154. Question of the Year (feat. every podcast guest from 2022!)

Transcript: Intro: Welcome to Words That Move Me, the podcast where movers and shakers, like you, get the information and inspiration you need to navigate your creative career with clarity and confidence. I am your host, Dana Wilson, and I move people. I am all about the tools and techniques that empower tomorrow's leaders to make the work of their dreams and live a full life while doing it. So whether you're new to the game or transitioning to your next echelon of greatness, you're in the right place. … Dana: Hello. Hello my friend. Welcome to words that move me. My name is Dana. I am thrilled that you are here, thrilled that you are spending some time thinking about your creative life and career. Um, and if you are listening to this episode on or around the week of its release, then it is the holiday season. So double cheers to you for thinking about your creative life and career during this holiday season and the end of the year. Um, while you sit there thinking of yourself and your creative life, we are having a sale on all sorts of, uh, goodies and surveys, we'll call them <laugh>, that are designed to support you and inspire you along your creative journey and in your career as a professional person working at this thing called, I almost said dance, but let's be real. It's life <laugh>. It is really, really great timing. If you are feeling spent, if you are feeling behind where you would like to be in terms of your career goals, I really, really, really have your back. Um, one of, one of the many benefits of career coaching with me and of being a part of the words that Move me community in general is discovering a sense of wholeness, of balance, and of enoughness right now. Like exactly as you are today, you can feel balanced and whole and enough. And from that place you can create the work of your dreams. It's as simple as that. Um, and it is as simple as a sale <laugh>. Right now we are offering one free month of career coaching when you purchase an annual subscription. And we are also offering 20% off all of our merchandise with the discount code W T M M Holiday 2022. No lines, no spaces, no lines, <laugh>, no spaces, all caps, all caps, no spaces, WTMMHoliday 2022. So visit the online store, that's words that move me.com/shop. And if you have any questions about what coaching with me looks like about what the words that move me community is, please don't hesitate to reach out. Direct message me on Instagram at Words that Move Me podcast or visit words that move me.com and snoop around a little bit. You will find testimonials, FAQs, um, and as and so much more. Please just take a hot second. Visit wordsthatmoveme.com. Me, you, a community of people showing up for themselves and for each other. It is a beautiful thing. It really is a gift. Boom. Simple as that. Okay. Oh, speaking of gifts, that's a good segue for you. This is a really special episode. I know I say that every week. I am fully aware, but this episode is special because it is a words that move me tradition. And yes, I'm patting myself on the back cuz we've been around long enough to have traditions. We're going into our fourth season, y'all our fourth year. Holy smokes. And every year so far, our second to last episode of the year is a mashup episode where you'll hear every single guest from the entire year answering the same question. The question changes every year. So my year one, season one guests all answered the question, what is the difference between technique and style? That was fun. Season two guests answered the question, what makes someone an artist? And that was super juicy. <laugh> genuinely have never heard the same answer twice. And this season is no exception. This season, I asked every single guest from the past year, what is the tool you use most often? And I was touched and inspired and honestly a little bit shocked by a few of these <laugh>. I cannot wait to share. But first I start every episode of the podcast by sharing some wins. I go, and then I yield the floor to you. This episode is an exception, although I believe it is always very important to celebrate your wins, the things that are going well in your world, even the small wins sometimes, especially the small wins. Today I would like to honor and mourn a loss today, the dance community and, and the whole lot wider world learned of the death of Stephen Twitch boss. Whew. Twitch was many things. A husband, a father, a friend, a mentor, a multi hyphenated celebrity, bonafide celebrity, an undeniably loved and respected pillar of our dance community. And a Choreographer's Guild executive board member I might add. My heart is broken and it is going out to his wife Allison, their family and friends. And today in place of wins. I'd