The True North Collective Podcast

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Un-sugar-coated convos w/everyday humxns fearlessly finding + living their TRUE NORTH

Episodes

Monday Jul 12, 2021

UNPACK SUCCESS: WHAT ARE YOU LIVING FOR? S4:E23

Monday Jul 12, 2021

Get ready for THE TRUE NORTH COLLECTIVE℠ PODCAST: SEASON 4! With co-hosts Rachel Bellotti (she/her) and Jenell Riesner (she/her), this is a gathering of un-sugar-coated conversations celebrating the untold stories of everyday people fearlessly finding and living their true north.

In our own search to discover and live from our TRUE NORTH, we continue to meet many interesting, courageous people from all walks of life, doing all sorts of amazing things to live life in their own unique way. Stories from all over the world. Stories with heart. Stories with grit. Stories with plot twists. Stories going untold - until now. This season, we continue to celebrate these untold stories of everyday people who are fearlessly living their true north and inspiring each of us to do the same.

In today’s episode, we have another installment of our UNPACK series where we bring on a mash-up of voices from across North America as fellow travelers with different perspectives to discuss a specific topic. Today’s episode is all about how we define success + unpacking all the aspects of this sentiment + statement + experience. We are excited to chat with TIna Ahn - a Canadian ray of sunshine + guest from earlier this year (S4|E7), Allison Forsyth - two-time Canadian Alpine Skiing Olympian, mother of 3, + all-around relatable badass, + David Jacobson (DJ) - inspiring Minneapolis-based connector, season 3 podcast guest (S3|E36), + bridge to much needed change in the world. We wrestle with externally defined success vs internally defined success, living in a box, fear-based thinking, internal pressure, avoiding “success”, the shifting definition of success, success as a mask for abuse + trauma, impact, simplicity, knowing what’s enough, co-creation, comparison, expectations, + experiencing as much life as possible. Thank you, TIna, Allison, + DJ for being so open + giving in your perspectives + truths. We appreciate you all so much. <3

*note: this episode includes explicit language appropriate for those ages 16+

**TRIGGER WARNER: topics of sexual assault + abuse

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

#amplifymelanatedvoices @mrjross
#amplifymelanatedvoices @nikholrei
#amplifymelanatedvoices @shayla0h
Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
Self-compassion Workbook by Kristin Neff + Christopher Germer
Music from: https://www.jukedeck.com/

3 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

You are allowed to redefine success as many times as you need to in your life so that it feels like your own definition of success. There are so many external influences that tell us what success is, but it’s actually as unique as each of us. It is actually an internal process that we must revisit again + again throughout our lives to ensure that what we are living for has been of our choosing. How do you define success today?
Where has your need for success been at the expense of yourself or your health or your mental health or your relationships? Where has success become the scapegoat or the rationale for poor behaviors? What if success didn’t have to be in exchange for anything? What if success included the things we thought we had to sacrifice to get it? How THEN would you define success for yourself?
What do you do when the current path that you are told is the path you need to be on doesn't feel like your right path anymore? This is an invitation to slow down + know that there are millions of versions of success + paths to take + we are in a time where there is an opportunity to carve out new models of new paths that we haven’t always seen as a collective society. Because the more we do it differently + authentically, the more the world has permission to do it differently + authentically + evolve from a single-focused way of life that we have lived into for far too long. So, it starts with you. You can do it. You’re not alone.

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[1:20] Welcome, Tina!
[1:40] Welcome, Allison!
[2:56] Welcome, David (aka DJ)!
[3:56] External definitions of success
[5:15] Success as a cringeworthy experience
[8:40] Fear-based thinking
[10:18] Internal pressure on self
[11:40] Avoiding “success”
[14:00] Being on a pedestal + never feeling like enough
[19:00] Athletics + success
[21:00] Western society’s need to be better + enough
[23:55] AD: Come play with us! We have been expanding the podcast concept by finding new ways + places where YOU can be more of an active participant in the conversation of finding + living your own TRUE NORTH. The COLLECTIVE is a free monthly conversation with people from all over the world (third Thurs of every month). Our monthly workshops explore a different facet of authenticity + are held the first Thurs of every month. Check it out here!
[24:40] Success is a shifting definition based on the present moment
[26:30] Who are you without the thing you think you are?
[33:00] Success as a mask for trauma + abuse
[39:00] Having to prove your value + worth
[44:20] Impact
[46:30] Simplicity
[48:00] What is actually enough for me?
[54:40] Co-creation
[56:30] Comparison
[59:00] Worrying what other people think + money success
[1:02:00] Success as growth + learning
[1:04:30] Expectations
[1:06:00] Experiencing as much life as possible
[1:08:00] Inherited legacy + evolutionary shifts
[1:15:00] Success attached to college degrees
[1:19:00] How do you successfully live your TRUE NORTH in 1 word?

[1:19:35] Connect with TIna via IG @tinaahn_ + Allison via IG @allisonforsyth + DJ via IG @dj_2303

Monday Jul 05, 2021

NEURODIVERSITY: WHAT IF YOUR PERCEIVED FLAWS ARE ACTUALLY YOUR STRENGTHS? S4:E22

Monday Jul 05, 2021

In today’s episode, we are honored to speak with Christina Chrowe, Canadian-born, Texas-raised hockey player, Canadian Registered Psychotherapist, entrepreneur, + relentless health advocate. She founded Dig a Little Deeper Psychotherapy + Counseling, a modern, self-managed, group practice with nine other psychotherapists + counselors. Christina maintains her own private practice, provides clinical supervision to graduate counseling interns, is currently a practicing therapist, + partners with local organizations to provide accessible + free psychotherapy services to some of our most vulnerable community members. And as part of her creative outlet, she creates entertaining tik tok videos about life with ADHD. We talk collectives, boundaries in the workplace, conscious organizations, developing employees as a way to increase retention vs fear-based control, failing faster, feeling like you already have to be a proven product of the thing you are trying to sell, the non-linear path of being mentally healthy, owning what you need, ADHD, to take medication or not, latent diagnoses, neurodiversity, honing your joy, + learning to be proud of who you are. Christina is a calming force of truth. Her presence literally will slow you down so you can truly sit with the essence of you + experience the gifts of all the aspects of who you are. <3

*note: this episode includes explicit language appropriate for those ages 16+

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

#amplifymelanatedvoices @lizandolong
#amplifymelanatedvoices @blackmenheal
#amplifymelanatedvoices @decolonizingtherapy
#amplifymelanatedvoices @blkwomenshealth
Billy Bobs
Mark Burnett
Reinventing Organizations by Fredric Laloux
SCRUM + AGILE frameworks
Music from: https://www.jukedeck.com/

