Who The F*ck?

In this episode, I share the mic with John Moyer. John Moyer is a captivating speaker who has carved a niche for himself in the realm of hypnotism and personal transformation. With roots in theater and film school and a stand-up comedy career, John's ability to connect with audiences is evident. Having undergone a profound personal transformation, John now focuses on helping others tap into their subconscious for positive mindset and lasting change. As a YouTube creator, he shares his expertise with millions of people, enabling them to discover their true potential and live more fulfilling lives.

Tune in to hear John share:

• The life events that prompted him to transition from a career in standup comedy to spiritual guidance as a professional hypnotist

• How we can delve into our subconscious minds to foster a positive mentality and long-lasting change

• Why it's essential to embrace emotional responsibility and purposeful growth

• How mindful communication techniques can be used to resolve conflicts and strengthen our relationships

  
  

A few of John's Quotable Moments from our conversation:

"Real change takes place when you're actually able to go in and erase and rewrite and rewire those connections in the subconscious mind."

" If you say, I prefer to be happy, the subconscious mind goes, oh, okay. We prefer to be happy. So how does a happy person think and feel and act? "

"I think early humanity civilizations understood the connection between our physical existence and energy. They understood that we are energetic beings. And they knew how to tap into that and master that and utilize that. It's not a mystical thing."

Alex Ball is a resilient individual who has embarked on an inspiring journey of self-discovery and recovery. Confronting his opioid addiction, Alex has faced many challenges, including coping with his daughter's cancer diagnosis and addressing the trauma of childhood sexual assault. His openness and honesty have allowed him to grow and evolve as a person, proving that it is possible to overcome adversity and build a better life. As a guest on Who The F*ck?, Alex shares his experiences and insights in the hope of helping others who may be struggling with similar issues.

In this episode, Alex shares:

1. How to overcome addiction, you must first and foremost be honest with yourself.

2. The significance of therapy in healing an addiction and addressing emotional wounds.

3. The influence of addiction on his personal relationships

4. Why having a supportive community is essential to a successful recovery journey.

5. The necessity of understanding and addressing root issues contributing to substance abuse

This episode I share the mic with Chuck Copenspire, business coach & magical weirdo.

Chuck is one of the most interesting people I’ve ever had the privilege of speaking to, with a variety of life experiences that make for a truly dynamic conversation. With a background in software development & social media marketing, Chuck thrives when helping others overcome adversity to achieve their goals. As a self-proclaimed anti-professional professional, Chuck brings a wealth of business knowledge coupled with tremendous empathy to the forefront of personal brand-building. 

With a mission to make life easier for entrepreneurs seeking fulfillment, Chuck creates content and shares useful resources that will empower those impacted by lay-offs to reach their full potential.  

In this episode, Chuck talks about:

1. State-funded programs available to help entrepreneurs who have been laid off
2. Why it’s important to listen to your body to help you avoid burnout
3. The challenges faced by entrepreneurs in a turbulent economy
4. The importance of finding a supportive community when growing a business

A few of Chuck’s quotable moments:

“I really do believe in that rising tide lifts all boats. And I just want to see more people in my community empowered, with information and with money to realize their dreams, because I've spent so much of my life thinking that'll never happen to me.”

“It's all those people who've inspired me that make me want to reach the people who haven't been reached yet or share the message that hasn't been shared.”

“That's part of why I want to empower more people with background similar to mine, to take up space and tell their stories and become leaders and join product development teams and change the products so that they're actually accessible for all people.”

“If something bad happened to me, it's almost like I have to make something good out of it so that it's not a net loss. And so whenever something bad happens to me or something frustrates me, or something happens to someone I care about, it's like I have to either empower someone to make the solution or make the solution myself because I can't exist in a world where that problem continues to hurt more people after me.”

Learn more about Chuck’s coaching business:

On this episode, I share the mic with Katrina Widener.

Katrina is a business coach, host of the Badass Business Squad podcast, and public speaker. She helps entrepreneurs find alignment within their businesses and to get on the path that they want.

Katrina explains the differences between having consistent and inconsistent access to these parts of oneself and the implications of societal and spoken conditioning. Human Design offers an understanding of who we are and how to move through the world with empathy. Katrina understands that no business (or entrepreneur) should be put into a box that doesn’t feel right, which is why her coaching programs provide individualized support, as well as being backed by a strong community of fellow entrepreneurs.

