Homeless shelter Harlem Staff: Ezperaza

Episode 20
Homeless Shelter Harlem Staff: Ezperaza


The staff in this NYC shelter inspires all that listen that by sharing a little bit of love and hope, it goes a long way. These dynamic, incredible workers give of themselves everyday, changing lives and bringing hope where most feel forgotten. It’s truly an inspiration to listen.
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Comedy, Motivation Where You Least Expect It: From Prison to Poetry

Episode 19
This enlightening podcast will bring you to tears as you listen to this heartfelt man who shares his difficult past, in and out of prison, bringing hope, comedy and poetry wherever he goes. He will motivate you to be bigger than you are. He reads several of his heartfelt poems to us, bringing me to tears.
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New Beginnings

Episode 18
New Beginnings

Listen to several short podcasts as one man fights with his painful past, learning to forgive himself and move on, while another learns to let go of the pain inflicted on him over 40 years ago.
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A Welcome Change

Episode 17
A Welcome Change


In this short podcast, listen as two different women, with very different pasts share the pain they fled abuse and through admitting it how they are moving on they are healing despite the fear, anger and depression they face everyday.

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Young Mothers & Homelessness

Episode 16
Young Mothers & Homelessness


In this short podcast I interview a few young mothers as they share their fears, struggles and pains of escaping their own mothers, fighting the system, and positive changes they are making in their lives. Some of the mothers are fierce and hopeful, while others are in a lot of pain and fear. Can you listen, relate and even help some of these women?
Episode 15 Download
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Mental Health Illness Misconceptions

Episode 14
Mental Health Illness Misconceptions


Listen as I interview a small group of homeless women, share their struggles of homelessness and mental health disorders, the judgements and misconceptions they face and what we “normy’s” can do about it
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Turning Substance Abuse To Healing Others

Episode 9

In this entertaining podcast listen as several shelter residents share their stories of physical and emotional trauma, a past with substance abuse, and how they all were able to take their past and use it to help others. Each one of these residents were on their way to creating a better life for themselves while they work on helping those around them. Extremely entertaining and touching.

Episode 9 Download
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From Abuse, Hopelessness to a New Life

Episode 9
From Abuse, Hopelessness to a New Life


A group of women discuss how they ended up in a shelter, what life is like in a shelter, their fears, hopes and pains. This podcasts has elements of laughter, playfulness as well as moments hearing the emotional plight of a victim of abuse.
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Lonely Valentine

Valentine is a funny day. Don’t you think? It produces so many different emotions; ecstasy when you’re in love, anger or relief when you’ve ended a relationship, sadness and depression when you’re recovering from a break up and sometimes peace when you’re alone. The key to these emotions is how you deal with being alone.

When I first got divorced I was officially alone for the first time in my life. I didn’t realize how scary that was for me. I was unsure if I should throw a party and celebrate or cry from the emptiness I felt. Interestingly enough I had felt alone during my childhood and my whole marriage. I was surrounded by people but felt alone. As I later evolved I pondered that idea. How can one feel so alone surrounded by people and others experience no loneliness when there’s no one else around? I realized that the feeling of loneliness comes from within. As human beings we all need human contact and human connection, but some of us don’t seem to need as much. Does it come from self confidence, security or is it simply a characteristic? From what I’ve learned and experienced I believe it’s a bit of all of the above. Self confidence and security plays a role in how we feel and act around others and when we’re by ourselves. When healing from a divorce many of us experience a drop in our self esteem. This can cause us to act from grief, pain and desperation. We might be acting extremely friendly and warm but the energy that encompasses us is pain and grief. People feel that and we might not realize how our behavior can push people away. I was always flabbergasted with how many people seemed to like me, but very few seemed to want hang out with me. This left me feeling extraordinarily lonely. It wasn’t until I began to reflect on my own behavior that I was able to shift this phenomenon. I realized I was scared of being alone and until I learned to be ok with this the feeling of connection would continue to elude me.

I began to create special “Esther Time” events, whether it was taking myself out to see a play, going to a nice restaurant, taking a hot bath and listening to some music or simply giving myself the attention and love I deserved. When I opened myself up to being ok with being alone I inevitably always met someone amazing who either became a good friend or simply created an entertaining experience. The key to shifting from loneliness to peace in your alone time is enveloping yourself with what you need and want, without searching for it outside of yourself. When you enjoy yourself, just being with yourself and treat yourself how you want to be treated people will show up and help you along the way. It might not show up immediately the way you’d expect but if you keep enjoying yourself, letting go of needing it from the outside that energy alone will surround you with the connection we all want and thrive by.