Ylani Talks | Redefining Self-Care & Love for Your Mental Health

Today I am joined by Vineeta Prasad, a Registered Clinical Counselor in British Columbia and the founder of Feeling & Healing Wellness. Vineeta is a wellness enthusiast and has built a community through mindfulness techniques such as yoga, meditation, and breathwork. All three have the power to heal wounds, provide a routine for the uncentered, and allow for self-awareness.

Vineeta’s community combines fact-based therapy with holistic wellness practices. Instead of offering two separate entities, Vineeta bridges the gap to understand the individual and match wellness practices to the circumstance. It is not a one size fits all program because everyone in the community has a different story. Vineeta breaks it down in a safe space with coping skills to take home. Today, we learn healing is ongoing, and we need multiple mechanisms on our journey.

Join me on today’s episode as Vineeta shares what led her to create her wellness brand and why community is so important in healing your past trauma.

Topics Covered:

• Healing is a continuous process and travels at its own pace
• Holistic wellness encompasses a variety of practices for every day
• Self awareness is vital on your healing journey
• Always have a routine to recenter your mindset
• You are in full control of how you heal
• Bridging the gap between fact-based therapy and a holistic approach

Today I am joined by Alexandra Cohl, a PR and Marketing consultant for podcasters and podcast host of The Pod Broads. Her background as a writer and educator led her to a natural talent for research and analysis to create her company, POD.DRALAND.

Alexandra’s story is one of individuality and strife. She takes her life experiences and shapes them to discover more about herself and her passions at heart. She knows immediately when something is not hitting the mark, and she pivots just as quickly to adjust her reality to something brighter and more majestic. She is committed to evolving and improving herself and thereby offering the same to others through her work.

As Alexandra’s story unfolds, we learn to lean into our passions from the start, to be unafraid of learning new things, and to share our hardships with like-minded individuals to empower us to continue to grow and transform our lives.

Topics Covered:

• Life experiences can shape your interests and career choices
• Words and stories mean something and should be intentional
• Collective trauma and the potential to heal those wounds
• Empowerment through sharing
• Podcasts have free and valuable information
• Self-promotion and a judgment-free zone
• Learning new things at any phase of life

Today I am joined by Vasavi Kumar, actor, comedian, coach, and soon to be author of her new book, Say It Out Loud. Vasavi helps female entrepreneurs find their voice in life, in business, and on camera.

How do you find your voice? Simply, say what you’re feeling out loud. Vasavi tells us by giving our feelings a voice, there’s release giving life to how we actually feel. The only way to build confidence is to pay attention to how you feel, honor it, and don’t let anyone, including yourself, disrespect you.

Listen to your body and don’t live life halfway. Join us on today’s episode as Vasavi teaches us a multitude of ways to improve your life by being exactly who you are.

Topics Covered:

• Owning your feelings
• Ways to build confidence
• A multitude of ways to love yourself
• Why we need accountability
• Self exploration to cover all aspects of life
• How to be your most authentic self

Today I am joined by Lisa Caprelli, author of the Children’s Unicorn Book Series, Unicorn Jazz. Lisa started her dream career in a Benjamin Button fashion in 2018. She went from working with CEOs and professors to elementary school children and even babies, teaching one best marketing practices and the other how to celebrate their differences and self-regulate their emotions.

We’re all unique and different, and Unicorn Jazz teaches us to celebrate each other’s perspectives. “We need you to be who you are!” The world needs you and you, etc. In this world, we all have to be constantly learning, growing, and changing, so we need everyone and their brilliance!

Lisa begs the question, are you fulfilled in your life? It’s the constant growth and adaptation of our being that shows us it’s meant to be. She tells us to do things you love and you will be happy, and even better, then you can pour that happiness into others.

Join me on today’s episode as Lisa illustrates how Unicorn Jazz isn’t only for children, but also for the CEO and everyone in between.

