Marlo: Everest, [echoing]

Kilimanjaro, [echoing]

Aconcagua, [echoing]

Denali, [echoing]

Marlo (ominous voice): These are no places for women, “they” told her-

Mt. Elbrus [echoing]. Keep your feet on the ground, “they” reminded her. 

Mt Vinson [echoing]. You will find no husband here, “they” said to her. 

Puncak Jaya [echoing]. These are OUR mountains, “they” declared. 

You are not welcome here… 

Marlo: By the end of her life, she had proved them wrong time and timeagain.

[Uplifting theme music plays]

Marlo: Hello! And welcome to the Aquitaine Project. A podcast that invites you to step into the light of some pretty remarkable women, and learn a little, grow a little, laugh a little, and SHINE a lot! I’m Marlo Meade, your host, guide and fellow traveler; on a journey where, together, we draw upon the lessons, wisdom and experiences of women past and present. Women I affectionately call, my Bright Lighters. Each episode, I’ll bring to light their stories, voices, and legacies. Inspiring each of us to become Bright Lighters in our own right.

For me, these women transcend time. Teaching us lessons we can use in our own lives each and every day. Shining their light from different centuries, cultures, and corners of the Earth; They light the way, making it possible for each of us to create our own light and shine it forward. 

[theme music fades out]

Marlo: To walk among the clouds and stand atop the world is no small feat. To do so in the face of sexism and extreme pressures to conform to cultural norms, takes a special kind of willpower and determination.

In May of 1975, a petite, unassuming Japanese woman laced up her climbing boots for the millionth time and set herself on a path no woman before her had ever traveled. Years of planning, preparing and dreaming led her to this place and time. She had been all over the world and climbed many mountains. But this mountain called to her. This mountain, spoke to her spirit. This mountain, the tallest in all the world, was her destiny. 

But destiny would have to wait..

Marlo: There is a saying in Japan that goes like this; the nail that sticks up will be hammered down!

Such is the fate of women, not just in Japan , but around the world , who dare to strike out on their own and choose their own paths. 

My Bright Lighter this episode embodies the Determined Spirit; that tenacious voice inside that urges us to forge our own paths and do what we set out to do. No matter the odds, no matter the obstacles, no matter what!

No, it’s not easy! 

Yes, there will be haters, dream killers, doubters and nay-sayers.

But to get to where we want to go, accomplish what we want to accomplish, reach our goals, make our dreams our reality - we must rise above the noise, silence our critics, especially the ones in our own heads, go under, [laughs] over and around whatever gets in our way. 

We’ve got to have confidence in the road we choose and in our ability to follow that road to where we want it to take us.-

Marlo: We all know the saying

A journey of a thousand miles, begins with a single step.

So, let’s step into the light of this high-climbing woman and see what we can learn about our own journey. 

Marlo: When 10-year-old Junko Tabei went on an overnight hiking trip with her classmates, she discovered a whole new world.  Standing on the top of  Mt Nasu in her hometown of Fukushima Japan, she fell in love with the feeling of being high above the town, free, happy, one with nature and the mountain. It was an experience she would never forget and one that would lead her to become the first woman to climb the highest, most challenging mountains in the world. 

For a girl growing up in early twentieth century Japan, adhering to very specific gender roles was the expectation. Women were, and in certain areas still are, expected to get married, have children and become home makers. Going to college and working in traditional female jobs such as teachers, or nurses was also expected. 

But Climbing Mountains?! Out of the question. Dreams of adventure were not appropriate for young Japanese women.

Undeterred by these social pressures, Junko continued to climb while she was in college. The mountains were where she discovered her true self. Where she was most free.  

Early in her climbing career, Junko faced quite a few sexist attitudes. It was the 1960s after all  and mountain climbing was still a man’s world.

After graduating, she joined several mountaineering clubs in search of climbing partners and opportunities to join expeditions. Many of the men in the mountain club actually refused to climb with her. There were a few older climbers who were more supportive, but most believed Junko wasn’t really interested in climbing expeditions. 

Marlo: [patronizing voice] She was on a husband hunting expedition. 

Marlo: [realistically] Now Ladies, I know some of us have gone to some pretty extreme lengths to find a man, but climbing thousands of feet in the air, carrying a heavy backpack filled with ropes and carabiners, trying not to die and look sexy doing it? Not the safest or most efficient way to find a husband. Or was it?

