voicelessonspodcast.com: Recent Episodes
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Deciding the objects we surround ourselves with in our homes can be a journey of self-exploration. In this Lesson on What We Keep, Jean Lin, Founder and Curator of New York City design gallery and studio Colony, speaks about her new book, what designers make, what they collect and understanding the creative power of collecting.
A Lesson On What We Keep with Jean LinDeciding the objects we surround ourselves with in our homes can be a journey of self-exploration. In this Lesson on What We Keep, Jean Lin, Founder and Curator of New York City design gallery and studio Colony, speaks about here new book, what designers make, what they collect and understanding the creative power of collecting.
Jean Lin is a New York City–based design entrepreneur and the founder of the downtown design gallery and studio Colony. Trained as a fashion designer, she has professional experience as a fashion designer, an interior designer, editor, writer, trend forecaster, educator, and curator. She has served as part-time faculty at her alma mater, Parsons School of Design, and as a guest lecturer and critic at Rhode Island School of Design, Pratt Institute, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, and Tama Art University in Tokyo.
The daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, Jean came of age in the eighties and nineties in a middle-class Asian household in Massachusetts suburbia. Design, style, and aesthetics were not a consideration in her home. Family, integrity, and hard work were. After a few slightly rebellious years, Jean finally came to understand the power and merit of the latter. Only after she embraced her heritage of values has Jean been able to fully explore who she truly is and what she has to offer the world: finding and sharing the substance behind beauty beyond what is most readily prescribed.ABOUT COLONYFounded in 2014 by Jean Lin, Colony is a cooperative gallery, design studio and strategy firm with the singular aim to celebrate independent design and support the community who creates it.Colony Consult provides creative direction and design services for design studios, architecture firms, real estate developers and global manufacturers. The team utilizes design, marketing research, PR, and content creation to better articulate clients’ position in the American market.Colony, the designers’ co-op, is a community of independent furniture, lighting, textiles and objects designers coming together on a New York City stage to celebrate American design with an international audience. The gallery is located at 196 W Broadway, New York, NY 10013.TOPICS DISCUSSED IN “WHAT WE KEEP”* Jean’s earliest memory of being creative. * How Jean’s family influences her worth Ethic. * Why Hurricane Sandy is part of Colony’s origin story. * When and why Jean founded Colony. * The inspiration and editor of Jean’s new book What We Keep. * The three categories of people Jean wanted to feature in the book and why. * How creative work often has its own life. * What makes creative work commercial. * The evolving definitions of feminine and masculine. * Why Jean agrees with the concept of feminine leadership. * Jean’s “first baby” and what her second baby Juno have taught her about femininity.
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If you’ve ever shown up in a room, boardroom or otherwise, on a job site or at a conference where people don’t expect to see a woman like you, raise your hand. If you’re Generation X or older, it’s pretty much par for the course.
Voice Lessons Podcast Creator and Co-Producer Kim Kuhteubl leads “A Lesson on Owning The Room.”
Listen To A Lesson on Owning the Room with Kim Kuhteubl:Topics Discussed in A Lesson On Owning The Room With Kim Kuhteubl:1. You are an F.O.D. (First Only Different). That’s what Shonda Rhimes, the most powerful woman in television calls women like you and now that’s a subject in universities. You can also get a degree in Influencer marketing if you choose and you know who dominates that industry, women too.
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People Can’t See What You Think.
Overestimating the degree your thoughts are transparent to others is another cognitive bias a called the “illusion of transparency”. So as much as you may feel like it when you’re anxious, other people cannot see what you think. -
People can’t see what you think and a lot of the time, they don’t care. It’ why Don Miguel Ruiz says, Don’t Take Anything Personally in the four agreements. You are, at least you should be, the center of your own universe but not everyone else’s.
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You may feel like target sometimes.
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Write Your Own Narrative.
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Let Them Underestimate You.
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You are being used.
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In this Lesson On Owning Your Own Narrative, visionary architect and advocate, Pascale Sablan talks about how a pivotal moment in her early days studying architecture called her to her larger purpose of uplifting the voices of women and people of color, not only in the field, but beyond the build environment.
A Lesson On Owning Your Own Narrative with Pascale SablanMeet Pascale Sablan, a visionary architect with an impressive track record of transforming the built environment. Pascale has been recognized as one of the most influential architects of her generation, with a practice characterized by a commitment to excellence, innovation, and sustainability.
BIOPascale has been recognized as one of the most influential architects of her generation, with a practice characterized by a commitment to excellence, innovation, and sustainability. She currently serves as the NOMA Global President and Chief Executive Officer at Adjaye Associates, New York Studio in charge of all operations, whilst continuing to lead efforts for architectural projects, community engagement and business development.
Pascale is not only an accomplished architect but an advocate dedicated to addressing disparities in her field. She founded Beyond the Built Environment, empowering women and BIPOC designers. As the Global President of the National Organization of Minority Architects, she’s a trailblazer, being the fifth woman to hold this position in the organization’s 52-year legacy.
Pascale’s advocacy has earned prestigious accolades, including the Architectural League 2021 Emerging Voices award and the 2021 AIA Whitney M. Young Jr. Award. Inducted into the AIA College of Fellows, she’s the youngest African American to receive this honor in its 167-year history. Pascale has received grants from the Graham Foundation and the Architects Foundation for her research and exhibitions.
Her influence extends globally, with lectures at esteemed institutions like RIBA, the United Nations, and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Described as a “powerhouse woman” in the media, her work has been featured in The New York Times, NPR, and Forbes, and she was recognized by Oprah’s Future Rising platform. With a Bachelor of Architecture from Pratt Institute and a Master of Science from Columbia University, Pascale Sablan, with her unique perspective, unwavering dedication, and undeniable talent, is set to shape the future of architecture for years to come.
TOPICS DISCUSSED IN “OWNING YOUR OWN NARRATIVE”:* What is Pascale’s earliest memory of being creative? * The lengthy educational journey to becoming an architect * 5% of Black students go into architecture school and only 3% graduate. 7 HBUs creative 65% of the students. * What happened in Pascale’s history of Architecture class and how it cemented her purpose as an advocate * The responsibility of showing up as you are in spaces where you don’t look like everyone else * Architect Magazine’s Erasure of Justin Garrett Moore * Google and it’s definition of great architects * Pascale Sablan’s new book set for release in September * How activism isn’t all always about action, it’s about wholeness
LINKS:
Pascale SablanPascale Sablan is an accomplished architect and advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the field of architecture.
Adjaye AssociatesAdjaye Associates is an award winning architectural and design firm with studios in Accra, London and New York, led by Sir David Adjaye founder and principal architect..
SAY IT LOUD | BEYOND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENTExplore the virtual exhibitions, by clicking each thumbnail. SAY IT LOUD – (wia) Texas San Antonio, TX 2021 SAY IT LOUD(er) – (wia) Texas AIA El Paso El Paso, TX 2022 FEATURED DESIGNERS TESTIMONIALS Yolande DanielsExhibitor “The press surrounding SAY IT LOUD exhibition impacted my practice–specifically the articles in Curbed.
Home Page – NOMA“Take a stand against injustice, use our collective voice, and take action towards a just and better future.”
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In this Lesson On Commitment, Rich Nichols talks about fighting for equal pay for the United States Women’s National soccer team (USWNT). Rich shares insights into what it takes to stand up to the entire US Soccer Federation and why women are just people who get things done without any ego involved.
