Thriving Artists: The Daily Joyride with Robyn Cohen

From Ashes To Hope: Helping L.A. Heal And Rebuild with Stephanie Wilson

• Robyn Cohen • Episode 5

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How do we recover after losing everything? What does it take for individuals to spearhead rebuilding efforts after profound personal and collective losses? How do we begin to reconstitute ourselves and our lives in the wake of wildfire devastation and other natural disasters? How can we help those in need to pick up the pieces? And how can art and generosity bridge gaps in times of crisis? In this heartfelt episode of The Daily Joyride, host Robyn Cohen speaks with long-time friend, actor, and teacher Stephanie Wilson who shares her profound commitment to community support, revealing two GoFundMe campaigns: one for her dearest friends and acting students, and another for the Fancy Feet Dance Studio. Robyn also offers free access to her online acting classes, emphasizing the power of creativity and supportive communities during trying times. Listeners are encouraged to embrace hope, generosity, and the positive impacts of small acts of kindness. The discussion emphasizes the resilience, compassion, and collective healing needed to rebuild and thrive, showcasing how love and bravery can guide us through the darkest times.

💕HELP YOUR CLASSMATES PATTY & ALEX:
https://gofund.me/14f43b17

💕HELP FANCY FEET DANCE STUDIO:
https://gofund.me/ba96bc74

- Contact Stephanie Wilson:
swilson@stoneridgeschool.org

💕The Homewood Suites by Hilton kindly welcomed us into their hotel after we evacuated from the Los Angeles wildfires. They treated us with the utmost kindness, care and hospitality. Hilton and American Express have announced that they will provide 20,000 rooms across the greater Los Angeles area for people who have been affected by the wildfires. If you are in need of accommodations, complete an application online with 211 LA.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeffO_8LNOoB-LEwdNHBg6pq6Le3bicFMSmxKUb-JZhaHBJyg/viewform?pli=1

💕I’m opening up my online Acting Classes to all Auditors - for Free - starting Tuesday, January 28th @ 6pm pt online. Let this loving community be a place for healing, hope and continued inspiration.
For a free audit, email:
robyn@cohenactingstudio.com
or contact me on the site:
www.cohenactingstudio.com

If you’d like to participate fully, I have a couple spots left for actors who are ready to go full-tilt!
Register Here: www.cohenactingstudio.com
🎊 The Early Bird Special Pricing is back on the site! Join us starting January 28th for $100 off the workshop! 

🎭 Group classes and private coaching are available year round 

👉 Follow me on Instagram: @RobynCohenActingStudio 
- for inspiration, updates, and encouragement!

🎊 In appreciation, I made you a special MP3! It’s a Free Audio Guide called: '5 Proven Ways to Peace and Power,' that promises to infuse your days with ease, calm and strength. (in under 7 minutes) 
FREE GIFT!👇
https://mailchi.mp/cohenactingstudio/free-gift-to-freedom

Time Stamps:
04:52 Stephanie's Journey and Contributions
05:45 The Fancy Feet Dance Studio Campaign
23:15 Empowering the Next Generation
27:53 Stephanie's Personal Influences
34:42 Finding Courage and Bravery
41:20 The Power of Connection in Times of Tragedy
41:51 Expressions of Love and Support
45:30 Rebuilding and Resilience
56:23 The Importance of Intention and Manifestation
01:00:23 Honoring Loved Ones and Finding Joy
01:06:33 Community Support and Generosit

Robyn Cohen:

Hello, dear, dear, amazing community. I'm Robyn Cohen, and welcome back to the Daily Joyride. Today was actually a spontaneously created episode revolving around bringing help and healing to people affected by the fires that have been raging across cities and neighborhoods in Los Angeles. With everything happening and with all of the unfathomable loss and destruction, my dear friend of 20 years, actor, teacher, director, Stephanie Wilson and I were compelled to create a space for a conversation about gathering up our collective strength, our compassion, ideas, and resources so we can help those in need and those who have lost so, so much and in such a short period of time. And Stephanie really does herself embody such a unique and radiant energy that actually brings healing and unity wherever she goes. So in the throes of all this disaster, we wanted to offer you a warm hug and a caring space that'll bring hope, resources, and healing to your hearts. Inside that mission, I'm really happy to announce that I'm opening up my online acting classes starting January 28th to all auditors for free. So you can come into the Zoom room and you can observe, you can soak in some creative healing, community support and inspiration. It is a gift to you and an opportunity to learn some really cool things about acting and stay connected with like minded creatives. If you're jonesing to get up and act and participate fully in the class, I do have a couple of spots left and I'd love to see you there, so email me at Robyn Robyn's with a Y Robyn@CohenActingStudio.com and I will save you a spot. and if you've participated in classes before, you can just go to the website, www.cohenactingstudio.com and I've put the early bird special back up on the site, so you'll be good to go for January 28th with$100 off of the workshop. Finally, to provide help and aid for our friends in Los Angeles, please consider supporting the Patti and Alex GoFundMe campaign. Patti is one of my dearest friends in the world, and also an acting student at the Cohen Acting Studio, who many of you have been in classes with. The other campaign we'll discuss is the Patty and Emily Fancy Feet Dance Studio GoFundMe campaign. We're going to share about it in this episode. Every contribution brings us all a step closer to our wholeness and to putting some hope and love and aliveness back in the air. To be sure, this conversation is a step forward on that path. So let's dive in. Hello, everyone. And thanks again for joining us on the Daily Joyride. Today I have the profound honor of welcoming to the show one of my dearest friends and collaborators on the whole planet, Stephanie Wilson. Stephanie and I share a Deep and rich arts and crafts history in the Los Angeles theater scene where she dedicated over two decades to television, film and theater projects, some of which in theater on stage. I'm so happy to be able to say I had the privilege of directing her in. Her journey has been marked by top notch training with an array of esteemed teachers, including Robert Carnegie Larry Moss and I'm so beyond grateful to be able to say, with me, at the Cohen Acting Studio. In the last couple of years, Stephanie's beautiful and adventurous spirit led her to Bethesda, Maryland, where I was born.$14. 27 for my birth, that is a true story. Thank you. Where she now guides teenage girls in creating theater at Stone Ridge School as the upper school's drama teacher and theater director. Her passion for the arts and commitment to empowering young women through creativity and confidence building is truly inspiring. Recently, Stephanie's life And many of the lives in Southern California have taken a devastating turn. The Palisades Fire, one of the most horrific wildfires in Los Angeles history, ravaged the Pacific Palisades neighborhoods, as well as her Topanga Canyon home and neighborhood for the last 20 years. the structural losses was the Fancy Feet Dance Studio, institution owned by some of our closest friends in the world, Emily and Patty, who have sadly also lost their homes to the fires. For 33 years, Fancy Feet has been the top dance academy for aspiring artists on the West Side, and moreover, a beacon of confidence and self esteem building for young women, led by a team, Emily and Patty, whose hearts and values are unparalleled. In response to this tragedy, Stephanie has initiated a GoFundMe campaign to help rebuild Fancy Feet and restore hope to the community. The campaign aims to raise 3, 500, and as of now, generous donors have contributed over 1, 300. Every contribution brings them closer to reviving this cherished institution. You can find more information about support and the campaign in the show notes. I'll put it there, the GoFundMe campaign, Rebuild Fancy Feet Dance Studio. Stephanie. your resilience and your unwavering support for your community during this unfathomable time are truly remarkable. We are grateful to have you here to share your journey. and to hear how our listeners can join you in helping the community during this cataclysmic time in Los Angeles. I am so glad and so grateful that you are here. Thank you for being here.

