The Experience of Wonder

Join Ally and I in our final episode to hear about everything we learned, how we’ve changed in the last year, what’s next for us… and of course… To highlight some of our favorite memories from the stories we recorded. There were so many amazing moments we were lucky enough to share with guests and it made the last year, for us, SO much more enjoyable. The connection we had with others throughout the pandemic kept us sane and focused on our values.

Desiree is an artist who creates and manufactures plant-inspired goodies - including pins, keychains, tote bags, greeting cards, notepads and more. She is in over 800 shops throughout the United States, Canada and Internationally!  Today, she’s joining us to talk about her journey and the dedication it took to get here - and celebrating the 5th anniversary of it being a true business entity. Shop her line at https://paper-anchor.com/ Desiree shares a glimpse into her childhood and how art played a role in her life – from relatives that were self-taught portrait artists to realizing she was always doodling in her notebook instead of doing classwork in school. She always enjoyed drawing and being artistic and is self-taught in watercolor paint. When Desiree first started out, she mainly focused on card stock products - wedding invitations and floral art. She wanted to find a unique niche that was relevant to her – and while she didn’t have a cat or dog, she did have a lot of house plants. Bringing that little piece of herself into her work was a great decision, because her art seemed to take off from there. Desiree has been working on the business for almost 10 years in some capacity, but business really started to pick up with wholesale requests from those who wanted her products in retail stores. In a matter of 6 months, it seemed like she needed to hire her first employee, find a studio space, hire a second employee, and manufacture more of her products for retail stores. Desiree shares a laugh with Ally and Sam when they discuss the fact that she comes up with all the content for her cards and designs – including a strawberry card that says “I’ll always pick you”. As the episode comes to a close, Desiree shares her grand vision for herself and her business. She is focusing on growth and scaling with other employees so she can ultimately have someone run it from the US while she lives in Paris for a few years, taking in more inspiration and coming up with new product ideas.

Sam and Ally have a candid conversation about how we can all get caught up in the hustle of life and the status of achievement whether we intend to or not. We wonder about things like if we’re being productive enough with our time, or savvy enough for our future selves.  But at the end of the day, it’s important to ask - is all that energy feeding your soul or depleting it? In this episode, we explore the Hustle Culture that seems to surround us today and how that can lead to confusion, frustration, and burnout - plus some tips on  how you can use it to your advantage for what matters most to you. We’re often taught to work hard as a way of proving success even when we have the option of doing something different. We cover the pressures of proving yourself and how that can be a productive energy or one that really drains you quite quickly. We discover how everyone (no surprise) is different! Some like to work towards a big mission and others want to create a legacy they’ve personally created … and yet still others want to build families or live slowly in the moment. The first step is knowing that what may be fulfilling for one person might not be for another, and the second is having the presence to know you can change your state at any time. In order for you to truly believe you can have something you have to identify what kind of limiting beliefs you have already programmed in your mind. This means you have to find evidence to prove to yourself that whatever you desire or might want in the future is something that truly is available to you. Often these are referred to as scarcity and abundance mindsets and Sam and Ally discuss which mindsets they have pre-programmed and the new ones they have developed/are developing. The power of the subconscious and the way you talk to yourself matters and you’ll get so much further with self compassion than you will with self criticism. If there's one thing that you can take away from this conversation and all the different factors that influence our day-to-day lives, please remember that there’s a culture available to you of slowness and ease just as much as there can be one of hustle and grind. Mentioned Resources: I Will Teach You to Be Rich - Book Rec & Find your Human Design type

Alyssa has always loved acting, but she spent a lot of time in her young adult life trying to pour her energy into a more ‘professional’ career that would provide a secure lifestyle. Over time, the passion she had for acting kept leading her back to the stage - so one day she quit her full time job, started auditioning, and created her own business as an entrepreneur to make the money she wanted while keeping a flexible schedule for herself. And now? Alyssa has written and will be performing her very own one-woman show LIVE in October: Always a Banana, Never the Bride: An Ode to Broadway's "Lesser Ladies". Get your ticket today at www.alwaysabananashow.com Alyssa talks about how she got used to reinventing herself all the time when she was  growing up because her dad was in the military – from adopting a southern accent in Mississippi to a skater girl phase in Hawaii. She always had fun assimilating the culture around her into who she was and how she perceived the world. Alyssa discovered dance young and LOVED it – she was on the high school team, which was a huge part of her experience during that time in her life and it took her to dancing in college for the Penn State Lionettes. The girls on her dance team were and still are some of her best friends in life. During this time, though, Alyssa reflects on this desire she also had to get straight A’s and be a great student, really focusing on her studies. Alyssa talks about how she got the idea to write her first book, 35 Days of Confidence, and realized it wasn’t as successful as she wanted because maybe people didn’t want to be told how to be more confident. Sam laughs and shares that she was activated when she found out Alyssa wrote a book on confidence and was annoyed by it – but still bought and read the book. Alyssa drops a HUGE surprise in that she’s written and will soon be performing her ONE WOMAN SHOW - Always a Banana, Never the Bride: An Ode to Broadway's "Lesser Ladies" that she will be performing, on-stage, for one-weekend only in October 2022.