Rich Nichols is a premier pioneering sports lawyer with decades of experience as a businessperson and lawyer in the sports industry. Along with being the catalyst, architect and leader of the United States Women’s National Soccer Team’s quest for equal pay, Mr. Nichols has represented a plethora of iconic athletes. Notably, Mr. Nichols served as a Deputy City Attorney in San Francisco, CA, practiced law for several years in Silicon Valley at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and in the early 1980s founded, owned and operated a sports marketing company that eventually purchased, revamped and operated the City of San Francisco Marathon before selling it in 1991 to the International Management Group (IMG). Finally, Nichols has considerable experience in broadcast media as a sports and political analyst and provides insights and commentary as a network television pundit on high-profile issues in the news, politics and sports. He resides in Keller, Texas.
All Things Being Equal: The Genesis, Costs and Aftermath of the USWNT’s Equal Pay Battle
Listen To A Lesson on Commitment with Rich Nichols:Topics Discussed with Rich Nichols:* What is Rich’s earliest memory of being creative?
* How Rich’s upbringing cultivated a quality of fearlessness.
* Rich Nichols was a two-time NCAA Division 1 All-American, and in 1982 competed
internationally as a member of the United States Track and Field Team.
* What happened when the Black Panthers came to Rich’s neighborhood.
* Why Rich chose to go to Law School.
* Rich has represented some legendary sports figures including NFL Hall of Fame Wide
* Receiver James Lofton, Olympic Champions Edwin Moses (the best male hurdler of all
time and creator of the Athletes Trust Fund) and Marion Jones, and World Cup and Olympic Champion Hope Solo.
* The process of being hired by the US National Women’s Soccer team.
* How unity is essential in negotiations.
* How to leverage the power of no.
* Why Rich introduced the Pay Equity Act.
* Why commitment is essential to winning any tough negotiation.
* How do men and women use power differently.
* What is Rich’s take on the ways that men and women lead?
* Paycheck Fairness Act has been introduced 13 times over two decades and has still not
passed, how can we tip the balance? intends to expand on provisions included in the
Equal Pay Act of 1963, which made it illegal for employers to pay men and women
unequal wages for performing substantially equal work.
* What Rich thinks the real reason was that the Soccer Federation doesn’t want equal
pay for it’s female players.
* FACTS
* The average MLS (major league men’s soccer) salary is $85K to $650K
* The average WLS salary is $36K to $200K.
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In this Lesson On Mindfulness, Dr. Ellen Langer, shares her profound insights on mindfulness how it enhances women’s leadership. Dr. Langer, known as the “mother of mindfulness,” was the first woman tenured in the Psychology Department at Harvard and has been at the forefront of mindfulness research for over four decades, contributing significantly to our understanding of its benefits.
Dr. Ellen J. Langer is the author of more than two hundred research articles, and thirteen books including the international bestseller Mindfulness; The Power of Mindful Learning; On Becoming An Artist, and Counterclockwise: Mindful Health and the Power of Possibility; The Art of Noticing; and most recently, The Mindful Body: Thinking Our Way to Chronic Health. Among other numerous awards and honors, she is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, three Distinguished Scientist Awards, the Staats Award for Unifying Psychology, and the Liberty Science Genius Award.
Widely known as the “mother of mindfulness” and the “mother of positive psychology,” she has reached millions around the world with her inspirational talks, that explain with humor and clarity the deep impact of her nearly half century of research and how anyone can easily put her method of mindfulness into practice immediately.
A member of the psychology department at Harvard University and a gallery exhibiting painter, she lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her websites is www.ellenlanger@me.com
Listen To A Lesson on Mindfulness with Dr. Ellen LangerTopics Discussed with Dr. Ellen Langer:* Dr. Langer shares how her initial forays into creative work and an accidental plunge into painting opened her eyes to the essence of mindfulness. * What is the difference between mindfulness and meditation? * Dr. Langer articulates how mindfulness transcends the divide between mind and body, proposing that understanding this connection empowers us over our health and well-being. It’s the ultimate self-care. * Dr. Langer discusses the benefits of mindfulness and how mindfulness in leadership can radically transform the way women lead. * Through her research, including studies with chambermaids and elderly men, Dr. Langer illustrates the profound impact of mindfulness for women on physical health and well-being. * What is the easiest way to make a decision? * How do we reframe stress?
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In this Lesson On Doing What You Love, Allison Eden talks about her journey as a celebrated creator in the world of glass mosaics. Allison shares insights into her creative process, the evolution of her career, and how passion drives her success.
Allison Eden has been celebrated as the ‘Lady Gaga of the Tile World,’ a New York City-based glass mosaic artist whose career was sparked by a serendipitous encounter with colorful glass. With a background in fashion design from the Fashion Institute of Technology, Eden has seamlessly woven together her passions for fashion, interior design, and art, creating a unique blend that is both vibrant and unmistakably her own. Her work is known for its exuberant use of color and intricate details, making her one of the most sought-after artists for commercial and residential projects. Her creations have graced the pages of prestigious publications such as Architectural Digest and Elle Décor, and have been commissioned by celebrities like Elton John and Kris Kardashian.
Eden’s journey from fashion design to pioneering in glass mosaics showcases her innovative spirit and dedication to bringing joy and beauty into the world through her art. Her studio in Brooklyn is not just a workspace but a hub of creativity, where every piece crafted is a testament to her belief that life should be lived colorfully and that art is everywhere. Whether through her iconic installations in Bloomingdale’s or her vibrant contributions to community spaces, Eden’s work continues to inspire and captivate, proving that passion, when pursued relentlessly, can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.
A Lesson on Doing What You Love with Allison EdenIn this episode of Voice Lessons, host Kim Kuhteubl talks with renowned mosaic artist Allison Eden about her journey as a celebrated creator in the world of glass mosaics. Allison shares insights into her creative process, the evolution of her career, and how passion drives her success.
Topics Discussed with Allison Eden:* Allison opens up about how each piece of her work is not just art, but a narrative of emotions, stress points, and stories from the day it was created. * Allison shares her earliest memories of being creative, drawing everywhere from her shoes to school desks, and her childhood aspiration to be an artist in New York City. * Discover how Allison transitioned from fashion design to mosaics, initially gluing glass to cardboard in her dorm room, which eventually led to her pioneering work in glass mosaics. * Allison recounts the beginnings of her business, from showcasing her mosaics to navigating her role in the construction world. * Allison speaks to the importance of intuition in her work, highlighting how following her heart rather than the numbers has led to her most successful and beloved designs. * Discussion on whether women lead differently and how gender roles play out in creative industries. * Allison encourages looking beyond the digital world for inspiration and embracing the richness of everyday life. * Allison’s message to women and all aspiring artists is to follow their dreams and be open to where their passions may lead them.
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In this Lesson on Sharing Your Stories, Chicago-born writer and reproductive justice activist Renee Bracey Sherman talks transforming the visibility and representation of people who have had stigmatized experiences. Bracey Sherman shares why it’s so important to share your own story, how you can stand strong in speaking your truth, and how you can embrace the collective hug of support that comes along with joining a movement for change. Because your voice and story matters.
Renee Bracey Sherman has been hailed as the ‘Beyoncé of Abortion Storytelling.’ She’s a Chicago-born, midwest-raised activist, writer and reproductive justice activist committed to the visibility and representation of people who have abortions in media and pop culture. She is among the most vital voices in the elevating the conversation about abortion experiences, and using creative and innovative strategies to shift the conversation centering people of color and other marginalized identities. She’s popularized the phrase “everyone loves someone who had an abortion,” coined ‘abortionsplaining,’ and created the #AskAboutAbortion campaign which has led to presidential candidates being asked questions about their plans to increase abortion access. Her work is so influential that the right-wing website Twitchy recognizes her as “the queen of all abortions” and once wrote that Renee “never met an abortion she didn’t love.”