3 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

If something seems like too big of a hurdle or too much of a stretch, what if you could make it smaller? What if you could make it bite sized to the point where you could take a step vs feeling stuck? What would you be able to do today? What would be the 1 minute version? What would be the 1% version? What would be the 10 second version? Make it as small as you need to + then do that again + again + again as the pacing feels right to you. We all get overwhelmed sometimes, that is normal + ok. When you’re ready to move, try this + see if it makes everything a little bit more doable + maybe even more enjoyable!
What if the things you’ve been criticized for are actually your strengths? What if the things that seem like they make you so different from others are actually the biggest gift that this world could ask for? What if you took the time to cultivate a loving relationship with these aspects of yourself? Who would you get to be for yourself + the world, then? How would it feel to embrace these parts of yourself vs reject them?
Everyone is exactly in the place where they should be in figuring out their process. It can be easy to compare + assume that we are off based on what we’ve been told we should be doing, but this is a false truth. We each are here to learn non-linearly how to be ourselves + live as ourselves in whatever way that means to us. And to do it in a way that allows others to do the same for themselves.

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[1:30] Deep sea fishing
[3:40] Drinking champagne out of the Stanley Cup
[7:59] AD: If you’ve been listening to this podcast for any amount of time, you know Jenell is pretty obsessed with Whoop, a wearable that tracks your heart rate variability + gives a ton of in-depth data around recovery, strain, sleep. To get your first month of whoop free + a free whoop strap, use this link to sign-up or DM Jenell via IG @jaynelreese!
[8:54] Welcome, Christina!
[11:30] Benefits of a collective
[16:00] Consciousness of organizations
[20:00] Developing people from a place of trust vs fear
[22:00] Innovation paradox + failing faster
[28:15] Owning your story while also being a mental health professional
[36:00] Advocating for self
[38:57] AD: Come play with us! We have been expanding the podcast concept by finding new ways + places where YOU can be more of an active participant in the conversation of finding + living your own TRUE NORTH. The COLLECTIVE is a free monthly conversation with people from all over the world (third Thurs of every month). Our monthly workshops explore a different facet of authenticity + are held the first Thurs of every month. Check it out here!
[39:57] Sharing my ADHD journey on Tik Tok
[44:00] Are the things you are criticized for actually your strengths?
[45:30] To medicate or not?
[51:30] Neurodiversity
[59:00] Life purpose
[1:04:00] Honing your joy
[1:09:00] Being exactly where you are, as you are
[1:12:45] How do you live your TRUE NORTH in 1 word?
[1:12:55] Connect with Christina via IG @digalittledeepertherapy or via website digalittledeeper.ca or via Tik Tok @stina905

Monday Jun 28, 2021

AUTHENTIC SELF: WHAT PARTS OF YOU ARE YOU RESISTING? S4:E21

Monday Jun 28, 2021

et ready for THE TRUE NORTH COLLECTIVE℠ PODCAST: SEASON 4! With co-hosts Rachel Bellotti (she/her) and Jenell Riesner (she/her), this is a gathering of un-sugar-coated conversations celebrating the untold stories of everyday people fearlessly finding and living their true north.

In today’s episode, we’re so excited to talk to Lukas Sliz, an Instagram acquaintance from Poland, turned friend. He is a writer, a speaker, a coach, a cruise ship trainer, with dreams of rethinking the education system in support of living authentically, and he helps people embrace who they are, to step into their power, and live the life they want to live. We talk about understanding your ancestry, speaking multiple languages, sitting with your shit, cruise ship life, healing through finding meaning, perspective, compassion, connecting through real stories, projecting your triggers, mirroring + reflecting, resisting parts of yourself, rethinking the current education system, getting into spaces with people who are different from you, the trap of authenticity, advocating for your higher self, and surrendering. Lukas voice will calm you to your bones. His ability to live the words of authenticity so effortlessly will lull you into your own sense of self. Enjoy! <3

*note: this episode includes explicit language appropriate for those ages 16+

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

#amplifymelanatedvoices @thebraceletslinger
#amplifymelanatedvoices @yung_pueblo
#amplifymelanatedvoices @adriennemareebrown
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
Wayne Dyer
Dr. Edith Eger
Music from: https://www.jukedeck.com/

3 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

What matters to you? What makes you get up each morning? If you’re struggling to find motivation around something, ask yourself what would give you a reason to care more? What would make it impossible NOT to do the thing you are avoiding? Can you connect to your own inner meaning or sense of importance around the thing + see how that changes your motivation to it.
When you feel alone + there may be a reason why you cannot connect with a community in real life, real-time, consider tapping into the stories in a non-traditional way. The stories of people in books who might provide hope + inspiration. The stories of people from shows or movies, whether it’s the characters or the actors themselves. The stories from people on social media (yes some of them can be real + relatable!). The stories from your lineage + ancestors. We each hold a story that contains elements of courage + inspiration + dark times that we can relate to + learn from at any moment. Can we allow ourselves to remember our innate connection through stories when we are feeling lonely, + especially when we are isolated due to the pandemic or all sorts of other reasons (whether real or perceived).
Your authentic self is the totality of all your parts + being willing to express them when they want to be expressed. We are not authentic only when we are happy or enlightened. Our authenticity lies in the innate expression of self that happens moment by moment. Being able to see + be ok with who that is, even when wounded or “dark” is living authentically. When we resist aspects of ourselves, then we are fighting ourselves. We are not at peace. We are not ourselves, but a manufactured fake self that disconnects us from the world + dehumxnizes ourselves + each other.

