author. speaker. motivator.
Affectionately known as "America's #1 Success Coach," Jack Canfield is the originator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series and a leading authority in the areas of self-esteem, achievement motivation, and peak performance. [www.jackcanfield.com]
political powerhouse. media mogul. author.
Arianna Huffington is the co-founder and Editor in Chief of the Huffington Post and the author of twelve books. [www.huffingtonpost.com]
author. speaker. linchpin.
Seth Godin is a prominent author, blogger and speaker. [www.squidoo.com/linchpin]
yogi. philanthropist. dynamic teacher.
Krishna Kaur is the founder of YOGA for Youth, a program that takes yoga, meditation, and stimulating discussions on the philosophy of yoga to urban youth. [www.yogaforyouth.org]
producer. philanthropist. tv legend.
Norman Lear has enjoyed a long career in television and film. He is also a political and social activist and philanthropist. [www.normanlear.com]
race car driver. activist. carbon free girl.
Leilani Münter is a professional race car driver and an environmental activist who uses her voice in the number one spectator sport in America as a catalyst for change. [www.leilanimunter.com]
Freedom Fighter. Philanthropist. Game Changer.
By going undercover to meet slaves and slaveholders, Kevin Bales exposed modern slavery's penetration into the global economy. He co-founded Free the Slaves, which has helped to liberate thousands of slaves. [www.freetheslaves.net]
mom. big dreamer. lady in red.
Sophie Chiche, lifebyme.com founder and curator, enjoys asking deep questions and living a life of meaning. Today she's launching Shape House, an urban sweat lodge, a place to melt away fears and fat. [www.shapehousela.com]
Writer. Entrepreneur. Daily Lover.
Entrepreneur and writer Mastin Kipp founded TheDailyLove.com, which merges pop culture with inspiration, and co-founded The Love Yourself Company, an apparel company that has started a global self-esteem movement. [www.TheDailyLove.com]
singer. musician. crier.
Liz Phair is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. [www.lizphair.com]
archbishop. author. peaceful leader.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu is Chairman of The Elders, a group of world leaders who address some of the world's most pressing problems. He works energetically for human-rights and in his ministry. [www.tutu.org]
author. ceo. humanitarian.
Zainab Salbi is the founder and CEO of Women for Women International, a group dedicated to helping women survivors of war rebuild their lives. [www.womenforwomen.org]
speaker. psychotherapist. life embracer.
Despite his physical challenges, Sean Stephenson has taken a stand for a quality of life that has inspired millions of people around the world. He's a professional speaker, psychotherapist, and author. [www.timetostand.com]
yogi. meditator. teacher.
Kia Miller teaches Yoga at Yoga Works in Los Angeles, leads teacher trainings, and runs retreats and workshops on meditation, chakras, pranayam, and mantras, and other practices. [www.kiamiller.com]
creator. writer. idea geek.
Simon Mainwaring is an ex-Nike/Wieden creative, former Worldwide Creative Director at Motorola/Ogilvy, branding/advertising writer, author/speaker/blogger, Australian, idea geek. [www.simonmainwaring.com]
Strategist. Writer. Life Coach.
Shannon Bindler is a style editor, life coach, and the co-founder of Get Up Girl, an empowerment company that inspires women to shine. [www.getupgirl.com]
Designer. Art Director. Passionate Creator.
Grammy-nominated art director/designer/photographer Mathieu Bitton has designed over 450 CDs and movie posters. He's a renowned collector of and authority on black films and their soundtracks. [www.candytangerine.com]
Agent. Producer. Photography Enthusiast.
Opus Reps founder and agent-producer Jorge Perez travels the world producing photo shoots with great photographers and celebrities. He's also very involved with Meals on Wheels in Los Angeles. www.opusreps.com
ideas
Ebony Utley
knowledge seeker. perspective shifter. obsessive googler.
Ebony Utley, PhD, is an expert in popular culture, race, and romantic relationships. She's a public speaker, a professor, and the author of Rap and Religion: Understanding the Gangsta's God. [www.theutleyexperience.com]
Nothing brings me more satisfaction than having a new thought about an old concept. I’ve dedicated my life to creating and sharing ideas, through teaching, speaking, editing, writing, and helping people see their everyday lives in different ways.
I have my father to thank for my passion. He’s an artist. When I was little, he’d hoist me up onto his tall drafting chair and ask me what I thought about his latest piece of abstract art. It was never enough to say that I did or didn’t like it. He always made me explain why. He encouraged me to make connections that extended beyond superficial interpretations.
Because my father was constantly introducing me to unfamiliar concepts, I’m still incredibly curious. Whenever I encounter a new idea, I immediately Google it (even when it’s inappropriate for me to whip out my cell phone!). I’ve abruptly ended conversations with friends by saying, “I’m having ideas, I’ve got to go.” I pull over in my car or on my bike to audio-record a note. I keep a log of quotables on my phone and add to it when I hear someone say something unusually witty or insightful. When I’m doing a reading for my book and someone asks a question, through our conversation I’m exposed to even more curious concepts. I’ve learned that I never know when or where my next idea will manifest.
As a cultural critic, it’s my job to introduce people to nuanced interpretations of familiar concepts. I do that by writing about subjects that aren’t supposed to go together, like rap and religion or love and hip hop or Christianity and sex. My most coveted compliment is “I’d never thought about that in that way until I read your work.”
I want to encourage the thinkers out there who don’t paint, draw, dance, sculpt, or sing to offer perspectives on those wondrous creations. Interpretation is an art, too. Our society needs artistic creators and cultural critics.
One of life’s most important lessons is learning to accept the things you cannot change. You can do this by simply changing the way you look at things. Read. Pay attention to the world around you. Be open-minded. Ignite your inner critic. A new world of ideas will introduce itself to you.
– Ebony Utley
Explore More Meaning
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curious author. filmmaker. imagineer.
Kristen Wolf is a mother, writer, and filmmaker who lives in the Rocky Mountains. [www.kristenwolf.com]
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bridge builder. unity advocate. what-if visionary.
As an advocate for quality, person-centered care across all settings, Joseph DeMattos serves as president and CEO of Maryland's oldest and largest provider association of skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers. [www.hfam.org]
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Life Coach. Authentic Relationship Builder.
Alexis Shepperd, Ph.D., is a life coach and co-founder of the Authentic Woman Experience, dedicated to passionate romantic relationships, sisterhood, and every woman's birthright to adore her life. [www.authenticwomanexperience.com]
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public intellectual. social activist. provocative spiritual artist.
Center for World Spirituality co-founder Marc Gafni is a gentle and provocative spiritual artist and teacher, public intellectual, bestselling author, television personality, social activist and lover of people. [www.ievolve.org]
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word-wise fundraiser. worldwide contributor. butterfly embracer.
Keidi Keating is an editor, ghostwriter, and publisher. She is currently living between Spain and the United States. Along with The Light, she writes books that spread Loving and Light to the world. [thelightnetwork.com/thelight]
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singer. songwriter. musician.
Glass Pear is Welsh singer/songwriter Yestyn Griffiths, whose songs are about the fragility and transience of life and love. His songs have been heard on Grey's Anatomy, Bones, and other popular shows. [www.glasspearmusic.com]
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author. actress. health enthusiast.
Mariel Hemingway is an author and the founder of Mariel's Kitchen, a company she created to help people discover health and happiness by treating themselves well. [www.marielhemingway.com]
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social change creator. ego battler. heart follower.
Brenton Gieser is an entrepreneur who forgot about success a while back and is now focusing on creating value. He's currently building the community organization Be Social Change. [www.brentongieser.com]
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