By the mid-sixties, she had climbed all of Japan’s highest mountains, including Mount Fuji. And wouldn’t you know it! She just happened to meet her husband; Masanobu Tabei, a renowned mountaineer in his own right, on one of her more dangerous climbs. 

I guess she knew what she was doing after all! 

Her family disapproved of Junko marrying this man because he did not have a university degree. But once again, Junko refused to let others determine the course of her life.  She had found a man who shared her passion for the mountains and, who years later, would fully support her decision to give up her day job as a teacher, so she could focus on climbing full time. He would stay home and take care of the children. Head to the hills Sisters if you want to find man like that!

Tired of butting heads with conservative Japanese ideas about the place of women in society, remember thehammer and the nail?

Junko founded her own mountaineering club and in 1969, the Joshi-Tohan club for Women was born. I [emphatically] absolutely love the club motto (reciting club motto):Let’s go on an overseas expedition by ourselves!

Marlo: Did ya hear that fellas?? A group of women, flying, or should I say climbing, in the face of convention came together to forge their own paths up the mountains! And, you better believe, there was some push back from the “good old boys club”. This all women club was often criticized and finding sponsorships was very difficult. Do you think that stopped this intrepid band of mountain climbing women?

Absolutely Not. 

Junko refused to sacrifice her dreams on the altar of sexism and misogyny and led the very first all women ascent to Annapurna 3, a 24,787 feet tall mountain in Nepal. Let me repeat that;

The VERY FIRST, ALL-WOMEN ascent of one of the tallest mountains on the planet.

This act of defiance, self-reliance, un-wavering trust in themselves, and each other is [emphatically] awe inspiring! Not just in the fact that they made history for their accomplishment.

Marlo: What truly inspires me, is the knowledge that as women, as Sisters, when we come together and focus on a goal we can accomplish some pretty amazing things. But the path up the mountain is no cake walk. Junko shows us no one can do the work and can climb the countless steps it takes to reach the top for us. We each have to find our own determination, our own drive, that thing that pushes us forward to reach our goals, no matter what. 

The day we let go of  everyone else’s expectations of who we should be, what we should do, and where we should go in life, is the day we begin to forge our own path and in my mind, is the way to true happiness. It just so happens that Junko Tabei’s path to happiness led her to some of the most desolate, majestic, dangerous places atop the world. 

After making history in 1970 Junko set her sights on the holy grail of the mountain climbing world. Mount Everest… 

Marlo: There is an expression well known in the mountain climbing community, as the “three rules of mountaineering” 

It’s always further than it looks.

It’s always taller than it looks. 

it’s always harder than it looks.” –

Okay  we are going to take a little side trip thru mountaineering history right now, so stick with me. Mount Everest, a peak in the Himalaya mountain range, is located between Nepal and Tibet, it stands 8,849 meters, that’s 29,032 feet for those of us not on the metric system, above sea level and is considered the tallest point on Earth.

In the nineteenth century, the mountain was named after George Everest, a former Surveyor General of India. Its Tibetan name is Chomolungma, which means “Mother Goddess of the World.”  [chuckles] That makes perfect sense to me!

Its Nepali name is Sagarmatha, which has various meanings.

The first ever recorded climb to Mt. Everest were Edmund Hillary, that’s Sir Edmund Hillary, a mountaineer from New Zealand and his Tibetan Sherpa, Tenzing Norgay. 

They climbed the mountain in 1953 and hold the record together. 

Did you know that the term “Sherpa”, while usually used to mean “mountain guide” actually refers to an ethnic group? The Sherpa are an indigenous group that live in the valleys of the Himalayas. Climbing Mt. Everest would be virtually impossible without their skill, knowledge, and unique ability to live at such high altitudes where the oxygen levels are so low. 

Told ya you’d learn a little.

In 1975 Junko and her ladies of Toshi-Johan set out to climb Everest. At the age of 35 with a little daughter at home, thank you Masanobu for [laughs] holding down the fort, Junko Tabei  became the first woman to summit Mt Everest. Despite being buried in an avalanche, severely hurting her leg, extreme physical and mental exhaustion, Junko, and her Sherpa, Ang Tshering, reached the mountain top on May 16, 1975.

