Musical Inspiration

I am a writer. Plain and simple. It is more than my title, but less than my sum. Writing is my hobby, my passion, my job. It is what I do at work and what I do on my days off. I can’t say it absorbs every one of my waking thoughts, but it comes [...]

Music Speaks to My Heart

Whenever I have a chance, I listen to music as it empowers me.  Plain and simple: Music speaks to my heart. It also unites people. One particular memory stands out as a highlight of my trip to Great Britain and Ireland this past summer with one of my sisters  (the same sister who introduces me [...]

Music and Healing

Songs: Tori Amos “Silent All These Years” Alicia Keys “Brand New Me” Welcome to my first column for We are the Real Deal! I am very excited to be contributing to the website and to share my appreciation for music and pop culture. To introduce myself, I have PhD in sociology and I study the [...]

Nuyorican Poets Cafe Hurricane Sandy Relief Benefit at JOE’S PUB in NYC on 12/20!

Just like with healing our body, healing our homes, our cities, and our earth after a natural disaster with devastating repercussions requires tremendous communal support and uplifting artistic energy. That is why We Are the Real Deal is the perfect space to announce an exciting upcoming event in which I’ll be performing on Thursday, December [...]

#16: Deadheads and the Atom Bomb

This is #16 of 108 Ways to Livin the Moment. Let’s take back our lives one beautiful, funny and delicious moment at a time. #16 of 108: Get Off on Joseph Campbell If you have read some of writer and lecturer Joseph Campbell’s wisdom… …you might agree his words are like a sip of 2005 Philip Togni [...]

Finding more of my voice through song

Graciously re-posted from Gurze Publications: Returned a few weeks ago from the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (IAEDP) conference in South Carolina where I had the honor of presenting with Robyn Hussa and Jenni Schaefer. It was truly a “mountain-top” experience for me. One of our goals was to be sure to give the [...]

4 Keys To Improving Your Body Image

Graciously re-posted from Gurze Publications Whether we are in grade school, high school, college — or beyond — we can benefit from increasing our body esteem.  We know that negative body image contributes directly to an array of issues, to overall dissatisfaction and unhappiness, but also it is important to see that our bodies also [...]

Bullying Tackled Through Music

We are Time for Three and this is our story.   “this is our story — the story of so many kids who every day face challenges to who they are and who they want to be: their dreams, their ambitions, their identity. This video is for you guys. Be strong.  Stick with it. We [...]

Role Models Help Us Shape Identity

Dedicated in loving memory to Mizzar, I thought I’d share a post about an important role model in my life.  An 80-something voice teacher with whom I had the privilege of studying for 7 years.  The way in which this mentor appeared in my life, is as important as her role … Blog this!Bookmark on [...]

The ABC’s of Happiness

I met Rob Gonzalez in high school and he is one of the most talented musicians and brilliant writers I have ever known.  This is his first blog post as Contributor on the Real Deal.  Robyn Hussa, WATRD. This is my first post, so I guess I better make it good. My friend Robyn, who [...]