1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:02,680 Hello, travelers. My name is Grace 2 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:04,560 Simmons, and this is the Random and 3 00:00:04,560 --> 00:00:07,440 Wonderful podcast. Settle in and listen 4 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:09,080 to stories of wanderlust and 5 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:11,560 transformation as you gain tips to 6 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:14,360 inspire your next travel experience. The 7 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:16,240 Random and Wonderful is brought to you by 8 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:18,800 the Amethyst Palaba Hut, LLC. All 9 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:26,680 right. Hello, everyone, and welcome to 10 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:29,680 the Random and Wonderful. Today, my guest 11 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:32,560 is Annika Jackson, who I met 12 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:34,800 at Podcast Movement. As you all would 13 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:36,200 have noticed, there's been a wonderful 14 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:38,080 stream of people, wonderful people that 15 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:39,520 I've met and amazing stories that I've 16 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:41,600 been able to collect and share with 17 00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:43,560 people that I've met at Podcast Movement. 18 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:46,320 So, Annika, welcome. Please tell 19 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:47,760 everyone a little bit about yourself, and 20 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:50,320 then we'll get started. umm Thank you so 21 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:52,120 much. Yeah, you are one of my favorite 22 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:54,400 people I met at podcasting, I have to 23 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:56,440 say. Gosh, I don't even know where to 24 00:00:56,440 --> 00:00:58,360 start. I have so many twists and turns in 25 00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:01,121 my story at this moment in time. 26 00:01:02,721 --> 00:01:04,481 I am a single mom, 27 00:01:05,201 --> 00:01:07,761 multifaceted, ADHD, 28 00:01:08,161 --> 00:01:10,681 fully present, realized it as an 29 00:01:10,681 --> 00:01:12,561 adult and realized that, yeah, it's a 30 00:01:12,561 --> 00:01:14,801 superpower. It also can hold me back 31 00:01:14,801 --> 00:01:16,721 sometimes that now I understand like, oh, 32 00:01:16,721 --> 00:01:17,881 this is the way my brain works. So I'm 33 00:01:17,881 --> 00:01:19,121 trying to figure out how to work with 34 00:01:19,121 --> 00:01:21,521 that. As I'm a college professor 35 00:01:21,841 --> 00:01:23,561 teaching digital media management, 36 00:01:23,561 --> 00:01:26,321 podcasting, sometimes PR and branding. 37 00:01:26,721 --> 00:01:29,361 As I am going back to school myself to 38 00:01:29,361 --> 00:01:31,761 get an MBA because I can't teach full 39 00:01:31,761 --> 00:01:34,321 time unless I have a master's degree. I 40 00:01:34,321 --> 00:01:36,961 have a podcast with USC Annenberg. 41 00:01:37,761 --> 00:01:39,841 Inside Some Digital Changemakers. I have 42 00:01:39,841 --> 00:01:42,201 my own podcast, Your Brand Amplified, 43 00:01:42,201 --> 00:01:44,121 that's almost four years old and 400 44 00:01:44,121 --> 00:01:46,441 episodes in. And I have a, 45 00:01:47,121 --> 00:01:48,401 you know, I do a little bit of coaching 46 00:01:48,401 --> 00:01:50,401 here and there for people on either 47 00:01:50,401 --> 00:01:53,201 nonprofit stuff, podcasting, 48 00:01:53,201 --> 00:01:55,561 brand strategy, public relations. I have 49 00:01:55,561 --> 00:01:58,081 a very organic career. 50 00:01:58,481 --> 00:02:00,481 And so I I know how to do 51 00:02:01,361 --> 00:02:03,201 things in a way where I'm like, how do we 52 00:02:03,201 --> 00:02:04,881 save money?How do we get the best bang 53 00:02:04,881 --> 00:02:07,841 for our buck?Because I'm always 54 00:02:07,841 --> 00:02:09,441 in that phase of reinventing and being 55 00:02:09,441 --> 00:02:11,721 that small entrepreneur who needs to 56 00:02:11,841 --> 00:02:13,521 maximize resources. And so that's really 57 00:02:13,521 --> 00:02:15,041 what I have a heart for, working with 58 00:02:15,041 --> 00:02:17,681 people who are in that same space. 59 00:02:19,521 --> 00:02:22,001 Yeah. You mentioned, like, a lot of what 60 00:02:22,001 --> 00:02:24,361 you do has an organic flow to it, which 61 00:02:24,361 --> 00:02:27,081 is really neat. But like, how do you even 62 00:02:27,081 --> 00:02:29,201 know where to start?Like, what started, 63 00:02:29,241 --> 00:02:31,081 and then these different pieces kind of 64 00:02:31,081 --> 00:02:33,921 connected?Ooh Well, I think part of it 65 00:02:33,921 --> 00:02:36,881 is in our blood. We 66 00:02:36,881 --> 00:02:39,041 have, whether it's you have generational 67 00:02:39,041 --> 00:02:40,041 trauma, I think there are other 68 00:02:40,041 --> 00:02:41,681 generational things that also pass 69 00:02:41,681 --> 00:02:44,641 through us. What is that my family is 70 00:02:44,641 --> 00:02:47,121 a long line of entrepreneurs, a long line 71 00:02:47,281 --> 00:02:50,081 of professors, educators, you know, 72 00:02:50,161 --> 00:02:51,841 and also people really involved in 73 00:02:52,081 --> 00:02:54,081 servant leadership. So helping other 74 00:02:54,081 --> 00:02:55,761 people, giving back, pouring into other 75 00:02:55,761 --> 00:02:57,841 people. And that's really what I 76 00:02:57,841 --> 00:03:00,722 realized. When I work with people at 77 00:03:00,722 --> 00:03:02,042 any level, I always take them through 78 00:03:02,042 --> 00:03:04,402 branding exercises andis you need to 79 00:03:04,402 --> 00:03:06,642 understand your own brand. And my brand 80 00:03:06,642 --> 00:03:08,802 is really about amplifying people's 81 00:03:08,802 --> 00:03:10,962 voices, making sure everybody understands 82 00:03:11,282 --> 00:03:12,642 that they have a voice, they have a story 83 00:03:12,642 --> 00:03:14,922 that needs to be told, that their story 84 00:03:14,922 --> 00:03:17,362 is unique and will inspire somebody else. 85 00:03:17,762 --> 00:03:20,082 And so that is a lot of where it started. 86 00:03:20,322 --> 00:03:22,322 My mom was an immigrant from Thailand. 87 00:03:22,322 --> 00:03:24,402 She came here for college and ended up 88 00:03:24,402 --> 00:03:27,042 staying. And I saw a lot from her example 89 00:03:27,082 --> 00:03:29,762 of how she would-- we lived in Kansas, 90 00:03:29,922 --> 00:03:32,682 Lawrence, Kansas. She became a single mom 91 00:03:32,682 --> 00:03:34,402 when she, my dad got divorced and I saw 92 00:03:34,402 --> 00:03:36,642 how much she poured into us, how much she 93 00:03:36,642 --> 00:03:38,642 put her work. You know, she'd get up, 94 00:03:38,642 --> 00:03:40,402 make a hot breakfast for us every morning 95 00:03:40,482 --> 00:03:42,202 before she went to work and we went to 96 00:03:42,202 --> 00:03:43,922 school. I still do that for my daughter. 97 00:03:44,002 --> 00:03:45,282 My daughter can make her own breakfast, 98 00:03:45,282 --> 00:03:47,122 certainly, but it's something that like I 99 00:03:47,202 --> 00:03:49,082 she's going to be in college soon. So 100 00:03:49,922 --> 00:03:52,562 yeah, you know, and then she would come 101 00:03:52,562 --> 00:03:54,082 home from work and she would play games 102 00:03:54,082 --> 00:03:56,482 with me and my little brother every night 103 00:03:56,962 --> 00:03:58,402 and just the love and care she put into 104 00:03:58,442 --> 00:04:00,962 us. To make sure that we knew that she 105 00:04:00,962 --> 00:04:03,442 was there, even if she was time was 106 00:04:03,442 --> 00:04:05,082 something that was really important. For 107 00:04:05,082 --> 00:04:07,602 me, everything started organically. 108 00:04:07,922 --> 00:04:09,522 I was asked when I was in high school, I 109 00:04:09,522 --> 00:04:11,922 was in the club scene, music, DJs. 110 00:04:12,322 --> 00:04:14,042 So a friend was like, hey, this DJ wants 111 00:04:14,042 --> 00:04:15,642 you to start promoting for them in Kansas 112 00:04:15,642 --> 00:04:18,082 City and you'll get in free. That was the 113 00:04:18,082 --> 00:04:20,722 keyword, right?Done. Yeah, right. 114 00:04:20,722 --> 00:04:23,282 During that. And then I got a job at a 115 00:04:23,282 --> 00:04:25,202 coffee house when coffee houses were very 116 00:04:25,202 --> 00:04:27,282 first becoming a thing. I'm aging myself 117 00:04:27,922 --> 00:04:30,642 in the early 90s. And then I got another 118 00:04:30,642 --> 00:04:32,722 DJ asked me to move to Chicago and be his 119 00:04:33,042 --> 00:04:35,482 assistant and work in a club there. And 120 00:04:35,482 --> 00:04:37,122 then he got me another job in a marketing 121 00:04:37,122 --> 00:04:39,362 firm. And then I was tired of Chicago in 122 00:04:39,362 --> 00:04:42,162 the snow and I moved to LA and that job 123 00:04:42,162 --> 00:04:44,242 got me another job. So it just was this 124 00:04:44,242 --> 00:04:46,922 whole cycle of being in the right place 125 00:04:46,922 --> 00:04:49,162 at the right time, people believing and 126 00:04:49,282 --> 00:04:51,762 not being afraid to ask. Umm 127 00:04:52,282 --> 00:04:54,082 And so that's been and then, you know, I 128 00:04:54,082 --> 00:04:56,082 did take a few years out of my career. I 129 00:04:56,082 --> 00:04:58,082 did a lot of other things, took a few 130 00:04:58,082 --> 00:05:00,402 years. Got married, had my daughter, 131 00:05:00,883 --> 00:05:02,643 was a stay at home mom. I mean, I was 132 00:05:02,643 --> 00:05:04,203 good for her, but I also was like, I 133 00:05:04,203 --> 00:05:05,683 always had to keep busy. You need to do 134 00:05:05,683 --> 00:05:08,243 stuff. But when I got divorced, I 135 00:05:08,243 --> 00:05:10,563 