Topics Covered:

• Learning to self-regulate emotions
• Celebrating different perspectives
• How to be fulfilled in life
• Teaching children the fundamentals of what every adult should practice
• Passion and eagerness can take you beyond your dreams
• How to keep grounded and maintain a work life balance

I am joined by Alessia Wisniewski, my friend of twenty-five years, as she interviews me about my professional and personal life. Currently, I am the creator and podcast host of Ylani Talks — a podcast that redefines self-care and love for your mental health. I began this project in 2020, as an extension of my previous phase at Ylani Salcedo, and I continue to share my insights into what it is like to be a business owner as well as how to improve wellness through blog posts, podcast episodes, affirmations, and much more!

In today’s episode, I discuss with Alessia my typical morning routine, why I decided to pursue a career discussing topics of health and wellness, and how my mindset has shifted over the years. As someone who strives to redefine self-care and public perceptions of mental health, I want to be known for my kindness and the relationships that I have, coming from a place of both genuine grace and gratitude. I believe that different perspectives are crucial to growing Ylani Talks in order to embrace all that is, no matter what we experience in our profession or everyday life.

Join us in this week’s episode as I discuss my hopes and aspirations for the future, both professionally and personally, including what listeners can expect for the future of Ylani Talks. We will discuss these topics and much more!

Topics Covered:

• Learn more about my inspiration behind Ylani Talks
• Why I decided to pursue a career discussing topics of health and wellness
• What my typical daily routine looks like
• How I have changed and shifted my mindset over the years
• My hopes and aspirations for the future, both professionally and personally

I am joined by Xanthe Appleyard, co-founder of Oh Sierra, a Los Angeles and Tulum-based creative agency. As a creative agency that specializes in strategy, design, and hospitality, this company helps content creators develop strategies that attract aligned opportunity, a loyal community, and a culture of work and play. Xanthe began her company in 2020 after buying a house in Mexico. In today’s episode, Xanthe discusses how she leaped into the unknown by manifesting her dream and taking small steps toward her vision.

Additionally, we discuss the topics of learning how to embrace a more nomadic lifestyle as well as changing the trajectory of one’s life. By stepping into uncomfortable situations or challenging ourselves to try new experiences, we are able to grow as individuals. In Xanthe’s experience, this required moving to Tulum, Mexico, and beginning her company. We also discuss how Xanthe was able to make such a successful business by harnessing a digital community that has since grown and expanded.

Join us in this week’s episode as we discuss topics including how being a leader means owning your expertise as well as learning how to embrace a more nomadic lifestyle and making dramatic changes to how you decide to live life. We will discuss these topics and much more!

Topics Covered:

• How being a leader means owning your expertise
• Learning how to embrace a more nomadic lifestyle and making dramatic changes to how you decide to live life
• Importance of creating and fostering a digital community
• How entrepreneurship can be lonely and having a social support network helps you to grow as a person
• What goes into creating a successful business as well as efficient strategies

Today, I’m joined by Joy Larkin, Founder and Life Coach of Live Narc Free — a platform to help empower and help individuals overcome narcissistic abuse. Since 2010, she has helped victims heal, move on, and recover from narcissistic abuses. Joy believes that moving forward requires accepting the situation for what it is, having faith, and trusting your own intuition. She also describes what narcissistic abuse looks like, a type of emotional abuse that causes an individual to manipulate another individual, and how it manifests itself in a relationship.

In our conversation, we cover everything from Joy’s motivation in creating Live Narc Free and how she has learned to love herself even when she was surrounded by the destructive behaviors of others. As she mentions in our conversation, moving forward from narcissistic abuse requires an individual to practice self-love and take care of themselves emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

Joy is also an advocate for empowering survivors who have been abused by narcs. She helps individuals accomplish this by helping them to become a better and stronger version of themselves, to move on, and live in peace. Listen in to hear more of our conversation about narcissistic abuse and how to understand traits of a toxic relationship.