like to offer a moment of silence for Stephen Twitch. Boss. I will miss sharing locking videos with you, Twitch. Um, certainly miss watching you get down. We love you so much. Okay, my friends. It is with that very somber segue that I will start us off with this season's question of the year. The question, what is the tool you use most often? I'm going to answer this question and I'm going to, I'm gonna give you the answer that I, that I wish it was <laugh>. I want to say that the tool I used most often is the coaching tool, the thought model. That is the tool that helps me separate the facts of the world from my thoughts about them. That's the tool that helps me make sense of my feelings and my actions and my experience of the world. That's the one I use when the community suffers a terrible loss. It's the one that I use when I am experiencing a certain outcome that is not in alignment with the desired outcome. Um, it's sometimes the tool that I use when I wanna decide where to have dinner. That's what I wish the answer was. If I was that, that's like the tool I, it might be my favorite tool, <laugh>. But the question was not what is my favorite tool. The question is, what is the tool I use most often? My answer to that question after much thought is my battle station, aka my desk. It is a standing height. I have a very tall chair. If I'd like to sit down my battle station, yes, that is my cop out answer, which means I get like 14 tools by mentioning the one tool. My battle station includes my desktop, my cameras, my hard drives, my files, my photos, both digital and hard copies. My tape, tape is important. My pens, my glue, my paper clips very important. I'm there at least four hours a day. Y'all at minimum. You know when you look at your phone and it's like you average four hours a day and you're like, whoa, yes, that's me at the desk. Even days when I'm on set, usually I start and end at the battle station. Phone probably comes in a close second if I'm being real. And the thought model a close third after that, if we're really breaking it down per hour. Now listen, I did not give each guest the luxury of picking a top three. So this gets interesting and it moves quickly. So get ready. Also, if you don't recognize the voices, cuz I don't introduce everybody, if you don't recognize the voices and you wanna know who's who, please pull up the show notes to this episode where you will find the time codes and names of each guest detailed out there for you. Um, you could just, you could look at the show notes and just know, but better yet, if you happen to be having a little holiday party with a bunch of dance types, you could round up all, all the homies and make wagers on who's who. You could make it a drinking game. You could make it a different kind of game. It would be fun game, I think. And if my editor slash executive assistant Riley Higgins is at that party, she is going to win. Thank you Riley for this master montage of an episode. I love it. And thank you to every single guest from season three. I could not have wrapped this up any better than all of my guests do. So you won't hear much from me for the rest of this episode. But I would love to hear from you. What is the tool that you use the most often. Please let us know. We'll be running a poll over on Instagram. You can always DM me there. I can't wait to hear your answers. And, um, thank you again for being here for this very important and sincere episode. I sincerely hope you love it. Thank you to all of my guests for being a part of a fantastic season. And thanks to all of you for listening. Go enjoy the second to last episode of season three and keep it very funky. I'll talk to you soon. … Dana: What is the tool that you use most often? Liana Blackburn: The tool I use most often is empathy. I feel other people so quickly and I'm able to see so far past an initial engagement that I am looking empathetically at the future with every current interaction. And that is something I use in every conversation I have. Whether that be with my child, with my husband, in business, with friends. I am really daily looking at how does this interaction affect future like them the us in the future. Them in the future. Like sometimes it can paralyze me. It really does sometimes because I'm thinking so deep and so far and I'm like, how can I just play for a second? Sometimes it does, but for the most part it serves me and supports me so well and I'm so grateful for that … Dana: A +. Ah, look at you. A +ing in a C + permitted space, <laugh>, Cat Rendic: Wow brain. Just be natural what comes up first. Okay. The tool that I use most often is my heart. My heart is on overuse all the time. <laugh>, Dana: I love the heart is a tool. It is and it serves such a very important function. Cat: Yes, it's