Sister Cities - Windy City White City

Here's a documentary I created about the Sister City program: Chicago (Windy) and Casablanca (White). 

Layalina Prods presents, written and directed by Richard Martini; "White City, Windy City." In the Eisenhower era, the Sister City program began pairing cities from across the globe with cities in the U.S. Two of the oldest members are Casablanca (White City) and Chicago (Windy City). 

This is the pilot episode for a series that would focus on the similarities of cultures, rather than their differences. For example, Morocco is a predominantly Muslim country, yet was the first country to recognize the United States as a country. The head of the Jewish museum in Casablanca is interviewed, and he talks about the history of Moroccan tolerance. 

Casablanca considers itself a "melting pot" for all religions as does Chicago In this documentary, the Imam of the largest Mosque outside of Mecca is interviewed and his sentiments echo the same words that the Mayor of Chicago has when asked about the Sister City program. There are many females working in positions of power in Moroccan society there are interviews with a female Judge, Member of Parliament, and a Doctor who detail what it's like for a woman in their country. 

There are interviews with Casablancans living in Chicago and Chicagoans who live in Casablanca. The former Mayor Richard M Daley is interviewed, and the documentary looks at the long cultural history between both cities.  Enjoy!

This program is available through Layalina TV. For more information please contact President of Layalina, Leon Shahabian. (Layalina Productions is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public diplomacy initiative based in Washington, D.C., that develops, produces and distributes television programming throughout the Middle East and North Africa. Inaugurated in March 2002, Layalina aims to dispel negative stereotypes of the other and help increase mutual understanding between the U.S. and Arab-speaking countries. The organization's following has been notably bipartisan, with leading foreign policy veterans and media experts from both Republican and Democratic backgrounds making up the organization’s Board of Directors and Board of Counselors including Henry A. Kissinger, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Sam Nunn, and former President George H. W. Bush.)

Audio reviews for "Flipside" on Audible

Perusing the reviews for the audio version of "Flipside" - yes, it was me reading the book, yes, I do have a cat that meows from time to time, and yes, occassionally I do "P" or pop the sound.

But it's like the "Nechung Monks" CD I made in India.  You can hear birds chirping and people pouring tea. The floor boards creak.  The clock cuckoos - but you hear them in their temple, in their unvarnished truth... I have tried to eliminate all the clicks and pops, but at the end of the day you're going to hear me.  My voice.  Occasionally I choke up while reading these stories. But it's real.  Which, like the accounts in the book, are also real.

I made the cd "Nechung Monks" in this man's monastery - the State Oracle of Tibet

By the way, there is a film George, that you won't want to see - it's called "Flipside: A Journey into the Afterlife" and it's on Amazon and Gaiam TV.  And it also contains glitches, pops and what not.  I'm sorry Christopher that you feel I "pissed away" the opportunity for greatness... but hey, it's my path, I chose it.

Name dropping in Kashmir

I have a sneaking suspicion that people who make a living reading books might be writing these reviews... but if not, I apologize for not following the normal rules.  And now there are two new books to listen to my cat meow and me choke up over - "It's a Wonderful Afterlife: Further Adventures in the Flipside" volume one and two!!!!

Of course - there's always a refund.  I know that audible offers that option.  Either way, thanks for tuning in!!!

Here are some excerpts for the reviews from "Flipside" the audio book:

http://www.audible.com/pd/Religion-Spirituality/Flipside-Audiobook/B00ESKXJ6K

from "Johnny Ringworm" and "George"

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The story was great the book itself was well done, just the reader shouldn't read a 2 year old a bedtime story let alone an actual book. Guy really need to learn to read to people, he can read just not to anyone else. It takes a special type of actor to do books...that dude was terrible

(ha!  a special kind of actor! love that).

How could the performance have been better?

He should have hired a professional story teller. I don't mind hearing his cat meowing in the background, but I felt like he was cutting corners to save a buck.

(aw, I will mention this to our cat Bonnie).

I hear dead people.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Flipside?