Topics Covered:

• Joy describes narcissistic abuses and her own personal journey
• How to understand traits of a toxic relationship
• What moving forwards might look like
• Learning how to love yourself even when you are surrounded by the destructive behaviors of others
• How to take care of your own well-being and ways to ensure that you are practicing self-care

Today, I’m joined by Poonam Rahman of Virtue Mental, an international nonprofit providing free mental health resources to historically marginalized communities and individuals who have recently immigrated to the United States. She is also the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Shattering Bias in S.T.E.A.M. — a platform that elevates and empowers women around the world to have access to free academic and professional resources.

In our conversation, we cover everything from strategies in looking after your own mental health to the inspiration that spurred Poonam to create Virtue Mental. As she mentions, mental health may manifest beyond the physical and mental dimensions we normally discuss, it is an overlapping issue that requires a nuanced approach to treatment. At Virtue Mental, Poonam addresses mental health with education to address the root causes of mental health by providing mental health supports.

Poonam is also an advocate for empowering minority women in the sciences and arts. We discuss her book and how her writing focuses on the representation of marginalized women. Listen in to hear more of our conversation about gender empowerment in S.T.E.A.M. and  improving mental health.

Topics Covered:

• What is mental health beyond its physical and mental dimensions?
• Strategies to looking after your own mental health
• What does S.T.E.A.M. mean and stand for?
• Empowering minority women in the sciences and arts
• Working on self-care and improving mental health

Today I am joined by our guest Lauren Popish, Founder of The Wave Podcasting — a podcasting platform for women to tell their unique stories! Her company empowers women along the journey creating a podcast from its beginnings as an idea until its final production. She provides services that help content creators with show note writing as well as podcast audio editing. Creating a seamless transition from start to finish, allows content creators to share their stories, ideas, and be vulnerable through a medium that elevates their voices.

Join us on this week’s episode as we discuss the topics of the pandemic and how its presence has had a profound impact on the trajectories of our health and wellbeing. Lauren also discusses how adopting a healthy and positive mindset during these uncertain times can allow us to better adapt to our changing circumstances.

We then dive deep to learn more about Lauren’s experience starting her company after struggling with public speaking, her experiences as a founder, and the opportunity to use podcasting as a tool to share impactful stories. Listen in as we discuss these topics, and much more!

Topics Covered:

• The mindset of enjoying the journey as opposed to focusing on the outcome
• How to learn from challenges and make them an opportunity to learn from the past
• The beginning of the creation of the Wave Podcasting
• The influence of work and social environments on our overall well-being
• The impact of podcasting and how it provides an opportunity to share individual stories

Resources Mentioned:

Today, I’m joined by Laura Lorta and Ashley Durden of BellaValiente, a mentorship community for women who want to achieve their goals through motivation, support and accountability. Laura and Ashley offer weekly email check-ins, bi-weekly self-development chats and monthly meetings for members. There’s also a catalog of snackable self-help videos and recordings of  previous meetings so that members can dig into whatever topic interests them.

In our conversation, we cover everything from their current self-care routines to how they’ve grown as entrepreneurs through their latest venture. They share how their friendship has blossomed since they started BellaValiente and the benefits of collaborating rather than being a solopreneur.

We also talk about the power of affirmations, which have been a consistent part of both of their self-care practices. We discuss how to stay flexible and curious about your routine while staying rooted in what brings you joy no matter which season of life you’re in.

Listen in to hear more of our conversation about achieving balance and alignment in business and beyond.

Topics Covered:

• Ashley and Laura’s journey from sorority sisters to co-owners of BellaValiente
• How motherhood has influenced Laura’s drive and goal setting
• The mindset shift that comes with entrepreneurship
• How to tell when your self-care routine is no longer serving you
• Affirmations that are really speaking to Laura and Ashley right now
• How they approach tough business conversations
• Their goal and vision for BellaValiente

To kick off season four, I wanted to dive into what’s been going on since I last recorded in October and what I have planned for this season! In this episode, I recap major milestones, guest episodes that I’ve recorded over the past couple of months, and how I’m doing physically and mentally.