In this episode, Katrina shares her insights on:

1. How human design-informed coaching can uncover the strategies that work best for you

2. Navigating consistent access to your emotions, self worth, and voice

3. The ability to work less & earn more when we align our passion with our professional goals

In this episode, I share the mic with Mitch Hankins. Mitch is a software developer, writer, podcaster, and mental health advocate, embarks on a journey of self-discovery to shed expectations of others and cultivate authentic relationships, uncovering a compelling central conflict along the way. By sharing his story, Mitch aims to help people understand how to create space for themselves and for others to show up authentically.

Over the course of his young life, Mitch learned to rely on his own independence to maintain a sense of safety. After a moment of disillusionment, he realized he needed to take a step back and explore why he was feeling so isolated. With the help of his friends and family, he was able to gain clarity in understanding his own emotions and build a sense of community that allowed him to show up fully and be secure with himself. His presence has since changed, radiating a positive energy and a newfound understanding of the importance of having a reliable support system. 

In this episode, Mitch opens up about:
1. When did he realize that his feelings of loneliness were impacting his ability to live his most fulfilling life?
2. How did he go from a technical mindset to a desire to help people?
3. What decisions helped cultivate a sense of community and build meaningful relationships?

A few of Mitch's quotable moments:

"Are you investing someone because they're available, or are you investing in someone because they have earned your trust?"

"And really the best way to explain it is that I have always lived a life of isolation and independence, of believing it is me against the world. And I can't trust anyone, I can't rely on anyone. I have to do this myself, I have to take care of myself, I have to protect myself. I can't count on anyone else to do that for me. And that's how I designed my life."

"And then when you talk to people, a lot of times the underlying mindset is just like getting it done immediately. But the realization, the epiphany of it's one small step every single day. If you take just one small step every day, you will walk miles in a decade. And it compounds too for courage, discipline, self improvement. It's just doing the smallest thing I can handle today that puts me just a little bit out of my comfort zone."

Connect with Mitch on social:

In this episode, Stacia Aashna, a clinical hypnotherapist and life coach, guides us on an emotionally charged journey to discover the power of self-love and resilience as we navigate our unique healing journeys. Stacia's mission and purpose is to help people heal their trauma, attachment wounds, anxiety, codependency, and more.

Stacia Aashna was a young person who opens up about her own childhood trauma, which led to insecurity in expressing her feelings. When she entered adulthood, she found that her desire for connection and acceptance was still strong and she felt a deep insecurity around her self worth. Through therapy and self reflection, she was able to recognize these feelings and start to confront them. With the help of her therapist and a strong support system, Stacia learned ways to manage her trauma, attachment wounds and anxiety. She continues to use her own experiences and healing modalities to develop her practice, ultimately helping people to heal and love themselves.

In this episode, you will learn the following:

1. Emotional Self-awareness: Why is it important to acknowledge our feelings without judgment?  
2. Healing Trauma and Attachment Wounds: How can we create a safe space for ourselves to express and integrate our feelings?
3. Internal Family Systems: How can understanding our component parts help us to evolve and heal?

Resources:

When we lost my mom, Deb, unexpectedly two years ago, I read something that said, “You have now become part of a club that no one wants to join.” It was true then and it’s true now.

When I woke up this morning, I struggled to get out of bed. I wanted to lay still, removed from the reality of the loss for most of the morning.

It took me some time to decide but I knew if I posted the episode I planned to post today, it would not be an authentic representation of where I was emotionally. And made the choice to turn on my mic + camera and record a solo episode to release today.

I needed this episode to reflect where I am, my experience processing grief & sharing gratitude as I continue to navigate what it means to have lost my mom. She is ever present in the little moments, every single day. But her physical presence, her smile, her laugh, her comforting words…those things we ache for, are just memories now. So I documented this part of my journey to help me reflect and to honor my mom, the feisty, intelligent, kind, and compassionate person who raised me.

In this episode, I share the mic with Jessica Urquhart.

Jess is a Decision Empowerment Coach, Certified Deep Transformational Coach and Certified Professional Coach (C.P.C.).