A Lesson on Sharing Your Stories with Renee Bracey ShermanRenee Bracey Sherman is a Chicago-born writer and reproductive justice activist committed to the visibility and representation of people who have had stigmatized experiences. In this episode, we discuss why it’s so important to share your own story, how you can stand strong in speaking your truth, and how you can embrace the collective hug of support that comes along with joining a movement for change.
Topics Discussed with Renee Bracey Sherman: Renee’s childhood memories around storytelling and history. * How storytelling made its way into Renee’s work to share things that are unspeakable. * How she found her way into her current profession. * Why was she afraid to talk about her abortion initially? * The weight of other people’s perceptions is what often keeps us from sharing our stories. * How can we start speaking our truths? * What does Renee mean by “abortion exceptionalism?” * How We Testify is trying to change the culture and shift the conversation. * Renee’s steps for talking about hard topics and tips for embodying strength. * The power of support groups or as Renee calls them “collective hugs.” * You don’t have to tell your story but it can give you peace if you share it with the right people. * As humans in telling our stories and in speaking up about unspeakable things, it’s really about care of the self during those moments. * You don’t have to tell your whole story and you can choose which parts to share. * What is the message you’d like to send with your story? * What the term “meshing” means. * Renee co-authored Speak Up and Stay Safe* and the resources it offers. * How has Renee experienced harassment and how has she dealt with it? * What is doxing?
Resources From the Episode:
WE TESTIFYWe Testify is an organization supporting people who’ve had abortions to share their stories, particularly those of color, those from rural and conservative communities, those who are queer-identified, those with varying abilities and citizenship statuses, and those who needed support when navigating barriers while accessing abortion care.
Black women say they are invisible in abortion rights fight. ‘We are still forgotten within all of this’ | CNNFor many Black women, the reversal of Roe v. Wade last month not only stripped them of bodily autonomy, but created another barrier to economic security and choosing the course of their future.
Digital Safety GuideIn-depth measures for prevention, harm-reduction, and improved digital hygiene when experiencing or anticipating online harassment. Updated from Feminist Frequency’s Speak Up & Stay Safe(r).
No TitleNo Description
Your Privacy is our BusinessYour Personal Data is Yours Again.
What Is Doxxing?If you ever wondered what Doxxing is and whether you’re at risk, you’ve come to the right place. We explain everything you need to know about this potential attack on your identity.
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When you’ve set an intention for a new vision and hit the start button, it usually gets messy.
Everything that is not a match for that vision will present itself, usually in the form of a problem. Whether it’s unfinished business, relationships that are no longer a fit or other energy leaks. From a metaphysical standpoint, your new vision needs space to expand. It’s literally going to clear out the old and make way for the new.
Now despite how you might feel in the moment, problems are a good thing.
Why? Because they’re an opportunity for you to do things differently, to practice a way of being that is congruent with the vision you are heading toward.
From the standpoint of vision, a problem is a tool that you can use to adjust your lens, to get precise on your standards and to let go of what no longer serves you, to tune into your intuition. Once you’ve figured your way through it to the other side, problems have created the space for you to operate from the position of your new way of being.
If you list all of the problems you’ve been having from the moment you set the intention for your new vision to now, from the moment you asked for something your heart deeply wants, can you see progress?
Are the problems getting less complex? More?
Are you developing skills that you can layer together to solve even bigger problems as you expand to yet another level? Say it with me, mess before miracles for the win.
If you can’t see your way through to the other side, it’s time for help.
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Half of the kids in my neighborhood have already gone back to school, which feels a little crazy to me since I’m still in Summer mode. Last year at this time, I was closing on a house and I had no idea what was in store for us as I made a move across the country to a state that had never been on my radar. But here’s what I knew wholeheartedly–emphasis on heart–my decision was a yes.
In spite of the unknown, in spite of the fear masking excitement, I knew enough about the process of change and my intuition to have faith that this yes was moving me toward the vision of my life I was asking for.
It’s something I talk about a lot with private clients. It’s actually one of the first lessons I learned way back at the beginning of my coaching journey, Maybe is not yes. In fact anything less than a yes…probably…perhaps…on the condition that…is still no.
Maybe might mean you’re close, or not.
Maybe could also mean that you’re in a rush, impatient and don’t want to wait for the guidance, information or for the support you know you need.
Maybe might mean that you’re blocking your receptivity to what is new because you’d rather not give up control. You’re living in the illusion that you know what you can’t know because you’re growing.
Or maybe is your excuse to settle, stay hidden, or stay stuck.
For me, maybe used to mean that I was afraid to really ask for it, because an old part of me worried that what I’d asked for didn’t exist or wouldn’t show up at the right time. I’ve burned that bridge! Now I’ve learned that maybe is usually a request from my inner GPS for more details, for a higher level of specificity in my ask. Maybe is daring me to be, do and receive more.
Because here’s the thing about powerful (often lucrative) decisions, they like to be made quickly. Maybe is asking more of you because it knows that your growth and expansion is all about yes. Saying yes is brave.How brave are you willing to be today
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Most of us have learned that it’s not a good idea to “burn the bridge”, because we think of that concept exclusively in terms of relationships. But if you’ve read Napoleon Hill’s classic, Think & Grow Rich, you know that the concept of burning bridges is also a reframe for risk.
Burn the bridge that keep you “safe”, that stop you from diving deep into your life with all of your energy.
Once a bridge is broken, you can’t swim back to shore. You mustmake it to the other side.
Same goes with your business.
Burn the bridges that stop you from expanding your team.
Burn the bridges that stop you from raising your rates and meeting your financial goals.
Burn the bridges that stop you from writing that book, or designing that line.
Burn the bridges that tell you not to take your desires seriously, from deciding you will make things work now. Here’s how:
Be Available. You don’t know what you don’t know. You don’t have the answers to questions you don’t know how to ask, and if you’re addicted to what you can see, proof or what you can control, you’re going to have a hard time being available for what’s on the other side of uncertainty. Let go. Ask for help and then allow. Note, plot twists are imminent!
Have Faith. Outside of a religious context, faith is about expectation. It’s about firmly believing that something, for which there is no obvious proof, can and will happen. Use bumblebees as your totem. According to scientists, these bombini aren’t aerodynamically structured to fly. So in the spirit of doing things other people think you can’t do, hold the vision of what you desire in your mind and heart as already done. Your unconscious mind will act accordingly.
Trust Your YES. “YES I want to do that! Yes that’s for me. Hell YA!” Maybe is not yes. Maybe is no but willing to ask more questions. No means no. Trust that. Trust yourself. When you focus on what you want, instead of what you don’t, unexpected, out-of-the-ordinary ideas may pop into your head. Follow them. They know where your yes, is.
When the bridge is burned, the fire lights the path so you can leap to the other side and you know what they say about leaping. A net always appears.
