Hi there and welcome to episode 36 of Couragemakers!
This week I’m speaking to Christy Tennery-Spalding. Christy is a self-care mentor, healer, and climate justice activist. She supports people who want to change the world develop amazing self-care practices so they can do their work more effectively and with more joy. Christy lives in Oakland, California with her husband and their feral cats, Dorothy and Harriet.
During this episode, Christy shares her journey of activism, working in the nonprofit world and starting her online business and how identifying her zone of genius has helped her work in a way that not only serves the world, but herself as well.
We really dive into how burnout and exhaustion can become a badge of honour when working to change the world, how working to slow things down instead of an emergency mindset ultimately changes our lives and our wellbeing and self care isn’t a reward, nor is it tied to your productivity, but rather something we all need regardless.
We have a really honest conversation about what it means to want to change the world, the grief we often don’t acknowledge when working in a helping profession and how our ego, and our guilt often plays a role in how we show up in the world.
Christy shares great advice for anyone looking to find their own zone of genius, and some much needed reminders to all of us that self care is not selfish, but rather essential for a wholehearted life.
This is a fantastic episode if you’re an activist, work or have worked in a helping profession, if you’ve ever or are struggling with burnout and if you seek to make the world a brighter place without diminishing your own light at the same time. I know this episode is going to resonate with so many people, because it touches on so many cornerstones of what this podcast is about.
I absolutely loved talking to Christy and I love the work she is putting in the world.
Our stories overlap in so many ways and it was so good to have such a truthful and bullshit free conversation about burnout and how we can all change the world in our own unique way.
I know this episode is going to resonate with so many people, because it touches on so many cornerstones of what this podcast is about.
Enjoy the show!
Hello welcome to episode 35 of Couragemakers!
This week I’m speaking with Anung Vilay and I seriously can’t wait to share this episode with you. Anung is owner, photographer and designer of Courageous Creativity:the place for extroverts and homebodies to own their life and write their adventure. She lives in Minneapolis and is married with one fur baby and works part time at a book-store.
In this episode, we really get stuck into intersection between creativity and courage and how they play a huge part in our lives. Anung debunks the myth that you don’t have to completely overhaul your life and live in a cabin in the woods to be a creative, how courageous and ultimately liberating it is to put yourself out there as well as some great practical advice for anyone who wants to become more visible and own their story.
We have a really frank conversation about the courage it takes to cut toxic people from our lives, friendship break ups and how in this often crazy online world, it is okay to struggle alone and not put everything out there. And Anung shares the much needed reminders for all us doers, makers and world shakers that we can do things just for fun, and not everything we do needs to be productive or make us money.
If you have a tendency to overthink things (like me) and you want to hear an honest conversation about how to get back to yourself and own your story, you are going to love this episode. This is a conversation I could listen to again and again, and I know it’s going to make you feel a lot less alone and shine light into areas of your life that really need it.
I love what Anung is putting in the world and how she shows up as authentically herself, and I know you’re going to love her too!
Enjoy the show!
Anung Vilay is Owner, Photographer and Designer of Courageous Creativity LLC: the place for extroverts and homebodies to own their life and write their adventure. She lives in Minneapolis and is married with one fur baby and works part time at a book store.
You can connect with Anung here: Website | Instagram| Twitter | Pinterest
Things we talked about during today's show
Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here
If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: meg@thathummingbirdlife.com
I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum.
When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently on a 3 month road trip of the US with Mr. Meg but normally based in the UK.
That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest |
Hi there and welcome to episode 34 of Couragemakers!
This week I had the joy of speaking to Sanah Jivani. Sanah is a honors college student and the founder of a non-profit organization called The Love Your Natural Self Foundation, which focuses on empowering individuals through events, movements and hands-on sessions. She started this organization after losing all of her hair to Alopecia in the seventh grade and struggling with wigs, bullying and low self-worth. Now, her non-profit organization hosts projects in 45 schools and 28 countries worldwide.