Tune in to hear Jess share:

• Why she left her career in corporate finance to become a decision empowerment coach
• How she was struggling with that distance from the impact she was having on individuals
• The importance of shedding external expectations when you seek to follow your purpose
• Why self-trust is essential when making life changing decisions
• How connecting with nature can help us reconnect with ourselves
• How being introspective can help you set boundaries & find greater fulfillment

A couple of Jess’ quotable moments from this episode:

“We all need support and it's very much okay to ask for support and it's so beneficial to ask for support. But in that space that I was in at that time, that mindset where, you know, it was all the external factors, like all of external perceptions were very important to me. So not admitting to other people that I was like feeling this like disconnection from the purpose of life or the meaning of life felt odd and strange and not comfortable.”

“That really is the turning point is when the fear of things staying the same is greater than the fear of something new and unknown and just being able to step into that space.”

“To decide, in Latin, literally translates “to cut off”. So I think like people get, uh, anxiety over making big decisions because it feels like they are cutting themselves off from possibility or what they already have. But you can also just choose. Choose to go another direction and know that you can always choose again.”

“I find that when you're willing to leap into the unknown, it's because you have established some element of self-trust that you can handle what comes forward.”

In this episode, I share the mic with Sam Mitchell.
Sam is the host of the Autism Rocks and Rolls podcast, as well as a motivational speaker, entrepreneur, blogger, and educator who helps individuals and businesses better support neurodiverse colleagues & employees. Sam’s podcast has reached many people worldwide and has garnered the attention of many public figures & celebrities who are also advocates for those with autism.

Tune in to hear Sam share:

In this episode, I share the mic with Dr. Nicole Bradford or Dr. B as she’s better known by some - is a published author, life coach, entrepreneur, and speaker with two decades of experience in the field of education. After our conversation, I can say from personal experience how much Dr. B (Nicole) energizes and equips others to take action and live their most authentic, joy-filled lives.

Our conversation dives into  the value of open communication, trust, and vulnerability while emphasizing the importance of tapping into our more playful sides - regardless of age.

Tune in to hear Dr. B (Nicole) open up about:

• How the loss of her sister motivated Nicole to start her business, Maintain the Flame
• Feeling alienated by family for living authentically
• The importance of communicating without judgment to create emotional safety
• Why parents need to empower their kids to make their own life choices
• How people pleasing stops us from living the life we desire
• Why it’s important to be unapologetic about who you truly are

A few of Nicole’s quotable moments from this episode:

“Do you truly live the life that you want, the life that you desire? Or are we just conforming to what everyone else wants?”

“I know that everyone's life is different, but give them an opportunity to identify and create the life that they want. Because a lot of adults, you've lived your life. You were able to choose your mate, you were able to choose your job, you had choices.”

“We want everyone to be perfect in an imperfect world, and that's not realistic.”

“When we were growing up, there was no straight path to being a perfect parent, to having a perfect life. So give our kids that same flexibility and ability to discover, but don't make them have to do it alone. Give them that safe space where they can discover and find out what this life is and where they wanna go with you.”

In this episode, I share the mic with Simon Rinne. Simon is the host of the Mindful Men podcast, as well as a social worker with 15 years experience in the Australian Public Service, who shares his personal experiences and perspective to help men who desire and need emotional support as they navigate challenging life circumstances.

Our conversation sheds light on the importance of offering a safe space for men to be vulnerable and how we can all join the effort to make this world a happier & healthier place for every gender.  Tune in to hear Simon open up about:

• Societal expectations of masculinity set during childhood
• What forced him to confront his personal mental health issues
• How his obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, and anxiety diagnoses led him to pursue a career path in social work
• Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) and how it changed his approach to managing OCD
• Working through the shame associated with taking medication to help manage mental illness
• How regularly practicing mindfulness improves your quality of life 
• The importance of having a strong support system to encourage personal growth

A few of Simon’s quotable moments from this episode:

“I said, mate, you've just gotta stop crying. You've gotta stop it. He goes, why? I said, boys don't cry. We're not allowed to cry. We don't, we're not meant to cry. And he looked at me and said, Simon, I can cry if I want to, and that planted a seed.”

“I didn't even know mental health wasn't even in the dictionary from my perspective. Like nobody talked about it at all.”