People in the film business are always dropping names to bolster their credibility. For me, it does just the opposite. A solid script doesn't need to be over stuffed.

(I only drop names that I've worked with.  Even then when I drop the name I say "I'm going to drop the name now!"  But wait till the next book - more names are dropped than bombs over ... fill in the blank)

Any additional comments?

Aside from the reader being horrible? not really...People don't waste your money or credits on this version, buy it for your kindle or whatever you read on and do it yourself...You will be able to actually enjoy the story...You could tell between lip smackings the reader was board and didn't like the story. Seriously Audible if you guys put out another book that is read this bad I will drop this app...total waste of money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(They missed this one, as they just published my next one. Sorry)

from "Christopher Corry"

Would you try another book from Richard Martini and/or Richard Martini?

I would recommend reading this book to ANYONE, but the manner in which it was read was very disheartening. I want to listen over and over, but it comes off as breathy, rushed and unprofessional. I'm wondering if it was done in a home studio and in one or two sessions. The words written required patience and flow and they come off like he was late for dinner or needed to do something else that was more important at the time.Overall, I would STILL suggest it, but damn... Just damn. I hate half-ass work.

What did you like best about this story?

The message.

How could the performance have been better?

It could have been professionally done, with patience and aptitude.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No.

Any additional comments?

Damn... You were "this close" to greatness and pissed it away. Sorry, but Richard Martini also knows it's true. He has to.

(Dude, have you been talking to my spirit guide?  If you read "Flipside" there's actually an account of me saying the same thing to my spirit guide.. on camera and in the book!  "I just wish I had picked a soul with more talent." )

Meanwhile, so I don't have to wring my hands....

Diana:

"Enjoyable, Expanding, Human, & heartfelt delivery"

This book can stand on it's own as a book examining and sharing after life and in-between lives experiences.

Beautifully narrated by the author, I really enjoyed his descriptions of the photographs or illustrations that must be at the beginning of his chapters.

John Steele: 

"Interesting and well done w/only a minor complaint"

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this book to friends. The stories are interesting and give a person hope for what awaits all of us.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I could listen to this book all in one sitting. Richard Martini is an excellent story teller. Very natural style that I enjoy. Listening to his book is like sitting with a good friend and listening to him tell you stories. Well done.

Paul in San Antonio:

"Great materials, unbiased, factual, grounded."

Would you consider the audio edition of Flipside to be better than the print version?

I did not read the print version.

What did you like best about this story?

Throughout the book he references to numerous situations that are substantiated with objective facts, and same facts from different therapists, authors, patients. I read Michael Newton's 3 books some 15 years ago, and respect his approach:- question and answer format, that requires tremendous work; detailed, comprehensive, unbiased, acute observation, with the benefit of doubt at hand.

Have you listened to any of Richard Martini’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No. I have not listened to his other performances.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Defending your Life.

Any additional comments?

Reading subjects like this, life after death, (including bible), requires our outmost Critical Thinking skills, Intuition, inner sense, insights and Mindfulness, keen observational skills; to separate the wheat from the chaff. And in my view, both Michael Newton's and Martini's work stand on solid ground. I give 5 stars. Thank you Richard Martini for your great work, and putting yourself through this ordeal.

Coast to Coast Radio Appearance 12-12

This just in....

Appearing on George Noory's "Coast to Coast" AM radio on Dec 12th, from 10 PM to Midnight.

Set your radio dials!!!

Are there any more radio dials?

I'll be talking FLIPSIDE.

cool cat, great radio host George with this double chinned fellow.

The topic?

The new tome(s) - It's a Wonderful Afterlife volumes one and two: More Adventures in the Flipside.

We'll be talking about the science behind consciousness studies... (Dr. Greyson, Gary Schwartz PhD and Mario Beauregard PhD)... we'll be talking Near Death Experiences (Dr. Eben Alexander, Colton Burpo, David Bennett and others) and comparing them to LBL sessions (hypnotherapy as pioneered by Michael Newton) which report nearly identical experiences.