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Merle Hoffman is an internationally known leader in the struggle for women’s rights, opening one of the first abortion clinics pre-Roe in 1971. Throughout her activism career spanning over 50 years, Merle’s mission remains the same; for women to fight for their own reproductive choices and to recognize that each individual woman can make a […]
Becca Rea-Tucker has been “saying it with sugar” since 2018 and now more than ever, this feminist baker is helping to shift the conversation and inspire change around women’s issues by using a more unconventional platform: cakes. Topics Discussed with Becca Rea-Tucker Becca’s first experience with baking. Becca’s first blog was called “Flours in Your […]
Jennifer Freed, Ph.D, M.F.T. is a psychological astrologer who believes that your cosmic DNA serves as a roadmap for your life. Even when we are experiencing oppression from our societies, if we learn to embrace our past traumas, use our unique gifts to create change, and incorporate movement into our day each day, we can […]
“What are you?” It’s a question Dr. Sarah Gaither was asked a child growing up mixed race. Now she studies the effects of that question and others related to identity at Duke University’s Identity & Diversity Lab. In this episode on belonging, we talk about identity denial, identity accessibility, and why she’s using her own […]
Dr. Louann Brizendine was among the first to explain why women think, communicate, and feel differently than men. Now she’s on a mission to rebrand the “M” word: Menopause. Louann Brizendine, M.D., is an American scientist, a neuropsychiatrist who is both a researcher and a clinician and professor at the University of California, San Francisco. […]
Ronit Plank’s mother left to follow the Indian mystic, some would say cult leader Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (also known as Osho) when she was five years old. Through the process of writing her memoir, When She Comes Back, Plank rewrote her definition of forgiveness. Ronit Plank is a writer, teacher, and speaker. Her debut […]
Dana Marlowe turned a moment into a movement. What began with the question, “What can I do with my old bras?” led to the creation of I Support the Girls, a national non-profit organization that provides a source of dignity, self-esteem, empowerment, and support to marginalized women via the donation of bras and menstrual hygiene […]
Brandy G. of Authentically B wants everyone to know that it’s ok to be you. Because when you do, the divine might just present you with your heart’s desires. The moment Brandy decided to be visible as her authentic self was the moment that her transition from full-time school teacher to model and lifestyle influencer […]
Kristen Richardson comes from a long line of debutantes but she chose not to debut. In this, “Lesson on the Unwritten History of Women”, find out why curiosity drove her to research this enduring tradition and why the role debutantes play in a family’s story, is much more complicated than it seems. Kristen Richardson, […]
Seventeen years after Mara Smith left her career as an attorney to raise her family, she’s back full force not only with the valuable skills she learned as a mother, but with the drive to start a successful Tequilla brand in the spirits industry. A Lesson On Why It’s Never Too Late with Mara SmitSeventeen […]
Following her intuition, Nicole Crowder made a transition from full-time photo editor to pursue her true calling in upholstery and furniture design. In this “Lesson on Soul Work”, we talk about her brand new collaboration with World Market, her practice of slow creation, and why using her lineage to tell a story through her work […]
Where does creativity come from? And how do creatives, especially women, tackle failure? In this “lesson on escalating dares”, Ilana Ben-Ari talks about how she turned her creative vision into a business, despite the stigma that women and creatives are limited to just coming up with ideas. Why stop at invention, when you can build your own business? Find out how to tackle the fear of failure and use playful creativity and bootstrapping efforts to build something you can truly be passionate about.
A Lesson On Doing It Anyway with Katie Keating One in four Americans is a woman over 40. Katie Keating co-founded Fancy Inc., a 100% women-owned, operated, and focused advertising agency to help advertisers speak to them. In this lesson on “doing it anyway,” she talks about her mission, the 3%, and why women need […]
s her belief that audacious ideas have the ability to change the world. Her company I Am That Human works with the biggest, baddest people, brands, organizations, campaigns, and initiatives to inspire people and innovate humanity.
ritt Baker and her company Dow Janes are on a mission to get 10,000 women invested by the year 2025. Why? Because good things happen when women have money. In this lesson on "how to think like an investor", we speak to why it's time for women to take control of their money so they can have more choices, louder voices, and more financial confidence when it comes to investing and building a foundation for their future.
Noricks is a pioneer in the Fashion PR industry. In 2006, she founded PR Couture, a career platform and sourcebook for lifestyle communicators, as a way to highlight where strategy and fashion intersect. In this “lesson on being seen”, we learn how she was able to pivot personally and professionally along the way to help more women become visible in their own businesses.
A Lesson On Doing the Right Thing with Natasha FritzWomen face misogyny at work every day but the construction industry is like the Wild West and has the second-highest rate of sexual harassment complaints in North America. Natasha Fritz experienced that harassment which is why when she heard a misogynist clip on a construction industry podcast, she decided to do something about it.
Women face misogyny at work every day but the construction industry is like the Wild West and has the second-highest rate of sexual harassment complaints in North America. Natasha Fritz experienced that harassment which is why when she heard a misogynist clip on a construction industry podcast, she decided to do something about it. In this episode, “A Lesson on Doing the Right Thing”, she shares why her choice to publicly call out the offensive remarks was the only choice.
Natasha Fritz is the owner/operator of Natural Carpentry, specializing in working with century homes in the greater Toronto area. After graduating from the two-year Heritage Carpentry and Millwork program at Algonquin College, she worked as a carpenter for 8 years before founding Natural Carpentry in 2014. Natasha has worked in many different sectors of the industry, including residential renovation; commercial construction; set carpentry for television, films, concerts, and conventions; and historical restorations. She is a contributing member of Trades Women of Instagram, an account whose main goal is to connect, empower and inspire women in male-dominated industries.
LISTEN: APPLE PODCASTS | STITCHER | SPOTIFY TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE: * Natasha’s experience growing up as sometimes the only female in her shop classes and on her job sites. * Feeling like an outcast in your field, just by being the only woman. * How Natasha broke out and created her own business. * Why the construction industry is resistant to change in areas like gender equity, technology, & sustainability. * Natasha’s Instagram post that went viral. * Change does not have to be risky, it’s just unfamiliar. * Sexual harassment towards women, especially at work is still a major issue. * **The industry with the 2nd highest rate of sexual harassment in the workforce is the construction industry. * How Natasha found confidence in her industry to speak up for herself more. * The double standards women face when trying to speak out when something is not right. * The particular masculinity associated with the construction industry and the toxic work environment it unfortunately presents. * There are corporate ways to handle sexual harassment that have not been adopted by the construction industry. * Sexual harassment incidents need to be called out more by men. * What language do you use when you’re in a situation that is uncomfortable? * Why some men don’t realize the importance of breaking gender roles. * What Natasha learned from this experience. * The internal misogyny women face at work and how to undo the jerk reaction to accept that kind of treatment. * Why forgiveness is key to industry shifts. * What feminine leadership could look like in the construction industry.
RESOURCES/ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: **Women workers put construction industry on notice: Sex harassment will not be tolerated.
Natasha’s post
Carpenter faces $15M lawsuit for criticizing sexual harassment comments in construction podcast.
America desperately needs 1 million more construction workers.
Pastor apologizes for making girls wear one-piece swimsuits in a viral post.
$1.5 Million Settlement For The Women In Construction Who Bravely Came Forward In Sexual Harassment Lawsuit
Sexual Harassment Resources:
U.S.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual harassment or assault in the workplace, you can get help 24/7 by calling the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656 -HOPE. As the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, RAINN is also dedicated to working with organizations to better their practices related to the education about, and response to, sexual violence. Learn more at rainn.org.
If you need to file a claim for yourself or someone you know with the department of labor, you can do so online, by phone at 800-321-(OSHA), or in person at your local office listed here. Visit https://www.osha.gov/workers/file-complaint to learn more.
If you’re a company looking for additional actionable steps to reduce sexual harassment at your organization visit leanin.org/sexual-harassment. They also provide advice, information, and support for harassment survivors and for anyone who wants to help.
Canada:
You can also find international sexual assault resources from Rainn here or by calling the State Department’s emergency numbers:
U.S. & Canada 1.888.407.4747 | From Overseas +1 202.501.4444
You can find the process and resources to file a claim in your territory/province here.