“I said to myself, Simon, no matter how dark today is, or seems like, the sun will always rise tomorrow.”

“When you get it out of your brain into the world, it just becomes words which disempowers it.”

“Mindfulness has been something that I'm really practicing as well. And, and I've found that through my burnout, recovery as a way to reconnect, find joy again, but also ground myself..”

In this episode, I share the mic with AnnMarie Espina. AnnMarie is a business coach for ADHD entrepreneurs.

Our conversation will resonate with and give hope to any listeners who have battled their own self-doubt or have been struck down by the doubt of others.  Tune in to hear AnnMarie and I chat more about:

• How being labeled by an ADHD diagnosis damages self-esteem.
• How AnnMarie’s journey led her to become a coach
• Forming better habits to help overcome symptoms of ADHD
• Building a business that aligns to your personal values
• The Accomplished Mind Method - AnnMarie’s proven four-step approach to harness your ADHD symptoms & achieve your business goals

A few of AnnMarie’s quotable moments from this episode:

“You, as the version of you right now, cannot achieve what you want to create.
You literally have to become a different person.”

“My mission here on earth, my mission is to come here and show people that's a better fucking way than struggling and suffering with ADHD.”

“The reason that I got into coaching was because I love life so much and I just want other people to experience the same magic and excitement that I feel every day.”

In this episode, I share the mic with Denise Schroder. Denise is a renowned real estate agent in Oklahoma, whose life has been anything but easy. But that would never stop Denise - in fact, it inspired her to work even harder to prove the naysayers wrong. After leaving a toxic marriage, Denise promised herself that she would live out her dream of becoming a real estate agent, but it wasn’t without some challenges along the way. Through a series of highs and lows professionally and personally, Denise continuously displayed the type of grit and resilience that we all hope to have when the going gets tough - and while on her journey to rediscover herself, Denise was lucky to find truly unconditional love & the ideal business partnership with her husband Troy.

Our conversation will resonate with and give hope to any listeners who have battled their own self-doubt or have been struck down by the doubt of others.  Tune in to hear Denise and I chat more about:

• How trauma can create a false narrative about our worthiness
• The hard part of taking the leap of faith when chasing our dreams
• How important it is to have strong support system
• The value of investing in yourself
• How healing is a lifelong journey

A few of Denise’s quotable moments from this episode:

“When you’re in a toxic relationship, you feel like a slave to fear.”

“Divorce is going through surgery without anesthesia.”

“God has used my failures and mistakes and trials and train wreck situations, for me to be a beacon of open a lighthouse to others. It's not a hindrance, it doesn't make me damaged or broken. To help other people, it actually gives me credibility, because that's how we connect to other people if we are open and vulnerable to sharing that grit.”

“Don’t allow other people to steal your dream because they don’t have one of their own.”

This season’s finale veers away from the traumatic, intense reality that I’ve shared over the previous few episodes and hones in on how joy unexpectedly entered my life and gave me the space to:

• Leave toxic habits behind and build the life I want
• Embrace the importance of self-love and setting boundaries
• Remain open to the possibility of love after leaving an abusive relationship
• Build a relationship based on mutual respect, trust, kindness, and compassion

Resources I've found helpful on my personal growth journey:

Episode five gives listeners a glimpse into my experiences with and thoughts on:

• Being afraid to ‘fail’ kept me in an unhealthy relationship for years
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its lasting impact on our psychological safety
• The work I’ve done to make peace with never knowing the truth about my former relationship with a pathological liar
• Having patience with yourself while healing

Resources I've found helpful on my personal growth journey:

For episode four, I share some of the ins and outs of my healing journey (good and bad) to help listeners understand more about:

• Prioritizing yourself creates space to heal and help others
• Trusting your body to warn you about things your brain chooses to ignore
• How being authentic and open about hardship can help you achieve more personal growth & build stronger relationships

Resources I've found helpful on my personal growth journey:

On the third episode this season, I’m diving deep into:

• What it’s like to simultaneously experience two very different types of grief
• Holding onto positive memories to heal after losing a parent
• Releasing painful memories to heal after leaving an abusive relationship
• Making the decision to prioritize my emotional & physical safety

Resources I've found helpful on my personal growth journey:

On the second episode of Practically Unplugged, Nikki opens up about...

