Here are the contents of the first class. Hello and welcome to my class, How To Create a Successful Youtube Channel. I’m Leah Stephens and I started my Youtube channel 5 years ago.  Through years of experimentation and discovery, I’ve learned some fascinating things about video creation that I want to share with you. The focus of this class is on the cultivation of your imagination. I want you to feel as free as possible. If there is anything I can do to help you feel more at ease, please let me know. Youtube can be a wonderful place even though I think sometimes it feels like a hostile environment due to anonymity and the prevalence of children, who in my opinion seem like they are neglected, or are expressing the darker sides of our culture. My Youtube channel was featured in the San Diego CityBeat newspaper and the title of the article was Youtube Evolution. This class will reveal to you that the future of Youtube lies with you. You can make it great or pointless, it’s up to you to decide. I think that the never ending quest for a viral video is what can make videos pointless. But if you change the desired outcome and ask yourself this question, “How could I improve society, life and add knowledge to the world? What things have I been through in life that seemed impossible at the time but which I have figured out? Your answers could help others who find themselves in similar predicaments.  So, now I invite you to take a personal inventory. This is what I did right before my views started sky rocketing. You must let go of fear, more specifically, the fear of what others will think of your videos before you proceed on your journey. Fearlessness and the ability to make mistakes are needed before success can be achieved.Take the personal inventory:1. What specialized knowledge do I possess?  2. What talents do I possess?  3. What difficult situations in life have I been through?  4. What do I wish I was doing in life?  5. What am I interested in?  6. Do I know anyone else who is interested in making videos?  7. Do I have friends who make music who would be willing to collaborate with me?  8. What do I want to learn?

I've been thinking a lot lately about mistakes I've made in life and how those mistakes end up making me feel like an idiot. I know I'm not alone. This feeling of idiocy develops and matures and creates an idiot sheen which then prevents one from going forward in life. I'd like to explore this theme in more depth, find others who feel like idiots, but who are interested in going forward with their lives, and document this process via a film. I'd like to focus on 5 people, (including myself) and do public confessions, then jump into a mattress that has a boot attached, in order to publicly confess and heal. Follow-up interviews will be done to assess recovery.

The class will be comprised of 4 days: every Saturday in February. I made a video to explore the subjects relating to the creation of a successful YouTube channel. The four principles that guided my direction in creating a successful Youtube channel: 1. Content is queen 2. Experiment 3. Be yourself no matter how silly you feel 4. Never give up. Here's the intro video

I was lucky enough to score an interview with Bertram Verhaag, the director of the controversial and nearly impossible-to-get-in-the-USA film called Scientists Under Attack. 
This film finally clears up a lot of the confusion surrounding genetically engineered crops. In it, we learn that the careers of the independent scientists who first studied GMO's have been ruined by the biotech industry. And, the first scientist, Arpad Pusztai, who initially thought he would find nothing different between the rats who were fed GM potatoes and non-GM potatoes, was shocked to discover that the GM-fed rats showed organ damage and other abnormalities. After his studies were released, he was immediately fired from his 30+ year successful career as the leading scientist at the Rowett Institute. His career has been ruined due to his findings that the biotech industry did not like. Bertram Verhaag has made 9 films on GMO's and Monsanto has tried twice to remove his films from circulation. They never have responded to his interview requests and now will have nothing to do with him. Bertram confessed that he is actually relieved that he does not have to communicate with them. He confessed that occasionally he experiences fear of the biotech industry, but he does not let that fear get in the way of his in-depth probing of genetically engineered crops and food. Everyone should see this film in order to understand the GMO issue from the scientists' perspective. This film will blow your mind. It did mine. To see the four-part interview, go to my Youtube channel, Stellabelle.

As my knowledge and passion grows, I see that we, as Americans and world citizens have a lot of work to do. To combat frustration and despair that grip many of us after we see movies like Food Inc., I have developed a platform for change. Human creativity remains to be one of the last resources that has not been commodified for profit. There are vast untapped stories, images, fears, dreams and damaged lives out there that are waiting to be expressed. Our Facebook Page, World Food Day KC 2011 Flash Mob has many functions, but at the top of the list is: a place where we can express in different ways our concern, hope and fears around the topic of the future of food. These expressions, in turn are then made into posters and fliers that are free for world citizens to download in order to make their own parties, potlucks, protests, flash mobs or advertisements. We encourage people who feel that they don't have a voice to contribute, as their healing becomes our healing. The system in the U.S. and around the world is truly in a crisis of proportions that we are barely conscious of. 

As you start to feel yourself break down when you are confronted with the reality of CAFO's, GM-seed + pesticide devastation (Punjab is being exterminated by pesticides and chemicals) and other such horrors of our pathological food system, I call on the conscience of all world citizens to document these reactions via art. We are in need of a solution and human creativity remains to be one of the last resources that have not been slaughtered, poisoned, commodified, fed needless antibiotics or kept inside a metal pin, waist high in its feces. For those of us without funds, and considering the unemployment rate in the US, there are plenty of people who have spare time. Put aside your job search for say 15 minutes, and focus on this issue. Let the truth emerge. We need to hear your voice. If we do not allow ourselves to freely express ourselves in a creative way, then the game is over. We have all succumbed to the systematic repression and fear that we read in books as teenagers, that we thought was never possible in a country like the United States of America. 