Stephanie:

Thanks. I'm so honored to be here with you. Thank you for everything you just said, and most importantly, uh, yeah, the tribute to our dear friends. Yeah. Which I think is, I don't know how anything could be more meaningful right now than trying to support them in any way that we can, so.

Robyn Cohen:

Yeah. Thank you

Stephanie:

for bringing the attention.

Robyn Cohen:

Well, We were just talking before the show, before we started recording, Stephanie and I were talking like, what is, what is this about? This podcast, And it's so obvious now that it's born out of a desire to connect with people and humanitarians and artists like yourself, who are, aiming to make the world a better place. for everyone in it. And when I received your email a day and a half ago about this campaign, it just, you, you really exemplify for me, Stephanie, and you always have you all. I mean, this isn't actually new. It's not, it's amazing to me what you do for your communities. And for the people that are lucky enough to be around you, it's amazing, but it's actually not surprising. And what you're doing to help our friends and the community there is, is exceptional and, um, and so heartfelt. And so you, and so just thank you for being such a gorgeous soul. Um, such a magnificent friend to people that know you for And to people that you've just met, that's who you are, wherever you go. And it's, well, it's people like you that, bring healing to the world. uh, you're a light at the end of the tunnel for many people. And, um, we are all our thoughts and our prayers and our, you know, the moment by moment is absolutely consumed with what's going on with Southern California and our friends and our communities, and before we hit record, we were starting to talk about that people that aren't necessarily there don't really, um, have a sense of, of what's going on and don't really have a sense of the individuals that are, um, being, um, uprooted in a biblical kind of way. I mean, what's happening. feels meta, um, it does. It feels biblical. I don't know how else to say it. I think that's actually a perfect way to say it. But, maybe you could shed some light on that being in one of the communities that is literally in the center. of this Palisades fire and Topanga Canyon. Um, can you share about your experience? Sure, of course.

Stephanie:

Yeah, first of all, thanks for all of the kind words. I mean, I'm just a reflection of you, because this is you, Robyn, and we are so blessed that it's everyone we know. I mean, our community there, this dance studio in particular that we're talking about, fancy feet. Emily, a dear friend of ours from acting class many, many years ago, uh, started this dance studio when she was, what, 18 years old or something? Yeah, literally. something like that? Yeah, yeah. And the people that she has surrounded herself with, this is part of the reason I know you, because of this community, and through our, our work as actors in LA. Um, I think everyone was kind of drawn to one another because there is this desire to help each other and help others. And, there are no two people really I know. I mean, three, you, I mean, so many, everyone, well, these folks who really are out there just trying to make the world a better place. Um, and that is. The people who own and run the studio are dear friends Patty and Emily, and all of the teachers who work with them, Monique, Cherie, Mario, Kendra, I mean I could go on and on with these names, and these people are trying to be role models for young, people. women mainly, but young students and children in the community. And what they have done over the past 33 years is bring these kids together to have a safe refuge to go where they know they have these incredible supportive adults who are always on their side, who are always encouraging them to be the best people that they can be, to Basically have, like consider their values and have kind of a moral code and compass that is of this vein of trying to be the most uplifting person you can be in the world and go out and be of service. I mean, their values at the studio are like kindness, community, and humility, and that's exactly what they represent. And so, this is a very small campaign right now, and hopefully it will grow larger. Um, I know how much utter devastation there has been in this community. Um, it's hard to speak about because when you look at the footage of our neighborhood, that isn't there anymore. Uh, it's really It doesn't feel real. It feels very, very surreal. so I know there are so many people right now who have been devastated by these fires and who are going to need to rebuild their homes. So many students at this dance studio, friends in other areas of Los Angeles, my dear friend Rebecca in Altadena and her family with young children. Uh, this is a story that is now multifold across Los Angeles. So. This is a very small campaign for one very beautiful organization that represents a community and that community is the one that just Was annihilated by this fire, um, to represent. Oh, yes, please. Well, yes. The Palisades. They represent the Pacific Palisades. And I think that's why it's a very important place to kind of hone in on because they are a place of community building and this community is one that needs assistance right now. Yeah. Hoping

Robyn Cohen:

that that 3, 500 becomes 350, 000. I'll tell you why, because. um, 18 years ago now, I, um, I had a dinner. we arranged a dinner. It was with Emily and Patty at Emily's place. And we came up with an idea for something called Our Gift Of Light. And it was, Um, something that I brought to them as an idea for somehow waking young artists minds up to the idea that the arts are a gift to people. That they, it's, it's not about look at me, look at me. It's about come with me so I can give you the gift of creativity and aliveness, right? And so we had this idea that we would, um, Partner with a, um, an organization that helps rehabilitate homeless teenagers, Hollywood arts. And it was run by Dylan Kendall. And, um, we said, well, why don't we do a show that's kind of like a talent show where the dancers and some singers at the time can go ahead and literally be sharing their profound and unique gifts solely to raise money for teenagers just like them, the same age, who don't have a change of clothes to their name. Maybe we could do something for them. So we got together and we created this initial, the initial year was 2006, I believe, and it was called Our Gift Of Light and the young people, the young artists would be able, they were able to get present to. My gift can make a difference for a lot of people and they were able to raise some thousands of dollars, which went to young people in middle school and high school that were without homes and, um, displaced from there over the last 17 years, they have partnered with. A new organization every year, organizations for people with down syndrome organizations and people, you know, all across the map, uh, organizations that are doing cancer research and they have over the course of this time raised half a million dollars. I don't know the exact number for. People that they don't know, may never see, um, but they are on a mission every year since then. And they were before we sort of codified it in this Gift of Light show. but it's just exemplifying exactly what you just shared. I mean, they are the contribution that they are not only to developing artists, but to literally helping people from all walks of life, dealing with all kinds of difficulties and sorrows, helping to rehabilitate them and being part of their healing, um, has been something that they've, Done, you know, again, to the tune of many hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years. And so we might say that by the time this podcast airs, which I'm hoping to, I'm hoping that our listeners can hear this pretty quickly, um, maybe it is a campaign for 350, 000, um, um, taking into account how much, how much they have, you know,

Stephanie:

Done for others. How much goodness they've poured into the community. All the years. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Speaking of Gift of Light, um, I was just back in LA over the holiday break. So I left three days before, well, Tuesday when the fire broke out, I left on Saturday and Patty was just talking about, auditions for Gift of Light, which were coming up, I believe maybe even this week. Um, but I have been there for many, many of the auditions. those gift of light shows and it is truly a gift like you said that these kids are giving to their community and throughout Los Angeles the communities that they that that spreads out to from there that they have been affecting and touching. I know some of those other names of organizations. I know like Children's Hospital of L. A. was one of their benefactors one year. I know an organization, for young children with autism at one point in time. so it is, it is across the board. and often it is an organization. That someone in the Palisades community has a specific connection to. Um, which I think is also very important for everyone to know. That they're working, directly, you know, kids in the Palisades are working directly to support causes that are important to the community of the Palisades and that expands out to help people all over LA. Yes, and the world ultimately.