• Being accountable as a survivor of abuse
• Looking inward to identify toxic patterns in relationships
• Moving past shame and creating a safe space to share
• Building community & connection to cultivate emotional safety

Resources I've found helpful on my personal growth journey:

It’s been a while, but I’m back and we’re kicking off Season 3 with:

• What happened to Who The F*ck in 2021?
• Experiencing the sudden & unexpected loss of my mom
• Deciding to end my marriage to a covert narcissist
• The importance of this podcast on my healing journey
• Seeing pain as an opportunity to help us grow & reach our full potential

Resources I've found helpful on my personal growth journey:

While we all have our own challenges and particular journey, when it comes to confronting difficulties and working through mental health issues, courage and awareness are two tools that we can all use. Here on the show today to talk about the need for leaps of faith in order to feel, and subsequently heal, is the amazing and inspiring Maddie Ace. Maddie is a singer, writer, podcaster, and all round creative soul, with so much great insight to offer. Our conversation centers around her story and struggles with mental health, and how she turned these challenges into an entry point to helping others! Maddie shares openly about the vital moment in her life that led to a difficult breakdown and also allowed her to push forward into a stronger version of herself. We discuss the missing pieces that so many of us can identify when we experience something like this, and Maddie shares the actual lessons she wishes she had been exposed to at school! We reflect on the wisdom of the body and why concentrating on what we want to feel, might be the best way to move forward. The conversation also touches on how music has helped Maddie, and she gets into the process of pouring herself into songwriting about her experiences. Listeners can expect an open and generous chat, with helpful ideas and some great tips for resources and strategies to use in times of need. Tune in to hear it all!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Tiffany Yu has a mission to change the way disabled people see themselves and to help them own their narrative. Part of this mission is to transform systemic ableism. Before Tiffany became the founder of Diversabiltiy, a disability advocate, speaker, writer, consultant, and coach, she was involved in a tragic car accident that left her disabled. In today’s show, she shares her story. We begin our conversation by learning more about Tiffany and find out how family stigma shaped the way she tackled disability for 12 years. After hearing about what it was like to be the daughter of a Taiwanese immigrant and Vietnamese refugee, Tiffany then shares the turning point in her life which saw her take control of her disability and narrative. A stepping stone in our conversation, Tiffany tells us how her new state of mind helped her create Diversability; a platform that brings disabled and non-disabled people together to talk about their lived experiences. Following this, Tiffany continues to explain how she grew strength and resilience through a number of experiences. Listeners will hear why her stint on Wall Street contributed to her embracing her disabilities, and how the experiences taught her so much about systemic ableism. Later, Tiffany reveals the story behind losing her father in and how she stored trauma in her body from the event. Toward the end of the show, Tiffany explores the various naming conventions around disability, and tells us why she wants people to unlearn what it means to be disabled. To conclude the show, Tiffany speaks in-depth about ableism and describes her visions for the future of Diversability. Tune in to hear more from this inspiring and highly informative episode.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Firefighting definitely ranks as one of the tougher professions out there, and our guest today is a testament to that and so much more. We are joined by young firefighter, Alayasia Ouerfelli, to talk about her journey in the job so far, as well as the amazing and inspiring Bad Bitch Movement that she is spearheading. We start right at the beginning, with Alayasia's upbringing and family life, transition into her college years, and how EMT studies grew into working as a firefighter. Alayasia is clearly strong-willed and determined, qualities that shine through throughout our conversation, and she is generous enough to share some of her perspectives on battling self-doubt and the expectations of others. The idea of forging one's own path surfaces a few times in our chat, with Alayasia really wishing to inspire more women to seek out their own definition of a fulfilling life and career. Listeners get a great behind-the-curtain look at what it means to be a firefighter and more specifically a female professional in such a male-dominated space. We talk about the strong bond that is present at the station where Alayasia works, as well as the connection and sense of duty that she feels for the communities that they serve. The conversation also covers progress in the fire department towards more inclusion and better self-care, areas that we at the WhoTheF*ck Podcast believe in strongly! So for this powerful and illuminating conversation, be sure to tune in today!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Much of the healing that we all need as individuals relies heavily on the idea of self-acceptance, without which it is hard to imagine making much progress in personal growth. Joining us on the show today is an expert on the topic of self-acceptance, coach and speaker, Kevin Nahai! Kevin is an advocate for those dealing with complex emotional situations and uses his own experiences of personal problems as the foundation of the work he does with clients. From the get-go, Kevin's vibrant personality is evident, he has so much energy and enthusiasm for helping people and using accountability and responsibility to get serious about making changes in order to work through pain. Our guest is the creator of amazingly inspiring videos, encouraging viewers to embrace their true selves, and the insight he brings from his own journey and struggles is what really lends his work serious credibility and power. As someone who struggled with self-image, anxiety, and relationships in his own life, for Kevin, his work is all about passing on and sharing lessons and he even explains how he, in turn, learns from his clients every day. We talk about getting away from addiction to our problems, and how humans often stay stuck in a bad cycle just because it is familiar. In this episode, we go really deep, and listeners can expect to come away with a renewed perspective on what it takes to start and maintain healthier practices that can lead to a better life. Join us to catch it all!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Florence is an enchanting city that’ll tug at your romantic side. Abuzz with vibrant energy, this classical city is packed with Italy’s very best, including ancient architecture, tranquil gardens, and bona fide locals. This Italian dream became a reality for today’s guest, Melinda Gallo, an expat writer and photographer who has made Florence her home. We open the episode by finding out about Melinda’s history. Having graduated from California, her first stint in Europe was in France as a technical writer for an IT company. Her second stint in Europe was born out of a brief conversation she had with a friend, where she emphasized her desire to feel inspired to write creatively again. Two weeks later, Melinda was in Italy. Yet, her first few days felt like misadventure, only for her perceptions to be turned around. Stay tuned and you’ll hear about what changed for her, how she integrated herself in the city, and why leading with your heart can’t fail you. As our chat evolves, Melinda speaks about the wonder of Florence, its scenic beauty, and the influential minds who have their greatest creations here. We then take a look at Melinda’s blog, talk about its evolution, and how she introduced photography into it. Melinda is intuitively articulate and talks deeply about the experiences she’s had — good and bad. To hear more about them, be sure to join us today.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

