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Learn more about Sequoyah's homage to her inner child @thecoycollection. Connect with Riley @rileyblanksreed and dive in at www.wokebeauty.com. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sometimes life has other plans. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Get to know Nicole Cardoza on Instagram @nicoleacardoza. Learn more about Woke Beauty at www.wokebeauty.com. Thank you Gucci Equilibrium for supporting this live recording at SXSW. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A stream of consciousness monologue on three aspects of mindset I've been thinking about a lot lately: identity, the state of arrival, and neglect of comparison. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This episode is part two of demystifying mental health medicine. Please note, I am not licensed. My knowledge is derived from social psychology education, personal experience, medical consulting and persistent research. While listening keep in mind. I am just a resource, a well read girl with a story. If you need help beyond this podcast, please contact a certified professional. I recently heard a great quote about patience in a newsletter I receive every week from Farnam Street. It says: “Patience is not passive, on the contrary, it is concentrated strength.” ― Bruce Lee "People wait in different ways. Some are passive. Others are active. These two approaches are as different as the results they yield. Passive patience is waiting for the world to give you the thing you want. A lot of people live their life with passive patience. Rather than go after the promotion at work they expect it to fall in their lap. Rather than go after the love of their life, they sit back and expect to be courted. Rather than chase their dreams, they wait for just the right opening that always seems around the corner but never comes. These people have the wrong kind of patience. Active patience is different. Active patience demands action and intention, even while waiting for results. Active patience means not only applying for the promotion but taking your time to build the skills you need to put yourself in the best position to succeed. Active patience means starting the business, writing the book, going after the love of your life. Active patience puts you in the best position to get what you want. There is almost always an action you can take to improve the odds. Active in the moment but patient with the results. Active patience." In many ways, my relationship with my therapist is the medicine. She has taught me how to have a personal connection that has strong boundaries, feels safe, involves respect, care, understanding, maturity, and has the power to grow which maintaining its foundation. I am keenly aware of the cost of therapy and I do my best to prepare deeply for every session. However, oftentimes, as soon as I end up sitting in front of her, I am flooded with all of the things I might otherwise neglect in my usual conversations. Still in those instances she knows how to reel me in, distill, and focus so that I leave our time together feeling at ease and well equipped to move through pressing issues. Though I leave the room, I find that, in many ways, she remains with me. I am able to directly apply her lessons, reconfigure thought patterns in my mind, and find healthy ways to feel better. Oftentimes, we concern ourselves with the minute details. Like, we have to get up at 5am on the dot or else. I think rituals become more fluid, more possible, when they are less strict. Maybe it’s just earlier. Maybe it’s a timeframe. Or maybe it’s altering another aspect in your life to incentivize an earlier day. For me, building little routines in my life that have positive effect is one of the most effective ways I create rituals that support me. A while back I learned a really great lesson. I must, no matter what, carve out time in the morning just for myself. Once I get going, even if I solo-task, I really get going. Other things. Other people. They will undoubtedly come first. Which makes me less happy, less fulfilled, less of my best self. So, I have 2 hours carved out in my calendar, everyday, from 6-8am that are labeled: “I am focused on me.” It is a non-negotiable time frame that I’ve set aside for me to sleep, do nothing, walk, read, drink coffee, lift weights, talk to a friend, literally whatever. It doesn’t matter so long as it is not work related, so long as it is purely a form of therapy. Let this serve as your reminder: take care of you first. Resources: Remedy Place, Psychology Today See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

