Story & Lesson Highlights with Gina Cunningham

We recently had the chance to connect with Gina Cunningham and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Gina, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
A morning yoga practice is both a blessing and a powerful way to start the day. Yoga trains the mind to be fully present, to the point where time itself seems to dissolve. A dedicated yoga practice fosters a deep connection with your inner self, guiding you to embrace a simple but powerful truth: we are all flawed. In accepting our shared struggles, we find self-acceptance.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
After decades of running from my origins, I have chosen to examine them. I am descended from one of New York’s five Mafia families. In 2022, I directed and premiered a zero-budget documentary about my great-aunt, a mafia boss, from my deliberately feminist perspective—a rare lens in Mafia-related media and entertainment. The film garnered significant attention, screening at film festivals, libraries, and featuring in podcast discussions and Q&As. Now, through ongoing video diaries, I am committed to creatively processing this legacy, with the potential for a future documentary or a feature film. In addition, I have had a few acting jobs, and my on-set experience provided me with an understanding of the immense collaborative effort. behind every project.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
I try to cultivate an understanding of diligent work. I’ve learned that hard work is a powerful antidote to depression and ennui. While this wisdom came to me gradually, I now see that even the most tedious or unwanted tasks demand our full passion. This principle is echoed in the ancient practice of Karma Yoga, the yoga of selfless service. It teaches that any act—even washing dishes—when performed with mindfulness and full consciousness, transforms mundane work into a source of satisfaction.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?

My counsel to my younger self would be this: find your joy and passion, and strive for meaningful work. Treat others with kindness and with empathy. Follow a path of service and mindfulness, living with honesty, hard work, and devotion. A meaningful life isn’t about wealth or fame; it’s about spiritual richness, which is the true reward of intentional living.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
One of my most profound commitments is the ongoing fight for gender equality. I am confident that women must engage in relentlessly challenging biases and advocating for systemic change.
I was recently honored to spend time in France at the artist’s residency, Chateau Pompadour. This is the home of a neo-feminist artist’s laboratory founded by the dedicated and vibrant artist, Michaela Spiegel. This elegant and eccentric space is dedicated to fostering feminist creativity. I left there with a profound understanding that this is generational work—essential, unending, and likely to extend far beyond my own lifetime.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What will you regret not doing? 
My greatest regret would be the failure to be true to myself and others.
I hold myself to a daily practice of mindfulness combined with critical and spiritual analysis, choosing thoughtful inquiry over the easy adoption of popular ideas.

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Image Credits
Christine Lederer

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