The journey of self-discovery is a never-ending one and more often than not reveals more than we might have expected. An idea that seems to come up in conversations on this topic more and more often is that of generational trauma, and how we carry the legacy of our families and loved ones forward with us. Here to talk about her path through difficult times and the work she has done to begin to liberate herself from the shackles that we do not choose, is Mona Stephens! This is an incredibly honest and revealing conversation, in which our guest shares fearlessly about the desperate and suicidal periods she has experienced. Although this work is never over and there is no end destination, it is clear through the episode just how far Mona has come; she has gained insight and perspective into the forces that were affecting her, how to better manage her own areas of weakness, and why healthy support and community is vital in our process of healing. Mona unpacks the experiences she has had with mentors and really underlines why she thinks the idea of the 'empathic witness' is so powerful. We talk about the process of looking back and loving earlier versions of the self and finding the connection between the past and present. For Mona, this ongoing quest has allowed her to find so much more light, and escape the overwhelming darkness, and she is now sharing that with others, so make sure to join us, today!

Links from this episode

Just like many industries and sectors of the creative world, music remains a space that is generally exclusive and non-diverse. This is especially true when it comes to the more technical sides of music, such as engineering and producing. Mari Sullivan, or as she is known professionally, MariGo, is out to change this! Mari, is a trained musician, Ableton Live instructor, and Twitch Streamer, and today we get to hear all about the different parts of her life in music and how she got where she is today! Mari talks about the recent work she has done with Sofar Sounds and how this has suited her own unique musical personality. We get into some of the processes behind her sound and songwriting, with special attention to her deeply personal and beautiful song, Better Weather. We spend some time getting familiar with what it means to be a live streaming musician in 2020, with Mari sharing her weekly schedule for Twitch and how this is helping her build and connect with an audience. The second part of our conversation is spent talking about the more social side to Mari's mission, as we discuss what it might look like to have a more diverse and inclusive music industry. Mari currently hosts courses for womxn and LGBTQ+ songwriters and producers in order to get away from the overly male-dominated norm that we find in almost all other spaces. Tune in to hear more about Mari's groundbreaking perspective!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