I’m so excited to share the inspiring and thought-provoking conversations that I’ve recorded with guests for this season. I’ve had the chance to sit down with authors and entrepreneurs to talk about the intersection of business and personal life, mindset shifts, and just general real human discussions. I’ve also updated the style and structure of the podcast, and I get into some of the details of that in today’s episode.

Listen in to catch up with what’s going on in my life and learn more about what to expect for season four of Ylani Talks.

Topics Covered:

• How having Covid affected my holiday season
• Highlights from recording with guests for this season
• The story behind the new Ylani Talks logo, theme song and overall branding
• Updates on my copywriting business and merch
• Mental and physical results from doing the Whole30

Welcome to Ylani Talks, the podcast that's redefining self-care and love for your mental health, hosted and created by me, Ylani Salcedo. Each episode explores themes of mindset, healing, intuition, and more. In addition to candid conversations with guests, you can also expect solo episodes where I get real about what’s going on behind the scenes. Join me as I celebrate growth, highlight different perspectives and share tools to help you make it through, even when it feels absolutely impossible.

Closing season 3 is an episode with Ylani on The Pod Broads podcast published in March of 2021. The Pod Broads is a podcast about women in podcasting produced and founded by Alexandra Cohl. Listen to hear Ylani speak about her self-care journey, the direct impact dance has had in life for her, a reflection of an Ylani talks. episode, and more. Hear this conversation to be inspired to move forward in even the most challenging times.

This episode features guest Amber Hagberg. Amber is a yoga teacher and life coach living out her days in Costa Rica. In this episode, she speaks about her own yoga practice, how women can prioritize themselves through yoga, the importance of strengthening your inner world, and more. She even shares the experience clients have through her group coaching. Listen and learn how trust is built during difficult times for inner resilience.

We all need a chance to catch up! Listen to the only solo episode of season 3 with the founder and podcast host, Ylani Salcedo. In this episode, you’ll get to hear the latest personal updates and other topics. This includes podcasting advice, life changes, mental health, and more. She also shares listener and guest reviews. Tune in and learn that as long as you’re working towards self-improvement it always counts.

Finding peace of mind looks different for everyone. Listen to the guest on this episode, Lauren Williams, who shares what that looks like for her. She also speaks about friction in your spirit and what that means, what spirituality means to her, and the art of simply existing. Also hear about her own self-discovery through her podcast, Imperfectly Phenomenal Woman, as she has conversations with women who share their own limiting beliefs that hold them back from living a fulfilling life. Learn how to make mental health a priority no matter what’s going on in life.

Choices are something we all have and guest Kelly Travis does a great job in describing this. In this episode, you’ll also hear her speak about the societal barriers she’s overcome, how perfectionism isn’t realistic, the importance of challenging thoughts, her mental health challenges, a mental health myth she’d like to debunk, and much more. Listen to learn how to the pivots in your life.

Learning how everything is connected in life is incredibly useful for all self-care practices. Guest Tara Fischer shares how interconnectedness is involved between what you go through and your body, how your mindset can change a lot, the effect of visualization, her connection to surfing, her work as a coach, and more. Tune in and become more confident that your own experiences are beneficial to the greatest changes of your life.

Trusting life’s timing isn’t easy but its benefits are more than fruitful. In this episode, guest Jodi-Ann Walker shares how she’s leaned into this notion, how having faith has aided her, why reducing comparison is necessary, manifesting, and so much more. Tune in and learn what going with the flow can really mean.

Resilience is something that carries survivors of abuse far into their healing. In this episode guest Whytli Rogers shares her story as a survivor of sexual abuse, how her own decision to do things differently helped her healing, the impact of religion and finding spirituality, and much more. Tune in and be motivated to build yourself back up no matter the situation.