Govinda joins us today to share her journey of growing up with her family, traveling the world, studying sustainability and perhaps most importantly finding what keeps her grounded along the way. She shared how placing her trust in the world over and over again has brought her wonderful experiences, rich memories, and a desire to always explore and let life play out however it was meant to. The first thing that comes to mind is that her parents always lead by example instead of instruction and that really made a difference in how Govinda saw the world and tried new things. We discuss how people will often try to tell you to do things without embodying that themselves and it's an important lesson to learn in leadership, life, parenting and everything in between.  She inherited her talent of cooking and her supportive nature from her mom, and on her dad’s side she’s watched him live his dream throughout his whole life as a musician despite what others may have said which was a powerful role model to have as a child. Then, her adventurous spirit came naturally after following in her big brother’s steps since she was little knowing her brother was someone she could place her trust with.  A memorable life experience was leaving all her things behind for international travel with her brother and their friend, specifically their stint in France when her brother was surfing a lot, they drove up and down the coast for 10 days and slept in hammocks, she would go on runs, tan in the sun, swim, surf, wake up at sunrise … It was a dream!  A recent moment of reflection was during the pandemic when she was forced to sit down and think about what I wanted to do. It was a perfect opportunity to be upfront about what she truly wants and how she likes to spend her time. Govinda shares a little bit about her perspective on trust, as it’s not so much a trust in herself, but it’s a trust in the world. She used a skydiving metaphor to share how some people would prefer to learn how to skydive and pull their own parachute, and then there are others who would prefer to let go and trust an expert to do it with them. It says a lot about control and how sometimes letting go can have many unexpected rewards along the way.  What would Govinda share with her younger self? Stability and routine is more beneficial than you might think, finding what grounds you and maintaining that can have really beautiful effects as well just as much as going with the flow can.

Why are we here and what is the point of living? This question has been debated by philosophers for thousands of years, but is now becoming more relevant than ever in a modern  world where so many of us can share our confusion and anxieties about life globally and in just a matter of seconds. Join Sam, Ally and Dan as they explore everything from Nihilism to Existential Depression and Angst. This episode explores how humans have evolved past tribal cultures, organized religions, and just getting by in survival mode to experiences that are almost too comfortable - leaving so much to be considered and decided by each individual. And believe us, you’ll want to save a download of this for when you’re having a mid-life crisis well before you’re at your “mid-life” point.

Jena was born in the midwest and when she first discovered Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, she fell in love with it immediately. She created a lifestyle where she had the freedom to train multiple times a day, every day - getting her black belt faster than most people ever will. Now, she’s a professional MMA fighter for LFA, with dreams of competing in the Octagon as part of a UFC fight card. Her next pro bout is happening in Phoenix on July 8, 2022. Let’s go Jena!! Jena talks about discovering and falling in love with jiu jitsu, training every day and getting her black belt in just a few years. She discusses her highly competitive nature and drive to be the best at whatever she does. Jena shares her passion for physical intelligence - knowing what her body can do and how to use it masterfully. She is currently training with a dream to be on a fight card for the UFC in the near future and we are ALL FOR IT. Jena discusses the mental toll it can take to sign a fight contract and then have to wait as bout after out falls through. She has a 4 fight contract and is still waiting to find someone who is willing to fight her. After the episode, a nice surprise came through and she was scheduled for July 8th in Phoenix – go Jena!!