She became instantly famous, which was very [chuckles] unsettling to her. She didn’t climb for fame, or recognition; She did it because it was what she loved to do. So, she just kept on climbing.

If you were to ask Junko why she climbed the tallest mountain in the world, and many people did, she would tell you. And I quote, (as Junko Tabei): Everest for me, and I believe for the world, is the physical and symbolic manifestation of overcoming odds to achieve a dream.

Marlo: Big dreams. Big Mountains. Big, Bright example of what it takes to live your life, your way. That’s Junko Tabei. Now, you might think, wow she did it. She reached her goal, climbed her mountain and made it to the top! What’s left for her to achieve? 

Marlo: [singsong] Well, I am sooo happy you asked.

Marlo: After her world-famous climb of Mt. Everest, Junko continued doing what she loved and by 1992, she accomplished another first. Junko Tabei became the first woman to climb the highest peaks on all seven continents. Known as The Seven Summits; Kilimanjaro, in Africa, Aconcagua in South America, Denali in North America, Mt. Elbrus in Europe, Mt. Vinson in Antarctica, Puncak Jaya, in Australia and of course, Mt. Everest in Asia.  These mountains, each ecologically diverse and uniquely challenging, may have required different preparation, different approaches, and strategies, but what stayed constantly true for Junko was her determined belief that her path up each and every mountain would lead to her goal - the fulfillment of yet another dream and the joy she found in the life she chose. 

Forging our own path through life is a unique proposition. No two people are alike, and as such, no two paths are the same. What I’ve learned from Junko Tabei and by extension, the  women of her Toshi-Johan women’s club, is, the determination and will power it takes to climb a mountain, is the same determination and will power it takes us to achieve our goals and create the life we want. 

I have found for me personally that if I stop, take a breath, and listen to my own intuition and inner guidance, I can feel which direction is right for me. Am I always right [laughs]? No, but trusting your gut is a skill. You can work on it, you can develop it, And the more you practice it, the more you trust it. Finding the courage to trust it, is the key! 

But there are some practical steps we can take to create our way in the world and keep ourselves on track. Here are a few that I have used, and they may help you. 

Creating your own path and setting your goals is much more than simply saying you want something to happen, or you wish something to happen, or you’d really like something to happen.

Unless you clearly define exactly what you want and understand why you want it in the first place, your odds of success can be pretty limited.

Marlo: [encouragingly]So, here we go;

1. Write down your goals and dreams. Let’s face it we can daydream and fantasize till the cows come home, but until we have clarity on what we want to achieve, accomplish, or create in this life, it’s hard to create the path to get there. 

Take time to write it all down. You may have many dreams and goals. Maybe just a few, or maybe just one. Choose what feels right to you, then write down how you will feel when you’ve reached that goal. 

Let’s say one year from now you want to become a VP at your current company, or you want to apply to law or medical school. Maybe you want to open a dance or art studio. [laughs] Okay, I’ll say it, maybe you even want to climb your first mountain! There, ya happy?

Whatever it is; What does that look like? What does that feel like? See yourself accomplishing what you set out to do. This type of reverse engineering visualization has become very popular with athletes, businesspeople, artists of all types and countless others. It’s a very powerful tool. Give it a try. But not if you’re driving, or [laughs] operating heavy machinery!

Then, share your vision with those you trust and love and who love you. Sharing your dreams and goals with at least one other person, helps you stay accountable to yourself.  

2. Next, we need to create actionable steps that support the future we visualized and to reach our goal. I’m pretty sure Junko didn’t just wake up one morning and say, (as Junko Tabei): Hey, I’m pretty good at this mountain climbing thing. I think I’ll go out today and climb the highest mountains on the planet.

Marlo: No. It took her years of planning ,preparing and conditioning her mind, body and spirit to meet the challenges she set out for herself. 

Think about the steps you will need to take to get to where you want to go. 

Do you need more education or training to become a VP? If so what kind?

Do you need to commit yourself to studying for law or medical school entrance exams? If so, what does that schedule look like? What resources do you need to help you prepare? 

Where do you find the funding and the right space to open up that studio? How do you find students? 

Taking the time to create your plan of action and being [earnestly] determined to stick with itare key ingredients to being successful at achieving what you set your mind to.

