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Ever wonder what it takes to choreograph Broadway's biggest hits? Step into the creative world of Susan Stroman, a five-time Tony Award-winning director and choreographer. Susan joins us to share her life's work, from her recent projects like the Broadway musical New York, New York and the play POTUS or Behind Every Great Dumbass, to her future plans of authoring a book. Hear her unfiltered journey as she navigates the world of storytelling and collaboration, drawing on her rich background in English literature and her collaborations with notable directors and composers.

We'll then move through the labyrinth of Susan's artistic process and her unique way of blending research and preparation with the creative inputs of her actors. We'll discuss how her diverse range of inspirations and her flexibility with different dance styles has allowed her to create some of Broadway's most loved stories. You'll also learn how she recharges her creative batteries by immersing herself in global art experiences – a daily routine that helps keep her innovative spirit alive.

Lastly, be inspired as Susan opens up about her personal battles - her fight against COVID-19 and the challenges she faced creating a show in the aftermath of 9/11. Listen to her touching reflections on the highs and lows of her career, including her bold decision to knock on the doors of renowned composers Kander and Ebb. Learn how being present, listening, and pursuing her dreams with determination and resilience paved her way to become one of Broadway's most respected figures. Don't miss out on this captivating episode!

If you are enjoying the show please subscribe, share and review! Word of mouth is incredibly impactful and your support is much appreciated!

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🌟✨📚 **Buy 'The Places Where There Are Spaces: Cultivating A Life of Creative Possibilities'** 📚✨🌟
Dive into a world where spontaneity leads to creativity and discover personal essays that inspire with journal space to reflect. Click the link below to grab your copy today and embark on a journey of self-discovery and unexpected joys! 🌈👇
🔗 Purchase Your Copy Here: https://a.co/d/2UlsmYC

🌟 **Interested in finding out more about working with Lisa Hopkins? Want to share your feedback or be considered as a guest on the show?**
🔗 Visit Wide Open Stages https://www.wideopenstages.com

📸 **Follow Lisa on Instagram:** @wideopenstages https://www.instagram.com/wideopenstages/

💖 **SUPPORT THE SHOW:** [Buy Me a Coffee] https://www.buymeacoffee.com/STOPTIME

🎵 **STOPTIME Theme Music by Philip David Stern**
🔗 [Listen on Spotify]
https://open.spotify.com/artist/57A87Um5vok0uEtM8vWpKM?si=JOx7r1iVSbqAHezG4PjiPg

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This episode is a loving gift, designed to guide you into a tranquil and restful sleep. So, exhale the stress, inhale the calm and let us take you on this relaxing voyage to dreamland. A guided body scan meditation for restful sleep. A lullaby for your mind, body, and soul.

Support the show

🌟✨📚 **Buy 'The Places Where There Are Spaces: Cultivating A Life of Creative Possibilities'** 📚✨🌟
Dive into a world where spontaneity leads to creativity and discover personal essays that inspire with journal space to reflect. Click the link below to grab your copy today and embark on a journey of self-discovery and unexpected joys! 🌈👇
🔗 Purchase Your Copy Here: https://a.co/d/2UlsmYC

🌟 **Interested in finding out more about working with Lisa Hopkins? Want to share your feedback or be considered as a guest on the show?**
🔗 Visit Wide Open Stages https://www.wideopenstages.com

📸 **Follow Lisa on Instagram:** @wideopenstages https://www.instagram.com/wideopenstages/

💖 **SUPPORT THE SHOW:** [Buy Me a Coffee] https://www.buymeacoffee.com/STOPTIME

🎵 **STOPTIME Theme Music by Philip David Stern**
🔗 [Listen on Spotify]
https://open.spotify.com/artist/57A87Um5vok0uEtM8vWpKM?si=JOx7r1iVSbqAHezG4PjiPg

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How often do we allow ourselves to ignore our intuition, building walls of limiting beliefs to shield us from uncomfortable truths? Join me, Lisa Hopkins, as I recount a profoundly unsettling event that challenged the very fabric of my perceived reality. Through a reflective journey marked by mundane but metaphorically rich experiences—like a grocery store trip and the unexpected purchase of Ziploc bags—I uncover powerful lessons the universe subtly offered me. This episode is an introspective deep dive into the ways we navigate life's unexpected twists and turns, and how staying open to these lessons can catalyze transformative change.

