The Soulicitor Podcast: Recent Episodes

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In this episode, I'm joined by Megan Smiley and we're chatting about our new workshop launching on May 31st!

The intention of the course is to teach the participants the basic tenets of various disciplines and how they can be used to increase self-awareness, build insight, and navigate personal + professional transitions. This is a primer of sorts for the woo-curious!

There will be five sessions and the topics covered include: meditation/intuition, astrology, human design, mediumship, and hypnotherapy.

Tune in to listen to Megan and I chat about our personal experiences and what led us to create this course!

Specifically we talk about:

• Our paths to exploring various spiritual modalities
• Reconciling our "law brains" (aka left brains) and our spirituality
• Integrating and aligning the various parts of ourselves
• Meditation as a gateway drug
• The science behind meditation
• The scale of woo
• How various tools have helped us access our inner wisdom (rather than looking externally)
• The impact of the subconscious mind
• Laying down our inner skeptic
• Surrendering to the unknown

Workshop dates: May 31, June 7, 14, 21, 28 @ 5:30pm PST/ 8:30pm EST.

All sessions will be held on Zoom and will be recorded so if you can't make a session, you can catch the replay!

Registration is open until May 31st.

More info is available here!

Let's connect!

chiarawoods.com

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Laurel O’Sullivan is a visionary advocate who inspires her clients to create lives of deeper meaning and purpose when confronted with challenging life transitions.

Laurel’s practice as a transition coach is grounded in twenty years of experience as a public interest lawyer and advocate and her own deeply held experiences traversing every imaginable type of life transition.

Laurel is currently working on a book about Second Chance which she views as a gift from the Universe beckoning us to to heal the past, and transform our lives by having the courage to pursue new life directions.

In this episode we discuss:

• Laurel's professional journey starting with her career in environmental law
• How astrology came into her life and Laurel's perspective on how it can empower us and help us feel seen + understood
• Micro (individual) and macro (global) aspects of astrology
• Fundamental Concepts:
• Our sun, moon, and rising signs (the "primal triad")
• The four elements
• North and South nodes
• Eclipses
• The Aquarian Age
• Laurel’s forthcoming book
• And so much more!

Laurel's website: https://laurelosullivan.com/

Let's connect!

Web: www.chiarawoods.com

Instagram: @chiarawoods

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Join me for a conversation with Aman Costigan.

Aman started on a traditional legal path right out of law school in 2012 and became a partner in 2018.

But, after years of having a feeling like she wanted more in her life, she decided to take action and create a life she loves.

She started on a path towards building her own “Empire of Freedom” by bringing back fun and adventure into her life, starting her own business teaching yoga to lawyers, investing in a local start-up and purchasing an apartment building with her husband, all while practicing law!

In this episode we talk about:

• Aman’s professional journey
• Her path to yoga and the benefits it can offer
• How she embraces the various sides of herself + aligns with her core values
• How she uses mind mapping for goal planning and her vision for the future
• Aman’s “Empire of Freedom” and what freedom means to her
• How she embraces the “and” in her professional life
• Her path to becoming an entrepreneur and her advice for people thinking about starting a business

Website: https://beyondyogaforlawyers.com

Instagram: @beyondyoga_for_lawyers

LinkedIn: Aman Costigan

Let's connect!

Web: chiarawoods.com

Let's SPICE UP your inbox! Sign up here for my never-boring, always interesting emails filled with hot tips, tools, and exclusive offers on my upcoming events, courses, and programs! It's a party you don't want to miss!

Instagram: @soulicitorpodcast

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Ellen Schlesinger and Melanie Goela are both licensed psychotherapists in Canada, wellness coaches worldwide, and former lawyers. They teach lawyers how to “work easy” to find freedom from anxiety and self doubt using their signature F.R.E.E. method of anxiety relief.

Topics covered:

• Melanie + Ellen’s professional journeys from lawyers to therapists.
• The challenges lawyers face within the culture of law and legal practice.
• Melanie + Ellen’s perspectives on recommended approaches to dealing with anxiety and why they may not always be effective.
• The importance of building self-trust and how that can be helpful in dealing with anxiety.
• What true resilience is (and what it isn’t)!
• Their new program for lawyers who are dealing with anxiety called The Liberated Lawyer.

FREE (LIVE) WEBINAR

3 Simple Mindset Changes to Finally Overcome Anxiety as a Lawyer (even if you’ve already tried everything)

Tuesday, November 15, 2022 @ 10:00am PST/1:00pm EST

Register here.