realized I had to get back into the 136 00:05:10,563 --> 00:05:12,883 workforce. I had to make money because I 137 00:05:12,883 --> 00:05:14,803 wasn't gonna get, you know, I wasn't 138 00:05:14,803 --> 00:05:17,683 gonna be supported the same way by any 139 00:05:17,683 --> 00:05:19,763 stretch of the imagination. And that led 140 00:05:19,763 --> 00:05:22,403 to me working for companies, starting my 141 00:05:22,403 --> 00:05:24,723 own businesses in Houston. And then when 142 00:05:24,723 --> 00:05:26,963 I moved back to LA, I knew I had kind of 143 00:05:26,963 --> 00:05:29,363 started over and I just. was 144 00:05:29,443 --> 00:05:32,323 tenacious. I I was like, I just 145 00:05:32,323 --> 00:05:34,803 want to do PR and branding and that stuff 146 00:05:34,803 --> 00:05:37,443 again. And I sent out resumes. I got 147 00:05:37,683 --> 00:05:39,403 interviews. I was like, maybe I need to 148 00:05:39,403 --> 00:05:41,603 do nonprofits, not getting any jobs here. 149 00:05:42,003 --> 00:05:44,003 And I think a lot of it was like, I was 150 00:05:44,003 --> 00:05:46,883 in my 40s. I had a little bit of a break 151 00:05:46,883 --> 00:05:48,923 in my work experience, so people didn't 152 00:05:48,923 --> 00:05:51,283 see that linear career path that 153 00:05:52,083 --> 00:05:54,163 used to be the norm. You know, I'd spent 154 00:05:54,163 --> 00:05:56,803 like every dime moving back to LA. So 155 00:05:56,803 --> 00:05:58,083 that I could-- because my sister lived 156 00:05:58,083 --> 00:06:00,323 here, my brother lived here with his 157 00:06:00,323 --> 00:06:02,883 wife. My daughter wanted to come back to 158 00:06:02,883 --> 00:06:04,643 LA where she'd been born. My ex-husband 159 00:06:04,643 --> 00:06:06,803 wanted to come back. So I was like, OK, 160 00:06:06,803 --> 00:06:08,323 I'm going to make this happen, move back. 161 00:06:08,883 --> 00:06:10,723 Had to go on food stamps. I mean, I had 162 00:06:10,723 --> 00:06:12,803 to like-- I went from having a lifestyle 163 00:06:12,803 --> 00:06:15,603 in Houston, married to somebody who owned 164 00:06:15,603 --> 00:06:18,483 part of his company, being able to donate 165 00:06:18,803 --> 00:06:20,723 lots of money, tens of thousands of 166 00:06:20,723 --> 00:06:22,403 dollars a year to different charities, 167 00:06:23,323 --> 00:06:26,083 fashion, art. That whole thing, 168 00:06:26,243 --> 00:06:28,483 being in the papers, you know, getting my 169 00:06:28,483 --> 00:06:31,363 picture taken, chairing galas, that 170 00:06:31,363 --> 00:06:33,923 kind of lifestyle. And moving back 171 00:06:33,923 --> 00:06:36,283 here, I had to sell a lot of stuff. I had 172 00:06:36,283 --> 00:06:37,843 to really start over. I didn't have a 173 00:06:37,843 --> 00:06:39,923 safety net. You know, I had a few friends 174 00:06:39,963 --> 00:06:42,083 and some family that would give me money 175 00:06:42,083 --> 00:06:44,163 here and there. But a pivotal moment for 176 00:06:44,163 --> 00:06:46,563 me was when I was in a Walmart, buying 177 00:06:46,563 --> 00:06:49,283 food at like the Walmart grocery store in 178 00:06:49,283 --> 00:06:50,283 our neighborhood, dropped my daughter off 179 00:06:50,283 --> 00:06:52,803 at school, went to the Walmart, and my 180 00:06:52,803 --> 00:06:55,443 card was denied. umm And 181 00:06:55,763 --> 00:06:57,683 I was like, ooh, what am I gonna do?I 182 00:06:57,683 --> 00:07:00,163 don't have any food for my kid. So I was 183 00:07:00,884 --> 00:07:02,644 panicking. You know, something had gone 184 00:07:02,644 --> 00:07:04,244 through before I realized it was going to 185 00:07:04,244 --> 00:07:07,124 go through. So it was being on the other 186 00:07:07,124 --> 00:07:09,204 side of the coin from what I was used to. 187 00:07:09,204 --> 00:07:10,724 I was used to being the one who helped. 188 00:07:11,284 --> 00:07:14,124 Yeah. And the manager pulled 189 00:07:14,124 --> 00:07:15,844 me aside and said, I don't know what it 190 00:07:15,844 --> 00:07:18,724 is, but God is calling me to help 191 00:07:18,724 --> 00:07:21,404 you. I got what you need for you and your 192 00:07:21,404 --> 00:07:22,884 baby to get you through the next few 193 00:07:22,924 --> 00:07:25,844 days. and let me 194 00:07:25,844 --> 00:07:27,964 pay for it. I'm going to call you right 195 00:07:28,484 --> 00:07:31,284 now. Chills, yes. And you know 196 00:07:31,444 --> 00:07:33,124 that really humbled me and made me 197 00:07:33,124 --> 00:07:35,364 realize, like, I need to also accept 198 00:07:35,364 --> 00:07:38,244 help. I need to be, I need to admit 199 00:07:38,884 --> 00:07:41,084 whatever's going on with me and not, I 200 00:07:41,084 --> 00:07:42,804 think I was so used to being in that 201 00:07:43,204 --> 00:07:44,644 place where you, you know, what you see 202 00:07:44,644 --> 00:07:46,764 on social media, like, everything's 203 00:07:46,764 --> 00:07:47,924 perfect. You have, you're going out to 204 00:07:47,924 --> 00:07:49,284 all these events, you're dressing in all 205 00:07:49,284 --> 00:07:51,684 these cool clothes. doing all these cool 206 00:07:51,684 --> 00:07:53,404 things that you forget that you actually 207 00:07:53,404 --> 00:07:54,764 are a person. You have to-- Yeah. Yeah 208 00:07:57,164 --> 00:07:58,844 And then I kept applying for jobs. I got 209 00:07:58,844 --> 00:08:00,324 a little bit of work here and there. And 210 00:08:00,324 --> 00:08:02,804 then I'd been in LA about six months. 211 00:08:03,924 --> 00:08:06,244 And it was a full moon, 212 00:08:06,244 --> 00:08:08,244 December, right around my birthday. 213 00:08:09,284 --> 00:08:11,684 I went out, looked at the full moon, 214 00:08:12,244 --> 00:08:14,484 and I just put my hands up. I said, OK, 215 00:08:15,124 --> 00:08:17,884 God, I've done everything-- Jan, I have 216 00:08:18,164 --> 00:08:20,844 applied for every job. I have put out 217 00:08:20,844 --> 00:08:23,644 every resume. I don't know what else to 218 00:08:23,644 --> 00:08:26,244 do. It's just in your hands. And at that 219 00:08:26,244 --> 00:08:28,924 point, I was going on a trip back east 220 00:08:28,924 --> 00:08:30,964 with my boyfriend. He had bought his 221 00:08:30,964 --> 00:08:32,724 tickets to see his parents to go back to 222 00:08:32,724 --> 00:08:35,644 Philly. And I got a call on the way to 223 00:08:35,644 --> 00:08:37,444 the airport with somebody who said, Hey, 224 00:08:37,524 --> 00:08:38,964 I have a new client coming in. I think 225 00:08:39,044 --> 00:08:40,084 that it would be great for you to work 226 00:08:40,084 --> 00:08:42,484 with them. Yeah. I interviewed during 227 00:08:42,484 --> 00:08:45,444 Christmas, got the job. That started a 228 00:08:45,764 --> 00:08:48,084 new trajectory for me. And here I am, 229 00:08:48,084 --> 00:08:50,084 five years later, I'm now teaching grad 230 00:08:50,084 --> 00:08:52,964 school at USC, which is crazy to think 231 00:08:52,964 --> 00:08:55,764 about. Wow, yeah. I've had a 232 00:08:55,764 --> 00:08:57,404 business. I had a PR business during the 233 00:08:57,404 --> 00:08:59,964 pandemic. I moved over to a couple 234 00:08:59,964 --> 00:09:02,445 agencies. I have a, you know, I love 235 00:09:02,445 --> 00:09:04,965 podcasting. I found this amazing network. 236 00:09:05,645 --> 00:09:07,805 And I've just been consistently 237 00:09:07,805 --> 00:09:10,725 rebuilding, rebuilding, and it's all been 238 00:09:11,125 --> 00:09:14,045 faith and justbeing in the 239 00:09:14,045 --> 00:09:16,085 right place at the right time and being 240 00:09:16,085 --> 00:09:17,645 willing to learn whatever I needed to 241 00:09:17,645 --> 00:09:19,525 learn at that moment. Yeah. 242 00:09:21,045 --> 00:09:23,125 How do you even-- so like, yes, you have 243 00:09:23,125 --> 00:09:25,285 that moment of like realization, yes, I 244 00:09:25,285 --> 00:09:27,765 am a human, and yes, I need to ask for 245 00:09:27,765 --> 00:09:30,405 help. How do you even transition to then 246 00:09:30,405 --> 00:09:32,485 saying, like, what does asking for help 247 00:09:32,485 --> 00:09:34,725 look like ohh in that moment? 248 00:09:35,445 --> 00:09:37,445 In that moment, it was going well. 249 00:09:37,605 --> 00:09:39,845 Somebody else saw that I needed help, and 250 00:09:39,845 --> 00:09:42,485 they were willing to help me. And, you 251 00:09:42,485 --> 00:09:44,885 know,Benefits are there for everybody. 252 00:09:45,605 --> 00:09:48,525 It's not a bad thing if you have to go 253 00:09:48,525 --> 00:09:50,885 on food stamps or get other help. 254 00:09:51,525 --> 00:09:53,125 You have to be willing to ask. And it's 255 00:09:53,125 --> 00:09:55,685 not easy to do. They ask for a lot of 256 00:09:55,685 --> 00:09:58,565 paperwork and meetings. You 257 00:09:58,605 --> 00:10:00,645 know So they don't make it easy on people 258 00:10:00,965 --> 00:10:02,685 to get help. So you have to really want 259 00:10:02,685 --> 00:10:04,045 it. But I was like, I don't know what 260 00:10:04,045 --> 00:10:05,685 else I'm going to do right now. I know 261 00:10:05,685 --> 00:10:07,285 this will be temporary, but this is what 262 00:10:07,285 --> 00:10:10,245 I need. And so I had to be willing to let 263 00:10:10,245 --> 00:10:11,365 go of my own ego and 264 00:10:12,885 --> 00:10:15,685 be in that moment, right?And then 265 00:10:15,685 --> 00:10:18,205 it's it's a continuous process. Over the 266 00:10:18,205 --> 00:10:20,205 past five years, part of my journey has 267 00:10:20,325 --> 00:10:22,565 very much been realizing I have to put 268 00:10:22,565 --> 00:10:25,405 myself first. So I have nonprofits I 269 00:10:25,525 --> 00:10:27,085 work with. I have one particularly in 270 00:10:27,085 --> 00:10:29,765 Ghana. We built an orphan home. You pay 271 00:10:29,765 --> 00:10:32,325 for kids to go to school. We have organic 272 00:10:32,325 --> 00:10:34,485 farming that our partner in Ghana owns so 273 00:10:34,485 --> 00:10:37,445 that it can pour back into jobs, 274 00:10:38,245 --> 00:10:40,645 you know, fresh food. Money to pay for 275 00:10:40,645 --> 00:10:43,605 the orphans to get to school and 276 00:10:43,605 --> 00:10:45,485 for them to have people in the house who 277 00:10:45,485 --> 00:10:48,245 will take care of them. And I had to 278 00:10:48,245 --> 00:10:50,405 go, you know what, I've given so much and 279 00:10:50,405 --> 00:10:52,445 I feel horrible because people's 280 00:10:52,445 --> 00:10:54,445 situations are worse than ours in the 281 00:10:54,445 --> 00:10:56,485 United States. But I had, you know, I 282 00:10:56,485 --> 00:10:57,925 just go to things like that, that mean a 283 00:10:57,925 --> 00:11:00,805 lot to me and say I can't give what I was 284 00:11:00,805 --> 00:11:03,766 giving before because I'm 285 00:11:03,766 --> 00:11:05,246 actually paying my bills, taking care of 286 00:11:05,246 --> 00:11:08,046 my kid. So I've had to make a lot of hard 287 00:11:08,046 --> 00:11:10,926 decisions. and really find that strength 288 00:11:11,046 --> 00:11:13,446 inside myself to 289 00:11:13,686 --> 00:11:16,566 use my voice and say, this 290 00:11:16,566 --> 00:11:18,086 isn't a no, but this is a no right now. 291 00:11:18,566 --> 00:11:21,286 Yeah. Do you-- so 292 00:11:21,446 --> 00:11:23,766 that's a part of my own like travel 293 00:11:23,766 --> 00:11:26,166 journey as well, is learning how to use 294 00:11:26,166 --> 00:11:29,086 your voice, going from a place of not 295 00:11:29,086 --> 00:11:31,446 speaking so that other people feel more 296 00:11:31,446 --> 00:11:33,646 comfortable, and then realizing that you 297 00:11:33,646 --> 00:11:36,486 needed to speak up. Either to make the 298 00:11:36,486 --> 00:11:39,086 changes that are necessary or just to 299 00:11:39,086 --> 00:11:40,966 actually declare what it is that you're 300 00:11:40,966 --> 00:11:43,126 actually feeling, right. So just to be 301 00:11:43,126 --> 00:11:45,686 present versus just, you know, being a 302 00:11:45,686 --> 00:11:47,286 participant or like a viewer or something 303 00:11:47,286 --> 00:11:49,766 like that, using your voice to be able 304 00:11:49,766 --> 00:11:52,246 to establish those different 305 00:11:52,246 --> 00:11:55,126 boundaries, is that something that?You've 306 00:11:55,126 --> 00:11:57,806 had practice in or did you have to kind 307 00:11:57,806 --> 00:12:00,326 of grow to using that, especially after 308 00:12:00,326 --> 00:12:02,526 this transition of like, you know, big 309 00:12:02,526 --> 00:12:04,606 and fancy, you have this humble moment 310 00:12:04,606 --> 00:12:06,726 and now you're going back. How has that 311 00:12:06,726 --> 00:12:09,046 voice continued with you?Yeah, 312 00:12:10,006 --> 00:12:12,166 that's such a great question. Like I 313 00:12:12,166 --> 00:12:13,846 said, it's a constant struggle because 314 00:12:14,846 --> 00:12:17,606 when you are in that fancy world, you 315 00:12:17,606 --> 00:12:19,006 don't have to worry about it as much. And 316 00:12:19,006 --> 00:12:20,646 there are there are probably things 317 00:12:20,646 --> 00:12:22,046 looking back that I would change. I think 318 00:12:22,046 --> 00:12:23,486 I got really caught up in that, the 319 00:12:23,566 --> 00:12:25,846 external validation. versus internal 320 00:12:25,846 --> 00:12:28,086 validation. And so, 321 00:12:28,406 --> 00:12:30,166 funnily enough, moving back to LA, where 322 00:12:30,166 --> 00:12:32,446 there are celebrities, right, 323 00:12:33,366 --> 00:12:35,726 next to Hollywood, nobody cared if I went 324 00:12:35,726 --> 00:12:37,446 to any events, nobody cared if I had 325 00:12:37,446 --> 00:12:39,086 perfect makeup every day. I could just 326 00:12:39,086 --> 00:12:40,206 sit at home and I'm like, wait, people 327 00:12:40,206 --> 00:12:41,926 are gonna hire me just because they know 328 00:12:42,246 --> 00:12:44,766 that I'll do quality work, not for the 329 00:12:44,766 --> 00:12:47,446 trappings. And it's still 330 00:12:47,446 --> 00:12:49,606 taken me, I've taken on clients that were 331 00:12:50,086 --> 00:12:51,686 not the best clients because I thought, 332 00:12:51,846 --> 00:12:54,486 oh, I need this money to pay my team. So 333 00:12:54,486 --> 00:12:56,326 it's constantly learning to go with your 334 00:12:56,326 --> 00:12:58,486 gut. And as I'm saying that, I'm feeling 335 00:12:58,486 --> 00:13:00,366 that, like, feeling in my gut of, yeah, 336 00:13:00,366 --> 00:13:01,527 that was a lesson you were supposed to 337 00:13:01,527 --> 00:13:04,247 say no to. But you also learn, right?You 338 00:13:04,247 --> 00:13:06,567 take the lessons. And at this point, I 339 00:13:06,567 --> 00:13:08,927 think I've gotten a lot better at it. It 340 00:13:08,927 --> 00:13:11,847 really is true. Also, which I 341 00:13:11,847 --> 00:13:13,367 hate to say, and this is why I want 342 00:13:13,607 --> 00:13:15,807 younger people to really find their 343 00:13:15,807 --> 00:13:18,407 voices earlier. But as a woman, 344 00:13:18,567 --> 00:13:20,487 when you turn 40, there is a difference. 345 00:13:20,807 --> 00:13:23,447 I'm almost 50. And I feel like I've just 346 00:13:23,447 --> 00:13:25,807 found my stride. And there's a whole 347 00:13:25,807 --> 00:13:28,487 bunch more life ahead of me. Oh, that's 348 00:13:28,567 --> 00:13:29,047 happy. This year. 349 00:13:31,607 --> 00:13:34,247 Oh my goodness. Yeah, 350 00:13:34,647 --> 00:13:37,407 and it's about having the maturity of 351 00:13:37,407 --> 00:13:39,927 having lived life, even if I'm younger, 352 00:13:40,007 --> 00:13:42,887 'cause Asian. You know, so even just 353 00:13:42,887 --> 00:13:44,927 having that, like, that little bit more 354 00:13:44,927 --> 00:13:47,447 experience and feeling like giving 355 00:13:47,527 --> 00:13:50,247 lessAttention, time, 356 00:13:50,327 --> 00:13:52,807 energy to the things that are not going 357 00:13:52,807 --> 00:13:54,727 to propel me forward. OK, yeah, 358 00:13:55,927 --> 00:13:58,407 say it that way. Yeah, yeahAnd it's a 359 00:13:58,407 --> 00:14:00,567 struggle, but I have been really working 360 00:14:00,567 --> 00:14:02,247 on it. I've been actually working with a 361 00:14:02,247 --> 00:14:05,047 former Zen monk who I met through like we 362 00:14:05,087 --> 00:14:06,487 were both, you know, just different 363 00:14:06,487 --> 00:14:09,047 network referral coaching groups. 364 00:14:09,687 --> 00:14:11,687 And I realized that the way I teach 365 00:14:11,687 --> 00:14:14,167 branding to students and to people I work 366 00:14:14,167 --> 00:14:15,927 with is this is kind of the same way he 367 00:14:15,927 --> 00:14:18,727 was teaching his work. But I didn't 368 00:14:18,727 --> 00:14:20,247 have that, that was he was the missing 369 00:14:20,247 --> 00:14:22,247 piece. Because when I talk about 370 00:14:22,247 --> 00:14:23,767 branding, I always want people to be 371 00:14:23,767 --> 00:14:25,287 authentic to who they are. Think about 372 00:14:25,287 --> 00:14:27,007 who you are, what your mission, vision, 373 00:14:27,007 --> 00:14:29,247 values are. Everything can come from 374 00:14:29,247 --> 00:14:30,727 that. That makes it much easier to say 375 00:14:30,727 --> 00:14:32,767 yes or no to things, if you're very clear 376 00:14:32,767 --> 00:14:35,047 on that. Because it aligned with where 377 00:14:35,047 --> 00:14:37,847 you wanna be, who you are, or is it not, 378 00:14:38,487 --> 00:14:41,207 right?But he teaches about connecting 379 00:14:41,207 --> 00:14:43,127 with yourself, connecting with your past, 380 00:14:43,687 --> 00:14:45,527 connecting with your present, visioning 381 00:14:45,527 --> 00:14:48,287 your future. Mm-hmmGetting 382 00:14:48,287 --> 00:14:49,527 comfortable in that space, doing a lot of 383 00:14:49,527 --> 00:14:51,727 work. And then that's where you find your 384 00:14:51,727 --> 00:14:54,167 voice. That's where the inner becomes 385 00:14:54,167 --> 00:14:56,647 outer and where you feel 386 00:14:56,647 --> 00:14:59,607 comfortable and confident in that 387 00:14:59,607 --> 00:15:01,527 voice. Hmm 388 00:15:02,328 --> 00:15:04,888 I'm curious about how do you make that 389 00:15:04,888 --> 00:15:07,408 like a teaching lesson to other people, 390 00:15:07,408 --> 00:15:09,008 especially maybe people who haven't 391 00:15:09,008 --> 00:15:11,848 experienced what you've experienced?Oh, 392 00:15:11,848 --> 00:15:14,648 that's such a great question. One way is 393 00:15:14,648 --> 00:15:17,608 modeling it. You know, my daughter is, 394 00:15:17,848 --> 00:15:20,808 she's 16. She's always interested in what 395 00:15:20,888 --> 00:15:22,328 meetings do you have?Who are you talking 396 00:15:22,328 --> 00:15:24,528 to?What are they about?I love that she 397 00:15:24,528 --> 00:15:26,968 has that inquisitive brain. And another 398 00:15:26,968 --> 00:15:28,168 thing that we love to do together is 399 00:15:28,168 --> 00:15:31,048 travel. So this year I will 400 00:15:31,048 --> 00:15:33,848 have traveled at least 401 00:15:33,928 --> 00:15:36,648 three to four months of the year. Yeah, 402 00:15:36,888 --> 00:15:38,888 crazy. I I wanted to travel more this 403 00:15:38,888 --> 00:15:40,488 year. I just didn't realize how much more 404 00:15:40,488 --> 00:15:43,208 it would be. And 405 00:15:43,288 --> 00:15:45,928 some of it's been in the US. So I've been 406 00:15:45,928 --> 00:15:48,528 to Vegas for an AI conference. I'm going 407 00:15:48,528 --> 00:15:50,168 down just down the street to Orange 408 00:15:50,168 --> 00:15:52,088 County for a few days for another AI 409 00:15:52,088 --> 00:15:54,888 conference. I've been to DC twice 410 00:15:54,888 --> 00:15:57,848 for a podcast movement and also I'm on 411 00:15:57,848 --> 00:15:59,808 the Intuit Small Business Council. So we 412 00:15:59,808 --> 00:16:01,928 go once a year to talk to Congress 413 00:16:01,928 --> 00:16:03,208 members about the needs of small 414 00:16:03,208 --> 00:16:04,728 businesses throughout the United States. 415 00:16:04,728 --> 00:16:07,608 Wow, OK, I traveled with my 416 00:16:07,608 --> 00:16:10,408 daughter over. Spring break, we 417 00:16:10,408 --> 00:16:13,208 did West Coast. So we started in 418 00:16:13,208 --> 00:16:15,848 Seattle, looked at college there, went to 419 00:16:15,928 --> 00:16:17,528 Oregon, looked at University of Oregon, 420 00:16:17,528 --> 00:16:19,448 then ended up at Palo Alto, looked at 421 00:16:19,448 --> 00:16:22,248 Stanford. And then I went to a 422 00:16:22,248 --> 00:16:24,888 wedding in Mexico. This 423 00:16:24,888 --> 00:16:27,768 past week, I took a little hooky trip and 424 00:16:27,768 --> 00:16:30,288 went to Red Rocks to see a concert. 