Robyn Cohen:

And the world, yeah. Exactly. Because these causes are meaningful to people all over the planet. Yeah,

Stephanie:

absolutely.

Robyn Cohen:

Absolutely. Um, so, okay. I want to kind of go back a little bit. Sure. Before we, get back into what we can do to help and how, um, I want to go back a little bit just on you, Steph, and um, we were going to have a podcast interview before the fires broke out. we had scheduled a podcast interview and I was already looking forward to it because I'm so interested and I, I think our listeners would be interested to know little bit of your journey, like how does someone, and just take this in because it's, it's true, like how does someone become a light? Beam like Stephanie Wilson. How does I take it? We're not deflecting. I know, but I, I think, listen here, we're going to talk Turkey. The world needs more people like you, Stephanie. And so I want to, take a step back to sort of talk about. Your journey, a little bit, you know, in becoming an artist and an actor, like, and becoming a teacher, what is What kinds of things went into baking? What got baked into you to make you such a delicious, magnificent human being that is such a beacon of hope and love? and light for human beings and artists everywhere. You're so special. I, I don't know anyone like you, Stephanie. and for people that are tuning in, like, did you, were you born out of the womb? Like I'm ready to contribute. Were you born just like at the ready, you came out, your mom was like, Ooh, that's a, and then you were like, let's go. Because since I've known you, Your spirit, it you, it's, it's your indomitable spirit. You just have endless generosity, limitless light. And, and encouragement for other people. Where'd you get it? How'd you get there? Thank you.

Stephanie:

Thanks, Robyn. I appreciate all of this very much. But, you know, it's hard, it is hard. Thank you. You got it. I really appreciate you saying it. And I know that there are so many people who are constantly doing these things. And so, I'll interview them later. I want to interview you now. Okay, fine. Where are you

Robyn Cohen:

from? Where are you, the amazing, beautiful creature, Stephanie,

Stephanie:

from? How'd you get here? Thanks, Robyn. Thanks. Okay. Well, you know, I'm from not that far from here, uh, where I am sitting right now in Bethesda, Maryland, crazy enough. So I spent the last 20 years in LA, five years prior to that in Hawaii. So my entire adult life, I've been gone from the East Coast. but last year I actually had an offer to come teach at a high school here in Bethesda, Maryland. And, um, you know, I was Unsure about, leaving my home of so many years, but the amazing thing is that I also have a home here because my family is still nearby. They're about an hour and a half north, and to be honest, my parents were aging, are aging, and they needed some help with stuff, and I was like, this is an amazing opportunity to be close to them, at this point and help out, and then also do something that I feel extremely passionate about doing, which is, teaching this group of incredible young people, all of the stuff that we learned when we were in LA doing this work for many, many years. So I feel very, very, very lucky that I now, as you do too, have this kind of home life and career on both coasts. it's kind of, as I think about it, it feels like this dream, like, whoa, I feel very, um, kind of fluid throughout the world and like able to be a lot of places due to kind of great circumstances. so I feel very, very, very blessed and fortunate for that. I feel incredibly fortunate to have been able to work with the kids that I've been able to work with both in L. A. and here. This new generation, they always get annoyed with me when I talk about them as the new generation or whatever. This up and coming generation, this new line of thinking, this new breed of incredible human beings that are coming out here, like, flailing onto the planet with kind of, like, no holds barred. Like, ready to take over the world. I mean, this isn't, this is different. It is different than how we were raised. And the school where I work. it is called Stone Ridge School in Bethesda. It is an all girls school. There are students there who Identify as non binary, identify as trans, so I do want to say students instead of, you know, using the designation of it being an all girls school. and I am very lucky, especially in the theatre department, to have many of these students as my, my students. And so, you know, I do think that just with the movements of the past, really, four years, I think with Me Too, I think with Black Lives Matter, our world has changed. And I think with COVID, you know, COVID gets a bad rap, obviously, but a lot of good things came out of this. A lot of change came out of this era. And that includes these students who have done, like, a lot of self reflection. they're kids who are, you know, they're like more resilient in many ways. they've been, you know, we didn't go through a major war or tragedy, we somehow kind of escaped, I think, and correct me if this doesn't sound fair, right? But like, Americans of our age, we didn't have to go off to World War II like my grandparents did, at age 19, 20, And I think it's hard to compare COVID to a war like, something like World War II, but The kids did go through something that we didn't. And there were

Robyn Cohen:

many, many losses. Many, many losses of life. Yes, yes, which cannot

Stephanie:

be, yes, which cannot by any means be underestimated. And so I think what we have here is a generation that is ready to change the world. They are ready to do things differently, they're ready to take it on, and they aren't quiet. they are really, like, they speak back, they speak up, and they push the world forward. And it's in all areas. It's inequality, it's in human rights, and civil rights. I mean, they do not put up with stuff. What would be an example of that? Is that in

Robyn Cohen:

everyday fare,

Stephanie:

in

Robyn Cohen:

rehearsal,

Stephanie:

or

Robyn Cohen:

you're in class, and suddenly

Stephanie:

you'll say something, and what, Bye bye. so right now I'm directing our middle school show. So these are students who are 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. So they're, what, 12, 13, 14. I mean, what these kids know, I ask them things like, okay, well, let me back up. So the play is actually called Girls in the Boat, and it's this very cool show, about a women, well, it's about a women's rowing team and the legacy, the United States women's rowing team, and the legacy that they have left in the country. Most people do not know this, but U. S. women's rowing is the most decorated Team of all time around the world besides a Russian wrestling team. So number two, in the entire world of winning more world champions, championships, and more Olympics than any other team, women's rowing. So the, the, the, the play is about that. and, it's also about Title IX. So, for those of, for those listeners who don't know, Title IX is the law that was passed in 1972 that prevented discrimination between men and women for any reason. anything that was given federal funding. So it's not just sports, even though I think most of the time when we think of Title IX, we think of sports.

Robyn Cohen:

Yeah.

Stephanie:

Um, it's actually about anything within a federal funded system has to be equal between men and women. And if anyone has seen, any listeners have seen, or if you've seen, uh, the great movie On the Basis of Sex, I cannot recommend it highly enough. It's about Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her role, particularly in this movement. so. To go back to the play and just how incredible these girls are, I asked them things at age 14, like, do you know who Ruth Bader Ginsburg is? Or do you know what Title IX is? They know it all!

Robyn Cohen:

Wow. They know!

Stephanie:

And they care. And they will speak up about things in rehearsal, if anything seems discriminatory, if anything seems unequal, they talk about it. I mean, I've had kids in class, when we're doing scenes from plays like Steel Magnolias, something that's, widely, popular, beloved, ran, performed, play. Right, exactly. All the time. If there is anything in there that seems a bit outdated as far as, Equality. Equality more than anything. Yes. They speak up about it and then they change the line. They, I mean, well, they shouldn't Yes. Change the lines'cause of the writer, but they say, this is not, this is no longer appropriate, this is outdated. We're saying this instead. Something very similar, but they will change it. Wow. And I mean, these are kids are at a young age and then this is just part of who they are now. Yes. And it is a very, very beautiful thing. I mean, these girls are empowered. Yeah. And they are. And they're out there ready to take it on and become leaders.

