The Grownup Millennial
By The Grown Up Millennial
The Grownup Millennial Jan 21, 2019
Episode 27: Punch doubt in the face: Courage, Robots, and Career change with Nicolle Merrill
This interview. THIS INTERVIEW! Is a must listen.
If you never listen to another podcast episode in your life, this needs to be it. Nicolle is fearless, authentic and so inspirational. In this 30-35 minute discussion we talk about:
- Career change (benefits and pitfalls)
- The future of work
- How to find jobs that haven't been created yet
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- What AI means for the world of work
- How to punch doubt in the face (even when you don't have the courage)
She describes herself as a "professional reinventor". She's held many positions over the years but has settled comfortably into the following titles: freelance analyst, podcaster, author, speaker and expert in the future of work.
Check out her book
Buy her book
Read her blog
Episode 26: Going where there is no path with Lauren Passell
If you've been checking out this podcast and reading some blog posts for a while then you'll recall hearing and reading quite a bit about manifestation and creating your own reality...and this is exactly what Lauren did.
In 2019 Lauren took a chance on herself and a pretty huge leap of faith to start a company (well, now two companies) doing something that nobody had ever heard about before. In this open, honest and truly inspiring conversation she talks about the good, bad and in between of the great successes and sacrifices of entrepreneurship.
Lauren gives practical advice on how to chart your own path, even when there is no blueprint and implores all of us to follow our hearts and we will be surprised where it leads us. At the end she shares 5 ways we can quell our fears and take that leap of faith. I needed to hear this, maybe you do too.
Also, check out this Forbes Magazine article on Lauren and her first company, Tink Media.
Listen, leave a comment and share with a friend.
Episode 25: New Year, New Me: Manifesting your highest self
We've probably all heard some variation of this before, but in this episode I take all the bits and pieces from experts, CEOs, and even billionaires, written in books and spoken on podcasts...and edit it down into bite size chunks.
Manifesting your highest self, really means looking beyond what you can currently see and knowing, believing and bringing into creation the YOU that YOU know you can be.
This episode gives you 6 tips/keys to manifesting a world beyond your limitations, plus tips from a billionaire on which activities we need to stop immediately.
"Nothing extraordinary ever happens in your comfort zone", so for this first episode for 2020 we're encouraging you to take the leap.
Remember to leave a rating and a comment, thanks!
IMPORTANT LINKS:
Videos
- Clip from Dr. Phil's Life Class on "Being the Star in Your Life" : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLSdr_P4RsU
Podcast episodes
- The Curiosity Driven Life, Elizabeth Gilbert: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elizabeth-gilbert-the-curiosity-driven-life/id1264843400?i=1000436236810
- Cultivating your reality: https://www.thegrownupmillennial.com/blog/podcast-cultivating-your-reality
- Marissa Peer on the Model Health Show about "the power of thoughts": https://themodelhealthshow.com/marisa-peer/
Blog posts
- You can create your reality : https://www.thegrownupmillennial.com/blog/youcancreateyourreality
Books
- The Five Invitations: discovering what death can teach us about living fully : https://fiveinvitations.com/
- The Tipping Point: how little things can make a big difference : https://www.amazon.ca/Tipping-Point-Little-Things-Difference-ebook/dp/B000OT8GD0
Articles
Episode 24: Is there a sex recession? with Patrice
FULL TITLE: Is there a sex recession among Millennials? : Getting it on in a digital world
Sex... a topic that is taboo for many, especially when you're growing up in the Caribbean.
How have our preconceptions about sex and our education or miseducation in our teen years affected our current ideas of sex? My guest (and dear friend), Patrice and I talk about her own evolution of the definition of sex, and how it factors into marriage and the church.
If you do a quick Google search for millennials and sex the first articles you will find all state the same thing - millennials are having less sex than any other generation. In a more connected world, have we become more disconnected with each other? How are we defining sex? Are these relations being mediated by digital tools?
Patrice and I talk about it all (or almost all, we only had about 30 minutes guys!). Listen to this episode and let us know what you think in the comments section :).
Episode 23: Change your habits, save the Earth with Adriana Banda Dias
Human activity has caused and is continuing to cause irreparable damage to the planet we know as home. Unsustainable man-made events are changing life as we know it, and scientists are continuously trying to predict what our future might look like when ice caps are melting (and can "awaken" diseases), when we're losing trees, animals, water ... life.