425 00:16:30,288 --> 00:16:32,728 That's in Colorado. Never been there. It 426 00:16:32,728 --> 00:16:35,008 was a quick flight. Got there, had you 427 00:16:35,008 --> 00:16:37,768 know comp tickets to a band called Arcade 428 00:16:37,768 --> 00:16:39,528 Fire's 20th anniversary of their first 429 00:16:39,528 --> 00:16:41,928 album. Super fun, super beautiful 430 00:16:41,928 --> 00:16:44,568 venue. Flew home the next day. So I tried 431 00:16:44,568 --> 00:16:45,968 to incorporate a little bit of both kinds 432 00:16:45,968 --> 00:16:48,768 of trips. A little bit of fun. I 433 00:16:49,008 --> 00:16:50,808 went to Philly for 10 days to do some 434 00:16:50,808 --> 00:16:53,288 in-person classes for my MBA. Went to 435 00:16:53,288 --> 00:16:55,248 Canada for 10 days with my daughter to 436 00:16:55,248 --> 00:16:56,968 look at a college, but then see family 437 00:16:56,968 --> 00:16:59,448 that we have up there. Went and spent 10 438 00:16:59,448 --> 00:17:02,169 days in Greece, 10 days in England. 439 00:17:02,729 --> 00:17:04,889 And we're going to Thailand for about two 440 00:17:04,889 --> 00:17:07,769 weeks for my birthday and Christmas in 441 00:17:07,769 --> 00:17:09,809 December, and probably a couple other 442 00:17:09,809 --> 00:17:12,169 little trips in between. But 443 00:17:12,609 --> 00:17:15,529 what I think that's important 444 00:17:15,529 --> 00:17:17,849 about that is maintaining those values no 445 00:17:17,849 --> 00:17:20,329 matter where you go, but really getting 446 00:17:20,329 --> 00:17:23,009 to know the people where you are, doing 447 00:17:23,009 --> 00:17:25,289 things that locals do, right, embedding 448 00:17:25,289 --> 00:17:28,169 yourself. So when I was in England, 449 00:17:28,169 --> 00:17:30,089 meeting up with people I'd metAlong the 450 00:17:30,089 --> 00:17:31,849 way, I'd met actually a woman that I'd 451 00:17:31,849 --> 00:17:34,329 met at Podcast Movement Evolutions. 452 00:17:34,969 --> 00:17:36,969 Oh, cool. We met for dinner. One of my 453 00:17:36,969 --> 00:17:38,569 best friends lives there. I have some 454 00:17:38,569 --> 00:17:40,529 other people that I know from different 455 00:17:40,529 --> 00:17:42,249 things who live there. So I was able to 456 00:17:42,249 --> 00:17:44,329 go experience things the way that people 457 00:17:44,329 --> 00:17:46,249 would experience them who live there, go 458 00:17:46,249 --> 00:17:48,409 to their favorite pubs, restaurants, get 459 00:17:48,409 --> 00:17:50,929 their recommendations. I think that's 460 00:17:50,929 --> 00:17:52,649 something that you love to do too, right? 461 00:17:52,649 --> 00:17:54,009 Because travel really helps you. 462 00:17:54,569 --> 00:17:56,249 understand, appreciate, and feel more 463 00:17:56,249 --> 00:17:58,249 acceptance in the world of other people. 464 00:17:58,449 --> 00:18:00,329 Yeah. What they do, but then also 465 00:18:01,049 --> 00:18:03,249 hopefully not come across as the ugly 466 00:18:03,249 --> 00:18:05,689 American and know that we're not all like 467 00:18:05,689 --> 00:18:08,329 that, right?So So 468 00:18:08,569 --> 00:18:10,049 yeah, so those are some of the places. 469 00:18:10,049 --> 00:18:11,209 And then I'm part of a group called 470 00:18:11,209 --> 00:18:13,329 Influence Hers Foundation. I'm on the 471 00:18:13,329 --> 00:18:15,049 board, and it is a group of women of 472 00:18:15,049 --> 00:18:17,209 color and allies. We do 473 00:18:17,529 --> 00:18:20,209 mindfulness, wellness activities, online 474 00:18:20,209 --> 00:18:22,969 and offline, get together for brunches. 475 00:18:23,449 --> 00:18:25,049 Most recently, we went to an amazing 476 00:18:25,049 --> 00:18:27,689 brunch at a Michelin star Asian 477 00:18:27,689 --> 00:18:29,489 woman-owned restaurant in downtown LA. 478 00:18:29,489 --> 00:18:31,609 And we had different people talking about 479 00:18:31,609 --> 00:18:33,689 different charities that they worked with 480 00:18:33,689 --> 00:18:34,729 and different mission-driven 481 00:18:35,289 --> 00:18:37,129 opportunities. And then we are going to 482 00:18:37,129 --> 00:18:39,169 take trips also to 483 00:18:39,689 --> 00:18:42,489 Central and South America, to Africa, to 484 00:18:42,489 --> 00:18:45,289 show that volunteers aren't 485 00:18:45,289 --> 00:18:47,849 just white women. 486 00:18:48,489 --> 00:18:51,369 Yeah, right. Like that people who look 487 00:18:51,369 --> 00:18:53,369 like the people that we're helping serve 488 00:18:54,249 --> 00:18:56,569 want help and that we are going to be 489 00:18:56,569 --> 00:18:58,569 there. And so that's something that I 490 00:18:58,569 --> 00:19:00,169 think is really impactful because it's 491 00:19:00,169 --> 00:19:02,210 not on one hand you're coming in, you're 492 00:19:02,210 --> 00:19:03,610 helping, but we're really trying to work 493 00:19:03,610 --> 00:19:05,690 within the ecosystem of what's there and 494 00:19:05,690 --> 00:19:07,330 what's going to be not bringing all the, 495 00:19:07,450 --> 00:19:08,370 you know, that's what you hear a lot 496 00:19:08,370 --> 00:19:10,210 about like people bringing in and 497 00:19:10,210 --> 00:19:11,490 donating all the stuff and then that 498 00:19:11,490 --> 00:19:13,090 kills the local economy. We don't want to 499 00:19:13,090 --> 00:19:15,650 do that. So we want to say, what are your 500 00:19:15,650 --> 00:19:17,170 needs?What are you doing here?How can we 501 00:19:17,170 --> 00:19:19,050 help support?What you already have in 502 00:19:19,050 --> 00:19:21,570 place to help you grow in your own path, 503 00:19:21,850 --> 00:19:24,250 right. So that it's not just needing 504 00:19:24,250 --> 00:19:25,690 depending on other people, outside 505 00:19:25,690 --> 00:19:27,290 people, because nobody wants to do that. 506 00:19:27,901 --> 00:19:29,501 A point. A point. 507 00:19:28,278 --> 00:19:30,039 want to take a quick moment to tell you 508 00:19:30,039 --> 00:19:32,680 something exciting that's coming up. The 509 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:35,241 cultivating confidence on this retreat 510 00:19:35,561 --> 00:19:38,402 is happening. From May 8th to 511 00:19:38,442 --> 00:19:41,243 the 12th, 2025, I'll be 512 00:19:41,243 --> 00:19:43,924 hosting A transformative retreat designed 513 00:19:43,924 --> 00:19:46,204 specifically for women dealing with 514 00:19:46,204 --> 00:19:48,285 imposter syndrome and self-doubt. 515 00:19:49,085 --> 00:19:51,086 We will be heading to the beautiful, 516 00:19:51,086 --> 00:19:53,887 tranquil lagoon of 517 00:19:54,047 --> 00:19:57,008 Bacalar, Mexico. This is going 518 00:19:57,008 --> 00:19:59,249 to be an opportunity for you to recharge, 519 00:19:59,489 --> 00:20:02,370 reflect, reconnect with yourself. So 520 00:20:02,370 --> 00:20:05,251 think daily yoga, meditation, gourmet 521 00:20:05,251 --> 00:20:07,451 meals, confidence building workshops, and 522 00:20:07,451 --> 00:20:10,052 plenty of adventure. We'll do kayaking, 523 00:20:10,052 --> 00:20:12,373 stand up paddle boarding. And day trips 524 00:20:12,373 --> 00:20:14,374 to explore the area. It's all about 525 00:20:14,374 --> 00:20:17,255 creating a supportive space where you 526 00:20:17,575 --> 00:20:20,376 can grow and have fun. Spots are limited, 527 00:20:20,696 --> 00:20:22,737 so if this sounds like something you 528 00:20:22,737 --> 00:20:24,097 need, head over to 529 00:20:24,377 --> 00:20:27,258 amethystpalaverhut.com 530 00:20:27,418 --> 00:20:29,939 to learn more and reserve your spot. All 531 00:20:29,939 --> 00:20:31,420 right, back to the episode. 532 00:20:31,636 --> 00:20:33,876 I enjoy that your story has a mix of 533 00:20:33,876 --> 00:20:35,556 like, yes, you do travel for work as 534 00:20:35,556 --> 00:20:37,636 well, but also you're mindful about 535 00:20:37,636 --> 00:20:39,716 including like fun 536 00:20:40,356 --> 00:20:42,396 into the trips, right. And so even if 537 00:20:42,396 --> 00:20:44,556 it's visiting family or there's a place 538 00:20:44,556 --> 00:20:46,436 that you want to check out, Red Rocks is 539 00:20:46,436 --> 00:20:48,716 definitely on my list and I'm so sad I 540 00:20:48,716 --> 00:20:50,636 didn't get to do it last year. Let's meet 541 00:20:50,636 --> 00:20:53,516 there because. Honestly, I can fly to 542 00:20:53,516 --> 00:20:56,116 LA, from LA to Denver, go to a 543 00:20:56,116 --> 00:20:58,876 concert, and it might take as much time 544 00:20:58,876 --> 00:21:00,236 as it would take me to drive into LA, 545 00:21:00,716 --> 00:21:03,076 find a parking spot. Nice. All right. 546 00:21:03,156 --> 00:21:05,156 RightAnd yeah, deal with all that mess. 547 00:21:05,156 --> 00:21:05,316 That's 548 00:21:08,916 --> 00:21:10,476 true. Then yeah, all right, well, we need 549 00:21:10,476 --> 00:21:12,356 to add that to the list because that's 550 00:21:12,396 --> 00:21:14,676 definitely, definitely like on the list 551 00:21:14,676 --> 00:21:16,636 of places. And I remember one of my 552 00:21:16,636 --> 00:21:17,876 favorite artists was there and I was 553 00:21:17,876 --> 00:21:20,836 like, How did I miss this?What in the 554 00:21:20,836 --> 00:21:23,556 world?Anywhere. So now I need to go back, 555 00:21:23,876 --> 00:21:26,556 but like incorporating that joy into it. 556 00:21:26,556 --> 00:21:28,676 And even when you're working and helping 557 00:21:28,676 --> 00:21:30,796 other people, I think it's also important 558 00:21:30,796 --> 00:21:33,236 that sometimes we tend to whore all of 559 00:21:33,236 --> 00:21:35,476 ourselves right into other people. And 560 00:21:35,796 --> 00:21:37,956 not that you shouldn't enjoy your your 561 00:21:37,956 --> 00:21:39,956 work or you shouldn't be, you know, self 562 00:21:39,956 --> 00:21:42,196 sacrificing, but I think there's a really 563 00:21:42,356 --> 00:21:44,676 unique balance of. Being able to have a 564 00:21:44,676 --> 00:21:46,516 community where you're sharing these 565 00:21:46,516 --> 00:21:48,676 different stories of how other people are 566 00:21:48,676 --> 00:21:50,756 helping others around the world, you 567 00:21:50,756 --> 00:21:52,596 mentioned like that image of the ugly 568 00:21:52,596 --> 00:21:54,916 American where there's a temptation to be 569 00:21:54,916 --> 00:21:57,556 like, I am a representation and let me 570 00:21:57,556 --> 00:21:59,237 show you how some of us can be really 571 00:21:59,237 --> 00:22:02,037 great. But then there's also like, yeah, 572 00:22:02,037 --> 00:22:04,757 yeah but I know I'm Grace. This is what I 573 00:22:04,757 --> 00:22:07,397 have to offer to these other people. 