Sequoia512 Studios

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Explorking with Elle Podcast

In the mood for a waterfall hike in the Blue Ridge mountains? Or a hike along the Mexico border in the suburbs of Southern California? Are you up for a visit an active volcano in the middle of the Indian Ocean? Get to know this big world one little episode at a time, hosted by Elle, a compulsively curious explorker. 

The Crossing

“Gimme little paw”

Says her dad as they stand at the crosswalk.

She is 7, a thin whisp.

He is 34 and 6’7”

She reaches up to his huge hand

He instantly and gently clasps hers.

Cars rush by.

He sways and bellows Broadway tunes as they wait to cross.

“And they call the wind Mariah… MAAAARRRRRIIIIIAAAAHHHHH”

She giggles then sees

The lady in the brown coat frown at them

Her ears burn, embarrassed.

She feels the weight of stares

Before she understands why.

A car screetches to a stop. She carefully studies the traffic.

She tugs his hand, his singing stops

She cranes her neck up to gaze at him, telling him it's time. 

His giantness makes her feel safe,

Her common sense must keep him safe.

They cross.

Sunrise Forest Bathing

As a parent of four, the daily rush to school is a grind. But one November morning, while scrambling out of the house to the car, I suddenly found myself enveloped in a lavender glow. Everything   s l o w e d   to a magical pause. I realized I had stopped breathing.

My bags, my jacket, and my keys fell to my feet. My teenagers behind me, still dazed and half-asleep - grumbled - confused as to why I dropped everything and stood motionless. Then they looked up and saw it too. This kind of beauty wiped our brains of any concept of time and space. Skin pricked by the cool air, ears perked to the call of a bluejay, breath slowed, inhaling in the scent of moist earth and fallen leaves.