While listening, please keep in mind: I am just a resource, a well-read girl with a story. If you need help beyond this podcast, please contact a certified professional. You can meet me on Instagram @rileyblanksreed, learn more about Woke Beauty at wokebeauty.com. And you can always drop some feedback in my inbox at riley@wokebeauty.com. I’d love to hear from you. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This episode serves as a recap of what this show is all about, an introduction to what’s head, and a vulnerable share of the mental health disorder I struggle with. Notable Quotes: "Ultimately, whatever is in your reality is your responsibility." -Nisandeh Neta "You do not have to be a fire for every mountain blocking you. You could be a water and soft river your way to freedom too." -Nayyirah Weed Truths to Remember: Your perspective determines your reality. Authenticity comes down to integrity, responsibility, and alignment. Mental health is the health of the mind. Everyone has it. Bipolar II is characterized by two poles: hypomania and depression. Hypomania is marked by elation and hyperactivity. Though bravery is a bridge to the other side of fear, it does not mean the fear goes away. And it is not a badge of honor. You do not have to be brave. You do not have to be certain. You do not have to share. There is no obligation. This is only my choice, my authenticity. It does not have to be yours. Follow @rileyblanksreed and @wokebeauty. Learn more at wokebeauty.com. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Allegra Moet Brantly is on a mission to lead 1 million women to $1 million in net worth. To do so, she founded Factora Wealth, an online course & community that educates and empowers women to build real wealth, together. A serial entrepreneur, real estate investor, dog lover, and Texan since 2017, Allegra’s deeply passionate about helping women learn how to invest in financial freedom. Learn more at www.factorawealth.com and follow on Instagram @factorawealth. Check out our new site (!!!) at www.wokebeauty.com. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Read Arielle's feature on the Beyond Skin Deep column: https://camillestyles.com/wellness/poet-arielle-estoria/ Read my post on why I changed my last name: https://www.instagram.com/p/CIeIW8YM1BI/ Follow @arielleestoria Keep in touch @wokebeauty @rileyblanksreed and learn more at www.wokebeauty.com Notable quotes from Arielle: "My brain responds in poetic form. It's how I process everything I experience." "Words not for the ears but for the soul." "If anything, gratitude is more of an action than it is a word." "For a lot of us, where you were first rooted stays a part of you, no matter how much you uproot as you change. That place will always be the place that 'grew you'." "Purpose is: you see a void and everything in you has a desire to fill it with something. What is it? Usually it's not what we went to school for or what we were told we would become. But rather, this innate existence and ability to fill something that we have been made and designed to fulfill." "To truly embody words creates a whole different appreciation for them. Being able to memorize and take in words like that is a way of paying gratitude to the word itself." "Other people will have ideas of who you are. We need to have our view, and to own it entirely, especially as Black people." "The whole process of failure starts with reframing. What is failure to begin with? The moment you said 'failure', I heard 'pivot'. It's: that didn't work. What else could work? Especially in the creative world, if we just sat in every failure, we would be buried by it. The reframing of words is really important. Ask yourself, what is this word? And why do we give it so much power?" The book she loves: Untamed by Glennon Doyle See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Leah Thomas is an intersectional environmental activist and eco-communicator based in Southern California. She's passionate about advocating for and exploring the relationship between social justice and environmentalism. She graduated from Chapman University in 2017 with a B.S. in Environmental Science and Policy with a cluster in Comparative World Religions. Leah is the founder of eco-lifestyle blog @greengirlleah and The Intersectional Environmentalist Platform, which is a resource + media hub that aims to advocate for environmental justice + inclusivity within environmental education + movements. Her articles on this topic have appeared in Vogue, Elle, The Good Trade and Youth to the People. Before pursuing environmentalism full time, Leah worked for the National Park Service and Patagonia headquarters. Her mission is to inspire others to explore new places, live more sustainably and practice radical self acceptance. This conversation was recorded last Fall on a rainy day in Austin while the sun shone brightly in Ventura. That was intersectional environmental activist and eco-communicator Leah Thomas. You can find Leah on Instagram @greengirlleah . Follow @wokebeauty @rileyblanksreed "For me, the pen and paper... that is my microphone. I want to show the younger generation that activism doesn't need to look a certain way. We can all contribute whatever our strengths might be. It takes all of us." "I am just one small expression of Blackness. My methods are not the only way to practice activism. Just