From growing up in a small country town to retiring in his 30’s - Noah’s story is one to hear. With two psychologist parents, a college journey into pre-med that he ended up hating, and a vacation safari that almost ended in his death, you can’t make this stuff up. Listen now to add a little more fun into your day. Noah talks about growing up in a small town in North Carolina, where mustangs and shaved heads were so commonplace he assumed this is what the rest of the country was like. His parents were both psychologists and Noah remembers taking tests and assessments that needed to be administered professionally as the “practice student” for his mom. Noah majored in pre-med and reflects on what it was like to have his internship in the cardiology ward - nervous to enter rooms and start conversations with patients that look like they might die right in front of him. He experienced a heavy emotional load that led to depression during this period and he knew immediately this was not the path for him.  Noah talked about feeling aimless - thinking everything would get better after college, but it didn’t. He got his first job using his degree, biology, in a scientific lab. He mainly just felt bored - he was never super interested in his job so he had to learn to reconcile why people work and where else he could find fun and enjoyment in his life. Noah takes us on a recollection of his journey to see mountain gorillas in the Congo… in a war zone. It starts with a trip to the airport in Nairobi at 4am and ends with a police escort to their hotel, in a tank, late into the night.

Have you ever wondered how you can make an impact on the world? Maybe you’ve daydreamed about working in a non-profit as a marketing expert, or traveling to New York to create art on stage, or teaching English in Istanbul? Charlie just so happens to have experienced all of that and more in his lifetime, not to mention his current career in the cannabis industry. In this episode, he shares how his love of theater has taught him to be continuously tenacious in all pursuits and that will ultimately lead to success. Charlie shares how growing up with super successful and accomplished parents set a high metric for success as he grew up to also do something noteworthy. Ultimately the biggest impact on his life here was how it gave him a very dedicated work ethic now into adulthood. We talk about struggles that we all can experience as we grow up and as we discover them we can continue to learn more about ourselves. For Charlie one of these discoveries was when he was diagnosed with dyslexia. He hopes that by sharing these challenges, it can help someone else who could be experiencing the same thing and not realizing there are resources and ways to adapt to those challenges Charlie expresses how landing  a lead in one of his school plays was a turning point in his life and was a huge confidence boost for him that spurred into a lifetime of being comfortable in the spotlight. We discuss how the differences between the west and east coast can influence our perception and life experiences dramatically. There seems to be more flexibility and room for expression in California… no surprise there! Charlie also shares more about what it was like to build a recording studio with his band to produce their first full length album… Now that the pandemic has subsided, they are looking ahead to a hopeful southwest states tour soon!

Stephen is a lighting design expert, DJ and founder of Stephen Louis Lighting. He operates lighting, lasers, sound and video. In April of 2022, he was contracted by the infamous english DJ, Duke Dumont, to design and operate the set at Coachella. He’s not only passionate about being the best at what he does, but also mentoring others to learn and grow in the field. In fact, he has taught Ally’s brother Paul who now manages some of the shows for his business.  Stephen shares how his father has always tried to push Stephen in a different direction than he went in life - no one in the family was really a “creative”. One thing he remembers always admiring about his dad was his ability to know what was up-and-coming and work in that field – including Cable TV, the TV guide channel and more. We talk to Stephen about school, one of his favorite teachers, the transition into college and how he ultimately made the decision to stop with formal education and start with his own passion project. We discuss the idea that anyone can truly be successful no matter how many other people in the world do what you do - because YOU are the only one of you, you have your own network of friends and people you know, and you can go deep and learn more than anyone else around you. People will pay for expertise they don’t want to learn themselves. Stephen deep dives into the evolution of lighting technology, hardware and software over the last few decades and how staying on top of the capacity new tools can offer has really served him in making his business a success.

Krysten is an engineer, mother, baker, fitness enthusiast and overall rockstar of a human. She is Sam’s sister-in-law, and during this episode we get to share her perspective on what it was like growing up in a family full of masculine energy and how that impacted where she is now.  We talk about how education can be confusing for a kid - if you don’t learn the same way everyone else does you may get labeled as dumb or special needs just because the teachers don’t know how to gauge what you’re capable of. Next, what it was like growing up as the only girl cousin, surrounded by 12+ boys can be interesting and challenging, and it often felt like trying to stand out, be aggressive, or prove herself was the only way to be seen.  How Krysten uncovered passions like dance, aerial, and baking helped channel feminine energy in life and connect to different parts of herself she wasn’t always familiar with.  Krysten reflects on growing up and how she always knew she didn’t want to get in trouble even though her parents didn’t provide a rigid structure or a lot of rules and discipline and how she wants to emulate that style in her parenting now that she has a daughter of her own.