Marlo: Ok, A little honesty  here, I am not great at this. Are you shocked? [laughs]You should be. No, but really, I am really great at visualizing and feeling and even planning. But when it comes to harnessing that [emphatically] drive and determination I need to accomplish my goals,

Let’s just say, it’s something I work on every day.  That’s why Junko is such an inspiration to me. If this woman could climb her mountains, then I, Marlo Meade, can climb mine. And,Sisters, So. Can. You. 

So, we’ve clarified the goal, vision or dream. We’ve visualized what it will feel like, sound like, taste like, you get my point. We  make a plan and identify the steps we need to execute the plan. So far so good. We are on our way, smooth sailing right? [cautiously] Well..

Step 3. Remember earlier when I spoke about the haters, and the dream killers, and the [sarcastically] “nay sayers”. Those people who disapprove of your choices or think they know better than you what path you should be on. Or flat out tell you your dream is [flatly] impossible and you will never reach your goals.

These people have got to go. Stop listening to them! Tune out the noise. Stop listening to other people, other voices that do not align with your vision. Practice trusting your gut,  this doesn’t mean  you ignore sound advice, it means comparing  that advice with the direction you’ve set for yourself  and act accordingly. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide who you listen too; Other people or your own intuition and inner guidance.

This last point is very important to me. Finding the path to joy.

I believe when we forge our own path in the world we find a special kind of joy, and I am all about joy at this point in my life. Finding joy, creating joy, sharing joy. When our visions, goals and actions are based in joy, we just feel good. Those mountains seem a little easier to climb. All the accomplishments, big and small, leading us to where we want to go are a little sweeter. Junko’s path led her to the mountains and those mountains were her joy.

When asked about her mountaineering career and all the things she had accomplished Junko Tabei  said, (as Junko Tabei): “Technique and ability alone do not get you to the top; It is the willpower that is the most important. This willpower you cannot buy with money or be given by others... it rises from your heart.”

Marlo: So, in honor of this trail blazing, high climbing Bright Lighter, let’s challenge ourselves to be more determined in which paths we choose for ourselves. To dig deep and find the will power we need to accomplish our goals and create a life that brings us joy.

Junko Tabei’s Bright Lighter legacy extends far past the mountain tops she reached in her own lifetime. After climbing the seven summits, she returned to school for a degree in environmental science. Experiencing first-hand the negative effects of the type of tourism that had developed on Mt Everest, she wanted to protect the mountains she loved and became the head of the  Himalayan Head Trust of Japan. In 2012, she was diagnosed with cancer. But she refused to give up her dream of climbing mountains in every country. She just kept on climbing.

In July of 2016 Junko led a group of young people from her hometown on a climbing expedition to Mount Fuji.  Sadly, she died three months later. 

Her legacy of courage and determination lives on to light the way for all the woman climbers who came after her.  Especially those whose paths also led them up the tallest mountain in the world, Mt. Everest. Women such as..

Arunima Sinha, the first amputee.

Sophia Dannenberg, the first African American woman.

Arlene Blum, the first American woman to attempt to summit Mt Everest and

Stacey Allen; the first American  woman to actually make the summit.

Wanda Rutkevich, the first European woman.

Malavath Purna, the youngest woman at the age of 13.

And Tamay Watanabe, the oldest woman to summit Mt. Everest. She actually did it twice. Once at 63 then again at 73! 

And there are countless other men and women who are following the light of Junko Tabei.

Her incredible drive and will power should inspire each of us to find it within ourselves to forge ahead on our own path no matter how high the mountains that get in our way. 

Marlo: Why Love this woman; If you google Junko Tabei, you will find numerous articles, stories, and interviews about her life and accomplishments. All of them recounting her early life in Japan, her historic ascent of Mt. Everest and the Seven Summits, her contributions to women in the world of mountain climbing, and finally, her dogged determination to continue climbing right up until her death. 

While I learned much about this amazing woman from my research, it was the images I found of her that truly spoke to me about who she really was. It is said a picture is worth a thousand words. For me, the pictures and photographs of Junko capture who she was in ways that words could never do. Sure, she was a woman, an adventurer, mountain climber, wife, mother, ecologist, teacher, and author; but if you take a deeper look you see humility, humor, passion, iron-hard determination, and willpower and an incredible sense of joy. There is a photo of her that accompanies her final interview before her death. You can find the link on the podcast website. She is the picture of a true Bright Lighter and the pure joy on her face will melt your heart. Her smile says to me; 

[uplifting music fades in] 

Marlo: Look at me  high above the ground, clinging to rocks, making my own way. I am happy here. This is the path I chose. This is my joy and I am happy here! 