because I have a certain outlook doesn't mean other perspectives aren't valid." "I think joy is an act of radical resistance to the world that we live in." "I learned to appreciate failure because it taught me so much about myself—who I want to be and who I don't want to be. And I know the person I want to be isn't perfect." "I would rather see a million imperfect sustainability enthusiasts than five militant people living perfectly and existing off of sunshine and water alone. That's just not healthy." See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Keon Saghari is a roller skating dancer extraordinaire. She thrives off of connecting with people in her community through movement, joy and liberation. From roller skating in Venice Beach to making incredible dance films for her thriving Instagram audience…well that’s not all. Keon also manages to find time to work a 9 to 5 on the employee experience team for a tech company, developing and curating their wellness program and planning events. She recently proposed to her now fiancé (he said yes!) and continues to shine like the sun. At the end of our interview she reminisced on where she was in her career just 1 year ago…it was so beautiful to hear her expand on her evolution, I just had to throw it here at the beginning. Follow @neonkeon @rileyblanksreed @wokebeauty Learn more at www.wokebeauty.com Read the feature at https://camillestyles.com/wellness/roller-skate-dancing-keon-saghari/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Happy New Year! A few notes... “I once heard Pema Chodron explain that no emotion lasts longer than 90 seconds. You heard that right: no emotion we feel lasts longer than a minute and a half if we let it run its course without interference. Emotions, the result of chemical response to a thought, appear, intensify, de-intensify, and subside: and they do this in less time than it takes to microwave a frozen burrito. What prolongs them isn’t emotional wiring gone awry but the stories we lay on top of them that keep our brains dumping more of those chemicals into our system. A prolonged emotional experience is the result of the stories we keep alive in our heads.” -from Holly Whitaker’s book, Quit Like A Woman “I don’t think we talk enough about the sadness and the grief that can come when we set boundaries with those we love.” -unknown Book mentioned:The Writing Life, Annie Dillard Follow @wokebeauty @rileyblanksreed See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Heidi Childers Jones is a Birthworker, Bodyworker, & Strength Coach based in Austin Texas. She is a full-spectrum birth and postpartum doula, meaning she provides culturally-sensitive support and advocates for all birthing people across all birthing experiences and preferences. She has studied with Birthing Advocacy, Mama Glow, and Doula Training International. Heidi’s life philosophy, which carries over into all aspects of her work, is flow. It’s about shifting, transforming and being receptive and adaptable to change. What washes up, good or bad, will always wash away. She is guided by the knowledge and practices of her ancestors, with strong Thai and Southeast Asian influences found in her birth and bodywork; in an effort to keep traditions alive and respected. Book Heidi: flowbirthandbody.com Follow Heidi: @heidi.flowbirthandbody Follow Woke Beauty: @wokebeauty Follow Riley Blanks Reed: @rileyblanksreed See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Miranda Bennett is a pioneer of ethical manufacturing, local and transparent production models and sustainability through design and materials. A graduate of Parsons’s School of Design and Eugene Lang College, Bennett’s thesis and senior collection were rooted in local, maker economies that eschew mass production and the exploitation of workers. Bennett began her career in Fashion in 2006 with her first eponymous collection, designed, cut and ethically sewn by woman owned production facilities in New York City. Her current brand, Miranda Bennett Studio, highlights plant dyed, zero waste women's apparel, made under one roof in Austin, Texas. A pilgrim of myth, Bennett is often captured by the invisible, underlying thread that connects us all. An awareness of this connection, and that no actions exist in a vacuum, is the foundation of her approach to fashion and environmental stewardship. Her recommended book: After the Rain by Alex Elle Her morning routine: supplements, strong black tea and social media engagement Her lesson to her younger self: Value yourself more. A favorite quote: "I think at the core of all of my decision making and the intention behind all of it is how do I create environments, products, situations where women feel of value? That is always what I go back to. I consider the Earth to be one of those women." To learn more about Woke Beauty visit www.wokebeauty.com To learn more about Miranda Bennett Studio visit shopmirandabennett.com Follow @wokebeauty @rileyblanksreed @mirandabennettstudio See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jules