Robyn Cohen:

So you describe yourself in that description of them were your parents, activists, what were some of your influences that have you show up in the way that you just shared? about these girls. Yeah.

Stephanie:

I would love talking about this actually because my mom, I don't think if you asked her, she would ever say she was in quotes an activist, but I just think by nature of who she is, mainly a rebel, um, Really? She is an activist. A rebel, a rebel archetype. artist or archetype, like they're the archetype. But also artist. Yeah, yeah, yeah. She's all of the

Robyn Cohen:

above.

Stephanie:

She's all of the above. Rebel, archetype, artist. That's so cool. That's why you're so cool. That's why you're so cool. it is. Thanks, mom. It is why I'm so cool. She'll love hearing this. But she actually did, I mean, she used to pull me out of school all the time to just go do awesome things that were educational. So, we would go to New York all the time and see shows and go to museums. And she was always, she's so interested in things. I think that's one of the main things. Like, if you are interested in something as an adult or a parent or a teacher, then the people around you, your kids or your students, become interested in it as well. So, I think If, you know, you were talking about my enthusiasm and joy, I think it's my mom. she is that. She exudes enthusiasm and joy. And so, like, she's so curious and she's so passionate and she's so, excited about things that there's no way to not get excited about them, too. Even as, like, a 14 year old about, like, I don't know, Picasso, anything. she would just be so into it that I would absorb all of that. Wow. Yeah. So, I feel extremely grateful to her for that opportunity of being able to see so much of the world at a young age, get so much education, particularly about art. She's a visual artist, so visual arts were a big part of my childhood. Yeah. And a huge shout out to my mom, because there has been no one more invested in my plays that I'm directing here than my mom! And she is so sweet! And she has put in so much, effort and energy helping me round up set pieces and, like, go to antique shops and find, antique stoves or, a pool table at the neighbor's yard sale for Clue. I mean, I just Yeah, so. The gratitude is immense. Yeah, yeah. For all things, from you know, a pool table the whole way to being more worldly as a result of her and having more I guess just like joie de vivre because that's trickle down for sure.

Robyn Cohen:

Yeah, I feel her. I feel her shimmering through you and pouring through you and I feel her love all over you, beaming out of you. I feel your mother. I love her so much through you. I feel like I'm hugging her in this podcast. through your presence and what a beautiful tribute. And, and hello, Stephanie's mom. Thanks for And uh, another thing that's been on my mind thinking about our conversation Um, you, Stephanie, occur to me as someone who, and I really get what you said about your mom as someone that was just, like, invested, and you occur as someone that's so, fully and, wholeheartedly invested in equality and in writing the world in whatever way that we can, whether that's teaching the next generation, Whether that's being a performer, an artist, citizen yourself. but when I, when I think of you, the word, uh, bravery comes up. Courage. So I think, you know, I think about the, the wizard of Oz, the lion, courage, courage, the lion. And I really do. Um, I have such admiration for people like you who are able to, I was so stuck in, um, people pleasing and that disease to please and accommodate co dependency for so long and so deeply entrenched to that. there have been times when I have felt too terrified to say something, not when someone was in harm's or, you know, ever present danger or anything like that, I would of course step in in that kind of a situation. But in terms of what you're talking about and these girls that you work with and, and your spirit and your conviction, like. What has you, what gives you that kind of bravery? Like I, I think of, your ability to speak your truth is so powerful. It's what makes you such a beautiful actor. You speak power to truth and Your constant, stream of authenticity that pours out of you is like, it's holy to me. It's so special. what, what would you tell people, listeners who They want to speak up. They want to say something. They want to make a move. They want to fight for someone. But, we're, a lot of us are just too scared about what the consequences might be. We're too scared that, that something even more devastating might happen. But how do you muster How do we muster that kind of courage and bravery to live authentic lives? to speak out on behalf of people like Patty and Emily and the Palisades community and Topanga communities that need help? How do we do that? What would you tell people who are afraid and stuck to make a move in any direction? I mean, you literally moved across the entire country to start a new job with a new community of people that you never met or even heard of, you know, the year before, uh, the moves that you make, you're such a world class traveler. you have this, you said that word fluidity and just And kind of finding your, yourself in these magical places that really, coexist with what your dreams and desires and passions are. But what would you say to people that feel like they are stuck and scared and don't know how to take the first step? Sure.

Stephanie:

Okay. So, first of all, thanks. I'm gonna put Popeye, my puppy, here on his little bed. So, Popeye's just getting transported over here. He's blind. He is? I remember. I remember. I We may or may not edit this out. I don't know. Yes, understood, understood, understood. We may not

Robyn Cohen:

edit this out.

Stephanie:

Okay, to refocus, sometimes it's just so much flattery. I'm like, I really appreciate it. But you know what?

Robyn Cohen:

I get that. Yeah, it's so much to take in, but the reason I know it's so big. You're going to answer the question is because you care, you care more about the people that are scared and feel alone and like they can't speak out authentically than we do about our own ego,

Stephanie:

right? Whatever the thing is. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. I said it. You said it. Here's the deal. I heard so many other people say this, and so many people in like, very powerful, important positions say the same thing. And I like listening to them, a lot. I like learning from these people who have pushed themselves beyond limits, and to us. And beyond

Robyn Cohen:

their comfort zones. Yes! Like entirely

Stephanie:

beyond their comfort zones. Yes. Yes, for sure! So I like hearing this from People that I aspire to be like. And every single person says, I was scared and I did it anyway. And that's exactly what it is. You're scared and you do it anyway. You're terrified and you do it anyway. You take a breath. A huge breath, and you just leap. You just say it. you just have to, because life is really, really short. we do not have enough time here to mess around. I was obviously going to say something else, but we don't. We don't. it is rapidly going by, and who the hell knows what is going to happen tomorrow. I mean, like I said, I left LA on Saturday and hugged everyone goodbye, and then on Tuesday, the place that I was hugging them in was gone. So it's just keeping those things in mind. And I think to be honest, I have always had like a hypersensitive, a hypersensitivity to the feeling of life being fleeting. And the fact that we have to, we have to, Do this thing here with what we are given and we all have these gifts, whatever our gifts may be. We have them. I think that, you know, you're talking about. my energy or enthusiasm or joy that I think I've inherited from my mom, fortunately, gratefully. And I do think that is a gift. I think that is something that I have here that I believe in, that yes, it's all too much flattery, but like I'll take this one in because I do believe it. I believe that this is something that inspires other people. It makes me a good teacher. it enthuses and kind of like rallies people, right? Ignites, ignites them. Thanks, thanks. So I'll take that. Because I do believe that that is a gift that I have. And everybody has something. Every single one of us has something like this. Like, this is not like, I'm not like a visual artist. I can't I don't know, do gymnastics or tap dance, or like, I can't do math at all, right? But everybody has something, something that they know, they know that is theirs. It is their God given gift that they were, that they were bestowed with. And it's just using that thing to make the world a better place. Period. Like, we're all here with this outstanding ability to make a choice, to be, to be. an inspiration, to be of service and to spread love. Like, what else are we here doing? and I think that there's so, so, so many ways that we can do this and everybody has access to it. And I think when you talk about bravery, I think we have this idea of we're supposed to be so shy about our talents or our gifts. And it is important to be humble and also to own our gifts because frankly it is for a greater purpose. It's not for us. It's for a greater good. It's, it's to spread, it's to spread love around the world. So I just think everyone knows that they have that thing, so take a deep breath and use it. Like, just use it. yeah, you have to just push yourself past it, because the fear is You've said this before, I think, like, I am a resistance machine. I think that's your quote, actually. I think I'm quoting you right now. I say it all the time! Yeah! And I'm going to do it anyway! So that's a Robyn Cohen special there. I'm a resistance machine and I'm going to do it anyway, and it is true. I'm also a fear machine and I am going to do it anyway. I'm going to push past this thing, because I gotta tell you, I remember Brene Brown saying in one of her books, I think it's The Power of Vulnerability, she's like, Well, you know, there's this idea of, I'm 46 years old and I really, just want to go back to school and be a therapist, but I'm 46 and I have to do all my hours. By the time I finish my hours, I'm going to be, like, 48. And then she's like, well, you know what? You're going to be 48 anyway. So go back to school and do your hours. And then you'll be 48 and a therapist. As opposed to 48 and wishing you were a therapist, right? So just do the thing. Yeah, that's my answer.