overactive. It is the most overactive Dana: <laugh>. It drives your passion and it drives your physicality, which is what you, my friend, are all made up of. Cat: Absolutely. … Poppin’ Pete: Um, the tool my most is the humble tool. Humble being, you know, after all the accolades that we all get, people give us, it's being humble in that it's, it's showing people that, you know, even after the hard work or even after the cheers and even after the, you know, all this praise that I stay humble of who I am and what I have achieved and what I will achieve even in the future. My whole thing is it's the humbleness, it is the, the thing that, you know, the tool I use when I walk into classes, when I, when I meet people, when I, when people wanna take pictures with me. And I used to say, I mean, I just go, why you wanna take pictures with me? Oh, you're famous, you're a legend. I say, I'm just a dancer like you. They say no, but you're not. And I'm saying then, okay, thank you. Let me stay humble. So I give, when people say stuff to me, I always thank people, but I always do this at the end of my classes a lot. It says as your, as my respect, you know, that you give me, you give me the respect, I give that same respect back because I'm humble in who I am. So without you, there's no me in this class cuz I cannot be a teacher without students. So I am very humble to you guys. … Dana: You look straight up stressed Michelle Dorrance: For I have three answers. Oh Dana: My god, I can't wait. Michelle: Is that okay? Yeah, Dana: Totally. Michelle: One. This is something that my dad told me when I was a kid that I had and continued to indoctrinate me my entire life before I realized that's maybe what it was. But one, the indefatigable human spirit, two energy. I mean, it's kind of the same idea. It's but three music Dana: Oof. My friend, my friend. Michelle: I don't know what else to say. That's it. That's insane. Dana. … Dana: No, that's it. Kara Mack: Dana, you and these questions, Dana: Your headphone microphone, just tell me that. Tell me it's your headset right now, <laugh> the tool you use most often. Kara: Do you want a practical answer or do you want Dana: I want your guts. I want I want the guts. I mean, or I mean you could also give me both. This is my podcast. I make the rules <laugh>. Kara: To be completely honest, the tool that I use most often nowadays is empathy. It saves a lot of, um, relationships that could be broken, scenarios that could be walked out on <laugh>. Um, yeah, empathy could be used on a practical level and a hella deep level. But empathy, the, the, the, the ability for me to step outside of myself and see another perspective without doing a woo is me to them. It's still like, you know, a protect, but it is just like, yeah, it allows me and it gives me the flexibility to still do my thing, whatever it is. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> is, is a, is an empathetic heart, and it doesn't have to be mushy. It is like the empathy when things are disorganized to, to find out why before I judge it or you know, things, uh, my son didn't wake up and he has school and I'm just like, yo, like, what? But why? You know, it's, it's, I'm using, that's a, that's a big tool of mine. So, because at the end of the day, it's me that's getting stressed out. It's me that's getting bothered. So I have to pick certain tools in order for that to not happen so much. … Dana: What is the tool that you use the most? Gary Imhoff: Okay. The tool that I use the most, and I, and I, that's not just in teaching, it's, it's in life, is the attempt to duplicate the viewpoint of the person I am talking to. Whether it's my wife, my students, et cetera. I, you, you, you must, or I must duplicate the viewpoint I am talking to in order to figure out what I need to say to that person to get them to understand what I want them to understand. You can, you can flap your jaw as long as you want at somebody, but if you're not talking their language or you're not talking and getting inside their viewpoint, if you're not penetrating their personality, you won't be successful. So the thing, and I think I do it quite well, a little less well with my wife, but <laugh>, but I do it well with my wife many times, but not always, um, is to really get the viewpoint. What is that person seeing? What is that person thinking? Where is that person coming from? Then you know what to say to that person. If you can duplicate the viewpoint and it's easier with some and harder with others. And I'm sure it's has partially to do with my personality, but that's the tool that I use the most Dana: Marvelous answer. … Brian Shutters: The tool that I use most often, um, is absolutely the skill of communication because as a director, um, you have to be the keeper of the story, the keeper of the project, the keeper of the keys, and have to be able to talk about the project's vision, whether it's your vision or it is, uh, uh, uh, the road you're headed down with every department, with every different person, um, who are all bringing their own magic, their own thing to the project. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And so you have to be able to speak 40 different languages in the same day. Um, to be able to get something that's in your head across to every other person in the project, every other person that's viewing the project, every other person, uh, that has any finger in, in that pie. So, uh, communication is probably the most valuable skill in the tool that I need and try to use the most. … Dana: What? I can't wait to hear what you say. Oh my God, I'm, so, if its your, if it's your teapot, I'm gonna lose my mind. Okay. <laugh>, what is the tool that you use most often? Jeff Mortnesen: I think the tool that I use most often is not a physical object. It is my ability or desire to see situations through another person's lens. Dana: Awesome. Jeff: Yeah. I don't know if you need a longer answer, but Dana: That Oh, no, no, no. That's perfect. I love it. Yeah. Compassion. Jeff: Yeah. Yes. Compassion. It changes your relationship with people. Dana: 100%. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, that's huge. … Dana: What is the tool that you use in your work most often? Maud: The tool I use most often in my work is Gmail, <laugh> gmail. And my tap shoes, I would say for physical dancing is tap shoes, obviously, but Gmail, because I use sheets and docs and, uh, that's Dana: Oh, the full Google suite of here, which happens. Maud: That's the Google Suites. Dana: Let's go. Yes, I pass. I'm a huge fan. I am a huge fan of the Google Suite. Me too. Truly. I love a Google forum. They're, I love a spreadsheet. I love slides. Yes. Maud: They deserve to be billionaires. Look what they did. It's so easy's so easy. You and I could literally write a story together and just each contribute to it every night and watch what each other does without speaking to each other. It's brilliant. Dana: It's true. But then we wouldn't get the pleasure of speaking to each other. Maud: This is true. Dana: Right? No, we wanna speak to each other. This are very much like, yes, <laugh>, but they're brilliant. They're brilliant. … Geri Brown: My beat headphones, they're so great. I can transfer them to all of my devices and take phone calls and also take meetings and I love them. I'm obsessed. … Nikole Vallins: Wine <laugh>. Just kidding. <laugh>. Dana: That's A first. Nikole: Just kidding. But also work. Just kidding. Just kidding. Um, okay. Um, this is gonna be funny because you can see it, but no one else can pen and paper. I refuse to ever use my computer or my phone to take notes. Never have, never will. I travel with a clipboard, a pen and a paper. And if it's not a clipboard, I have a folded up piece of paper that travels in my back pocket and I will steal a pen from a waiter or a waitress to write down something and I will gather my notes. At the end of the day, I have to physically write something, otherwise it doesn't, I don't get it done. I forget my thought and it needs to come outta my brain. Dana: Wow. That is awesome. I love it. Analog. This is it. … Dana: Watch it be QuickBooks. Michelle De Castro: Oh, yes. Dana: Is it? That's cool. Michelle: The tool I use most often is QuickBooks. Yes. It is just, it makes my life so much easier. And it's actually fun. Like, I like doing everything I can do in there. Just organizing thing and reconciling numbers and when everything lines up and balances, I'm just so happy. <laugh>, Dana: How many hours a day do you think you sit in QuickBooks? Michelle: I mean, I'm probably there like three to four hours a day. Yeah. Dana: Wow. Oh yeah. That's a, that's a commonly used tool. I'll accept that. … Dana: What is the tool that you use most often? Cintra Wilson: Scissors. Dana: That is such a hardcore answer. <laugh>. <laugh>. Is it really? Cintra: Um, well, when you said tool, I thought of like, what do I use for, you know? Yeah. Prob Well, I mean, I always used to say it was the most important part of my wardrobe. Scissors, yes. They do a lot of alterations and stuff. And then, uh, in terms of, uh, it's, it's more of a metaphor in terms of writing because now we have, you know, word processing, but cutting, you know, I mean, I used, I used to cut and paste with actual scissors. So like, yeah. Dana: Whoa. Cut. Scissors. Cintra Fabulous answer. Thank you so much, <laugh>. … Gary Tacon: The tool I use most often is the body tuning cushion. Dana: Simple as that … Mindy Pack: Tool that I use most often is the voice draw and a fun personality <laugh> Dana: Bonus. The voice draw