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Mesa Fama's avatar

Thanks so much for having me Danni! 🩵🩵🩵

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Danni Levy's avatar

What a pleasure to do this with you and even more, to get to know you better. You are truly a beautiful person. So talented, intelligent, and full of love.

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Susan J Hilger's avatar

‘Joy is not fragile ‘ … great piece, thank you!

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Danni Levy's avatar

Susan, I love that you chose to highlight this bc these words were inspired by what I see as Mesa's essence; that quality that stands out the most. And isn't it true - true joy is strong and resilient. It doesn’t depend on external factors. It fights for itself and is fueled by an inner glow that will not be spent. Thank you for your presence and this sharing of joy. Love to you. xo

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Susan J Hilger's avatar

Yes, Joy lives deep inside and can withstand even the worst of times. Love back to you ❤️

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Wild Lion*esses Pride by Jay's avatar

Mesa, I feel the strength in how you name staying alive as a deliberate act. Your steadiness over decades speaks through your words, and I sense how it continues to shape the way you create. You call serendipity a strength, and I meet that with my own lifelong way of living inside patterns, noticing the way they carry meaning forward.

I first met Andrea’s voice after their passing. Even from that distance, I felt the charge of recognition — a life’s truth condensed into language. Through you, I can feel the depth they carried and the echo of their presence.

Your way of holding both the tender and the determined leaves space for others to step in fully as themselves. I carry that with me as a reminder to keep my own voice present in the middle of uncertainty. You show how a life can hold fragility and will in the same breath.

Love you my friend xoxo Jay

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Mesa Fama's avatar

Thank you for seeing me and walking beside me my friend. Love you 🩵🩵🩵

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Danni Levy's avatar

What a beautiful, full contributing here. Thank you. "Your way of holding both the tender and the determined leaves space for others to step in fully as themselves." Isn’t this amazing! The more we expose ourselves, the more we make others feel comfortable; by holding space for our own truth, another person is given a free pass to do the same. This is exactly what I want to create here. In the intro I wrote: this is our okay. How wonderful that you already feel this at the beginning of this project. Mesa is a gem. And thank you for seeing this, and even more, sharing it with us here. This is what makes the difference. Sharing is where the power continues and spreads. xo

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Wild Lion*esses Pride by Jay's avatar

Danni, I feel the strength of what you’re building here. Your words make space that invites truth to stand as it is, and Mesa fills that space with such clarity. I am very glad to know her and am honored to call her my friend. I’m glad to be here for this beginning.

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Danni Levy's avatar

Jay, your words, your loving support fills me with joy. I have been sharing for a long time. Much of this time was filled with silence or my attempt to fit into a space I did not want to be in. This too was valuable. It confirmed what I don’t want my writing to be. It brought me here. The silence, the mistakes, the failures, the not feeling true purpose. I only care that it is loving and true because this is what makes a difference. It connects us. This project feels right. It feels good. I have no expectations here except to create more connection, honesty, and love. I am so glad that my instinct lead me to Mesa. She is everything Bare HEARTS is meant to be. Thank you again. This type of contribution is fundamental. Looking forward to sharing more with you. xo

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Wild Lion*esses Pride by Jay's avatar

Danni, I feel the truth in how you name your path here — the way each step, even the quiet ones, shaped this space. You hold it with care and intention, and it shows. I share your sense that this project carries connection at its core, and Mesa is wonderful. And so is Kendall.

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Danni Levy's avatar

Well Jay, with friends like Mesa and Kendall you must be pretty special too. Thanks again. 💞

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Kendall Lamb's avatar

Mesa and Danni, I loved this interview. Thank you for the thoughtful questions, Danni, and Mesa, I'm so blown away by your ability to transcend your pain and shame and also fully include and embrace it at the very same time. I just love you to pieces. (Also, I'm 💯 when you on both the spaghetti front and the deep love of Empire Records!) ❤️❤️❤️