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[1:30] Shaving your head
[4:00] Theory of languages + speaking 3 languages
[9:20] Connecting ancestral dots
[11:47] AD: Come play with us! We have been expanding the podcast concept by finding new ways + places where YOU can be more of an active participant in the conversation of finding + living your own TRUE NORTH. The COLLECTIVE is a free monthly conversation with people from all over the world (third Thurs of every month). Our monthly workshops explore a different facet of authenticity + are held the first Thurs of every month. The UNPACK series invites more voices into an episode to unpack a topic so that we can hear more perspectives + voices + approaches on the journey. Check it all out here!
[13:00] Welcome, Lukas!
[15:00] Having to sit with all your shit
[17:00] Community is essential for co-regulation + healing
[19:18] Conversations while pooping
[22:40] Cruise ship life + self care
[29:20] Learning from existing eco-systems/structures
[32:00] Healing through finding meaning
[35:00] Finding compassion for all people
[39:00] Connecting through stories
[43:00] AD: If you’ve been listening to this podcast for any amount of time, you know Jenell is pretty obsessed with Whoop, a wearable that tracks your heart rate variability + gives a ton of in-depth data around recovery, strain, sleep. To get your first month of whoop free + a free whoop strap, use this link to sign-up or DM Jenell via IG @jaynelreese!
[44:30] Projecting your triggers
[51:00] Mirroring + reflections
[52:35] Authentic self
[57:00] Resisting parts of yourself
[58:00] Rethinking the current education system
[1:02:00] Find your community + also be willing to leave them + be surrounded by other people different from you, too
[1:03:00] The trap of authenticity
[1:08:00] Advocating for your highest self
[1:15:00] Surrender to what is
[1:17:30] How do you live your TRUE NORTH in 1 word?
[1:19:30] Connect with Lukas via IG @you.authentic.self

Monday Jun 14, 2021

CONTROL: WHAT IF YOU WERE ALLOWED TO FUCK IT ALL UP? S4:E20

Monday Jun 14, 2021

In today’s episode, we’re so excited to talk to Wisconsin-born Whitney Abene (she/her), a lifelong sports + fitness geek, indoor cycling instructor + fitness experience mentor/trainer, two-time marathoner, Marquette University alum with two cats, passionate racial justice + women’s health advocate, Schitt’s Creek addict, and part of the kickass eCommerce team at LaunchBoom. We talk about finding a partner after a decade of being single, sharing your real story vs creating false narratives, secret shame, vetting people with your authenticity, fucking it up in your 20s - or any age, new levels of loneliness, permission, divorce + learning what to do after divorce, being told to be less of yourself, putting boundaries around the things you love, finding community, saying yes, creating spaces of failure, being the face that you don’t see in the arena, believing in the people around you, and knowing what to do when you disagree with someone. We know Whit from our time in Milwaukee, building the SPIRE fitness community from the ground up + we’re not kidding when we say Whitney is one of a kind, gives the best hugs, lifts people up exactly for who they are, and has the kindest no-bullshit approach to life we’ve ever met. Grab your fav snack + get ready to fall in love with this humxn. <3

*note: this episode includes explicit language appropriate for those ages 16+

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

#amplifymelanatedvoices @erickajones
#amplifymelanatedvoices @shayla0h
#amplifymelanatedvoices @vasu_sojitra
Kopp’s Malt
Culvers
Creativity Inc by Ed Catmull
Empire Records
Music from: https://www.jukedeck.com/

3 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Are you telling your real story or curating a story that you think will make you look good? Pay attention when you are fine-tuning your story to be liked or accepted by yourself or others because this actually is self-sabotage. Notice when you are tweaking your story to make other people comfortable. Every time you tell a story that is even a little bit false, you are telling yourself that YOU, as you are, is not good enough. You are practicing erasure of yourself. You are slowly making yourself invisible and stopping people from being able to love the real you. Be courageous. Be you. YOU will be loved.
What if we created spaces where fucking up was celebrated + allowed? What if we were allowed to fail? What if failure was seen as strength + celebrated as the way we learn + grow? What if we were allowed to fuck it all up? What would you do today that you aren’t doing if you were allowed to fail? Consider this your permission slip to fail + go get after it. See you out there, you won’t be alone because we’ll be failing right alongside you + living life to the fullest as we figure it all out. Because how the hell will you figure it out if you aren’t allowed to try new things that you WILL get wrong before you start to get them right?
We have this idea of what things are “supposed” to look like, but it’s all based on some BS creation that some random person or group of people said was the “right” way. So, instead of shrinking away, let’s change what the “supposed” to is to include YOU, just as you are. Don’t hold back your magic because of some made-up narrative. You are allowed to exist in all spaces, always.

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[1:09] Being an 80-yr old woman at heart
[2:20] Food allergies + weird food combos
[9:00] AD: We’re inviting you in to play with us in new ways! We love the podcast + it’s not going anywhere, but definitely check out some of the other spaces we are creating where you can be more of an active participant in finding + living your own TRUE NORTH, alongside other cool humxns who are also figuring it out in real-time. The COLLECTIVE is a free monthly conversation with people from all over the world (third Thurs of every month). Our monthly workshops explore a different facet of authenticity + are held on the first Thurs of every month. The UNPACK series invites more voices into an episode to unpack a topic so that we can hear more perspectives + voices + approaches on the journey. Check it all out here!
[10:08] Welcome, Whitney!
[17:00] Settling into no control
[18:00] Making your story palatable vs sharing the real details
[22:18] Building up a tolerance for people’s discomfort
[23:00] Vetting people with your authenticity
[27:20] “fucking it up” in your 20s + beyond
[36:29] What do you do after divorce in your 20s?!
[42:00] Being told to be less of yourself
[45:40] Having to put boundaries around the things you LOVE
[47:00] Finding a community that pulls you out of the depths of your darkness
[51:00] Say yes
[53:30] Finding + sharing your unique voice in an industry where you don’t “fit” the stereotypically accepted mold
[58:00] Creating spaces for failure
[1:02:40] AD: If you’ve been listening to this podcast for any amount of time, you know Jenell is pretty obsessed with Whoop, a wearable that tracks your heart rate variability + gives a ton of in-depth data around recovery, strain, sleep. To get your first month of whoop free + a free whoop strap, use this link to sign-up or DM Jenell via IG @jaynelreese!
[1:06:00] Hiring for passion vs skillsets
[1:08:00] Be the one to step up + do it differently - be the change you wish to see in the world
[1:11:00] Flip the question
[1:15:00] Believe in the people around you + make them look good
[1:10:00] What to do when you disagree with someone?
[1:20:00] How do you live your TRUE NORTH in 1 word?
[1:20:47] Connect with Whitney via IG @sweetwhit

Monday May 31, 2021

MENTAL HEALTH: ARE YOU WILLING TO SAVE YOURSELF? S4:E19

Monday May 31, 2021

Today’s episode needs a trigger warning as it contains references to suicide, drug addiction, postpartum, and other sensitive topics. We share with gentleness and thoughtfulness to normalize these things in the world. Please use your discernment in how to care for yourself as you consume this content. We are honored to speak with Megan Sa, former co-worker of Jenell’s at MindBody, working in human resources. Megan is a Beachbody Coach, a cheer coach, a mother of two, and is such a bold, honest, real person, which can be rare in the corporate world, and she does such an amazing job of inviting those around her to step more into their real, honest selves, both professionally and in the world. We play with making time for yourself to truly be with yourself + not have to think or do anything else, disrupting family gender roles, father roles + influence, anxiety + postpartum depression realities, talking about mental health in the workplace, coping skills vs pills, addiction + identity numbing, invisible disabilities, having a supportive partner + support system, grappling with death, asking for what you need, advocating for your mental health in the workplace, and saving yourself. This episode cuts through to the core of being a humxn with mental struggles + Megan has an innate ability to share her story with grounded acceptance that invites you to embrace your own raw story with kindness + vulnerability. Thank you for sharing your powerful voice with us, Megan. <3

*note: this episode includes explicit language appropriate for those ages 16+

**note: rachel’s wifi is pretty spotty in her RV during this episode so there is time lapses + weird audio at times - thx for your patience + understanding!

***TRIGGER WARNING - the content of this episode includes some reference to drugs, addiction, postpartum, suicide + trauma topics

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

#amplifymelanatedvoices @thelovelandfoundation
#amplifymelanatedvoices @blackmenheal
#amplifymelanatedvoices @indigenouscircleofwellness
Rascal Flatts
Language of Emotions by Karla McLaren
Gifts of Imperfection, Braving the Wilderness books by Brene Brown
Cottage in San Luis Obispo
Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1.800.273.8255
Music from: https://www.jukedeck.com/

3 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Where are you agreeing to societally placed roles that aren’t actually what you want? Can you break the blueprint + choose to do what feels right for you vs what is expected of you? Even if people don’t understand, you are probably not the only person who is craving something for yourself that society has said was not “normal”, so be the expander, the influence, the new model that breaks the mold + declares that it IS possible + more than ok. Break the rules + follow your heart.
When it comes to your mental health (or anything really), don’t settle. Find the way that DOES work for you, even if it means that you need a different level or type of support than what is traditionally used. You are allowed to ask for what you need to find solutions that work with you vs forcing yourself into a situation that will ultimately not be sustainable for you. Listen to yourself + keep advocating for yourself at all costs.
It can be scary to ask for support when we need it - in our friend groups, with our partners, with our families, at work. But no matter how scary it might seem, you must ask for the help that you need. No matter what there is support that does exist out there. And if someone cannot provide it or meet you where you’re at, keep asking other places + people because someone WILL be able to support you. If you lose friends or jobs as a result, there will be others. Your mental health + finding support is more important. Be your own advocate because you are the only one who can truly save yourself, and you deserve to have support while you do that.

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[1:09] Rascal Flatts
[1:30] Twins
[4:46] AD: We want to welcome you to join THE COLLECTIVE on the third Thursday of each month @7:30-8:30pm CST! It’s a free virtual community gathering of people from all around the world to come together to connect, share, to witness + be witnessed, reflect, listen, and expand the conversations we have in the podcast, but with WAY MORE fellow travelers who are also practicing living their TRUE NORTH. We’d love to see you there. Sign-up here!
[5:55] Welcome, Megan!
[10:00] Throwing out the blueprint of family + parental gender roles
[16:00] Father roles + influence
[22:20] AD: Check out the Creative Business Accelerator program from our friend Megs Colleen, a life coach + creative consultant. In this program, you can expect support as you break down big business difficulties, shift your mindset, and rise as the powerful humxn you are. To get an extra $100 off this program, use the special promo code: TRUENORTH by May 31st, exclusively for our listeners. Learn more + sign up here!
[22:40] Anxiety as a kid
[23:40] Postpartum depression visions, panic attacks, meltdowns
[31:00] Coping skills vs pills
[36:00] Addiction + identity numbing
[41:00] Doing the hard things to rewire our brains
[46:00] Acceptance
[48:00] Invisible disabilities (mental illness) stole my joy
[54:00] Having a supportive partner as you struggle with mental health
[56:30] Grappling with death
[59:00] We MUST talk about mental illness + mental health
[1:01:27] AD: The 3rd episode of That Girl Got Ghosted is now live! This is Jenell’s YouTube Series where she takes her Tinder dates to haunted hotels and films them for our viewing pleasure. The idea for this series is a mashup of the Bachelor meets Catfish meets Ghost Adventures. Check it out here!
[1:02:20] Don’t give up on the support that you need - keep asking for what you need
[1:11:00] Sharing mental health realities in the workplace
[1:20:00] Always believe people when they are telling you about their mental health issues + stories
[1:21:00] Share your story, no matter how ashamed you may feel - it needs to be shared
[1:23:20] How do you live your TRUE NORTH in 1 word?
[1:23:40] Connect with Megan via IG @thecrazysas or via FB @MeganandJonathanSa or email samegan0301@gmail.com

Monday May 17, 2021

FLAT EARTH: WHICH OF YOUR BELIEF SYSTEMS ARE READY TO BE CHALLENGED? S4:E18

Monday May 17, 2021

Get ready for THE TRUE NORTH COLLECTIVE℠ PODCAST: SEASON 4! With co-hosts Rachel Bellotti (she/her) and Jenell Riesner (she/her), this is a gathering of un-sugar-coated conversations celebrating the untold stories of everyday people fearlessly finding and living their true north.

In our own search to discover and live from our TRUE NORTH, we continue to meet many interesting, courageous people from all walks of life, doing all sorts of amazing things to live life in their own unique way. Stories from all over the world. Stories with heart. Stories with grit. Stories with plot twists. Stories going untold - until now. This season, we continue to celebrate these untold stories of everyday people who are fearlessly living their true north and inspiring each of us to do the same.

Today, we talk with David Weiss, an internet connection who reached out to share his story about how he got into Flat Earth. Dave used to be a lifelong atheist who believed that Flat Earth was completely outlandish + silly until he took an honest look at it + to his surprise, it completely turned his life upside down. He quit his job, became an entrepreneur, found divinity, and never looked back. This episode unpacks beliefs + our propensity to simply take information at face value without verifying it or validating it for ourselves, poking holes + asking the hard questions, changing your mind, deception, holding unpopular understandings + how that impacts your interpersonal relationships, disrupting default patterns, NOT forcing people to wake up, and how Flat Earth has changed lives + brought people together into a community of kind + curious folx. We are so appreciative of Dave’s approach to sharing this provocative + somewhat divisive idea of the earth being flat. His fun, inviting, non-attached passion will draw you in, have you tilting your head, + taking a beat to consider what you previously thought you knew as truth. Have fun with this one - we did! <3

*note: this episode includes explicit language appropriate for those ages 16+

RESOURCES MENTIONED:
- #amplifymelanatedvoices @ascendsun
- #amplifymelanatedvoices @mehcadbrooks
- #amplifymelanatedvoices @televisionblues
- Megalithomania
- 1984
- Deepinside the Rabbithole Podcast
- The Flat Earth Podcast
- The Flat Earth Sun Moon + Zodiac Clock App
- Tataria + the Mud Floods
- Circumnavigation for Dummies
- Flat Earth the Ultimate Litmus Test by Marty Leeds
- Sofia Smallstorm - The Outward Flow of Civilizations talk
- Music from: https://www.jukedeck.com/
3 KEY TAKEAWAYS:
1. What do you believe? Why do you believe it? Have you verified them? Or have you adopted them from an influence in your life that you decided you could trust without doing your own research? Or maybe you HAVE done your own research, which is awesome. When a new point of view comes along, do you simply defend your perspective or use the new information as a way re-test + reaffirm your existing belief or change your belief? We know as much as we know until we know more + then we need to be willing to adjust if we were wrong. There isn’t anything wrong with changing our minds. There is so much we don’t know, we cannot possibly have it all figured out, which means we will inevitably need to continue to re-prove our POVs or change our minds forever. If we don’t, we run the risk of blindly + rigidly defending outdated concepts + closing the door to connection, growth, + potential innovation.
2. When you stand solidly in your truth, you may lose people in your life who don’t understand or believe. And while this sucks sometimes, you also gain new communities of people who align with your truth. What is more important to you? To be surrounded by people who accept you for something you are not? Or to stand in your truth and know that the people who are around you accept you for exactly who you are? And maybe there's even a third option where you can stand in your truth + be surrounded by people who accept you whether they agree with you or not.
3. How do you invite people into a conversation that plants seeds vs forces concepts + ideas down people’s throats? The most sustainable way to gain traction on something is to be passionate, open to questions, + inviting. When we assume we know everything or that we + our way is the one + only “right” way, it is alienating to newcomers. It only creates separation with those who aren’t already with you. And that is no way to build a community because it leaves no room for people to explore + join in because they are genuinely curious + want to learn more for themselves. Letting people feel like they have been empowered to choose for themselves is the best way to influence + gain sustained community + connection. Try it in your life + see what happens if you demand your way vs holding your truth lightly + truly detaching from anyone needing to join you. Notice which attracts more sustained interest.
TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:
- [0:05] Callout that this episode is helpful to watch, so here is the link to the show on Youtube if you want to reference the visuals being discussed. If you cannot view on video, you will still get the gist - ENJOY!
- [2:00] Amateur windsurfing
- [5:00] Globe distances are actually inaccurate + actual flight patterns lend some intrigue around the true shape of the earth
- [8:10] The shape of the flat earth + Antarctica realities
- [14:46] AD: We created the TRUE NORTH COLLECTIVE podcast to make space for us to figure out who we are + WTF it means to be yourself. And now we’re calling you all in to a larger community conversation so you can be a live part of these conversations + share your voices in real time! Join our monthly virtual workshops that navigate different facets of authenticity, held on the first Thursday of every month @7:30pm CST (only $15), +/or our THE COLLECTIVE, our free community conversation on the third Thursday of every month @7:30pm CST. We also have some new podcast series coming up in addition to AMPILFY. Check out UNPACK, our mash-up episodes where we bring on a mix of voices from around the world to unpack + wrestle with a topic of authenticity as a group to bring more voices + perspectives into the mix. Sign-up for the workshops + COLLECTIVE here, + if you’re interested in being on an UNPACK episode, shoot us a DM + we’d love to add you to the next conversation. Looking forward!
- [15:55] Welcome, David!
- [17:08] Beliefs, trust, + lack of verification
- [21:00] Trading in common sense
- [23:00] Ask the questions that you need to ask - don’t just take data at face value
- [26:30] It’s ok to change your mind as you learn new information
- [28:00] Why the lie?
- [31:00] From the corporate world to a full on Flat Earth advocate
- [36:30] Signs
- [38:25] What is the Flat Earth community like?
- [45:50] Blind beliefs + challenging your beliefs
- [48:00] Circumnavigation deception
- [52:00] AD: If you’ve been listening to this podcast for any amount of time, you know Jenell is pretty obsessed with Whoop, a wearable that tracks your heart rate variability + gives a ton of in-depth data around recovery, strain, sleep. To get your first month of whoop free + a free whoop strap, use this link to sign-up or DM Jenell via IG @jaynelreese!
- [59:20] How interpersonal relationships are impacted when you support non-mainstream ideas
- [1:05:02] Planting seeds
- [1:06:00] The Flat Earth Sun Moon + Zodiac Clock App
- [1:15:00] An invitation to disrupt your default patterns
- [1:17::20] “How Flat Earth has impacted my life…”
- [1:21:00] Don’t be willfully ignorant
- [1:24:00] How do you live your TRUE NORTH in 1 word?
- [1:25:30] Connect with Dave via flatearthpodcast.com or via IG @theflatearthpodcast

Monday May 03, 2021

UNPACK HAPPINESS: WHERE ARE YOU CHASING + NOT TRUSTING? S4:E17

Monday May 03, 2021

Today, we have another installment of our UNPACK series where we bring on a mash-up of voices from across the country as fellow travelers with different perspectives to discuss a specific topic. Today’s episode is all about chasing happiness + unpacking all the aspects of this sentiment + statement + experience. We are excited to chat with Christie Conochalla, LA-based filmmaker + awesome guest from Season 2 (listen here!), and Brandon Schwitter , podcaster, youtuber, and passionate winemaker based out of San Luis Obispo, CA. We wrestle with how to go from chasing vs walking happiness, not trying so hard, trusting, acknowledging a false sense of control, doing things for the love of doing things, the relationship between money + happiness, the hindrance of ideal feel states, minimalism, carving out happiness with what you have, how happiness relates to shame + money, happiness influence with others, and backing into happiness. This convo is honest + covers the gamut of how happiness + happiness expectations are woven into our lives + culture. Thank you, Christie + Brandon for being so open + giving in your perspectives + truths. We appreciate you both so much. <3

*note: this episode includes explicit language appropriate for those ages 16+

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

#amplifymelanatedvoices @findingyourwaypodcast
#amplifymelanatedvoices @intersectionalenvironmentalist
#amplifymelanatedvoices @larissa_speaks
Golden Girls
Music from: https://www.jukedeck.com/

3 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Chasing anything is an act of control, and yet there is so much we have NO control over. So where do we need to honor the chase as a means to get us moving + when do we need to let go of the chase to allow the parts that we cannot control to unfold as they are meant to? It is an ongoing dance that we each must feel into + decide where that line in is between chasing + allowing. Because both actions are important aspects of life.
As you seek out happiness, it’s important to also seek out where you suffer because those areas have a ton to teach you about where you are blocking yourself from living or holding yourself back. Befriending these areas of suffering can bring awareness to where we are unconsciously leaking energy, which is taking away from our reserves without us even realizing it. When we address our suffering, we can release the energy suck + eventually redirect that energy into what we DO want. But if we don’t know where our energy is leaking, then we cannot do anything about it. Be courageous in befriending your suffering. It’s absolutely worth it as it is one of the paths to what you truly want.
What if instead of waiting around for the “perfect” pieces to be present to experience happiness, we were able to carve out our own happiness from what is already here? What if we flipped the script + started creating happiness from the present moment vs waiting for it to show up? It most likely will look different from what you expected, but who’s to say that it must only look one way? What if you can experience what you want now in one form + then also experience what you want later in the other form that you are hoping to work towards. What if you can have both? What if it isn’t either/or?

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[0:30} What is an UNPACK episode?
[2:00] Welcome, Christie!
[2:30] Welcome, Brandon!
[4:44] Holding onto happiness
[5:35] Stop chasing + it will show up
[13:00] The benefit of the chase
[17:00] Inner sense of identity loss
[19:50] Walking happiness vs chasing happiness
[22:50] AD: We have TRUE NORTH COLLECTIVE merch + we’re really excited about it!! Currently we are selling super soft, green crew neck sweatshirts with the white TNC logo. Check them out on our IG page @thetruenorthcollective_ + DM us if you are interested in repping this badass community! We love you all + appreciate your continued support. <3
[23:20] Saying yes to what shows up
[24:20] False sense of control
[27:00] How do you define happiness?
[30:00] Sources of happiness + suffering
[34:30] For the love of doing things
[40:00] Relationship between money + happiness
[44:00] Is there an ideal feel state?
[48:00] Shifting perceptions of alternative lifestyles
[60:00] AD: Check out the Creative Business Accelerator program from our friend Megs Colleen, a life coach + creative consultant. In this program, you can expect support as you break down big business difficulties, shift your mindset, and rise as the powerful humxn you are. To get an extra $100 off this program, use the special promo code: TRUENORTH by May 31st, exclusively for our listeners. Learn more + sign up here!
[54:00] Carving out happiness with what I have
[59:10] Doing the work you enjoy doing
[1:05:15] AD: Get excited for the next installment of our workshop series! On May 6th @7-8:15pm CST, we will be hosting a workshop all about roadblocks. What do you do when the road you’re on starts to get bumpy or the plans you’ve been working towards get disrupted? It can be frustrating, but if we get stuck in that frustration, we forget there is choice. This workshop is space to acknowledge where we might be stuck in the roadblock, seemingly unable to move, and see if we can loosen up our grip a bit to create more possibilities in making our next move. AND FOR MAY we have a special promo offer for our podcast listeners, if you have never been to one of our workshops, we are offering your first workshop for free! Simply sign-up here + use the promo code: TNCPODCAST. Can’t wait to see you there!
[1:08:20] Happiness + shame
[1:17:00] Happiness influence + impact on others
[1:2700] Backing into happiness
[1:28:30] How do you live your TRUE NORTH in 1 word?
Connect with Christie via IG @cconochalla + Brandon via IG @bschwitty

Monday Apr 19, 2021

UNBECOMING: WHAT IF YOU’RE NOT THERE BECAUSE IT’S NOT TIME YET? S4:E16

Monday Apr 19, 2021

Today, we speak with Emily Watson, a soul friend + incredible humxn. Rachel first met Emily through Thrive - a humxn development company + they quickly became close friends who could talk about literally anything. Professionally, Emily is a school counselor turned life coach turned helpful hardware folk, helping to run her family’s Ace Hardware business. She’s curious and always learning, has a passion for learning + development, a seeker of new experiences, and she’s a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP). We talk about allowing the unfolding, not needing to know what’s next, getting stuck in how you think you want your life to go, learning to trust your intuition, twisting career journeys, revalidating decisions, redefining the definition of finding your purpose, the path of unbecoming, chasing life, controlling, sincere self-compassion, boundaries + resentment, and the Tao. This is a grounded + curious conversation about life + existing through the lens of our everyday experiences. Emily is a wise owl that gently challenges the status quo + we are so grateful for her voice in this world. <3

*note: this episode includes explicit language appropriate for those ages 16+

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

#amplifymelanatedvoices @femalecollective
#amplifymelanatedvoices @sylvestermcnutt
#amplifymelanatedvoices @dellahickswilson
Nono, Ecuador
The Calm Center
IG @tobemagnetic
The Path of The Serpent Owl poem by Maya Luna
Music from: https://www.jukedeck.com/

3 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

What if you let go of what you thought your life was supposed to be? What if you allowed the unfolding to show you what is possible? What if you didn’t need to know what’s next? What if what you thought you wanted wasn’t as great as what is actually meant for you? Sometimes we try so hard to control the outcome that we miss even better possibilities or simpler ways of moving through life. We definitely need to show up and participate in our lives, but what if we were better able to let go of ALL the control to allow space for life to co-create with us? To show us something we never would have imagined?
We hear so often to just let it go + move on, but if there is genuinely a question mark still there, you might be doing yourself a bit disservice by not staying + playing a little longer. There are lessons in everything we experience + when we bounce too quickly, we might not get to complete the lesson + run the risk of having to go through it again later. So, maybe it would actually be more efficient to actually stay if you are feeling the urge to stay, until you have gotten all you were meant to get from this experience. You will know when it’s time to move on + you will also know when you are running away + avoiding the lesson. Listen so you can consciously choose what you want right now. To delay the lesson or to get uncomfortable?
What if the path of our lives isn’t about building up who are supposed to be? What if it is about stripping back to who we’ve always been? And walking the path of unbecoming to get closer to who we actually are.

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[0:30] Driving like you run + road rage
[3:15] Visiting 4 ecosystems of Ecuador
[5:00] Horses - do they heal or create fear?
[9:00] AD: Get excited for the next installment of our workshop series! On May 6th @7-8:15pm CST, we will be hosting a workshop all about roadblocks. What do you do when the road you’re on starts to get bumpy or the plans you’ve been working towards get disrupted? It can be frustrating, but if we get stuck in that frustration, we forget there is choice. This workshop is space to acknowledge where we might be stuck in the roadblock, seemingly unable to move, and see if we can loosen up our grip a bit to create more possibilities in making our next move. AND FOR MAY we have a special promo offer for our podcast listeners, if you have never been to one of our workshops, we are offering your first workshop for free! Simply sign-up here + use the promo code: TNCPODCAST. Can’t wait to see you there!
[10:30] Welcome, Emily!
[14:22] Allowing the unfolding + not needing to know what’s next
[18:50] How do I trust?
[23:00] Slowing down + listening to inner knowing or intuition
[26:00] Twisting career journeys + revalidating past decisions
[33:30] Wanting clarity so much that you get paralyzed
[35:00] Choosing inaction
[38:20] AD: Check out the Creative Business Accelerator program from our friend Megs Colleen, a life coach + creative consultant. In this program, you can expect support as you break down big business difficulties, shift your mindset, and rise as the powerful humxn you are. To get an extra $100 off this program, use the special promo code: TRUENORTH by May 31st, exclusively for our listeners. Learn more + sign up here!
[40:00] Finding your purpose vs the path of unbecoming
[47:00] Chasing life
[50:30] Controlling is controlling is controlling
[57:20] AD: The 3rd episode of That Girl Got Ghosted is now live! This is Jenell’s YouTube Series where she takes her Tinder dates to haunted hotels and films them for our viewing pleasure. The idea for this series is a mashup of the Bachelor meets Catfish meets Ghost Adventures. Check it out here!
[58:00] Living an intentional life - doing what feels like it wants to be done
[1:03:50] Sincere self-compassion
[1:07:00] Resentment indicates boundaries that have been breached or haven’t been laid (wisdom from Mark Groves @createthelove)
[1:11:00] Ask the question + then let it go
[1:13:00] The Tao
[1:16:20] How do you live your TRUE NORTH in 1 word?
[1:16:30] Connect with Emily via email ewatso12@gmail.com

Tuesday Apr 13, 2021

SHAME: ARE YOU MEETING YOUR PRIMAL NEEDS? S4:E15

Tuesday Apr 13, 2021

Today, we are honored to speak with Lindsay Thomas (aka LT), a self-proclaimed “stranger conversationalist” with a shoe addiction, an advocate for all things primal needs - body image, diet culture, digital wellness, and sex positivity - and taking these basic primal needs + speaking to them in context to today’s societal construct. She’s a lululemon humxn who loves brainstorming + working with teams, her mantra is “just like the fucking spoon!”, and she is proud to be one year into recovery from her eating disorder. We talk about being adopted as an adult, knowing how much is enough stuff, the layers of choice, changing your mind, releasing shame, primal needs, having friends you can talk about sex with without it meaning anything, body acceptance, recognizing your recovery needs, recognizing vices, and choosing joy and tapping into the body’s intuition. LT is an incredibly calming WIP full of wisdom along her journey. Enjoy this episode as we unpack some deep and intimate topics. <3

*note: this episode includes explicit language appropriate for those ages 16+

**TRIGGER WARNING - the content of this episode includes some ED topics + trauma

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

#amplifymelanatedvoices @dr_cuterus
#amplifymelanatedvoices @kanoagreene
#amplifymelanatedvoices @lifeazziknowit
#amplifymelanatedvoices @narcissismrecoverycenter
Atomic Habits by James Clear
The Choice by Dr. Edith Eger
Matilda
Hip2Health Sea Moss
Vulva Casting via @lydiareeves_artist
Music from: https://www.jukedeck.com/

3 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

There are layers to choice. It’s not a one and done. We have to continue to make the choices we want again and again, either in the same direction or in a new direction. And there is work in choice. Just because the decision has been made, doesn’t mean it’s all smooth sailing. It will still be messy as you continue to be responsible for that choice as it unfolds. When we make choices, it’s essential to recognize all that we are taking on and committing to with that choice so that we can be at peace with it, or recognize that we aren’t at peace and it’s time to make another decision where we might feel more at peace. Choice is a layered and continuous process.
We all have primal needs that we need to be met to survive. And in today’s focus on higher pyramid needs, we often don’t realize that our primal needs are NOT being met in favor of “enlightenment”. But we cannot ultimately ever be enlightened as an individual or a collective if our primal needs are being neglected.
Where do you actually need more support? Where are you trying to tell yourself that you are ok when you actually are not? Where do you need help? The more that we can model getting the help we need and normalizing the need for support, the more we will all be able to get the help we need to heal and recover from the rat race that life has become. We all need support in some areas of our lives. Let this be your permission slip to see the courage and bravery in reaching out for the support you need. You’re not alone. We are all struggling with our own cocktail of coping mechanisms.

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[0:08] AD: The TRUE NORTH COLLECTIVE is now on text message! This means that you can get on our text update list to be the first to receive info on new episodes, workshops, meetups, etc with our community. Simply go to IG @thetruenorthcollective_ and sign-up via the linktree in our bio. We cannot wait to connect with you via text!
[2:00] Buying books you don’t read
[3:00] Being adopted as an adult
[5:00] Reclaiming relationship with your parent figures
[7:30] Sleep + change
[10:00] Settling in + creating your space
[18:30] How much stuff do you actually need?
[25:58] AD: That Girl Got Ghosted is live! This is a video series that Jenell created on the road - think bachelorette meets ghost hunter meets catfish. In the most recent episode, Jenell goes to Bisbee, AZ with her Tinder date, Cam, and they visit The Copper Queen haunted hotel. Support Jenell’s creative ventures + watch here!
[25:00] Welcome, LT!
[29:00] The layers of choice
[32:00] Changing your mind
[33:30] Releasing shame
[42:00] Normalizing + humxnizing
[43:00] AD: Welcome to April’s edition of THE COLLECTIVE all about consistency! In this month’s free community gathering, on 4/15/21 @7:30pm CST, we will continue the conversation we started in our April workshop on 4/1/21. No worries if you couldn’t join the workshop, we will set the stage before opening up the dialogue to have a genuine conversation on how we consistently show up or don’t show up for ourselves. Sign-up here!
[44:40] Primal needs
[50:00] Sexual wellness
[53:00] Having friends you can talk about sex with
[59:25] AD: If you’ve been listening to this podcast for any amount of time, you know Jenell is pretty obsessed with Whoop, a wearable that tracks your heart rate variability + gives a ton of in-depth data around recovery, strain, sleep. To get your first month of whoop free + a free whoop strap, use this link to sign-up or DM Jenell via IG @jaynelreese!
[1:00:00] Body acceptance + inner critic
[1:05:00] Recognizing your recovery needs
[1:11:00] Vices
[1:13:00] What if we are all narcissistic?
[1:15:00] Just lick the fucking spoon!
[1:19:40] How do you live your TRUE NORTH in 1 word?
[1:20:00] Connect with LT via IG @linsantiytherebel

Monday Apr 05, 2021

AMPLIFY MINJI: WHERE DO I FIT IN? S4:E14

Monday Apr 05, 2021

Welcome to AMPLIFY, a mini-series by THE TRUE NORTH COLLECTIVE℠ PODCAST, dedicated to highlighting the untold stories of everyday BIPOC fearlessly finding and living their true north amidst the current systemic realities - past, present, and future.

In the wake of George Floyd’s murder, co-hosts Rachel Bellotti (she/her) and Jenell Riesner (she/her), recognized their own ignorance of the racial atrocities that have plagued history. They chose to use this platform to create a space that centers real stories of genuine authenticity from marginalized communities whom society has attempted to keep silent for far too long. These conversations amplify the ways in which our society + culture has oppressed certain folx from being their authentic selves, as told through the voices of those experiencing the oppression first-hand. We thank every single guest who joins this space to courageously share their story and provide invaluable insight into a perspective that should never have been hidden. Listen, learn, unlearn, donate, support, change, grow, and make right.

This series is inspired by the original #amplifymelanatedvoices movement, created by @jessicawilson.msrd and @blackandembodied in June 2020 in an effort to elevate BIPOC voices, listen more deeply, and support anti-racism.

Today, we hear from MInji Lew, a people developer, coach, enneagram 3, child of Korean immigrants, a southern California transplant, partner to a British Australian Expat, and a mother to a sassy silky terrier. We chat about being in service of your people, self-care, balancing being a pusher with allowing others to set their own pacing, breaking stereotypes, making mistakes as a way to learn, not knowing where you fit in, assimilation, how to acknowledge your ancestry, being loved + hated at the same time, blending in, finding the community that looks like you, calling in other cultural ideas around living with your parents as an adult, generational gifts, boundaries with parents, lack of respect for elders, and embracing perspectives + cultures different from your + integrating what feels authentic to you. This is a very honest, work-in-progress conversation about the unfolding realities of what it means to be Asian in America in the 21st Century + Minji says it beautifully, “We are all being woken up right now + we all have a stake in it.” Thank you for your heart, Minji. It’s an honor to hold space with you. <3

TAKE ACTION: This episode, we have donated to Minji’s selected cause, STOP AAPI HATE. In response to the alarming escalation of xenophobia and bigotry resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Asian Pacific Planning and Policy Council (A3PCON), Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA), and the Asian American Studies Departments of San Francisco State University launched the Stop AAPI Hate reporting center on March 19, 2020. The center tracks and responds to incidents of hate, violence, harassment, discrimination, shunning, and child bullying against Asian Americans and Pacific Islandders in the United States. We are strongly encouraging our listeners who feel inspired to also donate what you can to support. Donate or give today here.

*note: this episode includes explicit language appropriate for those ages 16+

**note: this episode is a bit choppy + abrupt at times due to the Wifi connection.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

3 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

You cannot leapfrog your life. In order to be fully you, you must allow yourself to experience life. The ups, the downs, the wins, the mistakes, the boredom, the confusion. All of it must be experienced. We cannot avoid any of it and expect to truly be ourselves. Every experience is an opportunity to better know + refine who we are. For ourselves and for the world.
Not feeling like you fit in or belong is a lonely place. Where in your life do you feel isolated for being yourself? What would it look like to find support? And on the flip side, where might you be creating spaces where others don’t feel like they can belong as they are? What could you do to ensure that you are making space for more people to show up as they are with you and in your groups of friends and communities? If you’re not sure, start the conversation within your friend groups and see what you all come up with so we all can start to break down these cages/walls/barriers/biases and become more inclusive for all people in all spaces.
As Americans, we are so focused on youth culture that we have lost the generational gifts and respect and dignity of elders. There are so many stories forgotten and wisdom lost when we decide that people over the age of X (you decide…) are no longer valuable. We also lose incredible lessons and the ability to learn from those who have come before us. Plus, we are preemptively deciding that we are on our way to being invaluable by choosing to view our elders in this way. Because spoiler alert...we all become elders. No one escapes it. How can you begin to build relationships with those older than you? What can you open up to and learn from? What would it mean for you to make time for those who have come before you? Even if they have ideas that seem outdated, how can you use that to learn how to have respectful curiosity around where they came from and how they got there? We all have things we can learn from each other, especially those who have come before us because who they are lives within us, too. And ignoring previous generations is actually ignoring ourselves.

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[1:00] Welcome, Minji!
[3:00] Being of service to your people, while practicing true self care
[8:12] Balancing being a pusher with allowing others to pick their pace
[11:15] Rites of passage
[14:40] Breaking stereotypes
[17:40] Feeling shame, embarrassment, + isolation for being me
[22:30] Being a child of Korean immigrants who love America + are very westernized
[26:20] AD: To be a stand for impact + action, each guest on Amplify selects a cause that they recommend supporting as an extension of the conversation that we have here. For this episode, TNC has donated on behalf of Minji’s chosen organization, Stop AAPI Hate, and we strongly encourage our community to check out this social impact coalition, learn what they are up to and how you can support, and consider donating here. Thank you <3
[27:30] Where do I fit in?
[33:00] Being the first, the pioneers
[36:00] Things are changing
[38:00] To be loved + hated at the same time
[44:00] Finding your community to process together
[47:40] Becoming a “real” adult
[52:00] Calling in the idea that there is something funny or embarrassing about living with your parents as an adult - a very white American idea
[54:00] Generational gifts
[56:00] Parenting/managing up + boundaries
[58:00] Lack of respect for elders
[1:03:00] Embracing perspectives + cultures different from mine + integrating what feels authentic to me
[1:08:00] We’re all being woken up right now + we all have a stake in this
[1:09:50] How do you live your TRUE NORTH?