In this episode, Sanah shares her journey of building a movement from a personal experience she went through, how she is challenging thousands of people around the world to let go of the one thing that holds them back and the many lessons she has learned along the way.
We dive into the myths and reality of self love, how to look after yourself while putting good shit in the world and not feeling like it is your responsibility to fix everything and how Sanah’s own personal growth has transformed her organisation.
Sanah shares really great advice for anyone who is struggling on their own, and some great practical tips for anyone who wants to make a change in the world but doesn’t know where to start, or has an idea but feels apprehensive about starting.
Sanah is an absolute joy to speak to and I love how honest she is about the challenges she has faced, how her organisation has grown out of these challenges and how vulnerable she is about her own journey of self love. I have so much admiration for Sanah’s mission and what she’s putting in the world, and I’m so glad we get to really go behind the scenes and hear all about it!
Enjoy the show!
Sanah Jivani is an honors college student double majoring in sociology and communications at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She is the founder of a non-profit organization called The Love Your Natural Self Foundation, which focuses on empowering individuals through events, movements and hands-on sessions. She started this organization after losing all of her hair to Alopecia in the seventh grade and struggling with wigs, bullying and low self-worth. Now, her non-profit organization hosts projects in 45 schools and 28 countries worldwide. The biggest project hosted by her non-profit is the International Natural Day movement. She has reached over 10,000 students through speaking engagements and raised over $10,000 in fundraising.
Outside of her work with her non-profit, she is one of thirty We Are Family Foundation's Global Teen Leaders, a TEDx Speaker, a State Farm Youth Advisory Board Member, a DoSomething and College Board Youth Advisory Council Member, a 2016-2017 Character Counts Person of Character, the social media Intern at Gobie and an Editorial Intern at HelloFlo among other things. She hopes that this hard work and positive energy will someday change the world!
You can connect with Sanah here: Natural Day | Twitter
Things we talked about during today's show
Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here
If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: meg@thathummingbirdlife.com
I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum.
When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently on a 3 month road trip of the US with Mr. Meg but normally based in the UK.
That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest |
Hi there and welcome to episode 33 of Couragemakers!
This week, I’m chatting with Christina Blok. Christina is the CEO & Creative Director of Muse Monthly, a subscription box for books and tea. She a 20-something year old lover of everything nerdy, including Doctor Who, Harry Potter, and Marvel. In addition to running Muse Monthly, she is also a freelance social media strategist and writer.
In this episode, Christina shares how she moved from working at a job which made her physically ill, to starting a business based on her passions and her two big loves.
We really dive into how our creativity and passions can lead us down the path less chosen, the effect an environment can have on your creativity when you feel unfulfilled and unappreciated and how important it is to find your people.
Christina shares wonderful advice for anyone who hasn’t yet found their people and for people stuck in a situation which makes them miserable, takes away their creativity and belittles their passions.
I absolutely love this episode and I think it really is essential listening for anyone who’s ever been told their passion is just a hobby, for anyone who doesn’t feel like they fit in anywhere and for anyone looking for proof that you don’t have to be stuck and you have lots of options.
This is a great episode for writers, readers, creatives, multi-passionates and anyone who ever dared to think they could use what they love to create a life they love.
Muse Monthly is a genius idea and I absolutely loved going behind the scenes. I love Christina’s passion and how honestly and openly she shares what she’s learned to help other Couragemakers. I guarantee you’ll be feeling inspired by the end of this episode!
Enjoy the show!
Christina Blok is the CEO & Creative Director of Muse Monthly, a subscription box for books and tea. She a 20-something year old lover of everything nerdy, including Doctor Who, Harry Potter, and Marvel. In addition to running Muse Monthly, she is also a freelance social media strategist and writer.
You can connect with Christina here: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram |
Things we talked about during today's show
Resources/Recommendations from today’s show
Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here
If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: meg@thathummingbirdlife.com
I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum.
When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently on a 3 month road trip of the US with Mr. Meg but normally based in the UK.
That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest |