[00:00:00] Hosts: Hi, we're Cinthia Varkevisser and Michelle Walters, co-hosts of Mind Power Meets Mystic. Our weekly show is here to expand your mind to what's possible, uplift your spirits, and move forward with confidence and joy, creating a space for your collaboration with the invisible. Welcome to Mind Power Meets Mystic.

[00:00:26] Michelle Walters: Welcome everyone. You are here with Mind Power Meets Mystic. I am Michelle Walters, I am your Mind Power, and I am joined by my podcast co-host Cinthia Varkevisser. She is the show's Mystic.

[00:00:39] Cinthia Varkevisser: We have a very special guest today, Becky Plautz. Becky is inspiring, full of love, and all about empowerment. Becky has been using her superpowers, including holding space, creating connection, and celebrating each other's growth for over 10 years as a micro printer in various ways. Becky is an international empowerment photographer and public speaker, focusing on shifting perspective by staying connected to yourself. Becky speaks with love and compassion about the fears you have with being fully seen as for your she highlights thought leaders and personal and professional growth experience with both her camera and focused attention on supporting you in fully living the life of your dreams. Becky, we're so happy to have you here today.

[00:01:23] Becky Plautz: Hey, Michelle. Hey, Cinthia, thank you so much for having me excited to be here.

[00:01:28] Michelle Walters: Yeah, I'm so inspired to talk with you. Because I love these words in your bio micro printer, international empowerment photographer, and then public speaker. Can you talk a little bit about micro printer? And which one do you like more? I'm not saying that it has to that it's 5050. And maybe some days are more than others? But tell me where is your passion out of the two?

[00:01:52] Becky Plautz: Yeah, so I've been doing photography for 13 years, it has been my passion to document capture moments since I was a kid when I had a crank disposable camera and I would go get that baby developed at my grocery store downtown. And speaking is really been a growth journey for me to really step out really be uncomfortable with big words or not fully, you know, knowing what I wanted to say and just really gaining ground for myself to be confident in trusting that, you know, I'm going to say what's needed to be said. And it's going to be received by who is ready to receive it. So they really I have created a duality with speaking and with photography, and really holding space for other thought leaders to share more about what they have going on and how I support them in that. But photography is always what I want to do most because I'm first and foremost in person, person. So love that we can be virtual love that we can have conversations from anywhere around the world, at the drop of a button. And first and foremost, I always want to be able to hug you. So photography has to be the first love because I can get in person with people for that.

[00:03:05] Michelle Walters: I love that. And I think that makes so much sense. Because you strike me as somebody who wants to be with people, and where that's really what is feeding your soul. And it's wonderful now that, you know, we can share digital images like they can go all over the globe instantly, which I guess is wonderful and terrifying all at the same time. But there is something really powerful about being in the presence of others. And so many of us I think have lost a little bit of touch with that since we had the whole up for a couple of years. But I gotta remember those days are passing. And it's getting better and better to get to spend time with people. I wanted to hear a little bit more about. We can talk more about your photography too. But I want to talk a little bit about the speaker journey for you and what that was like because you weren't always a public speaker. Is that fair to say?

[00:04:05] Becky Plautz: That's very accurate. I I was not a public speaker I would never have identified as a speaker. Let's see 2018 I can look at this reminder. I had a friend that created a coaster with my first speaking opportunity where I spoke to a room of 20 women and the front of coaster and she even has the date on The back of when I did it in 2018. And I cried for 20 minutes of this this debut as a speaker, from the sheer energy that I was feeling in the excitement and the real draw to know that even one person hearing one thing that they that could impact them is what it's about for me. And getting out of my own way of thinking, I'm going to sound stupid, I'm not going to do this. Right, right, I was making it about myself, when the reality is that we do these things, because we're here to impact other people. And when we share our stories, or be vulnerable enough to you know, become a story, then we are inspiring other people to do the same. And so right 2018, I did this speaking opportunity. And actually, I love to do things big, so and give myself extra accountability to follow through with something that I know might be uncomfortable. So you know what I did 2018 The same day that I had this, I launched a video podcast series, where I would interview leaders about a significant time in their life, when fear would hold them back from living their life fully, and how that life experience has helped shaped the leader that they are today. Because that's how I know to support myself best to grow, and really push myself to know that fear can be my friend and discomfort is good. Is that I double up on things sometimes like that.

[00:05:59] Michelle Walters: That's pretty ballsy. I mean, I'm not going to there's no way to sugarcoat that that's you're not joking about that go big. And can you go back? Let's go back just a little bit. So we know that you Derek, yourself, and that you were very brave to do this thing in November of 2018. Set it up, because what you did is that you set yourself up for this. So we got to hear about the crying. But and you know, and that you doubled it up and you did a twofer on the same day. So when did you set up? You know, let's do a podcast? And when did you say all right? Fuck it. I'm gonna do the speaking engagement. And just move forward.

[00:06:39] Becky Plautz: Yeah, so it worked out really well. My success strategists my coach that I was working with, it was the one that was putting on the conference. So she knew she wanted me to be out as a speaker. She knew she wanted to support this video podcast that I was developing. And that we were like, well, what if we supported you by doing it? So it was a suggestion? I was like, oh, yeah, way to put me just like in it. And she knew me well enough to know, like, that's kind of the way I do things. I'm always known as the, you know, kind of too much. It's I have a lot of energy, I really want to do things in a, in a memorable way, right? Like I really, I'm all about meaning. And what's better than you know, really giving yourself something to be scared about. Give yourself a little bit extra excitement is the way that I look at it. And to just know, like, that happens. So right I had a connection. And she knew both of these things would support me and moving forward. And all I had to do was say yes, right, all I had to do is say yes, because it was already presented to me as this could really support you in getting out of your comfort zone, and kind of ripping the band aid off, so to say, and just really putting it out there and to get support. Because when you're launching something and you're being vulnerable, there's connection that's built with the people in the room to know, you know that you don't have to do a perfect, you can be completely imperfect, and take action and inspire along the way of your journey.

[00:08:04] Michelle Walters: You're recognizing the value of putting yourself in your uncomfortable zone. Because what, what a lot of us sort of have to recognize that growth opportunities come because you are ready to put yourself in that place of discomfort. And, you know, I think we all have a lot of stress, we all have other things going on. But when it comes to personal growth that happens because of a willingness to be vulnerable, a willingness to be uncomfortable a risk to see like what could happen you know, and for you some crying happened but it was also a momentary a moment on the on the expansion of this entire journey. And that's that's an absolutely fantastic I think inspiring story for for people to hear. I want to remind all of our listeners that you are here on mine power meets mystic. It's with me Michelle Walters and my co-host Cinthia Varkevisser. Our guest today is Becky Plautz. Please please please we would love it if you would subscribe to This podcast and or share with a friend, don't you have somebody who also wants to hear about this story of speaking, share this podcast. It's that simple. So, back to Becky. I also want to hear about your photography, and how you discovered that photography was such a core love for you and what, what what you get out of being a photographer?

[00:09:34] Becky Plautz: Yeah, I was wrongfully fired from a retail job. And I was on paper, I was a great employee, but there was really a disconnect with how they wanted me to allow people to treat me and I wouldn't stand for it. So long story short of that I left again in tears. Alright, another to your story. If you haven't noticed, this is how I this is how I process things really well is I water, my growth with my tears, that's really a big thing for me. And just feel that so I left you know, feeling defeated and really lost thinking like, how did this happen because I was their top salesperson. So to say, even the day that I was let go. And they're, you know that that happened for a reason. The whole thing happened for a reason I can look back in hindsight to say, I met my husband actually at that job, my best friends still to this day are also from that job. And it was the push that I needed to become an entrepreneur I left going, I'm going to decide who I want to give my energy to who I want to work with all of those things, right to stay away from the negativity that these these members were putting on me at this job in this position that I wouldn't stand for. And you know that that helped me hone in on the fact that I licked my wounds, honestly for a couple of months. And then my bonus dad asked me the question, as we were sitting on vacation overlooking the lake, I'm a water girl. And he asked the question of like, okay, well, what would you do if you could do anything, and I was like, take pictures. And at that time, I still didn't even have a digital camera. I just knew that my love for capturing moments, enjoying time with people I love. That was something that, you know, was really inside of me that I enjoyed. And I didn't even the extent of photography was I had my senior photos taken once like that was the extent of photography that I knew at that point, as a profession. So I started taking night classes, I started learning about photography, taking any classes, I could got into that five years into that journey to figuring out what I loved specifically, and I found empowerment boudoir to really be a niche that I loved, after having a childhood friend asked me to support her in doing a photo shoot, and I was like, let's play, let's have fun. And the transformation and the confidence that I saw rise up, had me hooked. And mindset work came over in the next couple of years after I've built up this experience to really understand that I can take as beautiful pictures I want to view. And if you're telling yourself negative terrible things in your mind, then it won't matter because you're going to see someone very different than who we see in these photos. So pairing mindset work and giving that support leading up to the photoshoot. And the experience has been, you know, really this massaging cultivating act throughout the growth journey of pairing, pairing those things together.

