Speaker 1: 0:00

Welcome to Cut the Tie. I'm your host, thomas Helfrich. We are here to help you cut ties to whatever it is holding you back from success, and today's guest is Ishara. She's nine years old. She is the youngest guest ever on. Cut the Tie, ishara, how are you today?

Speaker 2: 0:15

I'm really good, Mr Thomas.

Speaker 1: 0:18

I like that, mr Thomas. That's something kids do, and I love that, because then I call their parents Mr Ed or whatever.

Speaker 2: 0:30

Ishara. Take a moment and introduce yourself and what it is you do. Hi, I'm Ishar. I'm the creator of the Ishar's Reading Podcast. I help kids and adults who have been told no so many times. They feel beat down how, by using my podcast, I help them unlock their soul's imagination and find that, yes, inside themselves or inside books.

Speaker 1: 0:51

You read books right on your podcast, is that correct?

Speaker 2: 0:54

Yes, I also read books, interview the authors and illustrators and say what I like about the book and why I chose to read that book. Because reading is the key to almost everything you want to do in life. Because originally everything we started with was reading as cavemen. We didn't write words, but we did draw pictures. Those were the original books pictures. They were the original authors and illustrators. But now that we're moving into more of a digital era, we are sort of moving away from books, the original things. So that's what I'm trying to do on my podcast bring books back, because we need books. Everything originally came from a book. I know there isPT, but you still have to read what ChatGPT is saying to you.

Speaker 1: 1:53

You read. It Is your campaign, then, to make books great again.

Speaker 2: 1:59

Yes, because we need books.

Speaker 1: 2:02

All right, I always ask this question what's the differentiator?

Speaker 2: 2:12

Why should someone listen to your podcast? Because it's a kid for kids and adults. I know it's normally adults for kids and adults, but it's the other way around this time. It's a kid for something a kid wants to do for kids and adults, for something a kid wants to do for kids and adults. So it's a kid playing the part of what adults normally try to do I love it.

Speaker 1: 2:32

I love the inspiration. What is your favorite?

Speaker 2: 2:35

book A Place for Pluto, which I have right now. A Place for Pluto this is the one book that changed my life for the better. Actually, it changed everything for me. When I used to go to traditional school I don't now, but I used to a long time ago I got bullied. Some kids said I was too smart, others said I wasn't cool enough, some said I was too much, me too much, impossible. Okay, maybe a little true. And this book was the thing that cheered me up, because in the story, saturn and Jupiter have to tell Pluto the worst news of his life he was no longer considered a planet because he was too small. Sounds familiar. So I thought when I read that book if Pluto can find his place, I can too, and others can too. That's such a great. That's such a great answer. I love that.

Speaker 1: 3:40

And in the simplicity of a book, the metaphor for life that you've found, would great. That's such a great answer. I love that. And in the simplicity of a book, the metaphor for life that you've you've found. Would you say that's the tie you had to cut was moving from school, or how, let me say it differently what tie did you have to cut at nine years old or in your life, to find the success you've found already?

Speaker 2: 4:00

It was the pandemic. I know the pandemic roughed us up a little bit, everyone. It did everyone. But see, the pandemic did two things in my life. One I couldn't go to the library so I couldn't get new books. Two, it took away my happy place. It took away reading. Reading was the thing that made me so happy and joyful in life. I had no more fun library play dates with friends. And it took away my career in figure skating. I do figure skating competitively and in a way figure skating was my way from escaping the world and just going into my own world, expressing how I felt when the pandemic hit. No more figure skating. So what was the one way that I could have myself be happy? I tried Zooming with my friends and it sort of made me feel better.

Speaker 2: 5:05

But the thing that started what I'm doing now is a joke that our parents said somehow. That our parents said somehow because we because my me and my friends, kennedy had so many of the same books that we read them together and we used to do the character voices and everything. And just as a joke, our parents suggested, hey, we should do a podcast together and we were like, what's a podcast? Sounds fun, let's do it. Kids curious what it was, and then she had to move to Japan. So I was like, okay, so that thing's over, now what else? And I discovered I loved doing it so much I wanted to do it by myself too. So that's how the Eshar is Reading podcast started from the pandemic.

