Third Eye on the Prize
Third Eye on the Prize is a poetic, grounded podcast for people willing to stay present when life's waters get choppy.
Hosted by writer and artist Debra Sansone, the show explores presence not as a concept, but as a lived practice under pressure: in moments of unexpected change, parenting, relationship, grief, intuition...even collapse.
These episodes don't aim to soothe or bypass discomfort, but to stay with it long enough for something honest to emerge.
Drawing on storytelling, spiritual inquiry, and embodied attention, Third Eye on the Prize questions easy narratives and spiritual shortcuts, inviting listeners into deeper contact with themselves and the world as it is - messy, intelligent, and alive.
Taking a look at the turbulence happening in the world right now through the lens of presence.
As always: keep your third eye on the prize, and remember, truth is beyond belief.
Third Eye on the Prize
Two Rivers: Music as a Great Unifier
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Debra shares the story of her parents' artistry and activism, and how those two rivers shaped her own path as both an artist and teacher.
I grew up between two powerful rivers - my mother's artistry and my father's teaching. Both shaped me, both challenged me, and both live on in my own path as an artist and educator.
In this deeply personal episode, I share how conflict and struggle can be catalysts for change.
I explore my roots and the two powerful influences that shaped me:
- My mother, a gifted jazz singer who recorded an album at Columbia Records in 1967, produced by the legendary John Hammond and featuring a young George Benson.
- My father, a passionate teacher and political activist who marched with Martin Luther King, Jr. and inspired generations of students.
Growing up, I felt like I was marooned between their two rivers - creativity on one side, knowledge on the other. Their lives were fascinating, but also turbulent, marked by trauma, conflict, and moments of chaos (like the time my father burned all the school papers my mother had carefully archived).
Yet through it all, one current never stopped flowing: music. It filled the air in our house, lived beneath the tension, and became part of my blood.
In this episode, I share how those two rivers - artistry and teaching - eventually converged in me, shaping my path as a poet, educator, and artist.
Resources & Links:
- Explore my poetry, artwork, and tutoring services: https://www.thirdeyeontheprize.com
- Contact me, Debra Sansone: info@thirdeyeontheprize.com
- Listen to my mother's album: Extraordinary by Roberta Peck
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/extraordinary/1292902398
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2NWr182Ma2dVB8IRiPcenz
🌿 Stay Connected
💌 Share your reflections: info@thirdeyeontheprize.com
🌐 Explore more at: https://www.thirdeyeontheprize.com/joinme
🎧 Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/third-eye-on-the-prize/id1839927637
🎧 Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3sE2FureJVUfsYuchJ3zgg
🎥 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thirdeyeontheprize
💌 If this episode spoke to you, share it with a friend, leave a review, or send me a note—I’d love to hear how these conversations land in your life.