[00:12:18] Michelle Walters: I'm curious, can you tell me a story tell us a story where you saw this huge transformation. And you know, and this was the transformation during the session. And this is who this person is today? Because I can I can just feel from you. This huge transformation that happens in front of the camera, which is freaking amazing. To be honest.

[00:12:42] Becky Plautz: Yeah, it's really fun. And And honestly, that was that was my gateway into my mindset work was was a part of my business, right was figuring out how to support my clients best, because, you know, their photos are only going to be as good as they feel. So I mean, the first one that comes to mind is I had a client come in and she's like, I just want to do something different. And I don't want to wear what everyone else wears, I don't want to do what everyone else does. And I said, cool, let's brainstorm. And she came back with this body paint idea, right? And she was like, I don't want to look naked. But I want to be covered in this beautiful art. And I was like, Cool. I have a girl for you. Let's do this. And I mean, she came in a shy, quiet woman and left on fire. Like she was, she was lit up. She was connected, she had this new found confidence, that she was just glowing. And I mean, even a couple of months later, she was saying like, I still feel like I glow. And she was in a very dark place, not knowing where she was going with life. And that shoot was just, you know, the catapult of like, Oh, this is this is the woman I am becoming, this is the person I'm showing up as this is the fire. And now that I know what that feels like, I can create that and cultivate that even more in my life and in my work.

[00:14:01] Michelle Walters: What a powerful story, like just, you know, lighting that fire under somebody's ass. But like what a powerful story and so so powerful to be there and to witness that. I'm curious, do you have anything in your personal life where you've had a transformative moment that was kind of like that, where you just, you know, you were different before and then this thing happened, and then suddenly, you're just, you're not different, but you're just more of yourself?

[00:14:33] Becky Plautz: Yes, it's actually very, very recent. The truth of the matter is, the foundation of my business was built on very shaky ground. My marriage was very, very shaky. And when we talk about a space being held for us to be able to share, you know, the very uncomfortable truths about life and about the way that we show up in the world, the reality is, I wasn't showing up in the world. And I didn't have the container to know what it felt like to do so. So on October 8 of this year, my husband and I split. And I've been married for 12 years, been together for 15 years, the majority of my adult life has been spent with this man. And I've always been very connected to relationships and very, you know, what can I give to you? How can I be of service to you? How can I make you feel good, right? And, you know, I've been doing this mindset work. And I've been doing all of this, this supporting other people, and realizing, I'm like, I'm just really, really disconnected from myself. And I haven't, I haven't really been showing up as my true authentic self. And I've been living in the shadows of somebody else. And when you really allow yourself to be vulnerable, and you really give yourself the permission to just feel your feels and be honest with yourself, and be honest with the people around you, and what you need and what you don't need, it is so powerful. It is so incredibly powerful. And it's something that I've been helping clients do for years, but I have really stepped into in the last few months. And it's like, whoo, I'm coming home. It feels really good to be me. So when you talk about that transformative moment, it's really been like, oh, I'm home. And I have so much more that I'm ready to share and give now that I know that I'm safe to do so.

[00:16:38] Michelle Walters: What a powerful story, because it's the story of transformation, and it's the story of coming home to yourself, and really claiming the right to be your authentic self. And it's so beautiful that you've been able to do that. And you know, and that you're you're open to sharing that with everybody. So thank you so much. For doing that. I know that there are so many people who are going to be touched and inspired by this conversation. I wanted to give you just a moment to let everybody know where they can find you and how they can connect with you and learn more about the amazing work that you do.

[00:17:20] Becky Plautz: Absolutely. I am on Instagram. That's probably the place that I spend the most time. I'm @beckyplattisempowers, and my website is www.beckyplattisempowers.com. And I'm always open to conversations, coffee chats, supporting people in any way that I can, because I just know what it's like to be in the place of needing somebody to hold space for you to be able to share and cultivate, grow, change, transform. So that's where you can find me.

[00:17:48] Michelle Walters: Awesome. Thank you so much, Becky, for being here. It's been absolutely fantastic to have you. Thank you so much.

[00:17:55] Cinthia Varkevisser: Yeah, thanks, Becky. This has been great.

[00:17:58] Becky Platts: Thank you both so much. This has been a blast. Thank you.

[00:18:02] Michelle Walters: Thank you. And thank you, everybody for listening to Mind Power Meets Mystic. I'm Michelle Walters with my co-host Cinthia Varkevisser. We look forward to seeing you next time. Please subscribe and share. Goodbye.