With Kutenla, The Medium of the State Oracle of Tibet.  Cool cat.

What the hell is going on here?

We'll be talking about that as well.

Do we live after death?

Apparently so, based on the research, thousands of cases, and simple logic.  What's unusual about this research is the entire process - that we're always alive - including while we're here on Earth.  According to these reports, about 2/3rds of our "energy" is back in the home realm at all times.

Excuuuuse me?

According to these reports, we choose our lifetimes.  We choose our parents, choose our circumstances, because we believe that it's the best possible way for us to learn the lessons we've signed up to learn.

Come again?

That we don't die - we just move to another realm.  We can access this realm, where we used to be - some of us are more connected than others - but there's plenty of stuff to do in this other realm, including schools, classes, libraries playing cosmic tags and other reports that are frankly... mind blowing.

So if you want your mind blown, pick up a copy of "It's A Wonderful Afterlife: Further Adventures in the Flipside" volumes one or two, or "Flipside: A Tourist's Guide on how to Navigate the Afterlife" or the film that goes with it: "Flipside; My Journey into the the Afterlife."  Follow the links on either side of this page, or go to Amazon, or createspace or Gaiam TV to find the links.

Book features an interview with Robert Thurman on "the Death of Death"

And to Coast to Coast... where I'll see you on the radio!!!

Best,

Rich

Life after death? What about life before death?

Life after death.

We all have opinions about it.  "Do you believe in it?"  I always answer "I don't believe in anything."  Belief implies something unknowable, something hard to pin down.  I prefer "not to believe."  Belief implies a leap of faith, like "since you can't see it, or understand it, your brain has to go on hold and then you have to accept that you can't know it - so therefore, you just gotta believe."

Charles Grodin wrote the Foreword to Volume One of "It's a Wonderful Afterlife" Chuck believes I'm from another planet, so in fact, I may be right about everything else.

I do believe the sun will set and rise tomorrow.  That's generally the rule of things.  I can't rule out that it won't, as we know.  It's possible that the Earth could stop spinning, and we just stop spinning in space altogether.  Not likely.  But possible.

I feel the same way about death.  Based on the research I've been doing and have done, I think it's a joke that was foisted on people for a long time.  "Hey look, Larry's not moving. We'd better bury him because the animals are going to come and eat him, and if those vultures look at me for lunch, I'm outta here."

Pretending to be Picasso with a long sparkler

But hang on. Even Plato reported a near death experience. Talked about the time one of his pals died - was considered dead - for ten days, then came back and talked about it.  And he saw all kinds of battles he was involved in in previous lifetimes.  The first case of NDE.  Somehow it didn't take.

So now we have scientists studying NDE's - the Aware project just released its results and Dr. Sam Parnia says "Yes, when we have an NDE - without any blood to the brain, no oxygen to the brain - we still have consciousness."  Bruce Greyson at UVA has studied thousands of near death experiences.  And people generally say the same things about them.

I interviewed Bruce Greyson for my latest book. I interviewed neuroscientist Mario Beauregard about it - said the same thing. Interviewed Gary Schwartz PhD, and he says the same... damn... thing.  Science can prove evidence that consciousness exists beyond our lifetime.

But no one seems to be listening.

I've been filming people under deep hypnosis for the past five years - over 25 sessions in all, I chose the subjects, some friends, many skeptics - but all of them had the same damned experience.  They saw and experienced a previous lifetime and then saw themselves in the life between lives realm where they discovered other amazing - unbelievably amazing things - in these sessions.

What did they find?

Well, start with everyone has a guardian angel.  Everyone.  Call him or her a spirit guide - or "higher self" - but we all have one.  Some of us have more than one.

One of my guardian angels. No really. And I took the pic.

We all have a soul group, or classroom of souls that we incarnate with.  We were all formed at the same time (after or before the big bang, it doesn't matter, they claim this process is outside of time, and they haven't even seen "interstellar") - there's a gaggle of people we hang out with between lives, that we interact with during lives.  Look around the room, you're probably sitting with one of them right now.  Maybe you're avoiding them.  Maybe you're loving them or hating them.  But they've always been familiar to you.