Linda takes us on the journey of her lifetime… from growing up in the 60’s with 5 siblings to the lessons she learned from three marriages and, ultimately, what it means to face cancer head on - twice.  This episode takes a dive into so many moments that Linda experienced and overcame at all different stages in her life and it’s an amazing lesson in shifting perspectives and learning when to put yourself first.  A “girl friday”, a fighter, and introvert turned “life of the party” - there is so much to take away from her incredible story. Don’t let this be the one you miss.

We invited Ally's mom to this very special episode to talk about all things endorphins and exercise today as they have a half marathon and 5k coming up, but really what that means is how to function and feel good as a human. We discover and relate together about how we know taking actions for ourselves is necessary and make us feel better over time, but also keep it real about how hard it can be to be consistent over time with exercise and other good-for-us habits. Join us and take away a few tips about how to add endorphins (and maybe a little spice?!) to your life!

Carolina moved to the US from Chile with her family when she was just a little girl and didn’t speak any English. She often felt like she didn’t fit it anywhere - she was too American for her family and too Chilean for her friends. It created a lot of obstacles she had to learn to navigate without any help or guidance. She didn’t let that stop her though - she kept at it and she learned and thrived and ultimately started her OWN Conversational Spanish Language Immersion school (Pura Buena Onda) to help adults of all levels learn to speak Spanish. Check out this episode for an eye opening look at how cultures can clash even when we don’t intend for them too.

Carlos inspires us in this episode to dream big, to share our stories and to embrace what we’re passionate about - even if it’s more than one thing. Pouring what really matters to you into everything you do can reap great rewards and he believes everyone has a story to share. From feeling rejected and invisible as a student, to growing into an educator who has trained and taught under-represented students all over the state – Carlos gives it his all.  He shares his writing ‘hack’ of creating a playlist for every single book he writes so he can stay in the frame of mind he needs for those characters and talks about how impactful it was to have a government appointed seat that helped inform educational frameworks under Governor Brown.

In this PART 2 tell-all, Ally opens her heart to us and takes us on a journey we’ll remember for a long time. From the excitement and nervousness she felt during her solo travel adventures as a child, to the pain of living through her mom and grandfather’s battles with cancer, and ultimately to the joy and wonder of dreaming about her future as a wedding venue owner - this episode leaves no stone unturned.  Join us to learn more about our beautiful co-host, and (sneak peek) get ready for her online craft shop to open so you can get your own custom decals and more!

Some might know her as Stephanie, but we know her as Becky, she’s a photographer, a gym enthusiast, a loving mother and wife, and one resilient and inspiring human! She shares a story today that is filled with triumphs and achievements, heartbreak, true love and ultimately a guide on how to find your joy that is within all of us despite all circumstances. She is someone who is so loving and caring, you cannot help but to feel her amazing energy and we are thrilled to share a bit of it with the world!

Kendall takes us on her personal journey - starting with how much she loved yoga and wanted to explore that path, to sucking it up and applying for colleges so she could get a degree and ultimately a “real job” to live up to the expectations of those around her. Despite graduating and doing well in school, corporate life just wasn’t for her and about 8 years after she diverged from yoga, she found her way back and is now a teacher, yoga therapist, and personal coach. She has a yoga and rock climbing retreat in Joshua Tree in March 2022 that you can check out on her site at kendallanne.com.  There are so many amazing nuggets about how trauma affects our bodies AND how a regular yoga practice can actually help prevent PTSD. Kendall works with First Responders and is passionate about guiding people to the practices that are right for their body and their journey.

For this last episode of 2021, Sam and Ally share some of their favorite rituals they use to close out the near year and mark transitions. Around the world, everyone celebrates the new year differently, but most importantly they all spark joy and create memories. Join us as we reflect on a big year and an optimistic 2022.

Life is art and art is life. Our conversation with Kyle about his passion for design and fine wine will give you a completely new perspective on what beauty truly is and how to appreciate it within your own life. Whether you feel you’re creative or not, Kyle encourages us all to make things and practice what we’re passionate about. AND he exposes the art world’s best kept secret…that most artists learn by copying the styles and techniques they like from others. He also shares the decisions he had to make to get to where he is today and how he maintains his unwavering sense of self in a world full of external pressures. This episode is an uplifting look at the journeys we are all on, separately and together - and it combines self-reflection with humor in the best thing you’ll listen to all day.