Environmental awareness and activism is one of the things Millennials have been lauded for over previous generations. Our passion for the environment though, in recent times may have been overshadowed by capitalism.
This is such a necessary and informative conversation with Adriana Banda Dias, an environmental activist I started following a little while ago on Instagram. Adriana talks about her own moment of "awakening" - when she became aware of the state of the Earth and how she has been making changes to help combat the climate crisis.
We spoke about:
- Green-washing
- How over-consumption compounds the climate crisis
- The dangers of the fast fashion industry
- Some activities we think are helping the cause but are actually harming the environment
- How changing your diet can help
- What do vegans even eat
The conversation also featured our first ever "Rapid 5" segment. Listen and let's continue the conversation (and action) towards a sustainable Earth.
Resources mentioned:
- Adriana's Instagram
- Five Principles of Zero Waste by Bea Johnson
- Eating healthy: A generational struggle
Episode 22: Secret Sauce for finding your dream job with Kristofferson Nunes
An old saying goes: "good things come to those who wait", but a recent and perhaps more familiar saying emphasizes that "good things come to those who work for it".
As Millennials we're not afraid of hard work, but sometimes we overlook how much work might be involved in finding your passion...and preparing for that dream job.
I sat down with Kristofferson Nunes also known as the "The Career Doc" - entrepreneur and resume fixer - about what goes into planning for the right career and how we can find joy in our jobs.
What is your secret sauce?
Related blog posts:
Episode 21: Travelling 101: Your guide to life-changing experiences
Travel is so much more than seeing new places. It is about learning about new a culture, new ways of living ... and learning about yourself. In this episode of the podcast Megan and I discuss all facets of travel:
- why travel is so important
- how Millennials can travel on a budget
- travel hacks
...and we talked about how old school ways of getting around might be able to revolutionize our 21st century travel experience.
Megan is an editor at Moon Travel Guides, a dog-lover, avid reader and explorer.
Episode 20: Unlock the perfect weekend
The weekend - a time we should be using for peak relaxation, is oftentimes used as a medium to frustrate and exhaust us - causing anxiety about the week ahead.
In this episode I share THREE ways to unlock the perfect weekend. A weekend that will leave you so energized and relaxed that you'll probably give Monday the same enthusiasm as Friday. For the entrepreneurs among us, I discuss how you may feel more guilty about taking a break ...but it's so necessary.
CONFESSION: I recorded this episode while snuggled up on my couch, during one of these perfect weekends!
Article mentioned:
What I discussed in this episode:
THREE ways to ensure you have the perfect weekend | The importance of rest, relaxation and rejuvenation | Managing time on a busy schedule | Why we feel guilty about not doing anything and how to overcome it | Relaxation is a state of mind
CONFESSION: I recorded this episode while snuggled up on my couch, during one of these perfect weekends!
Happy listening! Be sure to subscribe, leave a comment and share ♡
Episode 19: Marriage is not an accomplishment
This episode came about after an evening of conversation with my dear friend - Abigail. This episode was not scripted in any way and my notes pretty much went out the window after the first question. This discussion with Abigail felt as comfortable as putting on your favourite sweatshirt. I hope you'll find it as casual, frank, honest and informative as I did,
Abigail and I discuss the growing pressures for Millennials to couple up and how age-old notions of relationships haunt us - especially women, who are somehow seen as less successful or incomplete without a partner. Abigail also speaks candidly about some of the challenges of dating in the Caribbean, and I share a weird story about an experience I had a million years ago regarding infidelity.
DISCLAIMER: The audio levels fluctuate throughout this episode. Tried our best to remedy the issues but there are still some random fluctuations.
Episode 18: Busy ... doing what?
The full topic for this episode is "Busy...doing what? : This is why you're not productive". It is a solocast (just me, ya'll) about all the reasons we are working hard but not really achieving and how to move past them.
I got the idea for this episode from Darren Hardy's "The Compound Effect". I shared how the compound effect has started changing/re-shaping my life - specifically my morning routine,
As Millennials, we put in a lot of work, let's make it count. Listen to this episode, share it with a friend, leave a comment with your thoughts and don't forget to subscribe ☺️.
I referred to this article, that's now up on the blog, and spoke about this article from theMUSE.com.
Episode 17: The Great Debate: Rent or Buy?