Listen as I share how this life-altering moment forced me to reconsider the stories I've been telling myself for years. By examining the nuances of everyday interactions and the irony embedded within them, I find glimmers of wisdom that have begun to emerge. Whether you're grappling with your own limiting beliefs or curious about the universe's cryptic communications, this episode will urge you to look beyond the surface and embrace the learning opportunities hidden in plain sight. Stay safe, healthy, and always remember to live in the moment.

If you are enjoying the show please subscribe, share and review! Word of mouth is incredibly impactful and your support is much appreciated!

Support the show

🌟✨📚 **Buy 'The Places Where There Are Spaces: Cultivating A Life of Creative Possibilities'** 📚✨🌟
Dive into a world where spontaneity leads to creativity and discover personal essays that inspire with journal space to reflect. Click the link below to grab your copy today and embark on a journey of self-discovery and unexpected joys! 🌈👇
🔗 Purchase Your Copy Here: https://a.co/d/2UlsmYC

🌟 **Interested in finding out more about working with Lisa Hopkins? Want to share your feedback or be considered as a guest on the show?**
🔗 Visit Wide Open Stages https://www.wideopenstages.com

📸 **Follow Lisa on Instagram:** @wideopenstages https://www.instagram.com/wideopenstages/

💖 **SUPPORT THE SHOW:** [Buy Me a Coffee] https://www.buymeacoffee.com/STOPTIME

🎵 **STOPTIME Theme Music by Philip David Stern**
🔗 [Listen on Spotify]
https://open.spotify.com/artist/57A87Um5vok0uEtM8vWpKM?si=JOx7r1iVSbqAHezG4PjiPg

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Feeling off balance or overwhelmed? This guided meditation invites you to gently realign your mind, body, and spirit. Through mindful breathwork, grounding visualization, and energetic awareness, you’ll restore your natural state of harmony and ease.

This short restorative practice helps regulate your nervous system, quiet mental chatter, and reconnect you to your inner steadiness—so you can move through your day with clarity and calm.

Take these moments to pause, breathe, and return home to yourself. 🌿

Support the show

🌟✨📚 **Buy 'The Places Where There Are Spaces: Cultivating A Life of Creative Possibilities'** 📚✨🌟
Dive into a world where spontaneity leads to creativity and discover personal essays that inspire with journal space to reflect. Click the link below to grab your copy today and embark on a journey of self-discovery and unexpected joys! 🌈👇
🔗 Purchase Your Copy Here: https://a.co/d/2UlsmYC

🌟 **Interested in finding out more about working with Lisa Hopkins? Want to share your feedback or be considered as a guest on the show?**
🔗 Visit Wide Open Stages https://www.wideopenstages.com

📸 **Follow Lisa on Instagram:** @wideopenstages https://www.instagram.com/wideopenstages/

💖 **SUPPORT THE SHOW:** [Buy Me a Coffee] https://www.buymeacoffee.com/STOPTIME

🎵 **STOPTIME Theme Music by Philip David Stern**
🔗 [Listen on Spotify]
https://open.spotify.com/artist/57A87Um5vok0uEtM8vWpKM?si=JOx7r1iVSbqAHezG4PjiPg

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Ever wonder why a stranger's approval often feels more valuable than our own self-acceptance? This thought-provoking episode explores our collective obsession with external validation and the exhausting mathematics of people-pleasing.

We dive into the dangerous equation many of us follow: dividing ourselves into smaller and smaller pieces to meet others' expectations until we're stretched impossibly thin, serving no one well – especially not ourselves. I explore how we've become masters of relationship politics, pretending everything's fine when it isn't, then feeling frustrated when nobody notices our unspoken distress. This growing gap between our authentic selves and our public personas creates a mathematical impossibility – trying to be everything to everybody simply doesn't add up.