What a remarkable  life.What a remarkable woman.  She lived life on her own terms, created her own path, and left a shining example for us of how willpower, and determination and an unwavering belief in ourselves  and the path we choose can get us to the top of our own mountain. 

So, what joys will you discover as you forge your own path in this world?

Please feel free to share and connect with me at The Aquitaine Project.com. There, you will also find links to resources about this episodes amazing Bright Lighter.

Until next time. Climb high and shine bright my Bright Lighters, so your Sisters can find you! 

[uplifting music transitions]

[music fades out and ends]

Marlo: Imagine it’s 1935and you’re a 7-year old little black girl and you’ve been raped by your mother’s boyfriend. A man you know and trust. Now, imagine, after identifying this man,he’s found dead by the side of the road…What would you do?

I don’t know what I would do. But I can tell you what one little girl did...She just stopped talking.

[Uplifting theme music transition]

Marlo: Hello and welcome to The Aquitaine Project. A podcast all about learning from yesterday, how we can shine today and create a brighter tomorrow. I’m Marlo Meade, your host, guide and fellow traveler on a journey where, together, we draw upon the lessons, wisdom, and experiences of women past and present, women I like to call my “Bright Lighters”. 

Each episode I’ll bring to light their stories, voices, and legacies, inspiring each of us to become Bright Lighters in our own right.

For me, these women transcend time, teaching us lessons we can use in our own lives each and every day. Shining their light from different centuries, cultures, and corners of the Earth, they light the way, making it possible for the rest of us to create our own light and shine it forward. 

So, if you’re ready to step into the light of some pretty remarkable women and learn a little, grow a little, laugh a little, and shine a lot, stick around. 

[Music ends]

Marlo: The unspeakable trauma that little Marguerite Annie Johnson suffered resulted in a self-imposed silence that lasted almost five years. Years after the attack, Marguerite recalled feeling directly responsible for the man’s death.

Marlo (as Marguerite): “I thought my voice killed him. I killed that man because I told his name. And then I thought… I would never speak again because my voice could kill anyone”.

Marlo: Such were the thoughts of a 7-year old little girl who, for fear of the power of her own voice, just stopped speaking. Imagine the courage it took for that little girl, who we all know today as the one and only Maya Angelou, to name her attacker. 

As one of the world’s greatest authors, poets, and activists whose words have inspired generations; had her words, her voice, which has brought so much joy, light, and healing to the world, remained stifled into utter silence as a young girl, I believe the world would be a much darker place. 

Despite how traumatic this experience must have been, it led Maya Angelo on a journey from fearing the power of her own voice to embracing that power and raising her voice with courage, conviction and compassion.

Marlo: For decades self -help gurus, books, philosophies, and fads have lauded the search to [chuckles] find ones “Own Voice” or Speak ones Truth. A noble and ambitious pursuit for sure, but for many of us, down that road lies… fear, doubt, pain and yes, more fear. Believe me, I know. Finding the courage to step away from my own fear and doubt allowed me to reclaim my own voice and bring The Aquitaine Project to life. 

For me, this week’s Bright Lighter has so much to teach us about overcoming fear and finding the courage to reclaim the power of our voices and she reminds us that our unique voice is a gift and sharing it to the world is a sacred duty we owe ourselves and those who come after us. How we chose to use it is up to us. 

How often have we heard that as women we have lost our voices or, our voices have been taken from us, or, we have given our voices away? 

Maya didn’t lose her voice. She locked her voice up and threw away the key for almost five years because she truly believed in it’s frightening power.

So, why do we women fear our voices and lock them up in cages?

Maybe, like Maya, we had a traumatic experience that shook us to the core.

Maybe we were brought up in a family or culture that demanded our silence and speaking up or speaking out was met with negative psychological or physical consequences.

Maybe we relinquished our voices to keep the peace in our personal or professional lives.

Maybe, our voices got shouted down, drowned out and ignored by a world afraid of what we have to say.

Or, maybe just maybe, we got tired of no one listening and opened the cage door and said;

Marlo: [patronizing voice] Aww, you’re such a poor little thing, you can live in here since no one wants to hear you. 

Marlo: Then we locked the door and threw away the key.