LESSONUP:
(1:20-1:39) I personally have fallen into this, you very easily, like, it’s almost like you’re actively participating in your own like upper gender oppression, you know, because your people are making jokes and you just laugh it off. Or, you know, there are certain things that you just know, well, I’m not gonna say that or talk about that because then these guys are going to be like, oh, well you’re being too sensitive or things like that. So it’s, it’s kind of like a weird balancing act, I guess you could say, because you can never just fully just like be yourself because you’re already different and you already stand out. So if you’re doing anything that, you know, wouldn’t be considered acceptable or normal to all these guys, then, then it just puts you in this weird position where you’re even more of an outcast
(2:08-2:32) There are issues that are experienced because people don’t like change because they fear their profitability will be compromised. And actually not looking to the other costs that are being incurred from a wellbeing standpoint from a world sort of cost. But the fact of the matter is, is that change doesn’t always have to be more risky. It’s just unfamiliar. And so I think this is a good moment for it.
(2:40-3:19) I don’t think harassment is exclusive to any one industry but I definitely think that in construction, it can be much more overt maybe than some other industries. I’ve been asked, are you planning to get pregnant? I have been propositioned to sleep with people while at work. I’ve had inappropriate touching or getting far closer than necessary. All sorts of comments, not necessarily sexual harassment, but definitely lots of discriminatory comments. Even just things like calling you sweetheart or princess or something like while you’re at work working.
(4:17- 4:40) I am much less tolerant of it now. I think that that is because I do feel like I am good at my job and proficient at it, and there’s no reason for anyone to discriminate against me because I know what I’m doing. And so I think that has instilled a lot of confidence in me to be able to feel like I can speak up more and speak out against it.
(4:47-5:42) I think that we just need to start calling things out more and we need to talk about them and we just need to say “hey, this is not okay.” Like, as you said, it was never okay. But now I’m not gonna fake laugh. If someone asks me, if I’m planning on becoming pregnant, I would probably respond with, “well, are you planning on impregnating anyone?” Right. Because it’s just super inappropriate. And sometimes I feel like people don’t get it until you put it in that context of, “well, what if I were to ask you this? How does that make you feel? Is that awkward? Is that weird for you? Is that maybe uncomfortable because that’s how I’m currently feeling when you say something like that to me.”
(6:14-7:03) We’re facing major labor shortages in Canada as well. And I think that one of the biggest issues, I actually think that the number one issue, there’s all these promotional campaigns going on here, saying we need to get people into the trades and all this stuff. But I actually don’t think that there’s an issue with getting people into them and to be interested in them and to want to start in them. I think the issue is long-term retention of people. People aren’t staying because it’s so difficult. It’s hard to find a good employer, an employer that’s going to pay you well, an employer that’s going to be respectful, and an employer that’s even just going to let you like leave early because you have to go to the doctor or whatever. And then, you add on top of that, this toxic work environment, it’s already hard work. It can already be unsafe or uncomfortable cause it’s dusty or you know, what other reasons, so why add this toxic attitude?
(8:42-9:06) I definitely think that it needs to be called out more and it needs to be called out, by men because that’s the only way that it’s going to change A ultimately, number one, it’s not our responsibility as women to justify our existence as equal human beings. Because that’s nobody’s responsibility.
(14:59-15:15) I think that all forms of leadership could use a bit more empathy. I know that empathy is something that’s predominantly associated with feminine qualities, but I think everybody could use a little bit more empathy in their lives. It’s important to try to consider other people and how are your actions going to impact them? You know, what are your values like are your values only about yourself? There’s nothing wrong with being about yourself. I mean, ultimately we all are right, but you know, you need to be conscientious of other people. The way that I try to look at it is I always try to think of when I was in a non-leadership role. What were things that other people who were leaders at that time, what did they do that I greatly disliked, I’m going to not do those things.
The response was shocking. Um, like really overwhelmingly. It was very overwhelming, the amount of response that I got, emails, text messages, DMS. I didn’t even really realize how far the story had gotten. I’m still like learning about how far the story has gone. There have been good things about it. Obviously we’re here, we’re talking, we’re doing this podcast. It started a conversation. The conversation’s continuing, it’s a conversation that needs to be ongoing in the world, really. Not just in this industry, but it is important, especially if we want to improve the industry and we want to minimize this labor shortage. We need to improve the overall culture of the industry because it’s not good. And anyone who doesn’t see problems with it is just lying to themselves because it’s super problematic.
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A Lesson On Stepping Out Of Your Comfort Zone with Kim KuhteublIf your mind, spirit, body, and soul have been out of alignment for a long, or even a short time, it’s going to take adjustments to get you back into the flow and that usually means stepping out of your comfort zone.
If your mind, spirit, body, and soul have been out of alignment for a long, or even a short time, it’s going to take adjustments to get you back into the flow and that usually means stepping out of your comfort zone. In this episode, host Kim Kuhteubl shares powerful tools on how to get around your inner gatekeeper, unconscious beliefs and chart a course forward.
Kim Kuhteubl is an award-winning producer, author, and entrepreneur. She’s produced hundreds of hours of episodic and lifestyle digital content and in 2011, founded MeByDesign.
Kim works with Creative Women Founders and Executives on becoming visible. She defines visibility as more than personal branding, business strategy and getting press—although she’s an expert in those categories. Kim defines visibility according to one of its underused definition: available.
Are you, truly available for the life you say you want to live? For the mission, you know you were born to lead. You may think that seeing is believing but actually, believing is seeing. Your one best life happens from the inside out. Ready?
LISTEN: APPLE PODCASTS | STITCHER | SPOTIFY TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE: * Kim’s definition of alignment. * One of the most powerful tools that you have when it comes to stepping out of your comfort zone is receiving. * Confirmation Bias and why it keeps you stuck. * If you can’t see anything new when it comes to your life and vision, your inner gatekeeper is the reason why. * Stepping out of your comfort zone requires conscious decision-making and making new decisions will likely be in direct conflict with your old, unconscious beliefs. * Growth doesn’t have to mean grueling or dangerous but it always is unfamiliar. * Certainty is a flawed concept. * Limiting beliefs and cognitive shortcuts * How to own your own creative vision. * Kim’s process on how to step outside of your comfort zone. * Awareness is more powerful than thought. * Smartcut your thinking by replacing old thoughts that no longer serve you.
RESOURCES/ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: How to Embrace your Own Awareness || Jon Kabat-Zinn Meditation
Smartcut the Thinking Exercise:
For the next seven days, you’re going to smartcut the thinking.
What are you thinking? How is your inner gatekeeper keeping you safe? Make a list. Write down ALL of the reasons why you believe the things that you’ve asked for have could never be. Let’s get clear on why your reality—which only means how you’ve previously flowed the energy—makes it impossible for you to dream, on what your inner gatekeeper sees. Catch. Interrupt. Smartcut.
Other episodes you will love:
A Lesson On Embracing Creativity with Kim Kuhteubl
A Lesson on On Unsticking The Stuck with Kim Kuhteubl
A Lesson In Receiving with Kim Kuhteubl
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A Lesson On Living Your Own Story with Lane McNabOpera Singer turned Interior Design Founder @lanemcnabinteriors runs a thriving interior design firm and sustainable furniture company that is creating the next generation of heirlooms. How did she get there? By giving herself permission to keep embody her life and creativity fully.
