Blissfinders: Exploring the Human Journey: Recent Episodes
Calli Ringsby & Shelby Alexander
Exploring the human journey and the stories of those that are forging their path to a life filled with bliss. We will feature live guests, including Blissen guides, and dive deep into their personal stories. Hosted by Blissen Co-Founders Calli Ringsby & Shelby Alexander.
Blissfinders welcomes special guest Ryan Cotton, owner and stylist at the Village Parlor in Detroit, Michigan. Ryan details his journey into hairstyling and the evolution of his career, bouncing between high-profile clients in both New York and Michigan. Ryan describes the highly human aspect of styling and how, ultimately, connecting with his clients is what makes it all worth it.
Blissfinders welcomes special guest Candace Mary Griffin, Founder of Candace Mary Interiors, home staging and interior design company based in Detroit, MI. Candace describes her leap of faith into the design industry -- following her joy and moving to Chicago at the age of 23 to begin her journey. What she lacked in formal training, she quickly made up for with grit and determination. Piece-by-piece (literally), Candace grew her own staging and interior design business from the ground up and now is recognized on a national scale for her design expertise. In this episode, Candace details her day-to-day battle with imposter syndrome and the ups-and-downs of entrepreneurship, underpinned by her unwillingness to give up on what makes her truly happy. Follow Candace on instagram and keep up with her latest projects.
Blissfinders welcomes special guest Katie Bruzzone, creative genius and student of the human experience. Katie was a student-athlete at UC-Berkeley, turned graduate of Parson's School of Design, now turned Co-Founder of Beastie, a company designed to bring emotional wellness and education to our world. Katie describes how she turned to art and expression as coping mechanisms in times of deep pain, confusion, and trauma. With her zest for life and steadfast belief that everything happens for a reason, Katie recounts her ability to find purpose in the pain and how in the darkest places she was able to find the brightest light. Fast-forward to the present day, Katie, along with her two co-founders, is building Beastie to show the world the wisdom that resides in our shadows.
Blissfinders welcomes special guest Kayla Powers, textile artist and master craftswoman. In this episode, we explore Kayla's commitment to her craft and to her community with a steadfast knowingness of what matters most to her. Majoring in Art History, Kayla began her journey as a natural dyer and weaver upon graduation when she traveled around the world and developed a strong affinity for living in symbiosis: both as a member of the community she immersed herself in and in creating art from the natural environment. Kayla brought that way of life with her to Detroit, where she now resides, and prides herself on serving her community and illuminating the beauty and softness of the great city with her art. Follow Kayla on Instagram at @salt.textile.studios and check out her website at https://www.salttextilestudios.com/shop.
Blissfinders welcomes special guest Nicole Love to kick off season two. In this episode, we explore Nicole's long-winding journey to becoming an energy healing practitioner. Nicole began seeing energies and angels at a young age, and despite losing connectedness to her gifts throughout adolescence, she regained touch with them in a Native American studies class. This sparked a desire to better understand her experiences as a child, marking the beginning of her conscious engagement with energy. Nicole details her early experiences as an empath, struggling with loneliness and depression, and how her outlook on life has evolved as she started living less for others and more for herself.
In this episode, hosts Calli Ringsby and Shelby Alexander discuss the production hiatus announce the future of Blissfinders and why this podcast matters.
Blissfinders welcomes special guest Mya Jones: a single mom, Executive Assistant at an Alphabet company, meditation practitioner and teacher, sports fanatic, avid learner, and human being. Mya describes her journey into meditation and Buddhist studies as a means of escaping the suffering of chronic back pain and becoming an empty-nester. A woman with many interests, Mya dives into how she relies on her practice to maintain sanity amidst the craziness of simultaneously being a mother, working in the corporate realm, studying and teaching meditation and Buddhist Philosophy, staying active, and living in the city that never sleeps.
Blissfinders welcomes special guest Nada Mesqui: coach, student, teacher, mom, partner, embodiment practitioner and guide, friend, sister... (the list goes on). Nada describes her Life's Purpose as living "a felt life" and describes her journey to trust and surrender to every moment in creating one for herself and others. Nada explains how embodiment and movement have been incredible tools throughout her life in helping her to understand and release her own emotions through truly connecting with the body and its wisdom.
Blissfinders welcomes special guest Johanna Lundgren: parenting coach, teen coach, mentor, mom, chef, and South African native turned resident of Sweden. In this episode, we dive into Johanna's realization that parenting, and being a good parent, is the most important job you can do. The anti-racism movement and COVID-19 have stirred up many emotions in all of us and Johanna describes her process of finding bliss in the small things to return to a place of compassion, so that she can be more effective as an activist, mother, and coach.
Blissfinders welcomes special guest Dalia Al Mahmood: citizen of the world, coach, mom-to-be, and much more. In this episode, Dalia discusses how her desire to be free from anxiety sparked her journey to become more present in the moment resulting in greater clarity for herself and in turn, for others. As a resident of Kuwait, Dalia describes how the anti-racism movement in America has inspired her to step up as a leader in her own community and to shine a light on oppression of all forms.
Blissfinders welcomes special guest Erin Stahmer: dancer, coach, private equity bad-ass, future dog mom, and more. In this episode, Erin tells us about her journey to defining her life's purpose and how she's working to bring her full self in every...
Blissfinders welcomes special guest Sam Allen: poet, coach, creative queen, and much more. In this episode, we explore how Sam has followed the signs and cultivated a life full of abundant creativity and purpose.
Blissfinders welcomes special guest Shelby Alexander: leadership coach, guide, entrepreneur, and artist. In this episode, we dive deep into Shelby's life's purpose, her path thus far, and her passion for leadership at the individual level.