Wanting more for yourself and your career comes with a lot of trial and error. In this episode guest, Brenda Umana speaks about how entrepreneurship was something she fell into and how tying in mindfulness into the marketing services she offers is where she’s found the most success. Also, learn how multidimensionality can exist and the reasons why embracing that could be the most powerful decision. Be inspired to trust where life is leading you along your own personal journey.

Beginning season 3 is an episode of Ylani as a guest on the No Bad Vibes podcast, hosted and created by Jodi-Ann Walker. Her podcast spreads more joy into the lives of anyone that comes across her episodes. Listen to this conversation as Ylani shares about the journey that has lead her to the role she’s in today, podcasting, self-care, purging, and so much more. Hear this inspirational conversation to live life with more meaning.

An ayurvedic lifestyle holistically balances you and can be applied to all areas of your life. This episode’s guest Lilli Markle speaks about ayurveda from the doshas to how to mindfully live so that you’re balanced and even shares what has worked for her. She also speaks about energy alchemy, we vs I concept, and shares a visualization meditation to bring awareness to your energy. Listen to the very last episode of season 2 as Lilli eloquently informs about many things that benefit our mind, body, and soul.

This podcast turns 1! Listen in as Ylani shares her personal experience in creating Ylani talks. while also sharing where she gets her inspiration from and other things you might not know about her. You’ll also get a chance to hear her and guests from seasons 1 and 2 answer some personal questions in celebration of the 1 year anniversary. We want to thank everyone for their countless support and all of the Ylani talks. guests in this episode, every other one that’s been published, and future ones too.

Loss and a turbulent upbringing can lead to destructive behaviors to simply escape the circumstances going on in life. Guest Nicole Rose Antonecchia wrote a book about her own circumstances called Beautifully Broken. In this episode, we take a closer look at the topics of addiction, substance use, a prison sentence, loss, family, and redemption through her eyes. As you listen, you’ll also be able to hear how much of her willingness has allowed her to keep going no matter what she’s been faced with.

Imposter Syndrome is incredibly common especially in persons who are most successful, but that doesn’t mean what this experience brings is true. In this episode, Ylani shares her own impostor experience throughout her life and how it comes up today. She also dives into the ways she becomes aware of its effects while having ongoing tools that support her well-being. Listen in and feel less alone in something that’s more familiar than you think.

The way we think about style changes from person-to-person but what’s certain are the feelings we feel with the clothes that we do have. Holly Chayes, this episode’s guest, shares her views on style and how she helps clients through her styling services. Listen to how much our closets truly hold, how to love your own style even when you don’t think you have one, and a lot more that gives a different perspective to the relationship with clothing.

Living with a limited mindset does exactly what it sounds like, it limits you. Moments, upbrings, belief systems, and society brings this into our lives but as we experience more it becomes clear what works or doesn’t work for our well-being. Guest Karen Maloney shares an insightful conversation on what it’s like when you start living intuitively, how perfectionism plays into our limiting beliefs, and the work that she does for women as a coach. She even shares a quick meditation for the audience to do. Listen and be inspired to live more fully from within.

Doing what you love as a career is a great benefit but stumbling upon it is even more rewarding. In this episode, guest Laura Lorta shares how she started copywriting and what she offers small businesses today. The topic of self-care also comes up from self-care as a Latina with roots from the Dominican Republic, how lifestyle changes can influence others, and having a foundation of support that brings balance to all the roles of life. Tune in and be reminded of the value you should always put on yourself.

Each person’s self-esteem rules so much of their life but there’s such a pivotal effect that happens when we’re teenagers. In this episode, guest Ashley Olafsen shares how she created workshops and summer programs for teenage girls, the routes you can take to become a TEDx speaker, and how her passions lead her to create a consulting company. Listen in on how motivation can lead you to different places in your life.

Family is such a fundamental part of what you value, how you move through relationships, and what you carry with you throughout your life. In this episode, guest Amanda Salcedo shares the importance of family, what it’s like being a mother of two young children, how she practices self-care, and the values she has because of her upbringing. Listen to get a sense of how growing up with love and a big family shapes you.

Prepping a new podcast season takes dedication, direction, and brainstorming. In the first episode of the second season, Ylani talks about what she did in order to produce quality content for the episodes to come. She also speaks about where her self-care, love, and mental health are on the day of this recording. Tune in to get perspectives on being a podcaster and lots more.

The founder and podcast host of Ylani talks. welcomes you to the podcast! In this trailer, you’ll hear who Ylani Salcedo is, her aim to redefine self-care and love for your mental health through episodes, audio clips from some of the guests on ways they define self-care, and more. In season, this podcast is published on a bi-weekly schedule on Tuesdays or Fridays.

Mental health counselor and founder of Breakthrough Mental Health Counseling, Shafeena Khan-Salim, sits down with Ylani to speak candidly on a variety of topics. From mental health, cultural stigmas, generational trauma, and the effects technology has on our well-being this conversation shines light of many underlining triggers that make us who we are this day in age. It encourages safety in seeking out help through therapy and how awareness is needed to move forward, always. And we can’t forget about technology. Technology is useful but it’s been the cause of many underlying mental health issues seen today.

Listen in on how to be okay with getting support, how culture is important but can affect a person negatively, and tips on how to create a more balanced lifestyle that works for you not against you.

----

More about Shafeena:

Transformation is no stranger to battling more than one situation in life. Ylani and featured guest Erin Elizabeth Downing speak about how transformation has been a huge part of her journey. From autoimmune diseases that had her in pain for years to her finding holistic approaches that helped her not only with health but also her whole existence. Today you could find her living her truth and writing her 1st book on kundalini, a yoga practice. Listen in to hear a truly inspirational conversation that can have any listener come back to themselves without judgment and the realization behind the power of intuition.

----

Find out more about Erin:

Ylani shares her personal journey on what has brought her face to face with some heartbreaking moments. Even with years of difficulty, she has been able to find peace more than anything and tools to keep using even as challenging moments will always happen in life. Her mental, emotional, and spiritual health have been put to the test many times over but with a realization that her life wasn’t to be defined by a cloud that had been hovering for more years than she could count, she’s set to always move forward. Tune in to hear more of what she’s been through and why mental health and emotional health topics are content she was moved to focus on most.

-----

Supporting links to posts on Ylani Salcedo’s website:

Managing your own business while making sure you’re balanced in all other areas is something Ylani and Lauren Anderson, a wedding photographer, speak about in this episode. Even before Lauren’s career took off to what it is today, she remembers how photography was always something she was drawn to from a young age. From capturing photos for fun to having a support system to start her business, she’s found that making sure she takes time to do inner work allows her to show up well. She also teaches yoga on the side after finding her love for it. Listen in for photographer tips, advice for running a business, and how to start a yoga practice even when you’re unsure about it.

-----

Information on photography by Lauren and more:

This podcast episode isn’t the usual format when featuring a guest. Ylani wanted more than one person to give tips on WFH, especially during social distancing across the world and the shift coronavirus, or COVID-19, the pandemic has had on many lifestyles. It’s important to hear from others in what they do to help lessen the anxiety that comes with working from home in general.

Whether you’re in this temporarily until social distancing is lifted, you’ve been remote working for years, or you’ll be transitioning into this for the long run this episode is for you.

The 5 guests included in this episode are Julia Seraphine, Ben Reuter, Calla Hamlin, Erika Stoerkel, and Patricia Clahar. Each and every individual offers valuable points on how to make working from home productive, bring balance to your life, and so much more. Even the most experienced remote workers have challenges in their careers and if you find yourself in this too don’t hesitate to listen to this episode over and over again. To find out where you can find each guest see below in the order that they’re heard.

-----

Julia Seraphine: Social Media Expert and Manager + Jewelry Business Owner (WFH for 3 Years)