Let's Talk Perspective: Recent Episodes
Reakwon Jones/ Stephanie Calderon/ Jonathan Crawford
Learning, Growing, and Achieving. That is the #1 goal of this podcast!
We aim to bring real authentic conversation to the podcast platform. We look forward to not only picking each other's minds on different topics but also the mind's of the guests that we bring on. Creating a space free of judgment, open, and comfortable so that we can all be ourselves and truly experience the value of conversation. Conversation that allows you to question yourself, find your voice, your values, and the lens that fits you and your vision for the way you want your life to be!
We look forward to hearing from you! Be Great!
At times others see qualities and potential in us that we have not seen yet, just as we see sometimes see it in our friends or family. The idea is not to tell each other what to do, but to cultivate conversation that may allow someone to walk into the qualities that we see. In this episode we go into depth about raising consciousness and confidence through relationships, friendships, and communities.
In this episode we discuss the relationship between confidence and arrogance. We tend to think that they are different from one another and fail to see where they intermingle and relate. Tune in with us as we dive deeper into these two!
Notes:
0:00- Intro/Confidence vs. Arrogance
5:00- Expressing confidence
7:30- How do you cultivate confidence?
12:27- Arrogance as a projection
14:51- Closing/Outro
There is a lot of value that lies within the activities that we do on a day-to-day basis. In this episode we sit down to discuss that value and how to make sure that we are using the things that we do as a tool for continuous elevation and growth.
Notes:
0:00- Intro/ Another side of people pleasing
4:15- Using our activities as a tool for elevation
6:15- What is your self-talk when trying to get focused?
10:09- Can you self-generate intense presence?
17:10- Closing/Outro
In this episode we speak about the many aspects of a relationship, be it romantic, or friendship, or familial. Relationships have proved to be a natural inclination for us as humans and they are not going away. Tune in with us as we speak about our experiences with relationships/friendships and growing outlooks thus far!
Notes:
0:00- Intro/ Power of nurturing relationships
3:40- When did your vision of a relationship change?
14:47- Relationships as a vessel to grow
23:38- Closing
It is sad to say that you may not get everything you ever wanted in the way that you seen yourself receiving it, but the great news is, you can still achieve everything you want, it may just look a little different. In this episode we talk about the many different rejections we have dealt with along the way and how we have been able to reframe rejection into something usable to move forward. Rejection is not opposite from success; it is a part of success that can serve as the light to future successes for yourself and for others.
Notes:
0:00- Intro
1:06- Facing rejection
4:20- Learning from and navigating through rejection
9:47- Learning to not tie your self esteem and confidence with rejection
18:10- Accepting what is in front of you and not getting attached to ideas
27:52- How would you break down non-attachment to a young kid aspiring to be great in a specific field?
34:50- Realizing you have the answers to your own questions
39:03- What is something that you feared in the past, but now you excel at or are continuing to overcome?
42:05- Outro/Closing
We live in the magnificent time of all day news, social media, and just constant stimulation. Now, no one is saying this is a “bad” thing, the question is, “Is there a such thing as too much external stimulation?” In this episode we explore this question with our own personal experience and some of the methods we use when we start to feel that it may be time for a break. We go from “social media fasting” to the deeper subject of illuminating our most authentic selves.
Notes:
0:00- Intro/social media
1:24- Social media fast
8:00- Benefits of a social media fast
17:20- Using social media as a brand/expression of yourself
23:25- Doing what is best for yourself
29:34- What image are you portraying and what are you living?
32:15- Who are you beyond your roles?
36:10- How do you want to be remembered?
40:28- Outro/Closing
Compassion is a noble characteristic to claim as a part of your character, but are you truly applying it in the way you interact with others? In this episode we speak about being present and what it looks like in its simplest form, and how compassion has not only assisted ourselves but also others in experiencing the everlasting present moment.
Notes:
0:00- Intro/Compassion
4:24- How do you practice presence?
7:10- Detaching from expectations and reactions
12:59- Moving into compassion
20:02- How do you get to know yourself?
27:38- Not letting external happenings consume you
32:25- A weekly challenge
32:50- Outro/Closing
Starting something new can be daunting and intimidating, but if we are to evolve and progress, we must persevere through these feelings. In this episode we talk about some of the feelings and anxiety we had prior to launching this podcast, and how since, we have learned to transcend these feelings and endeavor into new things without anxiety running the show.
Notes:
0:00- Intro
0:08- What is it about starting something new that ignites anxiety?
6:50- Learning to let go of “What could happen”
11:26- How do you talk yourself through an anxious situation?
18:37- Shedding off limiting phrases
21:17- Are you as critical of other people as you are yourself?
25:25- How do you start something new with out letting anxiety take you over?
27:20- Outro/ Closing
In this episode hosts: Reakwon Jones, Stephanie Calderon, and Jonathan Crawford welcome Li back to the show for a part two! Li gives us a deeper look into her journey into poetry and how it has helped her develop into a person she is proud to be. Within this episode we speak about the throws of seeking external validation and how we, as individuals can begin to cultivate a place for internal validation to bloom.
Notes:
0:00- Intro
0:35- Li’s journey into poetry
6:04- Li on joining a group focused on poetry
8:57- Seeking external validation
20:07- Li on developing internal validation
23:45- Are we truly alone?
30:17- Li on exercises she practiced to decipher who she really is
35:25- Outro/ Closing
In this episode hosts: Reakwon Jones, Stephanie Calderon, and Jonathan Crawford sit down and discuss their takes on motivation and discipline. How do these two different acts play a part in everyday life? Where do they meet? Motivation is everywhere; television, social media, friends, and multiple forms of in-person advertisement. What catches our eye is the result of what someone has worked to attain, but what we miss is the effort and tenacity that went into getting there. How do we sustain motivation? Where does discipline come in?
Notes:
0:00- Intro
0:15- Motivation vs. Discipline
3:54- Is motivation just as necessary as discipline?
8:56- The significance of motivation
10:38- Connecting your why to your motivation/ Following through on the promises you make to yourself
16:52- Not comparing your path to other’s
17:51- How important is self-discipline in everyday life?
21:42- Call to action
22:10- Closing/Outro
In this episode hosts: Reakwon Jones, Stephanie Calderon, and Jonathan Crawford sits down to discuss passions and self-mastery. Living in a time where work life balance seems unrealistic, people are being moved by the notion to follow their passion. How do we know when it is truly the right time to follow our passion? Is a person able to have multiple passions? How does self-mastery fit into the fold of knowing which passion to follow and which to not? Tune in with us as we dive deeper into this very prevalent topic.
Notes:
0:00- Intro
5:57- Does a person have multiple passions? Or do they all relate to one singular passion?
8:54- When do you know to keep your passion as a hobby or to pursue it as a career?
13:10- Learning to not identify with your job or passion
15:08- How do you find joy in a career that may not be aligned with your passion?
18:51- Self Mastery
23:35- What is Self-Doubt?
27:14- How do you know when you are pushing too much?
31:37- Final question
32:48- Closing/Outro
In this episode hosts: Reakwon Jones, Stephanie Calderon, and Jonathan Crawford sit down with poet and coffee enthusiast Li and discuss what it means to forgive and let go. This could be centered around forgiving others or forgiving yourself as you begin to shed off the layers of a past Self. We discuss how Li addresses her inner child and learns from it to help her persevere in her life now.
Notes:
0:00- Intro
0:30- An opening poem from Li
3:43- Background on the opening poem
5:00- Realizing you are not the person you want to be and taking the first step in changing that- From Li
8:24- Li on what made her realize she was still holding on to a past form of Self
11:12- Closing the door on a victim mentality and doing the work to become better
14:22- How do you know you are being a good person?
19:28- Li on tapping into her own wisdom to face her inner-battles
23:07- Filling the void
29:42- Li on filling her cup to put herself in position to give
32:28- Reakwon on why he deleted the word “bored” out of his vocabulary
37:30- Li realizing she was a people pleaser and how she navigated her way out of that
42:01- How Li talks herself through her anxiety
47:30- Closing/Outro
In this episode hosts: Reakwon Jones, Stephanie Calderon, and Jonathan Crawford sit down with Chandra Ahrendt and discuss her journey from being physically assaulted, her mother passing away, and getting into martial arts all in short span of time. She speaks boldly and courageously about what it is like to turn your trauma into strength.
Notes:
0:00- Intro
1:00- Chandra’s experience coming into Muay Thai after physical assault
6:47- Chandra on stepping into a mentor role
9:17- Learning from your losses/Taking coaching
13:13- The origin of Chandra’s work ethic
15:56- Chandra on her near-death experience
17:10- Getting your mind prepared for a fight and balancing your emotions
18:54- How do you pour into your work ethic?
22:29- Learning to appreciate rest as a part of hard work
26:23- Questioning yourself and asking the question- “What makes me happy?”
27:44- Chandra on her highs and lows within martial arts
36:29- Making conscious time for personal development
45:21- Chandra on sacrifices she had to make and cutting out excess baggage
1:00:16- Temporariness of emotions
1:05:57- Closing/Outro
As we continue to develop personally and shed layers that no longer fit what we are growing into, are we suppose to abandon even the things that did bring us joy before just because it may not fit what we see ourselves as now?
In this episode hosts: JC, Kwon, and Steph sit down and discuss what it means to express your inner child. Some times as we become heavily more involved in the adult aspects of life we can tend to abandon the joy we felt as a child and become entrenched in the monotony of adulthood. Is there a way that prior parts of yourself can coexist with who you are becoming today?
NOTES:
0:00- Taking yourself to serious
1:50- Letting the inner child out
3:28- What is something you do to express your inner child?
6:34- Being conscious of who you surround yourself with
7:56- Chasing success?
10:41- I want to be successful at life
11:36- How do you want to be remembered?
16:40- Choose your version of success
18:40- Would you rather be a hamster sized rhinoceros or a rhinoceros sized hamster?
20:57- Give yourself permission to express yourself
21:55- Outro
Our very own Muay Thai fighter, Stephanie Calderon lets us dig deep into the mindset, the physical strain, and the sacrifice involved in becoming a competitive Muay Thai fighter!
In this episode hosts: JC, Kwon, and Steph sit down to discuss what it looks like to drop your ego and learn something completely new, how life design can work and help you live a life that you envision, and the importance of doing things that help you obtain presence!
NOTES:
0:00- Intro
0:50- The process and mindset of preparing for a fight
5:00- Journey into fighting
8:22- Realizing Improvement
9:19- Dropping your ego
15:35- Responding to pressure
18:38- Response to fight cancellation
22:15- How much of the sport is mental versus physical
25:38- Where is confidence coming from
27:10- Becoming present
32:00- Life Design/Taking control over your life
35:50- Challenge for the audience
36:15- Outro