Acree is a wellness writer, content creator, and certified yoga + mindfulness teacher. Her daily mission is to bring wellness down-to-earth and to help others simplify life to find more joy in this digital age. Through her journey, she’s learned it’s about the small shifts made consistently that add up to sustained change. She aids her readers and watchers with finding more ease and ditching the all-or-nothing mindset through incredible content that incentivizes you to live a more intentional lifestyle - one that motivates you to slow down, cut the clutter and tune into your own channel. Mental health – 10:42 Mindfulness – 17:15 Morning routine – 19:38 Evening routine – 23:52 Social media process – 27:49 Home organization – 32:35 Launching your brand – 44:28 Family and Culture: 48:44 Her go to book: Essentialism by Greg McKeown Follow @wokebeauty @rileyblanks @omandthecity Check out Jules' blog: www.omandthecity.com and her online store: www.thehomebodies.co Learn more at www.wokebeauty.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Shohreh Davoodi is a rainbow glitter bomb of a human who exudes thoughtfulness and creativity. Within the clutches of capitalism, Shohreh makes her living as a coach, consultant, and podcast host, helping people redefine health and wellness in the ways that feel most nourishing for them. Shohreh currently feels particularly passionate about queer TikTok, having a bookshelf full of physical books she hasn't read yet while continuously turning to audiobooks, sending snail mail, expanding her collection of fancy sprinkles, and trying her best to human, even when it hurts. Follow @shohrehdavoodi @wokebeauty @rileyblanks Visit https://shohrehdavoodi.com Listen to Shohreh's podcast: Redefining Health and Wellness See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

To all of our guests and listeners, thank you for a beautiful summer! See you October 7. Some words to ponder till then... Not fitting is okay.  Our memories and what we choose to remember can also speak to what we choose to forget. Your skin is your skin. Your body is your body. Cherish it. It is just so interesting how you can tether or untether yourself from the place that you were born or the place where you grew up. I find that really interesting how it plays a role in our identity. Exposure and experiences across the spectrum will teach you to process the world and the people who live in it.  Accept then situation for what it is. Find peace in the things that you can control. Be grateful and celebrate the happiness that you can find. You can change the value of stories by giving them attention. We can literally create culture. We deserve the right to live in our bodies and we deserve the right to exist... in the way that we were created. That is a fundamental human right.  To be a black woman of mixed race is rather nuanced. Leave this earth empty. Empty yourself of every gift you have.  Laughter will keep you young and beautiful. Laughter will heal you. Food is medicine.  Really healthy and really imperative things are often basics, foundational elements of health that cost zero dollars. Typically, history is written by the winners. Historically, because of colonialism, the winners have not been Black. We need to tell our stories. It’s time to get another point of view. You have to know why you do something or it has no meaning. Oftentimes, mixed race people can’t claim any part of themselves. Thus, they have to create their own identity.  Being green is seen as feminine trait, by both men and women... it's really for white women in the suburbs...in urban cities some of the biggest minorities are African American communities.. I was interested in how black men perceive green consumption, do they think it's mascuine or not? We have no research on black men.” Me phrasing a sentence in a way that's privileged or irresponsible could be super damaging to somebody. On one hand i'm very nervous to be just another white lady contributing to the bullshit and oppression and the system and thats been really me struggling with the okay you do really look like a white lady, you do have those privileges, and you have walked through the world this way so how can you be the white lady and also be the black lady that gets it, how can you be both things? I want to preserve this feeling, this feeling of fulfillment, this feeling of happiness, so if i have to take risks, travel, do whatever i need to do, jump outside of my comfort zone in order to preserve that feeling, in order to grow that feeling, of waking up everyday and being at peace with what i'm doing, i'm going to do it. Those things really enable you to astonish people; your intelligence, your timing, how much you listen to people I think is really important. 1.) You can never be too prepared. 2.) Don't be afraid to take up space. 