Opera Singer turned Interior Design Founder runs a thriving interior design firm and sustainable furniture company that is creating the next generation of heirlooms. How did she get there? By giving herself permission to keep embody her life and creativity fully. In this Lesson on Living Your Own Story, Kim talks about her early working relationship with Lane, how Lane built her firm as a designer, and how she’s embraced her role as both a mother and creative and industry leader.
Graduating with advanced degrees in vocal performance at San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Lane McNab pursued her music career spending several years as a highly-acclaimed operatic soprano in leading roles throughout the Bay Area.
After years of extensive travel and studies abroad, Lane left opera singing to manage the demands of a growing family. When she returned to the working world, she focused on her other artistic passion: designing interiors. Before founding Lane McNab Interiors in 2012, she apprenticed with a local design and construction firm as a designer and project manager which gave her invaluable hands-on experience and a deep knowledge of the design and construction process.
A continuously curious learner with a passion for beauty, uniqueness, detail, and quality Lane has created a firm with a team of like-minded professionals giving her a devoted clientele and close relationships with vendors and tradespeople throughout the Bay Area. Her designs have been featured in numerous publications and tastemaker sites. When not passionately pursuing design, Lane spends her free time with her three children and husband in their 115-year-old house in Berkeley, CA.
LISTEN: APPLE PODCASTS | STITCHER | SPOTIFY TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE: * How creatives can embrace spirituality. * Lane’s first profession was singing and how she made the transition into design. * Why lane decided to go with a sustainable business model. * What “sustainable” means to Lane. * Creating timeless pieces. * Dealing with pushback from customers regarding budget and premium offerings. * Designing with purpose to make products more beneficial to the environment. * Lane’s 3 principles to her business. * Not using motherhood as an excuse to not be your full self. * How Lane speaks to issues that are important to her while keeping her brand value and reputation in mind. * Being a mom and creative entrepreneur. * How the shift happened for Lane to embody her own story. * Transitioning from one career to the other. * How women can step up and make their vision a priority, even in a family unit. * How Lane views feminine leadership. * How we can use feminine leadership to align principles with practices.
RESOURCES/ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: http://www.lanemcnab.com/shop
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oeko-Tex
EPA Reports 9.8 Million Tons Per Year in Furniture Waste
Website
Instagram @lanemcnabinteriors
Instagram @guildbylmi
LESSONUP:
(10:03:12:09) I had a client. This was not through the contractor. This was just kind of a friend of my husband’s from childhood. And I did his bachelor condo and that project, it was the very early days of Houzz. And because we’re in the tech world out here in the bay area, I knew of houses. My husband had said, oh, I’ve heard about this new website. You should get involved in it. So I signed up for Houzz. I put that project online as well as our home. And I started just getting a lot of hits from it and Houzz was asking me to write articles. And so then that bachelor project actually got picked up by the Today Show Website. I had taken those photos for it, with my old Canon Rebel. You can actually see me in the reflection of the photos and that got posted with like David Bromstad and that was sort of my wake-up call that so say, okay, this is happening. And then I started getting inquiries and I hired someone to help me get my business side going, and just sort of advise me how to do this. And so I did that and I made my first hire. And then not long after that, I got my first multi-million dollar project. A lot of it’s timing. A lot of it’s being open and a lot of it’s just putting yourself out there. When I saw it taking off, I decided to really get in front of it.
(13:50-15:15) The sustainable name I am very serious about and I’m very careful with it because I feel like, and this gets a lot into more spiritual stuff, but I feel like there’s a tendency to use it right now as a greenwashing kind of marketing tool. And I think if you really are serious about it, as we are, it requires constant critical thinking and analysis and improvement. And that’s what we’re doing all the time. The more you the better you do and when you know better, you do better. And that’s what I’m constantly trying to do with this line. And I think succeeding, but it makes it incredibly hard. So the line I developed about three or so years ago, the sketches, again, I just sat down in a week, drew everything for the furniture line, and then had them. And I was like, now, what do I do? We worked with a lot of local production workrooms. And because my firm had been shifting more and more towards sustainability or environmental stewardship and what we were proposing to clients, it was an easy choice to make, to say, well, if this is what we’re producing as something we are owning as ours, then that has to be an integral part of it.
(16:17- 17:30) We bought up a large batch of reclaimed white oak that is part of structures that were built in the 17 and 18 hundreds. And when those trees were cut down, they were probably 400 years old. There is no old-growth really anymore. So we’re talking about wood that’s potentially seven to 800 years old, and we have that and it’s a completely different type of aesthetic. It’s gorgeous. It’s dense. The same tables that we make. Let’s say our little side tables. If we make it out of the reclaimed, it’s about twice as heavy because the wood is so much denser because it’s existed for so long. The grain is so tight. It actually broke our carpenter’s saw the first time he cut into it. It’s amazing. It’s gorgeous. And it tells a story. And that’s, I mean, that’s a bonus too. I mean, you’re touching something that’s been touched by hands hundreds of years ago. So I love that we have that as an offering. We also, the new wood, which has a different look is FSC certified, all sustainably managed forests. And actually from the Pacific Northwest.
(19:47-20:51) That’s actually why quality is the first principle of the line because I have had clients who come to me and say, I want sustainability, but not if it’s going to up the budget. Well, that’s off the table with me because I don’t even talk about it. I’m going to show you and present to you, not just out of my furniture line, but I’m a designer who works at that quality level anyway. So we automatically incorporate that into what we do. And I tell clients, even in our intake calls, we present aspirationally. A client’s gonna tell me their budget and I will respect it and obviously we filter through budgets anyway. But if I know that there’s a piece that is a much better piece for the project, and it’s pushing the budget, I’m going to show it to the client, and then it’s their choice. So don’t lead with sustainability. It’s just automatic.
(22:40-23:42) I try really hard to be thoughtful in what I put out into the world, but the riot on the Capitol just really put a line in the sand. And I felt like this is ridiculous. And if we are not publicly stating or condemning or supporting what is right in this moment, then you are absolutely putting yourself on the other side. And that just became very clear and apparent. And I don’t know if you know my thinking about not wanting to join the fray prior to that actually had any impact when I finally did speak up, but we’ve crossed a line and it is time for all of the people who have been the more silent, I think definitely majority, to condemn the wrong side of history right now.
(24:18-25:55) The one that popped up for letting go of the responsibility of, I guess, motherhood is a way to describe it, but it was also just all of the stuff I was taught to care about as a woman that I was kind of making myself care about and I can’t say, I always really felt like it was a priority was we’re in triage. And so it was like if I looked around and it wasn’t really a value to me, and not only a business value, because that was a big part of it too. I wanted to have my professional life and I wanted to cultivate that. And I wanted to have my creativity filtered through that or invested in that. But it was also like, do I really want to go nag my kids about picking up the stuff, or do I want to sit down and spend time with them? And it was sort of understanding the triage was just like the word we weren’t really like hemorrhaging or anything, but it was just sort of my like internally, I don’t care if everything is perfect, as long as I’m getting value out of that moment. So that was what opened up that permission to start to let go of a lot of that stuff that I felt had always been my responsibility and to just free it up for what was actually important.
(30:36-31:57) I don’t know if everyone senses it the way probably you and I do, but there’s definitely an awakening happening and it’s been happening for a while and women have too, not even just women. I know feminine can apply to the way men do things as well. There’s something that women have been gifted with through millennia of not being equally voiced in society. And there has been, obviously that is repressive, but there’s also a skill set that you develop just to survive. And that gets passed through generations. And now that we are waking up and claiming power, this sort of superpower that we have is going to be a part of how we lead. And so I think I think feminine leadership involves much more strategic and critical thinking much more self-reflection and much more long-term planning instead of just sort of like, I am here, I exist, this is what I want to do.