574 00:22:07,637 --> 00:22:09,717 And so, yeah, I like that there are 575 00:22:09,717 --> 00:22:12,557 touches of intentionality behind how you 576 00:22:12,557 --> 00:22:14,677 help other people, but then also how you 577 00:22:14,677 --> 00:22:16,997 get to explore the world with what you do 578 00:22:16,997 --> 00:22:19,797 and as you're still helping others. Yeah, 579 00:22:20,037 --> 00:22:22,037 that's very well-rounded anyway, is what 580 00:22:22,117 --> 00:22:23,837 I'm trying to say. Yeah, I think you I 581 00:22:23,837 --> 00:22:26,077 try, and I think part of that is one of 582 00:22:26,157 --> 00:22:28,117 other things that my mom did when we were 583 00:22:28,117 --> 00:22:30,277 growing up is when immigrants would come 584 00:22:30,277 --> 00:22:32,757 from Southeast Asian countries to 585 00:22:33,077 --> 00:22:36,037 Lawrence, Kansas, she would help 586 00:22:36,037 --> 00:22:38,077 them. She was paid by the local churches 587 00:22:38,077 --> 00:22:39,397 and the people who helped bring people 588 00:22:39,397 --> 00:22:41,957 over. So she would take me with her. And 589 00:22:41,957 --> 00:22:44,037 I would sit and play with the kids, and 590 00:22:44,037 --> 00:22:46,397 she would go in and teach, Here's how you 591 00:22:46,437 --> 00:22:48,037 actually wash dishes, or, Here's how you 592 00:22:48,837 --> 00:22:50,277 don't discipline your children in the 593 00:22:50,277 --> 00:22:51,957 United States. For all the things, 594 00:22:51,957 --> 00:22:53,717 because there are these nuanced 595 00:22:53,717 --> 00:22:55,997 differences in every culture. And 596 00:22:56,277 --> 00:22:59,157 so I got to see a lot of that in 597 00:22:59,157 --> 00:23:01,637 action, and that really made my 598 00:23:01,637 --> 00:23:04,357 perspective open. Also, the fact that my 599 00:23:04,357 --> 00:23:07,237 father was an Air Force brat, if 600 00:23:07,237 --> 00:23:09,517 you will. My grandfather built Air Force 601 00:23:09,517 --> 00:23:12,437 bases all over the world. So my dad spoke 602 00:23:12,437 --> 00:23:14,277 a lot of different language. He went to 603 00:23:14,997 --> 00:23:17,317 high school in Morocco. He did 604 00:23:17,317 --> 00:23:19,797 construction in Turkey when he was 19. He 605 00:23:19,797 --> 00:23:21,637 lived in Italy, he lived in France, he 606 00:23:21,637 --> 00:23:23,477 spoke these different, but he was really 607 00:23:23,477 --> 00:23:25,477 culturally aware. And so they instilled 608 00:23:25,477 --> 00:23:27,237 in me this value of also we're like, we 609 00:23:27,237 --> 00:23:29,797 are a global community. And that makes it 610 00:23:29,797 --> 00:23:31,637 really fun, right?How can you not have 611 00:23:31,637 --> 00:23:34,037 joy in like meeting people and learning 612 00:23:34,037 --> 00:23:36,917 about who they are?Yeah. Yeah 613 00:23:37,557 --> 00:23:39,197 There's a complete difference, I think, 614 00:23:39,197 --> 00:23:40,917 between being like a tourist and a 615 00:23:40,917 --> 00:23:43,277 traveler. It doesn't seem like it's on 616 00:23:43,277 --> 00:23:45,477 purpose, but there is a strong 617 00:23:45,477 --> 00:23:48,117 restriction if you're a tourist from 618 00:23:48,117 --> 00:23:50,037 involving yourself with the people that 619 00:23:50,037 --> 00:23:52,197 you meet when you're traveling or getting 620 00:23:52,197 --> 00:23:54,717 to understand their, like,What a day in 621 00:23:54,717 --> 00:23:56,757 the life of a local looks like. And I 622 00:23:56,757 --> 00:23:58,597 think if you get in that mindset of like 623 00:23:58,757 --> 00:24:00,438 a traveler, you want to ask those 624 00:24:00,438 --> 00:24:02,598 questions. You want to, you know, maybe 625 00:24:02,598 --> 00:24:04,158 you'll see a video of some type of food 626 00:24:04,158 --> 00:24:05,558 and you want to ask the locals like, is 627 00:24:05,558 --> 00:24:07,238 this really what you guys like to eat or 628 00:24:07,398 --> 00:24:09,318 what does it mean?Why?You know, like 629 00:24:09,638 --> 00:24:11,158 there's so many other questions. I think 630 00:24:11,158 --> 00:24:12,918 more meaningful questions that can come 631 00:24:12,918 --> 00:24:15,438 up if you do have that open heart and 632 00:24:15,438 --> 00:24:17,638 interest in other people. I just love the 633 00:24:17,638 --> 00:24:19,478 nuance of what you said because. 634 00:24:20,358 --> 00:24:22,278 tourist, you do think about people who 635 00:24:22,278 --> 00:24:23,758 want to find restaurants they're familiar 636 00:24:23,758 --> 00:24:26,438 with. Right. They do want a 637 00:24:26,438 --> 00:24:28,198 different experience. Or we hear about 638 00:24:28,518 --> 00:24:30,358 places that are beautiful cultures, but 639 00:24:30,598 --> 00:24:32,278 you can't leave the resort or you never 640 00:24:32,278 --> 00:24:34,758 leave the resort. Right. RightAnd that's 641 00:24:34,758 --> 00:24:36,038 another kind of experience I want to 642 00:24:36,038 --> 00:24:38,438 have. Even when I've been a 643 00:24:38,438 --> 00:24:40,518 tourist, and I I don't remember if I 644 00:24:40,518 --> 00:24:43,278 connected you to the animal 645 00:24:43,278 --> 00:24:45,158 rescue resort in Costa Rica. Did we talk 646 00:24:45,158 --> 00:24:48,038 about that?No. Oh, OK. 647 00:24:48,078 --> 00:24:50,838 Well,So there is this 648 00:24:50,998 --> 00:24:53,598 group of people that moved from Israel to 649 00:24:53,638 --> 00:24:56,358 Costa Rica a long time ago. They brought 650 00:24:56,358 --> 00:24:58,198 80 animals with them. They were very 651 00:24:58,198 --> 00:25:00,998 peaceful, kind of hippie, vegan. You 652 00:25:00,998 --> 00:25:02,198 know, they didn't want to live-- like, 653 00:25:02,198 --> 00:25:04,918 they didn't want to have the same lives, 654 00:25:05,158 --> 00:25:07,918 like corporate lives, all that stuff that 655 00:25:07,918 --> 00:25:10,038 they'd have if they had stayed in Israel. 656 00:25:10,598 --> 00:25:12,118 They just wanted to be peaceful. And so 657 00:25:12,118 --> 00:25:14,678 they bought a resort in Costa Rica that 658 00:25:14,678 --> 00:25:16,478 was up for sale. They brought all their 659 00:25:16,478 --> 00:25:18,238 animals because they love animals. And 660 00:25:18,238 --> 00:25:20,998 then people started realizing, oh, they 661 00:25:20,998 --> 00:25:22,918 love animals. We can just abandon our 662 00:25:22,918 --> 00:25:24,838 animals to them because there's no 663 00:25:24,838 --> 00:25:27,398 national system in Costa Rica. 664 00:25:27,798 --> 00:25:29,558 They have so many animals now, dogs, 665 00:25:29,558 --> 00:25:32,078 cats, horses, ducks, 666 00:25:32,598 --> 00:25:35,518 chickens, like so many things that you 667 00:25:35,518 --> 00:25:38,478 wouldn't even expect. And they have done 668 00:25:38,478 --> 00:25:40,718 a campaign where they've just invited 669 00:25:40,718 --> 00:25:42,118 people that they think would be animal 670 00:25:42,118 --> 00:25:44,438 lovers to come down and experience the 671 00:25:44,438 --> 00:25:46,198 resort. You have to buy your flight 672 00:25:46,198 --> 00:25:47,318 ticket. You have to take care of 673 00:25:47,318 --> 00:25:49,558 transportation from the airport, but then 674 00:25:49,558 --> 00:25:52,078 you get to stay there for free. All your 675 00:25:52,078 --> 00:25:54,238 meals are free. They're vegan, but they 676 00:25:54,318 --> 00:25:55,718 have some really good vegan meals there. 677 00:25:56,038 --> 00:25:58,558 Okay, yeah. Zip lining, river 678 00:25:58,558 --> 00:26:01,399 rafting, horseback riding, all for free. 679 00:26:01,879 --> 00:26:03,799 And you also tour the animal rescue to 680 00:26:03,799 --> 00:26:05,639 see the animals and play with the cats 681 00:26:05,639 --> 00:26:08,359 and the dogs. We learn. And 682 00:26:08,519 --> 00:26:10,399 that can be really overwhelming. I have 683 00:26:10,399 --> 00:26:12,439 pets, I love animals, but I'm not, that's 684 00:26:12,439 --> 00:26:15,239 not my big cause. Yeah, yeahBut I 685 00:26:15,319 --> 00:26:16,919 was invited. So I took my daughter there 686 00:26:16,919 --> 00:26:19,639 one year, actually last year, for 687 00:26:20,439 --> 00:26:22,919 like her midwinter break from school. 688 00:26:23,639 --> 00:26:25,279 And it was just really lovely. And there 689 00:26:25,279 --> 00:26:26,759 were other people who had much bigger 690 00:26:26,759 --> 00:26:28,999 followings and were really actual 691 00:26:28,999 --> 00:26:31,239 influencers. There were people who'd been 692 00:26:31,239 --> 00:26:33,359 on reality shows, like Too Hot to Handle 693 00:26:33,359 --> 00:26:35,479 and things like that, who were there. OK. 694 00:26:35,879 --> 00:26:37,879 We just-- that's the way that they're 695 00:26:37,879 --> 00:26:40,759 pouring back. And so while I was 696 00:26:41,279 --> 00:26:42,959 confined to this one resort, I still got 697 00:26:42,959 --> 00:26:45,799 to see a lot of talking to people who 698 00:26:45,799 --> 00:26:48,039 worked there who were locals, talking to 699 00:26:48,039 --> 00:26:49,799 people who had found their home there, 700 00:26:49,799 --> 00:26:50,839 even though they weren't from there 701 00:26:50,839 --> 00:26:52,959 originally, learning about the good that 702 00:26:52,959 --> 00:26:54,279 they're putting into the world to see how 703 00:26:54,279 --> 00:26:56,759 I could help. And that that was like, 704 00:26:56,999 --> 00:26:59,079 that's the experience where you feel good 705 00:26:59,079 --> 00:27:01,959 about going to a place, staying 706 00:27:01,959 --> 00:27:04,279 in one area, right?Because that really 707 00:27:04,279 --> 00:27:06,279 was a travel experience, not a tourist 708 00:27:06,279 --> 00:27:08,639 experience. Yeah, like the 709 00:27:08,639 --> 00:27:11,079 entire that space was the