Quite a few podcast listeners requested this topic, is it better to rent or to buy a house? Apart from the fact that [some] Millennials probably cannot afford to purchase a home, our preferences will also dictate what we choose to do.
This was an open discussion with my guest, Antoine Martel - licensed real estate agent, entrepreneur and real estate investor - about the pros and cons for renting and buying, and what influences our decision to do either. Antoine encourages listeners to "change your definition of home" in order to make the decision that is best for you.
If you're certain about what your long-term housing solution will look like or if you have no clue, this podcast is for you!
Since Antoine is also an investor we spoke about these things too:
- financial wellness
- how much of our income we should spend on housing
- how much of our income we should invest
- what is equity, how do you build it and why its important
- making money work for you
Episode 16: Money: Is it selfish to want more?
In this episode of the podcast, I share much of my own struggles with money, and my mindset about money. I had ABSOLUTELY NO SHOW NOTES for this episode, I just felt so passionate about the subject and wanted to speak from the heart (there may be a few TMI moments in there, sorry!).
A few things I discussed:
- How I was socialized to think about money and how it affects my current relationship with money
- [Basically] a review of Jen Sincero's "How to be a Badass", specifically the chapter on money
- What Dale Carnegie had to say about worth in his book: "How to make friends and influence people"
- Why changing your money mindset will change your life
Things I didn't say:
- I said I attended the entrepreneurship seminar, but I didn't say it was a scam (chose to focus on the positive takeaways)
- I am still a work in progress and still need to work very hard on confidence and shifting my money mindset
= Jen Sincero and I are best friends in my head
Happy Listening ... then let's make some money!
Episode 15: The Dating in the 21st Century Series - Part 5: Open Mind. Open Heart. Open Relationship?
"No relationship is going to come between me and me knowing myself and developing myself"
How do you define "relationship"? How should a relationship serve you?
Most times we believe a relationship should look a certain way and each party needs to have certain roles but we've largely adopted these standards from society. What would happen if we created our own? That's what my next guest on the podcast, Chereese, is encouraging us to do.
Nothing in life is perfect, so we can't expect a perfect relationship. Relationships are messy and weird and complicated. But, if both parties are on the same page with the definition of a relationship...then it just works.
Listen to this interview about Chereese's path away from what was considered normal to creating a new normal and finding bliss in the mix.
Some great things we spoke about (besides the whole interview lol) :
- maintaining individuality in a relationship
- your relationship doesn't have to look like anybody else's
- does your relationship need to be validated? (by marriage, by others?)
Episode 14: The Dating in the 21st Century Series - Part 4: First Comes Love, then Comes Marriage
This time we have a DOUBLE WHAMMY! Two perspectives from married people on what it means to be married in a time considered "very difficult" for dating and cultivating relationships.
IN THIS EPISODE:
- One couple speaks about how their online dating journey went from hopeless to married in under a year
- The challenges of dating as s single mother
- Two perspectives on the "isolation" that comes with being a married millennial
- The difficulties of finding love in a new city
WARNING: I probably said "dismal" 50 times this episode, so be prepared for that.
Listen and leave a comment.
Episode 13: The Dating in the 21st Century Series - Part 3: Maybe your list is wrong
“Maybe your list is wrong” - just one of my favourite moments from this episode. I know I say this a lot but, this is probably my favourite one yet! You have to listen to the whole thing, no skipping, no pausing, you have to be all in - or you could miss an important nugget. This whole interview was FLAMES.
Usually when we talk about issues with finding suitable partners or the challenges of dating in the 21st century, we’re referring to women. We assume that men have it easier and they’re just coasting by until they choose to settle, but that may not be the case for everyone.
Kemoi talked to me about general challenges facing dating millennials, his own experiences and gave us all a new perspective on how to manage relationships - looking at the core and periphery.
Listen and leave a comment1
Episode 12 : The Dating in the 21st Century Series - Part 2: A Trans, Poly, Queer Perspective
We've all read/ heard that it is a very difficult time for Millennials to find suitable partners right now. But does this ring true for everyone? Most times when we have conversations about relationships we limit it to heterosexual, monogamous relations.
But, I endeavour to always have a range of perspectives at the table (or over the microphone) at all times so we can get a true sense of reality. So, for this episode I spoke with someone who expands what we may conceive as reality. In this candid chat, we talk about general issues with the Millennial generation and his experiences with dating in a heteronormative society.
..and it so happens to be PRIDE month. May we all elevate our concepts of reality and remember that #lovewins (once we can find it).
Episode 11: The Dating in the 21st Century Series - Part 1: Interracial couples; entitlement and tradition
Dating in the 21st Century should be easier ... in theory. We're more connected than we've ever been and technology certainly helps in getting to know someone, or does it?
In this series I talk to a variety of millennials (coupled and uncoupled) about their experiences with finding love and companionship in the "Facebook era".
The very first episode was a casual chat with Sanique and Candiese two pretty accomplished professionals who spoke about everything from resigning to a life with dozens of cats to unsolicited cat calls and d*ck pics.
Listen up, leave a comment, and be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode in the series.
Is dating in the 21st Century really that hard? We'll find out.
Episode 10: Instagram Life vs Reality
Instagram is pretty much a staple in our social media diet at this point. There is so much good that can come from it. People make a living from it, people get to share their work with the world in ways unimaginable and I get to really connect with readers and listeners.
But… we can easily become obsessed with Instagram. Obsessed with checking it every few minutes, obsessed with our interactions on the platform, obsessed with our followers, obsessed with other people’s lives. It is very easy to get caught in this Instagram spiral.
In this casual chat, I am pretty open about my own experiences with IG and why I decided to dial back (you’ll want to hear this!) and a few ways we can disconnect from Instagram and reconnect to our reality.
Let’s not forget to live in the moment, while trying to document moments for Instagram.
Episode 9: The Loneliness Epidemic and how to make friends in 2019 with Olivia June
Research shows that Millennials and Gen Z-ers are the loneliest generations. In this time where we are more connected than ever (I mean, we basically live on our phones), we are also more lonely than ever. How can we get beyond this and find some meaningful connections?
I spoke with Olivia June, a fascinating millennial who is the CEO of VINA (which is basically like Tinder, but for women to find friends). We connected about being from large families and learning to mask your loneliness; and moving to new cities and being enveloped by the reality that you’re all alone.
But regardless of the reason we’re feeling lonely, we can overcome it. Olivia shares how being intentional about our friendships can really impact our lives. I find it hard to try to broach friendships now; I mean at close to 30 it is a little awkward to reach out - and we cover all that too.
After all, the best way to get a friend is to be a friend. Listen to the episode and let’s start intentionally cultivating some meaningful friendships and working on those that we already have.
I also mentioned this article: “When Enough is Enough in all Relationships”.
Episode 8: Cultivating Your Reality
Cultivating your reality. What does this look like? What does this even mean? This episode of the podcast goes into how our thoughts can determine our future.
I talk about :
- how the Grown Up Millennial was named among FeedSpot's Top 20 Millennial Podcasts for 2019;
- what it might look like for you to tap into your full potential;
- the wonders of thought power;
- how to stop depriving the world of your greatness
I mentioned these articles:
- Your Thoughts Create Your Reality
- How To Create Your Reality with Intentional Thoughts
- 7 Tips To Create Your Own Reality
I referred to this book...ALOT:
- "You are a Badass" by Jen Sincero
Episode 7: The Science of the Side Hustle (part 4 of 4) : "From hobby to hired!" with Dale Hines
For the final installment of the "Science of the Side Hustle" series, I speak with Dale Hines - an IT professional whose photography hobby grew into Dash-Anthony Photography.
Dale talks about the importance of "word of mouth" and referrals to his success as a side hustle entrepreneur.
We also spoke about the importance of feedback and being able to share ideas with other entrepreneurs (we mentioned Sade` from the very first installment of the series).
Finding what feels true to you, what you're passionate about and what motivates you to keep going is essential to the success of any business, but Dale goes into a few other essentials we may have overlooked.
Listen to the final episode in the "Science of the Side Hustle" series.
To connect with Dale:
- Follow Dash-Anthony Photography on INSTAGRAM
- Check out the WEBSITE
Episode 6: The Science of the Side Hustle (part 3 of 4) : "How to turn intangible dreams into real-life results"
This is the interview you never knew you needed.
If you have any questions about a side hustle or entrepreneurship in general you need to hear what my dear friend, former classmate and DJ extraordinaire has to say about his journey in a non-traditional career path.
Warren aka WeekenFLX is a trained media professional and also a DJ! He talks about the misconceptions we all have about DJs; what goes into a perfect set; and when you should consider a free gig.
He shared one major secret to his success; and had some hard-hitting questions for anyone thinking about starting their one side hustle.
Find him on:
...and for a sample of his mixes, click here
Episode 5: The Science of the Side Hustle (part 2 of 4) : "Juggling responsibilities while starting a business" with Tracey-Ann Mullings
As you might have heard in the very first installation of the series, time management is essential to success as a small business entrepreneur.
Tracey-Ann Mullings, skin care specialist, marketing and communications professional and owner of Skin By Trace, talks to us about how she "juggles" (literally her words) having a demanding 9-5 while still ensuring she meets the needs of her small business clientele.
As a fairly new entrepreneur (at the time of the interview, she would have been in business for 7 months), Tracey elaborates on some of her challenges and discusses the work she knows is inevitable for the business to be successful.
After completing her masters in the fall of 2018, she decided to take a break from conventional employment, thus Skin By Trace was born.
Listen to this interview riddled with motivational gems, struggles, sheer luck and pockets of success.
Follow Skin by Trace:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skinbytrace/
- Twitter : https://twitter.com/SkinByTrace
Episode 4: The Science of the Side Hustle (part 1 of 4) : "Creating a product and finding your niche" with Sade` Rhone
For millennials the "side hustle" seems to be an escape from the 9-5. It is a space where you can do what you're really passionate about, and actually get paid for it !
Sade Rhone started the "I Love Sweetness" line of coffee scrubs in 2016. Her product is now in pharmacies and beauty stores all across Jamaica. She talks to us about carving out time to work on her mini empire while managing a 9-5 and other responsibilities.
She delves into all the things aspiring side hustle entrepreneurs need to know; from marketing, to research, to the big "M" word that nobody wants to talk about - money.
Listen to the very first part of the Science of the Side Hustle series, and then check out I Love Sweetness on all these platforms:
- Website: https://www.ilovesweetness.com/
- Twitter: @welovesweetness
- Instagram: @ilovesweetness
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ILOVESWEETNESS/
Episode 3: Take the $100 Challenge
At the beginning of each episode, I want you (yes you) to also check-in with yourself by answering the following questions:
- How are you feeling today?
- What are you thankful for today?
- What is your favourite quote right now?
- Which song is on repeat on your playlist?
We are all trying to be better at managing our resources: especially money! This challenge is a simple, fun way for us to take charge of our finances so we can balance our bank accounts to balance our lives.
Will you take the challenge?
During this episode I made references to the following:
- The Minimalists : https://www.theminimalists.com/
- Marie Kondo : https://konmari.com/
- "Act Your Wage" : https://www.thegrownupmillennial.com/blog/act-your-wage
- "Do you really need that?: How to spend responsibly" : https://www.thegrownupmillennial.com/blog/do-you-really-need-that-how-to-spend-responsibly
Episode 2: Here's why you don't need New Year's resolutions
Everyone loves to set New Year's resolutions. How else will we be able to map out our plans for the year? There is a better solution ! I've found it and now I'm sharing it with you!
I also mentioned this article : "Setting and Achieving Goals: A Cheat Sheet" - https://www.thegrownupmillennial.com/blog/settingandachievinggoals
You can find my four intentions for the year here (and you can also use the template and create your own!) - https://www.thegrownupmillennial.com/blog/what-are-your-2019-goals-fill-them-in
Episode 1: Now what?
No matter how successful we are, no matter how many goals we achieve we immediately begin to think about what's next.
We've achieved...now what?
We've failed...now what?
Thinking about "the next" can bring so much anxiety, disappointment and confusion, but it doesn't have to be this way.
In this solo-cast I go into some personal stories of my own struggles with forward-thinking and how I have now come to embrace this idea of "what's next".
Articles I mentioned:
- 2019 Reading List : https://www.thegrownupmillennial.com/blog/2019readinglist
- Is this my final form? : https://www.thegrownupmillennial.com/blog/isthismyfinalform
Books I mentioned:
- The Subtle Art of Not Giving a [bleep] : https://www.amazon.com/Subtle-Art-Not-Giving-Counterintuitive/dp/0062457713
-The Defining Decade: https://www.amazon.com/Defining-Decade-Your-Twenties-Matter/dp/0446561754/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1546449698&sr=1-1&keywords=the+defining+decade