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Nicole Antoinette is the host of the Real Talk Radio podcast, where people come together to talk about the wonderful mess of being human.A recovering self-help addict and former goal-setting coach, Nicole’s mission is to help people get to the heart of what’s true without judgement, and to explore how we can use grit and grace to close the gap between what we say we want and what we actually do.I loved talking with her about her decision to hike more than 400 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail last year, how she successfully started a meditation practice after years of wanting to, the value of doing hard things, and what it really takes to create lasting change. In this episode we talk about:Recovering from “self-help addiction”How Nicole has successfully started a meditation practice after years of wanting toWhat really helps us to make a changeNicole’s decision to hike more than 400 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail last yearWhat she hoped to get out of the experience versus what she got out of itThe value of doing hard thingsHow Nicole’s mindset and approach to self-care changed as a result of her hikeDealing with the identity component of making a change Links mentioned: HeadspaceNicole Antoinette on Pain, Self Reliance, and Completing a 460-Mile Solo Backpacking TripTGGC #80: Taking a humane approach to personal growth with Sarah Kathleen Peck Where to find Nicole:WebsiteTwitterInstagram

Bernadette Pleasant is the creator of Femme, a fusion of sensual movement, dance, meditation, creative visualization and celebration of the feminine form.Femme! as designed, creates sacred, safe spaces for women to explore their femininity; to move in sensual ways, to explore and release emotions, to alter or release beliefs about themselves and to unapologetically love their bodies!Bernadette was such a fun person to talk with. We dove into why people live “half-assed emotional lives” (and how to stop), the power of drumming and how it helps us to reach other levels of our psyche, and the wisdom we can access through our bodies. In this episode we talk about:Bernadette’s own journey that led to the evolution of the Femme movement practiceWhat to expect when you attend a Femme classWhy we begin living “half-assed emotional lives” and how to stopThe power of drumming and how it helps us to reach other levels of our psycheThe wisdom we can access through our bodies Links mentioned:Emotional tour playlists Where to find Bernadette:WebsiteFacebookInstagram

Lady Lu of the Wolves, aka Lulu Brud Zsebe, is an actress on Pretty Little Liars and the wild woman behind the brand OF THE WOLVES.She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and pup.In her free time she's probably playing with plants, re-designing homes or running around in the desert.I loved talking to Lulu about her connection to wolves, how she balances the competing demands of Hollywood acting and her more spiritual work, separating your sense of self-worth from your work, and making conscious decisions as a consumer.  In this episode we talk about:Lulu’s connection to wolvesThe storytelling philosophy behind her business, Of the WolvesThe lessons she learned from interviewing many makers for her websiteHow she balances the competing demands of Hollywood acting and her more spiritual workSeparating your sense of self-worth from your workBalancing and protecting your energy in a busy cityStanding up for your political beliefs within this really difficult climateConscious consumerism and making informed decisions about what you buy Links mentioned:Women Who Run With The Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola EstesThe Alchemist by Paulo CoelhoThe Year of Magical Thinking by Joan DidionThis Changes Everything by Naomi Klein Where to find Lulu:WebsiteInstagram

Clare Barry is a Londoner, writer and founder of Urban Curiosity - a creativity and wellness company that helps busy people slow down and see things differently. Clare writes about creativity and human connection in a digital world and London in the real one. She leads international retreats and Urban Curiosity Walkshops in her hometown; these two-hour sessions are are part digital detox, part creativity class - on foot.By changing her lifestyle after experiencing burn out, Clare fell back in love with London and found solace within the hustle and bustle of the big city. I loved talking to her about ideas for navigating a busy, overwhelming city in a slower, more mindful way, being mindful of when and how we use our smartphones, and periods of consuming information vs. periods of creation.  In this episode we discuss:How rediscovering her passion for creative expression, chronic pain, and grief ultimately led Clare to transform her lifeThe changes that Clare made that led to her falling back in love with LondonIdeas for navigating a busy, overwhelming city in a slower, more mindful wayBeing mindful of when and how we use our smartphonesBeing in periods of consuming information vs. periods of creationLearning the rules so that we can decide when we want to break themWhere to find Clare:WebsiteInstagramTwitterFacebook

