We had the good fortune of connecting with Buffy Barfoot and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Buffy, what do you want your legacy to be?
I am a storyteller. I am interested in bringing attention to how the hard parts of our human stories are also the places of breakthrough and transformation. I am naturally serious, even though I wish I were funnier. But I have accepted that seriousness about myself, and own it now as both depth and empathy. I want my legacy to be helpful to people, and remind them that part of their story is accepting both the dark and the light. I want people to remember me as someone who pointed to the lighthouses, even in the most turbulent storms. And I believe we need each other, to tell and to listen to each other’s stories, in order to be okay.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
This pandemic year crashed my yoga career, as it did so many other artists and creatives. It made me look deeply at my purpose, what I could offer virtually, and how to find the marrow of my best offering. I love teaching yoga mostly because I love telling stories, and distilling universal life lessons into bite size pieces that are helpful in our daily ives . So, I started a podcast called “Things That Will Help.” It has become a life raft for me this year, and it turns out from the feedback I have received, for many others. I tell stories in it that wrap around the theme I have chosen for that week, and it feels pretty simple. It has become a way for me to archive the ideas that I believe in, and the ones I think are the most helpful. It wasn’t easy, but it did feel right. It was a natural progression to start to record these stories that I had been telling in yoga class for years. I never thought about doing a podcast, but my student and now co-producer, Alex Lee Ammons wrote to me last April and proposed the idea. As soon as it flew out of her mouth, I said yes. After that, it moved quickly, and seemed like a perfect way to use my creative time during a pandemic. The lessons I have learned in the birth of this podcast have come directly from vulnerability. Each week in the podcast, I tell stories about myself and others that are not always flattering or easy to tell. But the insight and breakthrough that came and are coming still from these stories has changed me. And I think it helps to hear stories from each other, so we all learn to give ourselves permission to feel the human flaws of our own pathway. I want people to know that “Things That Will Help” podcast is an offering for anyone who wants to recognize that they belong somewhere and that there are lighthouses even in the darkest times. It is full of stories and ideas that celebrate human triumph, and it does not negate the grief or the challenges we face along the way. “Things That Will Help” really does help in simple and ordinary ways, mostly by recognizing where we all intersect. And that recognition, now more than ever, is something we all need.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If someone were visiting me in Colorado, first I would take them to soak in the hot springs at Mt. Princeton. Or, for a shorter day trip, I would take them to Idaho Springs to soak in the hot caves there, which is one of my personal sanctuaries. We would go to some of my favorite dinner places, including Safta, Il Posto, Annette, and The Plimoth. For brunch, wI would take them to Crepes n’ Crepes in Cherry Creek, or Snooze if we could stand the wait. on a prettier day, I would take them to the Botanical Gardens to walk around, and maybe spend an afternoon at The Tattered Cover reading books. My favorite coffee in town is Metropolis Coffee, so we would stop there for sure. I would plan a hike in Evergreen or somewhere further if we had time, and maybe if it were summer, I would pack a picnic for jazz in the park at City Park.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
For Leslie. My friend, who is authentic, humble, loyal, and honest. She is a compass for me, when I get lost.

Website: www.buffybarfoot.com

Instagram: @buffymiranda @thingsthatwillhelppod

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/buffy.barfoot

Other: Find “Things That Will Help” podcast with Buffy Barfoot at link below: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/things-that-will-help/id1509015381

Image Credits
Things That Will Help design by @kalicreative black and white photo by Lisa Foote Headshot by Jennifer Davidson

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