experience 710 00:27:11,159 --> 00:27:13,959 versus hiding on the resort, right, 711 00:27:14,039 --> 00:27:16,999 from other places. Yeah. They still reach 712 00:27:16,999 --> 00:27:19,719 out. We've done contests to get people to 713 00:27:19,719 --> 00:27:21,399 donate money and they've given a trip to 714 00:27:21,439 --> 00:27:24,039 a friend, right?If they have a very 715 00:27:24,039 --> 00:27:25,559 serious animal situation, they'll say, 716 00:27:25,559 --> 00:27:27,399 hey, can you repost this on your stories 717 00:27:27,399 --> 00:27:29,319 or can you share this because this dog 718 00:27:29,319 --> 00:27:30,679 came to us and this is what happened and 719 00:27:30,679 --> 00:27:31,799 we need to raise X amount for their 720 00:27:31,799 --> 00:27:34,359 surgery. It's-- they're just really 721 00:27:34,359 --> 00:27:36,279 beautiful, kind people. And those are the 722 00:27:36,279 --> 00:27:37,839 kind of people you want to meet. And 723 00:27:38,119 --> 00:27:39,399 you're like, yeah, I want to keep helping 724 00:27:39,399 --> 00:27:41,279 them. Yeah. I'm like, OK, I have to 725 00:27:41,479 --> 00:27:43,679 choose Grace to Asaf. So if you can get 726 00:27:43,679 --> 00:27:46,439 that trip and go down, yeah. That 727 00:27:46,559 --> 00:27:49,119 would be really cool, actually. Nice. 728 00:27:49,879 --> 00:27:50,919 Yeah. All right, so you know I have to 729 00:27:50,919 --> 00:27:52,839 throw like a random travel question in 730 00:27:52,839 --> 00:27:55,399 here. What is-- do you have a favorite 731 00:27:55,399 --> 00:27:57,639 travel story that you like to share?Oh, 732 00:27:57,639 --> 00:27:59,720 my gosh-- Even though you just told a 733 00:27:59,720 --> 00:28:02,200 really good--I 734 00:28:02,840 --> 00:28:05,800 have to think about that, because 735 00:28:05,880 --> 00:28:08,120 I've had weird travel stories 736 00:28:08,520 --> 00:28:11,160 where-- I mean, weird in the context of I 737 00:28:11,400 --> 00:28:12,920 wanted to go to St. Bart's for my 738 00:28:13,160 --> 00:28:14,320 honeymoon when I got married to my 739 00:28:14,360 --> 00:28:16,920 daughter's dad. Mm-hmmI think that's very 740 00:28:16,920 --> 00:28:19,800 posh and fancy. We was involved 741 00:28:19,800 --> 00:28:21,400 with a charity-- I'm still involved-- 742 00:28:21,480 --> 00:28:24,080 called Junior League of Los Angeles. And 743 00:28:24,080 --> 00:28:25,920 somebody had given a certificate for a 744 00:28:25,920 --> 00:28:28,040 stay at their place in St. Bart's or 745 00:28:28,040 --> 00:28:30,120 whatever. I really wanted it, so we've 746 00:28:30,120 --> 00:28:32,280 been on it. We get there. It's like 747 00:28:32,760 --> 00:28:35,080 mosquito infested. I got like so many 748 00:28:35,080 --> 00:28:37,960 mosquito. It was not a 749 00:28:37,960 --> 00:28:40,880 she she by any means. OK. Sometimes you 750 00:28:40,880 --> 00:28:43,120 have to reset your expectations. Yeah. 751 00:28:43,480 --> 00:28:45,560 You have to be willing to be flexible 752 00:28:45,560 --> 00:28:48,120 when you go someplace. It might not be 753 00:28:48,120 --> 00:28:49,960 exactly what you think it is. It might be 754 00:28:49,960 --> 00:28:52,400 better. Or you might have to pivot. We 755 00:28:52,400 --> 00:28:53,800 ended up leaving and going and checking 756 00:28:53,800 --> 00:28:56,080 in someplace else and finding just a tiny 757 00:28:56,080 --> 00:28:58,680 little place, but it was perfect. So I 758 00:28:58,680 --> 00:29:00,840 thinkThe experiences where you learn 759 00:29:00,840 --> 00:29:02,080 something, where you're willing to be 760 00:29:02,080 --> 00:29:04,320 adaptable, where you 761 00:29:04,920 --> 00:29:07,560 aren't as rigid, right, are the best 762 00:29:07,560 --> 00:29:10,200 ones. Like my daughter is one of my 763 00:29:10,200 --> 00:29:11,760 favorite travel partners. We travel the 764 00:29:11,760 --> 00:29:14,280 same way. My boyfriend is one of my 765 00:29:14,280 --> 00:29:15,920 favorite travel partners, because he does 766 00:29:15,920 --> 00:29:17,920 set things up where he's like, OK, if 767 00:29:17,920 --> 00:29:19,640 we're driving somewhere, let's take this 768 00:29:19,640 --> 00:29:21,160 much time to drive, and let's go see this 769 00:29:21,160 --> 00:29:23,440 really cool thing. So it's really the 770 00:29:23,440 --> 00:29:26,120 whole journeys and experience. Right?And 771 00:29:26,120 --> 00:29:28,200 I think that's, I mean, when people say 772 00:29:28,200 --> 00:29:30,680 the journey is the destination, it really 773 00:29:30,680 --> 00:29:33,560 is true. So I would urge everybody to to 774 00:29:33,560 --> 00:29:35,760 think about travel as a great way to 775 00:29:35,760 --> 00:29:38,520 learn about yourself, to make yourself 776 00:29:38,600 --> 00:29:40,960 open to new experiences, new people, and 777 00:29:40,960 --> 00:29:43,400 also find yourself along the way. Yeah. 778 00:29:44,280 --> 00:29:47,080 Yes. You better advertise for 779 00:29:47,080 --> 00:29:49,320 this travel experience. I love 780 00:29:51,880 --> 00:29:54,680 it. Have you found that travelI know like 781 00:29:54,680 --> 00:29:57,000 it's helped with development or kind of-- 782 00:29:57,480 --> 00:29:59,480 travel's been a part of your experience 783 00:29:59,480 --> 00:30:01,601 as you are growing and learning. But do 784 00:30:01,601 --> 00:30:04,441 you think it's been a lesson?Or 785 00:30:04,441 --> 00:30:07,041 has it just been like a part of that 786 00:30:07,041 --> 00:30:09,801 journey?It has definitely been a lesson. 787 00:30:10,441 --> 00:30:13,321 I'm thinking, too-- this is 20 years ago, 788 00:30:13,321 --> 00:30:15,161 so I'm aging myself still. Well, I 789 00:30:15,161 --> 00:30:17,561 already did that. But my now 790 00:30:17,561 --> 00:30:19,681 ex-husband-- I think this is even-- this 791 00:30:19,681 --> 00:30:21,561 is before we were even married. He had 792 00:30:21,561 --> 00:30:24,041 some work in Johannesburg, South Africa. 793 00:30:24,761 --> 00:30:27,641 And I had dropped out of college to 794 00:30:27,641 --> 00:30:29,361 work. And then I went back, and I 795 00:30:29,401 --> 00:30:32,281 graduated in 2004. So he's 796 00:30:32,281 --> 00:30:33,561 like, well, why don't you meet me there? 797 00:30:33,641 --> 00:30:35,881 So I met him in Cape Town, one of my 798 00:30:36,601 --> 00:30:39,441 top favorite cities anywhere in the 799 00:30:39,441 --> 00:30:41,841 world ever, ever, ever, ever. Nice. OK. 800 00:30:42,201 --> 00:30:45,081 But apartheid had just been a thing. 801 00:30:45,081 --> 00:30:47,561 People were still very 802 00:30:48,041 --> 00:30:50,521 eggshelly about it. And I had these 803 00:30:50,521 --> 00:30:53,041 experience where I'm considered colored 804 00:30:53,041 --> 00:30:55,321 there because anybody who's like Asian, 805 00:30:55,321 --> 00:30:58,241 Indian, mixed is colored. And 806 00:30:58,241 --> 00:31:00,281 so I brought tour guides who were white, 807 00:31:00,281 --> 00:31:02,361 like almost be apologizing to me. 808 00:31:03,401 --> 00:31:06,201 We'd go to restaurants and it was 809 00:31:06,281 --> 00:31:08,001 interesting that both among the 810 00:31:08,001 --> 00:31:10,321 Afrikaner, the white community and the 811 00:31:10,321 --> 00:31:13,161 black community, it was very much more 812 00:31:13,201 --> 00:31:16,041 of men are high, high, high above women. 813 00:31:16,521 --> 00:31:19,481 So we went to a restaurant that was like, 814 00:31:19,881 --> 00:31:22,281 you know, native foods from South Africa, 815 00:31:22,361 --> 00:31:23,601 from different villages. It was an 816 00:31:23,601 --> 00:31:26,041 amazing meal. But then I was paying for 817 00:31:26,041 --> 00:31:28,601 the meal, and the waitress was completely 818 00:31:28,601 --> 00:31:31,401 taken aback that I was paying 819 00:31:31,401 --> 00:31:33,681 for a man. And so 820 00:31:34,281 --> 00:31:35,761 that was-- seeing how people were 821 00:31:35,761 --> 00:31:38,161 reacting to me, being a foreigner in this 822 00:31:38,161 --> 00:31:40,441 country, but them putting their own 823 00:31:40,441 --> 00:31:42,201 constructs was really an awakening 824 00:31:42,201 --> 00:31:44,441 experience. And it's one that will stick 825 00:31:44,441 --> 00:31:46,761 with me for my whole life and 826 00:31:47,321 --> 00:31:48,681 gave me a lot of things to think about, a 827 00:31:48,681 --> 00:31:51,241 lot of lessons. and how to approach 828 00:31:51,241 --> 00:31:52,601 people, how to approach situations, how 829 00:31:52,601 --> 00:31:54,601 to appreciate people from where they're 830 00:31:54,601 --> 00:31:56,601 coming from and not just my own views, 831 00:31:56,601 --> 00:31:58,001 right, and hope that they would do the 832 00:31:58,001 --> 00:31:59,521 same for me. But sometimes they do, 833 00:31:59,521 --> 00:32:01,802 sometimes they don't. So that's a place 834 00:32:01,802 --> 00:32:04,762 where I experienced a big lesson. Hmm So 835 00:32:04,922 --> 00:32:07,322 like in that scenario, then, first, have 836 00:32:07,562 --> 00:32:10,442 you gone back?No, I want to. 837 00:32:10,842 --> 00:32:13,762 OK. I want to. I also want to get-- I've 838 00:32:13,762 --> 00:32:15,722 been working with a nonprofit in Ghana 839 00:32:15,722 --> 00:32:18,042 for over 15 years. 840 00:32:18,722 --> 00:32:21,002 And I've never been, because every year I 841 00:32:21,002 --> 00:32:23,082 was like, I can either pay for a plane 842 00:32:23,082 --> 00:32:25,762 ticket, or I can put more money into the 843 00:32:25,762 --> 00:32:28,442 nonprofit. Me too. More kids. And so I've 844 00:32:28,442 --> 00:32:31,202 always done that. Oh, yeah. The other 845 00:32:31,202 --> 00:32:32,522 thing is, if you're going to go, it's a 846 00:32:32,602 --> 00:32:34,562 long trip. So I think if you're going to 847 00:32:34,562 --> 00:32:36,482 go make an investment, I want to go to 848 00:32:36,482 --> 00:32:38,482 Africa for like three weeks, a month. 