But there's profound freedom in recognizing yourself as the only common denominator in your life – the prime number that cannot be divided. Consider this: of the 7+ billion people on Earth, most will never know you existed, and of those who do, how many truly know the authentic you? When we shift focus from external approval to internal alignment, we discover that what matters isn't universal acceptance but personal integrity. Yes, standing in your truth means some people won't like what you have to say – and that's perfectly okay. The journey will be messy and imperfect, but gloriously yours. By showing up authentically, you not only reclaim your power but create space for others to do the same. Isn't that a much more fulfilling way to contribute to the world than endless people-pleasing?

What might change in your life if you stopped seeking validation from others and started honoring your inherent worth? I'd love to hear your thoughts – share your experiences or reflections in the comments, and if this message resonated with you, please subscribe and share with someone who might need to hear it.

If you are enjoying the show please subscribe, share and review! Word of mouth is incredibly impactful and your support is much appreciated!

Support the show

🌟✨📚 **Buy 'The Places Where There Are Spaces: Cultivating A Life of Creative Possibilities'** 📚✨🌟
Dive into a world where spontaneity leads to creativity and discover personal essays that inspire with journal space to reflect. Click the link below to grab your copy today and embark on a journey of self-discovery and unexpected joys! 🌈👇
🔗 Purchase Your Copy Here: https://a.co/d/2UlsmYC

🌟 **Interested in finding out more about working with Lisa Hopkins? Want to share your feedback or be considered as a guest on the show?**
🔗 Visit Wide Open Stages https://www.wideopenstages.com

📸 **Follow Lisa on Instagram:** @wideopenstages https://www.instagram.com/wideopenstages/

💖 **SUPPORT THE SHOW:** [Buy Me a Coffee] https://www.buymeacoffee.com/STOPTIME

🎵 **STOPTIME Theme Music by Philip David Stern**
🔗 [Listen on Spotify]
https://open.spotify.com/artist/57A87Um5vok0uEtM8vWpKM?si=JOx7r1iVSbqAHezG4PjiPg

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Unlock the secrets of profound relaxation and inner peace with our latest episode on yoga nidra meditation. Imagine being guided into a state of restful awareness, where you can completely surrender to the present moment and nurture your body and mind. We'll help you set a sankalpa—a personal intention resonating with your heart's deepest desires—and guide you through an intricate journey of self-awareness. Experience the healing power of visualizing yourself in a serene setting, bathed in a golden, tranquil light, all while using the natural rhythm of your breath as your anchor.

Our detailed walkthrough will transport you into a world of stillness as you gently focus on each part of your body, noticing sensations without judgment or movement. From the tips of your fingers to the soles of your feet, our guided meditation is designed to foster a deep sense of peace and rejuvenation. As the session concludes, feel the integration of your sankalpa into your consciousness and carry this newfound tranquility with you throughout your day. Join us on this transformative journey and emerge rested, aware, and whole. Namaste, dear friends, until we meet again.

Support the show

🌟✨📚 **Buy 'The Places Where There Are Spaces: Cultivating A Life of Creative Possibilities'** 📚✨🌟
Dive into a world where spontaneity leads to creativity and discover personal essays that inspire with journal space to reflect. Click the link below to grab your copy today and embark on a journey of self-discovery and unexpected joys! 🌈👇
🔗 Purchase Your Copy Here: https://a.co/d/2UlsmYC

🌟 **Interested in finding out more about working with Lisa Hopkins? Want to share your feedback or be considered as a guest on the show?**
🔗 Visit Wide Open Stages https://www.wideopenstages.com

📸 **Follow Lisa on Instagram:** @wideopenstages https://www.instagram.com/wideopenstages/

💖 **SUPPORT THE SHOW:** [Buy Me a Coffee] https://www.buymeacoffee.com/STOPTIME

🎵 **STOPTIME Theme Music by Philip David Stern**
🔗 [Listen on Spotify]
https://open.spotify.com/artist/57A87Um5vok0uEtM8vWpKM?si=JOx7r1iVSbqAHezG4PjiPg

Let us know what you enjoy about the show!

Paul Tazewell has been designing costumes for Broadway, Regional Theater, Film and Television, Dance, and Opera Productions for close to thirty years. He began his Broadway career with the groundbreaking musical, ‘Bring in Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk, directed by George C. Wolfe. Most recently, Paul is known for his work with both of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony Award winning, Original Broadway productions of Hamilton and In the Heights. He was recently nominated for an Oscar for his costumes for Steven Spielberg's West Side Story.

