• Rebuilding Lives, One Story at a Time: Jane & Vanessa's Year-End Wrap-Up
    Dec 5 2024

    Join Jane Houng and Vanessa Chan as they close the first season of Mending Lives. In this heartfelt episode, they reflect on powerful moments, connections, and the wisdom shared by guests. Delve into stories of resilience, spirituality, and healing as Jane opens up about her journey and the lessons learned from 24 interviews. This episode wraps up the year with inspiring insights and hope for the future.

    "Don't turn away. Keep your gaze on the damaged places. That's where the light enters you." – Rumi
    "There is a crack in everything. That's where the light gets in." – Leonard Cohen

    Jane Houng:

    • LinkedIn
    • Becky’s Button Initiative
    • Instagram
    • Mending Lives Podcast
    • Rebecca Dykes Writers
    • Personal Website

    Vanessa Chan:

    • Finding Ananda Website
    • Finding Ananda Linktree
    • Finding Ananda Instagram
    • Singapore Meditative Walk Meetup Group
    • Hong Kong Finding Ananda Yoga and Meditation Meetup Group


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    37 mins
  • Voices of Resilience: Marija Todorova’s Story of Healing and Empowerment
    Nov 21 2024

    Join Jane Houng in a compelling conversation with Marija Todorova about her multifaceted career. From interpreting in refugee camps to empowering asylum seekers in Hong Kong, discover how Marija’s work amplifies the voices of those often unheard and fosters a deeper understanding of cultural and linguistic barriers.

    Website: https://www.marijatodorova.com
    Twitter: https://x.com/MarijaTodorova
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marija_todorova_
    Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marija-todorova-04488522

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    30 mins
  • A Beacon of Hope: Mansour's Journey with Jane
    Nov 8 2024

    In this riveting episode of Mending Lives, Jane Houng shares the remarkable journey of Mansour Saliba, a young Lebanese scholar whose dedication to social change breathes new hope into challenging circumstances. Together, they illuminate the power of collaboration and the drive to uplift communities, especially amidst Lebanon’s current crisis.


    Mansour’s wisdom and actions resonate deeply, inspiring listeners to embrace opportunities and contribute meaningfully to the world. For those moved by his message, we invite you to support the resilience of Lebanon’s communities. Below are links to trusted organizations working directly to provide relief and essential support:

    • Lebanese Red Cross – Offering critical humanitarian assistance on the ground.
    • Beit El Baraka – Providing dignity and essential support to Lebanese families.
    • OffreJoie – A non-profit organization dedicated to unity and volunteer service across Lebanon.
    • Lebanese Food Bank – Fighting hunger by providing food assistance to families in need.
    • FoodBlessed – Supporting those in food insecurity with compassion and community spirit.
    • BETA Lebanon – Caring for animals and fostering responsible pet ownership throughout Lebanon.
    • Ahla Fawda - Relief mission

    Thank you for listening, and thank you for standing with Lebanon.

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    30 mins
  • From Tripoli to Beirut: Teaching, Translating, and Triumphs
    Oct 24 2024

    In this heartfelt episode, host Jane Houng sits down with Samira El Hussein, an inspiring English teacher and translator from Tripoli, Lebanon. They discuss Samira's decade-long journey teaching English, her role in translating Jane's memoir, and their collaborative work on Becky's Button. Jane shares this initiative's history, and her plans to work with university students to make this world safer for them. Tune in to hear about the impact of gender-based violence projects and the resilience and spirit of Lebanese women.


    Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samira-hussein-b42688167/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/englishwsamira/profilecard/?igsh=eDkyNzNjd2J5aDhu

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    24 mins
  • .🎷 "Jazz Funk and Life's Symphony with Mike Lindup: A Mending Lives Special"
    Oct 10 2024

    In this episode of 'Mending Lives,' Jane Houng interviews Mike Lindup, a founder of the jazz-funk band Level 42. This episode moves from their shared history at a specialist music school to an exploration of music's transcendental power to 'express the inexpressible'. With thoughtful insights into the process of songwriting plus amusing anecdotes, this conversation resonates with the universal need for creativity, connection and camaraderie.

    Website: http://www.mikelindup.com
    Twitter: https://x.com/MikeLindup
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mike.lindup.music
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikelindup/

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    43 mins
  • Empathy in Action: The History of Becky's Bathhouse and Becky's Button to date
    Sep 26 2024

    If you want to know something about these two charities that Jane Houng established in her deceased daughter's name, this episode is a must! Every journey starts with a single step, often alone, but Jane was fortunate to meet Stavros Mirogiannis midway in her six-year trek. As a director of Becky's Bathhouse in Greece, Stavros shared Jane's vision for Becky's Button making noises globally. Here you can learn what it is, how it works, how it averted a gang rape during a pilot project that Stavros managed. Jane then explains the rationale for Becky's Button's focus on raising awareness about physical and online sexual harassment to university students. This discussion is enriched by personal anecdotes and real-life stories of women who have suffered violence.

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    33 mins
  • Beyond the Bars, Beyond the Stereotypes: Vassilis Manoussakis on Prison Education
    Sep 12 2024

    In this thought-provoking episode, Jane Houng speaks with Vassilis Manoussakis, a remarkable educator and poet who challenges the stereotypes surrounding prisoners. Through his innovative creative writing programs, Vassilis empowers Greek inmates to explore their pasts, reframe memories, find their voices, and embrace a new narrative. Discover the impact of narrative therapy on mending lives and the inspiring stories of those who have found hope and freedom from behind bars.

    Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/vasilis-manousakis-22a9a371

    Newyorkwritersworkshop: https://newyorkwritersworkshop.weebly.com/faculty.html#VasilisManousakis

    Mort Subite: https://liveencounters.net/2023-le-pw/05-may-le-pw-2023/vasilis-manousakis-morte-subite/



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    34 mins
  • From Ashes to Everest: The Life and Lines of Yuyutsu Sharma
    Sep 5 2024

    In this fascinating episode of Mending Lives, host Jane Houng converses with Yuyutsu Sharma, a revered poet and translator based in Nepal. From accompanying his father on spiritual pilgrimages to dedicating his life capturing the essence of the Himalayas in verse, Yuyutsu shares his life’s journey and the solace he found in nature's grandeur after the death of his mother. Their discussion is an enriching contemplation on grief, grace, and the eternal connection between nature and art. So tune in for an inspiring tale of loss, discovery, and the poetic quest for meaning amid life's peaks and valleys.

    Website URL | https://www.yuyutsusharma.com/
    Twitter URL | https://x.com/SharmaYuyutsu
    Instagram URL | https://www.instagram.com/yuyutsusharma/
    Linkedin URL | https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuyutsu-sharma-74449b12/
    White Lotus Book Shop | https://hlfnepal.whitelotusbookshop.com/

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    37 mins