849 00:32:38,922 --> 00:32:41,242 Yeah. Really be able to experience. Have 850 00:32:41,242 --> 00:32:42,082 to. Yeah. Mm-hmm, 851 00:32:43,802 --> 00:32:46,522 mm-hmmMy question to your experience in 852 00:32:46,522 --> 00:32:49,402 Cape Town was, soDo you feel so now that 853 00:32:49,482 --> 00:32:52,002 you've understanding like how people 854 00:32:52,002 --> 00:32:54,002 would see you, do you feel like you then 855 00:32:54,002 --> 00:32:56,762 need to adjust in a certain way? 856 00:32:56,762 --> 00:32:58,602 Like is there some sort of adaption that 857 00:32:58,682 --> 00:33:01,482 needs to happen or are you still 858 00:33:01,482 --> 00:33:03,322 going in with like, I understand this is 859 00:33:03,322 --> 00:33:05,162 how people are gonna think and then I 860 00:33:05,162 --> 00:33:07,402 need to be a certain way. Yeah. OK. I 861 00:33:07,402 --> 00:33:09,602 think you said it very eloquently 862 00:33:09,602 --> 00:33:11,522 earlier. You said, I'm Grace, I'm not 863 00:33:11,522 --> 00:33:13,882 gonna worry about, you know, So I think, 864 00:33:14,042 --> 00:33:15,242 yeah, I'm gonna come in as myself, but 865 00:33:15,242 --> 00:33:18,042 I'm also going to be cognizant of. When 866 00:33:18,042 --> 00:33:20,642 I'm in Thailand, yeah, if I'm going to go 867 00:33:20,642 --> 00:33:23,322 into temples, I'm not going to wear coats 868 00:33:23,322 --> 00:33:25,002 and a tank top, right?I'm going to be 869 00:33:25,002 --> 00:33:26,722 covered appropriately when I'm in 870 00:33:26,722 --> 00:33:28,522 different cultures, because that's 871 00:33:28,522 --> 00:33:30,842 respectful to the people that I'm 872 00:33:30,882 --> 00:33:32,762 visiting. And that that is also my 873 00:33:32,762 --> 00:33:34,282 culture. But there are a lot of other 874 00:33:34,282 --> 00:33:37,042 examples you can give. But yeah, so I 875 00:33:37,042 --> 00:33:38,682 think it's keep being true to yourself, 876 00:33:38,682 --> 00:33:41,402 but also be mindful of where you 877 00:33:41,402 --> 00:33:43,882 are and being respectful of somebody 878 00:33:43,882 --> 00:33:46,562 else's culture. HmmI like that. 879 00:33:46,802 --> 00:33:49,162 It's a good mix and a good balance. You 880 00:33:49,162 --> 00:33:50,762 mentioned that you have, or you're 881 00:33:50,762 --> 00:33:52,962 working with two podcasts, at least. I 882 00:33:52,962 --> 00:33:54,402 don't want it associated with the school, 883 00:33:54,402 --> 00:33:56,042 but then you have your own. Could you 884 00:33:56,042 --> 00:33:58,002 describe the two?And then how do you 885 00:33:58,002 --> 00:33:59,882 manage two podcasts? 886 00:34:01,323 --> 00:34:04,043 One is Mediascape Insights from 887 00:34:04,043 --> 00:34:06,243 Digital Changemakers. That is the one 888 00:34:06,243 --> 00:34:08,283 with USC Annenberg. And it's through the 889 00:34:08,283 --> 00:34:10,203 program that I mostly teach for, which is 890 00:34:10,203 --> 00:34:12,283 the Master of Science in Digital Media 891 00:34:12,283 --> 00:34:15,003 Management. SoThat one is 892 00:34:15,003 --> 00:34:17,523 once a week. You know It's It's 893 00:34:17,643 --> 00:34:20,083 great. Mostly I interview professors, I 894 00:34:20,083 --> 00:34:21,243 interview people who I think would be 895 00:34:21,243 --> 00:34:22,523 interesting for the students to listen 896 00:34:22,523 --> 00:34:25,163 to. The other one is called Your Brand 897 00:34:25,163 --> 00:34:28,123 Amplified. And I had 898 00:34:28,283 --> 00:34:30,523 had two podcasts for clients before it, 899 00:34:30,643 --> 00:34:32,443 and that just didn't work out very well 900 00:34:32,443 --> 00:34:33,563 'cause they didn't have the budget to 901 00:34:33,563 --> 00:34:35,163 sustain it, they weren't using them as 902 00:34:35,163 --> 00:34:37,523 marketing tools. And then my boyfriend's 903 00:34:37,523 --> 00:34:39,883 like, I'm in the film industry, why don't 904 00:34:39,883 --> 00:34:42,003 you just do your own and I'll do some 905 00:34:42,003 --> 00:34:44,043 editing for you, help you get it set up. 906 00:34:44,443 --> 00:34:46,603 Then it got to be bigger, and he teased 907 00:34:46,603 --> 00:34:49,563 out on that. But that one, 908 00:34:49,763 --> 00:34:51,643 and this is something important for 909 00:34:51,643 --> 00:34:53,163 anybody, whatever you're doing, if you're 910 00:34:53,163 --> 00:34:54,483 starting a business, you're starting a 911 00:34:54,483 --> 00:34:56,843 podcast, where you start is never where 912 00:34:56,843 --> 00:34:58,923 you're going to end up. So I was like, 913 00:34:59,443 --> 00:35:01,563 Drive time in the United States is 27 914 00:35:01,563 --> 00:35:03,243 minutes on average. I'm going to keep my 915 00:35:03,243 --> 00:35:05,963 podcast to under this time frame. I'm 916 00:35:05,963 --> 00:35:07,483 going to ask these five questions, and 917 00:35:07,483 --> 00:35:08,923 I'm only going to interview publicists. 918 00:35:09,563 --> 00:35:11,203 That wasn't my personality, though, and 919 00:35:11,203 --> 00:35:13,803 it did not work, didn't feel natural. 920 00:35:14,203 --> 00:35:16,963 I tried it. So I quickly pivoted to, I'm 921 00:35:16,963 --> 00:35:18,843 going to interview brands. And And then 922 00:35:18,843 --> 00:35:21,483 now it's, I interview a wide range of 923 00:35:21,483 --> 00:35:24,443 people talking about life strategies, 924 00:35:24,443 --> 00:35:26,123 business strategies. I interview people 925 00:35:26,123 --> 00:35:28,523 who have created the technologies that we 926 00:35:28,523 --> 00:35:31,003 use, like who have the patents for Syria, 927 00:35:31,083 --> 00:35:32,443 you know, that Syria and Alexa are based 928 00:35:32,443 --> 00:35:34,003 on. I talk to people who are at the 929 00:35:34,003 --> 00:35:36,523 forefront and like have worked on 930 00:35:36,683 --> 00:35:38,603 billion dollar deals for businesses. But 931 00:35:38,603 --> 00:35:41,243 then I also talk to people more like me, 932 00:35:41,483 --> 00:35:43,083 who are small business entrepreneurs, 933 00:35:43,163 --> 00:35:45,843 who've had,ups and downs and want to 934 00:35:45,843 --> 00:35:47,083 share their journey and share some 935 00:35:47,083 --> 00:35:50,003 tricks, tips that others might find 936 00:35:50,003 --> 00:35:52,843 helpful, whether it's work and life, 937 00:35:53,483 --> 00:35:55,283 one or the other, you know, or both. So I 938 00:35:55,283 --> 00:35:57,403 bring on a large variety of guests, which 939 00:35:57,403 --> 00:36:00,204 I know is not probably what I 940 00:36:00,204 --> 00:36:02,524 should be doing as a podcaster, right?I'm 941 00:36:02,524 --> 00:36:05,444 not used down, but it makes it 942 00:36:05,444 --> 00:36:08,244 more interesting for me as well. 943 00:36:08,564 --> 00:36:10,124 And I think it makes it more interesting 944 00:36:10,124 --> 00:36:13,084 for my listeners becauseThey're also 945 00:36:13,084 --> 00:36:15,404 people and they want to hear, sometimes 946 00:36:15,404 --> 00:36:16,924 they want to tune in and hear expert 947 00:36:16,924 --> 00:36:18,324 advice, and sometimes they want to tune 948 00:36:18,324 --> 00:36:21,004 in and hear me talking to somebody about 949 00:36:21,004 --> 00:36:22,204 coaching or 950 00:36:23,484 --> 00:36:25,844 manifestation or feng shui for your 951 00:36:25,844 --> 00:36:28,764 office. So it's worked well. 952 00:36:28,764 --> 00:36:31,324 I have a good sized audience and, 953 00:36:31,804 --> 00:36:33,564 you know, advertisers and things like 954 00:36:33,604 --> 00:36:35,644 that. So it helps me fund. So how do I 955 00:36:35,644 --> 00:36:37,084 manage it all?That's a really good 956 00:36:37,084 --> 00:36:39,404 question. I release five episodes a week 957 00:36:39,404 --> 00:36:42,364 between the two podcasts. Oh my gosh. So 958 00:36:42,364 --> 00:36:44,924 four for mine, one for the university. 959 00:36:45,564 --> 00:36:47,884 The reason I do that is partly because I 960 00:36:47,884 --> 00:36:50,284 had such a backlog of guests and content 961 00:36:51,444 --> 00:36:52,844 that I I don't have that as-- well, I 962 00:36:52,844 --> 00:36:54,924 have a backlog of guests. I have guests 963 00:36:54,924 --> 00:36:56,484 booked out through the middle of next 964 00:36:56,484 --> 00:36:59,204 year. But I want guests to not have to 965 00:36:59,204 --> 00:37:01,164 wait a year to get on my podcast, which 966 00:37:01,164 --> 00:37:03,884 many of them do, but then have to 967 00:37:03,884 --> 00:37:06,044 wait another three to six months for 968 00:37:06,044 --> 00:37:08,124 their episode to be released. So now, 969 00:37:08,364 --> 00:37:10,844 episodes release about two weeks or so 970 00:37:10,844 --> 00:37:13,244 after we record, and I try to batch them. 971 00:37:13,244 --> 00:37:14,764 So like this week, I did eight episodes 972 00:37:14,764 --> 00:37:15,964 between Wednesday and Friday. Hmm 973 00:37:17,324 --> 00:37:19,924 So I have to do it when I have the space 974 00:37:19,924 --> 00:37:21,524 and the time, because I know that they're 975 00:37:21,524 --> 00:37:23,364 going to be really busy moments. I have a 976 00:37:23,364 --> 00:37:26,244 really great team. I did work with a 977 00:37:26,244 --> 00:37:28,804 US team when I had my agency, but I 978 00:37:28,804 --> 00:37:30,364 couldn't sustain the cost because it's 979 00:37:30,364 --> 00:37:32,484 all me paying for stuff. So then I 980 00:37:32,484 --> 00:37:35,124 approved too. a team. I have an admin and 981 00:37:35,124 --> 00:37:36,844 an editor from the Philippines. They're 982 00:37:36,844 --> 00:37:38,764 amazing, the quality of work. I've worked 983 00:37:38,764 --> 00:37:40,724 with them for a long time, and that has 984 00:37:40,724 --> 00:37:43,244 just helped me so much. And then we use 985 00:37:43,404 --> 00:37:46,044 tools like Simplified and other tools 986 00:37:46,444 --> 00:37:48,444 to, you know, help the process, 987 00:37:48,444 --> 00:37:50,444 post-production process move along 988 00:37:50,444 --> 00:37:53,404 seamlessly. Nice, okay. 989 00:37:53,884 --> 00:37:55,484 So it's manageable. Yeah, 990 00:37:56,844 --> 00:37:58,884 the big thing is if you're gonna start 991 00:37:58,884 --> 00:38:00,565 it, be consistent, know what your brand 992 00:38:00,685 --> 00:38:02,485 is. understand how to set it up as a 993 00:38:02,485 --> 00:38:04,725 business entity, if it's your bread and 994 00:38:04,725 --> 00:38:07,445 butter, or how to use it as a tool to 995 00:38:07,485 --> 00:38:10,285 promote your business, right?There's so 996 00:38:10,285 --> 00:38:12,565 many things and and that's, I really want 997 00:38:12,565 --> 00:38:14,565 to help people. So that's a program that 998 00:38:14,565 --> 00:38:16,525 I'm launching is Pod Pro Launchpad to 999 00:38:16,525 --> 00:38:18,965 help people like me, but not take the 1000 00:38:19,005 --> 00:38:20,845 many years and the amount of money I 1001 00:38:20,845 --> 00:38:23,405 spent figuring out that this was actually 1002 00:38:23,405 --> 00:38:25,245 business and just start with this 1003 00:38:25,245 --> 00:38:28,045 foundation and help them understand, here 1004 00:38:28,485 --> 00:38:30,285 are monetization methods, here are growth 1005 00:38:30,285 --> 00:38:32,405 methods. You know, here's what you need, 1006 00:38:32,405 --> 00:38:34,125 but it really is just be consistent, 1007 00:38:34,285 --> 00:38:37,085 minimize your expenses. You don't 1008 00:38:37,085 --> 00:38:39,285 need a $20,000 studio and a $1,000 mic to 1009 00:38:39,325 --> 00:38:42,045 get started. Right. Yeah. 1010 00:38:43,405 --> 00:38:46,285 Nice. All right, so before we wrap 1011 00:38:46,285 --> 00:38:49,165 up, I'm curious, what is your 1012 00:38:49,165 --> 00:38:51,325 go-to self-care practice? 