Kirsten Hale is a trauma-informed herbalist and witch working to unspell the patterns of personal and collective trauma.She talks regularly to plants, makes potions and serves her kitties.She lives on the colonized territories of the Multnomah, Clackamas and other indigenous peoples in Portland, OR with two cats and a crow.In this episode we talk about what trauma really is, the link between trauma and anti-oppression work, the role that herbs can play in addressing anxiety, and trauma and beginning your own relationship with herbs. In this episode we talk about:What it means to be a trauma-informed herbalistTaking a client-led approach to healing/helping workUnderstanding what trauma actually isThe link between trauma and anti-oppression workThe role that herbs can play in addressing anxiety and traumaKirsten’s journey to becoming a herbalistWhether we need to consult with a trained herbalist or can begin experimenting with herbalism ourselves Links mentioned:Sean DonahueWhere to find Kirsten:WebsiteFacebookInstagram

Shivani Seth is a South Asian American queer woman and the child of 1st generation immigrants from India.She’s a long-time writer, but a new publisher. I loved her article, Healing is Valuable Work and that’s the very topic we dive into in this episode.We chat about how she restructured her life after burn out, how we can come to be more generous with our definition of “work,” and the cultural beliefs we have to undo in order to see the true value of taking care of ourselves.  In this episode we talk about:Exploring the connection between caffeine and anxietyThe impact of warming foods and drinks on our bodiesShivani’s experience of burn out and how she restructured her life as a resultHer transition out of social work and into freelance writingThe Rest for Resistance projectCreating a more generous and inclusive definition of “work”Self-care as a deposit in “the bank" Links mentioned: The First 40 Days by Heng OuThe Chronicles of Elantra by Michelle SagaraRest for ResistanceHealing is Valuable Work How to Take Care of Yourself When You Have Depression

Veronica Yanhs is on a mission to empower women to unapologetically live their lives through kink and BDSM.To her, kink and BDSM are vessels that take people on a transformative journey to become their most confident, empowered, and enlightened self. She sat down to chat with me about the basics of what BDSM and kink are, what it looks like for her to live in a 24/7 dominant/submissive lifestyle, the myths about BDSM that she’d like to dispel, and the transformative power of BDSM and kink.  In this episode we talk about:Veronica’s journey with BDSM and kink (which began at age 4) and how it led to her business Desires Laid BareThe basics of what BDSM isWhat kink means and whether or not everyone is at least a little bit kinkyWhat it looks like to live in a 24/7 dominant/submissive lifestyleWhere Veronica’s desire to be submissive comes from and what it looks like in her relationshipMyths about BDSM that she’d like to dispelThe transformative power of BDSM and kinkVeronica’s advice for dipping your toes into BDSM and kink Links mentioned:For the Potion Master’s Amusement The Insta Pot Where to find Veronica:WebsiteFacebookInstagramYouTubeTwitter

Nicola Salmon is a fertility coach, acupuncturist and naturopath.She was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome at 16 and told she would never have children.She made small tweaks to her health whilst she was training as an acupuncturist and having babies was easy for her.She’s passionate about helping other women get pregnant just as easily.We talk about what acupuncture is and how it works, the power of knowing our cycles, the myths that are perpetuated around fat and fertility, and a whole lot of other goodness. In this episode we talk about:The systems Nicola has in place in order to run her business with young children at homeHer journey of being diagnosed with PCOS and thinking she couldn’t have children to conceiving naturally and eventually helping women with their fertilityHow understanding our cycles can empower us when it comes to conceiving but also in planning our lives more generallyWhat acupuncture is and how it worksThe myths that are perpetuated around fat and fertilityWhy feeling comfortable in your own skin can help improve your fertilityNicola’s advice to anyone who is struggling to conceive right now Links mentioned:Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom is Wrong and What You Really Need to Know by Emily OsterHere and Now appThink Up appLucky Bitch appNurture Fertility JournalWhere to find Nicola:WebsiteFacebookTwitterInstagram

Kait Fowlie is a Toronto-based writer who is interested in wellness and the writing process.Kait and I talk about balancing a day job and creative projects without working all the time, diving deep into journaling as tool for healing, and using archetypes to understand your present mindset and situation.  In this episode we talk about:Balancing a day job and creative projects without working all of the timeKait’s decision to transition into a day job after being a freelancerMaking space for her writing during the eveningsKait’s journey with journallingUsing journalling to understand where you are in your lifeTips for going deeper with your journalling practiceManaging anxiety with journallingUsing archetypes to understand your present mindset and situation Links mentioned:Sacred Contracts by Carolyn Mysse Memories, Dreams, and Reflections by Carl JungKelly Anne MaddoxThe Herbal TarotAutostraddleThe Kickass WitchThe Hoodwitch2 Dope QueensWhere to find Kait:WebsiteTwitterInstagram