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Mesa Fama's avatar

I love you!!!! We need an Empire Records and pasta weekend getaway 🩵🩵🩵

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Danni Levy's avatar

Yes Kendall. I believe that is the power of the duality. Life is duality. Without inner work we usually grasp on to one while resisting the other. However, this strengthens the inner conflict and it prevents us from growing and fully living our life. Mesa has done the beautiful, beastly work and continues to do so. I believe that her love for humanity - this good for all - fuels her self-love and her self-love fuels her desire to serve right back. A whole human being is not whole because they have tapped and taped all the holes. They are whole because they embrace them and transfers them into something valuable. Mesa inspires us to continue our own journey towards wholeness. Kendall, thank you for thoughts. They create connection and support and are equally as valuable as the Q&A in itself. We need one another. Wherever we are on our journey, whatever we are going through, together is always better. all my love xo

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Kendall Lamb's avatar

I love how you said this, Danni! Yes. Life is duality. I completely agree that Mesa does an amazing job embracing that with beautiful transparency. Thanks for creating such a wonderful space to share this. ♥️

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Danni Levy's avatar

Thank you again Kendall. I am so grateful for your presence. Although I found you only recently, I feel very aligned with your thoughts, words, and emotions. I know that we will have much more to share as we get to know one another better. This space is so much about creating strong bonds, true friendship and support as we continue to do the work and grow. xo

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Danni Levy's avatar

Oh and I can't believe that I never saw Empire Records. Looking for it tonight. 💕

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Mesa Fama's avatar

Such a great 90s cult classic!!!

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Danni Levy's avatar

I know. Don’t know how I missed it. Looking forward to it bc it is so difficult to find something to watch.

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Sage Justice's avatar

Great job Mesa and Danni! I’m still processing every word I’ve just allowed to penetrate my spirit. I’m off to read your Mighty story— which I think I may have read the first time around. I’m just in awe of you both, your courage and strength in the vulnerability of truth and so very grateful to be a part of this loving community. Thank you for all you share.❤️❤️❤️

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Mesa Fama's avatar

Thank you so much, Sage. 🩵🩵🩵

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Danni Levy's avatar

Thank you Sage. You know your words and presence are priceless to me. I feel super lucky (although we know this has nothing to do with lucky. We were meant to meet) to have two incredibile women as my first guests (and you were both so generous with your hearts) and also as friends. My dream: One day we will meet and spend a beautiful week together somewhere. Wouldn't that be amazing?! Love you.

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Nancy A's avatar

This was a wonderful conversation, thank you both! I especially loved Mesa saying "I had to learn to love myself, be proud of myself, and stop living for outside validation." So good!, and something I struggle with. I've been following Mesa for a while and happy to have found Danni now also! 💖

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Mesa Fama's avatar

Thanks so much, Nancy!! 😍😍😍😍

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Danni Levy's avatar

Nancy, welcome to the loving space we are creating together. I believe that what you pointed out is something we all struggle with. Self-love is a daily commitment in a world that normalizes and promotes not loving oneself. I personally relate to when this happened for her. My mom loves me. But she has never been able to love herself enough to make me feel loved. At a certain point (when I became a mother), I knew that I could not use this as an excuse for my own lack of self-love. My daughters became my why. And as I began with: it is a daily commitment. To love myself no matter what so that I can love my daughters and they can mirror this and love themselves this much. There are still moments when my mom's lacking triggers me. But I remember more easily now that this has nothing to do with me. My response is to love her in a way she cannot love me. With patience and compassion. Who knows? She may just mirror this back. This is how important loving ourselves is. Nancy, I feel that you are committed too. Just sharing here is proof of this. I thank you. Because it is a much wider servicing of love that involves much more than you and me. A beautiful Sunday for you. May it feel loving. xo

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Nancy A's avatar

Thank you Danni! My mom was much the same, not self-loving and not good at showing or teaching me how to. I'm so glad to have found this space! Sending you love also. 💖

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Danni Levy's avatar

I am so glad too. Let's thank our moms for making us better lovers! 💕💕💕

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Erin Miller's avatar

Rarely in an interview do I love the questions asked as much as the answers—this is so well done. Beautiful, both of you. 🧡

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