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Explore every episode of the podcast The Tension of Emergence: Thriving in a world that remakes, not breaks

Dive into the complete episode list for The Tension of Emergence: Thriving in a world that remakes, not breaks. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.

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TitlePub. DateDuration
Listening is Your Superpower: Reduce Defensiveness, Increase Connection with Jennifer England21 Nov 202500:07:21

In this short guided practice, Jennifer builds on her conversation with Zen teacher Diane Musho Hamilton and facilitator & executive coach Gabe Kaigen Wilson to explore one underrated superpower in our “growing up” toolkit: listening well.

We’ve all been in those harder conversations—at work, with a partner, a teen, or a family member—where we’re either talking over each other or shutting down. In this episode, Jennifer offers a simple, relational practice to slow things down and listen in a way that softens defensiveness and deepens connection.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • Why reflective listening is such a powerful practice in conflict and everyday conversations
  • How to shift from listening to confirm you’re “right” to listening from a place of not knowing
  • How slowing the pace of a conversation can change the entire field of relationship

Jennifer reminds us that reflecting back doesn’t mean you agree. It simply shows that you’ve heard what matters to the other person and are willing to be with it—without rushing to fix, solve, or convince.

Links & Resources:


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Defensive to Anti-Fragile: The Path of Waking Up and Growing Up with Diane Musho Hamilton and Gabriel Kaigen Wilson18 Nov 202500:57:32

Jennifer speaks with Zen teacher Diane Musho Hamilton and facilitator Gabriel Kaigen Wilson about walking a spiritual path: not just waking up to our inherent belonging, but growing up into emotional maturity, flexibility, and courage.

At the heart of the conversation is the tension many of us live inside—between enlightenment and the ego, urgency and presence, identity and oneness. Diane and Gabe offer practical, compassionate tools for navigating modern complexity without abandoning ourselves or each other.

In this conversation, we explore:

  • Why oneness isn’t enough to navigate conflict:  why we need both the spiritual path (waking up) and the developmental path (growing up).
  • How identity can be both a safe home and a tight boundary: why flexibility is essential for compassion, clarity, and connection.
  • How reflective listening calms the nervous system; and becomes a practical, transformative way to stay connected through difference and polarization.

Come join us for a light hearted conversation on how to trust the grit and wisdom of our entangled, modern life.  

Links & Resources



Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Mispronunciation with Jennifer England (A Practice)23 May 202500:07:32

Ever feel awkward in trying to express, connect or attune to another? Ever interpret your awkwardness as a failure? 

In this short practice episode, Jennifer England invites us to explore mispronunciation not just as a linguistic slip, but as a relational metaphor. Inspired by recent conversations with X'unei Lance Twitchell, you’re invited to notice the moments you "miss the mark" in connection—and to consider what might be fertile, even beautiful, in the in-between.

You’ll be guided through:

  • A reframing of mispronunciation as an opening, not an error.
  • Gentle prompts to explore awkwardness, misunderstanding, and self-expression.
  • A two-part inquiry to help you stay present with the discomfort of “not quite getting it right.”
  • An embodied invitation to soften and stay—instead of fix or retreat.

Whether you're navigating a tough moment with a loved one or reflecting on your own self-expression, this episode is a chance to pause and relate differently to misunderstanding itself.


Links & resources—

  • For more practices and inspiration from Jennifer get bi-weekly inspiration to help you navigate the hard mess of leading and being human
  • Follow Jennifer on Instagram or LinkedIn
  • Talk with Jennifer! Share an insight or ask a question here jennifer@sparkcoaching.ca


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Untangling Our Minds through Language, Land and Laughter – with X’unei Lance Twitchell20 May 202501:04:12

How might a willingness to cross thresholds of understanding help us access wilder and more intimate ways of knowing? 

In this episode Jennifer talks with X’unei Lance Twitchell—Indigenous language teacher, poet and scholar—who shares his deeply personal journey of reclaiming the Tlingit language. From an early longing to connect with his grandfather to challenging the violence of cultural erasure, X’unei invites us into the healing and transformative role language plays in decolonization and community renewal.

In this episode, you'll learn:

  • How the seemingly impossible can become a movement, one word and gesture at a time
  • How learning an Indigenous language changes the way you think, untangling the illusion of separateness
  • Why vulnerability and mistake-making are the foundation of resilient and laughter-infused community building.

Join Jennifer and X'unei for a conversation that invites you to listen through the words—to the generous heartbeat of a community and culture remaking itself.

Links & resources—


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Welcome to Season 4 with Jennifer England!13 May 202500:07:02

What does it mean to be engaged in a world that feels like it’s breaking?

In this preview of Season 4 of Tension of Emergence,  Jennifer England shares the heart of the new season’s inquiry—a living  koan that has been shaping her own writing and leadership: how do we act with love and integrity in a time of rupture and collapse, without rushing to fix or save a world that may not need our saving?

With a  magical cadre of guests, Jennifer explores tensions we’re told to resolve—between urgency and spaciousness, grief and creativity, doing and being. With the backdrop of global upheaval, she asks:

  • Is “breaking” the whole story? If not, what else is happening?
  • How do we stay in relationship, when our hearts are breaking?
  • What do we do when we can’t agree on the path forward?

Tune in to discover what it means to live at the edge of  uncertainty—curiously, generously, and awake. Season 4 offers a  sanctuary of emergence-  and place to be honest in the mess of it all.

Come follow along for deep dives, and micro-practice episodes, to nourish this season of collective stretch. 


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Amplify Joy (A Practice) with Jennifer England05 Jul 202400:08:58

Does joy sometimes feel hard to access? Ever find yourself focusing more on where you’re suffering or experiencing pain? Or perhaps you find it easy in this season of your life but want to experience joy even more? 

In the last micro-episode of Season 3, Jennifer guides you to amplify joy on three different levels: the gross, subtle and causal. She encourages you to enhance the experience of joy, even amidst pain and includes a suggestion to explore the Buddhist practice of Tonglen if you’re facing difficult times. 

If you play with this practice and have an insight you’d like to share, we’d love to hear from you! 

Links & resources—


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Embracing Pain, Remembering Joy with Amy Elizabeth Fox02 Jul 202401:03:36

We’ve been talking about “feeling more” so we can access more wisdom in our leadership, but what if we’re really good at avoiding pain?  

In the final week of season three of the Tension of Emergence, Jennifer delves into the question of how to work with personal and collective pain with the co-founder of Mobius Executive Leadership and expert in trauma-informed development, Amy Elizabeth Fox. Together they break down the illusory binary between the personal/professional, individual/collective and pain/joy. 

They also share—

  • Three stages of working with pain and how to transmute pain into possibility
  • How the privatization of healing has gotten us into trouble
  • Why communal witnessing can shift everything

Tune in for an in-depth exploration of how to work with personal and collective pain so that you can access more joy, presence and liberation. 

Links & resources—


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Overcome a Challenge with a Different Kind of Power (A Practice) with Jennifer England28 Jun 202400:06:58

Jennifer offers a practice, inspired by her conversation with modern-day mystic and teacher Cynthia Bourgeault. 

Instead of virtues being a static object we have, they can be thought of as active agents of change. Jennifer offers a two-part practice to help you leverage your unique personal virtues (and power) to transform a current challenge. 

In this episode, Jennifer shares a personal example and emphasizes the importance of practice as a dynamic process of learning from your direct experience.

If you play with this practice and have an insight you’d like to share, we’d love to hear from you! 

Links & resources—


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

"More than a Body": The Subtle Art of Cosmic Reciprocity with Cynthia Bourgeault25 Jun 202401:03:11

Jennifer talks with modern-day mystic, Episcopal priest, author and teacher, Cynthia Bourgeault about how our global breakdown might be a breakthrough. Weaving together science, philosophy and spiritual traditions they talk about the evolution of human consciousness and how to nourish and feed the collective.  

In this episode they share- 

  • Our shift to an integral structure of consciousness 
  • How reciprocity works between the seen and unseen worlds
  • What is three-centered awareness and how to develop it
  • Why virtues are more than personality traits 

Tune in to this beautiful conversation to learn the subtle art of cosmic reciprocity and discover why we’re more resilient and creative than we think. 


Links & resources—


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Feel Unmotivated or Flat? Activate Flexibility in Your Nervous System (A Practice) with Jennifer England21 Jun 202400:07:08

Jennifer offers a practice to dispel the myth that a regulated nervous system equates to calmness and neutrality. 

Drawing on insights from somatic experiencing practitioner Kimberly Ann Johnson, she emphasizes the importance of practicing flexibility in your nervous system to manage life's challenges. 

Jennifer introduces a playful practice of friendly wrestling to help you activate latent energy, track sensation, support an energetic re-set and make way for necessary expression, movement or boundaries.

This practice contributes to your understanding of the activation-receptivity energetic pole  so you can access greater aliveness and discernment. 

If you have an insight from this practice that you'd like to share, we'd love to hear! Email Jennifer with any questions or observations- jennifer@sparkcoaching.ca

Links & resources—


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Somatic Rites of Passage and Radical Responsibility with Kimberly Ann Johnson18 Jun 202401:06:50

Transformational growth can be aided by mindset shifts but deeper change is initiated and sustained through the body. Jennifer talks with Somatic Experiencing™ Practitioner, educator and author Kimberly Ann Johnson about how to develop receptivity and activation so you can practice radical responsibility. 

Together they explore: 

  • Why embracing your animalistic nature supports a healthy nervous system
  • How to listen to and trust your body's signals 
  • Why activating your nervous system can help you feel less exhausted
  • How your natural body changes can be real-time rites of passage 

Tune into this honest and refreshing conversation about how to embrace your body as a portal to greater intimacy, possibility and liberation. 

Links & resources—


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Feeling Edgy? Embrace It (A Practice) with Jennifer England14 Jun 202400:06:50

Feeling overwhelmed, brokenhearted, anxious or "can't even" these days? Amidst it all, we often want to "take the edge off" to feel better. But what if our "edges" have wisdom we need to hear. 

Jennifer offers a practice, inspired by her conversation with Madeline Shaw, to help you lean into your 'edginess' and discover what you need most. 

If you play with this practice and have a story or insight you'd like to share, we’d love to hear from you! 

Links & resources—


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Consent to Being Undone: A Simple Practice for When Life Doesn’t Go as Planned with Jennifer England 18 Aug 202500:08:22

In this practice episode, Jennifer England invites you into the courageous act of consenting to be undone.

Drawing on her recent conversation with cultural worker and author Stephen Jenkinson (Matrimony: Ritual, Culture and the Heart’s Work), Jennifer reflects on how, in a world filled with urgency, grief, and collapsing certainties, true participation requires both patrimony (our inheritance of grief, beauty, and obligation) and matrimony (a ritualized consent with the unseen).

From this larger vision, Jennifer distills a simple yet powerful practice:

  • Notice when things don’t go as planned — a delay, an interruption, a conflict.
  • Pause and soften your body’s resistance.
  • Ask: What might open if I allow this moment to undo me, just a little?

This practice offers a counterweight to urgency and the need to fix. It nurtures intimacy with the unknown, and a deeper participation in what is always remaking itself.

🌿 If you’re navigating transition, longing for ease, or wrestling with the question what is yours to do in a world breaking open, this practice will be supportive.

Links & resources—



Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Don't Take the Edge Off: The Gift of Sobriety with Madeleine Shaw11 Jun 202400:58:53

To survive hustle culture, family and career pressures and world affairs we often decompress with social media, our phones or alcohol. In this episode Jennifer talks with social entrepreneur, author and cyclical wisdom devotee Madeleine Shaw about the gift of sobriety in a culture that just wants to take the edge off.  

In this intimate and honest conversation, they explore- 

  • The rise of hustle culture and #GirlBoss 
  • How drinking is a socially accepted prescription for exhaustion + burnout 
  • The question you should (and shouldn’t) ask about any addictive tendency
  • What actually helps to ‘take the edge off’

Join Jennifer and Madeleine for a heart-opening conversation on how to face the messy middle of “gray area” drinking  and attune to what deeply nourishes our bodies, minds and relationships instead. 

Links & resources—


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Befriending Shame (A Practice) with Jennifer England07 Jun 202400:07:02

Jennifer offers a practice, inspired by her conversation with Amber McZeal. 

How might befriending the experience of shame support our collective liberation? 

Jennifer guides you to explore the unique sensations associated with shame and to get curious about the wisdom it offers. Shame can help you clarify your values and social commitments, especially if you bring a compassionate stance. 

If you play with this and discover a new way of seeing or experiencing your ‘self’ we’d love to hear from you! 

Links & resources—


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Beyond Traditional Activism: The Medicine of Our Ancestors with Amber McZeal04 Jun 202401:05:07

Are you feeling the limits of activism- specifically in the way we seem to become more polarized and exhausted?

In this episode Jennifer talks with sacred scholar, vocalist and activist Amber McZeal to unpack  how to move into deeper psychic layers that can yield healing and interconnection. Talking about spiritual activism and ancestral healing they also share—

  • Why DEI policies can’t heal the illusion of separation
  • The medicine offered by ancestral lineage healing
  • Why the performativity of allyship gets us into trouble
  • The practice of radical optimism

Tune in for genuine and heart-felt exploration of how to decolonize the psyche so you can nourish your relationship to self, the collective and your activism practice. 

Links & resources—


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Face Your Denial- even when you don't want to (A Practice) with Jennifer England31 May 202400:06:44

When you’re confronted by overwhelm and crisis, do you turn away from reality to protect your heart? If so, you’re not alone. Jennifer offers a compassionate practice to  help you learn about the denial-acceptance polarity. 

Inspired by her conversation with Latinx educator and author, Vanessa Andreotti Jennifer guides you to track where you deny or accept challenging experiences and explore the upsides and downsides of both.  

If you try this practice and have an insight or experience you’d love to share, please reach out to jennifer@sparkcoaching.ca 

Links & resources—



Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

How to Bear the Weight of the World with Vanessa Andreotti28 May 202401:01:01

In this episode, Jennifer England talks with celebrated Latinx educator and author, Vanessa Andreotti about how to bear the weight of modern crises. They share alternative ways of knowing and being as we begin to hospice modernity itself. 

They explore:

  • The limits of traditional activism 
  • What is quantum embodied wisdom and why we need it 
  • The one essential skill we must develop in a post-truth world
  • How relational maturity can help us get better at taking responsibility 

Tune in to listen to how we can be with the paradoxes and tensions of modernity, as we develop more emotional sobriety, discernment and intergenerational responsibility. 

Links & resources—


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Release Old Identity Scripts (A Practice) with Jennifer England24 May 202400:06:37

Stifled by status quo scripts of masculinity and femininity? Longing to feel more free in how you express both? Jennifer offers a practice on how to appreciate and let go of old identity scripts that limit your aliveness. 

Inspired by her conversation with filmmaker and mythopoetic guide, Ian MacKenzie she encourages an experiment with Eros to expand and liberate old identity scripts.  

If you play with this practice and discover a new way of seeing or experiencing your ‘self’ we’d love to hear from you! 

Links & resources—



Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Eros and the Revitalization of the Masculine with Ian MacKenzie21 May 202400:56:24

A renaissance is happening and it’s dissolving limited stereotypes defined by the “man box” and “toxic masculinity”. Jennifer talks with filmmaker, writer and visionary artist, Ian MacKenzie about his journey through art and village to discover what it means to cultivate a healthy and vibrant masculinity. 

Tune in to hear: 

  • The influence of 80s pop culture on boyhood and fathering 
  • Why the liberation of women is intertwined with the liberation of men
  • The role of Eros and the Lover archetype in healing the gender wars
  • Why reclaiming ritual and rites of passage for men can transform community

Come join us for a rich conversation on identity, power, shadow and the possibility of healing through the deep work of mythopoetic masculinity.

Links & resources—


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Feel Stuck? Widen your Perception (A Practice) with Jennifer England17 May 202400:06:33

Jennifer offers a practice to help you get unstuck, inspired by her conversation with filmmaker, writer and educator Nora Bateson.

In a culture that privileges the scientific, rational and objective, it’s hard to access other ways of knowing. Yet the intuitive, somatic, spiritual and poetic can give us perspective that might bring perspective and relief. 

Today, Jennifer encourages you to take an inventory of your preferred “ways of knowing” and how less familiar ones might ease (or heal) the places you feel most stuck. 

If you play with this practice and discover a new way of seeing or experiencing your ‘self’ we’d love to hear from you! 

Links & resources—


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Healing in a World of Double Binds with Nora Bateson14 May 202401:06:18

Are you caught in a double bind? One of those untenable life situations where you feel torn between two seemingly opposing identities or experiences? 

Jennifer talks with filmmaker, writer and educator Nora Bateson for an intimate look at double binds and how expanding our capacity to perceive what's missing, through warm data, can help us heal them. Starting with the legacy of system thinking giants (her father and grandfather),  Nora and Jennifer get personal and explore—

  • Honoring legacy and breaking cultural paradigms
  • Parenting and art making
  • How life's challenges can transform limitation into possibility
  • Healing as a movement towards greater vitality

Tune in for an intimate conversation on what it means to free ourselves from double binds by attuning and "combining" many different ways of knowing. 

Links and Resources:


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Be Unproductive- to access more creativity (A Practice) with Jennifer England10 May 202400:05:49

Jennifer offers a practice, inspired by her conversation with creative director and visionary artist Jon Marro.


How can you access more creative life force when you’re exhausted, too busy, or disheartened by world events? When we’re running at a feverishly high pace to be productive or save the world, it can feel impossible to slow down and “be creative”.


In this practice, Jennifer offers a “new doing” that can help you uncouple your time from being productive. From here, it’s easier to notice the wonder of ordinary life, which becomes a wellspring of creativity.


If you play with this practice and discover a new way of seeing or experiencing your ‘self’ we’d love to hear from you!

Links & resources—


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

On Matrimony, Mothering Culture and the Undoing of Self with Stephen Jenkinson15 Jul 202501:17:59

In this festive wedding season, what if matrimony wasn’t here to affirm the intensity of love between two people but a courageous submission to the unknown?  

Jennifer speaks with Stephen Jenkinson—cultural activist, author, ceremonialist—about the necessary burdens of love through the ritual of matrimony. With characteristic poetic edge, Stephen challenges the Western obsession with autonomy, authenticity and safety and gestures toward a redemptive cultural project: one of radical hospitality, memory, and the mystery of matrimony as a village-making act.

Together they dive into:

  • How matrimony is distinct from weddings and is rooted in mothering culture, not just romantic love
  • The lost valence of patrimony, and what it asks of us
  • The role of the stranger in belonging and village making
  • Why being “yourself” might not be the gift you think it is

This conversation reveals how ritual and ceremony thins the membrane with other worlds, makes congress with the divine and helps us honor what's come before —so we might find our place, and responsibility, in what’s yet to come.

Links & Resources:



Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Creative Activism with Jon Marro07 May 202400:58:33

How can we access more creativity and imagination- especially as old systems and structures collapse? Jennifer speaks with multi-disciplinary artist and visionary Jon Marro about courage and humility in the transformative world of creative activism. 

With reverence to the more-than-human and imaginal realms, they dive into: 

  • Art as rupture, art as healing 
  • The power and possibility of ‘constraint’ 
  • Why creativity is a path to wholeness
  • How to deepen your own creative practice 

Tune in for a giant permission to nurture your imagination by starting with the magic and mystical aliveness of ordinary life. 

Links & Resources:


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Ground Yourself- when you feel lost or scattered (A Practice) with Jennifer England03 May 202400:05:37

Jennifer offers a practice, inspired by her conversation with Prentis Hemphill. 

How can you return to a place of solidity when everything feels unstable? How can you reconnect with your inner knowing when you’ve outsourced the answers to gurus or experts? 

A helpful practice- with immediate benefit- is to literally ground yourself to the earth, using your feet and breath. 

If you find this practice makes a difference in your life or leadership- we’d love to hear from you! 

Links & resources—


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

The Body as Portal: Witnessing and Wise Action with Prentis Hemphill30 Apr 202401:00:29

In this episode Jennifer talks with writer, embodiment facilitator, political organizer and therapist, Prentis Hemphill. Together they explore how our body’s wisdom can help us hold more nuance, discern right action and generate healing. 

Tune in to hear about:

  • The moment when we lose touch with our bodies 
  • How nuance in our bodies help us avoid binary thinking/acting
  • The power of “witnessing” and its critical role in social change
  • Why we can’t keep emotions out of the room (even if we try)

Prentis also shares essential somatic practices that can ground and nourish ourselves when life (and change) feels too much. 

Links & resources—



Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Introducing Season 3 with Jennifer England23 Apr 202400:08:11

Join host, Jennifer England as she continues to slow down and embrace the tensions that come with leading social change. 

What does it mean to live and lead wisely? How can we strengthen our resilience when we'd rather have certainty and control? How can we develop the courage to be more authentically ourselves- when there's such pressure to conform and arrive?

Through the power of film, embodiment, living systems, ancestral healing, leadership and more Jennifer explores how to lead with more wisdom, curiosity and courage so we can skillfully work with this cultural moment. 

With vulnerability, Jennifer weaves together the poetic, the personal and practical to help us embrace and thrive in uncertain times. Two episodes will drop each week, a deep dive with special guests followed by a bonus show offering you a practice you can take into the field of your own life. 


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Composting Outdated Ideas of Leadership — Season 2 Finale with Jennifer England17 Oct 202300:33:30

Welcome to the season two finale of The Tension of Emergence.

In this season, we composted outdated ideas of leadership. And in this episode, Jennifer shares her favorite moments of each season two interview.

She also offers three core principles that she’s carrying forward from these conversations — Embracing the Messy Middle, Embracing Wisdom Over Information, and Embracing the Fluidity of Identity.

Thank you for listening to season two of the show. If you enjoyed it, make sure to subscribe to Jennifer's newsletter.  We’ll be back for season three in Spring 2024.


Links & resources—


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker.


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Crush Comparison (A Practice) with Jennifer England16 Jun 202300:06:32

Jennifer offers a practice, inspired by her conversation with conductor and musician, Ben Zander. 

Comparing ourselves to others is totally human and it limits possibility.  Jennifer encourages you to interrupt patterns of comparison that keep you trapped in the “calculating self”. Instead of getting rid of “comparison”, she invites curiosity and acceptance when “less than” or “better than” emotions and thoughts arise. 

If you play with the practice and discover a new way of seeing or experiencing your ‘self’ we’d love to hear from you! Email Jennifer with any questions or observations- jennifer@sparkcoaching.ca

Links & resources—

Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

The Alchemy of We: Creating a Life of Possibility with Ben Zander13 Jun 202300:51:26

It’s easy to get caught in the pursuit of wealth, fame and power- especially if we’re attached to certain arrival points through the constant evaluation of ourselves. Jennifer is joined by Ben Zander, Conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and co-author of The Art of Possibility to talk about how we shift from our smaller 'self' to the alchemy of 'we'.  

In this episode they discuss- 

  • The necessary tension of mastery and creative expression
  • Leading from every seat- how to inspire confidence in each other 
  • Moving from comparison to contribution 

Join Jennifer and Ben for a heart-felt exploration of how to shed old ways of being so love and generosity can lead.  

Links & resources—

Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Stop Hiding (A Practice) with Jennifer England09 Jun 202300:06:16

Jennifer offers a practice, inspired by her conversation with friend, dancer and choreographer Michelle Olson.

What do you tend to hide about yourself from others? What is it on behalf of? Jennifer encourages you to identify places and patterns of hiding. She encourages you to shake loose from the cultural confines of who you think you are to become more of who you are. A practice of honest vulnerability opens up a deeper connection with ourselves and others, ultimately weaving a stronger community web.  

If you play with the practice and discover a new way of seeing or experiencing your ‘self’ we’d love to hear from you! Email Jennifer with any questions or observations- jennifer@sparkcoaching.ca

Links & resources—

Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Allow Yourself to Be Seen with Michelle Olson06 Jun 202300:54:23

Most of us hide ourselves- especially our pain, grief and hardest truths. How and when do you let yourself be seen? And by whom? In this episode I speak with artistic director, dancer and choreographer Michelle Olson about the transformation that can happen when we're truly seen. 

Together we talk about the process of witnessing and being witnessed as an essential part of becoming ourselves and community belonging. Tune in to hear more about: 

  • How to discover and own your perspective
  • The surprising power of body memory 
  • Why the questions you’re living are central to being seen 

Be sure to listen carefully for a more-than-human guest who joins us mid-way through our conversation (and no, it wasn’t my dog!). 

Links & resources—


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Get more comfortable being 'lost' (A Practice) with Jennifer England02 Jun 202300:06:38

Jennifer offers a practice, inspired by her conversation with author and philosopher Báyò Akomóláfé. 

Ever assume that “something’s wrong” if you’re lost, confused or bewildered. Notice the impulse to run back towards certainty and solid ground? In a world that privileges straight lines and arrival points- no wonder we pathologize the experience of “feeling lost”. 

In this micro-episode, Jennifer guides you to discover the upside of your “lost” or “bewildered” experiences. She encourages you to befriend the discomfort of disorientation long enough to alchemize its teaching. Jennifer reminds us that this is a foundational capacity for emergence, spontaneity and connection.  

If you play with the practice and discover a new way of seeing or experiencing your ‘self’ we’d love to hear from you! Email Jennifer with any questions or observations- jennifer@sparkcoaching.ca


Links & resources—

Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Feed What You Love (A Practice) with Jennifer England02 Jul 202500:08:39

What if feeding what you love—even in the face of despair—could be your most vital climate practice?

In this episode, Jennifer offers a guided practice inspired by a recent conversation with climate educator and author Sarah Jaquette Ray, who invites us to face the monstrous scale of climate change not with more fixing, but with more loving. Together, they explored the emotional toll of activism, the trap of numbness, and the surprising resilience we access when we stay rooted in what brings us joy and meaning.

This practice is designed for anyone who feels overwhelmed, powerless, or stretched thin by the weight of the world—and who longs to feel more alive, connected, and steady in the long game.

In this episode, you’ll take away:

  • A fresh perspective on grief and anxiety as signals of what you care most deeply about
  • A two-part reflective and experiential practice to help you feed what you love
  • A gentle invitation to discover how ordinary joys can become acts of resistance and renewal

Join Jennifer in this quiet, potent offering—a return to what enlivens, surprises, and sustains us. Because when you feed what you love, you find others there. And together, we remember how to belong.

Links & resources—


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

The Gift of Bewilderment with Bayo Akomolafe30 May 202300:45:48

In this episode Jennifer speaks with author, teacher and trans-public intellectual Bayo Akomolafe about what’s revealed when we become lost and bewildered. Through story, myth and examples of ecological errancy, Bayo encourages us to stay with the trouble. 

With laughter and curiosity they explore—

  • How to cultivate “lostness” in a world that privileges certainty 
  • The limits of inclusivity politics 
  • Why hiding is a courageous act of refusal
  • How we’re transformed by spontaneous acts of creativity

Tune in for an intimate and rich conversation about how we navigate separation and belonging in an entangled universe where bewilderment becomes a living portal of possibility

Links & resources—


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Lost touch with your dreams? Try this (A Practice) with Jennifer England26 May 202300:05:50

Jennifer offers a practice, inspired by her conversation with author and teacher Toko-pa Turner. 

When you lose touch with what matters- it’s easy to look to external advice, guides and mentors. But finding your way home- to yourself and each other- happens most authentically from the inside out. Learning to trust the intuitive hits you receive can help you reorient to your dreams, longings, and wisdom. 

In this practice, Jennifer offers a different way to work with fragments of images, messages, metaphors that come to us in our dreams. Taking Toko-pa’s cues, Jennifer encourages us to put down our rational mind and embrace the living world of the imagination.


If you play with the practice and discover a new way of seeing or experiencing your ‘self’ we’d love to hear from you! 

Links & resources—

Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Dreams Naturing Through Us with Toko-pa Turner23 May 202300:59:09

Fascinated by your dreams but struggle to make sense of them? Our dreams invite us to enter a deeper relationship with ourselves- yet we often don’t know where to start. In this episode Jennifer speaks with Canadian author, teacher, dreamworker and founder of the Dream School, Toko-pa Turner about the power of our dreams and how they help remember ourselves home. 

They explore—

  • Why classic Jungian analysis limits the power and potential of our dreams 
  • The link between dreaming and belonging- and what they have to do with our originality
  • How dreams can support us through periods of exile and exclusion 


Tune in to learn more about your psyche as an intelligent living system. Toko-pa also helps Jennifer work through a recurring fearful dream, supporting her to discover what wants to be “natured” through her. 


Links & resources—


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker.


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Energy Audit (A Practice) with Jennifer England19 May 202300:06:46

Jennifer offers a brief practice, inspired by her conversation with Economics of Happiness visionary and economist Mark Anielski. 

She guides you to identify where your energy feels depleted and where your energy feels abundant. Sensing into these energy patterns you'll identify the conditions that are either blocking or supporting resourced and flow states. Jennifer invites you to practice with some new moves to shift you from energy debt into energy abundance where it matters most.

If you play with the practice and discover a new way of seeing or experiencing your ‘self’ we’d love to hear from you! Email Jennifer with any questions or observations- jennifer@sparkcoaching.ca


Links & resources—


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker



Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Escape the Money Matrix? Building a Civilization of Love with Mark Anielski16 May 202300:55:11

A “scarcity mindset” is often a culprit when we’re competing with each other. This tendency to compare and compete has origins in the link between rising debt money and GDP growth. Considering an alternative money system, based in reciprocity, Jennifer speaks to Economics of Happiness visionary Mark Anielski about our money matrix and its impact on our well-being. 

Together they explore—

  • The debt system and why it negatively impacts your happiness
  • Why there’s so much anxiety around money and how to recenter our well-being 
  • The potential of the world’s first Well-Being Bank
  • Crazy dreams of doing things differently- and why to never give up on yours

Join Jennifer and Mark for a fascinating discussion on how to center reciprocity and well-being in our economic system to build a civilization based on love, not dominion. 

Links & resources—


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

There's A Bigger You (A Practice) with Jennifer England12 May 202300:05:59

Jennifer offers a brief practice, inspired by her conversation with friend, facilitator and author, Gabe Wilson. 

You are made up of multiple identities that change over time. Being able to access the wisdom from different parts of you can help you solve problems- especially those that are caused by the hardening of perspectives and identities. Jennifer encourages you to discover what identities make-up “you” and how to move towards a “bigger you”. 


If you play with the practice and discover a new way of seeing or experiencing your ‘self’ we’d love to hear from you! Email Jennifer with any questions or observations- jennifer@sparkcoaching.ca


Links & resources—


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

What do you Stand For? An Invitation to More Freedom and Fairness with Gabe Wilson09 May 202301:02:10

Our identities are beautiful, resilient and dynamic. But sometimes, our attachment to them can contribute to unhealthy polarization. In this episode Jennifer talks with facilitator, advisor, and author Gabe Wilson about how to relate more fluidly to our multiple identities with this question: what do you stand for?

As an African American/Brazilian Gabe shares pivotal life experiences that clarified his own answer. He reveals how he created more freedom and fairness inside himself and his transformational conflict work. He shares- 

  • Two key principles to overcoming tension and conflict
  • Why trust is an important outcome (but unnecessary requirement) of risky conversations
  • How to uncover bigger identities that can help solve our hardest problems

Join Jennifer and Gabe for a heart-opening conversation on how to relate to our identities to create more fairness and freedom. 

Links & resources—

Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Give it Away (A Practice) with Jennifer England05 May 202300:05:46

Jennifer offers a practice, inspired by her conversation with Gwich'in activist and wilderness guide, Bobbi Rose Koe. 

How do you experience yourself as “more than” your accomplishments, job titles and identities? How can you feel more content with who you are now? One way “in” is to pause, recognize your gifts and honor where and who they come from. Then, with intention, give these gifts to where they’re needed most this week. This practice reminds us that we’re a living lineage of love.

In this episode, Jennifer offers a “new doing” that you can play with daily- with a couple of suggestions of ‘how’ to orient and be in the practice. 

If you play with the practice and discover a new way of seeing or experiencing your ‘self’ we’d love to hear from you! 

Links & resources—

Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

The Cabin Doors are Always Open with Bobbi Rose Koe02 May 202301:03:17

People often see a gift or strength in us first before we do. What happens when we’re seen? When we truly see others? When the very act of ‘seeing’ each other, weaves an ecological web of trust that helps us find our way. 

In this episode Jennifer talks with Gwich’in activist, river guide and entrepreneur Bobbi Rose Koe on how the land has influenced her leadership by sensitively attuning to a web of relationality.  They talk about—

  • Bobbi Rose’s coming of age in deep reciprocity with rivers and mountains 
  • Falling in love with what scares you
  • How to lead teams in a time of uncertainty and despair
  • Celebrating the magic of being yourself 

Tune in for an honest conversation on the potential of our interbeing, the capacity to transmute fear, and leading with love at the center of everything. 

Links & resources—

Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Complexity Check In (A Practice) with Jennifer England28 Apr 202300:04:50


Jennifer offers a brief practice, inspired by her conversation with Executive Leadership coach Carolyn Coughlin. 

How do you sort through the overwhelming details when there’s so much coming at you? How do you stay grounded in the unknown? What should you pay attention to? Developed by Jennifer Garvey Berger and Carolyn Coughlin, the Complexity Check In is used at Cultivating Leadership and with their clients to strengthen the habit of seeing and welcoming multiple perspectives.


If you play with the practice and discover a new way of seeing or experiencing your ‘self’ we’d love to hear from you! Email Jennifer with any questions or observations- jennifer@sparkcoaching.ca


Links & resources—

Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

When Grief Brings Us Back to Love: The Quiet Courage of Climate Activism with Sarah Jaquette Ray27 Jun 202501:02:37

When it comes to climate anxiety, most of us swing between utter despair or self-protective numbness. In our doom-scrolling attention economy, these are natural, but not always helpful, responses.

In this episode, Jennifer speaks with climate scholar, educator, and author of A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety Sarah Jaquette Ray to explore how we might move through the heaviest of climate emotions—without turning away, burning out, or losing touch with what we love.

They explore:

  • The toll of burnout and the unexpected clarity grief can bring
  • What it takes to face the monster of climate chaos
  • The new texture of climate activism—intimate, relational, and imperfect
  • Grounding practices to help us stay courageous and awake in ecological unravelling

Together, they reflect on the emotional and relational labor of holding space during collapse, the wisdom exchanged across generations, and the quiet courage it takes not to fix—but to animate activism with love.

Links & resources—


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

There's no Arrival in a Complex World with Carolyn Coughlin25 Apr 202300:49:52

Ever feel totally overwhelmed with how complex the world feels? Feel the urgency to  control the mess, so you can say ‘I’ve got this’? 

Jennifer talks with executive coach and leadership development specialist, Carolyn Coughlin to unpack how we typically talk about complexity and where it gets us into trouble. They explore how to work with our nervous system to unleash our complexity genius.  They share—

  • Personal stories of slowing down to relax their nervous systems 
  • Where our desire to control is fool’s gold and what to do instead.
  • The power presence, play and pattern-making
  • How to calm the body when life and leading feel overwhelming 

Tune in for a relieving conversation that will remind you how resourced you are to ride leadership's wild ups and downs.  

Links & resources—

Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Ask for Advice from the More-than-Human World (A Practice) with Jennifer England21 Apr 202300:05:14

Jennifer offers a practice, inspired by her conversation with writer Sophie Strand. 

How do you begin to know yourself as “more than” your own body, heart and mind? How can you experience yourself in the “in-betweenness” of things? One way is to listen differently. To attune carefully and sensitively to the more-than-human world. 


In this practice, Jennifer offers a “new doing” that you can play with daily- with a couple of suggestions of ‘how’ to orient and be in the practice. 


If you play with the practice and discover a new way of seeing or experiencing your ‘self’ we’d love to hear from you! 

Links & resources—

Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

We’re not the Main Character- Composting the Hero’s Journey with Sophie Strand18 Apr 202300:51:05

How much do you relate to your life as linear? A progressive series of arrival points? Something you can control? 

In this episode Jennifer talks with poet, writer and teacher, Sophie Strand to crack open assumptions about our individuality, capacity to control and limited tropes of masculinity. Together they follow the principle of composting, a process of addition, as a more generative approach to social change, identity and leadership. Sophie shares—

  • The origins and limits of the Hero’s Journey and its link to linear time
  • How and why we’re a multitude through the power of fusion and the interstitial
  • Alternatives to solutionism, by welcoming the energy of the Trickster

Tune in for a wild conversation. We hope it stimulates questions about how to welcome a biodiversity of myths, story and metaphor to enrich your life and leadership. 

Links & resources—

Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker


Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Welcome to Season 2! with Jennifer England11 Apr 202300:04:35

Join host Jennifer England as she continues to slow down and embrace the tension of this cultural moment. 

In Season 2 she composts outdated ideas of leadership with artists, philosophers, poets, economists and adventurers. Jennifer explores:

  • the limits of the hero’s journey, 
  • the cult of individualism and 
  • a linear life of arrival points. 

With curiosity and vulnerability, Jennifer weaves together more generative ways of living and leading. 

Taking you beyond insight and information, Jennifer offers new* companion micro-episodes  (5 minutes) offering practices to help you integrate the learning in your own life and leadership.

Links & resources—

Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker




Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

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