Hello Hive!

Happy birthday to me!

It’s April 15th, Income Tax Day, and my mother always told me I was a great return on my birthday.

It’s also World Art Day!

Art nurtures creativity, innovation and cultural diversity for humans around the globe, playing an important role in sharing knowledge and encouraging curiosity and courageous conversations.

And ART is RESISTANCE! What better day to release my next episode, one that celebrates creativity, identity, and the power of artistic expression and storytelling.

Today we are #LIVEintheHIVE with former Silicon Valley Tech CEO, musician, and non-binary trans advocate, Michele Bettencourt - for a courageous conversation on the evolution of IDENTITY.

Easily one of my most favorite conversations. Michele’s willingness to share her provocative story openly, along with her articulate, salty and, intriguing story-telling, kept me rapt, laughing heartily, and deeply moved. I know you will be, too.

With over a thirty-five-year career in Silicon Valley, Michele Bettencourt served as CEO and Director of multiple private and public companies, including Imperva and Coverity. She is the founder of the Michele Bettencourt Foundation which promotes fair employment for transgender individuals.

Michele is a singer/songwriter/musician who, in 2018, dropped her debut album, Vampire Time, which features such esteemed collaborators as Carmine Rojas (David Bowie, Rod Stewart), Steve Ferrone (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), and Russ McKinnon (Barry Manilow, Tower of Power).

Vampire Time examines the paradoxes of contemporary life—how people can feel both connected and distant, certain yet uncertain, and visible yet misunderstood, real human experiences on the edge between ordinary life and moments of transformation.

Life Lessons through these stories:

It’s okay to evolve. Understanding yourself is a journey, not a one-time decision.

Be kind. Respecting and accepting others helps create a more compassionate and inclusive world.

Creative expression can be a powerful way to share truth and process identity.

In Vampire Time, the White House is upside down. In real time, too.

Live by the personal mantra, “My Life. My rules.”

You can usually tell when people are being kind.

Cross dressing is the gateway drug to transitioning.

Be an ambassador.

Believe in accidental journeys.

Become a “meanderthal.”

Parental passing grants permission and release.

What makes a transition “successful” is how you’re treated.

Trans people in bathrooms. Women say the nicest things in bathrooms. Make someone’s day and call them she if that’s what they want. The ripple effect will change humanity.

It’s hard to hate someone up close.

Thank you, Michele.

Remember, the edge is where you come alive.

Find Michele + Vampire Time:

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/michele-bettencourt-and-vampire-time/1831583691

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd9ZrZBQw3QAmC2k1SjKdsg

https://www.samdevorah.org/board

Find Sandra:

SandraBargman.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandrabargman/

https://createmagicatwork.net/meet-the-team

Mentioned in this episode:

This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/