We all have a council that guides us.  Bunch of older wiser souls who gives us a heads up between lives.  They don't judge us - that's for us to do during our past life review - but they help us look over what we learned from our previous lifetime.

A parking lot of bodies in Paris

And we've been doing that for time immemorial.  Or a long time.  Some are new - but most of us are old.

So what about population boom? Where'd the new souls come from?

I can only answer with what they claim; this ain't the only merry go round.  People can incarnate here or elsewhere, and it appears a lot of folks "want" to be here on earth at this particular time.  They say why, but it's not apocraphal.  Suffice to say, it's a good time to be here.  Like a good party.

I've seen people with severe illnesses lose their illness during these sessions.  One, an acclaimed writer, who teaches at a famous film school, who has severe parkinsons - lost it during her session.  I filmed it.  It was gone.  Her finger twitched for the full 6 hours - and that was about it. When she came back to consciousness, it came back with her.  I filmed a woman with agorophobia who examined the reasons for that, and then I filmed her swimming.  I filmed a guy with a life long kidney problem, and it virtually disappeared during his session (but has come back to a lesser degree now).  That fellow is in the film "Flipside."

I hear dead people.

I've been gathering these reports about the afterlife for a couple of reasons.

One is to wake people up.  If we're going to want to come back here - and we don't have to if we don't choose to, there's not power in the universe forcing us to do anything, including "karma" - we reportedly choose each lifetime for a reason - to understand the energies behind it.

We choose lifetimes with stones in our path so we can learn what it's like to step around over or through those stones.  This ain't me talking - this is the thousands of cases that Michael Newton has done, and the 25 I've filmed - they all say the same things.

Am I inside looking out? Or outside looking in?  Still can't decide.

Relatively.

They don't say the EXACT same things.  When they talk about going to a "library of souls" they describe a library they know - always different.  Sometimes with stacks, sometimes with screens, sometimes with scrolls - I've yet to hear two similar libraries.  So that either means there's a billion libraries up there - out there - or it means that our experience in the afterlife is somewhat similar to our experience here.  Our consciousness helps create what we experience in the afterlife - so think about that for a moment.  Live in fear, you're going to find some fear back there (that is, until your soul group shows up and says "Hey, dude, enough with the brimstone.")  I've actually seen that happen twice in a session.  Therapist asks "Do you want to stay here or go somewhere else?"  "Let me out of here" and it dissolves behind them.

So the good news is we don't die.

Me in a past life with Robert Towne and Caleb Deschanel on the set of "Personal Best." I told Robert I was born to play the track meet manager.  He said "with a goatee."  So I shaved my beard, which is what my hands are looking for.

The bad news is we don't die.  We get to come back here, or go somewhere else, or hang out with our loved ones - but to work hard on the next incarnation.. and we may have lots of them.  It's a lot of learning, a lot of study (a lot of classrooms as I've reported in all three books) where we learn about the transference of energy, or the energy of transference.

All I can say definitively is this:

If you can find a Michael Newton trained hypnotherapist that is highly recommended by others (they have a website at newtoninstitute.com) there is no other modality I'm aware of that can give you the same experience of a near death experience without the death part.

Would you take this guy seriously?  You're not alone. Most don't.

So if you want to know why you're on the planet, why you're going through what you're going through, or even to connect to loved ones who appear to no longer be here - it's the single most powerful thing you can do for your soul.

I don't do these sessions.  I'm not trained to do them.  (although I've dabbled with a few, but warn my friends they may no longer speak to me afterwards).

I can recommend a number of them and do so in my books "Flipside" and "It's a Wonderful Afterlife" volumes one and two.  For a list, check out the end of the book, or look online for a book talk. Here's one:


I post this with love and light and praise for the courage of choosing the difficult path you've chosen in this lifetime.  And for the courage to figure out what the hell that's all about.

Did your kids choose you? Or did you choose them? Just ask.

Rich