I care about all people. I care to know what our country is currently doing to the people of India and all other countries in the world. I want to reverse the damage that my country has done. First, and foremost, things have to change here. We have to stop feeling the despair and hoplessness that pervades our minds. Once you take a few positive actions, you will notice that others feel more confident in doing the same. Look deeply inside and listen to yourself. A good example of my point is my experience last night while I watched Food Inc.: The whistleblower Chicken Farmer, Carole Morison's heartbreaking story made me completely break down in tears. The part that disturbed me the most: the chickens are fed so much and gain so much weight so fast that their legs are not developed enough to support their own weight. I can barely even type this, my hands are getting weak. It just got worse from there, I was feeling the pain of the pigs, I cringed and gripped my face as the cow was scooped up with a machine. And the control center that a bunch of men were sitting in, air-conditioned and systematic, as they fine-tuned the killing machines from their comfortable perches almost made me vomit. This is the ultimate tragedy. I am not willing to be a part of such a pathological system. This is not the world I signed up for. This is not the world, this is not the world, this is a made-up horror world that has embraced the Mechanized Ideation Illness and made it seem normal. This is a pathological world that must be changed.

You see what knowing the truth does? It cripples you with fear. I had almost forgotton the positive part of my message but here it is: I challenge each person to tap into this vast field of pain and come up with one tiny solution. My outlet has always been sending things through the mail, so I am wanting to send a giant postcard to that one whistle-blowing farmer who showed us, the people, what is actually happening. She deserves my support because I heard that her chicken houses were burned to the ground after the movie came out. The people who have compassion, who feel pain, who are unwilling to go along with our current pathological system deserve to be crowned. They are the true celebrities. So, our work is cut out for us. Join us to see how this experiment works out. I call this Creative Consciousness Actions and you can see it all come to life on our Facebook page. Instead of playing Farmville, why not play our game called, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.


The Punjab situation in India is also despicable. Their land and life is currently being wiped out due to pesticides, chemicals and man-made problems. 70% of the animals are sterile. Guess what? We, the US, are the main suppliers of these deadly chemicals. In my horror and anger about finding the truth, I sent a giant postcard to the women's action group of Punjab, through the Kheti Virasat Mission, which is attempting to restore organic farming to their people. This has all been documented in a video on my Youtube channel: Stellabelle so that it may reach a wider audience.

If you have made it this far, then I will give you one last thing to think about and this fact alone is the primary reason I decided to create a Facebook page: Most of the corn (80%-90%) that is grown in the United States has been genetically engineered to produce it's own pesticide. It's called BT corn. Look it up on google. I have asked many people if they knew about this and the ones who did not know, seemed visibly disturbed. You have the information, now what are we going to do with it? It's up to you.

During the time I worked at Modern Postcard (located in Carlsbad, California) I explored the surrounding woods during my breaks and discovered many strange things. There is an enchanting waterfall just down the hill from MP which leads to an abandoned homeless shack, complete with a door, a bed and numerous pieces of rubbish. At the waterfall I left a blank book in which I would frequently write. The last time I looked at the book, it appeared that others had written in it using red stones. I believe I attached the book to a fake frog which was anchored to a large stone. I am curious about the book. Is it still there? Has anyone found it yet? Have they also discovered the homeless encampment? If you have any feedback about this, I would love to know.

People who attempt to imprecisely genetically alter the integrity of natural DNA of plants, animals and all living organims for the purpose of profit are suffering from Mechanized Ideation Illness. The current gene manipulation techniques are not stable, mainly because the effects of gene drifting and the existence of foreign proteins are entirely unknown and part of the mysterious nature of DNA protein creation. This illness is characterized by short-term, reckless tampering with the DNA of living organisms without thought of how this tampering will affect the entire ecosystem now or forever in the future. Corporate scientists who push along the agendas of biotech giants without thorough scientific research of these genetically manipulated organisms are at the forefront of this illness. 

This is categorized as an illness because the reductionistic, mechanized world view which pervades the sufferer's mind is the cause of widespread destruction of the environment, animals, humans and even inside our bodies. The mechanistic line of thinking is simplistic and destructive because it denies the synergistic nature of the universe. All great thinkers in the world have shown us over and over that each of us is dependent upon the health and integrity of everything else in the world. When a person suffering from Mechanized Ideation Illness is at the helm of a giant corporatation, he begins to make an entire population ill by spreading his ideas as the "truth", paying slick advertisers to create campaigns to brainwash the masses. This is, in essence how, we as Americans find ourselves to be guinea pigs for genetically engineered food. Europeans, by contrast, demanded that genetically engineered food be removed from public school lunches, fast food chains, grocery stores, everything. They were alarmed by the dangers that were uncovered by the first scientist who independently studied effects of GMO's on rats. The organs of the rats who ate GMO food became damaged. The Europeans were outraged and demanded non-genetically manipulated food be removed from their food supply. It is clear that we, as Americans need to follow this same path.