Speaker 1: 6:04

I love that and I love that you know the moment. It's like it was a. It was a you guys should do a podcast moment and you're like, yes, we should. I love in your story that you continued even after your friend was unable to continue with you, because you saw the value of it. And I think in life you have to have three things to be successful you need a passion for something. You got to be good at it. You have to have performance and you got to solve a problem and it sounds like right now you got all three and you get the added element of head start. You're figuring this out. Most people have to do this after they do a midlife crisis. So good job, you're doing it at an early age crisis. I'm happy.

Speaker 2: 6:41

Thank you Good.

Speaker 1: 6:44

Thank you, Ishar.

Speaker 2: 6:56

since starting the podcast and just take it one step further, since you've taken control of it and made it your own thing. What's been the impact on your friends, your family, your life? In my life, I have actually had a very supportive family. Whatever I said I wanted to do, my mother always supported me on what I wanted to do in life. So let's say the impact has been positive on my life in my mindset, because my family has always been really really, really supportive of me.

Speaker 1: 7:26

I love that You're finding that support and I think that's great for your relationships in the future that you'll look for those types of characters in the future. Let's talk about the future. A second Fast forward 20 years. What have you accomplished?

Speaker 2: 7:48

I think I would be in space, as I might have told you in the past when we met at podfest. Remind our, podfest is where where podcasters are, where podcasters want to be better podcasters. If anyone accidentally forgot, I think I would be in space or at the Olympics because I want to be an astronaut when I grow up, or I'd be in astronaut training and go into the Olympics, one of the two hopefully, I can definitely see you putting a foot on Mars going.

Speaker 1: 8:24

ha, I told you I was going to do this.

Speaker 2: 8:26

29 years old. I can see that I told you I was going to do this 29 years old, I can see that or I'd be researching neurosurgery because I also want to be a neurosurgeon for some reason.

Speaker 1: 8:40

I see, the future tie that you'll have to cut is choosing what you're going to become.

Speaker 2: 8:44

That one's going to be difficult, I'll just do one. I think I have an idea. Just do it one book at a time.

Speaker 1: 8:53

One book at a time? How?

Speaker 2: 8:59

many books have you read so far in your life at age nine? Over 100,000, I think 100,000 books. No, it's a joke.

Speaker 1: 9:12

It's like just 1,000, but it's too many. You've literally read 1,000 books.

Speaker 2: 9:14

No, it's a joke, it's like just a thousand.

Speaker 1: 9:15

But it's just, you've literally read a thousand books in my life. I think you've hit your quota for your life already, so just keep it going. All right, I need a lesson for the listeners. I need advice from the nine. Or what advice do you give to any listener, whatever you?

Speaker 2: 9:25

think you really want to do in your life. Whatever you think you really want to do in your life, I suggest you go for it. It doesn't matter how old you are Going back to Pluto. It doesn't matter who you are, how small you are, how large you are or what age you are. Just do what you think you want to do with your life, because I found my happiness in an ice rink of all the places you can find it and inside books, and also going to some places that I don't remember right now, but I can remember through photos that my mom shared with me. But it's like I found my place doing the things I love, and you can find your place in some of the things you want to do in your life. So you can find that, yes, inside yourselves.

Speaker 1: 10:24

Can't be afraid. You got to go for it, our rapid fire question time. Are you ready? Yes, here it goes. Who Are you ready? Yes, here it goes. Who gives you inspiration?

Speaker 2: 10:35

My family Flat out answer because they've always been supportive of me.

Speaker 1: 10:40

Everyone, or do you have a favorite?

Speaker 2: 10:43

Everyone, because I can't choose.

Speaker 1: 10:47

Ooh, I can see that's going to be your. That's going to be your. Uh, your Achilles heel in the future is choosing what to do, but you shouldn't have to choose a favorite. I was just being funny Cause, let's say, your mom was off screen. She's looking at you. You better be me, better be just kind of having fun with that. What's the best advice anyone's ever given you?