Other feature film credits include; Harriet for Focus Features, Hamilton for Disney+ and the recently released West Side Story, directed by Steven Spielberg. TV credits include the HBO Original Film; The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks starring Oprah Winfrey, and both The Wiz! Live, and Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert for NBC.

In 2016, he received an Emmy Award for NBC’s The Wiz! Live, as well as a Tony Award for Hamilton. Other notable honors include two Lucille Lortel Awards, four Helen Hayes Awards, a Princess Grace Foundation Fellowship, and The Princess Grace Statue Award.
Learn more about Paul : paultazewelldesign.com

SUPPORT STOPTIME: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/STOPTIME

Episode recorded January 26th, 2022

If you are enjoying the show please subscribe, share and review! Word of mouth is incredibly impactful and your support is much appreciated!

Support the show

🌟✨📚 **Buy 'The Places Where There Are Spaces: Cultivating A Life of Creative Possibilities'** 📚✨🌟
Dive into a world where spontaneity leads to creativity and discover personal essays that inspire with journal space to reflect. Click the link below to grab your copy today and embark on a journey of self-discovery and unexpected joys! 🌈👇
🔗 Purchase Your Copy Here: https://a.co/d/2UlsmYC

🌟 **Interested in finding out more about working with Lisa Hopkins? Want to share your feedback or be considered as a guest on the show?**
🔗 Visit Wide Open Stages https://www.wideopenstages.com

📸 **Follow Lisa on Instagram:** @wideopenstages https://www.instagram.com/wideopenstages/

💖 **SUPPORT THE SHOW:** [Buy Me a Coffee] https://www.buymeacoffee.com/STOPTIME

🎵 **STOPTIME Theme Music by Philip David Stern**
🔗 [Listen on Spotify]
https://open.spotify.com/artist/57A87Um5vok0uEtM8vWpKM?si=JOx7r1iVSbqAHezG4PjiPg

Let us know what you enjoy about the show!

Your mind doesn’t need more pressure—it needs a clean reset.

When you’re scattered, unfocused, or pulled in five directions at once, forcing productivity often backfires. This 9-minute guided meditation helps you slow down, reset your attention, and return to focus—without trying to clear your mind or control your thoughts.

We begin by settling the body with simple breathwork: a slow inhale through the nose, a gentle exhale through the mouth, and a soft release in the shoulders, jaw, and eyes. From there, we normalize the busy mind and introduce two powerful focus tools you can use anytime—letting thoughts settle like snow in a snow globe, and placing distractions aside like putting a book back on the shelf.

Nothing is denied. Everything can wait.

At the center of this practice is one question:
What deserves my attention right now?

You’ll be guided to let the answer arise naturally, then gently gather your attention—like sunlight through a magnifying glass—into one clear point of focus.

This is a simple, repeatable reset for clarity, concentration, and calm—whether you’re at your desk, between meetings, or about to begin meaningful work.

If this helped, follow or subscribe for more guided meditations and focus resets.
Share it with someone who’s feeling overwhelmed, and leave a review sharing what you chose to focus on today.

Support the show

🌟✨📚 **Buy 'The Places Where There Are Spaces: Cultivating A Life of Creative Possibilities'** 📚✨🌟
Dive into a world where spontaneity leads to creativity and discover personal essays that inspire with journal space to reflect. Click the link below to grab your copy today and embark on a journey of self-discovery and unexpected joys! 🌈👇
🔗 Purchase Your Copy Here: https://a.co/d/2UlsmYC

🌟 **Interested in finding out more about working with Lisa Hopkins? Want to share your feedback or be considered as a guest on the show?**
🔗 Visit Wide Open Stages https://www.wideopenstages.com

📸 **Follow Lisa on Instagram:** @wideopenstages https://www.instagram.com/wideopenstages/

💖 **SUPPORT THE SHOW:** [Buy Me a Coffee] https://www.buymeacoffee.com/STOPTIME

🎵 **STOPTIME Theme Music by Philip David Stern**
🔗 [Listen on Spotify]
https://open.spotify.com/artist/57A87Um5vok0uEtM8vWpKM?si=JOx7r1iVSbqAHezG4PjiPg