1013 00:38:54,205 --> 00:38:56,685 Mm-hmmOoh, I have a few. I listen to 1014 00:38:56,685 --> 00:38:58,845 subliminals when I went to sleep. 1015 00:38:59,485 --> 00:39:02,445 I do a lot of self-reflection during the 1016 00:39:02,445 --> 00:39:04,845 day. This is going to sound funny for 1017 00:39:04,845 --> 00:39:06,365 self-care, but I try to take breaks 1018 00:39:06,365 --> 00:39:08,045 between meetings when I can so that I can 1019 00:39:08,045 --> 00:39:10,045 do something for myself, read a little 1020 00:39:10,045 --> 00:39:12,205 bit of a book, listen to a podcast, walk 1021 00:39:12,205 --> 00:39:14,125 the dogs, just get a little refresh 1022 00:39:14,645 --> 00:39:16,805 mindset. And then I'm working with Alan 1023 00:39:16,805 --> 00:39:18,925 Knight, who's a former Zen monk. His 1024 00:39:18,925 --> 00:39:21,805 program is the Zen Activation Program, 1025 00:39:21,885 --> 00:39:23,485 and I'm I'm going through and training 1026 00:39:23,485 --> 00:39:25,845 under him to eventually become a 1027 00:39:25,845 --> 00:39:28,765 certified coach and help 1028 00:39:29,405 --> 00:39:31,245 You know, coach other people and train 1029 00:39:31,245 --> 00:39:32,765 other people who want to get certified. 1030 00:39:33,405 --> 00:39:35,125 And that has been a really big help 1031 00:39:35,125 --> 00:39:36,765 because that holds me really accountable 1032 00:39:37,245 --> 00:39:39,805 to am I pointing to myself enough? 1033 00:39:40,045 --> 00:39:42,045 What are my levels on the wheel of life? 1034 00:39:42,045 --> 00:39:44,605 Like what are you focus on?Are there some 1035 00:39:44,605 --> 00:39:46,405 things that I need to work through that 1036 00:39:46,405 --> 00:39:48,765 are going through my brain and making me 1037 00:39:48,845 --> 00:39:51,805 like freeze?And then sometimes it just 1038 00:39:51,805 --> 00:39:53,485 means I sit on the couch and read a book 1039 00:39:53,645 --> 00:39:55,245 even when I have a ton of work to get 1040 00:39:55,245 --> 00:39:57,005 done because you have to listen to your 1041 00:39:57,005 --> 00:39:58,885 body, you have to take a break. Last 1042 00:39:58,885 --> 00:40:00,445 year, I was getting sick all the time. 1043 00:40:01,646 --> 00:40:03,566 And it was because I wasn't taking care 1044 00:40:03,566 --> 00:40:05,326 of myself. So first and foremost, you 1045 00:40:05,326 --> 00:40:06,446 have to listen to your gut. You have to 1046 00:40:06,446 --> 00:40:08,206 listen to your heart. You have to make 1047 00:40:08,206 --> 00:40:10,286 sure that you're going-- even if you have 1048 00:40:10,286 --> 00:40:12,206 to make yourself take time for self-care, 1049 00:40:12,926 --> 00:40:14,486 if you don't, you might not be there 1050 00:40:14,486 --> 00:40:17,086 anymore. Umm Reality. And your 1051 00:40:17,086 --> 00:40:18,206 body is 1052 00:40:19,966 --> 00:40:21,686 is for sure going to give you warning 1053 00:40:21,686 --> 00:40:24,126 signs. Yeah. And that's the thing, right? 1054 00:40:24,126 --> 00:40:25,566 Like, you start getting sick. You start 1055 00:40:25,566 --> 00:40:27,046 getting a little bit sore. You realize 1056 00:40:27,046 --> 00:40:28,326 there's some tightness that you didn't 1057 00:40:28,326 --> 00:40:30,606 really expect or you've been working 1058 00:40:30,606 --> 00:40:32,606 through. And yeah. And then, 1059 00:40:33,646 --> 00:40:35,726 yeah, your body definitely gives you some 1060 00:40:35,726 --> 00:40:37,966 good warnings. You mentioned subliminals. 1061 00:40:38,366 --> 00:40:40,606 Yeah. What is that?Oh, I love 1062 00:40:40,606 --> 00:40:42,606 subliminals. So it's music 1063 00:40:43,326 --> 00:40:46,126 with-- the words are sped up 1064 00:40:46,566 --> 00:40:48,606 underneath. So they're chants, mantras, 1065 00:40:48,606 --> 00:40:51,246 affirmations. OK. And you can't hear them 1066 00:40:51,246 --> 00:40:52,486 under the music. And they're sped up 1067 00:40:52,486 --> 00:40:53,966 really fast so that it'll-- you might 1068 00:40:53,966 --> 00:40:55,486 listen to something for 20 minutes, but 1069 00:40:55,806 --> 00:40:57,486 the message will have come through maybe 1070 00:40:57,566 --> 00:40:59,726 several hundred or even a thousand times. 1071 00:40:59,966 --> 00:41:02,686 Yeah. And I have a whole app, an 1072 00:41:02,686 --> 00:41:05,566 app from this woman, Stephanie Keith. 1073 00:41:05,566 --> 00:41:08,166 She is the Manifest It Now, Law of 1074 00:41:08,166 --> 00:41:10,046 Attraction Tribe. She has a podcast. 1075 00:41:10,686 --> 00:41:13,246 And I love it because there are also 1076 00:41:13,246 --> 00:41:15,166 different exercises I can go through. 1077 00:41:15,486 --> 00:41:17,326 There are meditations, there are 1078 00:41:17,326 --> 00:41:18,926 interviews she's had with people to walk 1079 00:41:18,926 --> 00:41:21,886 through certain exercises, workbooks, 1080 00:41:22,206 --> 00:41:24,046 and then the subliminals. They really 1081 00:41:24,046 --> 00:41:26,606 help me at night. Or the Calm app. I'll 1082 00:41:26,606 --> 00:41:29,446 alternate between like brown noise and 1083 00:41:29,726 --> 00:41:31,486 something else. And then like 1084 00:41:31,646 --> 00:41:34,566 subliminals. Nice. Okay, cool. I don't 1085 00:41:34,566 --> 00:41:36,326 think I've heard of it. Ohh Yeah, no, I 1086 00:41:36,326 --> 00:41:38,126 don't think I've heard of it. You know 1087 00:41:38,166 --> 00:41:40,926 what, 'cause I put them on at night when 1088 00:41:40,926 --> 00:41:42,366 I'm going to sleep, you're supposed to 1089 00:41:42,406 --> 00:41:44,366 like... Ideally, you're listening, you 1090 00:41:44,366 --> 00:41:45,566 have the headphones on, and it's playing 1091 00:41:45,566 --> 00:41:47,086 in the background of whatever you're 1092 00:41:47,086 --> 00:41:48,406 doing. But for me, that helps me fall 1093 00:41:48,406 --> 00:41:50,926 asleep. And then I wake up feeling better 1094 00:41:51,006 --> 00:41:53,806 in the morning. Right. Yeah. And 1095 00:41:53,806 --> 00:41:56,646 motivated. Yeah, that's 1096 00:41:56,646 --> 00:41:58,766 nice. Awesome. OK. 1097 00:41:59,366 --> 00:42:00,847 Annika, this has been awesome. I'm so 1098 00:42:00,847 --> 00:42:03,607 glad that we got a chance to do this. But 1099 00:42:03,607 --> 00:42:05,967 before we go, please let everyone know 1100 00:42:05,967 --> 00:42:08,447 where we can find you and what's next for 1101 00:42:08,447 --> 00:42:11,327 you. Ohh Thank you, Grace. I love talking 1102 00:42:11,327 --> 00:42:13,567 to you. I'm so, so happy that we met at 1103 00:42:13,807 --> 00:42:15,847 Podcast Movement. Me too. So excited for 1104 00:42:15,847 --> 00:42:17,447 what we're both doing and how we can work 1105 00:42:17,447 --> 00:42:19,967 together in the future. The easiest way 1106 00:42:19,967 --> 00:42:21,647 to reach me, I'm just going to give one 1107 00:42:21,647 --> 00:42:24,167 link, because otherwise I'll start 1108 00:42:24,167 --> 00:42:25,007 sprouting off a whole bunch. 1109 00:42:25,487 --> 00:42:28,047 yourbrandamplified.com. You can find my 1110 00:42:28,047 --> 00:42:30,727 podcast there. You can find links to 1111 00:42:30,767 --> 00:42:32,447 schedule time with me, find out about 1112 00:42:32,447 --> 00:42:34,847 some of the programs that I offer, my 1113 00:42:34,847 --> 00:42:37,007 bio, you know, just all the things. And I 1114 00:42:37,007 --> 00:42:39,487 love giving people a free half hour 1115 00:42:39,967 --> 00:42:42,687 on my schedule to talk aboutliterally 1116 00:42:42,847 --> 00:42:45,087 anything. If you want to talk about PR, 1117 00:42:45,127 --> 00:42:47,847 brand strategy, digital marketing, 1118 00:42:47,887 --> 00:42:50,087 media, podcasting, 1119 00:42:50,767 --> 00:42:53,567 nonprofit work, just 1120 00:42:53,567 --> 00:42:55,807 being a single mom, whatever it is, 1121 00:42:55,807 --> 00:42:58,327 there's no right or wrong. And I'm just, 1122 00:42:58,327 --> 00:43:00,167 that's something I can do to help people 1123 00:43:00,167 --> 00:43:02,167 hopefully like continue on their journey 1124 00:43:02,167 --> 00:43:04,207 and feel inspired. Mm-hmm 1125 00:43:05,127 --> 00:43:06,287 That's wonderful. 1126 00:43:08,287 --> 00:43:10,727 Oh, okay, cool. That's such a sweet note 1127 00:43:10,727 --> 00:43:13,527 to end off. All right. 1128 00:43:13,887 --> 00:43:16,367 Well, thank you again for joining me and 1129 00:43:16,367 --> 00:43:18,367 I hope you have a wonderful day. Thanks. 1130 00:43:18,367 --> 00:43:21,167 You too, Grace. Hey there, 1131 00:43:21,327 --> 00:43:23,247 Grace here. I hope you enjoyed today's 1132 00:43:23,287 --> 00:43:25,647 episode and gained some useful takeaways. 1133 00:43:25,807 --> 00:43:27,567 Thank you so much for listening and 1134 00:43:27,567 --> 00:43:29,447 staying until the end. Don't forget to 1135 00:43:29,447 --> 00:43:31,567 rate the show or share it with some 1136 00:43:31,567 --> 00:43:33,927 friends. Have a wonderful week. Take 1137 00:43:33,927 --> 00:43:36,367 care. And remember, be bold, be 1138 00:43:36,367 --> 00:43:39,007 curious, be ready to tell your story. You 1139 00:43:39,007 --> 00:43:40,687 never know who needs it. Bye. Bye.