Kerrin Smith is the founder of Cool & Thoughtful, an initiative to shift social values from hyper-individualism to empathy by redefining cool as generosity rather than rebellion.I’m completely obsesesed with this concept!We had the most amazing conversation with Kerrin about how meditation can help us process our feelings, blending action & faith when it comes to reaching our goals, and what it looks like (and feels like) to redefine cool for ourselves. In this episode we talk about:Kerrin’s exploration of interfaith work and how it led to her meditation practiceHow meditation can help us feel, process, and learn from our emotionsBlending action and faith when it comes to reaching our goalsWhere Kerrin draws her faith fromThe Cool & Thoughtful project she has created aimed at imagining what the world look like if we understood "cool" as generosity instead of rebellionKerrin’s personal journey from the traditional definition of cool to redefining it as empathetic and thoughtfulPractices for exploring the idea of cool and thoughtful in your own life Links mentioned:Living Beautifully by Pema ChodronElizabeth Gilbert’s talk on creative genius Where to find Kerrin:WebsiteFacebookInstagram

Today’s episode is a special FAQ episode with me again! It’s the last episode before I go on maternity leave but don’t worry - I’ve pre-recorded interviews and we’ll just be switching to publishing them every other week rather than weekly. I’ll be back to recording in the autumn. I’m talking about finding your girl gang, managing your anxiety, moving to a new city, why I haven’t been writing for the past month, what I’ve learned from pregnancy and a lot more.In this episode I talk about:The biggest lesson pregnancy has taught meMy experience of body image during pregnancy and how I’ve coped with body image issues in the pastFind community in my new cityManaging the stress of movingTaking your sense of home with you wherever you goThe practices I find the most grounding when I’m overwhelmedHow I deal with anxietyThe process of creating community onlinePutting yourself out there, even when you’re scared shitless and don’t feel readyWhy I haven’t been writing for the past monthMeeting new friends and finding your girl gangWhether I think it’s appropriate to call grown women “girls”Finding a balance between being ambitious and being gentle with yourselfCreating intimacy with myself and with my husbandThe thing I’ve found most surprising about pregnancyWhat I feel I need as I step into motherhoodThank you so much to everyone who sent in questions; I had so much fun answering them! Links mentioned:The Sassy SHE Oracle The Secret To Transforming Anxiety Is Telling Yourself You Want To Have It The Lively Show 

Laura Jane Williams is the author of Amazon bestseller BECOMING: Sex, Second Chances, and Figuring Out Who the Hell I Am and forthcoming ICE CREAM FOR BREAKFAST: How rediscovering your inner child can make you calmer, happier, and solve your bullsh*t adult problems.She was Grazia's "single girl" columnist until February 2017, is Marie Claire's #BREAKFREE from fear ambassador, and has written about dating, lust and her feelings everywhere from The Guardian to RED to Buzzfeed, The Metro, Stylist, The Telegraph and more. She blogs at Superlatively Rude and is currently writing her third book.This is her second time on the podcast and in this episode we discuss her experience with burn out, why she decided to take a break from writing to become a nanny, the experience of writing her second book, and her considerations around having a child on her own. In this episode we talk about:How Laura prioritizes and chunks down passion projects so that they actually get doneRecognizing the early signs of burn outThe non-linear process of healing from burn outLaura’s 3 rules to Tinder dating and how she ended up with a national dating columnConsidering the option of becoming a single motherHow Laura’s experience nannying three girls turned into the subject for her new bookThe difference between writing her first and second booksThe tiny changes Laura has made to her life after experiencing burn out Links mentioned:TGGC #4: Finding yourself through writing, the art of becoming, & cultivating self-acceptance with Laura Jane WilliamsTGGC #76: How to bullet journal for productivity and personal growth with Kara Benz of Boho BerryThe Doxy Ice Cream for Breakfast Where to find Laura:WebsiteTwitterFacebookInstagram