After a near death experience in 2007, Ryan Henry Ward committed his life to his love and passion of becoming an artist. Fighting through poverty in the streets of Seattle, he has risen to be known as Seattle's Most Prolific Artist, painting more than 2800 canvases and more than 350 murals across the country. In this episode, we learn about the accident that nearly cost him his life and how it inspired him to find his purpose through what he was good at – art. Ryan shares what the transition into being full-time artist was like and why the polarization around his work, which had started popping up all over the city, inspired and energized him to keep creating. Ryan’s whimsical scenes populated by zany animals and characters are his way of communicating with the world, and he explains why his character’s eyes are the signature component of his work. Find out how he strikes the right balance between humor and social responsibility in his murals, who he sides with the underdog, and what living out of vehicles has taught Ryan about seeing the world differently, as well as why he believes he is equal parts creator and destroyer, especially when it comes to the impact that human beings have on his favorite places in nature. Listeners also get a sneak peek into what the future holds for the artist simply known as Henry, and why he believes discipline is just as important as inspiration. Tune in today!

We still live in a world where the survivors of abuse and sexual assault have trouble being believed and are shamed in many ways, a dynamic that makes dealing with something so painful, that much more difficult. Joining us on the WhoTheF*ck Podcast today is singer-songwriter and podcast host, Rae du Soleil! She is here to share her message of strength and hope as well as some of her own story of dealing with trauma and shaming. Rae has managed to take very heavy experiences and themes and channel them into her creative life, writing beautiful songs of hope and empowerment, while addressing some of the pain she and others have experienced. In our conversation, we cover Rae's background, her passion for music and the connection it creates, and some of her thoughts on striking a balance between serious subjects and playfulness. We spend some time diving into the story of her recent song, Nice Guy, about complicit and enabling behavior, something that Rae believes is central to the issues of abuse that communities experience. We also talk about the rippling effect of trauma and shaming, and how Rae's outspoken approach has affected her family and friends. With such an inspiring message and magnetic quality, Rae is a guest you are not going to want to miss, so tune in to get it all.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Rae's lifelong love of music, performance, and all things creative!
• Maturing at a young age and the positive and negative sides to this.
• The goal of connection through creativity and Rae's strength in vulnerability.
• Balancing playfulness with the heaviness that is a part of life.
• The story behind Rae's song Nice Guy, and the impetus for the message.
• Considering the use of language and the terms 'survivor' and 'victim'.
• Getting over the hurdles of shame and isolation through connection and communication.
• The messages of truth and self-worth that Rae hopes come through in her music.
• Failures of the legal system and finding more space for community support.
• Rae's family's response to the attacks they all faced.
• The process that Rae has gone through and the effect it has had on her music.
• A message from Rae to anyone out there dealing with some of these challenges.
• Rae's thoughts on the future of her music and creativity and the continuing themes of vulnerability and transparency.

Labels help us choose the right product off the supermarket shelves, but human beings also apply labels, both to themselves and others, and these labels can drastically affect our perceptions of our true selves. Today’s guest is Cuyla Coogan. Cuyla is a queer life coach based in southern California, whose mission is to help people in the queer community become more confident and comfortable, so they can achieve their full potential. Pulling from her own experiences, Cuyla’s practice highlights the value of self-awareness and self-acceptance, so her clients can be all of who they are without reservations. With that in mind, we talk about how labels affect our self-perception and why it's important to respect the different ways that people choose to identify themselves. We discuss the definition of queer, the paradox between stigma and finding community through labels, and why it’s important to view our experience as a human one. Cuyla also shares the three stages she went through in her life – coming out, coming home, and coming alive – and how she hopes to help others reclaim their identity, as well as why she believes that the only way we can shift societal perceptions is thorough community and conversation. Tune in today to find out more!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Learning about Alaina’s battle with cystic fibrosis offered me a great deal of perspective and hope beyond what I could have imagined. Diagnosed with CF at age 2, Alaina spent a good deal of time living her life as anyone who didn’t have a life threatening illness may do. But as Alaina’s health declined during her early adult life, she was faced with challenges most of us could never - and would never - want to fathom for ourselves or loved ones. In this episode, Alaina opens up about:

• What life is ike as a young person with a chronic, terminal illness
• Her family’s endless support and optimism despite their natural fears
• How she ultimately came to the decision to receive a lung transplant
• And how her life has changed both personally and professionally since she took such a massive leap of faith.

