyond a sound bath, the event is a dynamic experience where primal vitality meets higher consciousness, and the voice becomes a bridge between the two.

The workshop begins with guided vocal and breath practices to activate the chakra system from root to crown, followed by a transformative sound journey that is designed to be deeply activating by the creation of a powerful intentional sonic field to stimulate cellular alignment and emotional release. Each participant will also receive a brief personalized one-on-one sound healing, tuned to your unique energetic blueprint. 

Visit www.sbyc.com

Pacifica Experience, Online

The world-renowned Pacifica Graduate Institute is located on two beautiful campuses in Montecito and Carpinteria, but the next “Pacifica Experience” introduction event on Friday, June 6, takes place online. Those who are feeling called to a path of depth, meaning, and transformation can take a Zoom visit to explore how a Pacifica education can help you bring unique gifts into the world. 

During this immersive online event, visitors will meet Pacifica’s faculty members and learn about its distinctive master’s and doctoral programs as well as hear firsthand from alumni about their Pacifica journeys. Participants will also find out more about how the institute’s soul-centered approach prepares graduates for careers that serve both personal growth and the greater good, whether in fields of psychology, mythology, counseling or the creative and healing arts. The normal application fee of $75 will be waived for those who attend the event. Visit www.pacifica.edu/admissions for details or registration. 

Head to www.pacifica.edu/pacifica-events for information about extension programs, one-off events and more, including the social-business mixer on June 6. 

NVC for All 

Certified Center for Nonviolent Communication (NVC) Trainer and Assessor Rodger Sorrow will be presenting the Essence of Compassionate Communication class online using Zoom starting in June through Santa Barbara City College’s School of Extended Learning (SEL). The class, offered for free, is open to anyone who wants to improve the quality of connection in relationships and to deepen understanding while living the NVC. Nonviolent Communication was developed by the late Marshall Rosenberg, PhD, who actually led weekend workshops through SBCC’s SEL back when it was known as Adult Ed. Among the skills covered are developing presence, connecting with the heart before speaking, expressing honesty with compassion versus criticism or blaming, embracing and appreciating our inner critic, responding to difficult messages, navigating conflict, and the spiritual basis of NVC. Role playing and practicing the skills happens frequently in breakout rooms. 

Visit www.chooseconnection.com/compassionate-communication for more details and registration links for the class that takes place Tuesday evenings, June 10-July 8.