I want you to take a minute and think about a time in your own life when you were afraid of your own voice. A time when you were afraid to say what you needed to say or a time you ignored an opportunity to speak up for yourself or someone else. Maybe a time your voice could have made a difference and you chose to stay silent. 

I know in my own life there have been times I’ve locked my voice in a cage. A cage made of fear, doubt, apathy. A cage of my own making. Times when I didn’t speak my mind because…[disparaging tone] Nice girls don’t make a fuss.

Marlo: Times when speaking up meant taking a risk. Times when speaking out meant being labeled a witch, a bitch or both!

My point is, fearing the power of our voices has cost us dearly. Missed opportunities to further our careers and become more successful at work because we didn’t speak up about our achievements, our accomplishments, and contributions. 

Missing out on the love of a lifetime because we were too afraid to voice our true feelings. 

Fear of expressing our voice though our art or our craft because we may be criticized, ostracized, or otherwise not accepted for who we are.

Not speaking up for ourselves. Not speaking up for each other. 

Sisters! The world needs our voices! It always has and it always will.

So enough with the fear, enough with the doubt. Let’s stop fearing the power of our voices and start celebrating it, sharing it, and inspiring others to do the same.

Time to find the key, unlock those cage doors and let our voices fly free.

Now you might be thinking, or maybe saying out loud; 

Marlo (as skeptical listener): Okay lady, you’re so smart, how do we reclaim our voices and set them, free?

Marlo: I’ll get to that in a moment. But now, let’s get back to little Marguerite Annie’s story…

[Music transition]

Marlo: Those 5 years after the assault, little Marguerite, ‘Maya’ as we know her today, immersed herself in a world of books and poetry. She absorbed everything she read. She fell in love with the words, but still refused to speak them aloud. 

The key that unlocked Maya’s voice came in the form of one, Mrs. Bertha Flowers, an elegant, aristocratic Black woman who Maya admired greatly for her poise and generosity. It was Mrs. Flowers who challenged Maya to give the poems and stories she loved so dearly a deeper meaning by using her voice and speaking them aloud. 

In one of her many interviews, Maya Angelou recalls how Mrs. Flowers challenged her to break her silence. According to Maya, when she was about eleven and a half, Mrs. Flowers asked her if she loved poetry. When Maya wrote the word ‘Yes’ on a tablet she carried with her. Mrs. Flowers declared,

Marlo (as Mrs. Flowers): You do not love poetry. You will never love it until you speak it... until it comes across your tongue, through your teeth, over your lips. You will never love poetry.

Marlo: Maya goes on to express her anxiety at the thought of Mrs. Flowers trying to take away her friend. Her Silence. Finally, she took a book of poetry and went under the house and tried to read aloud for the first time in years. And she did.

-OK, we need to take a minute and go back to something profound Maya says here. 

She says, Mrs. Flowers was trying to take “my friend”… Silence was Maya’s friend. 

This idea really gets to me. We make friends with our silence all the time, don’t we? It becomes so comfortable to keep silent, [soothing voice] to fade into the background, to silence our thoughts and feelings, to hide our light.

Marlo: Later in the interview, Maya describes her muteness as a delicious, seductive addiction. 

How many of us feel this way at times?

Our silence can become something we easily fall into when life gets hard, or messy, or frightening. 

With the help, inspiration, and love of Mrs. Flowers who, as Maya says; became her first lifeline, she eventually reclaimed her voice from deep down inside where she had caged it, where she had buried it. At first, she didn’t trust it. Maya worried that, as she said; she had pushed it away so long, she was afraid it might just take off and leave her again. 

Fast forward eighty years into the future and that child of silence has become one of the most notable voices in American culture.

Marlo: [softly] As women, we know from our collective experience using our voices can be a tricky thing. Whether we’re 7, 17, 37, 77 or 107 . No matter our ages, we can all struggle to find it, claim it, reclaim it, and use it.

So, how do we find, claim, reclaim our voices that we’ve caged for far too long? I have a few ideas that may help.