When I decided to enter the Taschen Book Publishing competition called Schlaupelz in 2005, everyone I knew including my brother said I didn't have a chance in hell at winning. Well, for about 3 months every day after work, I made progress on the competition. The competition consisted of identifying the source materials of 20 collage art pieces. I had to name the book and author of the images that were contained in the art pieces. I went to every library after I had exhausted the internet. After I exhausted book stores, I visited personal libraries. In short, I won the contest. The prize was 2 round-trip tickets to Los Angeles, hotel and airfare were paid and I got to meet 2 local authors. I picked Sven Kirsten and Dian Hanson. After this experience, I learned not to listen to anyone except myself. I'm telling you right now, never give up on your dreams and don't believe anyone who says not to do them.

Today's work:
I emailed the researcher responsible for discovering the cancer-curing properties of DCA. I asked Dr. Michelakis if he would grant me an interview.
Then I emailed the Yes Men reqesting to interview, or at the least meet with them this summer to discuss refining my plan to get funding for my project. I offered to help them with their projects, so let's see where this ends up.

I also emailed the mayor of Reykjavik, Jon Gnarr, a few days ago but have yet to hear from his staff. Additionally, I am waiting to hear back from the foundation, Veronica's Voice, the only safe house in the Missouri/Kansas area that helps sex workers leave the lifestyle.

I guess the big news is that the Discovery Channel's Storm Chasers producer tracked me down and asked me to send him my bio, a photo and my story. I didn't hound them at all, and my video was simply discoverd on Youtube.

I'm still doing my own covert work: yesterday at Bartle Hall, I placed some of my Missouri postcards (see image above/right) in the area where visitor guides and advertisements are put. It was a small but satisfying act. Also, at the desk where I work, I have a pile of them that are marked by a tiny sign that says, 'free postcards'. They're not outrageous, but there are hidden things in them, like 6 teeth, one doughnut and my own mug graces the cover of every tiny magazine in the photo.

As I search on facebook daily to get my fix of notifications, I am struck by the emptiness I generally feel after all messages have been answered and all notifications are tallied. My new job has afforded me a perspective that is clearer and in the past few days, I've been in search of meaningful stories that force me to step back and examine my aspirations, dreams and future. I'm not going to lie, being a single mother is hard. If it wasn't for my family and friends, I'd be in bad shape. So, as I piece my life together again and re-enter the world after numerous traumas, I have to ask myself: what can I do to change the world? What issues do I most care about? It always comes back to creating a world in which girls can thrive, grow and develop without Disney slamming pink drinks down their throats, without CoverGirl telling them what to look like, without slimy men molesting them, without empty glitter shoes being thrust onto their feet for yet another princess party. Solid role models that show courage and creativity are much needed in a society where porn is commonplace and sexy tween clothes are becoming way too common. I find all this focus on make-up and shoes and clothes absolutely revolting. There is no balance, that is what is disgusting to me. My own past as a high fashion model no doubt is re-playing now, and I can tell you, it's not a pretty world out there. I escaped relatively unhurt, but still retain a lot of emotional scars from my experiences. For example, when I was a model in Japan, the lines between model and hostess and escort became blurry. There was one instance where we (Elite models) were supposed to eat dinner and dance with super rich Australian business men. I was one of the models who refused, and I felt like I had been prostituted. I am a product of a corrupt and exploitive system and even though I did not get involved in the sex industry, I feel like I came damned close without ever choosing to do so. I began to self-hate, self-mutilate and realized that I had to get out the modeling industry for good if I wanted my mind to go back to being peaceful and calm. I ended it right away.

So, what does this have to do with the 24 year-old Jersey girl who built an orphanage in Nepal? The realization that young girls need role models who are taking action and who say, "This is not acceptable", and then re-fashion the world the way it should be. My heart raced and tears streamed down my face when I watched the video of the innocent, joyous and good-natured Maggie Doyne talk about her self-created paradise in Nepal. Her positive energy is absolutely contagious. Watching her made me scan my own sad state of affairs. Where was I? How was I going to provide a good role model for my daughter, struggling, depressed and alone? What had happened to my goals as an artist, a videographer, a discoverer of unknown worlds? Where was the money coming from? I knew I was lost when I saw her path. I started looking within again. I know I can do something to change things, and I once again feel that time is running out. I'm planning things, the energy is returning, the fear is starting to fall away. I really think there are more Maggie Doynes out there. We should all look to find them and guide them along. Oh, and we need help too. I need help. I need to find my way also, but I feel it becoming nearer.....