plus. Correct. If you, if you order now, you can get the voice draw plus a silicone cup plus a super good time. … Dana: What is the tool that you use most often? Mandy Moore: I use my clipboard and a yellow mechanical pencil every day, all day. Dana: <laugh>. Mandy: It's true, Dana. It's true. Let me see this. Literally, let see. These are the, where's it at? I mean, you've known me forever. This is the only pencil I use. You ask Casey money. Yes. It's the only pencil I use and my clipboard, which, you know, ask Jillian, she'll giggle. This is my clipboard and this is what I use every day. Oh my God. And it's got a little bend in it. There it is. Yeah. It's a little tough. And sometimes I leave it around on set and I'm like, give found, give it back because it's got everything I need. It's got all of my formations. Oh my God. All of my casting documents. All my notes, everything. Dana: Manders. That is exceptional. Well played. … Dana: This face. Oh my gosh. This face <laugh>. James Alsop: I've never been asked a question, what is the tool? I mean, is a card a tool of spending Dana: <laugh>? Yes. Yes. That isn't also an answer I have not received yet. <laugh>, James: Let's do, yeah, I think that would be my tool is my, my my visa Dana & James: <laugh>. James: Well, I love it. It's a, it's a tie. It's a tile between my visa and a fork and a fork. <laugh>. Well, I love to eat. Dana: I'm dead.I'm so dead. I'm so dead. <laugh> <laugh>. I feel seen right now. I really do. I will say the only thing that I would adjust in that statement is that in this, I, lately I get this crazy secret pleasure out of food, on food. Like, I will turn other food items into the fork. <laugh>. Like, instead of using a fork, I will use a chip or a avocado as a bowl or a carrot as a shoveling system that gets the food. I, if the fork could be edible, that, that would be my number one tool. Edible forks. James: That is so true. Yes. Dana: <laugh>. Oh my God. James, I'm, I'm so excited. Next time I see you, I would love to take you out to eat. Let's enjoy a food together. … Dana: What is the tool that you use most often? Brian Friedman: A spatula. Dana: Are you serious right now? <laugh>. Brian: I mean, I love to cook. Um, the tool I use most often, most often, um, Dana: Oh, don't get me started on often. Often and often. Often. And both. Or both. Or Both, Brian & Dana: <laugh> <laugh> Dana: Okay. Backstory. I don't know. Uh, Riley is my assistant who will cut this. But Riley, to give you the backstory, I don't know if this will be in the episode, we can decide later, but I went over to Brian's house once to hang out with Randy while she was living in his guest house. And Brian and Randy answered the door together in a tizzy. And Brian was like, I'm so glad we're, I'm so glad you're here. We're having a fight, we're having an agreement. I need you to tell me something. I was like, okay, what? And he goes, how do you pronounce the word? B o t <laugh> H <laugh>. And I said, I said <laugh>. It's both One of my favorite stories. I can't, I'm never get old. It's so funny. But okay, so wait, Randy says both. Huh? Okay. She puts an L in there, doesn't she? Brian: Bolth. Bolth. Yeah. Both. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Both. I spent too long in the UK working with proper Brits that it completely changed my dialect and Oh, I'm sorry I pronounce most of my teas now. Um, but yeah, it's been quite a life once your eyes are opened to how horrible our grammar is in America. In America. So, oof. What tool do I use the most? Dana: Um, other than your consonants. Brian: Exactly. I try to use them the most. I, oh gosh. See, I'm so bad when someone asks me specifics. Like if I have to choose something. I don't know Dana: You know. I mean, your first, your gut answer was pretty incredible. I have not heard that answer yet. <laugh>, if it came that quick, I'm gonna go ahead and say that. I don't know. Do you use it every day? I'm a spatula. Do you use a spatula every day? You cook every day? Brian: If I'm cooking, but I would have to say a spoon. Probably a spoon. I'm a spooner. I love a spoon. You know, when people go to eat their food, like takeout comes and they're like, here's a fork. I'm like, Ew. No, please, Dana: I wanna spoon. I'm a dignified human now. Please. Brian: I want a full big spoon. I want a big spoon. That can take big bites. I don't want fuss around with a fork. Fork you. Yeah. Spoon. And I'm done. That's my answer. And I'm sticking to it. Dana: I'm done. Thank you. You're welcome. Fork you. … Dana: what is the tool that you use most often? Brian Nicholson: The tool that I use most often is truly self-reflection. Just that self-reflection, that self, uh, you know, re rethinking, going over, do I feel this? Am I into this is my intention that just that