Make Some Noise with Andrea Owen

How does the enneagram relate to personal development? Well, today we find out. Jessica Denise Dickson is a life empowerment Enneagram coach (and Black mermaid) who believes that when Black women heal, the world heals. She joins me to talk about the enneagram as a transformative tool for personal development. I can’t tell you how excited I am about this topic and guest-- as I’ve wanted to have someone on for eons. Today, we discuss what the enneagram is, how it can help you become more self-aware, and help you address your blind spots. We also discuss what the enneagram has to offer during this time of global pandemic and global reckoning with systems of oppression. In this episode you’ll hear: There are a lot of ideas about the enneagram - Jessica breaks down what it is and what it is not. (3:59) How the enneagram can help with self-awareness and empathy. (10:38) Learning your type can be a personal and private experience, as well as, one of validation. (14:20) For systems to change, it comes from doing the work. Jessica shares some information about her course for people who identify as white. (29:31) Enneagram and relationships - there are no rules for making it work between different enneagram types. (37:27) Conflict resolution through the lens of the enneagram. (42:58) http://yourkickasslife.com/343  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week I am sharing my conversation with Mike Robbins. Mike Robbins is a speaker and author of five books, including, Bring Your Whole Self to Work and We're All in This Together. I had a bunch of questions ready to ask Mike about his newest book. But our conversation went in an entirely different direction. And for that, I am grateful.In this episode, Mike and I discussed the value and importance of talking about race, white privilege, and why being vulnerable is so important, now more than ever. Being vulnerable forces us to ask of others and of ourselves, “Can I trust you with my time, my space, and my voice?” The world is divided - vulnerability is just one way we can begin to open up to talk about and take action for social justice, equality, and civil change.  In this episode you’ll hear: Mike’s idea and journey for his book, We’re All In This Together.  When he realized we are not all in this together.  Mike’s experience with understanding what white privilege means.  Acknowledging how our conversation is an example of centering whiteness.  One entry point to anti-racism can be helpful is if white people call forward other white people.  The importance of being vulnerable.  http://yourkickasslife.com/342  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week I have an episode featuring Makenna Held. Makenna is someone who is wise beyond her years. She is a writer, educator, and serial entrepreneur. While she's most known for being ‘the woman who bought Julia Child’s house’, that is one of the least interesting things about her. Her business, personal, and leadership coaching is committed to exploring paradigms of the human condition including liberation, human potential, obliterating capitalism's hold on our souls, and the essence of suffering. Today, Makenna and I discuss the inheritance of whiteness by white people and why it is our job, (as white people), to unpack and dismantle it. We also discuss putting the focus on the value you provide to people rather than putting the focus on the value of money, how to begin to dismantle the patriarchy, and sitting with the uncomfortable in with personal growth. This episode is a perfect reminder that it’s never too late to make a change. In this episode you’ll hear: What Makenna means by “Whiteness is a sickness white people carry.” (5:00) Obliterating capitalism's hold on our souls and putting the focus on the value you provide, instead. (12:30) Where to start: dismantling the patriarchy or patriarchal structures. (18:03) Human design and why it is so important for women to trust their intuition. (32:12) How the concepts of cooking tie into personal development. (38:00) http://yourkickasslife.com/341  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Before we jump into this week's episode, I want to direct your attention to what I mention in the first few minutes of the show. If you've followed me for some time, you know that I have a firm belief that as a white person, it's not okay to teach personal development and wellness without addressing and breaking down your own unconscious biases, as well as speaking up about it. No one is free until we are all free and we must use our privilege for good.  I want to make it clear what I believe in both personally and professionally, where I'm at right now, and what's in store here at YKAL. The email I mention that's coming has already been written and you can find it HERE.Have you ever considered the deeper meaning behind personal development and the self-help industry as a whole? This episode with guest Andréa Ranae is guaranteed to get you thinking (and talking), and what she talks about affects everyone, not just coaches or someone in the self-help industry.Andréa is a coach herself who wrote a blog post last summer titled, Why the Self-Help Industry Isn’t Changing The World, which went viral and has been shared thousands of times since. She believes there is a disconnect between our own industry and the work of social justice, and even offers a Coaching As Activism Program to her clients.In this episode you’ll hear: Why did her post really strike a nerve with coaches and healers alike? (5 minutes and 15 seconds)  The reasons why the work of changing the world doesn’t stop at an individual (8:15) Why the lessons of the Law of Attraction are laden with privilege - if you are not systematically oppressed (8:51) Why focus on your identity but not how we have been impacted by dehumanizing messages about women? (16:39) How limiting beliefs are instilled in you and why you have to “name it to tame it!” (19:46) As Andréa shares, “do-gooders” of the world often don’t want to bring “politics” and the stuff that’s happening around us into their work, but it’s something we can hide from. Her opinion is that self-love and self-care will not change the world, and I’m interested to hear from you about your thoughts on our conversation! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Talia Pollock is on the show this week! Talia Pollock is the author of Party In Your Plants, speaker, storyteller, plant-based chef, TV personality, and health and empowerment coach. I was a guest on Talia’s podcast, Party in My Plants, last year. She has a fantastic sense of humor, and we hit off well. Talia has a unique and refreshing approach when it comes to being healthy. Today, Talia offers ways to take the hell out of being healthy. In Talia’s words, the world doesn’t need more recipes. Instead, she believes we need more courage, confidence, and boldness to take action and make the right choices for our health.In this episode you’ll hear: Healthy eating, yeah, it kind of sucks. Talia offers some ways to take the hell out of being healthy. (7:36) Why energy is the main benefit of eating plants. (15:48) How Talia’s work is intended to help, people thrive outside the kitchen. (17:57) Confidence is the missing piece for executing our healthy lifestyle. (23:49) What surprises Talia the most about the women she works when she takes them through this journey. (29:05) http://yourkickasslife.com/339  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Samantha Brody, author of Overcoming Overwhelm: Dismantle Your Stress From the Inside Out, is on the show this week. And y’all, who doesn’t deal with overwhelm, right? When she reached out to be on the podcast and told me the title of her book, I thought, “Hell yes, when can we speak?!” Samantha is a licensed naturopathic physician and acupuncturist, and the founder of Evergreen Natural Health Center. Together we discuss what it means to be overwhelmed, how our values can help reduce overwhelm, and how our subconscious beliefs might be undercutting our goals. Finally, Dr. Samantha shares what food and our food choices have to do with feeling overwhelmed.In this episode you’ll hear:  What women do to try to combat overwhelm that isn’t working. (7:51) How your values affect overwhelm, how they help you vet your choices, and reduce overwhelm. (9:38) Subconscious beliefs and how they might be derailing your goals. (16:52) The “overwhelm inventory,” what it is and how it helps. (26:21) What food has to do with overwhelm. (31:01) http://yourkickasslife.com/338  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alexia Vernon is on the YKAL podcast this week! Alexia is a sought-after speaking and leadership coach to female (and male) executives, entrepreneurs, media personalities, and change makers who want to spread their ideas, positively impact people’s lives, grow their businesses, and advance their thought leadership. Alexia and I have an amazing conversation about visibility and using your voice. I am super pumped to bring you our conversation.Together we discuss how most problems can be solved with hard conversations. Alexia shares some of her thoughts and advice on how to have tough conversations, what to do when a conversation goes wrong, and how to turn toxic conversations around. In this episode you’ll hear: Using communication to move you to take action (7:04) How to find their voice in high-stake situations when there is a lot of fear (11:12) What to do if communication goes wrong (17:54) Alexia’s experience with online bullying during a Facebook ad campaign (25:00) How to turn toxic conversations around with compassion and empathy (41:26) http://yourkickasslife.com/337  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week I have Cara Alwill Leyba on the show! Cara is a long overdue guest, and I am thrilled to introduce you to her. She is a New York City-based creative entrepreneur who encourages women to live their most effervescent lives, celebrates themselves every day, and make their happiness a priority. I love having other guest experts on my show with similar messaging who can offer their unique spin. There's always a new perspective, tool, or strategy to learn. In this episode, Cara and I discuss some of the ways women can show up for themselves, how to learn from past experiences, and how to give yourself time to daydream. She also reminds us to ask, “What is the best-case scenario?” instead of, “What if I fail?” Last, she shares her perspective on failure: specifically, that failure is a possibility, but why you should do it anyway.In this episode you’ll hear: Why choosing yourself is so important (9:00) How Cara actually got to the point of ‘choosing herself’ (10:00) Why women have the capacity to give themselves a permission slip and don’t need to seek approval from others (14:00) Spending as much time with yourself is the best way to get the answer you need (18:00) Viewing rejection as redirection - it’s an opportunity to look at yourself and ask, “How am I going to handle this?” (20:00) Speak kindly to yourself and think optimistically about your dreams (29:25) Cara Alwill Leyba is a New York City-based creative entrepreneur who encourages women to live their most effervescent lives, celebrate themselves every day, and make their happiness a priority. She is a best selling personal development author, mentor to women entrepreneurs, and creator of The Champagne Diet blog. Over 6 million listeners worldwide tune in to Cara’s podcast Style Your Mind each week for powerful conversations and a mega-dose of inspiration.Cara is the author of 9 best selling books, including the worldwide sensation Girl Code, that have inspired women around the world to step into their power and fulfill their potential. Cara’s books have been translated into multiple languages like Russian, Chinese, Portuguese, Mongolian, and Vietnamese. Her message continues to transcend cultures and break barriers for women across the globe.Cara’s stylish and edgy approach to personal development has attracted thousands of women to attend her workshops and events. She has been featured in Forbes, Glamour, Shape, Entrepreneur, Success, Cosmo, Marie Claire, and many others. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I don’t very often write about or talk on the podcast specifically to coaches. Personal development is my game, BUT, I know there is a decent amount of you that listen to the podcast as well as those of you who are interested in pursuing this profession.  First, the world needs more great coaches. This pandemic has whispered in all of our ears how precious and fragile life is, that no one gets out of here alive, and the time to live our lives is NOW. Second, many newer coaches might be worried their business isn’t viable right now. You may believe that life coaching is a luxury afforded to few. But, just like there are many ways to coach, there are many ways to offer value and help your clients and audience.    And before I jump in, we do offer consulting here (both with me and my team), click here if you’re interested. Here are ten things I highly recommend doing if you are in the beginning stages of your coaching business, and many of those hold true even if you’re a seasoned coach.  Get training. Since the coaching industry is currently unregulated, anyone can call themselves a coach, hang a shingle outside and be open for business. And I know some good coaches who have no training, only years of experience. However, coaching requires specific skills that matter for your clients. Plus, clients tend to bring emotional and heavy topics to sessions, and an untrained coach can end up causing more harm than good. So, please, get trained.  Get support. Building a coaching business is like building any business, you can’t do it with zero dollars and zero support. I’ve talked to people who’ve got their training and think it’s like moving from one job to another. You just quit your other job and start life coaching, right? No. Coaching is not a business, it’s a skill. You still need to build your practice. You are going to have overhead and need time to build, so have savings, a business loan, or a partner with income that can help (and is clear on the fact that they are supporting your business). Make goals but be flexible. Like anything, make goals. You don’t necessarily need a traditional “business plan”, but you need something in terms of goals and not just fly by the seat of your pants. How many clients do you want or need? Do you want to build your audience to offer group coaching? Speaking? Write it down like you would any other goals. And if you find out you don’t like or aren't good at one aspect, pivot and try other things. Once you make goals and plans you don’t have to marry them.  Read the remaining 7 tips HERE.If you’re a coach and you feel like you need support-- we offer consulting, as well as coaching packages. We can help you with nailing down your messaging, figuring out what’s the best way for you to market yourself, and even if you want to write a book or start a podcast, we can help with that too. Click here to read more and apply. Plus, if you’re like, “Wow, I should probably work on my fear of visibility or my nasty inner-critic so I can really get my coaching business off the ground”, we're epic at helping people do that too. (Andrea facilitates specific deep, transformational work here, or you can look at a shorter package here.)http://yourkickasslife.com/335  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today I have an interesting episode for you. When Robert Kandell approached me to be on my podcast, I was like, “Wait, whaatttt, who is this guy?” I started looking into his work and he also sent me a copy of his book; I knew I had to have him on the show. He is known as “The Modern Mantor,” is an interpersonal communications and relationship expert, speaker, and podcaster. He is also the author of the book, unHidden: Book for Men and Those Confused By Them.  Most of the listeners of this podcast are women...but obviously you have men in your lives - whether it be father, brothers, friends, or spouses. And sometimes it can be complicated. Robert and I discuss the different ways in which we can be better communicators with each other, how practicing telling the truth can build stronger relationships, and where and why men tend to hide from their own truths. In this episode you will hear:  Where men tend to hide and why they hide, plus Robert shares some brain science and explains some of the reasons why men (and women) don’t do the work. (5:18) How Burning Man and an orgy led Robert to a new path in life and relationships. (10:32) The effects of withholding your truth from your intimate partners. (14:58) We are trained to be mediocre communicators, Robert shares one way men and women can have better communication. (19:31) The #MeToo movement was a huge wakeup call to society that the toxic habits of men and women supporting those men can no longer hold up and how the movement has affected men. (25:18) The imbalance of personal development between women and their male companions (whether it be partner, brother, etc). (29:21) http://yourkickasslife.com/334  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices