Always looking for new ways to share voices

I apologize if it’s been a bit quiet on the podcast front.I’m willing to attribute to destiny the fact that my last few scheduled conversations kind of canceled last minute.It’s totally understandable from a cosmic viewpoint: life is complicated.I’ve been so busy working on the “new phase” of this project that I haven’t had the time to follow up with people or try to book new guests as diligently as I should have.The momentum of weekly interviews has been kind of halted, but I’m embracing it as a necessary pause to bring you some exciting news.Before I get into that, though, I want to put an open invite out into the ether:If anyone listening to or reading this has any desire to come on the show and talk about Aikido, please don’t hesitate. Reach out to me!I’m open to exploring anyone’s perspective.You don’t need to be a 7th Dan Shihan to have a voice here. Even if you just started training yesterday, or if you’re still thinking about starting but for whatever reason you haven’t yet, I want to hear from you.This podcast is an exploration of the art from all angles, and the beginner’s mind is just as vital as the seasoned sensei’s.Let’s have some conversations.Now, onto the reason I’ve been so deeply preoccupied lately.The Ki to the City podcast has successfully engaged and connected a wide-ranging global audience of listeners. Thus far, we’ve been exploring how the philosophical principles of Aikido and its sincere practice can actually work to make the world a better place, even through the most troublesome, atomizing times.As I’ve scoured the internet for research—reading articles, posts, and old forum threads, looking for guests—I’ve had a sobering realization. A vast amount of the profound wisdom generated by our global Aikido community exists merely in ephemeral online formats.It’s trapped in fleeting social media disagreements, buried in hard-to-find comment threads, or scattered across blogs that might very well forever vanish if, God forbid, the “grid” ever really goes down.In this cybernetic dystopic spiral, digital discourse can be, and easily is, washed away in the vicious, swirling, scrolling “news cycle.”Printed books offer a more tactile experience. They possess a tangible quality for which a blog post can posit no substitute. They can also serve as lasting artifacts for current and future generations to hold, study, and cherish.That’s why I’m thrilled to announce the launch of an independent, Aikido-themed publishing house (more like an apartment) via this Ki to the City platform!The hope is to expand the reach and longevity of Aikido’s positive societal effects beyond our digital screens. Maybe we could put down our phones for a few minutes.There are so many brilliant, as-of-yet unheard voices in our sphere who might never otherwise be able to secure opportunities with traditional publishing companies. And furthermore, many people simply don’t realize that they don’t need to spend a ton of money to self-publish.This is where my (semi) professional background comes in.I’ve done some work as a freelance creative editor and ghostwriter, successfully guiding numerous authors through the self-publishing process.Over the past few months, I’ve re-dedicated myself to conducting exhaustive, meticulous research into the print-on-demand (POD) self-publishing ecosystem.It’s pretty boring, actually. But somehow I’m able to lock in and figure it out.The result of this research is the creation of a high-efficiency, economical, ecological, independent publishing system that is specifically tailored to benefit both the author and the community.This new publishing arm of Ki to the City is poised to produce high-quality pieces, ensuring the spirit of these essential voices is secured in a format worthy of their content.I’m excited to share that I already have two—possibly three—projects currently in the works! Much more on that soon to come. I’m working hard to get these first editions formatted, edited, and ready for the world.So, if you have a manuscript sitting in a drawer, a collection of unfinished docs, or even just the seed of an idea for a book about your Aikido journey, please reach out to me. And remember, if you want to be a guest on the podcast to talk about your practice, regardless of your rank or experience level, the door is always open.Don’t be shy. Get full access to Ki to the City at kitothecity.substack.com/subscribe