3.) Set boundaries, especially in the work space. Using someone else’s suffering as a prop to kind of minimize your own doesn’t benefit the person who is suffering, any person who is suffering in the equation. Truly what other advice is there, other than that? Be humble and trust that inner voice. KNow that you can be wrong and trust that inner voice. You don't always have to be in people pleaser mode... as a woman especially... we tiptoe around certain people, from a genuine place, not wanting to inconvenience somebody or burden somebody with something that you’re wrestling with. Sometimes someone else will resonate with struggle and sadness and with emotion in a way that brings you closer. It is not a burden, it is an ability to be human together. I learned from an early age to really understand that there is not a right or wrong way to be, as humans. There are so many different ways to exist. If we’re in the thick of Fall and no one is hanging out by the pool – whatever – it’s totally fine to go to a pool, put your feet in the water and have a cocktail like it’s summer. I’m huge on living your best life unapologetically no matter what season it is and no matter what somebody says you have to do. A lot of the SAD comes from sitting inside and watching things change on the outside. So, break yourself free from the home. Create the life you want and live it. When people started to tell me that I was confident, honestly, for a while I actually wasn’t. I was putting myself in situations where I didn’t feel comfortable nor confident engaging in those spaces. But after I had some accomplishments and survived I started getting used to it – to those uncomfortable spaces. It started to bother me less. That evolution is different than putting on a red lipstick and a loud outfit. I started putting on those looks before I felt confident. Those aesthetic choices are an extension of me now but then, it was just me trying to find a way to feel good. Confidence, in general, is always just…becoming. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Note: Please see a professional if you are in need of emotional support. I am not an expert, just a storyteller. Two definitions of burn out that may resonate: 'to be completely consumed and thus no longer aflame' and 'fatigue, frustration, or apathy resulting from prolonged stress, overwork, or intense activity.' Acknowledge and embrace, monitor what you allow into your being, take care of yourself in the mornings and nights, make things basic and easy, take small breaks, eat food as medicine, find therapy in small acts and rely on external tools to organize your thoughts and priorities. Remember that you are small. Your troubles are small. "Art is never finished, only abandoned." -Leonardo da Vinci Full Focus Planner: https://fullfocusplanner.com/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Shauntavia Ward founded eleMINT as a Nurse Practitioner, who after 8 years in medicine, craved a deeper connection with inspiring people to feel good about themselves, in their most natural state, beyond the needle. With an extensive knowledge in skin health, anatomy & physiology, wellness and preventive education, Shauntavia is deeply invested in helping you cultivate healthy skin habits and become your own #skingoals. eleMINT is driven to shift the conversation to highlight overall wellbeing, and make skincare inclusive, accessible and affordable, so every person, of every hue, can put their best face forward; empowering you to look good, feel good and do good in the world. Through crowdfunding, resourcefulness and a lot of grit, Shauntavia just finished opening a brand new studio in east Austin where she continues to cultivate a lifestyle for skincare through her warm, welcoming, infectious aura. Explore more on Woke Beauty: www.wokebeauty.com. Book a consultation and facial at eleMINT: www.elemint.com. Follow @wokebeauty, @rileyblanks, @elemint, @shauntaviaaaa See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Angélica Rahe has an artistic journey that truly spans the globe. Her music and art reflects her journey of femininity, sensuality, and self-love.Born of a Spanish-musician father and American theater-actress mother, Angélica split her childhood between Spain, Japan and landed in the U.S. as a young teenager. While her early singles show an impressive range of vocal talent and songwriting abilities, it's the intimacy and sensuality in her debut album, REINA, that has media and fans likening her to artists ranging from Sade to Solange.  A pioneer for self love, Angelica seamlessly speaks and sings about her personal journey of reflection and rebirth. She reminds me that though life holds pain, a sense of ease and comfort can be manifested. You might hear in her voice that she talks through smiles.  Follow @wokebeauty @rileyblanks @angelicarahe Listen to Angélica: https://open.spotify.com/artist/75OOnlOyG0Rwt3hp2JJJGy?si=P05DgE5rSpWBe-zU_VbVRA Explore more on Woke Beauty: https://www.wokebeauty.com A favorite quote from Angélica: "There is no good or bad, just color." The book that nurtures her creative spirit: The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.