Chris-Anne Donnelly spends her days creating sacred space and road-mapping potential, branding soulpreneurs and mixing an intoxicating blend of intuition and strategy.She's also the genius behind the Sacred Creator oracle deck - a favourite spiritual, entrepreneurial tool of mine. We had a beautiful conversation about setting firm boundaries around our time, combining work and magic, finding the flow within your day, and the evolution of her manifestation process. In this episode we talk about:Setting firm boundaries around our timeChris Anne’s journey to finding spirituality and starting her businessWhy she doesn’t always use contracts in her businessCombining business/work and magicGetting out of the hustleFinding flow within your work dayHer process of creating the Sacred Creator Oracle deckWorking through “second novel syndrome” to get back into your creative flowChris Anne’s manifestation process Links mentioned: Spells in the city: why an increasing number of women are practising witchcraftSacred Creator OracleAbout the Consciousness Field Project"Consciousness Field Project" through the "Merraki Institute" Where to find Chris-Anne:WebsiteInstagramSoundCloud

Sarah Kathleen Peck is a writer, teacher, and connector. She writes a popular newsletter about about personal development, behavior change, and leadership.She's currently writing a book called Startup Pregnant about how working in tech while pregnant opened her eyes to new ways of doing message.Sarah and I had a conversation that left me absolutely buzzing. We share some real talk about pregnancy and early motherhood. We also chat about the need for multiple ways of showing up for work and life - rather than pushing all of the time, the need to be more intentional and precise with our language and commitments, and grieving even positive life changes. In this episode we talk about:How having a child forced Sarah into a more structured routineTaking a sane, humane approach to changing patterns and forming habitsGrieving happy life changesThe monthly report Sarah creates for herself and how she chooses her monthly mantra Using doodling as a meditation practice and finding other ways to quiet the mindStartup Pregnant, the book Sarah is currently writingThe need for multiple ways of showing up for work and life - rather than pushing all of the timeThe need to be more intentional and precise with our language and commitmentsThe difference between “nice” and “kind" Links mentioned: The Book of Est Where to find Sarah:WebsiteTwitterInstagramLinkedIn

Amanda Duarte is the creator and host of the monthly show Dead Darlings, in which artists present work they’ve had to cut or abandon, at Judson Memorial Church in New York City.She co-created the meme and movement #PussyGrabsBack, is the co-host of the new Cafe.com podcast Girl Friday, and is a regular at comedy and storytelling events throughout NYC.Amanda and I do a fair bit of ranting about American politics in this episode but we also talk about what she’s learned about the creative process from hosting Dead Darlings, how we can take tangible action towards political change, and turning off the news as an act of self-care.In this episode we talk about:The Dead Darlings show that Amanda hosts, in which artists present work they’ve had to cut or abandonWhat she has learned about the creative process as a result of the showThe #NotMyPresident hashtagThe tangible ways that we can stand up politically and help to create changeLots of ranting about the Trump administrationTurning off the news and social media sometimes in order to recharge Links mentioned:Girl FridayThe Dead Darling ShowRise and ResistAct UpPantsuit Nation5 Calls Where to find Amanda:WebsiteTwitterFacebookInstagram

Jenni Brown is a Type A Creative and a Co-Founder of Prim'd Marketing, where she's the resident creative-brain/web & branding strategist helping business owners look and sound like the best version of themselves.Jenni and I are going to be diving deep into the importance of living in integrity with our values, how to get really clear on what our values are, and staying in touch with them on a day-to-day basis. In this episode we discuss:Creating white space and consciously transitioning from one phase of your day to the nextOur personal stories of navigating burn out and uncoupling our self-worth from our productivityDefining what values even are and how they’re different from goalsJenni’s journey to getting in touch with her valuesFour simple ways to get clear on what your values areLooking for the personal indicators or warning signs that pop up when you’re out of touch with your valuesCreating goals and designing your life to match your values Links mentioned:The Desire Map by Danielle LaPorteThe Value Filter System™Brand Values worksheet Where to find Jenni:WebsiteFacebookInstagramTwitter

Rachel Hills is a New York-based journalist, activist, and author of THE SEX MYTH.She is interested in the space where the personal meets the political, or what she calls "the politics of everyday life.”We’re talking about the toxic myths that are perpetuated about sex and sexuality, not judging ourselves based on our sex drive, being more open about sex, and activism as a form of self-care.   In this episode we discuss:The toxic messages about sex that so many of us have internalizedRachel’s journey of sexual healing and decoupling herself from these toxic beliefs about sexBreaking down toxic sexual messages in our day-to-day livesNot judging our relationships by our sex lives or ourselves by our sex drivesHow feminism and activism can be tools for self-care Links mentioned: Jessica MullenThe Sex Myth crowdfunding campaign Where to find Rachel:WebsiteTwitterInstagram

