Finding the Helpers
16 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 4 years ago -In Season 1 of Finding the helpers, we are bringing personal stories of front line staff and families impacted by COVID-19. Our diverse guests will be invited to share their story of being on the front line, and in combination to their story, two expressive art therapists will provide art and creative activities that will support the challenges the individual and their family is facing. These could include ideas for short relaxation techniques to be done on the front line, creative ways to explain in kid friendly terms what is happening, ways to stay connected to family and children during long periods of isolation, etc.Throughout the podcast, conversation will include mental health insight related to the pandemic, anxiety and stress, grief and loss, resiliency, coping skills, and understanding the pandemic. Presented by the nonprofit Playing to Live's, whose history began in 2014 as a grassroots program focused on bringing play and creativity in the midst of the Ebola deadly viruses. Following our work in Ebola, we have continued our work as advocates and creators for play and expression across the globe in refugee settings, post war countries, and in the United States of America.
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Episodes
Until Next Time, Stay Safe Out There: Season 1 Finale with Mary Affee
July 14, 2020 15:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MB“Just love people, be present, be real, be authentic. Those are the things that keep it real, keep us human, keep us in a shared experience.” In our final episode of Season 1 on Finding the Helpers, we have an interview that manages to tie all our other interviews beautifully together. Mary Affee is a licensed clinical social worker, PhD candidate, and specializes in play and trauma therapy. She left her bustling practice in North Carolina to return to her original home of New York City for...
We Have to Keep Beating the Odds: Facing a Pandemic in a Humanitarian Setting
June 30, 2020 11:00 - 35 minutes - 24.8 MBIn this episode of Finding the Helpers, we had the pleasure of speaking with Isaac Cosmas, a South Sudanese refugee who Playing to Live met while conducting a mental health needs assessment in Rhino camp, a refugee settlement in Uganda. Isaac was there as both a refugee and working as part of the frontline staff providing supporting the mental health needs of other refugees. In his interview, Isaac shares with us his story of struggle, resilience, and brings to light the hardships facing ref...
Smiling through Barriers: "Mask Smiles" with Laura Fuchs
June 16, 2020 17:00 - 32 minutes - 22.1 MBIn the midst of what feels like every day brings more challenges and unveils more hard truths, our episode this week is dedicated to recharging through moments of hope, grace, and connection. Our interviewee is Laura Fuchs and she is a photographer living in New York City. With a degree in psychology from Barnard and ten years of photography experience, Laura brings incredible empathy and connection to her art. When the pandemic hit, Laura realized as she walked around New York City that no...
Inside Prison Walls: Finding Internal Safety in External Chaos
June 09, 2020 14:00 - 30 minutes - 21 MBIn this episode, we interview Joe Rojas on his experience of the prison system’s response to COVID-19. One of the reasons we wanted to investigate the prison system during this pandemic is because the conditions in prisons make containing an infectious disease inherently difficult. This pandemic has disproportionately affected people of color, and with people of color making up a disproportionate percentage of the prison population, one of the things we learned from Joe is that prisons are y...
Seeking Change: Resources for Helpers
June 02, 2020 04:00 - 5 minutes - 3.68 MBThis week we have been reminded, again, that there are many vital battles to fight. The United States and the world have witnessed more brutal killings of innocent people, and communities are standing up to fight for justice. In light of what is currently happening in our country, outside of COVID-19, we have decided to take a moment and pause from releasing a new interview this week. The injustices and traumas are so pervasive that we must stop what we are doing and take action. This pandem...
Removing the Armor: Breaking Stigmas & Building Unity
May 26, 2020 13:00 - 29 minutes - 20.6 MBIn the episode Removing the Armor: Breaking Stigmas & Building Unity, we interview Dr. Budhrani. He has been practicing clinically for over 20 years as an emergency room (ER) physician, is the CEO of Innovation Health, whose goal is to unify the health care system making the patient experience more fluid and affordable, and is a professor at George Washington (GW) School of Medicine. We are grateful he was able to make the time to speak with us about the impact that COVID-19 is having on the...
Buried Alone: Coping in a Time without Rituals
May 18, 2020 12:00 - 29 minutes - 20.2 MBWhat is it like to be a funeral director in the epicenter of a pandemic? This week we sat down with Sherry Bensimon, a New York and New Jersey state licensed funeral director, to hear her story of how COVID-19 is impacting her work and home life. Sherry has given her life to taking care of the dead in all possible ways. From the time she was sixteen, she was a member of the chevra kadisha, a Jewish holy burial group made up of volunteers from the congregation who wash and shroud the deceased...