CONTACT

Email: info@fromanxietytoease.com

Instagram: @anxiety.therapists.for.lawyers

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/from-anxiety-to-ease/

Website: https://fromanxietytoease.com/

FREE DOWNLOAD

How Lawyers Calm Their Anxious Brains: A guide to help lawyers relax before, during and after social events (including job interviews!)

Let's connect!

Web: www.chiarawoods.com

SPICE UP your inbox! Sign up here for hot tips, tools, and exclusive offers on my upcoming events, courses, and programs!

IG: @soulicitorpodcast

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Ryan Spence is a life coach, motivational speaker, and author of The Triple C Method®️ Gain Clarity, Boost Confidence & Build Courage So You Can Live Life Lit. A former BigLaw lawyer, Ryan now helps lawyers & corporate professionals gain greater clarity, confidence, and courage so they can live life lit!

In this episode we talk about:

• Ryan’s professional journey starting with his work in the music business and what led him to law school and eventually to Big Law
• How getting physical (signing up for a box match!) helped him get out of his head and gave him a new challenge to focus on
• Ryan’s new book: The Triple C Method®️.
• The three most important questions to ask oneself when seeking clarity
• Why knowing your “why” is so important
• Why taking action is critical (even before you know what’s going to happen)
• The concept of “courage stacking”
• and so much more!

CONTACT RYAN

Email: hey@iamryanspence.com

Instagram: @iam_ryanspence.com

LinkedIn: /i-am-ryan-spence/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/iam_ryanspence

Website: https://www.iamryanspence.com/

Tune in on your favourite platform and let's dive in!

Chiara

p.s. Spice up your inbox! Sign up here for my never-boring always interesting emails delivered straight to your inbox! It's more fun on the naughty list! Sign up here.

Let's connect!

Web: chiarawoods.com

Instagram: @soulicitorpodcast

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I'm thrilled/ecstatic/absolutely delighted to tell you about the new (LIVE) course I'm teaching on Wednesday evenings in October (2022) called the Discovery Lab!

It's for my peeps who feel ready for a change but aren’t quite sure yet of the what/when/how or maybe even why. (You're just READY).

In the early stages of any career transition you need guidance, support, connection with people who GET it, freedom to explore ideas, and a reminder to laugh every once in a while (because things can get overwhelming sometimes)! And that's why I created this course!

(p.s. Even if you don't join me for the Lab, this episiode is JAM PACKED with goodies/insights/guidance to help you on your career transition journey!)

COURSE DETAILS

Wednesday Oct 5/12/19/26 @ 6:00pm (PST) via Zoom

Only $89 to register! Limited spaces available.

https://chiarawoods.com/discovery-lab

OVERVIEW

In the Lab, we're putting on our lab coats and getting curious about ourselves, our dreams + what we want next for our lives!

By the end you will:
💫 Start seeing what's possible (hint: a lot!)
💫 Feel more present + less worried about the future
💫 Stop negative thoughts from holding you back
💫 Meet other ah-mazing women (like you!) on a similar path
💫 Feel motivated as f*ck! 🤭

If you're a little bit salty + a little bit spiritual ... I invite you to join me! It's going to be a party you don't want to miss! 🕺🏻

Tune in here or on your favourite podcast platform and let’s dive in!

Let's connect!

Web: www.chiarawoods.com

Instagram: @soulicitorpodcast

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Megan Smiley is the founder of Megan Smiley Coaching and the host of The Lawyer’s Escape Pod.

She helps lawyers and other professionals who feel called to something more creative and purposeful ditch the grind and design their own heart-centered businesses.

Before taking the leap into entrepreneurship, Megan practiced corporate law and worked for a law school as the Director of International Programs.  

Megan’s mission is to help people who feel stuck in unfulfilling professions launch businesses that align with their life vision, natural talents, and values.

In her free time, you’ll find Megan traveling the world. She’s been to 58 countries and counting.

In this episode we discuss:

• Megan’s evolving professional journey
• Work life integration v.s. work life balance
• How not to “build another prison” for yourself (from a career perspective)
• The importance of aligning with our true values
• The benefits of a growth mindset when exploring career options
• Perfectionism and shame (and how self-compassion can be an antidote!)
• Taking a heart-centred approach to creating a business and/or career

Tune in here or on your favourite podcast platform and let’s dive in!

Let's connect! 

Web: www.chiarawoods.com

Instagram: @soulicitorpodcast

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Join me for a fascinating conversation with Susan Stenson about healing, the mind/body connection, death, grieving, chronic pain, stress reduction, and the modality of BodyTalk!

Susan wears many hats: BodyTalk practitioner, poet, artist, gardener, Mama and Nana.

Having spent forty years in Victoria, Canada, she now lives in the Cowichan Valley with her husband, the novelist, Bill Stenson.

Through BodyTalk, Susan supports her clients in discovering the open door that is their very own intelligent heart.

Susan's website: www.bodytalkvictoria.com

Resources mentioned in the episode:

Reiki Can't Possibly Work. So Why Does It? By Jordan Kisner. The Atlantic (April 2020).

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/04/reiki-cant-possibly-work-so-why-does-it/606808/

Wikipedia: Quantum Entanglement

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_entanglement

Study: Evaluation of BodyTalk, a novel mind-body medicine, for chronic pain treatment (UCLA, 2014)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uRIqGtvc9KEOwyONnJNDCEmHpu10A22Y/view?usp=sharing

Can't wait for you to dive in!

xo Chiara

Let's connect!

Web: chiarawoods.com

Insta: @soulicitorpodcast

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Ceremonial Artist, Clinical Hypnotherapist, mother of two, and lover of the Every-Day Sacred. Alli’s journey into her spiritual quest started with her love of the creative arts and acting, and then led to her being a hatha and kundalini yoga teacher for over 15 years. Alli is always looking at ways to weave together healing modalities and the arts to help others connect with their inner worlds and expand their sense of play and belonging.

Alli runs her own Hypnotherapy studio in Comox, B.C., Canada, as well as offering monthly workshops and nature based rituals. Alli most recently created the “Dream Temple Sessions” in which she combines Lunar Kundalini and Breathwork with a guided Hypnosis Journey.

In this epsideo we disuss:

• Alli’s professional journey which includes past experience as an actor, financial advisor, and yoga teacher
• How she weaves her past experiences together into her current work
• Healing our relationships with money – how Ali consciously and powerfully shifted her money stories and moved toward ease and joy
• Her hypnotherapy practice including what hypnotherapy is and how it can be used as a tool for greater expansion
• Alli’s work as a ceremonial artist and the healing that can be found in bringing people together
• What gives Alli a sense of meaning and purpose
• Her guidance for people going through a transition

Alli’s website: www.allimaryepp.com

Instagram: @allimaryepp

Let's Connect!

Web: www.chiarawoods.com

Insta: @soulicitorpodcast

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Join me for my fascinating conversation with Lauren Kay, a Human Design Guide who’s passionate about human potential and helping people align with their unique gifts and strengths. Lauren is a former Big Law lawyer now senior legal consultant and advocate of the WFA (work from anywhere) movement. She’s all about aligning with freedom, passion, and purpose at work and in business.

Lauren is also the creator of the Legally Different podcast, a hub for soul-fuelled success where she has conversations with pioneering legal humans.

In this episode we talk about:

• Her path from law to her current business
• The “soul nudges” she chose not to ignore and why
• The flawed logic in “living for retirement”
• How she built a life that aligns with her values

All things Human Design:

• What it is and how it can help us in our professional and personal lives
• The key aspects of the five main archetypes: Generators, Manifesting Generators, Projectors, Manifestors, and Reflectors
• How it can help us develop a personal strategy and shed light on how we make decisions
• My session with Lauren and my archetype (Manifesting Generator!)
• What it means to be “creative”

Links

Find Your Human Design Type: www.mybodygraph.com

Schedule a session with Lauren: Human Design booking link

Lauren’s Instagram: @legallydifferent

Email: hello@legallydifferent.com

Tune in here or on your favourite podcast platform and let’s dive in!

Let's connect!

Web: https://chiarawoods.com/podcast/

Instagram: @soulicitorpodcast

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Join me for a deeply inspiring and insightful conversation with Dr. Michelle Choi, a board certified Internal Medicine Doctor who left her traditional career to become a podcaster. For most of her career, Dr. Michelle worked in the inpatient setting as a hospital-based specialist and in the primary care setting for the last four years, when she decided she didn’t want to lie anymore. She believes that the way in which healthcare is structured in the United States, the primary focus of healthcare is not health, but the business our health creates.

Dr. Michelle feels we are not doing enough to get to the underlying causes of what is causing illness. And after years of frustration, she decided to leave the career she’s worked her whole life for, in search of what contributes to our feeling whole. Dr. Michelle is the host of Lost or Found Podcast. You can find her at doctorlostorfound.com.

In this episode we discuss:

• What led Michelle to ask herself if she was willing to die for her job
• Michelle’s career transition journey and what she’s learned
• Telling comfortable lies and uncomfortable truths with your life
• Michelle’s most excellent mantra that got her through
• How she processed her anger and her grief after leaving her career
• Michelle’s advice for people thinking about making a career transition
• Near death experiences, what we can learn from them, and her beliefs about dying

Books mentioned in the episode:

Many Lives Many Masters: The True Story of a Prominent Psychiatrist, His Young Patient, and the Past-Life Therapy That Changed Both Their Lives by Brian Weiss.