(32:10-33:25) This is not to make enemies out of men. They are very much becoming our allies more and more, at least the ones that have, that are open to the feminine paradigm. But there’s typically taught from birth, especially white men I would say that they have value because they exist. And I think other people at the table have to find where their value is that puts you in a different mindset. And if there’s a gift to being a little bit self-questioning and self-reflective, and being thoughtful, once that voice has now awakened to its power, it’s going to be a more inclusive and accountable source of leadership. The issue that we are finding right now within, especially within the business world, is that there was sort of an attempt at feminine leadership, but done in a masculine way in the early 2000 in particular. And that was sort of like marketing masquerading as mission. And I think we’re seeing the struggle with that right now.
(34:55-35:24) You can’t just have a mission blanket your not great deeds. And so I think that that has to be something that feminine leadership has to constantly be thinking about and ensuring that their principals are aligning with their practices. And I think that that’s something that feminine leadership will do a more masculine is sort of like we said, we’re doing this. Let’s just move forward because here’s our profit.
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A Lesson In Finishing Your Damn Book with Beverly JenkinsBeverly Jenkins never planned to be an Author. Growing up during the Civil Rights Movement, her mother passed along a love of books and history and she decided to become a librarian. In this episode, she talks about the journey from first-time author to becoming the primer writer of historical Black fiction in the United States with 49 books in an industry that rejected her.
Beverly Jenkins never planned to be an Author. Growing up during the Civil Rights Movement, her mother passed along a love of books and history and she decided to become a librarian. In this episode, she talks about the journey from first-time author to becoming the primer writer of historical Black fiction in the United States with 49 books in an industry that rejected her. Beverly also shares intimate moments of her past, her process, and why she’s rooting for women writers to get off the sidelines and just “publish your damn book”.
Beverly Jenkins is the recipient of the 2017 Romance Writers of America Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as the 2016 Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for historical romance. She has been nominated for the NAACP Image Award in Literature, was featured both in the documentary “Love Between the Covers” and on CBS Sunday Morning. Since the publication of Night Song in 1994, she has been leading the charge for multicultural romance and has been a constant darling of reviewers, fans, and her peers alike, garnering accolades for her work from the likes of The Wall Street Journal, People Magazine, and NPR.
LISTEN: APPLE PODCASTS | STITCHER | SPOTIFY TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE: * Beverly didn’t plan on being an author. * Beverly’s mother passed along her love of history and reading to her at a very young age. * Black history was very important to Beverly’s great grandfather on her Mother’s side which can now be seen in her books. * During Beverly’s childhood, libraries were still segregated. African American authors were never shelved in with the rest of the collection. * When Beverly first started writing, Black characters were not prevalent in romance or history stories. There was also no place to get published as a Black author in these genres until the 1990s. * Plotters vs. Pantsers * Beverly’s writing process * The point that Beverly knew she could write. * How and why she started her first book. * Beverly has written 49 books in her lifetime, typically in the Historical Romance genre. * What is a sweet romance? * How Beverly handled the rejections she faced in the publishing industry. * How Beverly found her editor. * How the portrayal of strong and determined Black women has changed in the model in the romance genre. * Black women’s three gifts and how Beverly highlights these in her heroines. * Beverly’s newest book Wild Rain and why her character came to be. * Beverly’s new Women Who Dare series. * How Beverly views feminine leadership. * If you have the writing bug, it’s not going anywhere. It’s up to you to decide that you’re strong enough and brave enough to pursue your dream.
RESOURCES/ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Beverly Jenkins book list.
The Creation Poem- James Weldon Johnson
A “Race Man”
The Journal of Negro History
The Flame and the Flower, Kathleen Woodiwiss
Elsie B. Washington; wrote the first Black romance novel.
Daughters of the Dust
We Are Your Sisters, Dorothy Sterling
The Romantic Times
Bullwhip Days, James Mellon
Slayer of Words: Beverly Jenkins wins Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award
Jane Friedman
LESSONUP:
(3:15-3:54) So it’d be my great-grandfather was what they called back then a race man. He was also Muslim. He had converted, he went to Mecca and he went to Medina and lived in Pakistan for a while and lived in Nepal. And that Black history was very, very important to him. And he gave that love to her. She’s the second oldest of seven. So anytime there was anything on TV, I was young in the fifties during the civil rights movement. I mean the stuff was always on TV and she would always say, be proud of who you are. And there’s nothing that anybody can take from you as long as you’re educated, as long as you’re reading. So that history is a part of me.
(5:40-6:15) I may start out with just a kernel of a story or a kernel of a character. And we parents just, just start throwing stuff up against the wall to see what sticks I often say. I feel like the first two weeks, when I’m working on a new book, I’m like Moses wandering around in the desert with the Israelites, looking for the promised land. And then it starts to slowly unfold. I always think the characters know the story and I don’t.
(13:17- 13:40) The letters that are at the beginning didn’t come to me until about a third of the way through the book. And it was almost as if the man who pins the letter to his sisters, wanted me to let them know what happened to him. It was one of the eeriest experiences I’ve ever had. I had one of my readers said, well, you know Ms. Bev, these people actually existed. They’re just using you to tell their stories.
(15:20-16:02) In college I was Black. I went to college in the seventies, so I was Black then. I just get up every morning and say, what are we being called today? And in my mother’s day was Negro. And I took the powers that be 40 years to capitalize the N and they wrote it doesn’t matter what you call me. Just don’t use the N word by me by my name and know that I am who I am by the color of my skin. ]Try not to get hung up on that.
(16:10-16:58) I’m trying and that’s your job is to try and make the path wider. The change is it’s who gets to write romance now. There are so many African-American women and women of color who are getting to tell their stories and women from the west indies and women from Africa and, and, you know, in black women of America and every one of you know, all identities, we’ve got a lot of male male stories. We’ve got a lot of lesbian stories. The model that was in place when I started a couple of it was male, female straight, and white is no longer the model. Everybody who loves and no matter who they love gets to tell their story now. And I, and I think that that’s probably one of the best things to ever come about for the romance genre.
(17:05-18:30) Black women have always written that story and the, and the white heroin has changed, but we never had the luxury of just sitting back. And that was one of the things that I learned from Dorothy Sterling. She said Black women were pretty successful after the civil war. And she said because we have these three gifts. One was that we worked, whether we were slaves, whether we were enslaved, or whether we were free, because if you were free and on your own, you had to provide. And if you were free and you were married, you also had to provide because our men were usually relegated to very, very low-paying menial jobs. So you needed that extra income. So we worked, the second gift was the commitment to community and social activism. We had lots of black women out there, marching and chasing down, chasing down slave catchers in the, in the communities, leading the charge. And the third gift was pushing the envelope on gender and race and they still are today. And we’re still doing that. So I try when I put my heroines together, a lot of times when they present themselves to me, because my characters present themselves to me, they’ll have one or two or all three of those gifts. So I wouldn’t be true to the history of that. Unless a woman is one of the elite, but still she’s got to deal with the societal issues and all of that. But I know we’re not sitting back eating Bonbons all day.
(23:10-24:20) When I started out, we didn’t have self-publishing. Once you were rejected, you either kept trying, or you went to a different publisher, but get that book out of the drawer and get busy. There is a market of readers who are waiting for your story. There is always somebody out there looking for a story that you’re going to write, finish it, stop talking about it, finish it. Learn as as much as you can about the business of variety. And there’s a great community of writers out there who will give you the help that you need, especially with romance. I mean, we’re always helping each other. Learn how to upload, learn where to find a cover artist and learn how to do a blurb, learn how to do the marketing that goes with self-publishing. I wasn’t published until I was in my forties. So don’t let that deter you.
(25:50-26:25) My very first writing space was the front hall closet. So don’t tell me that you don’t have a place to ride, or you don’t have time. I have sat at band practice in the middle of the dark, under the lights at the stadium, editing, sitting in band concerts, editing until the lights went out. If you have that writing bug within you, it’s not going anywhere. It’s going to sit on you and sit on your shoulder and whisper in your ear until you decide “I’m strong enough and I’m brave enough to do this.”
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A Lesson on Following Your Intuition with Lyra SatyanarayanaLyra Satyanarayana and her family packed up their belongings and headed to a new life, virtually overnight. Why? Intuition. In this episode, you’ll be taken along Lyra’s journey from leaving her multi-million dollar real estate business by connecting with her spirituality to realize the bigger vision for her life.
Lyra Satyanarayana and her family packed up their belongings and headed to a new life, virtually overnight. Why? Intuition. In this episode, you’ll be taken along Lyra’s journey from leaving her multi-million dollar real estate business by connecting with her spirituality to realize the bigger vision for her life.
Lyra is a catalyst for the spiritual transformation of the world. She gives us strength and purpose, noticing through her eyes that which you’re destined to see. She is not a guru, teacher, or coach in the traditional sense. Lyra embodies the living light of Divine Mother, and through her presence and voice helps awaken us to our own divine nature.
Her love and compassion transcend conscious awareness, piercing through to our hearts in ways we may never fully understand so we can let go of challenging experiences and have the courage to love fiercely and without compromise.
She is an ally to liberate our souls and restore freedom, enabling us to let go of distractions from habitual desires and instead tap into our true passion.
LISTEN: APPLE PODCASTS | STITCHER | SPOTIFY TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE: * How do women balance work life with personal life? * The decision Lyra had to make between being a CEO and being a mother. * Why it’s ok to start over and create the life you want. * Your intuition leads you into darkness but sometimes that’s part of the growth. * Divorce is not necessarily a bad thing. * Why Lyra decided to close her multi-million-dollar business essentially overnight. * The shifts that happened to Lyra and her family and where her intuition led them next. * The moment Lyra knew she would show up in the world differently. * The teachings that Lyra uncovered on her new journey in Crestone, Colorado, and why she went to that particular town. * How Lyra and her husband handled their divorce and how intuition tied into this decision. * Why we are anxious about slowing down and focusing on our soul. * Lyra’s new spiritually focused business. * We are so far removed from the spiritual in today’s society. * The separation between religion, government, and capitalism and alternative solutions around their messages. * People have separated out divinity from humanity to the capacity that we compartmentalize it so much it’s unrecognizable. * Lyra’s definition of the Unholy Trinity
- You can never exit the system while living inside of it.
- What is it that’s truly missing is something we need to get in touch with more.
- Your spiritual connection to yourself and how to extract yourself from your truest way of being.
- Whatever you’re doing today is for you. It is the thing that you’re supposed to be doing until it’s not.
- People with their purpose use it as an excuse to not work hard in the moment and to not show up in the present.
- Women who are so successful often feel like something is still missing.
- Future Forecasting vs. Manifestation and your sense of the larger vision.
- Lyra’s definition of “Direct Knowing.”
- The unfolding of the larger vision can be fun and joyful because you’re not committed to the path because it rarely works the way you expect in the first place.
- Live in the present, even in the bad moments.
- How to turn “why is this happening to me” into “this had to happen to me for a reason.”
- Lyra’s message for what it means to be a woman leader in this moment.
- Feminine leadership principles and what they mean to Lyra.
- Intuition lead vs. Heart lead and how that applies to feminine leadership.
RESOURCES/ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: lyrasatyanarayana.com
Crestone, Colorado
Communities thrive when you give money to women.
The heart and the magnetic field.
LESSONUP:
(7:50-8:59) So my husband and I, we went through a divorce as part of this sort of life evolution process. But at the time getting him on board was just sitting down and having quality conversations. And it was, this is no longer for me. And when you have that kind of resolve of this is not for me, you can’t do it anymore. And I think he saw that in my eyes and felt it in my body. Like my wife can’t do this thing anymore. And so he said, okay. And he had tremendous amount of faith in me and in us that has not been displaced actually. You’ll we’ll come back to that. I’m sure later in the conversation, but it was okay. We’re done this chapter of our life is now behind us. We don’t know what’s coming next. It’s going to be an adventure, but I trust you. I trust us. Let’s go.
(9:54-11:55) So I was on my way to a friend’s house for a health warming party. And when I got there, it was all of her personal friends. I had served as a real estate broker. That’s why I was invited. And her friends were very spiritual and somebody walked up to me and I said, I have a message for you from spirit. You need to go to a mountain town called Crestone. And I said, what’s Crestone. Cause I had grown up in Colorado, but I had never heard of that town. And she was like, I don’t know. It’s just a message that I got from spirit. And so I went home and I thought about it, the courageous audacity that somebody would have to just walk up and introduce themselves. Or even before introducing themselves say, this is a message I have for you essentially from God.
(14:02-14:33) People chase their purpose and think “what’s my purpose.” And they find the deepest satisfaction in their life if they feel that they’re not living their purpose. And so how you can navigate around that to make yourself more comfortable is whatever you’re doing today is for you. It is the thing that you’re supposed to be doing until it’s not. And so you don’t make these long-term commitments of a year or 10 years or 30 years. You show up in the moment and give a hundred percent to the moment to being present with what you’re doing until that’s not for you anymore and you’ll know when.
(15:40- 16:12) A question that comes up a lot, especially with women who are so successful is “I have everything that should make me happy, but something is missing because I’m not as happy as they’re telling me I should be.” And so you have to step back and ask, well, what is it that’s truly missing? That’s a big part of my revolution. My evolution in this process was just, “wow, I have the life. Everybody wants to live success. The husband, the cute kids, all the things.” And I was miserable, totally miserable.
(16:36-17:38) Your spiritual connection to yourself, your spiritual connection to God who lives inside of you or spirit or universe or whatever language that you choose to use, how much time do you spend understanding who you are and then operating at the depths of you not doing something because somebody has told you, that’s what you need to do or not doing something because society says, this is the definition of success, but my soul, this is how I have to show up and navigate. This is what I am in this world. This is what I’m bringing to this world. And people get so far separated from that, that they wake up and go “What am I doing here? What’s my life purpose.” I think purpose is a word that is overused. And isn’t the right choice of words for many reasons, but that’s a different conversation, but you know, they wake up and like, “what am I doing here? Is this beyond intuition?” I think there are some pieces beyond intuition. I call it direct knowing. And really, maybe it’s just an evolution of intuition in some capacity. Intuition is a hunt. I’m supposed to head in this direction. Knowing is I have to do this. I’m committed to this because it’s me because it’s for me.
(19:20-19:40) When you think about what will my life be like in the future? How much of it is filtered through what we think we want, because we’ve been advertised to with magazine clippings, this car that I want this house that I want, whatever versus, “okay, I’m going to be showing up in the world as this.” And “I don’t know how I’m going to get there when who’s going to help me, how it’s going to work. But I know it’s part of my future and I’m just trusting that my everyday decisions are going to get me there.”
(22:34-22:3) I do think that there is a very distorted masculine leadership and anything that doesn’t feel like that right now is being labeled as feminine. And I think where we’re headed is a very major balance of it.
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