This is one for the books. Get ready for ALL the feels.

Thank you so much, Alaina, for sharing your positivity, your perspective, and your beautiful heart.

In this episode, Dan ‘Bear’ Cuddy joins me to share his experiences with the loss of his dear friend who died while serving in Iraq and  his mother, who had battled multiple sclerosis for most of Dan’s life.

We talk openly about life after loss and how there really is no such thing as getting over it.  Our conversation explores:
– What it’s like to experience the loss of a loved one
– The stages of grief and how it has changed his perspective
– The importance of support from family and friends
– Advice on how to console someone experiencing grief
– Continuing to feel connected to the person who has passed

In this episode of the WhoTheF*ck? podcast, I speak with Gina Gold – comedian, author, eco-feminist, and all around awesome human. Gina and I discuss the concept of intersectionality and why it’s important, particularly for women, to understand how our interconnected identities entwine.

We talk about racism, sexism, and the stigma against mental health. Gina shares stories about her past that made her who she is today, including her experience as a sex worker.If you haven’t yet discovered Gina, you’re going to love her. Her energy is addictive, and the conversation we have flows effortlessly.We talk about serious, heavy topics yet somehow, through it all, Gina continues to shine her radiant light.We discuss:

• Intersectionality and how one person can experience multiple layers of oppression
• Eco-feminism – what it is and why you need to know about it
• The objectification and over-sexualization of women
• ADHD and our mutual later-in life diagnosis
• The importance of mental health and decreasing stigma

On this episode of the WhoTheF*ck? podcast, one of my closest friends from college, Paula Clancey, and I have a truly candid conversation about the decision she made to not have children and how her confidence about the decision continues to grow in spite of the critics.

Tune in to hear our thoughts on the importance of choice, the stigma that remaining childless can carry, how to respond when people insert their unsolicited opinions, and why you shouldn't explain yourself to anyone - because it's YOUR life. 

For this episode, I reunite with Christina McKitish, a fellow Quinnipiac graduate, art-lover, and humanitarian as she shares the story of how her greatest challenges led her to practice yoga and ultimately started teaching yoga as a way to find her true self - and help others do the same.

As a lifelong learner and educator, currently working as a middle-school social studies teacher, Christina's passion for teaching yoga came naturally. When Christina found herself experiencing severe anxiety and depression after a difficult time in her life, she decided to explore yoga as a way to reconnect with herself and become more present.

Tune in to find out how yoga has changed Christina's perspective on life, improved her mental and physical well-being, and given her the chance to grow as an individual and with her students.

This episode, I had the privilege of sharing the mic with Cara-Lyn Giovanniello, as she shares her passion and purpose as she explains why she became a professional coach, how she empowers her clients to set goals (and remain accountable to them), and advice on how to navigate feelings of anxiety surrounding the ambiguity of the future. 

In this episode, I speak with my colleague and friend, Kaitlyn Kim, as she shares her story of growing up in Los Angeles, as a first generation Korean-American. Kaitlyn explains the traditional Korean family dynamic and opens up about how her family's expectations led her to carve her own path and distance herself from Korean culture. 

In the first episode of the soon to be recurring series RTF on WTF, I speak with my friend, Lauren Grinnell, as she shares her story as a survivor of domestic violence and how it led her to founding Runway to Freedom (runwaytofreedom.org). Runway to Freedom is a non-profit, now in its 10th year, focused on advocating for and providing resources to fellow survivors and their families. Runway to Freedom also provides a platform at their annual gala for domestic violence survivors to share their stories, allowing each person to take control of their narrative, rather than staying silent.

In this episode, I speak with Dustin Cann as he shares his experience coming out as gay after growing up in a conservative, Christian home. Dustin and I share our coming out stories and talk about how the fear that existed for so long became the driving force behind figuring out who we truly are - and how that ultimately has given us the freedom to live life on our terms.

My friend and former college production partner, Jill DeSilva joins me to share her unique perspective on becoming a mom for the first (and second time) and what  it was like to trade in her job as a television news director for the role of stay-at-home-mom.