self. Yeah. I, I've been using it and it's just so helpful. … Jillian Schmitz: What is the tool I use my, the most? What is the tool I use the most? Um, my mind. Dana: Nice. Love that. Fucking love that. … Jamal Sims: Uh, the tool I use most often would be, uh, think before I speak. I don't know if that's, if that's what you're talking about. Like Dana: What, Hey, everything is what I'm talking about. This is why I ask. Yes. Because I have had like full gamut of answers. And I think that, I mean, that is a tool that is what you Yeah. Like you put it into use. Yeah. When somebody asks the question, then you go for sure. Use the tool. <laugh>. Jamal: Yes, I use it. Yes. So it's not an actual physical tool, but that is the thing that I think I use the most. Yeah. Dana: Think before you speak. … Asiel Hardison: It's gotta be my spirituality and, uh, my instincts, which is kind of the same, right? Like my instincts informed me to like, okay, this is probably not a good idea, or maybe this needs to happen this way. That's just an innate feeling, innate inner feeling, which is kind of like my spirituality. But being in this business has definitely forced me, not forced me, but it's definitely allowed me to really just engulf my self in my spirituality. Because you have to have faith, you have to have a strong belief system. You have to have a sense of hope. And that's the, that's my foundation for what I'm doing. That's how I'm still doing what I'm doing. That's how I keep going. My spirituality. Yeah. … Imania: The tool I use most often is my faith. I'm always like, it's possible. You know? It's like, come on, let's do it or try it. Now what I need to be using is whatever kills procrastination. Cause Dana: That <laugh> kills me. Oh my God. Okay. But wait, wait, I've got thoughts about procrastination. Hear me out. Yeah. I think that procrastination has a bad reputation. Imania: It does. Dana: I think that procrastination is fine. It's only bad if we think it's bad. What procrastination actually is, is a very economical brain because it's saying why do for a whole week what I could do in one day? <laugh>. And you always get it done. Like, do you not, do you, do you not always get it done? Imania: Yeah. That, that part. And I, I have moments where I, I ride on the fact that I work amazingly under pressure. Like yes. If I'm like down to the last part, then I'm like, ah, get it. That anticipation, I'm fucking up shit. I'm like, okay, but then, then, then I wanna change it, then I gotta go back. But then I keep, Dana: And this is procrastination might be a great tool that you use all the time. Procrastination might be the tool you use most <laugh> and you use it because it freaking works. Like your brain is smart, your brain is like, oh, we'll do that again. Because that definitely worked. Imania: <laugh>. Yeah. I think what probably I just need on my, my end is to be able to have everything when I, and that's the other thing that I have. Everything when I, I got, I got so much like in my head of terms of choreography, ideas and styles, but it hasn't been sparked. And, but I have to tell myself, Imani, be, just because it hasn't been sparked doesn't mean you can't do it. Or just because you think it's not gonna happen until December, don't not think about it now. Speaker 0 00:35:38 If it's like Right. Doesn't mean you don't have to do it. Little, yeah. Little, little work. Yeah. Yeah. But that's, I hear you Dana: <laugh>. It's funny. <laugh>, I love this answer. That is so, that's so great. Dana: What is the tool you use most often? Toogie: Meditation. Dana: Okay. I thought you were gonna say breath. Toogie: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, uh, I mean, breath and meditation kind of go together, Dana: Right? Because you can't have one without the other Toogie: I, when I, when I meditate, I'm bringing my awareness to my breath, so, uh, yeah. Yeah. There you go. It's like a, it's like a two-pronged tool, Dana: Right? A tuning fork of sorts. <laugh>. Toogie: Oh, I love those. … Mimi Cave: My dreams. Dana: That's whoa, that's beautiful. That's poetic. Do you have good dreams often, or do you dream nightmares kind of darkish, like darkish, like the work ish <laugh>? Mimi: They, they're both, they're both, um, they're very epic, like epic sagas that go on and on and on and on. So usually when I wake up I can only remember like moments from them, but I'm also usually quite exhausted by them mentally. … Dana: Uh, the question is simple. What is the tool that you use most often? Kevin Maher: The tool, let's see. The tool I use most often would be to visualize myself in a scenario before it happens to see if I even want to go through with it or not. Like a restaurant or a party or even a song. Do I wanna dance to this? Let me visualize myself dancing