1. Gather your Sisterhood; For me, it’s all about gathering my sisterhood. Women supporting women, women building each other up; creating safe spaces where our voices can be heard and shared, then having each other’s backs as we venture into [laughs] unfriendly territory. You can start by joining a women’s group or start your own. Reach out to women you admire, or women you’d like to get to know better. You’d be surprised how many women are seeking to create connections with other women. 
2. Throwing out Lifelines; Calling out to my tribe! My tribe; men and women who are dedicated to helping each other dig deep and project our voices into the world fearlessly with pride, purpose and passion. Those people who are in your lives to support you, to encourage you, [laughs] to kick you in the butt when you need it…

and like Mrs. Flowers, who was so crucial to Maya’s journey to reclaiming her voice, become a lifeline for others.

1. Maybe a first step to helping you unlock your own cage and reclaim your own voice, is to help someone else do the same. If you’re like me, sometimes encouraging and supporting others is way easier than encouraging and supporting myself. Mentor or coach a woman you know at work or in your personal life who is struggling to express herself or is afraid to shine her light on her talents and accomplishments.

Maybe you have a friend or family member who is in an unhealthy relationship or, who like Maya, was the victim of a sexual assault. If they are willing, help them locate professional resources appropriate for their situation.

You may love sport or the arts. Why not coach a girl’s sports team? Or, volunteer your talents supporting young budding artists. 

Maybe you’re at the top of your profession or industry and have the ability to light the way for other women to succeed. 

My point is, be someone’s Bright Lighter…

Marlo: These are just a few examples and I hope they inspire you to seek out what works best for you and to take action. And, if at times you find yourself struggling, like I certainly do, keep in mind we don’t have to do this alone! Find a coach, find a mentor, call a friend or friends, grab on to a lifeline when one is offered. 

Sure, it can be unnerving, scary, maybe even terrifying, but look at little Margret Annie Johnson’s journey to becoming Maya Angelou. Once she reclaimed her voice, she discovered she had a whole lot to say.

Marlo: Maya’s Bright Lighter legacy lives on in the voice she shared with the world. For me, Maya had many voices. Each one distinct in tone and measure but all sharing the same message. It was Maya’s mother who taught her the importance of courage and speaking up for what is right. Maya the activist learned to demand dignity for herself and for others. Something that did not come naturally to her. During her lifetime, she was a champion of civil rights, women’s rights, gay rights, human rights. Not only in this country, but in Africa and around the world. Her voice rang out for freedom and dignity for ALL people. She knew that our shared history as bloodied and battered as it is, holds within it the lessons we need to learn to become better at this thing called life.

Maya the poet, author, and storyteller bore witness to the degradations of racism, classism, and sexism. Shining a light in the deepest, darkest places of social injustice imaginable. Yet, she also celebrated the importance of motherhood, fatherhood, family, education, and community. She opened our eyes, our ears, and our hearts to the magic of life, love, loss, and the many joys this world has to offer.

Marlo: Maya the teacher was fond of saying, Marlo (as Maya Angelou): “When you learn, teach. When you get, give.”

Marlo: She used her voice to teach us about life and to help us find our place in the world. Her voice had a way of making us believe we are stronger than we think we are. That we are capable of great things and to believe otherwise does a disservice to ourselves and to the world. Her voice also had the power to heal. Words of love, forgiveness, hope, and faith meant to heal current and past social injustices. 

I believe her words were meant for each of us individually as well; to love our selves, to forgive ourselves, to have hope and faith in ourselves. What an incredible legacy to leave us. 

Maya had a wonderful way of voicing what’s in a woman’s soul! - When I heard her poem And Still I Rise… for the first time, I was blown away!! I laughed, I cheered I was so proud to be a woman. I must have listened to it a dozen times. 

How many times in our lives as women do we hide in the shadows, speak softly and meekly not wanting to call attention to ourselves, our ideas, our hopes, and our dreams. 

Her words speak to our quest for independence, personal dignity, and self-definition. To be recognized as women; strong, sexy, [playfully] vibrant, authentic and alive…

Marlo (as Maya Angelou): [seductively]     “Does my sexiness upset you?  Does it come as a surprise that I dance like I've got diamonds at the meeting of my thighs?”

Marlo: [enthusiastically] Wow! I just love that- 

Marlo: Maya the humanist spoke of the voice that represented our humanity. She could rip off our blinders; showing us the sad and desolate condition of our brothers and sisters right next door, or half-way around the world. Then, she would scold us for letting fear get in the way of doing what’s needed, doing what’s right. And in her very next breath, she would apply a soothing balm to our bruised psyche, encouraging us to love one another, respect one another. Two years before her death, Maya expressed her feelings about being a good human. She said; (Marlo as Maya Angelou): “What I really want to do is be a representative of my race, of the human race. I have a chance to show how kind we can be, how intelligent and generous we can be.”