Robyn Cohen:

That's so beautiful. So potent. so rich with wisdom and you make it sound easy. I know it's not, it's not easy, but it is in a sense simple. I guess I would say it that way. It's not necessarily easy to leap. But it is a simple step.

Stephanie:

Right. Well, you know the Buddhist quote, leap and the net will appear. It always does. Please do. Please God. I mean it does. You do the thing and it appears. The universe conspires for you to make the thing work. It does. It always does. And I have to say, the more you do it, the easier it becomes. It becomes you. It becomes you. That's right. Your, your modus operandi. Yeah. Yeah, you get the support over and over again. You do the leap. You, you, you have the net. Suddenly the universe has conspired to make all your dreams come true. And then you realize like, That just worked. Can I do it again? That just worked. Can I do it again? And every time, it will work. Yeah. If you take the lead. right, The universe conspires to work with that bravery. Like, it, it knows, this thing knows, God knows, we're supported. Whatever you want to call it, the universe or God or whatever. It's like all here, it's all the same thing, it's just love. Yeah. It's all here, working in our favor.

Robyn Cohen:

Stephanie is my Robyn, I love you. I love you. You are my spirit animal, creature goddess animal. Ah. How, what is the silver lining in today's wreckage, in the apocalyptic mess that so many are swimming in? Having not a change of clothes to their name, what is, what is going to be, what do you imagine? I know there's no right or wrong, answer, but what do you imagine is the silver lining? what might emerge? What could possibly be reborn and into what?

Stephanie:

Oh, Robyn, I mean, this is what I think we were getting to right before you started recording. And the answer is these conversations. people's support of one another and what has been happening. I am not in LA right now. And I have, I have received more text messages in the past Three days. From everyone I've ever met in my entire life. And I'm not there right now. I mean, they're just checking on my friends. They know I'm here. So that love, that's love. That is love. Ex boyfriends! Like, people are coming out of the woodwork! Is everyone okay? Is everyone okay?

Robyn Cohen:

Yeah.

Stephanie:

I got ex boyfriends checking on ex boyfriends! I mean, it's amazing! Don't let them hear this. I mean, people care, and I think that is the thing about tragedy, is that, like, What happens is the support around tragedy, it's like people, everyone gets so busy with their daily lives, and like people call and sometimes it takes us like a month to call them back, but like when there is some sort of thing that happens like this, People show up in spades and they come together and they help each other. And I think that is the beauty of humanity. I think that is the goodness of humanity and I think that's the reality about humanity. I think horrible things happen and I think there's, there's things that people do that are not good sometimes too. But so much more good overwhelms this and so much love. I mean, I have no doubt about that.

Robyn Cohen:

Yeah. I feel that with every fiber of my being. I'm literally vibrating with your words. And, I, I have been in Los Angeles and we evacuated. And just as you said, the amount of loving connection and profound, deep communication with people I haven't spoken to or connected with in years.

Stephanie:

Yeah.

Robyn Cohen:

is, is remarkable. And so, so is the prayer for everyone suffering. Please God, please God, let our eyes be open that love is coming at us from every direction. Please God, let us stay awake. to the love and the care and the healing that it's on its way even now and now and now that it's on its way. I can't imagine how hard it might be for some to keep their receptivity, their receptors open to that in a time of such horrific devastation. I, um, I just want to hug the city,

Stephanie:

you

Robyn Cohen:

know, take everyone in my arms and hold them and rock them and let them know that they're not alone. That it is, it is. going to be okay. My dad he says to me when things are not looking up, he'll say it's going to be okay. In the end, it's going to be okay. And if it's not okay, it's just not the end yet. Because in the end, it's going to be okay. And that's helped, you know, in certain environments and on a different scale than what's happening now. Um, I, um, I'm so knocked back by your, you know, creating of this fund, like, immediately, didn't blink, didn't barely have caught your own breath. but that's the thing, Steph, like, Most people aren't doing that and that you did it. I recently, um, I interviewed John Patrick Shanley and John Patrick Shanley, when he was talking about his own sort of, he has a lot of gumption in his writing and in his soul. And I was like, what gives you the gumption? And he said, you know, I always think that it's my turn. Oh, amazing. It's my turn to speak out on behalf of fill in the blank. It's my turn to start a campaign for people that have lost, you know. He operates from a place of like, It's always my turn. It's my turn to go. Because if we don't have people like John and like you, that it's like, well, what else can we got to do? You know, I just think that that's so beautifully exemplified in you, um, how are. How are we going to start to start to rebuild?

Stephanie:

Yeah, you know, I think there's two things because the first thing was this idea of people holding back still and I do think like, oh, we've touched on this, this thing that I'm saying that. might be more inherent within me or other folks, about, like, just do it anyway, right? Like, just push yourself off this, this edge and leap. I think that is not inherent within certain people. And so then, then it is, like, how do you do this thing if it's not something that's naturally going to come to you, right?

Robyn Cohen:

Yeah.

Stephanie:

And again, to reiterate, I think everyone's terrified. It's just some folks do do it anyway. Um, and I think for those who aren't naturally inclined to that, I always think like grace and compassion for oneself is extremely important. And then um, baby steps with this, whether it's just raising your hand, and knowing that you have the God given right to take up that space and that it is your turn to speak and that it is, it is your turn. Yeah, it is. It is your turn and everyone else's turn. This is our human. Because

Robyn Cohen:

as you said, this is our time, like in every sense and in. And in the deepest sense, this is literally our time. You were talking about the fleetingness and a, you, you said a hypersensitivity to how brief it all is and toward that end, if you look in every sense of the word and like no other time before. This is your time. And then it's not. And it kind of couldn't be truer. It's sort of like truer words were never spoke than this is your time.

Stephanie:

This is it. This is all we got. So make the most of it. Enjoy it. Love. Have fun. Go be brave. Yeah. And how are we going to rebuild? I think there's no, there's no world in which rebuilding does not happen I mean, this is a resilient city. It is the city of angels. Yes. Angels, you know. Yes. We'll come together and we'll rebuild. it is a community that is so, has so much, community spirit and pride.