Kara Benz is the artist and author behind Boho Berry, where she inspires her readers to lead a more centered, fulfilled, and inspired life.Kara also runs a successful sticker shop on Etsy - Boho Berry Paperie, and is currently creating her very first handwriting course. We sat down to talk all things bullet journal! What the system is, her daily routine with her bullet journal, how to start one - even if you’re not artistic, and how her life has changed as a result of this system. In this episode we talk about:The “miracle morning” routine that Kara starts everyday with and her tips for creating time for a morning practiceWhat a bullet journal isKara’s journey with bullet journallingHer daily bullet journal routineBalancing the creative side of bullet journalling with making it an efficient productivity toolUsing a habit tracker to create and monitor habits - and how to avoid beating yourself up on the days you don’t do themUsing a time tracker to get a clear picture of how you spend your time and evaluate whether you’re happy with itThe biggest improvement she’s seen in her life as a result of bullet journallingHow to get started with bullet journalling if you feel intimidated by the systemA day in the life of her Etsy businessHer love of all things stationery Links mentioned:The Miracle Morning by Hal ElrodBulletJournal.comOne Month in My Bullet JournalBetter Than Before by Gretchen ReubenButi YogaATrackerLight is the New Black by Rebecca CampbellTGGC #48: Devotion to your spiritual practice & finding your soul's calling with Rebecca CampbellFree bullet journal printables Where to find Kara:WebsiteInstagramYouTubeFacebook

You might recognize Mara Wilson from her roles in Matilda, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Miracle on 34th Street.She’s recently released a memoir called Where Am I Now? and we sat down to chat about the creative process, managing mental health issues, and our obsessions with teen dramas.      In this episode we talk aboutThe freelance work and creative projects that Mara is spending her time on these daysWhy voiceover acting is the only kind of acting she wants to do these daysWhat Mara’s creative process looks likeHow she decided what was going to go into her bookThe evolution of her love of storytelling and why telling our stories is so importantHow the media that we consume impacts how we think and express ourselvesWhat makes a great story and how to tell one in conversationThe difference between a story and an anecdoteReconstructing your memories in order to write memoirMara’s journey to being diagnosed with OCD at age 12 and how her diagnosis impacted how she felt about herselfRemoving the expectation that we need to be happy all of the timeHow Mara is managing her anxiety within the difficult political climate Links mentioned:Panic Attacks WorkbookEnough with the (hashtag) unicorns and rainbows Where to find Mara:WebsiteTwitter

Claire Baker is an amazing women's coach and writer. Through her popular blog, eBooks, online courses and live workshops, Claire teaches self-care, creative rekindling, how to live life aligned with your menstrual cycle and being kind to yourself and the world.Claire believes in less stress and more flow and knows that working with our natural rhythms is 'the missing key' when it comes to women's wellness. She’ll have you throwing out the scales, booking the flight, launching the blog – and falling back in love with your life.We talked about all of those things, as well as her new course Flow. What I think really sets this episode apart is we dive into how you can honour your natural cycles even if you don’t menstruate or if you’re a busy mom or have a 9-5 job and your time isn’t entirely your own. Clare has incredible advice for honouring your own rhythms regardless of your personal situation. In this episode we talk about:The power of moving first thing in the morningHow Claire’s illness changed her relationship with her health and her body and eventually led to her work as a women's coachTraditional Chinese Medicine practices that she used to build vitality in the body after coming off the contraceptive pillClaire’s decision to move to London and what her experience of moving across the world has been lifeThe journalling practice that Claire uses in sync with her menstrual cycleFollowing the flow of your menstrual cycle within the constraints of a day jobThe blocks Claire sees women experiencing around their creativityThe first steps to rekindling your creativity Links mentioned: The Liver Cleansing Diet by Sandra CabotFLOW: Your Guide To Journalling Your Menstrual CycleTGGC #70: Creative cycles & using our voices with Lucy PearceThe Big Leap by Gay HendricksAesop Where to find Claire:WebsiteInstagramFacebookTwitter