Marlo: Love, Dignity, Joy, Freedom, Family, Community, Courage, Womanhood, Humanity. Like I said, Many voices; One Truth. 

So, in honor of little Marguerite Annie Johnson, let’s challenge ourselves to reclaim our voice in a way that is meaningful and true to who we are. 

It can be as simple as saying, ‘NO!’ to something you really don’t want to do.

Or

Saying ‘Yes’ to something you really do want to do.

It can be something big and ambitious, I don’t know, [chuckles] like starting up a podcast, dusting off that book you’ve been meaning to write or starting your own business.

You choose. 

You could speak out or speak up for a something or someone you believe in. It could be a cause close to your heart that you really want to get involved with. [enthusiastically] Do it!

Maya believed that art is action, and through your art, through your creativity, you can move mountains and you can move people. Maybe, finding the courage to share your voice through your creativity is your challenge. 

However you choose to use your voice is up to you. All I ask is that you have faith and trust in yourself. 

Marlo: [honestly] Why I love this woman.

When I think of Maya Angelou, my soul smiles. Sage, poet, teacher, revolutionary, lover of life and a true believer in the power we all have when we find our true voice and share it with the world. And boy, when Maya found her voice, the world was never the same.

Shining a light on the soul of America and the world. Her voice inspires us; No, her voice challenges us, to do better, [earnestly] to be better.

Marlo: As a woman, I find great comfort, wisdom, joy and courage in her words.. Her poems, her stories. 

And to hear that voice; that magical, mystical, musical voice that speaks directly to my soul and says; [dutifully] Sister, you know, you have always known. Now, do what you were meant to do, rise and SHINE! 

Yes, Ma’am! 

Marlo: In getting to know Maya Angelou I’ve learned some pretty important things about finding my own voice as a woman, as a human being. I believe much of her work is designed to shows us how to overcome our self-limiting fears and doubts. And, Maya inspires us to find the courage we need to share our voices with the world, the way she did throughout her lifetime. So, here are a few things we can take to heart from this week’s Bright Lighter:

1.        Our capacity to accomplish anything we set our minds to is only limited by, yep, our fear and our doubt. 

2.       With love and forgiveness, we have the power to heal ourselves, heal each other and the world.

3          Human dignity and respect – it is a right. Demand it for yourself, demand it for others. 

4          The joy of living. Don’t be afraid of doing what you want to do. Don’t waste time being afraid of what others think of your ideas, [chuckles] of you yourself. Shine your light, life is too short, make the most of it. 

Maya Angelou teaches us how to use our own voice and speak up for ourselves, for others, for truth and dignity. Hers is the voice that speaks up for our humanity and champions our human connection, one to the other.

But, to me that’s only half the lesson. It’s not enough to reclaim our voices as women. Or to find the courage to speak up and speak out.

She teaches us it is our sacred duty to teach those who come after us. Our daughters and granddaughters, sons and grandsons, generations to come, to use their voices to create a better, brighter world. 

Even in death, this incredible woman with this incredible voice could not be silent. A voice that continues to encourage us to lift up our own voices and help each other do the same. 

[theme music fades up]

Marlo: She’s still reaching out; she’s still teaching us through her own life’s story. 

Sisters, Maya continues to light the way forward, all we have to do is follow.

[uplifting theme music plays]

[music fades slightly]

Marlo: So, when you uncage your songbird, how will you share it with the world? Feel free to let me know in the comment section. 

And, if you have a Bright Lighter you would like featured on the podcast, use the link below and let’s connect!

To learn more about this episode's amazing Bright Lighter, visit the; ‘Why I Love this Woman’ section on the Aquitaine Project podcast website. There you’ll find links and resources about Maya Angelou’s life, works and accomplishments. I would recommend beginning with her 1969 autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Singsin which she describes the early parts of her life. Maya uses her autobiography to explore subjects such as identity, rape, racism, and literacy. She also writes in new ways about women's lives in a male-dominated society.

Ok! Until next time my Bright Lighters,

Shine bright so your sisters can find you!

[uplifting theme music plays]

[music fades out]