Whatever You're Doing is Enough: Self-Compassion Through the Little Things with Alexandra Kaiser
May 12, 2020 13:00 - 27 minutes - 19.3 MBAs a physician assistant working in oncology at a multiple myeloma center in New York City, Alex Kaiser gives us a glimpse of what it's like to be a healthcare provider who is not treating COVID-19 patients during this pandemic. She explains how she’s supporting her patients through and how she’s finding ways to support herself. Despite her hard work and dedication to her patients and her community, Alex explains how many health care workers not on the ‘front lines’ (ie. emergency room, CO...
Looking for Connection in Separation: Rouben Madikians
May 05, 2020 13:00 - 31 minutes - 21.8 MBIn Episode 4, we interview Rouben Madikians who is a flight attendant, yoga teacher, photographer, and COVID-19 survivor. His story inspires us to look for connection even in the isolation and that being vulnerable takes strength and courage. His interview highlights for all of us the importance of self love and empathy for ourselves and others, even in times of crises. Read more about Rouben's stories and suggested quick self care activities from the Playing to Live clinical team inspire...
Looking for Connection in Separation
May 05, 2020 13:00 - 31 minutes - 21.8 MBIn Episode 4, we interview Rouben Madikians who is a flight attendant, yoga teacher, photographer, and COVID-19 survivor. His story inspires us to look for connection even in the isolation and that being vulnerable takes strength and courage. His interview highlights for all of us the importance of self love and empathy for ourselves and others, even in times of crises. Read more about Rouben's stories and suggested quick self care activities from the Playing to Live clinical team inspire...
From the Front Stage to the Front Lines: Felicia Temple
April 28, 2020 01:00 - 24 minutes - 16.9 MBWe are thrilled to bring you Felicia Temple: contender on The Voice in 2017, accomplished musician, and ICU nurse. Felicia has been receiving media attention in the past few weeks since an interview during Global Citizen's "One World: Together At Home” concert. She was on an international music tour in Brussels, when she found out the US planned to close its borders. Within a week, she was “rolling up her sleeves” and got back to work at her former nursing job, this time in the newly set u...
From Front Stage to Front Line: Felicia Temple
April 28, 2020 01:00 - 27 minutes - 19.3 MBWe are thrilled to bring you Felicia Temple: contender on The Voice in 2017, accomplished musician, and ICU nurse. Felicia has been receiving media attention in the past few weeks since an interview during Global Citizen's "One World: Together At Home” concert. She was on an international music tour in Brussels, when she found out the US planned to close its borders. Within a week, she was “rolling up her sleeves” and got back to work at her former nursing job, this time in the newly set u...
Corona Couriers: Carrying 40 Pounds of Essentials Throughout NYC: Morgan Sykes
April 14, 2020 01:00 - 25 minutes - 17.6 MBThe first guest to the podcast is Morgan Sykes. At the beginning of 2020, Morgan planned to make her journalism comeback, but then the pandemic hit. In a desire to serve her community, Morgan posted a tweet that went viral, offering to help with grocery shopping and delivery on her bike. She quickly became overwhelmed with delivery requests and a “bizarre” amount of media attention. Then, she found Corona Couriers*, a team of volunteers offering free low-contact deliveries using a “neighbor...
Introduction to Playing to Live Podcast
April 10, 2020 02:00 - 10 minutes - 7.31 MBIn our first episode, our co-hosts Alexis and Kristin introduce you to our podcast. Each episode will focus on our guest's stories, challenges, and perspective from the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our hosts, who are expressive arts therapists, will conclude the episode with several self care activities inspired by our guests, which can be used by all our listeners. We welcome feedback and connections to guests through emailing us at [email protected]. Make sure to subscribe, r...
Introduction to the Finding the Helpers Podcast
April 09, 2020 00:00 - 4 minutes - 3.19 MBIn our first episode, our co-hosts Alexis and Kristin introduce you to our podcast. Each episode will focus on our guest's stories, challenges, and perspective from the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our hosts, who are expressive arts therapists, will conclude the episode with several self care activities inspired by our guests, which can be used by all our listeners. We welcome feedback and connections to guests through emailing us at [email protected]. Make sure to subscribe, r...
Intro To Playing to Live Podcast
April 02, 2020 17:00 - 1 minute - 1.31 MBWelcome everyone, the non profit Playing to Live is so excited to announce that after weeks of discussion on how best we can support our community during the uncertainty of this global epidemic, we have decided on producing a podcast. The podcast is going to focus on creating a space for people on the frontline to tell their stories, and our team at Playing to Live is going to suggest creative and mindful activities inspired by their story. Listen to our executive director Alexis tell yo...