Speaker 2: 11:14

dude, my this is the advice my mom's given me. Whatever you can do, whatever you put your mind to, because nothing's impossible when you think about it, there's. Every time when you meet a road block, that's actually a chance for you to become better at what you're already doing Figure skating. You're going to meet those a lot. I'm very serious, coming from experience, and in life you're always going to have roadblocks. So those challenges are just going to make you better at whatever you're doing or make you better yourself. Sometimes the challenge is a really hard book you're trying to read or going through a life experience. Whatever the challenge is, you're always going to push through because there's always going to be someone or some book that is waiting for you to help you.

Speaker 1: 12:07

Surprise question, didn't prepare for this one. Here it is. If you're going to write a book, what's the title going to be and what's it going to be about?

Speaker 2: 12:18

I mean heroes. It's a graphic novel. I'm already in the process of writing one. I mean heroes. It's a graphic novel about the immune system and how all the pathogens in the world sorry, I always speed up, but I'm saying this. How all the pathogens in the world sorry, I always speed up, but I'm saying this how all the pathogens viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites team up to try to defeat the immune system. But it's going to be a big battle. Only free, only free books for everyone to know. So it's not going to be a lot, but each book is going to talk about the stages on what your body goes through when it gets sick.

Speaker 1: 12:53

Of course you already have a book written or go on the prowl Like. I can't even surprise you. You're too prepared. All right, If you had to start over today, I know you're only nine years old. When in your life would you start over? If you would, and what would you do differently and what would you?

Speaker 2: 13:08

do differently. I think it would be four years old and what would be? If this is a question that I think about and it goes into two questions in my head, it splits apart what is the thing I'd want to restart and do over my life life? Going to national, going to national book festival, visiting nasa which is actually more recent but still counts. Going to nasa, visiting the national book festival several times in my life, and that's top 10. I'll also also go to the Rube Goldberg Space Center where you get to launch your own rocket that you make.

Speaker 1: 13:57

Tell you what, if you can keep, those are the worst two regrets you ever have. You're on a solid path to a fantastically awesome life, like an A-plus, honors and advanced. Whatever subject. Life Be great, I love it All right. If there's a question I should have'd be great, I love it All right. If there's a question I should have asked you today and I didn't. What is that question and how do you answer it?

Speaker 2: 14:19

What is the next event? That's coming up for a Shars Reading Podcast.

Speaker 1: 14:24

Oh, how would you answer that?

Speaker 2: 14:27

Well, on April 26th in Baltimore, Maryland, I am giving my very first speech. That's the question. That's the thing. I'm already working on it every Saturday, so I'm doing it? What are you going to be it speaking about why books are important, because, as I said earlier, we're drawing away from books. So I'm giving a talk to try to help get less away. You get more close. I really don't know the word phrasing, so I just thought of something.

Speaker 1: 15:07

Ironically, you could use chat PT to help you with that. You can have your mom dive in and have her get some good nickel and dime. Big word, maybe $1.50 word in there. Throw a word in there that not only no one in the room will know and they'll be like what word in there? Throw it. Throw a word in there, then not only no one in the in the room will know and they'll be like what I have. I want you to do a shameless plug now for yourself. How do people get a hold of you and who should listen?

Speaker 2: 15:35

well, you can find me on all your favorite streaming platforms and on youtube. You can find me over ishar's journey science, Science Skating and Podcasts, also under Eshar's Club.

Speaker 1: 15:50

And who should listen in.

Speaker 2: 15:55

This is something that makes me really sad. In the world right now, some people do not have access to books, so that's how my podcast helps. And also, some people have access to books but not their imagination, because they haven't found the book that will unlock their imagination so they reach their true potential. So that's what my podcast helps with. I read books to help those who haven't found the book or do not have access to books.

Speaker 1: 16:26

Azhar, thank you so much for coming on here today. You rock.

Speaker 2: 16:29

You're welcome. You're welcome, Mr Thomas.

Speaker 1: 16:34

Everyone listening. Listen. I want you to get out there. Go cut a tie to something holding you back. Find your way to success. Let nothing stop you. In the meantime, go unleash the best version of yourself. Thank you for listening.