Robyn Cohen:

yes, in the spirit of evolution and creation, that that is in the spirit of the cosmos that we will continue to grow and create and evolve and recreate. Um, given that, you know, just in, in, in line with what we were talking about, about this is it. If this is it, you know, the next question is, well, what is this about? And there is the brightest spotlight that looks like flames of fire, which are lighting up this omnipresent truth that has always been there. And that will always be there. People have lost their, their stuff, their things. Are gone. One of my teachers has always sharing with us, you know, we didn't come here for a pile of things. We actually didn't come here for a pile of things. And if that is true, and I believe it to be so, what did we come here for? And there is something in this. apocalyptic biblical destruction, the spotlight is illuminating the only thing that matters, the only thing that has ever mattered, and the only thing that will ever matter, which is that you are okay and you are alive to live your life. while you've got it. And your

Stephanie:

loved ones. And your loved ones are there. And there's so much love and support. Yeah. And that's all that actually matters. It couldn't

Robyn Cohen:

be a harsher lesson. It couldn't be a more gruesome lesson just in the physical world because the devastation not only to our stuff and our houses and our relics and our photos and our valuables and our family pictures, not only that, but. Mother Earth, their burning. Yeah, that's, I was gonna say the parks and all of it. The parks, the trees, the topanga, the animals, the Temescal, all of the sentient beings. and with all of that. loss, I think there is an equal and opposite revelation possibly to be earned through this disaster, which is something to do with what you just said that, like, I, I, I, imagine that there is going to be a revolution in our system of values. I think so, too. I think there has, there is already a transformation in our core values. the hope has to do with the absolute reckoning with what really matters. My mom would say to me, after car incidents, accidents, It's plural. I'm from Maryland, but when you've been in you know, 25 years of LA traffic things, things can happen. And yes, she would say this to me after such said incident, are you okay? and it's what the insurance companies, the car insurance companies, right off the bat too. And um, she would say, listen, it can all be fixed. She'd say, you know, Robyn, I know this is a huge hassle. This is an inconvenience nonpareil You were just on your way to start shooting a movie or your first day of rehearsal. And now you have to be waylaid six hours just to do the things that have to happen with the tow trucks and the swapping insurance and the getting the wreckage and all this stuff that's going to take you back a day. And it can all be fixed. You cannot be replaced. And I have that in my mind, uh, and in my heart, just sort of vibrating with the truth of like, yes, it will be unimaginably inconvenient isn't really the word. We need new words to describe the kinds of things that are going to have to transpire to rebuild, but eventually. It can be fixed. Your life, the preciousness, that is irreplaceable. That is a once in a cosmos creation for all time, one time, and it's the only thing that is of any import. To anybody. and she would say, I'm sorry you have to now deal with this. I'm sorry about all the this and the that and the hundred things that have to now happen. and I say this as someone who has also had her apartment burned down. my apartment building in a fire and lost my home and belongings. Even then it can be replaced, it can be fixed. And I think there's just such a kind of glowing truth that is also blazing across the skies, though they be darkened with black smoke, which has to do with what really matters. While we're here.

Stephanie:

I think so too. I actually have an interesting. Oh, sorry, sorry. Yes, So, over the past couple years, it's funny that I'm sharing this now, here in this setting, but, well, I've talked about it a lot, but maybe not so publicly. So over the past couple years, I have lived in this canyon, Topanga Canyon, now. You know, threatened by the fire. And when I say threatened, I mean the state park, Topanga State Park. I'm wearing my 27 shirt right now because Route 27 goes through Topanga Canyon. So this is for Topanga. Slept in it last night. Yes. Oh. With me all the time. Oh. I just love this place more than any place in the entire world. Topanga and the Palisades are right next to each other. There's one small valley. mountain valley that separates the two of them. You can hike from one to the other. It's like 13 miles or something to hike. So I lived in this canyon, with my ex for many years. We owned a beautiful home. And when we broke up, I was so upset about the loss of, like, not being a homeowner in this canyon anymore. I mean, also, obviously, extremely devastated about everything that comes with a breakup and the loss of my partner. but there was also this loss of this place to me. and there were so many years in which I wished, like, I just wish it would go. I wish it would burn because then I wouldn't have to deal with the feeling of it still being there and me not being in it with him and us having this life together and the reality of it now is just like the fire is being held across the street at the moment from this house i mean like literally across the street And miraculously, these firefighters have continued to hold it. And residents have continued to hold it. because Topanga is a community of amazing people who will, get out there with their garden hoses. And, uh, there has never been anything so glaringly obvious as like, Oh my god, like we wish for these things and then they, like the reality of what this is, uh, like, no, I don't want that thing to happen. I want this thing to stay intact for my ex and, his future. And also, The release of belongings and, attachment to a space in which to put a home, to call your home, like, yes, we are human beings, we need, we nest, we do want a place to put our belongings and have this space to contain ourselves in, but literally, like, it does not matter. I mean, in the end, If it goes, it goes and everyone is still here and they're still alive. People are safe. Our friends are here. We're in communication with each other. it is all that matters. So it's just like the vast, I guess, realization of like talking to him over the phone and being like, wow, there was a decade of life invested into that house. there is nothing that seems more glaringly obvious than like taking attention away from material things and investing them simply in people instead.

Robyn Cohen:

Yeah. you've done that since I've known you. And before and presently and will forever. that has been something that You know, just draws people to you. You are, you are honey to the bees. I'm a bumble bee that gets to be around your honey. And I know this might sound woo. Woo I am kind of woo woo. I can admit it.

Stephanie:

I was like trying to hold myself back from being more woo woo. You know,

Robyn Cohen:

we're trying. This is us. This is us doing as little as we can, holding ourselves back from being the full Woo. But just for a moment, you know, the power of, um, your word. And are the power of our intentions.

Stephanie:

Oh yeah.

Robyn Cohen:

so I'm right now in Northern California near my sister and her family. We evacuated, Wednesday. The fires started Tuesday, we evacuated Wednesday morning, and, actually also, we had just, we had just gotten back to Los Angeles. We spent the new year with my sister and her family, and my parents, my mom and dad, flew out from Washington, D. C., the Bethesda, Maryland area, uh, to, to be with us, To share in a New Year's celebration and we were all together in Northern California and we were here. the Homewood Suites, and this is not an advertisement for them, but I'm just going to say, while we were spending time together, sharing life and times and swapping stories and bringing in the new year with myself and Billy and Heather and her family. And my parents who came in from the East coast, I said out loud multiple times, I'd like to be here for a year.

Stephanie:

Oh my gosh, Robyn. Wow. I agree. This is what I'm talking about. And I know I hate saying this, too, because I don't, I have nothing, again, it's ego. It feels ego related, but, like, when I kept saying I wish that house would burn, like, no, no, no, I do not. I Cancel. Cancel. Cancel. With all the power of my heart and being. And sometimes you don't realize until you're then in those situations where you're like, Oh my god, what did I say? What did I do?