to it before I even get up and dance. And that saves me a lot of time and energy. Dana: I love this answer. I'm riveted. It's like a trailer. Kevin: Things that haven't happened, Dana: <laugh>, that is a great treatment right there. <laugh>. Like, let me just let the entire video takes place on a with me on a couch. <laugh>. But you see what I, the future outcomes that I'm imagining is potentials here. I love it. That's fabulous. And also a very good skill. Yes. Economical, Kevin: Save time and money. Jamila Glass: A tool I use most often is my life experience. I think that one of the biggest parts of being an artist, and the thing that I love about watching artists is seeing who they are and not who they are trying to be or be. Like. And a lot of that has to do with their lived experience. And when I can see an artist be themselves, like whatever that means, whether or not they, that's anno anomaly, it makes me wanna do more of that. So I think I'm always looking and mining for information from other people who are living that or, or being examples of that and reminding myself that it's okay to use my life experience, um, in my work and, and allow that to show up in, in whatever way it does. … Katie Schaar: The tool I most often use is a daily workout. It sets the tone for my day, gets my endorphins flowing, and um, it maintains a, a level of fitness that I need to do the things I love to do. Like dancing. … Dana: What is the tool you use most often? Ayesha Orange: My body. Dana: That's it. Ayesha: Yeah. Yeah. I use my body, I beyond dance, you know what I mean? Explain when, for example, I've learned how to do things with grace by feeling whatever emotional things are happening and recognizing what's going on in my body. Yes. And saying who I'm feeling anxious <laugh> me recognizing this anxiety is going to help me do what is needed. I use my body shoot when I'm playing with my kid, I have to know like <laugh>. Yeah. Go ahead kid. Run around. I'll just hold it. You know, <laugh> like, I'll just hold this string go. I use my body when I am like, I need to flush out all of this human stuff and take a walk. Yeah. I need to take a walk. I need to smell that flower. Yes. I need to, you know, pet my dog. Yes. I need, I use my body when I'm like, oh my God, I'm feeling it right now. Mm mm I need to dance. Whatever. I just really have learned. Check in. See how that person made you feel. See how this circumstance made me feel. See how that hot spice of jalapeno <laugh> Mm. Right. Made your tongue sensation actual like, Ooh, I can't go on my knee like that. Yeah, yeah. Anymore. So it's a tool. Dana: I, I love the way you're explaining it is also like, it is a tool, but it is tool, it's per, the function of this tool is to sense, like it's a sensor. Your body is a sensor. It is sensing emotions. It is sensing physical ailments. It is sensing, um, you know, like ideas. It's sensing something from out there and it makes it physical. Oh my god. That body, absolutely. This is great. I love this answer. Yeah. Ayesha: And it's sensing, okay, you just did this on 5, 6, 7. My body goes on eight. Oh, that's good. Yes. Let's use that ache. Dana: Yes. It can create, we love the body. Ayesha: Yay. … Shaun Evaristo: The tool that I use most often. Uh, so the context is, uh, I always tell students in my class that dance is the tool. It's the vehicle, if you will, towards the area or the destination that you want to go or the thing that you want to build. So dance is a tool that I use most often. And I know it's cliche and I know, you know, this is a dance podcast, but dance is a tool. Yeah. <laugh>. That is, Dana: Yeah. I love this answer. <laugh>, thank you. And that's a first by the way. Shaun: What? Dana: Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Shaun: Wow. Dana: Nobody has, nobody has touched on that Shaun: Dance. Uh, maybe I should share this, but dance has brought me to every scenario. My, my, some of my best friends. Bre dance has brought me to my wife. Like, come on, you know, dance has brought me to travel the world. Dance has brought me to all these things to build a business, to, um, yeah. To love and understand my way through life. So dance is the tool. It's a tool to, to get to where you want to go. … Outro: This podcast was produced by me with the help of many music by Max Winnie, logo and brand design by Bree Reetz, and big thanks to Riley Higgins, our executive assistant and editor also massive, thanks to you. The mover, who is no stranger to taking action. So go take action. I will not cannot stop you from downloading episodes or leaving a review into rating. I will not ban you from my online store for spending your hard earned money on the cool merch and awesome programs that await you. There. I will. 100% not stop you from visiting