Dying to Be Me: My Journey from Cancer, to Near Death, to True Healing by Anita Moorjani.

To Heaven and Back: A Doctor’s Extraordinary Account of Her Death, Heaven, Angels, and Life Again: A True Story by Mary Neal.

Dodging Energy Vampires: An Empath’s Guide to Evading Relationships That Drain You and Restoring Your Health and Power by Christiane Northrup.

The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz.

Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing by Bronnie Ware.

Let's connect!

Web: https://chiarawoods.com/podcast/

Instagram: @soulicitorpodcast

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Perfect is an empty but enticing promise. Unfortunately, in our pursuit of perfection we often focus on everyone else and abandon ourselves in the process.

I often think of an image of a person walking a tight rope because for many of us that’s how it feels when we’re in “perfectionist mode” – walking a thin unsteady rope across a vast emptiness below.

This is part two of our conversation on perfectionism. In this episode we’re talking about mindfulness-based tools, strategies, resources, and exercises to help address it.

Topics covered:

• Fixed vs growth mindset
• The value of self-compassion
• Cultivating “shame resilience”
• Helpful tools including: meditation + mindfulness, gratefulness, values alignment and the serenity prayer
• Exercises and journal prompts
• Tons of helpful resources

Resources mentioned in the episode:

Lawyer Learning Lab: My new platform for offering online professional wellness courses for lawyers! All courses are accredited for Continuing Professional Development credit in BC + Ontario in Canada (with more countries + states to come!). My first course “Strategies to Identify + Address Perfectionism” is available now.

Visit the show notes on my website to receive a free PDF with tools, strategies, exercises, and resources mentioned in the podcast!

Sign up for my weekly newsletter to get episodes (and more!) delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up here.

• Please subscribe and leave a little love over on Apple Podcasts so more people can discover the podcast. I appreciate your support!

Let's connect!

Web: chiarawoods.com/podcast

Instagram: @soulicitorpodcast

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The path to perfection has no end and no destination. We never arrive. There is no perfect place, perfect job, perfect body, perfect relationship, or perfect person.

In this episode, we're talking about one of my favourite topics - how to deal with our inner-perfectionist!

We discuss different aspects of perfectionism and how it's deeply rooted in our desire to stay safe. Once we understand that, we can learn to have compassion for ourselves.

Topics covered:

• What perfectionism is and what it isn't (hint: it's not about having high standards!)
• Three common types of perfectionism
• Root causes
• Common behaviours
• Impacts - both professional and personal

In the next episode (Part 2) we'll dive into mindfulness-based tools, strategies, and exercises to help address it!

Resources mentioned in the episode:

Lawyer Learning Lab: My new platform for offering online professional wellness courses! All courses are accredited for Continuing Professional Development credit in BC + Ontario in Canada (with more countries to come!). My first course "Strategies to Identify + Address Perfectionism" is available now.

Brene Brown TED Talks: The Power of Vulnerability and Listening to Shame. Highly recommend!

The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are by Brené Brown.

When Perfect Isn't Good Enough: Strategies for Coping with Perfectionism: Martin Antony and Richard Swinson.

• Sign up for my weekly newsletter to get episodes delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up here!

• Please don’t forget to subscribe and leave a little love over on Apple Podcasts so more people can discover the podcast. I sincerely appreciate your support!

Let's connect!

Web: chiarawoods.com/podcast

Instagram: @soulicitorpodcast

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One of the most helpful tools I've discovered when it comes to helping people figure out their purpose, set a vision for the future, or connect to their wise inner-sage is this guided visualization.

This exercise offers an opportunity to meet your future self, gain some valuable guidance, and ask some important questions.

This recording is adapted slightly from the original version by the Coaches Training Institute.

Helpful tips:

• Find a quiet comfortable space where you can fully relax.
• Have a pen + paper nearby in case you want to write down some notes afterwards.
• Approach the exercise with a sense of curiosity.
• Try not to judge the messages from your future self. They may make more sense once you've had some time to reflect!

Questions for Reflection:

What was the overall essence/energy of your future self?

What surprised you the most?

Based on this experience, would you change anything you're doing now?

What was the most important thing you learned?

Please note: this visualization uses female pronouns.

• Sign up for my weekly newsletter to get episodes delivered straight to your inbox plus I'll share some exclusive content that's just for my amazing community! Sign up here!

• Please don’t forget to subscribe and leave a little love over on Apple Podcasts so more people can discover the podcast. I sincerely appreciate your support!

Let's connect!

Web: chiarawoods.com/podcast

Instagram: @soulicitorpodcast

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We're talking about all things purpose with a capital P!

What is it? Why is it important? How can it benefit us (including the surprising impact knowing our purpose can have on our health!)

And of course, how to heck do we figure it out?!

Join me to learn helpful tips, tools, and strategies for figuring out answers to these big questions!

Resources mentioned in the episode:

Study on the Association Between Life Purpose and Mortality Among US Adults Older Than 50 Years (2019) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31125099/

Study on Purpose in Life and Its Relationship to All-Cause Mortality and Cardiovascular Events: A Meta-Analysis (2015) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26630073/

Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl.

Finding Your Own North Star: Claiming the Life You Were Meant to Live by Martha Beck.

• Sign up for my weekly newsletter to get episodes delivered straight to your inbox plus I'll share some exclusive content that's just for my amazing community! Sign up here!

• Please don’t forget to subscribe and leave a little love over on Apple Podcasts so more people can discover the podcast. I sincerely appreciate your support!

Let's connect!

Web: chiarawoods.com/podcast

Instagram: @soulicitorpodcast

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Welcome to the trailer for the Soulicitor Podcast! 

Join me, Chiara Woods, former corporate lawyer turned coach as I take a deep dive to discuss all things related to career transition, professional development, personal development, spirituality, health and wellness, meditation, mindfulness, hypnotherapy, overcoming mindset blocks (including perfectionism + imposter syndrome), pushing past limiting beliefs, and so much more.

Tune in to listen to inspiring conversations with thought leaders, experts, and regular-people-being-awesome (including me!) for tools, resources, and nuggets of wisdom to help you turninspiration into action. 

We'll also explore what it looks like when the path towards greater meaning and purpose requires leaving your job or your chosen profession altogether. 

You’ll hear from guests who made the leap including how and perhaps most importantly, why they did it. 

Half pragmatist and half spiritual seeker, join me as I explore these topics in a practical way to help you thrive no matter where you are in your journey!

Let's connect!

Web: chiarawoods.com/podcast

Instagram: @soulicitorpodcast

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I could never have imagined the twists and turns that my career would take including where that law degree of mine would take me! It's been a ride! And I've learned a TON of valuable lessons along the way on my career journey. Today I'm going to share more about my story and my top three tips when making a career change. It's everything I would have told my younger self, way back when!

• Sign up for my weekly newsletter to get episodes delivered straight to your inbox plus I'll share some exclusive content that's just for my amazing community! Sign up here!

• Please don’t forget to subscribe and leave a little love over on Apple Podcasts so more people can discover the podcast. I sincerely appreciate your support!

Let's connect!

Web: chiarawoods.com/podcast

Instagram: @soulicitorpodcast

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I could never have imagined the twists and turns that my career would take including where that law degree of mine would take me!

It's been a ride! And I've learned a TON of valuable lessons along the way on my career journey.

Today I'm going to share more about my story and my top three tips when making a career change.

It's everything I would have told my younger self, way back when!

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Join me, Chiara Woods, former corporate lawyer turned coach to take a deep dive to discuss all things related to career transition, health + wellness, meditation, mindfulness, mindset, personal development, spirituality, and claiming the life you were meant to live.

Tune in on your favourite podcast platform and let’s dive in!

• Watch my FREE Masterclass, Overcoming Perfectionism So You Can Have a Career + Life You Love for simple but powerful strategies to overcome perfectionism so you can get off the hamster wheel of negative thoughts and closer to the career of your dreams! Get your on-demand class here.

• Please don’t forget to subscribe and leave a little love over on Apple Podcasts so more people can discover the podcast. I appreciate your support!

View Details

Welcome to the trailer for the Soulicitor Podcast! 

Join me, Chiara Woods, former corporate lawyer turned coach as I take a deep dive to discuss all things related to career transition, professional development, personal development, spirituality, health and wellness, meditation, mindfulness, hypnotherapy, overcoming mindset blocks (including perfectionism + imposter syndrome), pushing past limiting beliefs, and so much more.

Tune in to listen to inspiring conversations with thought leaders, experts, and regular-people-being-awesome (including me!) for tools, resources, and nuggets of wisdom to help you turninspiration into action. 

We'll also explore what it looks like when the path towards greater meaning and purpose requires leaving your job or your chosen profession altogether. 

You’ll hear from guests who made the leap including how and perhaps most importantly, why they did it. 

Half pragmatist and half spiritual seeker, join me as I explore these topics in a practical way to help you thrive no matter where you are in your journey!

LET'S CONNECT! chiarawoods.com