Robyn Cohen:

And as you said, it's not a solipsistic, I'm not bringing this up to say, Oh, we run the universe, It's really just a conversation that is on my mind all the time about the power of what we say. Oh yes. Oh yes. And the truth to that power. and in terms of creating and manifesting our lives. Absolutely. Absolutely. There is a holy power to our intentions. I believe that when we put our heart and mind into something, we are conspiring with universal energies that can do anything. Anything! Universe can do anything! It can do anything! And there's something about reckoning with that power and ability to join hands with universal love and universal light to actually create our lives and help mold and shape the world. Based on where we're vibrating, what we're intending, what we're being receivers for, where we're tuning our radio stations, then that's what we're going to hear on the other end. You got it. We're tuning into hard rock. We're going to hear it. If we're tuning into heavy metal, that's what we're going to hear. If we're tuning in to Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, that's what we're going to hear. So I'm interested in that. In that, phenomena of, of creating and intending for our lives, for ourselves and for the people that we love, the lives that we actually want to live. And I'm not saying that if we think something is going to happen But when I said that about I want to be up here for a year What I was talking about was that it's near my family. I mean i'm from the east coast I moved to los angeles not knowing a single person. I slept on a towel in west hollywood. I'm like, I didn't know anyone or anything. I didn't have people in the industry I didn't know anyone connected to anything, right? and all that to say, I love being around my family and, and it's why I've created a situation where I went back for a master's degree at the Shakespeare Theatre Company, as you did, to be near my, my East Coast connections, friends and family. That was really. And of course, the spirit of Adam, who was a Shakespeare professor and

Stephanie:

I did not know

Robyn Cohen:

that. Yes, my brother Adam, who this podcast is in honor of him. He was a Shakespeare professor.

Stephanie:

I did not know he,

Robyn Cohen:

um, he had been. pre med at Stanford, he was going to be a doctor, and then he took a creative writing class, and then a Shakespeare class, and he transformed his entire trajectory professionally and personally, went back to school, got a master's degree, and then a PhD, a doctorate in Shakespeare, Shakespeare studies, and then he went around the world teaching Romeo and Juliet to tribal communities in Africa, the whole thing! I had no idea! And, um, how incredible. And so, wow. Talk about

Stephanie:

bravery.

Robyn Cohen:

Talk about bravery and love and light. That was him personified and Yes. And this podcast is, is born as a love letter to him. Yeah. how

Stephanie:

beautiful.

Robyn Cohen:

And, and this is in, you know, I've talked about this before on this podcast, but before Adam passed, he had had his surgery and he was, he was on a lot of medication. They had aimed to remove as much of the tumor, the glioblastoma tumor, as they could. And he was on a lot of medication and um, not his usual, I guess, personality. He was still, of course, him. but he said to me before he passed, he said that he had realized, he had really, he had really figured out the secret to life and good living. And he had sort of, it had really come upon him in these last months of his life. And he said, it's really simple. He said the secret to all of this. All that life is about, he said, is just being happy. He said, just be happy, Rob. Just be happy. He said that to me. Just be happy. That's who you are. That's all it was. Well, that's, well, at that time, I did not know where I was going to go. Step one in the direction of happiness, I was at such a loss losing him and the chaos that ensued and the decimation on a soul level after his passing. This show, The Daily Joyride, is sort of a 15 year search for the answer of, How am I gonna honor Adam and his request for me to live in joy and happiness? How am I gonna do that? And it is a love letter to him, and it and it is why I ended up going back, even though I've been working professionally as an actor and a teacher for 30 years and 18 years, respectively, I went back to get to know Shakespeare a little bit better because I wanted to know, I wanted to know Adam. More deeply, and I wanted to know what lit up his life and what had him change his whole world around from medicine to being a surgeon of the heart and Shakespeare and literature. Right? And so, it was a way for me to combine with him on the daily being there in Washington, D. C. To wind that back to what I was sharing before when I was here with my mom and dad and my sister and Billy our loved ones. I was like, this is it. And I'm in these, I'm in this very hotel, not this room, but two doors down. And I'm in this hotel and I'm saying to myself, I love this so much. I want to hug this hotel. Billy says, let's, let's someday, let's buy this hotel. We're talking about this hotel. Oh my gosh, back to the Homewood Suites yes. And I'm saying to myself, I want to live here. I want to live here for a year. And I said, and I said it every day that I was here. I want to do breakfast here with my family every day. I could do this for a year. I said that every day that I was here, I was here for five days. I went back to Los Angeles. We were there for three and a half days, and then the world collapsed with these fires. We got into our car. We came right back to this very place. Right back to this very floor, this very hallway, where four days before I had declared my love affair with the Homewood Suites and said I want to live here, I want to stay here, and as of Wednesday night, as of Wednesday night, we live here for the foreseeable future. I don't think we'll be here for a year and I do feel that there is something in the power of love and intention and what we say and speak on top of that loving intention that can become manifest like that.

Stephanie:

Uh, maybe that's the secret, the loving intention, I think the intention behind things, it can sure manifest. Well, because I think

Robyn Cohen:

we have been taught, maybe in science class, I don't know where, that it's cause and effect, but I actually think intention creates effect. I don't think it's cause and effect. Because two people can do the same thing, cause, and have totally different effects. I think it's actually our intention inside the patient. I completely

Stephanie:

agree

Robyn Cohen:

with that. That creates the effect. That creates the effect. I completely,

Stephanie:

completely agree with this. Oh man, Robyn, I don't know if you've had a chance to listen to the telepathy tapes yet, but I think it will affirm a lot of the things that we're talking about here, where it's like, oh, whoa, let's just look at this differently. Let's shift the paradigm a bit. Let's confirm a lot of the things that we already know. These things that we feel on a daily basis of like, Oh, whoa, I said that thing and then it happened. Or like, Oh, wow, I'm directing all of this positive energy or this negative energy in a direction and then I'm getting exactly what I'm expecting because Oh, I'm so negative about this thing or I'm so positive about this thing. Like, that's what we get back. that's all real. That is an energetic world. Universe.

Robyn Cohen:

what would you say? I would keep you here all afternoon, but I know, I know have a life but well, two things. Where can people be in touch with you and hear more from you and just stay in touch and how can people find you? Oh,

Stephanie:

that's nice. Um, I don't actually use social media that much. Uh, so reaching out to me at school, if anyone is interested in anything that I'm talking about, is probably the best way to find me. So, that is an email address at swilson@StoneRidgeSchool. org, and I'd be happy to chat more about anything.

Robyn Cohen:

I'll put that in the show notes. I'm also going to put the GoFundMe in the show notes. Thanks. So you all listening can, can help and support.

Stephanie:

I do have to say something incredibly awesome Which is that GoFundMe reached out to me and they said we have reporters interested in this particular letter fund. And I said, please, if you can, just please promote this as much as humanly possible, because these people are a representation of this community, of the best side of this community, of all the generous, open hearted love, and of taking care of each other and taking care of the wider circle of the world as a result. I mean, this particular organization, Fancy Feet, is creating. Kids that go out in the world and make a difference. They change the world. for the better.

Robyn Cohen:

Yes. So yes, thank you for that and for sharing about that. And, oh my gosh. you're the depth of your humanity. It's like It is so moving and good. I, I love you so much. It's hard to love you so much. Even talk about, but I know I have to because it's a podcast and you're listening in. So if we just stopped talking and hugged each other's computers, it's not gonna go so well for our listeners, Um. Before we complete, um, it's hard to encapsulate anything because what's going on right now in the world and in this particular community is so out there, outrageous, unfathomable. what if you could, what would you give to the world right now? What would you give to the Palisades community right now? What would you give them?

Stephanie:

Love? I mean, I know this is all I've been saying the whole podcast, but I think it's the answer to everything. The answer is love. in any way, I know not everyone has the resources to make a donation, but I mean, the outpouring of support, I think, from people, the more that that can happen, I think it is hard. This actually was important to me to realize, that I have seen natural disasters happen, and I feel for people, And then I go on with my daily life, if they're not directly affecting me, right? Sometimes I'll make a donation. A lot of the time I'll turn off the news because it's too much for me to personally handle. And so I start to create like a boundary, which we all need because people have compassion fatigue. And we see a lot of horrible images on the news.

Robyn Cohen:

It's also so dysregulating that we can't be effective in helping because our central nervous systems are so bonkers out of control, dysregulated, that we can't be of help and service as you would normally be. I get that. I get that.

Stephanie:

Yeah. And we're living in an age where we're getting bombarded with more information from around the world than ever before. So we'd never know sitting in Bethesda, Maryland that like a disaster was happening in a tsunami in Japan, you wouldn't know those things in other ages. So I think it can be so fatiguing, but I think it's very important. Nothing has made me realize more What people are actually going through than this like when you see the images of your town that you love Annihilated. Yeah, and Every place that you have a memory of for maybe a lifetime Like where you went to the library the grocery store the street you drove down where you went to work Where you lived, where you chatted with friends, where you fell in love, where you, exactly, all the things. So the memories, like we think about a home, and again, in the end, the material possessions, they don't matter, but a house often does home memories, right? And it is a, vessel for that love. And so I think the realization that, that space. Is gone in the way they knew it forever is very important to actually take in.

Robyn Cohen:

Yes. Yes.

Stephanie:

Because I think when we're far away from things. We just go on with our daily lives until it happens to us. And I am absolutely guilty of that. And I know we've talked about so many things. And guilty of being the best

Robyn Cohen:

good Samaritan that this girl from Maryland has ever known. You're also guilty of that. Yeah,

Stephanie:

right. No, no, no. Not, But you know what? I think we all have the ability to help in whatever way we can. And like, we don't need resources to do so either. You know, it doesn't have to be Putting in the financial support. there's so much we can do. And I think so much of that can be spreading a positive light, message, love. we have the choice every day of how we act in the world. why in the world would we go out and make it a worse world instead of a better world?

Robyn Cohen:

Wage peace. Wage peace, ease, love, compassion, wherever we be. Wage it. There are a legacy of people who will be affected by that, that you may never know, but those reverberations are limitless and spread out into the universe forever. And speaking of forever, I can't wait to have you back. On this podcast. So we can, regroup and also see how things are going in this community. And also where you are, with the young people of this world that you are helping to mold and shape and develop. And give encouragement to an inspiration for on behalf of everyone listening in today on behalf of everyone in the Palisades community, the Topanga community, the Pasadena community, and all the areas, that have been affected across Los Angeles. Thank you for being a light in this world. Stephanie, you know, in the blackest part of the night, a single flame. makes a huge impact. Thank you for being one of those candles. Thank you. you're profound. It is such a gift of my life to know you. This conversation, I'll never, I'll never, never get over it. And I don't want to get over it. and I just love you so much, and I thank God and goddesses for your soul. And I'm going to now hug my computer because my computer, my computer thinks we're in a relationship because I hug it so often. Um, really thank you for your, thank you for your brave heart and your beautiful soul. Thank you for being right back at you, sister Thank you. I got that. And, and for being someone that. You know, I really do admire and emulate you. I want to, I want to be you when I grow up, even though I I'm older than you but you really do, you really do galvanize people to want to get into our right minds and take a next right minded action. So. Thank you for that. Thanks. I'll take that. So beautiful. So beautiful. God bless you. God bless everyone. we will connect again so soon. So soon. Thank

Stephanie:

you Robyn. It's been an honor.

Robyn Cohen:

Bye, Stephanie. I love you. I love you so much. Bye. Thanks so much for joining us today. Thank you so much for listening in. I wish there were more Stephanie Wilson's in the world. This is an unbelievable time in California right now in Los Angeles. There are events happening and things transpiring that are really beyond beyond what we can fathom. My heart is out to everyone. I think there's just so much, so much goodness and, and wisdoms from Stephanie in this conversation. I really get that, generosity is a cyclical phenomenon. Um, the people that, uh, Stephanie. Started this GoFundMe campaign for are two of the most loving, generous souls on the planet. and I am sure that in the way the universe works, they will be a match for avalanches of contributions and help and caring to restore their sacred space, the dance studio that they have nurtured and developed over the last 33 years. I'm also present to the power of love. And I know it's something that has been said before, but I don't think it can be said enough. what the world needs now is love, love, and more love. And also that there is a reckoning with the loss, and it is a gutting loss when we suddenly, and against our wills must be ripped from all of our worldly possessions that signify our home and hearth and a sense of family and a sense of safety and home when all that is gone. It will take time to recover, but as we were talking about, and as Stephanie mentioned, the resilience that is human beingness. The. love that is innate in all of us, that it is time to just open up the portals and open our pores to give and receive that freely. And remember that if we don't do it, who will, that it's always our time, that this is your time to stand in the most loving, humanitarian, compassionate version of ourselves and to try to help heal the world, whether that's in the, there's the, there's my cat, whether that's in the Palisades community, the Eaton community, the Pasadena, Altadena community, wherever that may be, that. It is our time to take this opportunity to give more love. I give my love to you. I am with you. on this unbelievable, journey. And although we are in safer air in Northern California, I'm thinking of you every moment and if you need anything, please reach out. I'm here. And with that and with those lessons from Stephanie in mind, thank you for being here. Thank you for being part of this community. I love you so much. We're in this together and we will get through this. I promise. Much love. Bye. Bye. Bye.

Bye.

Robyn Cohen:

Thank you all so much for joining us for such a meaningful and profound conversation with Stephanie. Her care, her passion, her generosity, it's just so touching and inspiring. and I think we're all really reminded of the power of community and empathy and kindness. I invite you to support Patty and Alex's GoFundMe campaign, as well as Emily and Patty's Fancy Feet Dance Studio GoFundMe campaign, If financial support isn't possible, small acts of kindness, from wherever you are, a smile to a stranger, can also have huge, rippling effects. It's encoded in everything that Stephanie talks about in the spirit of this community, and it provides a much needed salve during times as tough as we're having in Los Angeles right now. Contributing to campaigns and organizations like these can be your way of embracing hope and rebuilding together. Every little gesture counts. Also, reach out to me to keep your creative cup flowing The doors to my online acting classes are open all month for auditors for free, and it's a chance to just be in your creative flow, and Soak in some artistic magic as an observer, or join the class fully if you're called to do so. The website is in the show notes or email me at Robyn@CohenActingStudio.com These classes are really such a profound opportunity for connection and community, like none other, where we can heal and elevate each other on the daily. Let's keep the circle of care growing. No one of us is alone. And together, through loving, right minded action, we can forge and light a path forward. Thank you all so much for being part of this journey. Until we meet again, keep your light shining. Keep leading with love and kindness. Be safe and God be with you. Mwah. Till next time.